Alconbury May 2019

VILLAGER The

Issue 86 - May 2019

and Town

Life

LOCAL NEWS • LOCAL PEOPLE • LOCAL SERVICES • LOCAL CHARITIES • LOCAL PRODUCTS

In this issue Win Tickets to a

Ballet Central Performance Exam Stress

How to come out on top

Win £25

in our Prize Crossword

Bringing Local Business to Local People Every Month in Alconbury, Grafham, Kimbolton, The Stukeleys ur and all surrounding areas Yo EE R py

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Inside this issue...

Win Tickets to the Ballet Central Performance

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The History of the Mayflower...................................... 4 Exam Stress - How to come out on top........................ 8 Loving Liqueurs......................................................... 10 Win Tickets to the Ballet Central Performance........... 12 National Smile Week................................................. 14 Huntingdonshire Fauna and Flora Society................. 16 Choose the Perfect Sunglasses.................................. 19 Hire a Handyman! Or Handywoman!......................... 22 The East Anglian Model Railway Exhibition............... 25 Scaling the Wall - Clematis........................................ 26

Animal Stories........................................................... 29 The Best Barely-Used Bargain Cars............................ 30 Nick Coffer’s Weekend Recipe.................................... 32 Bank Holiday Bonanza.............................................. 35 Puzzle Page............................................................... 36 What’s On.................................................................. 38 Wordsearch............................................................... 41 Prize Crossword......................................................... 42 Book Review............................................................. 45 Useful Numbers........................................................ 47

Scaling the Wall Clematis

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Get your business off to a flying start this year

Advertise with the Villager Magazine... prices start from just £30.00 +VAT per month Editorial - Catherine Rose, Louise Addison, Trevor Langley, Sarah Davey, Tom Hancock, Rachael Leverton, RSPCA, James Baggott, Nick Coffer and Kate Duggan.

Advertising Sales/Local Editorial Nigel Frost • Tel: 01767 261122 nigel@villagermag.com Photography - Pedro Antonio Salaverría Calahorra Design and Artwork - Design 9 Tel: 07762 969460 • www.design9marketing.co.uk

Publishers Villager Publications Ltd 24 Market Square, Potton, Bedfordshire SG19 2NP Tel: 01767 261122 Email: nigel@villagermag.com www.villagermag.com

Disclaimer - All adverts and editorial are printed in good faith, however, Villager Publications Ltd can not take any responsibility for the content of the adverts, the services provided by the advertisers or any statements given in the editorial. No part of this publication may be reproduced or stored without the express permission of the publisher.

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History “Mayflower in Plymouth Harbor”

by William Halsall, 1882

The History of

the Mayflower

By Catherine Rose

The famous ship that carried the Pilgrim Fathers to the New World is celebrating its 400th anniversary from November this year, with a programme of over 400 events planned along the Mayflower Trail. Most people have heard of the Mayflower, but what was its history?

In England, hawthorn is often referred to as the May flower but the Mayflower or Epigaea Repens (also known as the gravel plant after its ability to survive in dry, sandy soil) is a trailing arbutus native to North America.

Now rare due to the destruction of its habitat, it has white or pale pink star-shaped flowers that are one of the first to bloom in spring.

Since 1919 it has been the official state flower of

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Massachusetts, USA, after its namesake, a ship called the Mayflower, made history by landing there almost exactly 400 years ago on 27th November 1620.

The Mayflower carried a group of passengers who were Puritans, now known as Pilgrims or the Pilgrim Fathers. They had embarked at Plymouth, England to sail to what became Plymouth, New England in America for a new life.

Puritans were a specific sect of English Protestants who were disillusioned with the Church of England. They wanted to ‘purify’ Christianity according to the teachings of John Calvin, a Swiss Protestant reformer.

Many of these Puritans had already left England

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to start a congregation in Holland. After some had been arrested in Amsterdam, the remainder set up a community in Leiden but were alarmed at what they saw as a decadent Dutch society.

Among them was William Bradford who later became a leading figure on the Mayflower.

He collaborated with the English Puritans and together they decided to seek a new life and found a community in the USA – the ‘New Worlde’ – which they saw as the ‘promised land’.

The Mayflower was a 17th century English merchant ship that had seen service in Europe.

With a square rig and a beakhead bow, it was a working ship built to withstand sea storms and is estimated to have been the size of a blue whale.

The ship had a cargo capacity of 180 tons, ideal for all the Pilgrims’ belongings, livestock and the food and drink they needed at sea. It could also hold 180 multi-gallon casks designed for wine trading.

The voyage took more than two months and was beset by severe storms The Mayflower was part-owned and captained by Christopher Jones Jr., believed to have been born in Harwich in around 1570 to a seafaring family.

After Jones agreed to set sail, the Puritan elders William Bradford and William Brewster led the Pilgrims.

The Mayflower’s voyage was delayed, however, after the Speedwell – a ship from Holland originally set to accompany them and filled with Leiden settlers – developed a series of leaks and had to return twice for repairs. There is a theory that the captain of this vessel had reservations about voyaging to the New World and so the crew made the leaks deliberately in an act of sabotage.

Eventually, the Mayflower was forced to abandon the Speedwell and set sail on its own on 16th September 1620, taking some of the Dutch passengers. In total there were 102 passengers on board with a crew of around 30.

The voyage took more than two months and was

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beset by severe storms. The prevailing seasonal westerly winds forced them to land at Cape Cod rather than their original destination of Virginia, where they had been granted a plantation settlement by the Virginia Company.

The delay and the bad weather meant that the ship arrived in the dead of a bitterly cold New England winter, which the passengers weren’t prepared for. In the end, only half survived, the rest dying of malnutrition, exposure and disease.

But despite being forced to steal food from the natives on arrival (which it is said they paid back six months later), they were helped by the local Wampanoag tribe who taught them how to hunt, gather shellfish and grow corn and vegetables.

Eventually, the Pilgrims established a colony at what they named Plymouth in Massachusetts with every member contributing to the community through the Mayflower Compact – a 200-word document that was drafted on their arrival by the elders and described by them as a ‘civil body politick’ with ‘just and equal laws’ that swore allegiance to the King of England. It formed the framework for democratic government in the USA. The granite slab upon which it is said the Pilgrim Fathers first set foot is now protected and commemorated as Plymouth Rock (although it is smaller than it once was due to previous souvenir hunters).

A replica of the Mayflower (Mayflower II) that sailed the same route is now permanently on display in Plymouth Harbour, Massachusetts.

Today, it is believed that 30 million US citizens are descended from the Pilgrim Fathers.

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Time of Year

By Louise Addison

Exam Stress

How to come out on top It used to be thought that being a child meant living through the happiest days of your life. How times change.

Now, with league tables, SATS, and GCSEs, many children are falling victim to stress.

So, if you (or your children, if you’re a parent reading this) are feeling pressured, with no-where to turn, we have some great tips to help you get through exam season relatively unscathed.

First a few words about stress.

Stress is caused by the way our body responds to outside events, not necessarily by the events themselves.

Some stress is good: adaptive stress releases adrenaline and helps us to rise to a challenge. It’s a temporary state and the body returns to normal very quickly. Problem stress occurs when the body stays in a heightened state for a prolonged period of time. It’s this type of stress which is causing problems for today’s children. Unlike when we were young and exams were end-of-term or even end-of year events, today’s child has seemingly relentless pressure to perform all year round with the result that they get very little down-time in which their body can recover from all that adrenaline.

Not everyone suffers in the same way from stress.

Some children seem to cope with it well. Research

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has shown that these children are generally more positive, have a good sense of humour and have parents who themselves deal well with potentially stressful situations.

Finally, it’s useful to understand that while exams are important, they are not worth making yourself ill over. You can always sit them again.

Exam Busting Tips!

Get plenty of rest - sleep is important Take regular breaks - you’ll stay fresher Leave time for some fun - when you’ve reached your revision goal reward yourself with an activity you enjoy Be realistic - Don’t overdo it Eat properly - avoid caffeinated drinks like coffee or coke.

Exercise - It’s a great stress buster and improves your mood Be nice to yourself - Don’t beat yourself up about the things you haven’t done, be positive about all you’ve achieved Relax - When it all gets too much just chill for a while. You’ll feel much better.

Useful Web Addresses www.studentminds.org.uk/examstress.html https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/stress-anxietydepression/coping-with-exam-stress/

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Food and Drink

Loving Liqueurs Liqueurs are widely acknowledged to have been produced by monks, during the 13th century. Derived from the Latin ‘liquifacere’, which means to liquify, liqueurs have evolved, over the centuries, to become very popular alcoholic beverages, today. Liqueurs can be flavoured with fruits, herbs and spices etc. They are usually quite sweet and regularly have a lower alcohol content than spirits, although some liqueurs can have an ABV which is high. Liqueurs are great by themselves, over ice and/or used in cocktails-with fabulous results!

Some liqueurs have recipes which are only known to a small number of people.

Numerous countries, globally, produce liqueurs, a good number of which are award-winning productions and for this quest I searched for a well-established company that has been producing an extremely popular liqueur for many years.

Licor 43 (Cuarenta y Tres) is a true taste of Spain and has a unique blend of 43 ingredients. The Zamora family, some 70 years ago, became the custodians of a secret recipe for this very fine liqueur. Renowned as Spain’s No. 1 liqueur and for exporting too, Licor 43 is recognised globally and the popularity increases yearly. Vanilla, Mediterranean citrus, spice, sugars and alcohol are amongst the ingredients for this yellow, gold-coloured production. The taste, which follows the appearance and enticing bouquet, is unmistakable. Superb on its own, with ice and for making great cocktails.

Licor 43 Orochata is another production from the same company. Light, silky, delicate and with a creamy texture, this is infused with original Licor 43. Tiger nuts, spices and citrus are utilised, to great advantage, for this liqueur. The mouthfeel is complemented by the aroma, bringing together another combination of ingredients to achieve a most splendid liqueur.

Licor 43 Baristo combines the essence of Licor 43 original with rare and exotic coffee from the Canary Islands. The freshly-roasted coffee, mature fruit, plus citrus and vanilla combine to produce this delightful, elegant liqueur, with its complex flavours. I found this Licor 43 Baristo production wonderful for an end of meal experience. A perfect ending to any dining occasion. For more information and details, please visit www.licor43.com Also available online.

As always, Enjoy!

ey Trevor Langl

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Images by ASH Photography

Win 2 Tickets to the Ballet Central Performance

at The Broadway Theatre, Letchworth on Friday 28th June 2019 Ballet Central brings its exceptional range of dance repertoire to The Broadway Theatre, Letchworth on Friday 28th June and we are delighted to offer you the chance to win two tickets to the performance.

This is a chance to see young dance graduates on the cusp of their professional careers perform a varied programme of classical ballet and contemporary dance theatre. An exciting evening of theatricality, technical excellence and drama choreographed by top dance industry influencers is promised, with stunning costumes enhanced by powerful music. Highlights include Christopher Marney’s Carousel Dances, inspired by the 1945 musical Carousel by Rodgers and Hammerstein, a unique version of the Dying Swan Solo created by Calvin Richardson, and the Company is delighted to present an extract from Frederick Ashton’s acclaimed Valses Nobles et Sentimentales performed to Maurice Ravel’s suite of waltzes.

For more information, visit www.broadway-letchworth.com/theatre/whats-on/ballet-central

Competition

BALLET CENTRAL COMPETITION ENTRY

Who wrote the 1945 musical “Carousel”?



To enter, answer the question and complete the form below and send to: Ballet Central Competition, Villager Publications Ltd, 24 Market Square, Potton, Bedfordshire SG19 2NP. Deadline: 16th May 2019.

Name: Tel: Email: Address: 12

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Time of Year

National Smile Month

By Louise Addison

National Smile Month is the largest and longest-running campaign to promote good oral health. Between 13th May and 13th June 2019, National Smile Month will promote positive messages and to engage people with maintaining a healthy mouth.

For the best oral hygiene: Brush your teeth - At least two minutes twice a day using fluoride toothpaste. Make sure you clean your teeth before bed, as your mouth doesn’t have the same salivary protection during the night as it does during the day.

Floss - Each tooth has five sides; a toothbrush only cleans three sides. The other two sides are where most decay and foul odours originate. To clean between the teeth requires dental floss or tiny inter-dental brushes.

Clean your tongue - This is an important part of oral hygiene and works wonders with stale, smelly breath.

You can use a tongue scraper or a toothbrush Give up smoking - Smoking dries the mouth, depleting the protective saliva. It also exposes your gums, soft palate and tongue to harmful and cancer-causing toxins, and it makes your breath smell.

Use a mouthwash - This freshens breath and coats the teeth with a protective layer, helping to prevent plaque build-up. Avoid those which contain alcohol though.

Cut out sugary foods and drinks - Sugary snacks feeds the bacteria in your mouth which ultimately break down your enamel and cause decay.

Visit your dentist regularly! http://www.nationalsmilemonth.org/

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Local News

Huntingdonshire Fauna and Flora Society Welcome to the world of wildlife in Huntingdonshire!

Are you interested in finding out more about the wildlife around Huntingdon and Peterborough? Perhaps you are already sending records to one or more of the online sites such as iRecord or posting plant and animal photographs via a Facebook account or Twitter page. If so, why not join the Huntingdonshire Fauna & Flora Society?

Founded in 1948 the objective of the Society is to promote the study, conservation and recording of wildlife throughout Huntingdonshire and Peterborough.

Membership is open to all with an interest in the wildlife living in our local area. In the summer months specialists in groups of species, which include flowering plants, mammals, fungi, insects and all kinds of other invertebrates, visit specific sites.

They are joined by enthusiastic amateurs, some with extensive knowledge and others just starting. In 2019 we intend to visit sites as far apart as Portholme Meadow (Brampton) and Therfield Heath (near Royston). Although we set out to record wildlife the meetings are informal and give an opportunity to learn and contribute to our better understanding of the value of our countryside. Ultimately this contributes to the conservation of our environment.

In the winter months we meet in the Hinchingbrooke Countryside Centre where illustrated talks on natural Grizzled skipper a butterfly of ancient meadows history provide additional information. These are open meetings. Subjects in 2018/19 range from European butterflies, Paxton Pits Nature Reserve and Phenology, the study of seasonal rhythms in plant and animal life cycles. There is a small charge for non-members.

Publication of the results of research and survey form an important part of our contribution to the conservation of species and sites. Books describing the distribution of plants throughout our area and the wildlife of Brampton Wood are amongst the more recent. Huntingdonshire Grasslands were the subject of a volume to commemorate the Society’s 60th birthday. Just published is a book about the orchids of Huntingdonshire and the Soke of Peterborough. A book on butterflies is in preparation. Annual reports Flowering rush a plant of river and lake sides provide shorter descriptions of other interesting features of wildlife interest.

We have a Web Site - http://www.hffs.org.uk/ which includes details of walks and talks for 2019. and a Facebook group – https://www.facebook.com/groups/288750741769891/ If you like what you see come to one of our meetings. If you would like to join us, membership forms are on the web site. Alternatively Contact: Stuart Irons, Hon. Treasurer & Membership Secretary, 4 Appleyard, Stanground, Peterborough, PE2 8JH. phone: 01733 760441, email: nebria@ntlworld.com.

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Time of Year

Choose the Perfect Sunglasses It’s that time of year when we traditionally invest in a new pair of sunglasses for the summer. There’s so much choice though! How do you whittle it down to the perfect pair?

First choose the right colour frame. Warm browns and tortoiseshell suits warmer colouring. Cool greys, blues and blacks suit cool skin colouring or grey hair.

Next pick a pair that flatters your features. There are no hard and fast rules. Look at what your face lacks and use the sunglasses to even out your proportions. Rounder faces often lack definition and benefit from a sunspec with strong lines. Long thin faces might need a softer, rounder style with an upswept edge. Try on as many as you can. Take selfies and compare.

Add length to a short nose with a high bridge or shorten an overly long nose with a low (butterfly shape) bridge. A strong jaw can be balanced with a heavier top bar.

Sunspecs are all about protecting your eyes from UV so make sure that any pair you buy has a CE kite mark, and that sunglasses are marked UV400. Cheap sunspecs not bearing these marks will probably not provide adequate protection from the sun’s harmful UV rays.

Choose larger frames for protection but bear in mind that deeper the frame the shorter your face will look, so if you have a long face shape, go ahead and choose a deep frame. A shorter face needs a frame that’s less deep, while still providing enough coverage for UV protection.

Take your eyebrows into account! If your brows stick out of the top of the frame at an odd angle, you’ll look permanently surprised, or angry!

Choose your sunnies wisely and you’ll be able to add instant glamour to any outfit.

By Sarah Davey

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Home Improvement

By Tom Hancock

Hire a Handyman! Or handywoman!

Do you have lots of household DIY tasks mounting up? Are you starting to feel a little overwhelmed?

Hire a handyman!

A good handyman will have right tools, and know-how to get the job done efficiently. Hiring someone who knows what they are doing will eliminate a lot of stress. Also, they will almost certainly save you money, especially if you would have to buy the right tools before you start or make a mistake which has to be put right!

When hiring: Be Specific - Give an idea of the scale and scope of the job or jobs. For example, ‘Rehang garden gate, repaint gate and 17 metres of 2m high garden fence.’ Measurement are important as it gives idea of the scope of the task.

Send photos if you can - In the example above send photos of the gate and the fence. A picture will save a lot of words and help the handyman provide an accurate quotation.

Remember cheapest isn’t necessarily the best.

Check an online price guide. There is lots of

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guidance available, but you should definitely bear in mind the total hours required.

The handyman should be insured and have his own tools. Check all insurance documents carefully.

Take your time, be pleasant and ask questions. Get a quote in writing to make sure you know exactly what you’re getting.

Then sit back and relax while someone else takes care of your household jobs!

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A FREE WILL for Homeowners Protect your home and legacy for your children • • • • • •

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Prevent the courts from making your financial and healthcare decisions.

If you already have a Will … Is it up to date?

Several thousand outdated wills are legally challenged every year.

Ensure your parents’ home and property is also protected.

DON’T PUT IT OFF – Don’t let your home and money disappear, make sure your estate goes to your family… leaving “what you want” to “who you want”.

CALL 01767 660250 for more information or to book a free meeting with one of our Will and Estate Planners either in your own home or at our offices.

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Local News

The East Anglian Model Railway Exhibition

is moving to Kettering Arena, just off Junction 8 of the A14 Come and see one of the biggest Model Railway Exhibitions in the country on 8th & 9th June 2019. The show now has a bigger, better venue in the Arena at Kettering Conference Centre, NN15 6PB. There will be 40 of the best model railway layouts from across the country in all the popular scales together with specialist traders selling everything you need for the hobby.

This is a permanent move following the closure of the Arena at Wood Green Animal Charity Centre. If you loved this show when it was in Godmanchester, you will love it even more now. The exhibition continues to be an ideal event for model railway enthusiasts as well as the whole family. The facilities are very good, the outdoor miniature traction engine will still be running and there are many other attractions in the area including ‘Kid’s Zone’ next door and Wicksteed Park up the road.

There will also be demonstrators showing you ‘how to’ and we are pleased to welcome representatives from the local Northamptonshire model clubs and other associated societies from further afield.

If you are travelling by train, the vintage bus will be doing free transfers to and from Kettering Railway Station. For those travelling by car, there will be plenty of free parking with a courtesy bus running to overflow car parks. The exhibition is all on one

Exhibition Manager, Jackie Kneeshaw with her grandchildren taking a traction engine ride level with good access and refreshments will be available.

The show is open from 10am - 5pm on Saturday 8th June and 10am - 4pm on Sunday 9th June or advance tickets will be allowed entry at 09.45am on both days.

For more information and to order advance tickets visit: https://www.stneotsmrc.com/exhibition-news Any questions? Contact Exhibition Manager, Jackie Kneeshaw 07810 861362

Stamford East in N gauge (Photograph by Andy York courtesy of BRM magazine)

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Garden View

By Rachael Leverton

Scaling the Wall - Clematis What do you think of if I say ‘clematis’? I think most of us would think of the large, purple-flowered, “Jackmanii” or the rampant, bronze-leafed, pinkflowered montana rubens.

They are both terrific plants, but I think they are a little over-used. My husband teases me that I tend to give my ‘clematis lecture’ when visiting friends’ houses and see one scrambling over a trellis. For your benefit I’ve written it down here.

Clematis is known as the ‘Queen of Climbers’. It can be utterly spectacular and should definitely not be relegated to trellis. It can used for covering fences and arbours, old tree stumps, sheds and even in beds and borders. Choose wisely and you can have flowers from early spring until late autumn.

For beds and borders you don’t want anything as vigorous as montana, which will smother everything it touches. Instead choose a daintier one such as a variety of texensis or viticella.

The flowers of the texensis hybrids look like finely cut bells. “Etoile Rose” is a beautiful dark pink edged with paler pink and “Princess of Wales” is a beautiful rosy red. Both of these will scramble through shrubs and flower all summer. They die back in winter so can be tidied up then.

Viticella hybrids produce flowers which look like little pixie hats as they open. “Minuet” has purple and white flowers suspended on fine stems while “Purpurea Plena Elegans” produces double blooms

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which open into little purple rosettes.

One of the most difficult sites to find climbers for is an east or north facing site. My absolute favourite clematis thrives in this situation and flowers in early spring. Clematis alpina “Pink Flamingo” produces nodding, semi-double, creamy flowers veined with deep pink. It has the added bonus of producing beautiful fluffy seed heads after the flowers fade.

Clematis prefers its feet in the shade and its head in the sun. Make sure the plant’s roots are shaded: pieces of broken flagstone are ideal, or an old cracked upside-down terracotta pot with the bottom knocked out. When clematis is happy it will flower prolifically.

Large-flowered clematis tend to produce a second flush in the autumn, but others like tangutica and orientalis wait to flower until then. Both of these are very vigorous and are great for covering unsightly sheds or old trees.

Finally, if you have a sheltered spot against a wall try cirrhosa balearica. This is a beautiful, winterflowering variety with ferny foliage and pale-green flowers spotted with crimson.

So, there it is…my clematis lecture. Hopefully you took notes and are ready to branch out into a whole new world of climbers.

Happy Gardening

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Pets

Animal Stories At RSPCA Bedfordshire North Branch a large majority of the animals that come into our care are cats, but occasionally we will receive a rabbit or small furry in need of a new home.

This month this beautiful little rabbit, Ratty, arrived in our care after his owner could sadly no longer keep him. He is approximately ten months old and had previously been kept as an indoor bunny.

He is currently in foster care and has settled in very well, but we are now looking to find Ratty his new forever home. Although used to living indoors, since arriving at his foster home he has loved running around the garden, exploring his surroundings and having a good nibble on the grass, so we would love to find him a home where he can carry on enjoying spending some of his time outside. He is a very friendly rabbit, always running up for a fuss and some nose rubs when he sees someone to play with. All rabbit’s need lots of enrichment and Ratty is no exception, he absolutely loves playing with his tunnels and toys which will go with him to his new home.

Rabbits are naturally very social animals and are happiest when they have a companion, the best combination being a neutered male and female pair. When bonded with a suitable rabbit it prevents them from becoming lonely and they can play together, groom each other and look out for one another. With that in mind, we would like to find Ratty a female friend to go and live with.

Another animal we have in our care at the

moment, with a very similar story to Ratty’s, is a cat called Sixpence. Approximately two years old, Sixpence came into our care after his owner could also no longer keep him. Like Ratty, he was also kept as an indoor pet, but his young and super friendly personality would suit being able to have a good explore outside.

When Sixpence first arrived in our care he was quite shy but soon settled into our cattery. He loves a fuss and likes nothing more than to roly poly around to show off his lovely spotty tummy.

Although friendly, he would prefer to be an only cat in an adult only household as this is what he has been used to.

All animals that are adopted are neutered and fully vaccinated before they go to their new homes.

For more information about Ratty or Sixpence, as well as other animals in our care, please visit our website www.rspca.org.uk/local/bedfordshirenorth-branch.

To enquire about adopting one of these friendly fellows, please email our Branch at adopt@rspcabedsnorth.org.uk, or contact us by phone on 01234 266965.

For all up to date information about the animals in our care, adopted success stories, or what our Branch is up to visit our facebook page www.facebook.com/rspcabedsnorthbranch.

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Motoring

The best barely-used bargain cars Ford Mondeo Vignale Price new: £30,625 Price one-year: £19,999 Ford’s upmarket Mondeo Vignales are an absolute steal on the used market and come with a lengthy equipment list. We found a oneyear-old example for just under £20,000.

Vauxhall Astra Price new: £21,760 Price one-year: £9,799 With £12,000 or 54% off a sportylooking Astra SRi with the excellent 1.0-litre turbo petrol engine at just a year old, we wonder why anyone buys a new Vauxhall!

Toyota Yaris GRMN Price new: £26,295 Price one-year: £21,995 The Toyota Yaris GRMN may be a bargain buy at £21,995 and with less than 1,500 miles on the used market, particularly as its limited numbers and widely-hailed driving experience may make it a future collector’s item.

Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT 6.2 Price new: £63,995 Price one-year: £38,995 It’s the Grand Cherokee’s monstrous 6.2-litre V8 engine that puts buyers off, but for performance, power, and sheer noise on a budget, this is a great way to go.

Opting for a car that’s a year old over a brand-new model could save a packet. Here are 10 of the best.

Finding money off a barely-used car can be tricky, so we’ve found classified ad examples representing huge savings over brand-new options. The prices quoted are correct at the time of writing.

BMW 3 Series GT Price new: £38,280 Price one-year: £19,890 The 3 Series GT is pitched as an all-occasion car. It’s part-hatchback, part-saloon, part-executive, but this vehicle trying to be three hasn’t proved very successful. That said, it offers a high level of quality along with that premium badging.

A new 320d M Sport Gran Turismo is £38,280, but with 10,000 miles on the clock and last year’s plate it costs around £19,890.

Land Rover Discovery Sport Price new: £45,810 Price one-year: £32,444 This baby Discovery is a desirable family car, mating a superbly practical seven-seat body with Land Rover prestige, albeit with a dated interior and lack of top-end technology. At £12,000 off list price, a one-year old example is a bargain.

Jaguar XF Price new: £36,495 Price one-year: £27,500 The XF drives nicely and has a

decent engine range, but hasn’t sold well. We found a 2018-reg R-Sport car fitted with the 2.0-litre 178bhp diesel engine for £27,500 with 4,000 miles on the clock – a huge saving.

BMW 3 Series Price new: £42,870 Price one-year: £39,990 With the 3 Series being replaced this year, there are great deals to be had – the 330d Touring model with a 3.0-litre straight-six engine is ideal for motorway driving, and falls from £42,870 new to £39,990 at a year old.

Infiniti QX30 Price new: £29,720 Price one-year: £17,000 This combination of Mercedes platform, Nissan interior and Renault diesel engines was a reasonable mix until you looked at the price. However, at around £17,000 for a year-old example, the QX30 becomes easier to recommend.

Suzuki Swift Sport Price new: £18,499 Price one-year: £13,999 Last year’s all-new Swift Sport offered a fun driving experience and bags of equipment, but its £18,499 price tag put it into a performance bracket where it couldn’t really compete.

Used examples at under £14k make it a real bargain.

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By James Baggott

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Food & Drink

Red Velvet

Cake

I find the science of baking fascinating. What makes the texture of one cake different to the texture of another one? How can seemingly similar ingredients create totally different effects?

With this Red Velvet Cake, it is the addition of the buttermilk and the acids which contribute to a tighter, slightly denser crumb, somewhere between a Victoria Sponge and a brownie. It was made for my Weekend Kitchen show by a very talented young baker called Victoria Chidgey.

Throughout her appearances on my show, I have watched her Little Tring Cake company grow through hard work and creativity. Seeing skilled young people take risks, open businesses and watching them grow is probably one of the biggest pleasures I get from being on the radio…

Ingredients: 125g butter 325g caster sugar 40g cocoa powder 2 eggs 1 tsp red extra colour paste (you will need to buy the proper stuff, not the small bottles of red liquid) 1 tsp vanilla extract 250g buttermilk 325g self-raising flour 15g bicarbonate of soda 30g white wine vinegar 1. Beat the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. Meanwhile add all the dry ingredients to a bowl and set aside.

2. Slowly beat the eggs into the butter and sugar mixture. Add the red colouring and the vanilla

too, followed by half of the dry ingredients and half the buttermilk.

3. Repeat until everything has just come together.

4. Pour in the vinegar and beat until throughly mixed. Split between 3 x 6” cake tins or 2 x 8” cake tins. Bake in a pre-heated oven at 160C/ Gas Mark 3 for 27 minutes. The cakes are baked when a skewer comes out clean.

For the icing: 150g butter 150g cream cheese 450g icing sugar 1 tsp vanilla extract 1. Beat the butter, icing sugar and vanilla until it’s very light in colour. Add the cream cheese one spoonful at a time, mixing well each time.

Once all the cream cheese has been added beat on a high speed for 3 minutes.

2. Level off the cakes with a knife and put any off-cuts into a food processor to blitz into a fine powder.

3. Assemble the cake by putting a layer of cream cheese icing between each cake. Cover the rest of the cake with icing, smoothing the top and sides with a pallet knife.

4. Gently push the cake crumbs into the side of the cake to get an even layer.

Hear wonderful recipes on Nick Coffer’s Weekend Kitchen every Sunday morning on BBC Three Counties radio at 11am. You can also join Nick every weekday afternoon at midday for brilliant local guests with great stories to tell and all the music you want for your early afternoon.

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Apart from the obvious aesthetic benefits to a clean roof, there are many more serious reasons why you should remove build up from your roof.

Moss, algae and lichens on your roof absorb and retain water. Weight on the roof is increased, this stresses the roof and supporting structure.

Damp battens and roof structures under increased load will eventually buckle and warp. Roof tiles constantly wet eventually become porous. Wet tiles splinter and break when subjected to frost.

Wet sand and cement mortar will splinter and break. Roof tiles, ridge, hip and bonnet tiles can become dislodged.

Damp battens and roof structures start to deteriorate through damp rot, dry rot etc.

Before

After

Business & Technology Centre, Bessemer Drive, Stevenage SG1 2DX

www.roofwash.co.uk Tel: Cambridge 01223 967365 or Welwyn Garden City 01707 527767 34

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Time of Year

By Sarah Davey

Bank Holiday Bonanza It’s that time of year when there seems to be a bank holiday bonanza. We’ve just had Easter Monday, and now we have two bank holidays in May. Us Brits certainly like to celebrate the arrival of spring. But as a nation we’re a funny old bunch (and that’s without mentioning Brexit!) and we tend to panic at all this extra time off. What on earth will we do with it?

So here is my Brits guide to Bank Holidays...

We ask everyone else what they’re doing, kind of like Christmas! As a nation we get excited about the prospect of a longer than usual weekend.

We make vague plans about weekends away.

According to my immediate circle of friends The Cotswolds / Paris / Ironbridge / The Lake District (delete as applicable) are all ‘lovely at this time of year...’ But we will always leave it too late, or won’t agree on a destination, or discover every hotel has suddenly doubled its prices, so we never actually go.

At least one friend will remind you in bitter tones that they are a nurse / barperson / taxi driver (delete as applicable) and they will be working while you are relaxing. Sympathise with them, and maybe buy them a bottle of wine. Without these people the country would grind to a halt.

Every teacher friend you possess will make a huge deal about them not actually having a holiday weekend, because they will be marking...again!

Teachers do this every holiday though, because they suspect we secretly think they are all part-timers.

We check the weather forecast repeatedly and

rejoice equally in headlines which read IT’S GOING TO BE A SCORCHER or IT’S GOING TO BE A WASHOUT...because Brits love weather…all weather!

We buy paint in anticipation of giving a room a facelift. Bank holidays were absolutely designed for repainting the sitting room!

We buy bedding out plants, compost and ‘garden features’, because Bank holidays were absolutely designed for prettying our little plot of land.

We tentatively suggest a barbecue to family and friends because as well as being obsessed by weather we are also eternal optimists about it. And if it rains, we still barbecue because that’s what you do on a bank holiday in May, and well...it gives the guests something to talk about while they sip their beer, ‘Looks like it might brighten up later...’ as the hail slams into the awning.

We plan a film night. When we finally face the reality that there isn’t going to be a heatwave, and the weather is more barmy than balmy we hit Netflix or Sky Movies and dial a pizza with extra pepperoni and a large garlic bread. Because Bank holidays and carbs were made for each other.

Finally, we have the Sunday blues on a Monday night.

Bank holidays are gone in the blink of an eye and all too soon it’s back to work. But cheer up, it’s only four days until the weekend. Unless you’re a teacher... they’ll be marking all weekend...again!

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ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ

Easy Suduko

Hard Suduko

Fill in the grid so that each row, column and 3x3 box, contains the digits 1 through to 9 with no repetition. Use your logic to solve the puzzles.

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n O s ’ t Wha 1 May May Day Morris Dance 5-6am Free event - donations welcome Wandlebury Country Park, Cambridge Traditional English dancing event. Dancing starts at 5.29am. Refreshments will be available for purchase on the day Tel: 01223 243830 ext 207 Email: bookings@cambridgeppf.org Web: www.cambridgeppf.org/whats-on

1 May St Mary’s Afternoon WI St Neots 2pm St Mary’s Church Rooms, St Neots First Wednesday of the month. Resolutions and Quiz.

Tel: 07724 043941 Email: mayp.at.home@gmail.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/St-Marys-AfternoonSt-Neots-Womens-Institute-238190076940278/ 1 May Brampton Flower Club 7.30pm Community Centre, High Street, Brampton Visitors £6 inc. light refreshments Demonstration by Pat Barton with ‘Where in the World’. Tel: Jan Dobie 01480 531822 Web: www.bramptonflowerclub.com 1 May Huntingdon and District Branch of the Royal Air Force Association 7.30pm for 8pm First Wednesday of the month.

Tel: Tony Perryman, Secretary 01480 465395 Email: rafa.huntingdon1@btinternet.com 1 May Little Paxton Gardening Club 8pm Little Paxton Village Hall Members £1, Non-members £2 Talk by Joe Sharman ‘Collecting Plants in the Wild’.

Joe is from Monksilver Nursery and will take us through the rigours and enjoyment of collecting from field notes, conservation and images of plants in the wild.Tel: Jane 01480 218805 Email: lpgardeningclub@hotmail.com 3 May St Neots Local History Society 7.30pm Eynesbury Junior School ‘Flag Fen to Must Farm’ with Stuart Orme.

Web: http://stneotslhs.org.uk 4 May Art & Craft Fair 9.30am-4pm Free Church Hall, St Ives Free admission. Handmade art and craft stalls.

4 May Family Book Festival 10am-4pm St Neots Library A fun-filled programme of free events with wellknown authors, illustrators and poets. For details of author and illustrator events download the brochure and book tickets online.

Web: www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/arts

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Deadline for What’s On entries is the 12th of the previous month.

What’s on entries to whatson@villagermag.com

In May

4 May St Neots Timebank Coffee Morning 11am-2pm St Mary’s Church Hall, St Neots Tel: 07590 909057 www.stneotstimebank.org.uk

5, 12, 19 & 26 May Junior Parkrun 9am Wimpole Estate Weekly free 2k timed run for 4-14 year olds.

Web: parkrun.org.uk/wimpoleestate-juniors

4 May Simply Saturday 12.30-2.30pm St James Church, Little Paxton For adults of all ages with lunch and various activities available. Tel: Elisa Hunt 01480 471748 Email: young_paxton@ntlworld.com

8 May Improve your IT Skills 9.30am-2pm St Neots Library Do you want to learn to use a computer, be able to use the Internet, send emails, use a smart phone or tablet and edit writing and pictures? Join a new three-week course starting 8 May. Tel: 01223 703530 Email: cambsals@cambridgeshire.gov.uk

4 May Bingo 7-8pm Buckworth Cricket Club, Church Road, Buckworth, Huntingdon Come and join us for the clubs regular bingo evening.

Eyes down 7.30pm. Light refreshments and a raffle.

Web: www.buckworthcricketclub.co.uk 4, 11 & 18 May Huntingdon Music School 8.30am-1pm Hinchingbrooke School The music school operates lessons and ensemble groups on Saturday mornings during term-time.

They also offer music lessons in Huntingdon area schools. Tel: 01480 584867 or 07719 835472 Email: enquiries@huntsmusicschool.org.uk Web: www.huntsmusicschool.org.uk 4, 11, 18 & 25 May Parkrun 9am Wimpole Estate Weekly free 5k timed run.

Web: parkrun.org.uk/wimpoleestate 5 May Wildlife Trust 2.30pm Brampton Wood, Grafham Road, Brampton Entry £2.50, accompanied children free The Beautiful Bluebells of Brampton Wood. George Cottam, Warden of Brampton Wood, will lead us through the woodland where a rich variety of flora can be seen. Please park in the Trust car park – no charge but donations welcome. Tel: 01480 45080 5 May St Neots & District Gardening Club 8pm St Mary’s Church Hall, St Neots Members £2, Non-members £2.50 inc. refreshments & raffle ticket. Visit to Knebworth Spring Show.

Web: www.stneotsgardenclub.org.uk 5 May Cambridge Gliding Centre Open Day 10am-4pm Gransden Lodge Airfield Free admission. Find out about the sport of gliding.

Discounted trial gliding lessons with our qualified instructors will be available using a choice of winch launch, aerotow or motor glider. Call the office to book your flight in advance. The Airfield entrance is on the B1046 between Little Gransden and Longstowe, opposite Gransden Lodge Farm (enter SG19 3EB into your sat nav).

Tel: 01767 677077 Web: www.camgliding.uk Facebook: www.facebook.com/ CambridgeGlidingCentre

8 May Fundraising Coffee Morning 10am-1pm All Saints Church, Market Square, Huntingdon The Hunts Society for the Blind Fundraising Coffee Morning. All welcome. Craft stalls, tombola and raffle. The coffee mornings are held every second Wednesday from March-November.

11 May Hemingford Village Market 9am-1pm Parish Centre, Hemingford Grey Second Saturday of the month. An opportunity to buy food, crafts, plants and flowers from small local businesses. Hemingford Grey Parish Council hold a surgery at the market should you wish to meet councillors to discuss local issues.

11 May Jumble Sale 10am-12 noon Keysoe Village Hall Raising funds to help finance The Village Show at Keysoe. Tel: 01234 378878 for further info 11 May Plant Sale 10am-2pm Offord Village Hall Free admission. Refreshments. Free Parking.

11 & 12 May Hemingford Art Club Spring Exhibition Daily 10am-4.30pm Hemingford Abbots Village Hall Exciting new works of art for sale, framed and unframed also handmade original cards.

11 & 12 May Bourn Windmill Open Day and Teas 2-4pm CambridgePPF Members free, Adults £3, Children £1 Come and see inside one of the oldest mills in the country, set in beautiful scenery near Bourn village.

On five Sundays during the summer the mill is opened and guides will show you how the mill works and tell you the history of this incredible building.

Not only can you see inside, you can also have a go at the task of turning the whole mill on its post - an amazing sight. The mill is owned by local charity CambridgePPF and run by dedicated volunteers. No need to book. Accessible by car or on footpaths from Bourn. OS grid reference TL 312 580.

Tel: 01223 243830 extension 207 Email: bookings@cambridgeppf.org Web: www.cambridgeppf.org/whats-on

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n O s ’ t Wha

12 May Lions Safari Walk 40th Anniversary Grafham Water Having raised over £200,000 for many local charities and worthy causes over the last 39 years, the Huntingdon Grafham Water Lions Club will be celebrating their 40th anniversary this year. They are inviting local charities, clubs and individuals who would like to raise money for their own worthy cause to join the walk. Walkers retain 90% of the money for their cause and 10% is donated to the Lions Club chosen charity which this year, is their ‘Message in a Bottle’ project. A car show at Marlow car park, Grafham Water, will also be held alongside the Walk giving enthusiasts an opportunity to show off their cherished vehicle. Tel: Bernard Dable 01480 81070 Email: bernarddable@gmail.com Until 12 May Lambing Time 10am-4pm Wimpole Estate Normal admission applies. Head to Home Farm to meet our rare breed ewes and lambs and if you’re lucky you may see a live birth. Learn more about lambing from our farm staff. Tel: 01223 206000 Web: www.nationaltrust.org.uk/wimpole 13 & 20 May Scottish Country Dancing 8-10pm Queen Elizabeth School, Godmanchester Tel: Mrs Pat Crowe 01480 453774 Email: pat@patcrowe.plus.com

17 May St Neots Timebank Members & Friends Group 11am-1.30pm The Priory Centre, St Neots The more people that come the merrier it is. Enjoy a free cuppa with friendly people. Meet the coordinator who’s happy to listen to your needs.

17 May St James Church Quiz Night 7.30pm St. James Church, High Street, Little Paxton Tickets £5. 6 people per team. Bring your own food and drinks. Closing date for tickets 15 May. Please order early as numbers are limited.

Tel: Lee Duncan 07931 315648 Email: lm.duncan@ntlworld.com 18 May Adult Learning and Skills St Ivo School, St Ives Saturday Workshops. A wide range of courses including: Car Maintenance, PowerPoint, Chinese Take-Away Favourites, Needle Felting - Landscapes, Baby Signing, Families Animal Macaroons, Family Dog Workshop, Indian Dance, Makeup for Mature Skin, Body Massage, Digital Camera, Sewing a Summer Skirt and Worry Less. Tel: 01480 495717 Web: www.aclearning.org.uk

18 May Fall in Love with Reading 10.30-11.30am St Neots Library Learn how to foster a love of stories with your child 13 & 27 May on this free three-week course. Suitable for parents Nature Tots 10-11.30am with children aged 3-7 years. Booking is essential Ferry Meadows, Peterborough and you must attend all three course dates (1 June £3.50. A fun outdoor parent and toddler group. Each and 15 June) Tel: 0345 045 5225 session has a nature theme and will include a messy Email: StNeots.Referral@cambridgeshire.gov.uk craft activity, time to explore the beautiful outdoors, story and songtime. Age 2+. Tel: 01733 234193 18 May Email: visitor.services@neneparktrust.org.uk Specialist Plant Sale 11am-3pm Buckden Towers Adults £2.50, Children free 14 May Gardens open to visitors. Refreshments available.

Tea & Tablets 2-4pm St Neots Library Easy parking.

Join us for a cup of tea and we’ll help you with your iPad or Android Tablet. We can show you how to 20 May download books, newspapers, audio books etc.

Painting and Drawing in Summer Four-week course 12-3pm 14 May £150 per person.Connect with the ancient heritage St Ives Sugarcraft Guild of England’s flora on this unique four-week drawing 7.30pm Reading Room, Hemingford Grey and painting course with treescape artist Debbie Monthly meetings where you can learn, hands on, Baxter. Rediscover your local landscapes on this various cake decorating techniques and/or sugar creative adventure, with plein-air and studio modelling. Tel: Shirley 01480 454616 for more info instruction from a professional artist. It doesn’t matter what your skill level is – both group and 15 May individual tuition will be provided in drawing, RNLI (Ouse Valley Branch) Coffee Morning acrylics, and watercolour painting. Materials list will 10.30am-12 noon Gt Barford Village Hall be provided on booking. Please email to book.

Bring & Buy, plants, cakes, raffle and souvenirs.

Email: debbiebaxterart@yahoo.co.uk Come and support us and bring a friend.

24 May 16 May Food with Friends 7-11pm Buckworth Cricket St Ives & District Flower Club Club, Church Road, Buckworth, Huntingdon 2.15pm Burgess Hall, St Ives Visitors £6. This popular event continues throughout 2019 £7. Demonstration by Morag Bennet ‘For Home with members bringing different cuisines from and Away’. around the world. www.buckworthcricketclub.co.uk

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This is a small selection of the What’s On for the full listing please go to our website www.villagermag.com

In May

24 May Uncle Funk & The Boogie Wonderband Charity Show. Doors open 7pm for 7.30pm Papworth Village Hall Uncle Funk & The Boogie Wonderband, the UK’s top live 70s disco act, are coming to Papworth Everard to play a special show to support the charity Disabled Huntingdonshire (DISH). Tickets available from the Norfolk Deli in Papworth or online.

Web: www.unclefunk.co.uk Web: https://www.wegottickets.com/event/461604 24 May Prize Bingo 7.30pm Offord Village Hall Raffle. Refreshments provided.

25 May Wool Shearing Course 10am-4pm Wimpole Estate £110 per person. For those people thinking of acquiring sheep this course will give you the confidence to tackle sheep shearing with traditional blades. The course content includes how to sharpen and use the shears, how to handle the sheep ready for shearing, how to use the hand shears effectively and safely while shearing, how to wrap the fleece and grade the wool, how to trim the feet and age the sheep. Booking essential. Tel: 01223 206000 Web: www.nationaltrust.org.uk/wimpole 27-31 May M.A.D. Multi Activity Days 9am-7pm Ferry Meadows, Peterborough £37 per day/£170 for 5 days. Want something to do during the school holidays? Why not come and join in with one of our Multi Activity Days. Book one day or the whole week. 8-16 years. Tel: 01733 234193 Email: visitor.services@neneparktrust.org.uk 28 May Huntingdonshire Diabetes Group 7.30pm Millennium Centre, Burberry Road, Buckden Monthly meetings on the last Tuesday of each month (except June). All welcome: diabetics, family, friends and carers. Email: hunts.diabetesuk@gmail.com Web: huntingdonshire.diabetesukgroup.org 29 May Free Children’s Activity Sessions 2-4pm QEII Playing Field, Little Paxton Free admission. Children’s activities during the school May holiday. Lots of fun activities such as football, short tennis and games. Organised by Huntingdonshire District Council’s Roadshow team.

Please bring a water bottle. Aimed at children aged 7-11 years. No need to book 30 May Wildlife Day 11am-4pm Ferry Meadows, Peterborough Free admission. Come and see what Peterborough has to offer from spotting minibeasts to meeting mammals. Local conservation and wildlife groups will be in the Park with a variety of activities for all to enjoy. Tel: 01733 234193 Email: visitor.services@neneparktrust.org.uk

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April’s Puzzle Solutions and Winners Last Month’s Crossword Winner Isobel Dunkley from Stotfold Winner of the Classic Ibiza Competition Lisa Pullen from Eynesbury

Winner of the Ragdale Hall Spa Competition Mrs Jean Charter from Biggleswade

Easy

Hard

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The Villager Prize Crossword

Prize

£25

Across 7. UK’s continent (6) 8. Waldorf salad nut (6) 9. Utilised (4) 10. Valuable, highly admired (8) 11. Repairs, mends (7) 13. Midriff (5) 15. Publish, issue (5) 17. Freedom (7) 20. Added extra (8) 21. Poisonous metal (4) 22. Cut into pieces (6) 23. More wealthy (6)

Complete the crossword, fill in your details below, cut out this page and send to the address below before

16th May 2019 Prize Crossword, Villager Publications Ltd 24 Market Square, Potton, Beds SG19 2NP

Down 1. Largest country (6) 2. Timber (4) 3. Tribes, nationalities (7) 4. Clean with broom (5) 5. Last, final (8) 6. Lines of people (6) 12. Persuade (8) 14. Meals (7) 16. Puzzle, enigma (6) 18. Bartered (6) 19. Ditzy, light-headed (5) 21. Ornate fabric (4)

Name: Tel:



Address:

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Book Review

By Kate Duggan The Familiars

by Stacey Halls

1612 is a dangerous time to be a woman in Northern England, as King James has declared war on witches.

Fleetwood is 17 and pregnant for the fourth time. Her other pregnancies ended in miscarriage. Desperate not to miscarry this child or lose her own life in childbirth, she turns to a local midwife, Alice Grey.

When Alice gets accused of witchcraft, Fleetwood has to decide how far she’ll go to save her friend.

Loosely based on the Pendle witch trials, this is a gripping, atmospheric page-turner.

Louis & Louise

By Julie Cohen

A baby is born in 1970s Maine, USA. In one reality she’s a girl – Louise; in the other, a boy – Louis. Both have the same friends, the same interests and the same ambitions. Both flee from their hometown after one fateful night that changes everything. Thirteen years later, Lou’s mother is dying, so he/she returns to face the past. Original, thought-provoking and highly enjoyable, Louis & Louise is perfect for book clubs.

The Honey Bus

By Meredith May

With a depressed single mother who could barely get out of bed, Meredith relied on her grandfather for love and solace. She also found another avenue for learning life’s lessons – her grandfather’s bees.

Through the hive, Meredith learned about family, loyalty, self-sacrifice and resilience. A thoughtprovoking memoir.

Books The Energy Plan

By James Collins

Nutritionist James Collins is a world leader in the field of performance nutrition. He’s guided the eating habits of Olympic athletes and premier sports stars. His first book, The Energy Plan, is not about cutting out food groups, quick fix diets or denial. Instead, it’s about fuelling your body so it performs better and you feel fitter, have more energy and can fight off illnesses. The Energy Plan is well worth a read, whether you’re training for a marathon or just want to avoid the 3pm energy slump.

Voices of Powerful Women

by Zoe Sallis

When Maya Angelou calls something a ‘fascinating collection’, you know you’re in for a treat and Voices of Powerful Women certainly doesn’t disappoint. Zoe Sallis interviewed 40 women for her book, including Judi Dench, Tracey Emin, Benazir Bhutto and Mariane Pearl. Each one gives us a glimpse into what made her who she is today. You’ll learn what inspires these women, what angers them, who they admire and what advice they want to pass on to the next generation.

Micro Living Derek ‘Deek’ Diedricksen

This book takes the concept of downsizing to the extreme.

Many of the 40 homes featured are smaller than 150 square feet.

From a refurbished Airstream to a treehouse, what these homes lack in space, they more than make up for in character. The book includes floorplans, advice and lots of lust-worthy photographs. Whether you’re thinking of building your own tiny home, want some tips to make the most of smaller rooms or just fancy taking a peek into how other people live, Micro Living is for you.

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Your Perfect Loft Access and Storage Solution Our services include: Loft Ladders Loft Hatches Insulation Loft Boarding Loft Lighting Balustrades We are a family run business who comply to building regulations, where our fitters are fully insured and all of our work is guaranteed.

Covering Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Essex.

01438 211302 info@eastanglianloftladders.co.uk eastanglianloftladders.co.uk 46

Call now for a free, no obligation quotation

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USEFUL NUMBERS

VILLAGER The

and Town

Life

Alcoholics Anonymous..............................0845 769 7555 Anglian Water............................................08457 145 145 Addenbrooks Hospital............................... 01223 245151 Papworth Hospital..................................... 01480 830541 Benefits for people with Disabilities...........0800 882 200 Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue............... 01480 444500 Carers Line..................................................0808 808 7777 ChildLine...........................................................0800 1111 Citizens Advice...........................................0344 245 1292 Cocaine Anonymous..................................0800 689 4732 Crimestoppers..............................................0800 555 111

Bringing Local Business to Local People Your local full colour A5 monthly magazine delivered free of charge to 1000s of homes and businesses in your local area.

The Villager and Town Life is dedicated to promoting local businesses, charities, community groups and everything else in your local area.

Cruse Bereavement Care............................0333 252 9152 Floodline....................................................0845 988 1188 Frank—Drug Advisory................................0800 776 600 National Debt Line.....................................0808 808 4000 Gas Emergency............................................0800 111 999 NHS Direct.........................................................0845 4647 National Rail Enquiries..............................03457 48 49 50 Non Emergency Police Line.........................................101 NSPCC.........................................................0808 800 5000 Relate..........................................................0845 48 49 50 RSPCA Cruelty Line....................................0300 1234 999 Samaritans............................................................116 123 Tax Credit Helpline.....................................0345 300 3900 Victim Support..........................................0845 30 30 900

For more information or to reserve your space please contact Nigel on:

Tel: 01767 261122

Email: nigel@villagermag.com Web: www.villagermag.com

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