Alconbury November 2022

Best Christmas Markets in Europe

With Christmas now just around the corner, if you find yourself fantasising about mulled wine, festive coffees, mouth-watering cheeses and steaming chestnuts – you’re not alone. Christmas market season is upon us, the perfect time to wrap up warm, fill your belly and hunt for gifts you wouldn’t find anywhere else. While we have plenty of world-renowned markets to visit on our doorstep

By Solange Hando

– Winchester, Edinburgh, Bath and Cambridge to name a few – nothing quite compares to Europe’s fairy-tale, festive spirit. Wooden chalets in thirteenth-century towns, snow-capped cathedrals, powdery spiced stollen, and of course, all the mulled wine you can drink. The likes of Germany, Estonia, Hungary and Austria, to name a few, take Christmas markets to another level. From Hamburg’s regional specialities and the dazzling lights of Vienna, all the way to Tallinn’s picturesque cobblestone streets dusted with snow, you’re spoilt for choice on where to go. To make your decision easier, we’ve pulled out five of the best Christmas markets in Europe, and what makes each one so magical. Vienna, Austria - From the middle of November until Christmas Day, Vienna’s prettiest squares transform into a mesmerising maze of Christmas markets, adorned with fairy lights. There are over

twenty to choose from, but wherever your feet take you, you can expect to see everything from artisanal handicrafts and traditional wooden toys to ice rinks, Ferris wheels and merry-go-rounds. This is Christmas at its most traditional. Oh, and did we mention the food? Warm the cockles of your heart with a mug of mulled wine while inhaling the smell of roasted chestnuts and freshly baked pretzels. Divine!

Tallinn, Estonia - Part of what makes Tallinn’s Christmas markets so magical is their setting.

Nestled in the heart of this beautiful, medieval city, where everything in sight is dusted with snow, each December the markets fill with sellers of local arts and crafts and delectable festive treats. And if that wasn’t enough, they’re also joined by brass bands, bell ringers and endless dance troupes – not to mention Tallinn’s very own Santa, who arrives at his winter grotto on an authentic reindeer sleigh.

The highlight, though, is its Christmas tree, which the city has been displaying in front of its town hall since 1441, making it the first Christmas tree to ever be displayed in Europe.

Budapest, Hungary - Officially hailed as Europe’s best Christmas market in 2022, Budapest’s Advent Feast at the Basilica is a delight for the senses. Centred around the impressive backdrop of St Stephen’s Basilica, the market is home to more than 160 artisan vendors. Shop for unique gifts and sample local Hungarian specialities from friendly food sellers. Goulash and flódni are must-tries!

There’s even an ice rink in the heart of all the action, circling a nine-metre-tall Christmas tree. Be sure to hang around for the real star of the show though – a

spectacular laser light show projected on the facade of the magnificent St. Stephen’s Basilica.

Nuremberg, Germany - Home to more than 150 towns and cities with established Christmas market traditions, Germany is synonymous with the festive season. Berlin and Cologne are world-renowned, and for good reason, but most visitors will agree that Nuremberg’s Christkindlesmarkt just about comes up trumps.

One of Germany’s oldest Christmas markets, dating back to around 1530, Christkindlesmarkt is a foodie’s paradise. Grilled sausages, crackling pork, mulled wine, sweet gingerbread – every festive food fantasy can be fulfilled here. It’s also known for being one of Europe’s most environmentally friendly Christmas markets, thanks to its reusable cup system and regenerative energy power source.

Prague, Czech RepublicPostcard-worthy Prague was made for the festive season, so it’s no surprise its capital’s market is one of the favourites in Europe. This is part and parcel down to its magnificent setting. On one side, there’s the fourteenth-century spires of Our Lady Before Tyn, on the other, the city’s famous fifteenthcentury astronomical clock.

Czechs are famously heavy drinkers, so you’ll be spoilt for choice when it comes to booze too. Along with hot mulled wine, you’ll also find mead, punch and grog, a concoction of rum, lemon, sugar and hot water.

The market is family-friendly too. If you’ve got little ones, shepherd them over to the Old Town Square where you’ll find a petting zoo complete with sheep, goats and donkeys.

Remember, remember, the fifth of November

Bonfire Night is an annual commemoration of a failed assassination attempt in 1605.

In 1603, Protestant James I became King of England. Despite being the son of the Catholic Mary Queen of Scots, he carried out persecutions against those of the faith, much as his predecessor Queen Elizabeth had done.

This lead one unhappy citizen – Robert Catesby – to devise a plot to kill the king and his establishment. With the help of a team of other sympathisers, including soldier Guy Fawkes, barrels of gunpowder were placed in a cellar under the House of Lords with a plan to ignite them on the opening day of Parliament – the fifth of November.

Fawkes was given the job of guarding the vault on the previous evening, but the plot was rumbled and just after midnight Fawkes and the gunpowder were found.

As news spread of the incident, Londoners began lighting bonfires in celebration of the fact James I was still alive and in 1606 the Observance of Fifth of November Act was passed, enforcing an annual public day of thanksgiving for the plot’s failure. The Act was repealed in 1859.

As for Fawkes, tried and found guilty of his crime, he was to be executed opposite the Parliament building in January 1606, but he fell or jumped from the gallows ladder and died of a broken neck.

The commemoration eventually lost its religious and political undertones and is now more likely to be an organised bonfire and fireworks display, just for fun.

The Poignant Poppy

Why do we wear the poppy? - Scarlet poppies grow wild all over western Europe wherever the soil has been disturbed. The battles of the First World War churned up such vast areas of earth that millions of poppies germinated and bloomed, often around the bodies of the fallen soldiers.

A Canadian surgeon called John McRae wrote the poem In Flanders Fields, which many of us study in school. The poem is a haunting memorial to those soldiers who have died in any war and the imagery of the poppies is used to symbolise the deaths of those who fought.

Why do we hold a two-minute silence? - On the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month the guns of World War I fell silent. Four years of fighting and devastation finally ended. The following year ceremonies of remembrance took place on what was known as Armistice Day. An armistice is an agreement for the cessation of active hostilities between two sides in a war.

An Australian journalist, Edward George Honey first proposed a respectful silence to remember the dead. He wrote a letter to the London Evening News which was brought to the attention of King George V. The king issued a proclamation which called for a two-minute silence.

These days Armistice Day is more usually known as Remembrance Sunday and is a chance to honour the fallen soldiers of all conflicts.

In the light of the atrocities going on Ukraine this year, I hope you’ll think even more about your poppy and all it stands for.

By Nicky Gray

Style and Warmth?

I know on my own account that it’s easy to pile on layers and find yourself feeling and looking like a giant ball of wool (on me, beginning to unravel) when it becomes seriously cold. We can easily lose any sense of style in the effort to stay warm. However, there are some tweaks we can add into our look and prevent us looking too trussed up. Plus some elements that are on trend to factor in too.

Necklines – a high neckline roll neck can foreshorten you adding to a ‘bunched up’ effect so find layers including jumpers that sit lower if this applies to you (if you’re not sure talk to your House of Colour consultant to find out). Us a softly draped scarf to fill in the area if you feel the cold and then you can adjust where it sits to be the most flattering. It’s better if we can avoid cluttering shorter areas. Scarf – a great place to add a pop of WOW colour particularly if your coat is a dark neutral. This will also break up silhouette and add interest. Try not to be a sea of neutrals, use your palette of colours.

Those who struggle to wear a larger woollier scarf (not all of us can take the larger scale or sometimes the slightly messier look that accompanies it) try rolling it in half (so not as bulky) and creating a neater tie such as a ‘no knot’ tie. Sparkly embellishments – this is a trend were seeing across most accessories in some form. Think sequins, details with sparkle, and embroidery. Think about gloves, adding brooches/embroidery to hats. There are shapes and details that suit every individual look whether sharp and angular or small and pretty. Add those into your accessories to update your look and draw the eye to your best features!

Proportion Play – if you have a large puffer coat or

a giant scarf think about using it with some smaller scale elements. Let that one bigger piece be you ‘hero’ and allow the other elements to play second fiddle.

Footwear – there are lots of funky walking and winter boots around with waterproofing and style to them. Check out Clarks and look online. Lots of colour around too in a traditionally limited space. Layers – it’s not news but lighter layers add up to great warmth. So if you struggle in this colder weather add in your base layers – silk and merino wool (not the super itchy variety but the base layer engineered) seem to perform very well. I love Patra Selections silk thermals. Natural fibres do seem to perform best but M&S ‘heatgen’ range which is a blend gets great reviews so is worth trying.

Article by Jennie Billings – House of Colour House of Colour has a network of stylists to help you update your look – find your nearest at houseofcolour.co.uk/find-a-stylist

WHAT'S ON IN NOVEMBER

1 NOVEMBER

Hail Weston Wildlife and Gardening Group

7.15pm for 7.30pm

Hail Weston Village Hall Members £1, non-members £3 ‘Hampton Court Palace Gardens’ with Andrew Sankey. Hear about the 500-year-old gardens which include 60 acres of spectacular formal gardens. hwwgg@yahoo.com

1, 8, 15, 22 & 29

NOVEMBER

St Neots & District Camera Club

7.15pm for 7.30pm Bowls Club, St Neots

Regular talks and competitions. www.stneots-camera-club.org.uk

1, 8, 15, 22 & 29 NOVEMBER

St Neots Sinfonia

7.45-9.30pm Eynesbury Junior School, Montagu Street, Eynesbury Rehearsals are every Tuesday in term time. Tel: 01480 212298 Web: www.stneotssinfonia.org.uk

2 NOVEMBER

Brampton Flower Club

7pm for 7.30pm Lady Olivia Hall, Central Drive, Brampton AGM followed by a talk by David Hart on Hinchingbrooke Hospital Gardens. Meets the first Wednesday of the month. Visitors welcome. www.bramptonflowerclub.com

2 NOVEMBER

Buckden Local History Society

7.30pm Millard Suite, Village Hall Visitors £4, children free ‘Life, Death and Magic in Cambridgeshire: Stories From The Later Prehistoric and Roman Artefacts Found on The A14 Cambridge to Huntingdon Excavations’ by Owen Humphrey, Museum of London Archaeology. Meets first Wednesday of month. www.buckdenhistory.co.uk

2, 9, 16, 23 & 30 NOVEMBER

Kimbolton Bridge Club 10am-12pm Mandeville Hall, Kimbolton Meets every Wednesday for friendly, social bridge. Players of all standards are welcome with or without a partner. Just turn up!

2, 9, 16, 23 & 30 NOVEMBER

St Neots Choral Society

7.30-9.30pm Eynesbury Junior School, Montagu Street, Eynesbury Rehearsals are every Wednesday in term time. Tel: 01480 212298 Web: www.stneotschoral.org.uk

2 & 16 NOVEMBER

St Neots Art Group

7.30pm Roxton Village Hall Members £5, non-members £8 2 Nov - Charcoal painting. Competition title ‘Tea Time’. 16 Nov - Painting with two complimentary colours, any subject of your choice. Art material sale. www. stneotsartgroup.com

3 NOVEMBER

Toddler Time! Boats and the river 10.30-11.30am St Neots Museum Free entry. Join us for fun history activities for children and take home an art creation too! Aimed at 3- and 4-year-olds. Booking essential. stneotsmuseum.org.uk

3 NOVEMBER

Roxton & District Local History Group. 7.15pm for 7.30pm Roxton Village Hall Members free, visitors £4 ‘The Commonwealth War Graves Commission, Its History and Archives’ by Sophie Newton. Email: mariascreen1@gmail.com Web: roxtonhistory.org.uk

3, 10, 17 & 24 NOVEMBER

Riverport Singers 10.15-11.15am The Corn Exchange, St Ives Community choir for people living with dementia, their carers, family and friends. Tel: Agi 07757 811802 Email: agipeach@icloud.com Web: facebook.com/ riverportsingers

3, 10, 17 & 24 NOVEMBER Bingo 7.30pm Alconbury Sports & Social Club Eyes down for the weekly Bingo session! Web: www.assc.org.uk

3, 10, 17 & 24 NOVEMBER

Huntingdon Male Voice Choir 7.30pm Abbots Ripton Village Hall

Huntingdon Male Voice Choir is always pleased to see new singers. No formal audition and you do not need to be able to read music; all you need to do is sing a few notes so the musical director can determine which part of the choir suits you best. www.hmvc.org.uk

3 NOVEMBER-1 DECEMBER

19th Century Russian Music 2-3.45pm Pilgrim Hall, St Neots United Reformed Church

Cost £35. A five-week course with Marina Burrell. Call or email to book. Tel: 01480 217492 stneotslearninggroup@gmail.com

4 NOVEMBER

St Neots Local History Society

7.30pm Eynesbury Primary School

SNLHS members free, visitors £4 ‘Gransden Windmill and other local Windmills -their history, restoration and future’ by Martin Davies of Cambridgeshire Windmills Consultancy. www.stneotslhs.org.uk

4, 11, 18 & 25 NOVEMBER

Great Fen Little Bugs 10.30am-12pm. Great Fen Countryside Centre, Ramsey Heights Wildlife Trust BCN child member £5, non-member £7. A fun and sociable morning of exploration and discovery for pre-school children and their guardians. Web: wildlifebcn.org

5 NOVEMBER

Cambridgeshire and Bedfordshire Hardy Plant Society

2pm Weatherley Centre, Eagle Farm Road, Biggleswade

‘The Salutation – Reviving a Lutyens Classic’ with Steve Edney, Head Gardener at Canterbury Cathedral and nursery owner. Plants for sale. Visitors welcome – small charge. Web: www.hpscambsandbeds.co.uk

WHAT'S ON IN NOVEMBER

5 NOVEMBER

Saints Crafters

9.30-3.30pm Free Church Hall, Market Hill, St Ives

Art and craft fair. Buy original and handmade items direct from the crafter. saintscrafters@gmail.com

7 NOVEMBER

Roman St Neots Revealed 2pm & 7pm St Neots Museum

Tickets £10, Friends of the Museum free. Come and hear a fascinating talk from the Curator about St Neots in Roman times! Book online, by phone, email or visit the museum. Tel: 01480 214163 curators@stneotsmuseum.org.uk Web: stneotsmuseum.org.uk

9 NOVEMBER

The Huntingdonshire Local Group of the Wildlife Trust Meeting 7.30pm. Brampton Memorial Hall, Thrapston Road, Brampton Entry £3.50. ‘Rivers, Catchments and Biodiversity; Anglian Water’s Environment Plan’ with Chris Gerrard. Tel: George 01480 450809 george.cottam@virginmedia.com

11 NOVEMBER

Christmas Shopping Evening 7-9pm

Alconbury C of E Primary School

Free entry. Browse the wide variety of stalls. Refreshments available. E: faces@alconbury.cambs.sch.uk

12 NOVEMBER

Community Led Plan- Coffee, Cakes & Chat. 12-1.30pm Community Pavilion, QEII Playing Field, Little Paxton

The Community Led Plan results for the next 5 years will be displayed. The survey results will be on display at a coffee and chat session.

12 NOVEMBER

Jubilee Time Capsule 1.15pm

QEII Playing Field, Little Paxton

Many village organisations have contributed to the Jubilee Time Capsule. The capsule will be buried on the QEII Playing Field and opened in 70 years. All welcome. Tel: Jenny Gellatly 01480 47019

12 NOVEMBER

Little Paxton Community Litter Pick 1.30-3.30pm

QEII Playing Field, Little Paxton. High Viz jackets, litter grabbers and bin bags provided. Please bring own gloves. Tel: Jenny 01480 470193

12 & 26 NOVEMBER

St Neots Farmers & Craft Market

8am-1.30pm

Products from local food producers and craft makers.

14 NOVEMBER

Perry WI. 7.30pm

Sailability Club House, Grafham Water Centre Tel: Jakki Spall 07703 431900

16 NOVEMBER

Godmanchester WI 7.30pm

Church Hall, Chadley Lane, Godmanchester

Meets the third Wednesday of the month. Regular speakers and activities. New members welcome.

17 NOVEMBER

Crime and Punishment Walk 7.30pm

St Neots Museum Tickets £7 Discover the shocking murders, bank robberies, crimes and punishments from whipping to the death penalty in our crime and punishment walks! Book online, by phone, email or visit the museum. Tel: 01480 214163

Email: curators@stneotsmuseum. org.uk Web: stneotsmuseum.org.uk

18 NOVEMBER

Kimbolton Community Cinema Doors open 7, film 7.30pm

Mandeville Hall, Kimbolton Colin Firth in ‘Operation Mincemeat’ based on the extraordinary true story. Tickets available online or on the door.

Email: kimbolton.cinema@gmail. com Web: www.ticketsource.co.uk/ mandeville-hall-kimbolton

19 NOVEMBER

St Neots Local History Society

2.15pm Priory Centre Guest Hall

SNLHS members free, visitors £4 ‘Oats and Beans and Barley Grow’ a talk by Kate Roberts Archeobotanist from the Museum of London Archaeology Team, about the 9,000+ botanical samples that were collected during the excavations on the A14 Cambridge to Huntingdon road improvement scheme. All welcome. www.stneotslhs.org.uk

19 NOVEMBER

Big Deal Comedy - Stand-up Comedy Night 7.30pm

The Hub, High Street, Cambourne Tickets £10. Reg D Hunter headlines the final comedy night of the year. Advanced booking advised. Web: www.bigdealcomedy.co.uk

19 & 20 NOVEMBER

Hemingford Art Club 2022 Winter Exhibition 10am-4pm

High Street, Hemingford Abbots Free entry

A diverse range of original framed artwork, from a group of very talented artists, as well as art cards, will be on sale. Refreshments. Parking. Wheelchair accessible.

24 NOVEMBER

St Neots & District Gardening Club Meeting 7.30pm

St Mary’s Church Hall, Brook Street, St Neots

Members free, Non-members £2.50 End of year social with seasonal snacks, drinks and entertainment. Competition is a table decoration in a 3 inch/75 mm flowerpot. www.stneotsgardenclub.org.uk

26 NOVEMBER

St Neots Choral Society Concert 7.30pm

St Mary’s Church, Eaton Socon Tickets £15

Celebrating Vaughan Williams. Professional orchestra and soloists. Tickets from choir members or on the door.

Web: www.stneotschoral.org.uk

Gardening

Filling the garden with golden light

Even on an overcast November day, the garden can be bathed in light. But it doesn’t need to come from the sky: plants can provide a golden glow that looks as warm as sunshine.

The stars of the autumn garden are not only spectacular leaves, turning shades of crimson, orange and yellow before they fall from deciduous trees, but ornamental grasses that send spirits soaring. They quietly grow in stature throughout the summer, then burst forth in full glory during autumn and winter, filling borders with joy once most other plants have faded. Grasses soften the understorey in a cloud of luxuriant waves. These are plants to excite and stimulate the senses. The sound of rustling in the autumn breeze cuts through the stillness in the air, evoking memories of the turning tide and of passing time.

The secret of successful planting lies in repeating forms and patterns throughout the space. One or two specimen grasses are certainly worth having, but it’s not until you repeat the theme across the garden that you create an unforgettable sea of beauty.

Top tips for using ornamental grasses in the garden

• Aim for contrast. Think about the backdrop against which your grasses will be seen. An evergreen yew hedge, for example, will make your golden autumn grasses look brighter and bolder than a background of mixed deciduous shrubs. A black wall or fence will provide a similar effect.

• Place taller grasses at the back of the border, such as Miscanthus sinensis ‘Ferner Osten’ (Chinese silver grass), which can reach heights

of 1.5m, and mounded forms of slightly lower grasses in the middle. Miscanthus sinensis ‘Kleine Silberspinne’ (another variation of Chinese silver grass) is a particularly easy grass to grow and it changes colour as winter progresses. Pennisetum alopecuroides ‘Hameln’ (fountain grass) is a rather beautiful smaller grass, and the evergreen or semievergreen Anemanthele lessoniana (pheasant’s tail grass) looks magnificent when placed towards the front of the border, spilling slender foliage and airy flowerheads onto paths.

• Plant most grasses in multiples of odd numbers, if possible. It creates a balanced composition that feels harmonious.

• Consider incorporating structural elements amongst grasses to provide an anchor. Topiary such as tall cones of evergreens, pillars of hornbeam (Carpinus betulus), cloud-pruned trees or multi-stemmed trees can look highly effective.

• Don’t expect all grasses to stay where you put them! Some tend to seed themselves around and the parent plant might eventually fade away. Aim for an informal look that allows this natural transition to take place.

• Research your grasses so that you know how to care for them. Deciduous grasses should be cut down to the ground in very early spring or late winter. Evergreen and semi-evergreen grasses generally need a comb through with a gloved hand in order to remove dead stems. The harder-leafed evergreens sometimes benefit from a very light pruning, just removing damaged stems.

Caroline Knight: Gardendesignideas.co.uk

Rabbits in Rescue Care

In recent years the number of rabbits coming into rescue has been increasing, with last year alone seeing a jump in rabbit intake of 28 percent. This year is already superseding that with all local and national rabbit rescues full and with waiting lists. Rabbits come into rescue care for all kinds of reasons. They may come in as stray rabbits, have been abandoned or dumped by previous owners, or owners can simply no longer care for them. Rabbits are incredibly social creatures and should mostly be homed with as a pair, so commonly if one half of that partnership passes away, the other often ends up in rescue due to single rabbits needing much more care and attention.

A pair of rabbits we have at RSPCA Bedfordshire North Branch at the moment are Scooby and Scrappy. They came into our care after they were taken to a local vet by a member of the public who found them as strays. They were advertised as found and the owners were eventually tracked down, only to advise the vet practice they no longer wanted the rabbits. They have now been with our foster carer for almost two months, in which time both boys have been neutered, vaccinated and litter trained. They are beautiful little rabbits with very big personalities, and although a bonded pair are very much chalk and cheese! Scooby is the bigger of the two with a shiny, soft coat and black markings on his face. He is definitely the more timid of the pair and relies on Scrappy’s confidence, preferring to let him have the attention than get any himself, however he absolutely loves to run around the garden and is

Scooby

often caught doing his big binky’s across the lawn. Scrappy is just as his names suggests! He is much smaller than Scooby and always has a scruffy, fluffy looking coat. He is a very cheeky little rabbit that has to explore every tiny nook and cranny he can find, and also likes to dig. He generally doesn’t have any fear and unlike Scooby, is quite happy to be picked up, hand fed treats or the odd head rubs. One thing they do have in common though is their love of food. They come running to the door each morning to get their breakfast and love nothing more than getting their daily veggies.

Scooby and Scrappy are looking for a new loving home to go to where they have secure shelter and plenty of outdoor space to enjoy. They are currently living as outdoor rabbits, but could also easily be rehomed as house rabbits. Please be aware the minimum size requirement for a sheltered enclosure is 6ft x 2ft x 2ft with additional, accessible exercise space of 8ft x 4ft.

For more information about adopting Scooby and Scrappy or any other animals in our care, please contact our Branch by emailing adopt@rspcabedfordshirenorth.org.uk or phoning 01234 266965. We are a local Branch of the RSPCA working within North Bedfordshire.

Private Property

Avoiding the types of buyers who can make life difficult if selling your car privately.

1. The Telephone Timewasters

You may find countless people phoning up asking endless questions – remember, buyers will be as wary about the process as sellers. The best way to avoid this is to make your listing as detailed as possible, adding lots of photos.

2. The Go-Slow No-Shower

Those looking to buy a car privately will doubtless have several options on the go at once, meaning you can be messed about because your prospective buyer has had his or her head turned elsewhere.

3. The Part-ex Stress

You may find your motor is attracting the interest of traders who would rather negotiate a part-exchange than an offer of straight cash.

4. The Arty Barterer

A huge worry for many vendors is agreeing a price over the phone only to find someone at your door pressuring you for a discount.

5. The Comeback Kings

In the event of something going wrong with the car in the immediate time after it’s bought, the buyer will also have your home address so is likely to come knocking if anything seems wrong in those weeks post-purchase.

6. Not-so-Smooth criminals

Ensure all monies have been transferred before handing over documentation, be wary over PayPal transactions (which can be refunded) and if accepting cash, check notes carefully.

Books to Gift

It’s Christmas Everywhere Hannah Barnaby and João Fazenda Looking for a Christmas Eve book for pre-schoolers? You’ve found it. This tree-shaped board book introduces children to global festive traditions, from stencilling apples in China to making paper boats in Greece. With its brightly coloured illustrations and simple rhyming Christmas countdown, this is sure to become a new family favourite. Get Changed by Kat Farmer Kat Farmer (who you may know better as @doesmybumlook40) is on a mission to help people express their identity through their clothes. This book is for people who’ve fallen out of love with their wardrobe. For people who loathe clothes shopping but want to look good again. And for those who just want some helpful tips for creating outfits and accessorising. Full-colour illustrations, down-toearth writing and straightforward advice make Get Changed a winner.

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