Cambridge Dec 17 by Villager Mag

VILLAGER The

Issue 104 - December 2017

and Town

Life

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

Win £100 in our Christmas Prize Crossword

In this issue The History of Clowns Win tickets to see the

Best of Wham Bringing Local Business to Local People

20,000 copies delivered to Buckden, Brampton,

Godmanchester, The Hemingfords, Eaton Socon, Bourn, Grantchester and all surrounding villages every month To advertise in The Villager and Town Life please call 01767 261122

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Contents Win Tickets

Christmas in the Workhouse at St. Neots 1911...........................4 The History of Clowns.................................................................6 Let it Snow!..............................................................................10 Win Tickets to see the Best of Wham........................................12 Choice Wines: France................................................................15 A Christmas Truce.....................................................................17 The Jigsaw Revival...................................................................18 Toys, Toys, Toys.........................................................................20 Quirky Britain...........................................................................23 The Head Bone’s Connected to the Neck Bone..........................24 Tis the Season to Party.............................................................26 The History of Christmas Decorations.......................................29 The History of Christmas Traditions..........................................31 How to Plan for the Boxing Day Sales.......................................32 Looking Ahead.........................................................................36 Plan Like a Holiday...................................................................37 Employment Matters...............................................................38

VILLAGER The

Issue 104 - December 2017

and Town

Life

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

Win £100 in our Christmas Prize Crossword

In this issue Clowns

The History of

Win tickets to see the

Best of Wham Bringing Local Business to Local People

20,000 copies delivered to Buckden, Brampton,

Godmanchester, The Hemingfords, Eaton Socon, Bourn, Grantchester and all surrounding villages every month To advertise in The Villager and Town Life please call 01767 261122

ur Yo EE FRco1 py

The Christmas Wreath..............................................................40 Get Real this Christmas............................................................42 R.A.T.S. Rehoming Appeal........................................................45 Animal Stories..........................................................................46 Children’s Page.........................................................................48 Mercedes-AMG GT C Coupe Edition 50......................................51 The Christmas Technology Survival Guide................................53 Beer and Festive Food..............................................................57 Kill or Cure................................................................................58 Puzzle Page..............................................................................60 What’s On.................................................................................62 Plumb Crazy.............................................................................67 Canada - Glimpses of Toronto...................................................68 How to Tell if an Elderly Neighbour Needs Help........................71 £100 Prize Crossword...............................................................74 Book Review............................................................................78

The Christmas Wreath

20,000 copies delivered free of charge in the following areas: Hinchingbrooke, Hinchingbrooke Park, Brampton, Buckden, Offord Cluny, Offord D’arcy, Godmanchester, Hemingford Abbots and Hemingford Grey, Cambourne, Chawston, Croxton, Duloe, Graveley, Great Paxton, Hail Weston, Honeydon, Little Barford, Little Paxton, Eaton Socon, Bourn, Grantchester, Roxton, Southoe, Staploe, Tempsford, Toseland, Upper Staploe, Wintringham, Wyboston, Yelling. (Further bulk drops are made to local shops and busineses in Huntingdon, St Neots, Eaton Ford, Eaton Socon and Eynesbury)

Editorial - Peter Ibbett, Catherine Rose, Monica Cox, Trevor Langley, Sarah Davey, Centre for Complementary Health, Kate Duggan, Alison Runham, Sally Power, Tony Larkins, Carol H Scott, Rachael Leverton, Leeds Day Solicitors, Pippa Greenwood, RSPCA, Simon Davis, There’s A Beer For That, Solange Hando, Kate McLelland and Kate Duggan Advertising Sales/Local Editorial

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Photography - Darren Harbar Photography Design and Artwork - Design 9 Tel 07762 969460

Publishers

Villager Publications Ltd 24 Market Square, Potton, Bedfordshire SG19 2NP Tel: 01767 261122 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 Peter Ibbett

Christmas in the Workhouse at St. Neots 1911 Chances are that the e-Christmas Cards you are downloading feature those two wilful absentees of our 21st century global warming festive season:- frost & snow. I suspect you will not take a walk over Regatta Meadows on Christmas Day with the crunch of fresh snow under your feet but I do expect you will have a full supermarket ingredients fuelled lunch which will take several new year’s resolution walks to begin to return you to your pre-Xmas trimness! Back in 1911 the poorer folk of town would have had little spare weight to worry about but would have looked forward to one of their best meals of the year at the local workhouse. The St. Neots Advertiser was on hand to record the event for future generations:“The officers at St. Neots Union were very busy decorating the Dining Hall, Infirmary and other wards, and the result of their energies proved effective in adding brightness to the building. In addition to this the inmates were treated to a good time on Christmas Day, which was ushered in by a service at 9 o’clock by the Chaplain (Rev T. R. Horley). At noon 95 of the inmates assembled in the Dining Hall, where an excellent dinner was served; the viands included roast beef, mutton, vegetables and plum pudding, with beer and minerals (as preferred). The fare was greatly appreciated. Mr Bailey and Mr B. E. Squires

(Guardians) and other friends attended and assisted in the carving. At the close, the Master (Mr C. N. White), in expressing his thanks to the Board of Guardians on behalf of the inmates for their feast that day, congratulated the Guardians and Officers of the Workhouse upon the very satisfactory and amicable way in which they had gone through the past year. Some of the older ‘inmates’ might have remembered a custom at nearby places such as Potton where Apple Florentine was provided at Christmas. An 1832 Almanac records that ‘ an immense dish, made of pewter, was filled with good baking apples , sugar and lemons to the brim. Over this was placed a roll or rich paste, pie fashion. When baked and before being served, the lid was removed by a skilful hand and divided into sizeable triangular portions which were then replaced on the dish in formal order. To complete the palatable confection a quart of wellspiced ale was poured in ‘quite hot, hissing hot.’ My acknowledgements to the St. Neots History Society’s Newsletter 14 from 1998 and the research of Linda Reed and a 1956 Bedfordshire Magazine article. Don’t forget that St. Neots Museum has a range of family Christmas activities and a selection of cards, calendars, books and stocking fillers to make a good inroad into your family presents list.

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History

The History of

Clowns

Love them, loathe them or view them with terror, clowns have been entertaining us for thousands of years. Renowned for humour, with the recent relaunch of Stephen King’s horror classic It and his demonic antagonist Pennywise, clowns have become a scare symbol too. But where did they originate? Clowns began with royalty and across history and cultures, royal courts have long featured court jesters. The earliest recorded were in ancient Egypt during the fifth dynasty (around 2500BC). Clowns were even prominent in native tribes and formed an integral part of their social and religious ceremonies. Not only did they provide entertainment, they were also believed to be healers and counsellors. When the Spanish conquistador Hernan Cortés overthrew central America’s Aztecs in 1520, it was said that the Aztec king Montezuma’s court had dwarf and hunchback clowns whom Cortés took back to Spain with him. Despite being an object of ridicule, court jesters were in fact highly thought of and the only members of a royal household permitted to openly air their views. When China’s Great Wall was being built around 300BC, Emperor Shih Huang-Ti decided he wanted it painted as well. Hundreds of labourers had already lost their lives constructing the wall but it was his court jester Yu Sze who persuaded the emperor to abandon the painting idea, saving hundreds more lives. Although rustic fools appear in Ancient Greek and Roman plays, during the 16th century clowns increasingly moved out of the court and into the theatre. Shakespeare often featured ‘the fool’ in his plays. These characters were integral to the play and actors would frequently ad lib for comic effect during performances. It was around this time that the Commedia del Arte, a structured form of comedy theatre with

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set characters, began in Italy. It quickly spread across Europe and heralded the advent of the pantomime. The set characters consisted of three servants who would plot to trick their masters. The principal servant or first zanni (which gave us the word ‘zany’) was the modern day ‘straight guy’ who would come up with the clever schemes; his helper, the second zanni was a witless fool or ‘fall guy’ who would become hilariously entangled in them, often either unintentionally thwarting them or ending up being a victim himself, and the third character was the female fonteca who provided the romantic interest. The clown-like characters of Harlequin and Pierrot grew out of Commedia del Arte. Harlequin was originally the second zanni to a character named Brighella but eventually he grew to become a principal character of his own. The white-faced clown began with Pierrot but was popularised by Joseph ‘Joey’ Grimaldi (1778-1837) who has been described as ‘the father of modern clowning’. He was well known for his comic songs and theatrical special effects. Wearing a spiky blue wig with white make-up and rouge on his cheeks and lips, his costume was a variation of the Harlequin suit with its trademark ruffles around the neck – a clothing item that has been associated with clowns ever since. The first circus was created in 1768 by Philip Astley and his equestrian shows that took place in a ring. It was Astley who created the first circus clown, calling him Billy Buttons. Billy Buttons’ character was a tailor who, in his act, would try and fail to ride a horse in amusing ways. Billy proved so popular among audiences that he soon became a feature in other circus acts. This led to the development of the Auguste (or fool) clown, a forerunner of our modern-day clown, who would spend his act tripping over his feet and having all sorts of accidents.

The iconic American character Uncle Sam was based on a famous circus clown. Dan Rice was a philanthropist and close friend of President Lincoln who made his fortune working as a clown during the Civil War period by using humour and songs to make political observations. Sporting a goatee beard, he wore a red nose and his suit and top hat were decorated with the American flag. When political cartoonist Thomas Nast first drew Uncle Sam, he allegedly based it on Rice. The Fratellini brothers were famous circus clowns in the early 1900s and although they weren’t the first to invent the white-faced, red-nosed performer, it was the brothers who ensured the clown make-up, costumes (including the oversized shoes of the Auguste clown) and the red nose - still used as a symbol of comedy - became a tradition. The coupling of skill (such as juggling or riding a unicycle) with slapstick has evolved as hallmarks of the clown. The 20th century may have associated them with hamburgers and horror, but throughout history there have been bad clowns too - sinister masked characters who can feature in our worst nightmares. In fact, fear of clowns is a recognized psychological condition known as ‘coulrophobia’. But however you view them, no one can deny that clowns have long had the power to entertain.

By Catherine Rose

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Time of Year

Let it Snow! By Monica Cox

A white Christmas is something many of us dream of, but how much do we know about snow? Snow is made of a bizarre and complex substance which we take completely for granted – water! Water is a liquid at room temperature, unlike other substances with similar-sized molecules, such as ammonia or methane – these are gases. Water requires more energy to boil it than other liquids and unlike most substances which shrink as they freeze, water expands as it turns to ice. As it turns out this is rather important. Ice is less dense than water so it floats. If it became more dense like most substances lakes would freeze from the bottom up and aquatic life would die. But because water freezes from the top down, the floating ice forms a layer on the surface which insulates the water beneath allowing it to stay liquid and all the swimming creatures to survive. Few people know that for snow to fall at temperatures higher than -40C a special particle called an ice nucleus is required. Snow seeds as they are known include fine particles of soil, dust, and volcanic ash. These ‘seeds’ pass through the clouds of water vapour in the upper atmospheres and it is on their surface that ice crystals form which become snow. Snowflakes are all different because of the way they attract new water to their ‘corners’. As the crystals fall through the atmosphere they pass through different layers of temperature and humidity, and get tossed around by the wind. The interplay between the

snow seeds, random water droplets and their need to grow in a hexagonal fashion means that each snowflake grows rapidly in a unique way until they are large enough to fall as snowflakes. The perfect snowflakes that we see on Christmas cards are actually quite idealised. Most snowflakes are imperfect, but they do have an underlying symmetry which has been noticed by humans for thousands of years. Most flakes are 1cm or less across but occasionally atmospheric conditions conspire to form giant snowflakes. In 1915 snowflakes 10cm across fell in Berlin, and in Montana in 1887 flakes 38cm (15 inches) across were recorded. But if snow is made of ice (which is clear or possibly slightly blue), why is snow dazzling white? Well the reason is because of the complex structure of snowflake crystals. Light rays bounce around from one crystal of ice to another, randomly until they find their way out. Because of the very short distances between the reflective surfaces the light rays are efficiently scattered and none are absorbed, and if no light is absorbed then a substance appears white. If we do have a few flakes this Christmas then you can amaze your friends with how much you now know about snow! All together now…’I’m dreaming of a white Christmas…’

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COMPETITION

Sweeney Entertainments Presents

The Best of Wham Bedford Corn Exchange

Saturday 13th January 2018, 8pm Tickets £19.50 in advance

We are giving away 2 x tickets to the show! Simply send your entry by 16th December 2017 to: Villager Publications Ltd, 24 Market Square, Potton, Beds SG19 2NP The winner will be drawn at random. BEST OF WHAM COMPETITION ENTRY To win 2 free tickets to see The Best of Wham on Saturday 13th January complete your details below:

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A ‘Fantastic’ new show featuring the best of George, Andrew, Pepsi and Shirlie with sensational vocals, choreography, costumes and an awesome live band. Can it really be 37 years since George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley formed one of the most enduring pop groups of the 80s? In four short years WHAM! sold more than 28 million records, topping the charts with three albums, four number one singles and eleven top ten hits. They featured in the Live Aid concert of 1985 and were the first western pop group to ever tour in China. Their impact and influence on the 80s era and music today really cannot be over emphasised. The Best of WHAM! Show includes all those hits, a few B side favourites and a couple of early George Michael bonus songs. This fun-loving, vibrant, megamix tribute to the pop sensation of the 80s will be loved by ‘Young Guns’ of all ages, so come along to the ‘Club Tropicana’ (*sorry, Drinks not free!) This is a fully seated show.

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The team at The Villager would like to wish all readers and advertisers a very

Merry Christmas

and a

Happy New Year

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Food and Drink

Choice Wines: France Château la Tulipe de la Garde is a much-respected winery that continues to receive prestigious awards for their wine productions and is situated between Saint-Émilion and the Dordogne River, in the Bordeaux region of France. Dating from the middle of the 14th century, the estate was purchased by Dutch rock star, writer-composer, Ilja Gort, during 1994. Having only a small amount of knowledge about winemaking, but wanting to live in a peaceful environment, Ilja developed the family business and can be justifiably proud of all achievements. Located north-east of Bordeaux, the climate of this area enjoys a good amount of sunshine and grows numerous grape varietals, with high-quality grapes, for producing exceptional wines. Château la Tulipe Bordeaux Supérieur is an excellent blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc grapes. Aged in French oak barrels, this production has an intense red colour. Ripe, dark fruits, are in abundance for the bouquet. The smooth, dry palate sensations follow through, with a most impressive finish, to complete. A very pleasant and popular wine, having a richness to savour. The Company also produces wines under the ‘Slurp’ label. Slurp Cabernet Syrah Red has Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah grapes utilised to great advantage. Ripe and juicy, this wine has many ‘followers’, being easy-drinking and with positive flavours. Smooth and popular, this production has a good body and is well-balanced. Slurp Chardonnay also has a good number of ‘devotees’. Again, excellent value and enjoyed both on its own and at many dining occasions, this wine will not disappoint, either. A medium-intense, dry, white production, which has a modest floral bouquet, leading to the mouth’s pleasures and the palate’s appreciated enjoyment. Easy-drinking and pleasing to many wine lovers. For all details, plus availability and very interesting information about this winery and the impressive productions, which accompany a lot of cuisine, wonderfully, please visit: www.tulipe.co.uk www.tulipe.nl www.slurp.nu

As always, Enjoy!

ey Trevor Langl

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Time of Year

A Christmas Truce One of the most remarkable events of the First World War concerns the ‘Christmas Truce’ of 1914, in which the soldiers of the Western Front laid down their arms on Christmas Day and met in No Man’s Land, exchanging food and cigarettes, as well as playing football. The cessation of violence was entirely unofficial. There had been no prior discussion and troops acted spontaneously from goodwill, not orders. The most famous account of events involves British and German forces; however, French and Belgium troops also took part. No-one really knows what initiated it. There were some reports that British troops heard their German counterparts singing Christmas carols and joined but there were also

reports of German and British soldiers erecting signs wishing each other a ‘Merry Christmas’. Driven by feelings of goodwill, home-sickness and combatweariness some men crossed the lines with their hands up, and troops from the opposing side went to meet them. Commanders either turned a blind-eye or joined in. Food and supplies were exchanged and tools and equipment were borrowed. Games of football were played and bodies trapped within No Man’s Land were buried. In many areas the truce lasted for the whole of Christmas day but in some places the peace lasted much longer and it was several weeks before the bloody conflict resumed.

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Lifestyle By Sarah Davey

The Jigsaw Revival I was Christmas shopping recently and for the first time in many years found myself browsing jigsaw puzzles. I was mesmerised by the number of different types and designs. There were funny ones, quirky ones, puzzles with irregular-shaped pieces, gloriously beautiful reproductions of famous works of art, extra-tricky pictures of boxes of sweets, or baked beans, and some fabulous three-dimensional puzzles. These were not the jigsaws of my youth. The jigsaws I remember came in faded boxes with boring photos of country cottages, or a generic blue-green landscape on the lid. No, these jigsaws looked enticing and exciting. A jigsaw revival seems to have taken place and I had somehow missed it. Jigsaws actually originated in the late 18th century, when European map makers pasted maps on to wood and cut them into pieces. They were a useful way to teach children about geography. Puzzles as an adult pastime emerged around 1900. They were expensive because each piece was cut individually, but they quickly became popular social pursuits in country houses for weekend parties. As production became cheaper they became popular with the masses too. In the interwar period of the 1920s-1930s many companies used them as advertising gimmicks. Lots of jigsaws from that period depict black and white photographs of factories and workers or products. We aren’t talking high art here but if you come across them in charity shops they possess their own charm. Jigsaws can be a silent and calming activity, or

done in pairs or groups they can be sociable affairs. They are also gloriously cheap compared with other forms of entertainment, which explains why weekly cardboard puzzles became a national obsession in the US after the economic crash of 1929. In our own current slow economy and extended period of austerity jigsaws seem to be gaining in popularity again. Like adult colouring books they are absorbing and stimulating but not overly demanding so can be seen a mindful activity and as such may be beneficial to our mental health. Dame Margaret Drabble the author became a fan of jigsaws when her husband was undergoing extensive treatment for cancer. She couldn’t concentrate on books or crossword puzzles but jigsaws helped her to focus. She says they gave her an illusion of control, creating order from chaos during a period of intense stress, and she feels they actually saved her sanity. She wrote a book, ‘The Pattern on the Carpet,’ about her personal experience. Our own queen is said to be a huge jigsaw fan. Apparently she borrows regularly from the The British Jigsaw Puzzle Library. This wonderful institution houses thousands of beautiful hand cut wooden jigsaw puzzles, which can be borrowed. Membership for the jigsaw enthusiast in your life, along with Drabble’s book might be a rather inspired Christmas present this year perhaps?

Happy Puzzling

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Inventions

By Sarah Davey

Toys! Toys! Toys The song goes, ‘It’s the holiday season, And Santa Claus has got a toy, For every good girl and good little boy…’ But which toys? Luvabella: Unless you are completely doll-phobic (the word is pediophobe people!) this will enchant any little girl and probably a few boys. This is an AI Furby-made-human. The more she’s played with the more she responds. She moves her arms and legs and has an amazingly expressive face. She will even start saying a few words. The fact I was totally creeped out does not mean this won’t sell-out everywhere between here and Jupiter, so buy early! VTech Kidizoom Flix: If you are not enamoured with the creepy little Luvabella then try Flix. He’s a funky friendly little alien with face recognition software installed so he can recognise your child. You can change his eyes and skin colour and he

has a camera and video so you can carry out secret reconnaissance missions. He detaches from his tripod and comes in pink or blue. Lego: You cannot go wrong with Lego, for any age and either sex. The trend for programmable toys this year continues with Lego Boost. Five models this is Vernie the robot - which can be brought to life by coding using a free app. Experimake Sludge and Slime: A great take on the science kit. Icky gooey experiments that kids and lots of adults will enjoy playing with. SoundMoovz: One for the whole family. Wearable, app-connected motion-activated musical bandz. Move your wrists and ankles to create beats, rhythms and music, layer your beat onto a song and connect to a wireless speaker for even louder fun. Watching Grandma showing off her moves will add to the holiday spirit.

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Hobbies

Quirky Britain THE HIGH STREET SHOPS WHERE IT’S CHRISTMAS ALL YEAR ROUND Are you one of those people who starts looking forward to next Christmas as soon as the decorations are packed away? Thanks to a growing British shopping trend, you can now enjoy Christmas all year round. A growing number of retailers are trying out all-year Christmas shopping, with many of the more successful stores located in areas known for attracting tourists. In Stratford-Upon-Avon, The Nutcracker Christmas shop - with its range of festive ornaments - makes a lively contrast to the staid Shakespeare souvenirs on sale elsewhere. The shop is part of a small family business founded by Robert Newman in 2001. Robert had intended to open a small gift shop, but a visit to a trade gift show in Birmingham opened his eyes to the huge potential for selling festive goods. He now owns a chain of Christmas stores in England and Scotland. Lisa Hill-Whyte, owner of the Isle of Wight’s Jingle Bells Christmas shop, was inspired to open her business in 2009 after visiting Christmas stores in Austria and America. She began by filling an adjoining tea room with Christmas merchandise during the winter months, but her idea proved so popular that she was able to realise her dream of selling festive goods for most of the year. Her Shanklin store now stays open seven days a week, from March to Christmas Eve. Lisa says: “We do as much business in April as we do in December and our busiest months are July, August and September.” Lisa’s policy is to stock items that are “a little bit special”, so customers can personalise their Christmas tree decorations. As a result she has had some unusual requests: “Some customers ask

for a certain animal that you wouldn’t necessarily expect at Christmas – such as a fish, raccoon, tiger, elephant, sheep, cow or fox. The list is long, but I have found all these and others. I haven’t been caught out yet!” So what attracts shoppers to buy Christmas items at a time of the year when the festive season should be furthest from our thoughts? Hayley Corden from Bromsgrove sees it as part of the tourist experience. She says: “Whenever we go away we always try to buy a Christmas tree decoration. It’s lovely to look at your Christmas tree and remember all the places you’ve been.” James Tunstall from Newquay, Cornwall, enjoys the “magical feeling” he gets in a Christmas shop. He says: “I love to browse out of season. It’s about recalling the Christmasses you had as a child, and these shops bring it all back.” However, some shoppers are very far from experiencing nostalgia when they see festive goods on sale out of season. Whilst enjoying a summer holiday in Dorset, Tracy Whelbourne from Chesterfield was shocked to find Christmas decorations on sale: “So there we were, enjoying the sunny weather, and what do I see? A Christmas shop, open, with customers inside! Christmas seems to start earlier and earlier these days, and seeing it made me really cross.” Whether the sight of a high street Christmas shop thrills you with memories of childhood Christmasses past or makes you boil with rage, it seems that from now on - should they so choose - fans of the festive season will be able to shop for Santa stockings, advent calendars and shiny baubles whenever they want.

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Complementary Health

The head bone’s connected to the neck bone … I’m sure we’ve all heard the song that begins, ‘head bone connected to the… neck bone’ but while it was never meant to be anatomically correct, it is a little misleading. Ask anyone to point to where they think their head sits on the spine and they’ll invariably point to somewhere halfway down the back of their neck. Here lies the cause to many cases of poor posture and neck, shoulder and even back pain, Roy Palmer, Alexander Technique Teacher at the Centre explains more. If you think your head is ‘connected to the neck bone’, you’ll move your head around as if the neck is a separate limb and end up with the alltoo-common head-forward posture (see photo). The next time you’re looking for your car keys, see what you’re doing with your neck … are you searching with your neck sweeping side to side? So, how should you use your neck? Firstly, remember the neck is actually the top part of your spine and works more efficiently if it’s not jutting forward. Try this … • Place your fingers in the groove behind your ears. The top of your spine is in between where your fingers are pointing, almost at the same level as your eyes – much higher up than most people would think. • Now move your head to the left and right from this point without twisting your neck. You can also look up and down without dropping your neck forward or pulling it back which is much easier on your muscles.

• A benefit of just letting your head balance and move from the top of the spine is that it allows its weight (almost 5 kilos) to be supported by the chair or floor under your feet. If your neck is forward, the weight of your head will pull your spine forward and down and ultimately cause loss of height and the dreaded ‘dowagers hump’. • Don’t think you have to try and stand and sit up straight as you’ll naturally use less effort if you’re poised with your head sitting in the right position. Imagine a thread attached to the top of your head is gently pulling you up (but don’t tighten your neck or back). • When you let the surface beneath you support the head and appreciate the push coming back from the ground and you’ll stand, sit and move with less effort and reduce those all too familiar muscle aches and pains. If you would like more information on Roy Palmer and the Alexander Technique or to discuss any neck complaints you may have please call 01480 455221 or see www.CentreForCompHealth.com

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Osteopath

at Dragonfly Spa, Burwash Manor from September 2017. Emma Mersseman Ost Med Qualified since 2007 Fully registered Osteopathy Clinical Pilates

07788 243824 01223 263469 Email: backtoyourfeet@hotmail.com Or book online: www.emmamerssemanosteopath.co.uk

ACUPUNCTURE

EM Osteopath QP page advert.indd 1

14/09/2017 11:28

FOR WELL-BEING

Judy obtained her Licentiate in Acupuncture, and B.A (Hons) degree in Traditional Acupuncture, from the College of Traditional Acupuncture, Warwickshire. Judy is a passionate believer in the positive benefits, on both physical and emotional levels, that may be obtained from receiving acupuncture treatment. Acupuncture originated in China and other far eastern cultures where it still features in mainstream healthcare, both as a stand-alone therapy and in combination with conventional western medicine. Judy has been trained as a classical Five Element Acupuncturist; treatment is aimed at the root cause of your condition as well as your main symptoms. This approach helps with resolving your problem and enhancing your feelings of wellbeing. You may notice other niggling problems resolve as your main health complaint improves. Judy continues to pursue her belief in excellence of care for her patients in her role as a dedicated acupuncture practitioner, and is a member of the British Acupuncture Council. Please contact Judy for a free 20 minute consultation to discuss how acupuncture treatment can help you.

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Health & Beauty

By Kate Duggan www.kateduggan.co.uk

Tis the season to party Handbag essentials to transform you from frazzled office worker to fabulous partygoer in minutes. Work deadlines plus shopping, wrapping, cooking and dealing with family life can leave you feeling rather frazzled. Try a spritz of Tisserand DeStress Mist to keep the tension down. The blend of calming essential oils, including geranium, orange, nutmeg, rose and jasmine smells lovely and really does seem to help soothe the senses. Not keen on sprays? The blend is also available as a roller-ball. The DeStress Mist is priced at £8.95 and the De-Stress Rollerball at £5.95, from www.tisserand.com. Dry, chapped lips are not a good look and matte lipsticks often highlight the problem. Clarins’ Instant Light Natural Lip Perfector is a great alternative. It’s available in several shades and leaves lips feeling soft, hydrated and plumped, while adding a touch of colour and shine. It is more of a gloss than a lipstick, so the colour and shine won’t last for hours, but it’s well worth the extra applications. A full-sized Lip Perfector is £18, but if you’re quick you may be able to snap up a mini one for a bargain price with one of Clarins’ Christmas giftsets, see www.clarins.co.uk. You can’t have failed to notice that brows are having their moment in the spotlight. Whether you prefer a bold bushy arch à la Lily Collins or something a bit more streamlined, a good brow pencil is invaluable. High Definition’s Browtec Pencil is a great choice. It has a fine, retractable tip so you can achieve precise strokes; it’s topped with a brush; and the colour stays put all day. £16 from www.beautyinhighdefinition.com.

High Definition has also released a Limited Edition Copper Eyeshadow Palette that’s definitely deserving of a place in your arsenal. The rose gold, copper and bronze shades work beautifully together to create a look that’s perfect for parties. The three shades come with a mirror and doubleheaded brush, all housed in a very compact case. £23.50, www.beautyinhighdefinition.com.

Don’t fancy carrying your makeup loose in your handbag? Christmas is the perfect time to treat yourself to a new cosmetics bag. On a bit of a tight budget? Lots of gift sets have a case included for free, or check out TK Maxx for luxury options at a fraction of the price. Pencil cases also do the job just as well, with the added advantage of often being waterproof. The Paperchase Glamingo Pencil Case is just £7. The extra pocket at the front is perfect for makeup brushes and other extras. See www.paperchase.co.uk.

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COPLEYS Solicitors

Excellence through Experience www.copleys.net

BUYING & SELLING A BUSINESS BUYING & SELLING YOUR HOME COMMERCIAL PROPERTY DIVORCE AND FAMILY EMPLOYMENT LANDLORD AND TENANT WILLS, TRUST & ESTATES PLANNING Call our approachable team to discuss your issue. Our ofﬁces are located in the centre of Huntingdon and St. Ives to make your visit as easy as possible.

HUNTINGDON OFFICE: 28 High Street • Huntingdon • Cambs PE29 3TH t: 01480 456191 email: huntingdon@copleys.net ST. IVES OFFICE: Red House • 10 Market Hill • St Ives • Cambs PE27 5AW t: 01480 464515 email: stives@copleys.net 28

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Time of Year

A History of

Christmas Decorations Every year we go with the children to choose a new Christmas tree decoration. We donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t do themed trees in our house so our annual tree is a history of the kidsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; eclectic and often eccentric tastes down the years. Traditional inherited hand blown glass ornaments nestle alongside a plastic gingerbread man, a gaudy fairy in striped tights, a robot, a festive dachshund, and a host of other unlikely characters. Every year is a delight of discovery as my teens and preteens unpack, reminisce and tease each other over their past choices. But where did the idea of decorations originate and how did they evolve into what theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve now become? Tinsel originated in Germany in the early 1600s. Back then it was made from real shredded silver. Tinsel makers hammered the silver until it was thin, then cut it into strips. It was so popular that tinsel machines were invented to keep up with demand. Clearly silver was a little expensive and eventually the plastic variety took over. We have the Germans to thank for baubles. They were invented in the 1840s by Hans Greiner. His original glass fruit and nuts developed into beautiful ornate ornaments which so charmed Queen Victoria that she brought them back to Britain. As they were all hand-crafted the first, baubles were very expensive. Improvements in plastic manufacturing meant that cheaper versions became available, and baubles became available to the masses. The green fir tree was originally used by Pagans and Christians to celebrate winter. Pagans used branches of the fir tree to decorate their homes during the winter solstice, as a reminder that spring would come again. The Christians adopted them later. The tradition of Christmas trees seems to have originated about 1000 years ago in Northern Europe. They were

often hung upside down from the rafters. In modern times improved manufacturing techniques have allowed for the production of artificial trees which can be very difficult to tell from the real thing! In Victorian times, Christmas trees were been decorated with candles. In 1895, an American man, Ralph Morris, was so concerned about the fire hazard of candles and Christmas trees that he invented the first electric Christmas lights, which are similar to those still in use today. Over the years there have been glass and plastic variations of reindeers, stars, fruit, butterflies, birds and even festive dachshunds (see above!) but the debate still rages about whether there should be an angel or a star on top of the tree.

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Merry Christmas

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The History of

Special

Christmas Traditions

Every year, some people mourn the loss of traditional, more faithbased Christmas celebrations. Yet most December 25th traditions are far less Christian and much more recently adopted in the UK than they may think. Celebrating on December 25th Jesus’ birth date isn’t documented and the gospels of Matthew and Luke, written long after his death, give contradictory clues. Some scholars say the sheep on the hillside and the census suggest good weather, indicating spring to early autumn. So why is Christmas celebrated on the 25th of December? Midwinter festivals abounded by the time Christianity took hold. There were winter solstice celebrations such as Yule and Koleda, and the Roman festivals of Saturnalia (which included decorating your home with evergreens – sound familiar?) and Dies Natalis Solis Invicti, ‘birthday of the unconquered sun’, on December 25th. It was easier for early proponents of Christianity to introduce it into these longstanding festivals than to persuade people to give them up.

The first Christian Roman Emperor, Constantine, began celebrating Christmas on December 25th in 336. A few years later, Pope Julius I declared it the official date to celebrate Jesus’ birth. Some scholars believe he also chose this date to honour Hanukkah and Jesus’ own religion, Judaism. Orthodox and Coptic Christians celebrate Jesus’s birth on January the 7th - the ‘original’ December 25th. Our December 25th moved when we adopted the Gregorian calendar in 1752. Yule Logs Today, Yule logs have been mainly superseded by logshaped chocolate cakes here, but neither are connected to Jesus’ birth. Yule logs were part of the Scandinavian Yule celebration, beginning at the winter solstice and running into January. Yule logs were burned to mark the return of the sun and festivities continued until they burned out. Celts also burned a Yule log, believing it persuaded the sun to return and bestowed good luck on those who dragged it from the forest. Holly, Ivy and Mistletoe Evergreens were used in winter solstice festivals to bring good luck and signify the coming spring. The tradition of hanging mistletoe in the house is an ancient Druid custom to ward off evil spirits, but in Norse mythology it’s also a symbol of love (hence kissing under the mistletoe).

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Christmas Pudding The original ‘Christmas pudding’ was frumenty, a thin 14th century porridge containing raisins, currants, prunes, wine, spices, beef and mutton. However, by around 1650, people ate plum pudding, and by Victorian times, it was similar to the modern-day Christmas pud. The Christmas Tree Evergreen fir trees have been used in winter festivals for thousands of years to symbolise the coming spring and everlasting life, although they were often hung upside down from the ceiling rather than stood upright. ‘Christmas trees’ emerged in the 1500s in town squares but took time to come into people’s houses. The Royal Family had one from Georgian times, but an 1848 photo of Queen Victoria, Prince Albert and their family gathered around theirs popularised the idea. A Merry Christmas Christmas wasn’t celebrated widely in the UK until the Middle Ages, when it was predominantly a time for merrymaking and feasting on animals too expensive to feed through winter. It was later banned for many years by the Puritans for its Pagan origins. It began to recover in Georgian times with a focus on charity and gift-giving, paving the way for the idealised Victorian Christmas described by Charles Dickens.

Alison Runham ww.alison.runham.co.uk 31

Finance

How to Plan for the Boxing Day Sales Boxing Day is generally regarded as the biggest sales day of the year in the retail industry, so if you’re heading to the shops it’s worthwhile taking time to plan well in advance. A practical approach will help you focus on the best deals and take advantage of the fact that goods will be at a fraction of their normal price. One of the major problems of sales shopping is the sheer number of offers available, and it’s very easy to be distracted once you start. So what steps can you take in advance to help you get the most out of your day, and also protect your finances for the year ahead? Before you start high street or online shopping • Find out the store opening times before you go - they vary on Boxing Day, with some shops remaining closed. You can find this information from a store’s website and social media pages, along with details of the items that might be included in the sale. • If you’re shopping online, save the home page of each store into your computer, along with the product codes of any items you’re interested in. This enables you buy quickly, as soon as the goods are available. • Check out the returns policy for each store as you may have to pay for the returns postage and packing yourself. If you’re shopping on the high street you need to keep all your receipts, and the store’s returns policy should be printed on the back. Planning your spending According to the Centre for Retail Research¹, the total Christmas spend per household in 2016 was £809.97. Even if you don’t spend this much on Christmas, it’s an expensive time of year when you also factor in credit card bills for the sales. If you’re not able to repay the balance at the end of the month, you may find the savings you’ve made are suddenly reduced. So what can you do to alleviate the strain on your finances and make sure you don’t find yourself in unmanageable debt in the New Year? • Stay within your budget Calculate how much you can afford to spend on Boxing Day, and stick to it. By focusing only on the items you want, you won’t overstretch yourself financially. • Use comparison websites to find the best price Compare prices online before you head out to the shops if there’s something in particular you’re looking for – this can save a lot of time and money. • Be wary of signing up for store cards Signing up for a store card at the till can seem like a good idea. You access further reductions on the cost but interest rates on these cards can be extremely

high, so it may not be worthwhile doing so in the long-run. Pay off more than just the minimum amount Paying off only the minimum amount from your credit card each month means your sales purchases will cost significantly more than anticipated. Banks and credit card providers set the minimum amount as a percentage of the balance, so as you repay, this minimum required payment drops. This not only increases profits for the banks but adds considerably to your debt in the long-term, and can be the start of serious financial problems – not an ideal situation when you consider the items were purchased with a view to saving money. Are 0% interest credit cards a good idea? Balance transfer cards offering 0% interest for a fixed period of time are a good way to deal with large purchases. If you buy the goods on your ‘standard’ credit card and then transfer the balance over you can save a significant amount in interest, but there are also potential drawbacks: • If you miss a single payment on a 0% credit card, the provider will withdraw their offer and you’re likely to be charged an extremely high rate of interest in its place. • Fees are charged when you originally transfer a balance – usually a percentage of the amount transferred. • Credit card providers are often owned by larger banking institutions, and it’s unlikely you’ll be accepted for a balance transfer offer if you already hold a card connected to the group. At the time of writing, the best 0% balance transfer deals include: • Barclaycard: up to 40 months, with a fee of 1.68% (you’re not guaranteed 40 months at 0%, however). • MBNA: up to 39 months with a 1.48% fee (as with the Barclaycard example above, there is no guarantee that you’ll be offered the full 39-month term). • Sainsbury’s: 33 months, guaranteed if accepted, 0.59% fee plus £20 cash back. • Virgin Money: 30 months guaranteed on acceptance, with a fee of 0.55%. Whether you’re purchasing a specific item or buying birthday presents for the year ahead, the Boxing Day sales represent a great way to save money. Planning ahead helps you stay in control of your spending in the face of temptation, and manage your finances without entering serious debt.

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Time of Year Make sure your Christmas stays Merry – not Miserable! Consumer advice - Safe Local Trades ‘Tis the season to be jolly – presents to buy and proudly displaying them under a beautifully decorated tree. However, it may not just be the intended receiver of the gift who takes a shine to the pile of expensive goodies. Christmas is a time when many of us let our guard down, with excitement leading up to the big day. For opportunist thieves, visible presents under the tree, open car boots full of shopping while loads are being taken into the house and even the possibility of an unlocked garage are rich pickings which can turn your Christmas from being Merry into Miserable! Equally, flaws in home security while out and about visiting friends and family are a beacon to thieves – so always remember to check your alarm and never leave doors, windows or garages unlocked. Some tips for a safe and happy festive season: - Don’t leave presents in full view – either in the home or in the back seat of the car. - Shorter days mean longer time for thieves to be in operation – always lock your car and front door. - Keep a light on indoors and outdoors if you are out. - It may be an idea to fit motion detector security lighting – it won’t just be carol singers who come

calling. - Keep your personal data safe – and securely dispose of receipts. - If buying bikes and / or electronic equipment for Christmas – mark them with your postcode - If you’re going away at Christmas be sure to cancel any newspaper or milk subscriptions. Arrange for a neighbour to park on the driveway to help create the impression someone is home. Do not to leave descriptive telephone answering machine messages like “we’re away skiing for the Christmas holidays” or post your plans on social media. - If using outdoor festive lighting, ensure cables aren’t passed through windows, leaving enough gap for burglars to make use of. For any home security improvements we have locksmiths, alarm and CCTV installers, electricians and many other traders who can help. Wishing you all a very Happy and safe Christmas from www.safelocaltrades.com and www.safelocalservices.com

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Do you want more time to grow your business, instead of using up valuable time trying to keep your books in order? KL Bookkeeping supports businesses in St Neots and the surrounding areas - taking care of all your bookkeeping needs. So you can spend more time doing what you do best - running your business. Please visit our website to find out more, or call us, to see how we can help you.

www.klbookkeeping.co.uk 07743809474

KL book keeping.indd 1

08/11/2017 14:1

Experts in Clinical Negligence and Personal Injury Claims We are a highly specialised firm of solicitors based in St Neots, Cambridgeshire. We were founded in 1988 and we practice exclusively in the fields of clinical negligence and personal injury law. Our highly experienced team of solicitors take on cases concerning inappropriate medical treatment of all kinds. We deal with claims against GPs, hospital Trusts, dentists and other health care professionals in the NHS and in the private sectors. Director Vicki Seabrook has particular expertise in high value brain injured infant cases. Director Marc Folgate specialises in high value personal injury claims including claims involving brain and spinal injuries, complex regional pain syndrome, orthopaedic injuries and polytrauma. Marc also specialises in accidents at work.

Call us free with no obligation on

We are happy to be instructed under Conditional Fee Agreements (no win no fee) in appropriate cases and as a niche practice we represent clients nationwide.

www.sslaw.co.uk

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0800 195 9829

16/10/2017 12:31 35

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Employment

Good relationships between employees and their managers are a positive factor in employees’ ability to balance work and family.

Employment Matters Employees who rate their organisation’s company’s overall commitment to wellbeing as good to high say this has a positive effect on the work life balance. Employees who experience negative attitudes from their managers, peers and colleagues at work find it hinders their ability to balance work and family. Organisations who consider their employees’ happiness and workplace wellbeing can gain the benefit of reduced absence and increased productivity. This is done not by following fad or fashion, but by understanding the real issues impacting all the workforce, and wherever possible, actually doing something about them. Being a good listener is a positive step to promoting wellbeing at work and active listening involves paying close attention to what the other person is saying, asking clarifying questions, and rephrasing what the person says to ensure understanding. A good communicator should enter any conversation with a flexible, open mind and committed to listening to and understanding the other person’s point of view, rather than simply getting their own message across. Being willing to enter into a dialogue, even with those who may disagree and have ideas of their own, produces more honest, productive conversations and potential improvements to the ‘way we do things around here’. All those working in a business will find it easier to be more open to communicating if they are approached with respect for themselves, their skills,

knowledge and experience and their ideas. Actions like using a person’s name, making eye contact, and actively listening when a person speaks will make the person feel appreciated. If you are talking on the phone, avoid distractions like reading your emails or playing computer games, and stay focussed on the conversation. Convey respect in every email by planning the content as if it was a business letter. Always use an opening salutation, don’t send a sloppily written, confusing email, or use it as a way of avoiding a face to face discussion on underperformance. Being able to appropriately give and receive feedback is an important part of wellbeing at work in every role. Anyone with workers who report directly, or even indirectly, to them should continuously look for ways to provide those employees with constructive feedback, be it through face to face meetings, email, phone calls, or weekly status updates. Giving feedback involves giving praise as well something as simple as saying “ that was a great job” or “thank you for taking care of that so well” to an employee can greatly increase the feeling of wellbeing and motivation. We all spend a lot of time at work and by everyone committing to building and maintaining harmonious working relationships everyone’s level of wellbeing will increase. Carol H Scott HR and Business Consulting Ltd

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Leeds Day Solicitors

Leeds Day announce exciting expansion plans reflecting the growth and development of the Firm Leeds Day is delighted to announce its exciting expansion plans reflecting the growth and development of the Firm. On Monday 25th September 2017, our St Neots Office relocated to Xenus House, Sandpiper Court, Eaton Socon, St. Neots PE19 8EP. The move is due to the Firm outgrowing the current St Neots Office and needing a larger, more modern office with car parking facilities for our clients. We believe clients will benefit from more spacious ground floor meeting rooms, parking facilities and much improved access for clients generally. Our new St Neots office is more convenient for many of our clients as the location is just off the A428/A1 junction at Eaton Socon. Bob Dewdney, Senior Partner said “In the last few years, we have grown and developed the Firm, including sponsoring events such as the St Neots Business Awards 2017. We have also invested in high caliber lawyers and have built a superb team for our clients. That same approach to continually improving the way we offer services to our clients will continue in the years to come”. Contacting Us All our telephone numbers, fax numbers and email addresses remain the same. If there are any queries

Our offices: Huntingdon Godwin House, George Street, Huntingdon, PE29 3BD T: 01480 454301

regarding the St Neots Office move, please feel free to contact us on 0844 567 2222 or email contact@leedsday.co.uk Please note that the address and contact details for the firm’s Huntingdon and St Ives offices remain unchanged. Our new St Neots Office address: Xenus House, Sandpiper Court, Eaton Socon, St Neots, Cambridgeshire PE19 8EP Car Parking Designated visitor parking can be located in front of reception (closest to the building) along with designated disabled parking. Bruce Elam (past Senior Partner and St. Neots office Partner) officially opened the office by cutting the official ribbon in style.

St. Ives 11 Station Road, St. Ives, Cambridgeshire PE27 5BH T: 01480 464600

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St. Neots Xenus House, Sandpiper Court, Eaton Socon, St. Neots PE19 8EP T: 01480 474661 39

Garden View

By Rachael Leverton

The

Christmas Wreath Until fairly recently in history, certainly up to Victorian times, people could never be certain they would safely survive the harsh winter. So they developed rituals and displays to help them get through the darker days. One such symbolic display of hope was the Christmas wreath. The circular shape is symbolic of eternity or everlasting life because it has no beginning or end. From a Christian perspective it represents the unending circle of life, with the traditional Holly as the thorns on Jesus’ crown and the red berries as his blood. Now we hang them on our doors and use them as table centrepieces because they look wonderfully opulent and festive. The word ‘wreath’ is linked to the word ‘wrist’, both words describing the form of a continuous circular shape. This became fused with ‘wrethe’ from middle English which means a twisted band or ring of leaves. At this bleak time of year, it’s traditional to use evergreens and other brightly coloured flowers, foliage, or fruits to adorn a wreath. In past times the addition of expensive and rare fruits such as pomegranates, indicated wealth, but wreaths also included the display of pinecones, seashells and even imported products. Once the decorations

were taken down, the edible parts would be eaten and the bounty of summer could be enjoyed in the depth of winter. Making a wreath is fun and relatively easy. You can make a simple and cheap evergreen circle or push the boat out and create an elaborate bauble ring. You can buy a ring of flower-arrangers’ foam. Soak it in tepid water, and then stick sprigs of evergreen foliage from the garden, flowers, berries, dried fruits, nuts, and bows into it using wire if necessary. Or you can make your own base by taking a ring of string wire and covering it in moss or hay. This will need to be held in place using thinner gauge wire. You can then wire in foliage and decorations. I will just warn you about holly though; working with it can be a painful experience so wear gloves and maybe have a box of plasters handy! If you want to try something different you can use a circle of pine cones, dried leaves, threaded popcorn and cranberries or woven red and yellow dogwood cut from your garden and interweaved with battery-operated lights. Use your gardener’s imagination.

Happy Gardening

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Garden

By Pippa Greenwood www.pippagreenwood.com

Get Real this Christmas Christmas is just around the corner and whilst your thoughts may be on gifts, meals, crackers and cards, don’t forget the tree. And I mean a REAL Christmas tree, complete with needles and, if you choose the traditional route, a wonderful aroma. For those concerned about the impact on the planet, British-grown trees are most definitely not an ecological disaster zone - think of them as a crop plant rather like a field of cabbages, except that typically Christmas trees will use less fertiliser and fewer chemicals than many classic crop plants. To make sure you get what suits you, there are a few things to think about before buying a tree. The Norway spruce (Picea abies) is the traditional tree, with gorgeous, short dark green pointed needles and that unmistakable Christmassy aroma, but it is the most likely to drop its needles. However, if well treated it won’t perform badly and it is the lowest-priced of the real trees. The Serbian Spruce (Picea omorica) is quite similar to the Norway spruce and is the favourite festive tree in central Europe, with a distinct blueish tint to the underside of the needles. Typically slender, it is a good choice for smaller sitting rooms and has decent needle retention - but no smell. The Nordmann fir (Abies nordmanniana) is now the biggest-selling Christmas tree in the UK. Its shiny green broad needles are quite soft and almost impossible to shift, so it’s ideal for those who hate mess! The Fraser fir (Abies fraseri) is less widely available, but its combination of good looks and needleholding ability makes it worth considering. It has a narrower base than the Norway spruce so is also useful in smaller houses.

So, how do you choose the best tree of the type you’ve decided on and keep it looking good? • Don’t buy a real tree too early. • Opt for a tree produced by a member of the British Christmas Tree Growers Association - look for the BCTGA logo. • Choose a tree with a good, full shape, not lopsided and with minimal gaps. Check the needles - they should be glossy (for those varieties where this is a characteristic) and the correct colour. They must be free from pests and diseases - avoid anything yellowed or inclined to shed, or with white fluffy bits. Never buy an already netted tree since you can’t see what you’re getting! • If you buy one quite early then the most important thing is to keep it outside - recut the end of the trunk and put the tree in a bucket of water in a sheltered spot outside. Remove any net as it is important to get air circulating around the needles. • When you bring a tree inside, avoid putting it anywhere too warm or close to a heat source, and make sure that you use a stand with a water reservoir that is kept topped up. When Christmas is over, make sure you recycle your tree - many councils and garden centres now offer this service. Visit Pippa’s website for great gardening gifts: a stylish ‘Grow Your Own with Pippa Greenwood’ gift card (a perfect Christmas present, where the recipient receives their chosen garden ready vegetable plants in the spring), gardening tools, raised bed kits, GrowerFrames, signed books and more!

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We carry out all kinds of home and garden services, including: Paths and Patios – New or repairs Block Paving Pressure Washing Fencing – New or repairs Garden Maintenance Hedge Trimming Artificial Grass Turfing Landscaping Property repairs Call us on 07858 638117 for a quote.

IMG QP page advert.indd 1

12/09/2017 13:33

We’re Bartlett Tree Experts, a 100+ year old tree and shrub care company with global reach and local roots. We provide expert, attentive service, a safety-first record and a range of services that includes: • Tree & Shrub Pruning • Cabling & Bracing

• Fertilisation & Soil Care • Insect & Disease Management

FOR THE LIFE OF YOUR TREES.

Please Call 01234 354673 or visit BARTLETT.COM To advertise in The Villager and Town Life please call 01767 261122

All Seasons

Garden & Property Maintenance

Some Services We Provide

Grass/Hedge-cutting, Turfing, Patios, Fencing Ground Preparation, Sheds/Conservatory Bases Repair Work - Internal/External Painting - Internal/External Clearances, Cleaning/pressure cleaning

No job too small

Certified Waste Carriers Fully Insured. Free estimates

Please call Nick

Mob: 07896668976 / Home: 01480 383605 Email: all_seasons123@hotmail.co.uk Find us on Facebook Located:St Neots

GARDEN MACHINERY AND TRAILER CENTRE

 Personal customer service, collection and delivery available.  Assessment of individual requirements.  Full after sales backup and parts service.  NEW Oregon, the world's only unique battery operated, self-sharpening s In stock. chain saw.  Ride-on and pedestrian mowers, chainsaws, strimmers, hedge trimmers, cultivators, estate and equestrian equipment. Trailers - sales, hire, service.  Accessories, oils, Aspen fuel, batteries, spares, security locks for garden/ horticultural machinery and trailers. horticultu

Appointed dealers for:

 Main dealer for Briggs & Stratton, Honda, Kohler, Kawasaki & Mountfield engines.

Honeydon Road, Colmworth, Bedfordshire MK44 2LY

01234 376513 www.bri-ag.co.uk

Open Monday to Friday 8am to 5pm and Saturday 9am to 12pm

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Local News

Rehoming Appeal This monthâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s rescue animal looking for their forever home is Gizmo.

Gizmo is almost 9 years old and has a lively personality. He has been with us for some time now and it would be lovely to get him the special home that he deserves. He needs a quiet, adult only home where he will make an ideal companion for someone who has the time and patience to spend with him. Gizmo gets very anxious around other dogs, so he needs to be the only dog in the house. If you could give this older boy the chance of a happy home, please contact Julie on 01763 289827 who will be happy to tell you more about him. Alternatively, please email Philippa at info.rats@gmail.com who will be pleased to forward your enquiry onto the team. View other small mammals, dogs and cats currently in our care for re-homing on our website: www.rats-animalrescue.co.uk or facebook : www.facebook.com/ratscharity

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Pets

Animal Stories Happy re-homing... Now that the darker nights are closing in and the cold is making us all a little grumpy – we thought that we’d cheer you up with some recent stories of successful re-homing. Hopefully these beautiful cats will warm the cockles of your heart and help you consider if you could open your home to an animal in need. Ronald was only a scrawny kitten when he was found abandoned and full of fleas. Despite his tough start, he was cheeky and friendly – and lucky enough to find his forever home. We received this lovely message from his new family: “We just wanted to let you know how well Norman (previously known as Ronald) is getting along. He’s settled in so well with lots of cuddles, gobbling down lots of food and he is also getting along well with our other cat, Gertrude! They play together, eat together and she’s even recently started grooming her new little brother!” Another stunninglooking kitten was found trying to get a spray tan from a local salon! Sadly, she wasn’t claimed and so was put up for adoption. Now called Misty, we were sent this lovely photograph from her new owners. It definitely looks like she’s made herself at home! Surprisingly, black cats are always difficult to re-home and often find themselves overlooked. Luckily for handsome, fluffball Bruno – his new owners quickly fell under his spell. They sent us this message: “…Bruno has settled in extremely well since bringing him home on Saturday. He is such a sweet natured ella and he very much enjoys fuss and attention!” )

Some of our animals come to us in inseparable pairs and it is too traumatic for them to be split up. This can mean finding a new forever home is a bit more difficult – but Twyler and Sirrius hit the jackpot. Their new owners write: “Twyler and Sirrius are making good use of our king-sized bed and now prefer this to their basket. We just sleep around them! We have bought them a cat tree which is beside our patio windows so they can get a good view of the garden and birds. We also bought some cat toys. Thank you so much for allowing us to adopt these two lovely cats. They are already very much part of the family.” It’s wonderful that these are such happy endings, but unfortunately, we always have a constant stream of unwanted animals coming into our care. Daisy, Maisy and Lacey are around 6 months old. They’ve come from a chaotic house with too many animals and are now looking for a loving forever home. If you think you can offer one of these kittens – or any unwanted animal in our care – a loving home, please contact us. Supporting the RSPCA Bedfordshire North branch ensures that we will always be here for animals such as Norman, Misty and Daisy – protecting them and giving them new beginnings.

Can you help us spread a little more happiness?

ANIMAL STORIES is one of a series of articles brought to you by the RSPCA Bedfordshire North branch www.rspca-bedfordshirenorth.org.uk

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SURECLEAN DRIVEWAY AND PATIO CLEANING SPECIALISTS ROOF MOSS REMOVAL AND GUTTER CLEANING We use a revolutionary industrial pressure rotary cleaning system to restore exterior hard surfaces to as new condition.

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Can I go to the Paddocks for my Holiday please?

Paddocks Boarding Cattery Peaceful location. No dogs boarded. Spacious, individual, heated chalets with large covered runs. Inspection welcome. Boarding from Â£7.30/day. Rabbits/guinea pigs also boarded. 64 Meadow Road, Great Gransden

Telephone 01767 677 759 www.catterybedfordshire.co.uk Open all year.

The cattery for caring owners. Comfort and security for your pet. To advertise in The Villager and Town Life please call 01767 261122

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Fiddle Daemons Violins, Violas, Cellos, Bass

Contact: Jackie@fiddledaemons.com 01767682693 or 07814970635

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01480 810816 Buckden Day Nursery 16 Mill Road, Buckden Cambs. PE19 5SS e: info@buckden-day-nursery.co.uk w: www.buckden-day-nursery.co.uk

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Our Ofsted registered pre school is set in the grounds of Offord Primary School. In summer 2017, we will replace our current building with a brand new purpose built building and will have use of the school’s field and playground. In addition, we will be offering forest school sessions. Open from 7.30am until 4.30pm during term-time. We are pleased to offer 15 hours funded childcare for 2, 3 and 4 year olds and also offer the additional *15 hours funding for 3 and 4 years olds for eligible families, (*subject to availability). This can also be split between different pre schools/nursery schools if you prefer. Offord Pre School has its own secure garden and excellent links to the A1 and A14 and is around 10 minutes away from St Neots and Huntingdon railway stations.

We welcome children from Offord as well as the surrounding villages.

Tel 01480 811977

Email: info@offordpreschool.co.uk

Offord Pre School, Millers Close, Offord Darcy, Cambs PE19 5SB.

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Independent German Car Specialist

Porsche & Performance Ltd

Pristine Automotive provide a first class service specialising in BMW, Audi, Volkswagen, Seat, Skoda and Porsche. They offer the following services:

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01480 278 278 enquiries@pristine-automotive.co.uk Monday – Friday 8.30am-6.00pm Saturday 9.00am-1.00pm

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Motoring

Mercedes-AMG GT C Coupe Edition 50 By Simon Davis

What is it? The Mercedes AMG GT C Coupe Edition 50 is the secondhottest model in the sports car line up and sits slightly below the utterly bonkers GT R. Only available currently as a 500-production ‘Edition 50’ special run, it features a monstrous engine, thunderous soundtrack and super GT looks. What’s new? The engine steals all the headlines, but technical refinements include active rear axle steering, electronicallycontrolled locking differential and a wider track than its lesser powered GT and GT S siblings. What’s under the bonnet? All GT models feature the same 4.0-litre V8 with a ‘hot inner V’ – a compact engine design that places the turbos on the inside of the engine’s ‘V’, so they spool up quicker. Power output for the GT C is a whopping 549bhp backed up with 670Nm of torque, which means 0-60mph in 3.5 seconds and a top speed of 197mph. What’s it like to drive? On the road, it feels big and wide. Visibility isn’t great and placing it takes practice. It’s got fantastic levels of grip though and despite those tyre-shredding performance figures, it puts those huge lumps of power down impressively well, aided smoothly by a quick seven-

speed auto gearbox. The steering feels heavy, perhaps even a little slow at times, but it’s communicative. As the name suggests, this is definitely a performance GT rather than a lithe and supple sports car. On paper, it might be a rival to an Audi R8 or Porsche 911 Turbo S, but both of those would feel far more sports car than this. The GT C is muscle; more raw power and less finesse. How does it look? That muscle car look might be exactly what buyers are looking for, though. Its long, blunt nose, tight rear and low stance will win the most buyers. It’s a unique look – something that’s pretty unrivalled on the road – and one Mercedes is pegging a lot of the GT’s success on. What’s it like inside? Inside the driver is surrounded by a focused cabin. A large, somewhat intrusive transmission tunnel is littered with buttons and dials and the multimedia system is frustrating. The touch-sensitive trackpad is clunky and the graphics look dated, especially when compared to the likes of Jaguar Land Rover. The interior feels incredibly cramped too. Taller drivers will find their knees butt up against the bulkhead and the seats don’t recline far enough.

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What’s the spec like? Standard spec on the GT C includes 19-inch front and 20-inch rear alloy wheels, Burmester sound system, parking sensors and camera, keyless go and an AMG performance steering wheel finished in nappa leather. It’s topped off by red brake calipers with AMG lettering. Verdict If you can see past the complicated naming strategy to pick the right model, you’ll be rewarded with a technologically advanced, blisteringly fast and characterful GT. It’s cramped inside for taller drivers, and some of the multimedia system can be infuriating, but there’s no denying the GT C is staggeringly quick, exciting to drive and looks the muscle car part. Buyers will have a tough choice between this and the very capable alternatives from Audi, Porsche and McLaren, though – while Mercedes will be hoping its AMG heritage and booming soundtrack will pull in the punters. Base price: £139,855 Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin turbo Power: 549bhp, 670Nm Top speed: 197mph 0-60mph: 3.5 MPG: 20mpg Emissions (g/km): 259

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Technology

The Christmas Technology Survival Guide

’Tis the season to stock up on batteries There are very few people whose Christmases won’t involve some kind of technology: not just presents, although even the simplest toys seem to come packed with tech these days. You might use technology to provide festive music, or to stream a crackling log fire from Netflix. Here’s how to make sure technology doesn’t trip you up during the festive season. First, check with Santa to see what kind of batteries the children’s toys will need, because even the simplest toys often have an electronic component. Having a good stock of rechargeable AA and AAA batteries (and a charger!) covers most eventualities, but some manufacturers like to keep you on your toes by demanding LR44s or CR2032s or other arcane options. Don’t leave it to the last minute: relatively uncommon batteries can be hard to find at short notice, especially if you’re reliant on small shops. Look out your sharp scissors and a small Phillips cross-head screwdriver too: electronic items often come in plastic packaging that’s hard to get into, while larger toys can be secured to their packaging with screws or cable ties.

Not every device that needs a charger comes with one - mobile phones in particular tend to come charger-free - so you might need to get additional chargers or adaptors. Check first, though: the charger you need for, say, a new Nokia is the same as for a Kindle or PlayStation 4 controller. If some of your gadget gifts are pre-owned - something that can save you a great deal of money - it’s definitely worth checking that the batteries still hold a charge, because batteries have a finite lifespan. For example, many PlayStation Move controllers being sold as-new on eBay have been sitting in warehouses for so long that their rechargeable batteries no longer hold a charge, even though they are unused. Replacement batteries are easy to get, but not on Christmas Day. If Santa’s bringing a games console, it’s a very good idea to connect it to your broadband well in advance: there’s nothing more dispiriting on Christmas Day than having to wait hours for a system update to download before you can play anything - especially if your broadband has slowed to a crawl because everybody else in the street is trying to do the same thing. And if you’re planning a bit of

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multi-player gaming with two or more people in the same room, make sure you have enough controllers. It’s a similar story with computers, tablets and smartphones: there have often been quite significant system software updates since they were made. There’s less pressure than with consoles, though, because while consoles tend to be quite huffy - Xbox Ones and PS4s often refuse to let you use online features until you’ve updated your system software - computers and mobile devices don’t demand you drop everything. Did we say “drop”? Unfortunately one of the problems with technology as presents is that some gadgets are eminently breakable. It’s worth checking if your home insurance or current account protects items such as mobile phones, tablets, laptops or TVs from accidental damage (and that the excess doesn’t make such coverage pointless) - and with mobile devices for children it’s an even better idea to put their gadget in a sturdy, scratch- and impact-resistant case. That way you can be confident of a smashing time without smashing anything expensive.

Food and Drink

Seasonal Delights Salmon and Monkfish Filo Wreath

Serves 6 Ready in 1 hour 30 minutes, plus chilling time This festive wreath makes a great alternative to traditional roast turkey and can be prepared in advance the night before.

INGREDIENTS

Sunflower oil, for greasing 100g butter, melted 270g pack filo pastry, thawed if frozen 450g salmon fillet, skinned and diced 450g monkfish fillet, skinned and diced 225g cooked peeled tiger prawns 2 tbsp lemon juice 3 tbsp chopped fresh dill Salt and freshly ground black pepper Lemon wedges and dill sprigs, to garnish 1 Use the sunflower oil to grease a 1.2 litre capacity ring mould, then line the mould with cling film. 2 Brush the sheets of pastry one by one with melted butter and use nearly all of them to line the ring mould. Overlap the pastry sheets slightly as you go and repeat the layers 3-4 times. Leave the excess pastry to drape over the side of the mould. 3 Mix the salmon, monkfish and prawns in a large bowl and stir in the lemon juice and chopped dill. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper. 4 Spoon the fish mixture into the pastry-lined mould, pressing down gently. Fold the excess

pastry in over the filling and top with more buttered sheets of pastry, cutting them to fit and completely cover the filling. Stamp small star shapes out of any remaining sheets of buttered pastry and place on a plate. 5 Cover the ring mould and the plate with cling film and chill in the fridge for at least 1 hour (or overnight). Carefully invert the ring mould onto a large baking sheet and then remove the mould and the cling film. Re-melt any remaining butter and brush all over the pastry. 6 Bake in a preheated oven at 190C/fan 170C/Gas Mark 5 for 40-45 minutes until the pastry is crisp and golden. Bake the pastry stars on a separate baking sheet for 5 minutes until golden. 7 Allow the wreath to stand for 5 minutes then transfer to a serving platter and decorate with the pastry stars. Garnish with lemon wedges and dill sprigs.

Tip

Filo pastry sheets can vary in size so simply cut to fit. Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t worry if they tear, just place another piece of buttered pastry on top to cover the tear.

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15:40

Food and Drink

Beer and festive food Christmas is essentially about four things: presents, family, food and drink. Alas there’s not much advice we can offer on family (try and be nice) or the presents but we’ve got you covered for food and drink, with beer claiming a place at the Christmas dinner table. Aperitif - Before we start gobbling turkey, how about an aperitif? The beer needs to be dry, bubbly and blonde. Lagers, blonde and golden ales offer a range of flavours from herbal, pine and bready to spicy, citrus and tropical fruit. Serve in a champagne flute to match the occasion. Starters - For festive fish and seafood, you’re spoilt for choice. Wheat beers, particularly Belgian witbiers, are adept at bringing out the best in fish. Often brewed with coriander and orange peel they’re spritzy, citrusy and perfectly complement any fish that’s enhanced with a squeeze of lemon, such as salmon. Lagers, like wheat beers, do a fine job of complementing delicate flavours and their effervescence cuts through any oily fish and cleanse the palate, leaving you ready for the next bite. Main - So which beer with turkey? Its soft, easy flavours make great partners for sweet milds, gentle bitters and lagers. Keep it mellow and go for something with bittersweet balance. Saisons are also a very good option. Their herbal, spicy and tart notes complementing, but not overwhelming, the meat. The spiciness scores a direct hit with the stuffing while their sweetness contrasts the bitterness of Brussels sprouts. Finally, along comes sparkly carbonation and a subtle peppery bitterness,

which will cut through the fatty textures and sweep the palate clean. Well done saisons. If goose is the family festive favourite a full-flavoured Trappist or Abbey beer has the necessary oomph to complement this more gamey bird especially with its bigger flavoured accompaniments such as chestnuts or red cabbage. If duck is your bird of choice it just has to be a glass of Kwak, a Belgian strong ale. View that one as your very own Christmas cracker joke pairing. Dessert and cheese - Christmas day desserts vary from house-to-house, but the overwhelming favourite is Christmas pudding. This is heaven sent with stouts and porters, the same creamy dry flavours being present in both. Barley wines are also worth an outing. Not forgetting mince pies, where the warm, complex, sweet and spicy qualities of strong ales will complement these crumbly Christmas classics. Then there’s the array of cheeses and the beers to match. Not to mention all manner of chocolate delights, where you can complement with the harmonising chocolate notes of stouts and porters, or wonderfully contrast the sweetness with the sour smack of a lambic kriek – which is akin to creating a Black Forest gateau one mouthful at a time. Find the perfect festive beers with Beer Match, our online tool that matches brilliant beers to your favourite dishes. Having the right beer for your top food has never been so easy. Discover more at www.beerforthat.com

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Food & Drink

Kill or Cure! Hangover cures to die for…possibly for real! It’s the morning after the night before! You feel as though Santa and all his reindeer are performing a festive version of Riverdance on top of your head. So you reach for a hangover cure… How about pickled sheep eyeballs washed down with a tomato juice and brine cocktail? Mongolians swear by it apparently…rather them than me! In ancient Ireland hangover sufferers were buried in wet river sand. It was said to cure the worst of the symptoms. I’ll pass thanks. A college friend swore by a concoction he called ‘Prairie Oyster’: Crack an egg into a glass without breaking the yolk, add a splash of Worcestershire sauce and swallow whole. Even watching him drink it was enough to send me and my lurching stomach running for the bathroom. Personally I have always found that if I’ve overdone the celebrations at a party then drinking a large

glass of water before I turn in for the night really helps. In the morning I drink more water with a recommended dose of paracetamol. If your stomach is a bit sensitive you can try an antacid to calm it down, then if possible go back to bed. When you are ready to eat something try a banana. They are easily digestible and help to replace lost minerals, though many people do swear by a fry-up. Possibly the saltiness and protein-rich foods (bacon, eggs and beans) help there. The Scandinavian equivalent is pickles and fish but I suspect you really do have to be Swedish to entertain that notion. The only way to completely avoid a hangover is to avoid alcohol. But most of us like a drink at Christmas so the best advice is to drink in moderation, don’t mix drinks (wine or beer, not both), and alternate alcoholic tipples with soft drinks. That way you’ll enjoy the morning after as well as the night before.

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Codeword 1

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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. 60

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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

n O s ’ t Wha In December 1 December St Neots Local History Society 7.30pm Eynesbury Junior School Katy Salmon will talk about ‘A Tudor Christmas, in Costume and Character’. 2 December Art & Craft Fair 9.30am-4pm Free Church Hall, St Ives Quality handmade art and craft stalls and tombola. 2 December Children’s Messy Advent Workshop 10.30am-12 noon St James Church, Little Paxton Christmas stories, songs and crafts. All pre-school children to be accompanied by an adult. Please contact Annette to register a place Tel: Canon Rev Annette Reed - 01480 211048 Email: canonannettereed@gmail.com 2 December Taste of Christmas Fayre 11am-1pm Tempsford Methodist Chapel Raffle, books, toys, jigsaws, Christmas tombola, Santa sack, Money tree, Reindeer food, cake stall, Take me home for Christmas and lots more. Refreshments available. 2 December Cambs and Beds Hardy Plant Society 2pm Weatherley Centre, Eagle Farm Road, Biggleswade Jill and Alun Whitehead, owners of Aulden Farm Nursery, will talk about ‘Aulden Farm - From Conception to Chaos’. www.hpscambsandbeds.co.uk 2 December Concert by the Aragon Singers 7.30pm St Andrew’s Church, Kimbolton Tickets £8 (inc. a glass of wine) Tickets available from Kimbolton Flower Shop or on Sundays after service. 2 December St Neots Choral Society Concert 7.30pm St Mary’s Church, Eaton Socon Tickets £12, Concessions £10 A performance of Handel: Chandos Anthem No 9; Handel: Zadok the Priest, Bach: Lutheran Mass - in G major, BWV 236 and Purcell: Come ye Sons of Art. Tel: 01480 392322 Web: www.stneotschoral.org.uk

2 & 3 December Christmas Tree Festival Sat 10.30am-4.30pm, Sun 12 noon-4.30pm St Andrew’s Church, Kimbolton Admission £2.50, Children under 12 free 30 beautifully decorated trees. Refreshments, Tombola and various stalls. Everyone welcome. 3 December Craft & Gift Fair Comrades Club, Godmanchester Browse a wide selection of unique handmade crafts and gifts not found in the High Street. Tel: 01536 675000 for stallholder enquiries Email: coulterlyons@yahoo.co.uk 3 December Moments with Trees – Tree Dressing Day 11.30am-2.30pm Ferry Meadows Country Park, Peterborough Come along to the Visitor Centre and create an item to hang on one of our special trees. Web: www.neneparktrust.org.uk Email: ozzie.day5@gmail.com 6 December St. Mary’s Christmas Coffee Morning 10-11.30am Buckden Village Hall Entry £3 inc. coffee & mince pies Seasonal stalls. Raffle. Everyone welcome.

8 December Wildlife Trust Christmas at Manor House 3pm-7pm Free entry Manor House, Broad Street, Cambourne This fun event is a great way to stock up on wildlife goodies galore, including wildlife art and photographs, decorations, hand crafted jewellery, bird boxes and insect houses, handmade soy candles, a Christmas raffle plus children’s activities. The perfect chance to step into the festive spirit with mulled wine and mince pies. 8 December Beauty & The Beast (PG) Food 6.15 for 6.30pm, Film only 7 for 7.30pm Mandeville Hall, Kimbolton Food & Film £12, Film only £4, Over 60s £3, Children £2 Kimbolton Community Cinema. Walt Disney’s musical, romantic fantasy adaptation of the fairy tale. Free popcorn. Tickets available from Oliver’s, The Swan Pharmacy, Kimbolton Courtyard Kitchen, Bytes Café, and on the door if available. Tel: 01480 860297 Email: kimbolton.cinema@gmail.com Web: http://e-voice.org.uk/ themandevillehallkimbolton/community-cinema

6 December Godmanchester Senior Citizens Club Coffee Morning & Raffle 10am-12 noon Godmanchester Town Hall Tel: Geoff 01480 434697 or 07515 881209

9 December Christmas Bazaar 12 noon-4pm Little Paxton Village Hall Admission 30p, Children free Lots of Christmas stalls including crafts, gifts, tombolas, games, face painting, refreshments and not forgetting Santa’s Grotto. Organised by St. James Church, Little Paxton.

6 & 13 December Little Fishes 10am-11.20am Grafham Village Hall Stay and Play Tots Session during term-time. Babies welcome too. Tel: Jean Clark 01480 890033 Email: robnjeanclark@tiscali.co.uk

9 December Christmas Fair 3-5pm Brampton Village Primary School Santa’s Grotto, stalls, games, shopping, School choir, tombola, face painting, refreshments and luxury hamper raffle.

8 December Coffee Morning 10.30am-12 noon Methodist Hall, Church Street, Buckden Buckden & Little Paxton Surgeries Patients Association.

9 December The Aragon Singers of Buckden 7.30pm The Parish Church of St. Mary Magdalene Brampton Tickets £8 inc. mulled wine & mince pies An evening of well-known Christmas music with plenty of opportunity for audience participation. Tickets available on the door.

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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

n O s ’ t Wha In December 9 December Songs From Home 7.30pm Queen Victoria Hall, Oundle Tickets £12/10 Ruff ‘n’ Ready and Grantham School of Dancing present ‘Songs From Home’, inspired by the music of the Irish Diaspora. Tickets from Oundle in Stitches, Market Place, Oundle or by telephone. Tel: Tickets 01832 273830

15 December La La Land Doors open 7.30pm, film starts 8pm Corn Exchange, St Ives Tickets £5 + booking fee Screen St Ives. 12A. Celebrate the Christmas season with this bittersweet almost-Oscar-winning romance - a wonderful feast for the eyes and ear. Web: www.screenstives.org.uk

10 December A Children’s Christmas Concert with St Neots Concert Band 3pm Great Paxton Church of England Primary School, 19 Mount Pleasant, Great Paxton Music for the whole family to enjoy, with opportunities for children to join in.

16 December Huntingdonshire Philharmonic: A Christmas Feast 4pm Hinchingbrooke Performing Arts Centre, Huntingdon Tickets: £14/£12, Student concession £7/£6 Hunts Phil’s well-loved Family Christmas Concert with a mix of old and new carols. Tickets available by telephone, online or on the door. Tel: Box Office: 01480 375678 Web: www.huntsphil.org.uk Web: www.ticketsource.co.uk

12 December St Ives Sugarcraft Guild 7.30-9pm Reading Room, Hemingford Grey Visitors £6 Monthly meetings where you can learn, hands-on, various cake decorating techniques and/or sugarcraft. Tel: Shirley 01480 454616 13 December Cambridgeshire Rural M.E. Tea & Chat Second Wednesday of every month. Monthly meetup for adults with M.E. and partners/friends. Web: www.crmetea.org 13 December Wildlife Trust Christmas Miscellany 7.30-9pm Brampton Memorial Centre, Thrapston Road, Brampton Entry £2.50, Accompanied children free Oliver Burke, Wildlife Trust Director of Living Landscapes, will talk about conservation news and recent local wildlife highlights. Tel: Tim Fryer 07941 261346 15 December St Neots Timebank New Friends Group 2-3.30pm The Priory Centre, St Neots For members and non-members. If you like to chat about everyday things and enjoy friendly company come along and meet members of the TimeBank community. We’re a friendly team of people - learn how the TimeBank can benefit so many in a multitude of ways, the list is never ending.

16 December Huntingdon Male Voice Choir Christmas Concert 7.30pm St Mary’s Church, Huntingdon Tickets £10, Concessions £8 Joint Christmas Concert with Sing2Help. Tel: Tickets Richard 01480 383525 Web: www.hmvc.org.uk 17 December Children’s Christmas Crafts 11am-4pm Wandlebury Country Park, Cambridge £10 per family, Members £8 CambridgePPF event. Help your children make attractive rustic Christmas decorations using natural materials from the park. Expert guidance is on hand. Tel: 01223 243830 extension 207 Email: email bookings@cambridgeppf.org Web: www.cambridgeppf.org/whats-on 17 December Christmas Carols at the Leper Chapel 6.30-8pm Leper Chapel, Cambridge CambridgePPF event. The Reverend Dr Roger Williams will be leading the Cottenham Brass Band for Carols by Candlelight. Donations towards the upkeep of the chapel are always appreciated. Tel: 01223 243830 extension 207 Email: email bookings@cambridgeppf.org Web: www.cambridgeppf.org/whats-on

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21 December Christmas Tree Decoration Making 10am-12 Ferry Meadows Country Park, Peterborough Join Rangers to make a Christmas Tree decoration from clay which can be taken home to hang on your tree. Meet at Discovery Den. Web: www.neneparktrust.org.uk 21 December Love’s Farm Women’s Institute 8-10pm St Neots Football Club The Love’s Farm Ladies is Love’s Farm’s new WI group, meeting on the third Thursday of the month. Tel: Nikki Jackson 07563 715043 Email: lovesfarmladieswi@gmail.com 23 December Carol Concert 6pm St Mary’s Church, Eaton Socon Joint concert with St Neots Choral Society and St Neots Sinfonia. Seasonal music and readings with an orchestral piece that gives children the opportunity to ‘join the band’. Tickets available from choir members or by telephone. Tel: Tickets 01480 392322 29 December Wildlife Trust Midwinter Walk 10am-1pm Roswell Pits Walk off the Christmas pudding with the Ely local group at Roswell Pits and along the river Great Ouse - bittern, goosander and kingfisher are resident in the area. Meet at Ely cathedral carpark. 30 & 31 December St Ives Antiques Fair 10am-4pm daily Burgess Hall (One Leisure Centre), Westwood Road, St Ives This is a fun and friendly Antiques Fair with around 50 dealers offering affordable quality antiques and vintage pieces including ceramics, glass, maps, small items of furniture, silver, china, jewellery, paperweights, postcards and other interesting treasures of yesteryear at prices to suit all pockets. All shown in the air-conditioned and comfortable surroundings of Burgess Hall, with ample free parking, wheelchair access from street level and great on-site catering. It makes a great day out for everyone. Dealers welcome from 9am upon production of business card. Tel: 01480 896866 Email: parkhousepr@aol.com Web: www.stivesantiquesfair.co.uk

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TRADITIONAL SWEEPING SERVICE NESTS REMOVED CAGES, CAPS AND COWLS FITTED SWEEPING CERTIFICATES ISSUED PROFESSIONAL, CLEAN SERVICE FULLY INSURED POLICE CHECKED

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Time of Year

By Tracey Anderson

Plumb Crazy!

Within two months of moving to our current home just before Christmas last year, our loo developed a leak so we called a plumber. A fortnight later we developed a problem with the shower and called him back. Then all our radiators started leaking and the ground-floor toilet died. Keith the plumber was horrified at the ‘botched DIY’ which the previous owners had carried out and he carefully and systematically set about sorting out the almighty mess, and in return we parted with enough cash to fund his New Year holiday in Ibiza - only joking Keith! Plumbing is best left to the experts and not just in an emergency. Changing a tap washer is one thing but DIY interference with plumbing systems can not only result in serious damage and expensive repair bills but a potential health hazard. If you do fancy a spot of DIY please know that you are subject to the same regulations and controls as a professional. Everything connected to a water supply has to comply with statutory requirements and failure to do this may result in prosecution. In our case a stiff letter from a solicitor helped recoup some of our costs. The Chartered Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering (CIPHE), is the professional body for the UK plumbing and heating industry. Its 12,000 members abide by a code of professional standards. They agree to: Perform professionally, competently and responsibly (including having adequate insurance) Safeguard the environment and public health and safety

Comply with all relevant laws, regulations, standards and codes Broaden, improve and maintain their skills and knowledge Uphold the dignity, standing of the institute and the plumbing, mechanical engineering services industry. So how do you find a good plumber? The best way is to ask around. Who do your friends and family use? We found Keith from a neighbour. Use a member of the IHPE whose members have to hold qualifications or demonstrate extensive experience. Get at least three written quotes and find out whether the plumber charges by the hour or per job. Never pay up front and don’t be scared to ask questions. We actually didn’t have to ask many questions of Keith. He talked through all the issues and options before doing any work each time. How to help yourself Know the location of and label the stop valve on the incoming supply main. Locate, identify and label all other stop valves. Know the location of any drain valves by which your water and / or heating system may be drained. Properly insulate all exposed pipes. Inspect your cold water tank regularly and if it is metal make sure there are no signs of corrosion. Have your central heating serviced regularly. The IPHE recommends annual servicing. Clean, safe water is one of the essentials of life. Use your local professional. Don’t leave to chance.

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Travel

Canada Through the leafy gorge of the river Don the city rises like a mirage on the horizon, a gleaming cluster of buildings dwarfed by the slender silhouette of the CN Tower. At just over 553 metres, Toronto’s communication tower is the tallest freestanding structure in the Western hemisphere and the city’s most iconic landmark. Lifts take you to the observation platform with its glass floor said to withstand the weight of 14 hippos and provide access to the SkyPod 100 metres above. The view takes your breath away, from the wooded ravines and sprawling city to the meandering shore of Lake Ontario and the lush ribbon of islands where town folks can escape and connect with nature. In clear weather the spray from Niagara Falls, over 70 km away, is visible. But before making your way to the Falls, as most visitors do, it is worth spending time in this ‘most lovable’ North American city with record temperatures of highs and lows but on the same latitude as the French Riviera. Trams glide through the streets at a leisurely pace, tulips nod in the parks and hundreds of rooftop gardens, now compulsory in all major developments, freshen up the air. The original settlers, known as First Nation, had long lived in the area when Europeans arrived in the early 17th century. The French set up a fur trade but were later replaced by the British, who bought the land from the First Nation for the princely sum of £1,700 plus merchandise. Yet it was only with the arrival of the railway in the mid19th century that the city truly blossomed. According to BBC Radio, Toronto is ‘one of the world’s most diverse cities’, home to 230 nationalities, speaking 160 languages and

By Solange Hando

Glimpses of Toronto accounting for an inner city population of 2.8 million. So Ontario’s provincial capital is larger than Ottawa or any other Canadian city. But laid out as it is on a grid pattern, it is surprisingly easy to explore on foot, from the business centre to Little Italy, China Town, Portugal Village or the bustling Dundas Square on Yonge Street, the place for casual eating, nightlife and cheap theatre tickets. Old and new mingle effortlessly: here the historic Parliament and University buildings, there the old City Hall with a clock tower reminiscent of Big Ben, the stylish harmonious complex of the New City Hall, just steps away, the multi-purpose Rogers Centre, home to the Blue Jays baseball team and concert venue - think Madonna or the Rolling Stones - or the Union Station opened by the Prince of Wales in 1927. Markets beckon with local colour, St Lawrence for fresh produce, Kensington for all things hippy, arty and cool, while the ultimate shopping therapy is found in the vast Eaton Centre. For top designer wear or celebrity spotting, however, it’s the Mink Mile in the Bloor-Yorkville district. Then you can wander the cobbled lanes of the Distillery Historic District, lined with bakeries and micro-breweries, visit the Royal Ontario Museum or the Ripley’s Aquarium where you can pet a stingray, or chill out under pink parasols on the imported sands of Sugar Beach. Then there are restaurants and ice cream parlours, coffee and cake shops, but sooner or later the lake calls you back with ferries to the islands and boats cruising nonchalantly along the harbour front, past the mighty CN Tower which dominates the skyline wherever you are in Toronto.

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Life Begins...

How do I tell if my elderly neighbour needs help?

By Kate McLelland

According to Age UK’s report “Later Life in the United Kingdom”, published this year, 3.64 million people in the UK aged 65+ live alone. With so many older individuals living independent lives, it often falls to neighbours to sound the alarm if the behaviour of an elderly person gives cause for concern. So what are the signals that show something may be wrong? What should I look out for? Signs such as curtains remaining permanently open or closed, or newspapers left sticking out of the letterbox, can indicate that there may be a problem. The first step should be to knock on your neighbour’s door. If they answer, try to engage them in conversation, and if you are invited in, use your visit as an opportunity to check how they are living. Does the house look clean and tidy? Is it warm? Are pets being cared for properly or are there signs of neglect, such as overflowing litter trays? If you’ve made several attempts to knock on the door but there’s no answer, you could ask people in neighbouring properties if they have seen or heard anything. Finally, ring round the local hospitals to see if your neighbour has been admitted. If you continue to draw a blank, it may be time to call the police. Calling social services If there’s no emergency but you suspect that

your elderly neighbour may have developed a mental or physical health issue that puts them at risk, check if they have a relative or close friend that you can phone. If the answer is ‘no’, you could call the Age UK helpline on Freephone 0800 009 966 or contact the social services department at your local council. When a local authority is told that someone may be in need of care and support they are obliged to carry out a needs assessment, even if the individual in question has not requested one. Meals on Wheels There is usually a clear course of action when an older person is found to be at risk or in distress. However it’s not always so straightforward when someone simply appears to be lonely or not eating properly. One solution may be to help them set up a ‘Meals on Wheels’ delivery. The Royal Voluntary Service (RVS), the original provider of the Meals on Wheels service, says: “Our home-delivered meals service provides friendly social contact for those who may be confined to the house, and a regular check that they are safe and well.” Between 6th and 10th November the National Association for Care Catering (NACC) celebrates Meals on Wheels Week. This is an initiative created to raise awareness and demonstrate how vital the service is. Meals on Wheels is currently a discretionary service, not supported by all local councils, and NACC is campaigning for the government to make it a statutory, protected service for those considered most at risk in the community. As a concerned neighbour, you could make a real difference with a simple intervention, whether that’s starting a friendly chat or taking positive action to support the elderly person in question. If you’d like to hear more about the Royal Voluntary Service Meals on Wheels service, telephone 0845 608 0122 or visit royalvoluntaryservice.org.uk

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LESTER Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;DRISCOLL CARPENTRY Door Hanging, Skirting, Flooring, Fitted Kitchens, Fencing, Decking, General Carpentry, Extensions

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Novemberâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Puzzle Solutions and Winners Last Monthâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Crossword Winner Mrs White of St Neots Easy

Hard

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The Villager Prize Crossword

Prize

ÂŁ100 Across 7 Light wind (6) 8 Add up (6) 9 Not pretty (4) 10 Take away (8) 11 Tenth month (7) 13 Deprived (5) 15 Two times (5) 17 Remaining (7) 20 Booklet (8) 22 Floats (6) 23 Unlocked (6) Down 1 Horrendous (6)

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21 Assists (4)

2 Refute (4) 3 Childhood illness (7) 4 Investigate (5)

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

16th December 2017 Prize Crossword, Villager Publications Ltd 24 Market Square, Potton, Beds SG19 2NP

5 Barely (8) 6 Coerced (6) 12 Engaged (8) 14 Stopping place (7) 16 Gun or knife (6) 18 Bowed (6) 19 Nearby (5) 21 Pinnacle (4)

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FASCIAS, SOFFITS AND GUTTERING PROFESSIONAL, RELIABLE, AFFORDABLE FROM AS LITTLE AS Â£25 PER METRE FITTED

Tim

For more information ring Tim on 01480 218998 info@eliteroofline.com www.elitefasciasoffitandguttering.com

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Local News

Arthur Rank Hospice’s Christmas tree returns bigger than ever! Could you help?

The Hospice fundraising team are looking for volunteers to help with their annual Christmas tree recycling scheme! It’s a fantastically simple idea…. Anyone who lives in postcode areas CB1, CB2, CB22, CB3, CB4, CB5 - and now also CB24 - and doesn’t want the hassle of getting rid of their tree, can register online at arhc.org.uk/treerecycling to have it collected by the Hospice’s Christmas-Treeclearance-team! For a small donation, as little as £5, they will collect your tree to be composted. Last New Year £7,000 was raised in this way for the Hospice and this year they are hoping to raise even more!

Can you help? Support is needed in a number of ways: 1. Could you help with promoting the collection by leafleting in the postcode areas listed above between 27 December and 4 January? 2. Would you like to join the Christmas-Treeclearance-team? It’s like a treasure hunt for trees, so lots of fun (and for a really good cause!) on 5 and 6 January (either day, or both). If you additionally have access to a van, that would be fantastic, but co-pilots are also needed for the day. 3. f you live in of the postcodes above and would like your tree collected for a small donation on 5 or 6 January, please register your tree by visiting arhc.org.uk/treerecycling To help as a volunteer please contact bec.beattie@arhc.org.uk / 01223 675888. You can also contact her to find out more about what is involved at any stage of the scheme and/or if you’re interested in offering sponsorship in some way.

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Books

Book Review By Kate Duggan Indulgent Escapes Looking to escape the in-laws for a couple of hours? We may have found you the perfect book to indulge in.

All the Little Children by Jo Furniss

A family wild-camping trip turns into a fight to survive in this gripping debut novel. Marlene and her sister-in-law have taken their children to a forest for a short holiday before the start of term. When they spot columns of smoke in the distance, and not an electric light in sight, they start to suspect something has gone badly wrong. As the enormity of the situation unfolds, and Marlene finds more children in need of protection, she needs to decide how far sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll go to protect her family. Gripping.

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