Alconbury Sept 2020

VILLAGER The

Issue 100 - September 2020

and Town

Life

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

In this issue The History of Time Back to School 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...

Dazzling Dahlias

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Dazzling Dahlias........................................................ 26 Puppy Problems? Wood Green are here to help......... 29 Midnight Visitors....................................................... 30 Best Locations for a Post-Lockdown Road Trip........... 32 Back to School........................................................... 35 Puzzle Page............................................................... 36 Insert Coin to Play!.................................................... 38 Villager Prize Crossword............................................ 42 Books of Self-Discovery............................................. 44 Useful Numbers........................................................ 47

A Brief History of Time................................................. 4 Nick Coffer’s Weekend Recipe...................................... 8 Drinks: Time for a Beer.............................................. 10 Football Needs Footfall............................................. 12 Spectacular Sunsets.................................................. 14 Does it matter what you wear?................................. 16 Together We Run - East Anglian Air Ambulance........ 21 Lack of Interest.......................................................... 22 Outdoor Dining......................................................... 24

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Outdoor Dining

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, Nick Coffer, Trevor Langley, Jennie Billings, John Lister, Katherine Sorrell, Rachael Leverton, Wood Green, RSPCA, Bob Grant and Kate Duggan

Advertising Sales/Local Editorial Nigel Frost • Tel: 01767 261122 nigel@villagermag.com Front Cover Photography - Zdenek Weber 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

By Catherine Rose

A Brief History of Time For thousands of years human beings have used devices invented to measure the passage of time.

As the sun moved across the sky, people were able to measure the day’s passing with obelisks and sundials, by monitoring their shadows. Some of the earliest clocks were stone obelisks built by the ancient Egyptians in 3500 BC. Sundials, which show the height of the sun using a shadow-casting rod called a gnomon attached to a marked plate, feature widely across many ancient cultures including in India. The world’s biggest sundial dates from the sixteenth century and can still be visited at Jantar Mantar in Jaipur.

Sundials remained in popular use until the nineteenth century. During Shakespeare’s time, people even carried pocket sundials, referred to by the bard in his play As You Like It:“…he drew a dial from his poke [bag].”

However, measuring time using the sun is problematic, as it only works during daylight hours when it is not cloudy. To overcome this and

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determine time at night, another method used graduated candles whose measured burn could also calculate passing hours.

In around 1400 BC the ancient Greeks built water clocks, but they were probably invented in ancient Egypt. Known as clepsydrae, they basically consisted of two containers, one placed higher than the other. Water would drip slowly from the top container to the bottom, while markers inside the lower container showed how much time had elapsed.

Subsequent developments of the water clock resulted in increasingly complex use of floats and gears that moved a hand on a face, anticipating the modern clock.

From the seventh century the Chinese not only built huge water clocks but also more accurate timepieces, based on similar principles that employed mercury. In the eleventh century an Arab engineer named Ibn Khalaf Al-Muradi built a water clock with a sophisticated gear mechanism,

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which almost certainly influenced the subsequent invention of the mechanical clock.

Another popular and iconic timepiece was the hourglass. Consisting of two blown glass bulbs joined by a narrow neck and commonly filled with sand, hourglasses work on a similar principle to the water clock. They were reasonably accurate and used to measure time at sea. Portuguese navigator Ferdinand Magellan had eighteen hourglasses on each of his ships during a circumnavigation of the globe in 1522. Even today we still use the minute version to time the perfectly boiled egg!

It was around the fourteenth century that the first mechanical clocks with gears and escapements were invented in Europe. The old English word for a clock was daegmael meaning ‘day measure’.

It was at this time that the word ‘clock’ came into parlance, derived from the Latin word clocca meaning ‘bell’, as mechanical clocks were made to strike the hour rather than display time.

Operated by weights, these clocks were usually large and heavy so tended to feature in church towers. The clock in Salisbury Cathedral is one of the oldest surviving examples of a working mechanical clock, built in 1386 out of hand-worked iron.

In 1450 the coiled spring mechanism was invented, which heralded portable clocks and watches. The oldest pocket watch is the spherical Melanchthon Watch made in 1530.

In 1656 Christiaan Huygens invented the first pendulum clock, which kept time more accurately than anything previously. It was found that the longer the pendulum, the greater the accuracy, which is how the Grandfather clock developed.

Pendulum clocks remained the standard right up

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until the invention of quartz clocks in 1927.

Thomas Tompion is known as the Father of English Clockmaking. Born in Bedfordshire in 1639, the thatched cottage where he grew up can still be seen in the small village of Ickwell. The son of the village blacksmith, he was apprenticed to a clockmaker in London, eventually becoming renowned for his clock and watchmaking skills. His timepieces were so well made that many of them are still in operation and command very high prices.

A favourite with royalty, two of his ‘year clocks’ still reside at Buckingham Palace.

During the nineteenth century, industrialisation made it more important to keep track of time and the ownership of pocket watches expanded greatly.

We tend to think of the wristwatch as being a relatively modern invention but in fact they have been around for a lot longer. It is recorded that a bracelet with a portable coiled spring timepiece was made for Queen Elizabeth I and given to her as a gift by Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester, in 1571.

It was purportedly described at the time as an ‘armlet’ having: “…in the closing thearof a clocke, and in the forepart of the same a faire lozengie djamond without a foyle, hanging thearat a rounde juell fully garnished with dyamondes and a perle pendaunt.”

However, any timepieces worn on the wrist were seen as no more than ladies’ jewellery, and the first purpose-built wristwatches for men were not produced until the early 1900s.

Today, we have seen the advent of the digital watch, mechanisms that no longer need winding, and atomic clocks accurate to a second within 100 million years – more than the length of human timekeeping itself.

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Food & Drink

Summer king prawn, squid and chilli spaghetti

Serves 4 people

Of course this pasta can be eaten all year round, but for me it screams summer. Holidays spent on the coasts of southern Europe, enjoying exactly this kind of sunshine dish, usually accompanied by a crisp glass of white wine. Extremely quick to put together and so colourful on the plate, this is one of my absolute favourites.

Ingredients 450g spaghetti 1 small onion, finely chopped 3 cloves garlic, peeled and finely chopped 2 red chillis, finely sliced 1 bag frozen raw king prawns, shelled 4 fresh squid (or frozen), sliced into rings 1 glass white wine 10-12 small cherry tomatoes, quartered Large handful parsley, finely chopped Olive oil, salt and pepper

1. Cook the pasta in a large bowl of well salted water as per the packet instructions.

2. Meanwhile, heat a glug of oil in a large pan and gently fry off the onions for 3-4 minutes.

3. Chuck in the garlic and chilli and cook for a further couple of minutes.

4. Stir through the prawns and the squid and cook for a minute.

The prawns will start to turn pink.

5. Add in the wine and the tomatoes and let the sauce simmer fairly vigorously for a couple of minutes to reduce the wine.

6. Add in the chopped parsley and season to taste.

7. Drain the pasta and stir it well into the sauce. Leave it sit for a couple of minutes so that the pasta takes on all the flavours of the sauce.

8. Serve immediately (with parmesan if, like me, you don’t mind going against tradition and always eat parmesan with your pastas, even seafood ones!)

BBC Three Counties Radio presenter and cook, Nick Coffer 8

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Food & Drink

Drinks: Time for a Beer Wild Card Brewery was established during 2012. Today, this brewery can boast much deserved recognition, having award-winning productions amongst their beers. Delivering throughout the UK, Wild Card ales can also be located at numerous bars, pubs, restaurants, supermarkets and retail outlets.

TABLE BEER (2.7% vol) was developed for beer drinkers who require or prefer an ale with a low ABV. This production does not compromise on taste, with its tropical fruit flavours pleasing the tastebuds.

PALE ALE (4.3% vol) utilises Citra, Ekuanot and Cascade hops to great advantage. Hugely popular with pale ale lovers, I found this easy-drinking beer, refreshing.

RASPBERRY GOSE (4.6% vol) has been created with the sour beers of Northern Germany in mind. It is fruity, having raspberry added towards the end of the fermentation process. Again refreshing, this is classed as a sour, salted, wheat beer and regularly chosen by ‘devotees’ of this type of ale.

For IPA drinkers there are several excellent selections available from the Wild Card Brewery. UNITE TRIBUTE IPA (5.4% vol) is brewed with Citra and Simcoe hops and dedicated to Ada Lovelace, an English mathematician and writer. This beer delights the nasal senses and entices the mouth’s pleasures to follow.

NEIPA (5.4% vol), INDIA PALE ALE (5.5%vol) and ELLA (5.7% vol) are three further IPA beers that are enjoyed, constantly. Good aromas are evident and tropical fruits hold the interest for the mouthfeel, continuing through to the finish.

For a higher ABV and still with IPA productions, CASHMERE (5.8% vol) has Mosaic, Citra, Ella, plus Cashmere hops and IPA (6.1% vol), which is classed as West Coast, are great for nose appeal, with the latter using Citra and Simcoe hops. I would describe both of these smooth productions as being big on flavour – to the last, very enjoyable, drop!

These are just a selection from the most impressive ranges of beers produced by the Wild Card Brewery Company. Brewery tours and experiences are offered too and have become increasingly popular.

Information and advice is always available, along with party hire, arrangements and attractive merchandise.

Wild Card Brewery, Lockwood Way, Walthamstow, London, E17 5RB. www.wildcardbrewery.co.uk E-mail: info@wildcardbrewery.co.uk Tel: 44 (0) 208 935 5560

As always, Enjoy!

ey Trevor Langl

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Special Report

Football Needs Footfall Just like every other aspect of the economy, football has suffered a significant loss of revenue during the coronavirus pandemic.

For anyone in love with the beautiful game, two questions arise: firstly, how will football clubs survive amid social distancing and other measures? Secondly, what can supporters do to keep local teams alive?

The Impact of Coronavirus So Far The impact of the lockdown on football included a premature end to League One and League Two seasons. English Premier League and Championship games did manage to resume in early June behind closed doors, which allowed the leagues to progress to a natural conclusion.

However, from lost match-day revenues through to cancelled contracts for ancillary services e.g. advertising and sponsorship, all clubs face a cash-flow squeeze.

The big clubs are generally more financially secure anyway and did manage to recover some revenue from television rights at the end of last season. The story is very different for the lower league and nonleague teams, which rely on supporter attendance for the bulk of their income.

The Future of Football in the New Season Even if, by the time you read this article, the government guidance has changed to allow football attendance, social-distancing rules will reduce the number of people allowed in to watch the game live.

Lower league teams have smaller turnouts anyway, meaning the financial impact will continue well into the new season and perhaps in the years to come.

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Helping Your Local Team The biggest risk to most smaller teams during this pandemic is the inability to balance their books.

Dwindling income from match-day revenues and ticket sales have left many clubs with deficits that they will struggle to clear. More than ever, the support of their fans is essential for survival.

• Buy a season ticket even if you know you are unlikely to make it to every game.

• Many clubs have turned to fundraising in an effort to stay afloat so if you can see an opportunity to both support and spread the word about their plans, make every effort to do so.

• Sales of replica kits and badged wear – from scarfs to bags – really make a difference both in club’s revenues and in keeping the club’s name known in your local area.

Staying Safe at Football Matches There are going to be social-distancing measures in place – that’s a given. But every football lover has a role to play to ensure football matches remain safe in order to keep stadiums open. Yes, it’s uncomfortable to wear a mask – but not half as uncomfortable as catching the virus. Yes, your team can’t hear you shouting or cheering as clearly, but ironically it’s that very activity that is ideal for sending the virus out beyond the usual two metres.

Support for your local team means more today than ever before. Whether it’s through fundraising, buying team merchandise or a season ticket, there is something every football fan can do to help.

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Photography

Spectacular Sunsets Autumn is the best time of year for beautiful sunsets. Have you ever tried to capture one and been disappointed with the result? Sunsets can be devilishly tricky to capture well, but we have a few tips.

Choose the time and place – If you’re serious about sunsets make a note of places where they are particularly good then head there before the sunset to give you time to set your camera up. There are websites which tell you what time the sun will set on a particular day.

Try www.timeanddate.com/sun/ Foreground is important – The best sunset photos tend to have something of interest in the foreground, generally silhouetted. This provides a focal point. Look for an attractive tree, or a wind farm, and even pylons can look impressive in front of a sunset.

Patience is also important – Sunset actually goes on for quite a long time. As the sun dips beneath the horizon it can produce some spectacular shots, but afterwards, the colours of the sky can become even more rich and beautiful, so hang around.

So is a tripod! The best shots are often longer exposures, so they will look shaky unless you secure your camera to a tripod.

Ignore ‘the rule of thirds’ – The sunset is the star so place your horizon really low down in the shot. This fills the image with colour.

Remember reflections - If you are near water take full advantage of doubling the impact of your sunset. In this instance try placing the horizon at exactly halfway or shoot only the reflections. Experiment and have fun.

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St Neots Museum NOW OPEN Tuesday to Saturday 11.00am - 4.00pm www.stneotsmuseum.org.uk St Neots Museum, 8 New Street, PE19 1AE Tel: 01480 214163

On our website Battle of Britain article Family craft activities Family trail around St Neots town centre KS2 local history videos Toddler Time Art Exhibitions

The Kimbolton Coin Hoard and Iron Age St Neots

Temporary Exhibition The Upcycling Crafter by Frances Corlett 1st July - 19th September 2020

Now on until Saturday 14th October 2017 at St Neots Museum

Museum shop open Books, cards, toys, fossils, jewellery, handmade gifts, souvenirs

Visit our website or search for St Neots Museum on YouTube to find our content.

www.stneotsmuseum.org.uk www.stneotsmuseum.org.uk Hands on activities include, excavate hidden treasures in our sand tray, add a leaf to our oak tree and make an offering in our ‘well’.

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram

St Neots Museum, The Old Court, 8 New Street, St Neots Tel: 01480 214163 Open: Tuesday to Saturday 11.00am - 4.00pm

Admission Free to Local Residents

Other visitors: Adults £3.00, Seniors £2.00, Children £1.00

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@StNeotsMuseum @stneotsmuseum @stneotsmuseum 15

House of Colour

Does it matter what you wear?

Why I do care…

As part of a style consultation one of the questions in the personality quiz we ask is whether you are interested or not interested in clothing/shopping.

This might seem an odd question as you must surely be, to be in the room in the first place? Well, not entirely. You may hate clothes shopping, have no desire to wander about shops at all but you still want to look and feel good. It still matters to us, whether that’s because we have a role that means we are under the spotlight and want to look right or because for our own sense of wellbeing we want to feel good in what we wear.

I have always cared, always been interested in shopping and clothing and fashion. My parents have always believed in dressing smartly to demonstrate that you care about yourself and the work you do. It’s a sign of appreciation to a host that you have dressed for the occasion, marking the effort that they too have made in their hospitality. Thus clothing is and has been a signifier to others. We may not like that view, not subscribe to it and yet it might be hard for us to iron out the way we judge others internally based on what they’re wearing. We can’t really help ourselves.

My driver has always been how clothes made me feel. I have always liked to think that I looked my best, although on many occasions struggled to understand whether that really was the case. I’ve sat uncomfortably in offices, pulled at clothes, left things that I thought were lovely sitting in a wardrobe for ever thinking that one day I would find the perfect occasion to pull them out. I have saved lots of things ‘for best’, which never came, only to realise years later that they were now never going to be used.

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I’ve been to parties feeling incredibly self-conscious and unable to fully enjoy the occasion feeling uncomfortable in my chosen outfit.

How I’ve winced at photographs… The money wasted, the time lost, the anxiety created.

It’s incredible the effect clothing can have on us, yet when we shop it can all be lost on ‘that’ll do’.

We’re overwhelmed, unsure, limited on time and lack clarity as to what is right, then we’re making snap decisions just to get it done. Soon we have a wardrobe of clothes that give us a slight (or even severe) sinking feeling.

My own revelation was to understand the why.

Why, though I loved the tweed jacket on lots of people it wasn’t ‘doing it’ for me when I put it on.

Oh the joy to know that I needn’t worry about it any longer, a classic jacket was never going to work. Of course not. I can walk away, enjoy looking at it on others. There are other things out there for me and they definitely make me feel good, whatever the occasion. I know what will do and what won’t – so could you.

By Jennie Billings, Colour and Style Consultant, House of Colour www.houseofcolour.co.uk/jenniebillings e:jennie.billings@houseofcolour.co.uk

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Local News

Air ambulance call on Cambridgeshire

to help run 2,000 miles in September Together We Run is a new fundraising challenge from East Anglian Air Ambulance (EAAA), encouraging the people of Bedfordshire to pledge miles towards a collective 2,000 mile target.

EAAA normally organises several mass participation challenge events throughout the year, raising hundreds of thousands of pounds to help keep its yellow helicopters flying and saving lives. These events cannot go ahead this year, so the charity is asking its supporters to take part in Together We Run instead, a virtual fundraising challenge from 14 – 20 September, to run (or walk) a combined 2,000 miles, wherever and whenever suits them.

Celebrate 20 years together A 2,000 mile target has been chosen as EAAA was established in September 2000, twenty years ago. EAAA would like to thank all of their supporters over the last 20 years which has enabled them to help more than 17,000 local people when they needed emergency care.

EAAA does not receive regular government funding and relies on the generosity and kindness of local people to save lives.

Signing up to take part in Together We Run is a simple way to help celebrate this milestone for the charity – and the region - at a time when we can’t physically come together. Participants can walk or run as much or as little as they like, and are encouraged to submit their activity using exercise tracking app, Strava.

Join a Team and see who will be crowned the winners?

To add an extra element of fun to this challenge, there will also be four Together We Run teams, headed up by members of the EAAA crew. Deputy Medical Director Doctor Pam Chrispin, Consultant Doctor Neil Berry, Consultant Doctor Drew Welch and Doctor Joanna Stevens.

Participants will be randomly allocated to one of these teams. Team points will be awarded not just on the number of miles completed per team, but also for every pound raised to help keep the EAAA crews airborne and saving lives.

Team Captain, Deputy Medical Director, Dr Pam Chrispin said: “If you take part in Together We Run, you could be in my team! I’ve been a doctor with EAAA for 12 years and just love everything about this charity, especially the way that it puts its patients at the centre of everything it does.

“It’s really simple. We can’t fly without community support and donations, and we’re incredibly lucky to have been here for 20 years already. We’re really excited

Dr Pam Chrispin of EAAA is ready to lead her team to victory in the new Together We Run virtual fundraising challenge.

to be organising our first virtual challenge event to ensure that our fundraising can carry on safely this year, so I encourage everyone to take part – even if it’s just walking one or two miles. Your support will help to keep our yellow helicopters flying and saving lives.

“I’ll be aiming to run three miles. I used to run a lot but age and dodgy hips curtailed that some years ago, so three miles is going to be painful for me. If I can do that, anyone can play their part so please commit even if it’s just one mile. Every mile earns a pile!”

Events Manager, Leanne Kershaw, added: “We really wanted to be able to find a way to bring people together this year, especially as we are about to reach our 20th anniversary milestone, and we know we simply wouldn’t be here without the fantastic community which keeps us flying. So, please join us in September to collectively walk or run 2,000 miles to celebrate saving lives together for the last twenty years.”

To take part, tickets range from £5 to £15. Additional fundraising is encouraged. For more information and to sign up, go to www.eaaa.org.uk/werun

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Finance

A Lack of Interest With the Bank of England’s base rate at a historic low of 0.1%, you might think it couldn’t possibly go any lower. The economic challenge of COVID-19 could change that, with speculation that the rate could actually drop below zero. It brings to mind a topsy-turvy world of banks paying people to borrow money and savings shrinking away, but what would actually happen?

Between the 2007-8 financial crash and the economic uncertainty of Brexit, the Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee has had plenty of reason to use low rates to ease economic concerns. The idea is to deter saving and promote consumer spending by making borrowing cheaper.

The Bank of England confirmed in May that it is considering using the rate cut tool again and having negative rates for the first time ever in this country.

It’s a highly unusual tactic but has been used in the Nordic region and Japan in the past decade.

The effects are still an unknown quantity, however.

With mortgages, many tracker rates have a minimum floor so homeowners wouldn’t get negative rates.

In countries which have had a negative rate, a few lenders have dropped the variable interest rate charged to borrowers below zero.

Usually in those cases, the customer would continue to make the same monthly payment but more of it would go toward paying off the capital rather than the interest, so eventually the mortgage would be paid off earlier.

Risk-free savings accounts are already paying miserly

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By John Lister

interest thanks to the low base rate, so there’s unlikely to be much change there. A reduction to zero interest on such accounts is possible, at which point they’d mainly be a way of balancing risk.

Credit cards and personal loans shouldn’t see much difference as there’s already a lot of variation among different lenders and customers, so the base rate has less influence. The ‘standard’ rate on a card may drop a little, but that shouldn’t make much difference to people who make savvy use of introductory offers and balance transfers.

Perhaps the biggest question mark is the effect on current accounts, which could be a game of chicken.

Most high street banks theoretically have the power to apply negative rates. However, it’s questionable if any would really want the bad publicity of being the first bank to start ‘taking people’s money’. The more likely options are that the major banks all do so at the same time, or that they instead introduce fixed monthly fees to use a bank account.

Overall then, if the base rate did go below zero, it’s unlikely banks would pass on the effects to customers in a way that undermined the basic principles of saving and borrowing and produced ‘illogical’ effects. Instead it’s more likely banks would simply be a bit more willing to lend more money to more people and to be a bit less enthusiastic about trying to attract new savers.

John Lister (www.johnlisterwriting.com) is a freelance writer based in Bristol, specialising in technology and personal finance.

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At Oakleigh Residential Home we take great pride in maintaining the highest standards of care for our residents. Our home is set out in large gardens with easy access, 24 bright and comfortable, single-occupancy rooms and in-house cooks who create appetising and varied menu’s.

01480 890248 stonnell.oakleigh@outlook.com 22 North Road, Alconbury Weston, Huntingdon, PE28 4JR.

We provide 24 hour care and can accommodate clients who require dementia care.

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05/12/2016 11:03

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Interiors

By Katherine Sorrell

Outdoor Dining 1

With comfortable, practical furnishings – and a dose of good weather – there is nothing nicer than eating al fresco What could be more enjoyable than a quiet breakfast, casual family lunch or sundowner barbecue in the garden, on the patio or even on the balcony? These days we are treating our outside spaces more and more as an extra room, ‘furnished’ not only with dining chairs and a table but, increasingly, with comfy sofas and armchairs, coffee and side tables, lighting, exterior-quality rugs, raised bars and even pizza ovens or complete outdoor kitchens.

Placing your dining furniture When it’s just a case of a quick cup of tea and a slice of toast, a small perching spot is all that’s required; perhaps a chair, bench, stool or arbour in a quiet corner with a pretty view. But for spending any time dining comfortably outside, a little more planning is necessary. Pick a place that’s not too far from the kitchen door so that you can get food and drink in and out without too much fuss. But think about what the furniture will look like when viewed from the house – will it block your view of

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a favourite shrub, or enhance the overall setting?

And there are some specific practicalities. Is there enough space for the required table size (including space to walk around it and pull the chairs out)?

Is the ground level and dry? Is the area clear of overhanging branches? Will it be too sunny, or always in the shade?

What to choose?

The next big question is what type to buy. Consider what works best for your style of property, the overall look of your garden and your lifestyle. It could be: a bar set that takes up little space, ideal for drinks and nibbles; a large, formal table with six or even eight chairs for a classic dining experience; a casual dining set with a cushioned sofa and lower chairs; or a small bistro set for two. Options include dual-height tables that enable you to go from dining to lounging, or a gas-powered fire-pit table that provides warm, flickering flames for entertaining into the evenings.

Advances in design, technology and materials

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means modern outdoor furniture is comfortable, low maintenance and durable, and available in a huge number of styles and materials. For a more traditional feel, you might opt for natural rattan, Lloyd Loom, teak or oak, in generous, curving shapes, while a more modern space might incorporate steel, aluminium, outdoor wicker or upholstered, weatherproof fabric, featuring slim, angular forms and a minimal outline.

Luxurious touches Adding outdoor cushions to your dining set adds a lovely dash of colour and pattern as well as additional comfort – and there are all sorts of extra touches you might wish to consider. A parasol, for example. But instead of a simple shade that slots into the centre of a table, why not a side-post parasol that raises, lowers, tilts and rotates, and that even comes with a light and a Bluetooth speaker? Go for maximum impact lighting with an oversized garden chandelier or giant floor lamp, or a row of torcherès that lead to the dining table.

Add an outdoor rug, made from polypropylene to withstand sun, rain or snow. And finally, how about a table-top pizza oven to cook you and your guests an authentic stone-baked pizza in minutes?

Delicious.

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Extend your evenings outdoors with flexible lighting If you are renovating your garden and have the opportunity to add some external lighting, it is well worth considering the additional investment.

Not only will you be able to enjoy your outside space later into the evenings, but it will highlight interesting features, help guide you safely in the dark and provide additional security. Because a new outdoor lighting circuit must conform to Building Regulations, always use a qualified electrician.

• A floodlight with a wide beam, set at least two metres off the ground, is effective at providing general light. Make sure it won’t annoy your neighbours, though.

• Wall lights are ideal for passageways and either side of an entrance. Consider security sensors that switch lights on when a visitor approaches.

• Use spotlights to highlight specific elements, such as a sculptural plant or a water feature.

• For a party atmosphere, wind, weave and swag strings of lights around trees, posts and trellises.

• If you don’t have any outside power, consider solar lights or battery-operated LEDs. They are inexpensive and easy to install, and available in a range of styles from strings of fairy lights to candles and lanterns.

1 This Pro Series of festoon lights fills your space with an ambient glow, perfect for summer soirees.

Five metres of warm white LED connectable festoon lights, £30, Lights4Fun: 01423 816 040; lights4fun.co.uk.

2. Made from durable steel, this dining set is both practical and stylish. Rope dining set, £399, Dobbies Garden Centres: 0131 561 6406; dobbies.com.

3. This foldable bistro set echoes Parisian café furniture and comes in an array of colours.

Rive Droite bistro set, small, in Clay, £120, Garden Trading: 01993 845 559; gardentrading.co.uk.

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Garden View

By Rachael Leverton

Dazzling Dahlias Over the past few years, I’ve fallen in love with dahlias for their ability to provide autumn colour.

I think Dahlias are like the glamorous friend who arrives late to the party, fresh and full of life, outshining all the other guests who are a bit tired and past their best...or maybe that’s just me being fanciful.

Either way the vibrant colours, tactile textures and stunning petal formations make the Dahlia queen of the September garden for me.

The dahlia originates from Mexico and there are 30 species and around 20,000 cultivars! Don’t let its exotic past fool you; it hails from high mountain regions so is happy in cool, wet, and windy conditions. It doesn’t matter what size your garden is there is a dahlia for you, from dwarf varieties to giants. There is even one variety (Imperialis) that can reach 6m (20 feet) in the wild in its native South America.

If your garden is on the exposed side, or you live in the north then look for the pompom varieties as the colourful globes are very hardy, standing up to the worst of the British weather.

Dahlia bulbs are comprised of tubers. In order to sprout the tuber must have an ‘eye’. If you live in a very cold area, you can dig up the tubers at the end of the season and plant them out again the following year. My garden is quite sheltered, so I simply cut them down and mulch them. I learned the hard way that mulched dahlias survive and thrive much better than unmulched plants. Dahlia tubers are hungry

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beasts and don’t take kindly to being undernourished.

The first year I planted them I didn’t mulch and the second year the flowers were sparse and undersized.

On the advice of a neighbour I fed them, mulched them, and watered them through the hot season, and they returned in full vigour the following year.

Dahlias come in the most amazing array of colours.

‘Lubega Power Yellow-Orange’ sounds like a toilet cleaner but is in fact a gloriously tropical dwarf bedding dahlia which produces masses of double flowers well into autumn if you deadhead it regularly.

At 30cm you can plant it at the front of the border or in window boxes to brighten the dullest of days.

Dahlia ‘Cornel Brons’ produces wonderful round copper-coloured architectural flowers. They are longlasting and make spectacular cut flowers. They look good in the middle of a border because they grow to 90cm.

For gardeners who prefer a more subtle or unusual colour palette: Dahlia ‘Cafe aux Lait produces enormous exquisite blooms in a soft apricot-pink colour, which fade to vintage cream. It’s the perfect dahlia for creating a focal point toward the back of the border as it grows to 120cm.

Dahlia ‘Creme de Cassis’ has stunning two-tone petals on water lily-shaped flowers. It grows to 90cm so is good for the middle of a border and also looks fabulous in a big pot.

Happy Gardening!

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Local News

Puppy problems? Wood Green are here to help

Puppies welcomed into new homes during lockdown have missed key learning experiences and will soon be reaching adolescence, a time when they typically display more challenging behaviours.

Wood Green, The Animals Charity has services to support puppy owners in need of advice, behavioural support and if they are no longer able to care for their pet.

Wood Green’s Pet Support team has begun to see an increase in enquiries about puppies like Trinity the Lurcher, who was purchased at the beginning of lockdown. The new owners were led to believe that she was eight weeks old, but the vet confirmed that she was only six weeks old and too young to be separated from her mother. Trinity’s owners described her as sweet and well-behaved most of the time, but she began mouthing which caused the children in the home to be afraid of her.

When advice from a paid behaviourist didn’t help, Trinity’s owners contacted Wood Green in July and made the hard decision to hand her over.

They said: “We decided to bring Trinity to Wood Green because we realised that simply selling her may result in her being resold again due to her mouthing issues and, in the long term, she may end up at a rescue centre with even more behavioural problems.

“We believe that Wood Green can provide the training she needs and have the experience to find her the best home. Giving Trinity away was a heartbreaking experience, but all we want is for her to be healthy and happy.”

Specialists at Wood Green are available to pet owners facing difficulty with a puppy, or any other pet. The team has decades of experience in dog behaviour and training, offering free one-to-one behavioural support and a range of training classes for a nominal fee. With a dramatic increase in puppy scams over the past few months, the charity can also advise anyone looking to get a new pet and guide them through the process.

Sue Ketland, Dog Behaviour & Training Specialist at Wood Green, said: “We understand that puppies can be hard work at the best of times, and even more so given the current circumstances. Social distancing has made it more difficult to socialise puppies with other dogs and people, face-to-face training classes haven’t been possible and with everyone spending more time at home, puppies may struggle to cope when left alone. It’s not too late to resolve any issues, like Trinity’s puppy mouthing, and we are here for every pet owner.”

Life can be unpredictable and some puppy owners may no longer be able to look after their pets.

Whatever the reason, be it work or financial pressures, health, or simply not having enough time to dedicate to a pet, Wood Green can help. Their friendly team will listen, advise and, if someone needs to hand over their pet, will take the animal into their care to find them a loving new home.

Talk to Wood Green’s team on 0300 303 9333 or visit www.woodgreen.org.uk

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Pets

Midnight Visitors I have yet to name my midnight visitor, but I feel very fortunate to have him. Or her. Most nights I see him scuttling across the decking, as though he were on a secret mission. My sweet little hedgehog is of course in search of insects and grubs. But in the stillness of the night I cannot help but create this alter ego.

Where has he come from? Why has he chosen my garden? How long will he stay? I did some research in order to find out.

Facts About Hedgehogs Between April and November, hedgehogs visit peoples gardens in search of food, as they need to accumulate fat in Autumn, ready for their hibernation in early winter. They can travel up to a staggering 3 miles in one evening as they forage for things like worms, berries, insects, caterpillars, slugs and beetles.

Even though hedgehogs are nocturnal creatures, they have been known to venture out during the day – especially after it has rained. Hedgehogs are solitary creatures and will commence this lifestyle having only spent between 4 and 7 weeks with their mother.

Interestingly, the hedgehog has not always been called a hedgehog. They used to be called urchins, which then led to the naming of sea urchins. Baby hedgehogs are called hoglets.

How To Care For Hedgehogs Most of us love to have tidy gardens, but this isn’t always an ideal environment for a hedgehog. They enjoy creating homes in piles of leaves and compost heaps. They are very resourceful creatures. For this reason it is important to check any wood piles you have been building. Similarly, when using forks,

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spades, mowers and strimmers take care that you have checked the specific areas of the garden, as hedgehog maybe taking refuge or hibernating in them. You could make or buy a hedgehog house and feeding station. Ponds are great ways of attracting wildlife into your garden. Hedgehogs will drink from them, but have been known to fall in. Although they can swim, you must make sure there is an easy way out for the hedgehogs so they don’t get stuck and drown. A gently sloping edge or ramp perhaps, with some pebbles and rocks.

Do’s And Don’ts Don’t be tempted to leave a saucer of milk outside for your little prickly friend. Hedgehogs are lactose intolerant and would much prefer water.

Do leave out dog/cat food if you wish to supplement the hedgehogs diet.

Don’t use slug pellets in the garden as they will harm or kill hedgehogs.

Do ensure that hedgehogs can get in and out of your garden. A square hole that is anything between 10-15cm is an adequate size. If you can’t create this in your fencing, a tunnel could be dug going under it. Get together with your neighbours and create a hedgehog highway!

If you need to contact our Branch (North Bedfordshire) for any reason we can be reached by the details below, or for an animal welfare issue or emergency, contact 0300 1234 999.

Lines are open 7 days a week 24/7.

Email: info@rspcabedsnorth.org.uk Tel: 01234 266965 / 01234 930304

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31

Motoring

The best locations for a post-lockdown road trip The loss of complete freedom to travel didn’t stop us from planning ahead.

This year brought unprecedented changes to our freedom to travel as we wish. Now, we can turn our attention to what we’ll do with the relaxation of lockdown. Here are a few road trip ideas.

Scottish Highlands - The Scottish Highlands are famous for their endless rolling hills and otherworldly mountainous landscapes, including Ben Nevis, Britain’s tallest peak.

Renting a car at Glasgow airport for the drive to Fort William lets you take in the gorgeous Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park.

Snowdonia - It’s a similar story in Wales, with epic scenery along with some of the most exciting roads in the UK. Keen drivers should try to take in the roads around Bala. About an hour north, Anglesey offers more picturesque views and some fantastic ocean drives.

in history and there’s something for everyone.

other vehicles could appear out of nowhere.

Wild Atlantic Way - The 1,500 mile Wild Atlantic Way is a tourism trail on the west coast of Ireland.

Unless you have three or four weeks to spare it’s probably best to pick the section that appeals most rather than cram it all into a week or two. There’s plenty to see, with highlights such as the Skellig Islands, the Dingle Peninsula, the Cliffs of Moher and Killary Harbour.

Stelvio Pass - The Stelvio Pass is situated in northern Italy close to the Swiss border. It’s ideal for hairpin fans because this mountain pass snakes its way down steep Alpine mountains via seemingly endless switchbacks.

There can be no arguments that the Stelvio Pass is pure bucket list material.

Nurburgring - Nurburgring is known as The Green Hell, with the formidable circuit winding through the beautiful Eifel forest for a ludicrous 12.9-mile stretch.

It’s open to the public or it’s free to park up by the track and watch others have a go, or perhaps take in one of the official races.

Trollstigen - Driving in Norway is a unique experience, with scenic fjords, mountains resulting in funto-drive roads and some of the world’s longest road tunnels.

The main attraction is Trollstigen (Trolls’ Path), which features a steep incline of ten per cent with eleven hairpin bends and waterfalls cascading down the roadside rocks. Just remember to go in summer, because it’s closed during winter.

Lake District - Climb Scafell Pike along with Snowdon and Ben Nevis and you’ve completed the Three Peaks Challenge – climbing the tallest spots in Scotland, Wales and England. With hills, lake and forests, the Lake District is steeped

Route Napoleon - Loosely following the route taken by Napoleon in his 1815 escape from Elba to Grenoble in France, this is a 200-mile stretch of twisting tarmac close to the Alps with breathtaking scenery.

The roads are largely well-sighted, meaning you can enjoy driving without being concerned that

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Bruges - Bruges might seem like an outlier in this list but is the perfect city break location, and is just 90 minutes from Calais. The ideal choice for a weekend away in Europe!

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Parenting

Back to School Many children are going back to school in September, some for the first time in months, and it’s natural for them to feel a bit anxious about starting a new school year.

Prepare your child If your child hasn’t gone back to school yet, find out what will be different compared to before the pandemic. Explain to your child what to expect.

Younger children may benefit from acting out some things at home, such as keeping their distance when queueing. Clinical psychologist Dr Emma Millar recommends asking if the school can “take pictures or videos of the changes so your child knows what to expect, as that will aid the transition process.”

Talk to your child It’s important children know they can talk to you about their concerns. Some like to have your full attention while others prefer it when they don’t need to make eye contact, such as when you’re driving or cooking. Recognise that you can’t ‘solve’ their concerns, but you can discuss coping strategies.

If your child doesn’t want to talk, try reading together and talking about how the character feels in different situations.

Encourage excitement Don’t forget to talk about the positives of returning to school, such as seeing friends and playtime.

Dr Emma Millar says, “Discuss what they’re excited about. Children pick up on how we’re feeling, so if you remain calm and positive about them returning back to school, then that will really help them to feel reassured.”

Get back into a routine Most children prefer some level of routine. Your child may have been going to bed later recently, not showering as often and having more screen time.

Help them adjust to a more structured routine over a couple of weeks.

Make sure they get enough sleep Work towards returning children to an earlier bedtime, including at weekends. Children need more sleep than adults – six to thirteen year olds can need up to eleven hours of sleep a night.

Mindfulness and meditation Mindfulness and meditation can help children and adults to feel calmer and more in control. Older children might benefit from Headspace’s guided meditations. For younger children, try the ‘Sitting Still Like a Frog’ book and CD by Eline Snel.

More information ‘Helping your Child with Fears and Worries’ by Cathy Creswell and Lucy Willetts is worth reading. The book is packed with practical advice on helping children to deal with fears, worries and anxiety, and isn’t written like a medical textbook!

The following websites have useful resources: • www.camhs-resources.co.uk • www.youngminds.org.uk/blog/supporting-a-childreturning-to-school-after-lockdown Extra support All children feel anxious and worried sometimes.

However, up to 15% of children experience anxiety disorders, which can stop them enjoying day-to-day life and lead to more long-term issues. So don’t be afraid to ask for help: your child’s school may be able to offer advice, or your GP may be able to refer them for extra support.

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ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ

Easy Suduko

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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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Technology

Insert Coin to Play!

Computer games started in the 1960s, played on $250,000 university mainframe computers. Then in 1972 Magnavox launched their affordable Odyssey console. The machine could only manage to display three dots and one line on your television screen, but this was ‘Pong’, and the gaming industry had been born.

Fast forward a couple of years to 1977 and we get the launch of the truly game-changing (pun intended) console, the Atari Video Computer System (VCS).

This iconic machine was heavily featured in the recent film Ready Player One, where the final test hinges around the very first computer game Easter egg (a hidden feature) in the game, Adventure. This console featured multicoloured graphics, sound, joystick control and a wide variety of games loaded into the system by plugging in interchangeable cartridges. It really did blow away the competition and placed Atari at the top of the console manufacturers.

About the same time as this the home computer boom was taking off. Sinclair computers such as the ZX81 and Spectrum led the march into every child’s bedroom. These were real computers that not only played games but allowed you to delve into the brand-new world of computer programming.

Previously you either had to be studying at University or able to build your own computer from scratch to have a go programming. Hundreds of software companies sprang up, powered by hordes of teenage bedroom programmers. Although computers were moving into businesses it was the gaming industry

that became the driving force behind the computer revolution.

Home computers offered lots of extra features, but it was apparent that all people really want to do was play games. Computers had to sacrifice part of their power to provide these extra features. Games consoles didn’t. They could devote every byte and programme cycle to producing more colours, better sound, better graphics, and faster games. When Nintendo launched their Nintendo Entertainment System in 1983, they signalled the demise of the home computer boom. The NES was a dedicated gaming machine. It was also backed by a massive catalogue of fantastic games and sold around the globe.

During the second half of the 1980s, Nintendo, Sega, and Atari and others vied for supremacy by launching a series of ever improving gaming consoles.

The gaming industry grew fast and quickly caught up in size with both the music and film industries.

Developing games and consoles was now the realm of large corporations such as Sony and Microsoft.

Both of these companies entered the market in the 1990s and the rest is history.

Today we’re really left with the big three. Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo, with their PlayStation, Xbox and Switch respectively. The gaming industry is now worth over $130 billion per year. More than the entire film industry and music industry put together.

So, what’s next on the horizon? Who’s going to launch the next killer console? No doubt we’ll have the answer just in time for Christmas.

By Bob Grant www.bytesnbits.co.uk 38

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Crossword Solution for The Villager August Edition Last Month’s Crossword Winner - Mrs B Primett - Hitchin

August’s Codeword and Suduko Solutions

Easy

Hard

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The Villager Prize Crossword

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

16th September 2020 Prize Crossword, Villager Publications Ltd 24 Market Square, Potton, Beds SG19 2NP The winner will be drawn at random from the correct completed entries.

Prize

ÂŁ25

Across 1 Demand (6) 4 Smaller (6) 9 Hair cleanser (7) 10 Spin (5) 11 Freight (5) 12 Advantage (7) 13 Always (11) 18 Tolerant (7) 20 Arrive at (5) 22 Expel (5) 23 Apparent (7) 24 Dismal (6) 25 Floats (6) Down 1 Bug (6) 2 Step (5) 3 Prop up (7) 5 Consumed (5) 6 Accomplished (7) 7 Tell (6) 8 Mixture (11) 14 Exterior (7) 15 Appearance (7) 16 Scatter (6) 17 Phantoms (6) 19 Insert (5) 21 Bypass (5)

Name:

Address:

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

Tel:

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43

Books

Books of self-discovery The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and The Horse

by Charlie Mackesy

These illustrations of conversations between a boy, a mole, a fox and a horse have been shared across the world. As the author says, the characters “are all different, like us, and each has their own weaknesses. I can see myself in all four of them, perhaps you can too.”

Personally, I challenge anyone to read it and not feel at least a tiny bit lighter, more hopeful and more connected to those around us.

A Street Cat Named Bob

By James Bowen

James had very little to give when he found an injured stray cat. A recovering drug-addict, James was living in sheltered accommodation and busking to earn enough money to eat.

But it turned out that taking in the ginger cat, which he named Bob, would change James’ life. This true story is a few years old now, and you could just choose to watch the film adaptation. But if you want to curl up with a feel-good story full of hope, resilience and friendship, it won’t disappoint.

Staying Alive: real poems for unreal times

by Neil Astley

The five hundred poems in this anthology cover a wide range of subjects, from depression and death to joy, personal quests and self-discoveries.

As the synopsis says, these are poems that are “fired by belief in the human and the spiritual at a time when much in the world feels unreal, inhuman and hollow.”

You’ll rediscover poems you’ve likely heard many times before, such as Robert Frost’s ‘The Road Not Taken’, and also have your eyes opened to a whole new legion of poets.

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Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow

By Jessica Townsend

Morrigan Crow is cursed to die on her eleventh birthday.

And it seems that for those around her, her death can’t come soon enough. But then Morrigan is whisked away by the mysterious Jupiter Crow. She has the chance of a new life as a member of the Wundrous Society, but only if she can pass a series of trials. A fantastic book for children and adults alike, Nevermoor is a great reminder that we can be so much more than society expects us to be.

The Secrets of Sunshine

By Phaedra Patrick

After losing his wife a few years ago, Mitchell has withdrawn into his own small world – focusing on work and raising his daughter. But then an incident on a bridge leads Mitchell on a journey of self-discovery. Warm and light-hearted, without ever straying into saccharine-sweet territory, The Secrets of Sunshine is a cosy hug of a book.

Stories for Kids Who Dare to be Different

By Ben Brooks While this book is aimed at children, there are plenty of adults who will enjoy dipping into it. If you do, you’ll discover mini-bios of ordinary people who tend not to make it into the history books.

And you might also learn a little bit more about well-known figures, including Dr Seuss, Andy Warhol, Whoopi Goldberg and John Boyega.

By Kate Duggan

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