Cambs December 2022

By Peter Ibbett

A Victorian Christmas in St. Neots

Our Victorian ancestors would have marvelled at our 21st century world. They would have enjoyed all the fun of the 2011 Christmas fair that took over the High Street in St. Neots, and would have been amazed at the quality and quality of goods on sale. But in their day there were no large power companies charging an arm and two legs for keeping you warm or a charitable government subsidising the cost of living. The good hearted townsfolk survived winter cold with only the aid of thick clothes and a few logs of wood and lumps of coal to keep the tentacles of Jack Frost at bay.

Charles Dickens noted the Christmas of his era in one of his articles:- “Lavish profusion is in the shops: particularly in the articles of currants, raisins, spices, candied peel, and moist sugar. An unusual air of gallantry and dissipation is abroad; evinced in an immense bunch of mistletoe hanging in the greengrocer’s shop doorway, and a poor little Twelfth Cake, culminating in the figure

of a Harlequin – such a very poor little Twelfth Cake, that one would rather call it a TwentyFourth Cake or a Forty-Eighth Cake – to be raffled for at the pastry cook’s, terms one shilling per member”. For those not so fortunate in the poor quality buildings on the fringe of town or in the back streets of Eynesbury there was no oven to cook a Christmas meal. Dickens takes Scrooge into the streets of the ordinary worker and his family:“Spirit,” said Scrooge submissively, “conduct me where you will.” They stood in the city streets on Christmas morning. There emerged from scores of bye-streets, innumerable people, carrying their dinners to the baker’s shops … the thawed blotch of wet above each baker’s oven where the pavement smoked as if its stones were cooking too.

Do visit St. Neots museum to meet Santa in his warm grotto and to enjoy the Craft Fair and gifts of all sorts in the shop.

Five places to travel solo

By Solange Hando

While once the prospect of exploring a new country completely alone would terrify most of us, nowadays solo travel carries with it a strange allure, infused with ideas of adventure, storytelling and personal growth.

Solo travel has soared in recent years, with more and more people choosing to challenge the norm by holidaying alone. Films like ‘The Beach’, ‘Eat, Pray, Love’ and ‘Wild’ have paved the way for this growing trend and the travel industry has followed suit. In 2022, the world is more geared towards solo travel than ever before, with many package holidays, hotels and excursions designed specifically with the lone traveller in mind. But what are the benefits? From making new friends and learning more about yourself, to indulging in complete unashamed selfishness, the rewards are countless. First off, there’s no denying that it’s so much easier to meet new and interesting people. Travelling with familiar faces generally means you’re less likely to venture out of your circle to chat with potential friends or travel buddies. When you’re on your own, however, making friends happens so naturally you won’t even need to think about it.

What’s more, if you’re looking for time by yourself, there’s nothing like a spot of solo travel to help you on your journey of self-discovery. ‘Finding yourself’ is a cliché, and while solo travel may not lead to a ‘Eureka’ moment of self-realisation, it could certainly help you discover new passions, hobbies and aspirations.

While you can obviously book a solo trip wherever you choose, when it comes to travelling alone, there are some destinations that come up trumps. Here are five of our top picks.

Ireland

Ireland is the perfect place to start if you’re new to solo travel. With many of the home comforts we’re familiar with in the UK, including the English language, this is a country that’s famous for the welcome it extends to strangers. Pull up a stool in a traditional Irish pub, offer to buy your neighbour a pint and you’ll have a friend for life – or at least for the evening. Stay a while and you might get lucky and catch a Celtic music session. What’s more, Ireland’s stunning breadth of nature – particularly along the Atlantic coast – leaves you plenty of room for self-reflection.

Thailand

Thailand’s tropical beaches are a stalwart of Asia’s traditional backpacking route. With a terrific range of tours, good transport options and international cuisine, it’s one of the best places to start a welltrodden solo adventure around South-East Asia. Whether you choose the Gulf coast to the east or the Andaman coast to the west, you’re bound to find fellow travellers to bond with. Plus, it’s not known as ‘the land of smiles’ for nothing! The people of Thailand are, for the most part, warm and welcoming towards foreign visitors and will often go out of their way to help you out.

Ireland

New Zealand

If you’re nervous about the safety aspect of travelling solo, New Zealand will certainly put you at ease. Kiwis will tell you their country is one of the safest in the world, but it’s the dazzling landscapes, buzzing towns and cities and friendly people that truly make New Zealand a mecca for solo travel. Popular with backpackers, nature enthusiasts, and thrill-seekers striking out on their own, the country is a haven for anyone who loves the great outdoors and one of the best places to meet fellow, likeminded travellers.

Indonesia

The setting for one third of Elizabeth Gilbert’s solo travel memoir ‘Eat, Pray, Love’, there’s no denying that Indonesia has a special magic about it. Bali is the archipelago’s most popular island for solo travellers, but its neighbours Lombok and the Gili Islands are close competitors. If a spiritual and artistic awakening is what you seek, Ubud definitely needs to be on your radar. It’s where Elizabeth Gilbert found love and true peace, and it remains a wonderfully laid-back place for solo travellers to relax, reflect and recharge.

Costa Rica

Solo travellers from the US have been heading to Costa Rica for years, and Europeans are finally starting to catch on. As the world’s greenest, most biodiverse country, there’s no better place to reconnect with nature – the country’s pura vida (pure

life) ethos is apparent wherever you go. It also has a reputation for being one of the happiest countries in the world, and it’s easy to see why: from white-water rafting down rivers to zip-lining through gorgeous rainforests, Costa Rica is packed with outdoor activities to please your adventurous spirit.

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New Zealand

Indonesia

New Zealand

Countdown to Christmas The Origins of the Advent Calendar

I loved the arrival of the Advent Calendar when I was growing up. Every year we had a cardboard one from Woolworths, printed with a Christmas scene, each little door opening to reveal a tiny picture such as a teddy, a reindeer or a bauble. My brother and I would take it turns to be ‘odds’ or ‘evens’. I always wanted to be ‘evens’ so I could open the Christmas Eve door which was always slightly larger and had a picture of the Nativity or Santa on the roof of a snow-covered house. When some of the kids at school started boasting about their ‘chocolate’ Advent Calendars we begged my dad for one and eventually he gave in. We were disappointed when we realised that once the chocolate was removed there was no picture, just an empty space where the chocolate had been. The ‘open’ chocolate Advent calendar had all the charm of a mouth with missing teeth. We never asked for another one.

The Advent calendar originates from Germany. It began with German Protestants marking the days of Advent either by burning a candle or marking a wall with chalk. This morphed into the practice of hanging a devotional image every day and ultimately to the creation of the first known wooden Advent calendar in 1851. The first printed calendars appeared just after 1900. Small doors were added in the 1920s. Often short bible verses were hidden behind the doors alongside the picture. During the World War ll cardboard rationing put a stop to advent calendars but when hostilities ceased Richard Sellmar of Stuttgart obtained a permit from the US officials to begin printing and selling them again. He designed a calendar based on a German winter town scene. By the 1950s, they were mass-produced and affordable and exported across the world.

By Kate McCarthy

Chocolate Advent Calendars might seem like the new kids on the block but they have been around longer than you might think. Fry and Son produced the first chocolate Advent calendar as early as 1958 and Cadbury popularised them in the Seventies.

Lego got in on the action in 1998 with a set that contained a Santa Claus minifigure and simple brickmade structures, which could be finally reassembled into a bigger model or scene. They’ve produced at least one every year since. My oldest teen begs me for their Harry Potter one every year.

Over the past decade Advent calendars have gone ‘luxury’ and become a key marketing strategy for many companies. This started around 2010 when Selfridges department store launched a beautythemed Advent calendar with the cosmetics giant L’Oréal. It was filled with product samples from fragrances to body creams. There is now a advent calendar catering for pretty much every taste, most of them marketed at adults rather than children.

There are advent calendars for gin-lovers, tea-lovers, and nail-polish addicts; there is even one for pets, and they are not cheap! Some cost upwards of £150! It’s all a worlds away from Sellmar-Verlag, now run by Richard’s grandchildren, which still produces traditional card Advent calendars to this day. The company’s most popular advent calendar is still Richard’s original design, called Little Town.

A few years ago my husband (knowing my love of traditional Advent Calendars) bought me a wooden one which is reusable and is a beautiful Christmas decoration in its own right...in fact my teens actually argue over which one of them will inherit it when I die (that’s the festive spirit guys!).

However you choose to mark the occasion...Happy Advent!

Wines: A Mixed Selection

White wines or red wines – perhaps, something between the two? Each to their own preferences. White wines tend to accompany fish dishes and white meats particularly well and red wines complement red meats wonderfully. If a rosé is preferred (maybe for when dining al fresco), these productions come in varying shades of pink, adding a most pleasing colour to a dining occasion, be it inside or outside. They are very much enjoyed on their own, too. A good sparkling wine is always a plus point (for me), to commence, creating a ‘friendly atmosphere’ and ‘setting the taste buds in the right direction’. Firstly, Crémant de Loire from France (12% vol). This sparkling brut production is very popular and a great start to any occasion – as well as being splendid by itself and fabulous for events and parties. This pleasantly-coloured pink wine I found to have a most appealing flavour of light red fruits for the mouthfeel. Crisp and with a very good finish on the palate.

For an easy-drinking white wine a favourite is Cotin Jaillet from France (12.5% vol). This dry, white production, has many devotees and graces numerous dining tables, constantly. Great to accompany fish, seafood and a good number of other dishes, adding a complementing flavour – and complementing enjoyment – to dining times.

Going for a still rosé? Certainly, the Vallée du Sud from France (13.5% vol) will not disappoint. I found this production most pleasant, whilst adding colour to the dining table. Excellent to pair with a lot of dishes of cuisine, too. Pink wines are now enjoyed all through the year. Red wines are often chosen by wine lovers and Tuffeau Saumur Cabernet Franc from France (13.5% vol) ‘ticks many boxes’. The deep ruby-red colour entices to the bouquet, where an abundance of ripe, red fruits continue on to the mouthfeel and palate sensation. Excellent with cold meats, red meats and cheeses.

I located these productions at a Lidl store, amongst their most impressive range of wines and drinks that offer very good value indeed. Advice is always available in store, too. For all details and information, please visit www.lidl.co.uk

Stocking fillers Technology

We’re all watching our money this year, and that means when it comes to Christmas presents we’re perhaps being a little more careful with what we’re buying for the people we care about. But you don’t have to splash the cash to get great tech gifts for family, friends or colleagues. There are stacks of great gifts for every kind of person.

If you’re buying for someone who’s mad about music, wireless Bluetooth speakers can be great buys. Amazon’s Echo Dot speaker is a good choice of smart speaker, currently £25.99, and the JBL Go 3 is a fun and very small speaker that’s easy to take anywhere. It’s around £30. We’re also very impressed by the Earfun Air headphones, which are an incredible bargain at £33.95. If you’re buying for kids, Belkin’s Soundform Nano (£29) sounds great, comes in fun colours and has a volume limit to protect their hearing.

Phone and tablet accessories can be great gifts too, whether that’s a genuine leather phone case (typically £30 to £60), a Popsocket phone grip (around £11 for the nicest ones) or an AirTag or Tile tracker (£20 to £35) for someone who’s always misplacing their purse or their keys.

There are lots of clever gifts for outdoor types too, including self-cleaning water bottles with UV light (around £49), multi-tools to cope with every conceivable kind of task (from £20) and solar lanterns (from around £20).

If the person you’re buying for would rather cook in a kitchen than halfway up a mountain, there are some great cooking gadgets for relatively low prices including the Thermapen instant-read thermometer (£39), which has saved many of our meals from over- or under-cooking, and the brilliant Stirr automatic pan stirrer, which you can use to prevent sauces and stews from sticking to the pot while you go and do something more interesting. And for coffee fans there’s the excellent AeroPress coffee maker (£31), which makes delicious coffee incredibly quickly without making it bitter. There’s a mobile version too, so the lucky recipient can get great coffee wherever they may roam.

Stirr Automatic Pot Stirrer

The Stirr is a simple solution to a common problem: some things stick to your pots and pans if you don’t constantly stir them, but stirring is often very time consuming and extremely boring. Stirr sits in the pot and uses cooking-grade nylon legs to do the stirring for you. £20-£40, amazon.co.uk

Apple AirTag Apple’s AirTags and its main rival, Tile trackers, can be attached to keys, put in purses or snuck into schoolbags to make it easy to find them again if they get lost, misplaced or even stolen.

The battery lasts for months. £35, Apple.com

Official Samsung Galaxy S22 leather case Cases don’t just look good: they help protect your pricey phone so you can get a better trade-in price when you replace it. Official leather cases are often quite expensive but that’s not the case with Samsung. From £24, amazon.co.uk

Gerber Truss Multi-Tool

You can spend huge sums of money on multitools such as the famous Leatherman, but brands such as Gerber make excellent alternatives that deliver all the key features for considerably less money. Other brands may be even cheaper. £40, amazon.co.uk

JBL Go 3

This little speaker has excellent go-anywhere energy and it’s not so loud that you’ll get complaints from the recipient’s nearest and dearest. It sounds great for its size, it’s really affordable and the battery life is very good. £34, uk.jbl.com

Little gifts that’ll bring big smiles this Christmas

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How to save in the post-Christmas sales Money

Use a price checker

Not every deal is a great deal, and if you use sites such as pricespy.co.uk or uk.pricerunner.com you can see if a particular product is cheaper elsewhere. On Amazon you can use camelcamelcamel.com to view a product’s price history to see if it’s really a bargain.

Be flexible

You probably won’t get great discounts on the very latest products, but if you’re willing to be flexible you can get a lot of money off devices such as phones, TVs and other gadgets by settling for a different colour, for last year’s version or for a slightly different model.

Pay cheaply

Sometimes buying on credit means interest charges will be more than you’re actually saving, but some pay-later schemes don’t charge interest at all. If you’re not buying something outright, go for the cheapest borrowing available to you with the lowest APR – and look online for discounts for any retailer you’re considering buying from. It’s not a bargain if you don’t need it You see something with a big discount, and it

looks such a good deal you buy it without a second thought. But if you didn’t need it, or you’ve convinced yourself you like it when really it’s not ‘you’, it’s going to be a waste of money.

House of Colour

How are we doing partywear this season?

Whether we want to add to our evening wardrobe looks of use what we already have to update this year’s party look there are options galore. Those who have long been fans of ‘jeans and a nice top’ will be glad to hear it has come to the fore again and continues to be reworked for the new season.

Texture – those who can take texture in their look (that means any material with fondle finish, suede, raw edges, loosely woven, cable knit) will be in for a treat. The long cardigan in bold print, a shearling jacket or longer shearling coat, Aztec prints are all in and make a great statement in evening wear. You may have a day coat with a fur style collar which will look great with a sequin top (sequins are also moving into daytime!) and some metallic boots. Metallic is a lovely contrast with the texture so now is the time to dig out those accessories and add them in. Even try adding a metallic belt over a jumper to give some waist definition as an informal option. Embellishment – look out for items with additional glam details, crystals, sequins, pearls, which have been in the shops already but will be even more accentuated come December. It has become more and more important to add glamour to more plain pieces. If you’re crafty now is the time to add more to your clothes but even if not, just by adding your jewellery and particularly brooches (and try putting three together) will add some glam detail to any jacket. Try adding a sequin top under suiting (either in a neutral or brighter shade). Top to toe colour or pattern – try using one colour or pattern throughout your outfit to create a striking look. This could be in the form of a suit in one colour or it could be coat and matching trousers. Use one of your best colours for this. Prints and patterns in smaller scale geometrics or florals (if these are good patterns for you) can be put together into one outfit, but ensure they are the same pattern throughout. There are a number of silkier style suits around too that are a softer look for those who ‘don’t do’ suiting and would like a different look that can be dressed up or down and each element worn separately. Jeans – if you love jeans and would wear them anywhere or everywhere there are plenty of choices for you and are the staple accompaniment to the sequin top. Those who love texture can take the patchwork, raw seaming and even ripped, wider leg options. Those who favour a neater and sleeker look can opt for straighter leg jean (time for a change from skinny jeans?) or bootleg and flared if you have the curves and/or height. M&S have a fantastic range of styles and colours.

The Christmas Jumper. A final word – if you would like one, consider getting it from a second hand shop. They are possibly the most unsustainable type of clothing as they are rarely worn more than a few times. We want longevity, buy less buy better.

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

ACUPUNCTURE 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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How to have a healthier Christmas

Bucks Fizz for breakfast, chocolate boxes passed round before lunch, heaps of deliciously crispy roast potatoes – Christmas is a holiday of complete, unadulterated indulgence. We’re all guilty of it, and this over-indulgence is nothing to feel ashamed about – it’s Christmas, after all! The festive season simply wouldn’t be the same without fantastic food, but if you’re feeling a little more health conscious this year, there are lots of ways in which you can treat yourself without going overboard.

Pack in more veg

Traditionally, Christmas dinners were always packed with a wide variety of vegetables, including carrots, parsnips, Brussels sprouts and cabbage. However, over the years many of our plates have become more and more beige. This Christmas, why not make it your mission to make your plate as colourful as possible? If you’re in charge of the cooking, try steamed or boiled vegetables, and steer clear of cheese sauces and excess amounts of butter.

Take it slowly

A common mistake many of us make at Christmas is not listening to our body. Instead of loading up your plate at lunch, eat a normal-sized portion before taking a twenty-minute break to see if you’re still hungry. This is how long it takes for the brain to register that the stomach is full. If you feel full, you know it’s time to take a break before going back for seconds. You’ll avoid the formidable food coma –plus, you’ll be hungry again in time for dessert!

Enjoy a Christmas walk

On Christmas Day, it can be tempting to laze around on the sofa for the majority of the day. While movie marathons are a tradition for many families, there’s nothing like a Christmas walk to boost your festive spirits – and offer a break between films. the family for a walk around the park and bring along any new outdoor toys and games. You’ll have lots of fun as a family, and you’ll give your body a chance to digest your Christmas lunch!

Go easy on the booze Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without a tipple or two. However, if you want to cut back, check the labels on bottles to see how many units they contain. The guidelines recommend drinking fourteen units a week which, in the lead up to Christmas, it’s easy to exceed. You could also try adding more mixer to any spirits to make them last longer, and refrain from drinking early on in the day. Upgrade your snacks Snacks and nibbles are everywhere come Christmastime. From cheese platters to shortbread biscuits and endless amounts of chocolate, festive temptations are now arriving in our supermarkets as early as September – which makes them hard to ignore!

While it’s fine to indulge in the odd mince pie, there are loads of healthier snack options that you can put together at home. Why not try chocolate protein balls packed with dates and raisins, apple chips spiced with cinnamon or avocado chocolate mousse? ‘Healthier’ by no means has to mean boring!

Gingerbread

Run, run, fast as you can, You can’t catch me, I’m the gingerbread man! Who hasn’t eaten a festive gingerbread man? You may even have attempted to make a gingerbread house. Gingerbread is strongly associated with Christmas but how did that happen?

Ginger root originally came to Europe via the Silk Road, which was an ancient trade route, and in the Middle Ages it was used for medicinal purposes and in the preserving of meats.

By the late Middle Ages, Europeans had begun to bake sweet gingerbread biscuits. These were shaped like animals, kings, and queens, and were sometimes gilded with gold leaf. They were a staple at Medieval fairs across Europe, particularly in England, France, Holland, and Germany. Queen Elizabeth I is even said to have had some made to resemble the dignitaries visiting her court.

So popular was gingerbread that the fairs became known as Gingerbread Fairs, and the gingerbread biscuits were named ‘fairings.’ As the fairs took place throughout the year the shapes of the gingerbread changed with the seasons: flowers in the spring and leaves in the autumn.

The gingerbread houses we know today originated in Germany during the 16th century. Bakers created elaborate buildings were decorated with foil and white icing in addition to gold leaf. The Brothers Grimm penned the story of Hansel and Gretel, who

discover a house made entirely of sweet treats, deep in the forest, but it’s unclear whether the popularity of gingerbread houses were a result of the fairy tale, or whether the fairy tale borrowed from an already established tradition.

Quite why gingerbread became associated with Christmas is also unclear but is probably due to a number of factors. Christmas markets were big ‘whole town’ events, and gingerbread is easy to make, and keeps well, so it’s ideal for selling on a stall. It’s likely that the combination of white icing and foil decoration was easily adaptable to create miniature snow-covered dwellings which provided pretty centrepieces for the festive dinner tables of middle-class households. The longevity and structural integrity of gingerbread also lends itself well to creating edible decorations for hanging on trees or giving as gifts. Historically diets of ordinary people were simple and bland because sugar was an expensive luxury. People could only afford to splash out on ingredients for cakes, biscuits, and sweets occasionally, and Christmas was the time when even less well-off people spent a little extra on fancy food and drink.

Whatever its history, gingerbread is now firmly entwined with the festive season, from sweet little gingerbread reindeer to gingerbread lattes, the sight, smell, and taste of gingerbread is synonymous with Christmas.

By Sarah Davey

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Trust registration with HMRC

If you're a trustee, or you administer or benefit from a trust, you will now need to register the Trust with UK Trusts Register with HMRC.

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) have recently changed their trust registration requirements. This means that many trusts which previously did not require a formal registration with HMRC now need to be registered.

How to Register a Trust?

Trustees or their agents can register a trust using the UK ‘Government Gateway’ facility after setting up a Government Gateway account online.

Leeds Day are now offering a trust registration service, whereby we will assist trustees in formally registering existing trusts with HMRC. If you are in any way unsure as to whether your trust requires registration, we will be happy to review the position for you, and advise whether you ought to register the trust.

What is needed to register a trust?

The following information is required to register a trust with the HMRC Trust Registration Service:

• Name of the trust

• Date the trust was created

• Whether the trust is taxable or non-taxable

• Details about any UK land or property the trust has created

• Details of any business relationship in the UK (if a non-UK trust)

You must also provide details of the following people to the HMRC Trust Registration Service:

• The lead trustee

• The lead trustees National Insurance number

• The co-trustees

• The settlor

• The beneficiaries

The deadline for registration of existing trusts was the 1st of September 2022, which has now passed. HMRC are, however, currently operating a grace period in which they will not issue fines for late registration of non-taxable trusts, but they have not confirmed how long this grace period will be in place for.

Trust documents can be confusing at the best of times, so if you are unsure as to whether your trust needs to be registered, or if you are unsure whether or not you are classed as a trustee, take some advice to ensure that you are not falling foul of HMRC’s new legislation.

We offer a personal, friendly and sympathetic approach, to assist you in planning and managing your affairs most effectively in a wide range of situations. If you need any advice in relation to any will, estate planning or bereavement matter then please contact Leeds Day on 0844 567 2222 or email wills@leedsday.co.uk.

Huntingdon

Godwin House, George Street, Huntingdon, PE29 3BD

T: 01480 454301

St. Ives 11 Station Road, St. Ives, Cambridgeshire PE27 5BH

T: 01480 464600

St. Neots

Xenus House, Sandpiper Court, Eaton Socon, St. Neots PE19 8EP

T: 01480 474661

Benefits of Badminton

Looking for a fun team sport that has tons of health benefits, is easy to learn and can be played by everyone from primary school children to 90-yearolds? It’s time to try badminton…

The benefits of badminton Badminton can help to improve your agility, balance and flexibility. It’s great for your bones and lungs, can burn up to 500 calories an hour, and can ease stress, depression and other mental health issues. Plus, you can play in twos or fours, inside or out.

While badminton can be high energy, the speed of the shuttlecock depends on how hard you hit it and which type you chose (they come in fast, medium and slow), so it’s a very versatile sport. According to the British Heart Foundation, that versatility makes it a great sport for people with heart conditions (although do check with your GP before starting). Para-Badminton is also growing in popularity and became a Paralympic sport in 2020.

Where to play

One of the joys of badminton is that it can be played in most open spaces, from gardens to parks and beaches. A shuttlecock is much less likely to break a window than a tennis ball, and you can buy pop-up nets that can be set up in minutes.

However, if you want to play properly (and don’t fancy battling the wind and rain), you’ll want to hire a court. Doing so usually costs £5-£10 and many leisure centres will also loan you rackets and shuttlecocks.

If you can’t persuade a friend to join you, or you fancy meeting some new people, Badminton

England’s No Strings Badminton sessions are well worth a look. You’re teamed with other players at your level, there’s no annual fee and the focus is on fun rather than competing. How to learn

The basics of badminton are pretty easy to pick up, as there are few rules to memorise. As with any sport, the key to improving is to practise regularly. However, if you do want to up your skills, you’ll want to consider getting a coach. One-to-one and group lessons are available across the UK.

What you’ll need Racquets come with different balance points, weights and levels of flexibility. Luckily, most sports shops can point you in the direction of rackets that are suitable for beginners. As mentioned, shuttlecocks come in slow, medium and fast. You can also buy ones specifically for playing outdoors. You don’t need any specialist sports gear to play badminton. A T-shirt and shorts are fine to start with, although you might want to invest in nonwicking ones pretty quickly as you can really build up a sweat playing badminton. If you’re hiring a court, you’ll need trainers with non-marking soles.

Next steps

You can book a court, look for a coach, find out about competing and much, much more at:

www.badmintonengland.co.uk www.badmintonscotland.org.uk www.badminton.wales www.badmintonireland.com

www.helpinghandso ceservices.com Tel: 01767 690075 / 07966 554304 Email: maureen@helpinghandso ceservices.co.uk

An eco-friendly festive home

1By Katherine Sorrell

Are you dreaming of a green Christmas? Try these ideas for creating a beautiful seasonal home without the carbon footprint.

Christmas trees

In the UK we buy between eight and ten million ‘real’ Christmas trees each year – only for them to be taken down again just a few weeks later. There are answers, however. Buy local if possible, and look for Forest Stewardship Council certification and Soil Association approval. And always use your local authority’s dedicated collection service if available – it means that trees are shredded and used as mulch instead of rotting in landfill. It’s even more environmentally friendly to buy a tree with a root ball or in a pot, and plant it out for the rest of the year. Another option is to rent a tree, which will be collected and replanted afterwards. Artificial trees are increasingly realistic but, sadly, still plastic, so if you already have one you should reuse it for as many years as possible.

Tree ornaments

If you have a box of treasured Christmas baubles in

the attic, congratulations – you’re already supergreen! Nothing is as sustainable as using what you already have and, let’s face it, nothing is as sentimental in this case, either. If you want to add to or refresh your stock of tree decorations, consider buying vintage ones. You could buy from a local craftsperson or a maker on an online platform such as Etsy or Folksy (ideally someone using sustainable materials), or even take the plunge into the world of handicraft and make some yourself. There is a world of inspiration out there, whether in books or magazines, online or in hobby supply stores.

Front-door wreaths

Hanging a wreath on your front door is a sure sign that you are feeling festive – and making your own wreath using fresh foliage is a wonderful way to adorn your home in a sustainable fashion (and it can go in the compost afterwards). Like Christmas trees, artificial wreaths are only sustainable if brought out year after year, but can easily be refreshed with the addition of a few seasonal embellishments, such as dried, sliced oranges, pine cones or sprigs of holly.

Lights

Choosing LED lights for your Christmas tree and other festive decorations is a great way to save energy. Good for your bills, and good for the planet, too. Put lights on a timer, or switch them off when you’re out of the house and overnight.

Gift wrap

The key thing to remember with gift wrap is that anything metallic can’t be recycled, so stick to paper if possible – or even try out the new trend for wrapping gifts in fabric, Japanese-style (it’s called furoshiki). Sticky tape, too, is a single-use plastic, so consider alternatives such as brown-paper tape, twine, ribbons (which can be reused) and pretty washi tape, which is made from renewable sources. Table settings

Christmas tablecloths and napkins add heaps of festive cheer but try to avoid single-use ones in favour of fabric that can be washed again and again (preferably at a low temperature). As for crackers, most are not recyclable, and we all know that the cheap, plastic toys inside usually go straight in the bin after Christmas dinner. It’s estimated that up to 40 million crackers end up in landfill each year. An alternative? Reusable card or fabric crackers that you can fill yourself with thoughtful, personalised gifts year after year, and that will become something cherished rather than thrown away.

Advent calendars

Disposable advent calendars only add to card and plastic waste – but DIY perpetual advent calendars can be brought out every year and have the great advantage that you can fill them with carefully chosen small goodies. There are lots of tutorials

online or, if you don’t fancy making your own, there is a great choice to buy, from tiny knitted stockings on a string to wooden houses with numbered doors. Scent

A festive aroma filling the air instantly introduces the spirit of Christmas, and who doesn’t love the scent of pine, gingerbread or mulled wine wafting through the house? It’s best to avoid cheap candles made from paraffin wax, as it’s a by-product of petroleum. The general rule with scented candles is that you get what you pay for in terms of a gorgeous scent and longer burn time, so it’s worth spending a little more if possible. Look for vegetable wax or beeswax candles, and scents made from essential oils rather than chemicals.

1 Use a simple wreath as a minimal decoration, or add your own embellishments such as twining leaves or tiny fairy lights. Rattan door wreaths, from £30 each, Garden Trading.

2 These ethical, sustainable and recyclable candles are individually hand-crafted in Cornwall. Mulled Wine soy-wax eco candle, £12.99, Earth Candle Co.

3 These made-to-order crackers, with a ready-tofill carton and a small bag of ‘happyfetti’, are fully washable (even the ribbons) and come in an heirloom gift box for storage. Santa’s Stripes reusable linen crackers, £30 each, Happy Crackers.

STOCKISTS

Earth Candle Co: earthcandleco.com

Garden Trading: gardentrading.co.uk

Happy Crackers: happycrackers.co.uk

Knight: Gardendesignideas.co.uk

Don’t forget the garden

A rewarding and warming task at this time is to add compost on beds to form a mulch, provided the soil is not frozen. Ensure the soil is damp and this will help to keep roots warm and lock in a little moisture ready for potential drought in the future. It will transform the look of your beds and make you feel good too.

Winter pruning

It’s also a perfect time to prune woody species such as acers, figs, vines and deciduous shrubs, before the sap starts rising. Pruning is carried out in order to remove dead, damaged or diseased parts and to control the growth of something that might be a little too large for the space it occupies. It is also the best way to define the shape of a plant, and at the right time of year pruning will help to create flowering and fruiting branches for the next season. Not everything should be pruned at the same time, however. Plum trees and other prunus species, for example, should never be pruned during winter because it increases the risk of silver leaf disease. Spring flowering shrubs should be pruned in late June or early summer just after flowering –otherwise, their flowering shoots will be removed. Many plants will benefit from being pruned around August when their growth has slowed, but evergreen shrubs tend to grow best when they are pruned in spring, just at the beginning of the growing season. In the past, a fresh cut on a tree or shrub would be sealed using pruning paint. We now know that pruning at the correct time of year allows a cut to heal naturally and this is preferable.

A great symbol of Christmas

One of the many symbols of the season that we all love is the fresh Christmas tree - it is never adequately replaced with plastic. The Norway spruce was once the traditional British choice but because it has a tendency to drop its needles, it has been nudged down the popularity chart by ‘non-drop’ varieties. The blue spruce, as it is known, generally holds onto its spiny needles until the end of festivities and beyond. The Douglas fir is also a good choice because it also holds its needles well –although it can be rather expensive. Undoubtedly, the bestselling tree of the ‘non-drop’ variety is the Nordmann fir (Abies nordmanniana). This fast-grower can reach heights of up to 30m in the wild, so it’s perhaps best not to plant it outside the kitchen door once it has done its duty indoors.

Of course, there is no point in planting a tree that has been cut from its rootstock. But containergrown or trees freshly dug from the field can often transplant rather splendidly. Bear this in mind when you are making your choice.

Caroline

Magical Poinsettias

By Rachael Leverton

In the UK, poinsettias have become as entwined with Christmas as holly and mistletoe. Yet poinsettias are actually sub-tropical plants, native to Central America and Mexico, requiring temperatures of between 10 and 21 degrees centigrade to survive. The bright red ‘flowers’ are really bracts, surrounding the real flowers, which are tiny and insignificant. They are notoriously difficult to persuade to flower again so it is with some pride that I tell you my current poinsettia is seven years old, huge, and flowers every year.

If you want to try this, fertilize the plant once a month then cut back the stems in February to promote new growth. In May repot it to a larger container.

From late September to 1st December cover the plant between 6pm and 8am as poinsettias need long periods of darkness in order to persuade the bracts to turn red. Around December 1st you should have a beautiful flowering poinsettia. But if this sounds too much like hard work...well, you can always buy another one!

As it’s the festive season I thought I’d finish with a traditional Christmas story, explaining how the poinsettia came to be associated with this time of year.

If you buy a poinsettia for someone this year it might be nice to tell them the story when you give them the plant:

In Mexico, there once lived a little girl called Pepita who came from a very poor family. Every year, she and her brother Pablo looked forward

to the big Christmas festival in their village. A manger scene would be set up in the church and the days before Christmas were filled with parades and parties. On Christmas Eve the whole village would attend church and all the children would place a gift for the baby Jesus next to the manger. One year Pepita’s family had no money at all to buy such a gift so it was with a sad heart that Pepita walked to the church that Christmas Eve and as they drew closer she began to weep.

“Little Pepita, why do you cry?” asked her older brother Pablo.

“Because I have no gift for the Christ child,” she answered.

“Oh Pepita, even the most humble gift, if given in love, will be accepted by him,” said Pablo, comforting her.

Pepita considered this for a while then gathered a handful of weeds from the roadside verge and fashioned them into a small posy. But as she entered the church her heart felt heavier than before. With her head bowed she approached the altar and knelt to lay her posy before the manger.

Suddenly the tiny bouquet burst into blooms of brilliant red starry flowers and all who saw them were sure they had witnessed a Christmas miracle. The flowers are known as Flores de Noche Buena in Mexico which translates as Flowers of the Holy Night.

Happy Christmas

GreenFingers

The Alan Titchmarsh column

He’s a brilliant presenter, accomplished gardener, talented novelist, and all-round horticultural inspiration. This month, Alan Titchmarsh discusses how our gardens can become carbon sinks. I was recently asked how our green spaces might change if the planet continues to hot up. Certainly, I am not a climate change denier, but I think for our own peace of mind we need to keep things realistic, and it’s not as if within 50 years we’re going to be growing bananas in Northumberland or anything like that! What we can of course do in the short-term is style and shape garden space to ensure we help the planet as much as we can. After all, the most basic way to prevent greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere (and warming up the climate) is by growing plants. And as gardeners, that’s what we do!

The best way to achieve this is by growing native plants. Non-native varieties can really take hold of a space, requiring harmful chemicals to control them, and leading to them being pulled up, exposing soil and releasing carbon. We can also compost – it’s a great way of stopping carbon getting out in the first place. The same applies to mulching, too. When you consider that over 80% of the carbon in your garden is released from the soil, by adding a layer of wood bark

chippings, for instance, you are holding the carbon in the soil.

It’s for this same reason that turning over soil is actually bad for your garden. Not only does it interrupt nature’s ability to let your earth matter settle into an organised pattern that benefits both plants and the creatures living in the soil, but turning over, or tilling, releases more carbon. Beyond this, we can be more environmentally friendly by using organic fertilisers; and never be afraid to let your outdoor space ‘go wild’. Rustic gardens are the ultimate low-carbon spaces, and that makes sense, because wild areas such as forests, wetlands and mangroves are the very best at protecting against the risks posed by climate change. As ever, our gardens hold within them the power not just to transform our own lives, but the welfare of the planet too, and that is why we love them so much.

Another month and another homeless rabbit in need of a loving new family

Mabel was signed over into our care after her previous owner, for reasons beyond her control, could no longer keep her. She’s roughly one year old, spayed, vaccinated and microchipped ready for a new home to go to, hopefully before Christmas! She’s a very sweet natured rabbit who is eager to come over for a strokes and a bit of a fuss. She was previously kept as a house rabbit, but absolutely loves to run and hop round a secure garden; although she regularly comes back over to you to make sure you’re still there! Her most favourite thing of all though, is digging! While not all rabbits dig, digging is normal, instinctive behaviour that it good for their welfare. To avoid having the whole garden dug up, a designated area can be created with loose soil and added sand for Mabel to dig. Small treats or veggies can be hidden in the digging area to encourage her to use it.

Mabel was previously a lone rabbit but we’d love to find her a home where she can be a companion to a lonely male bunny. Rabbits are extremely social creatures so are happiest and most relaxed when in the company of other rabbits. This stems back to the ‘wild rabbit’ instinct whereby rabbits rely on their companions to warn them against predators, but also to keep them warm in the winter. Mabel can be rehomed with a neutered and vaccinated male. Unfortunately you can’t put rabbits in a hutch together and hope they get on, rabbits must be bonded which can be a fairly lengthy process. They are introduced gradually so they can get used to

each other and become familiar with each others scents, and can take anything up to a week, however once bonded the rabbits will be much happier and will have a friend for life. This year seems to be the worst year for rabbits the RSPCA has seen. Unlike Mabel who although is looking for a new home, is currently happy living in foster care, there are currently 104 rabbits in England waiting for a rescue space – and that is the National RSPCA alone, not including local Branches like ourselves who have our own waiting list, or other animal charities in the same position. Sadly these animals are much more complex pets than recognised, needing enough space, enrichment and company to live a happy life, but when happy they make the most wonderful pets!

Contact us for more information about Mabel or for other animals we have for adoption you can visit our website, www.rspca.org.uk/local/bedfordshirenorth-branch or for anything else you can email us at info@rspca-bedfordshirenorth.org.uk; call the office on 01234 266965; or write to us at 9 Thurlow Street, Bedford, MK40 1LR. We are a small, local Branch working within the remit of the National RSPCA, largely run by a team of dedicated volunteers and are entirely self-funded.

The electric vans to check out today

There’s more choice than ever when it comes to battery-powered vans..

The electric van segment has really grown in recent years. Even during 2022, we’ve seen various new battery-powered vans arrive on the scene, bringing zero-emissions running alongside ever-growing ranges. With more choice than ever, which ones should you be taking a look at? Here, we’re going to go through some of the top new additions to the electric van segment.

Ford E-Transit Custom

Despite having held back for a number of years, Ford has now fully committed to the electric van segment. With a range of 236 miles, the E-Transit Custom is an electric range of the firm’s ever-popular Transit, but features a number of innovations and tweaks.

For instance, it features a clever flip-up steering wheel that can double as a table or laptop holder.

Vauxhall Movano-e

The big Movano-e is a large van from Vauxhall that brings a really big load area for even the trickiest of jobs. Thanks to a recent upgrade, it’s able to offer more range than before too, and it can now travel for up to 154 miles between charges. It can also be charged to 80 per cent capacity in an hour using a 50kWh charger while offering a 1,100kg payload and a load volume of 15 cubic metres.

Volkswagen ID Buzz

One of the newest electric vans on the scene, the Volkswagen ID Buzz takes inspiration from the original ‘bus’ and brings it into the modern age. It sits on the same MEB platform that underpins many of Volkswagen Group’s electric vehicles, which means it’s able to deliver a more car-like driving experience than you expect. Though there’s no seven-seater option for now, the ID Buzz’s layout presents loads of space for its passengers.

Fiat E-Doblo

On the more compact end of the van spectrum sits the Fiat E-Doblo. It’s one of the newest additions to the electric van segment and brings a range of up to 175 miles courtesy of a 50kWh battery. There’s also the option to have a ‘Magic Plug’ installed as an option on the E-Doblo, which allows the driver to use the car’s battery to power external devices.

Peugeot e-Boxer

Another large van, the e-Boxer is a great option from Peugeot if space is what you’re after. It’ll do 154 miles on a charge, while there’s the option to have a window van if the full panel layout isn’t what you’re after. Clever packing of the e-Boxer’s powertrain means that it’s no less spacious than the regular version, too.

Nissan Townstar

Nissan’s latest compact van – the Townstar – brings a range of 183 miles from its 45kWh battery, while DC rapid charging means that a zero to 80 per cent charge can be conducted in as little as 45 minutes. But it’s still extremely spacious with a large load area and a rugged yet comfortable cabin.

Butternut Squash Wreath

Makes 2 (serves 4-6)

Preparation time 30 minutes Cooking time 50-60 minutes

These colourful puff pastry wreaths are easier to assemble than they look and make a fabulous centrepiece for Christmas Day lunch or dinner. Roll out the pastry trimmings to make ‘stars’ to decorate the tops

Ingredients

• 900g butternut squash, peeled, deseeded and cut into small cubes

• 2 red onions, peeled and thinly sliced

• 2 tbsp olive oil

• 2 tbsp maple syrup

• 4 unpeeled whole garlic cloves

• Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

• 2 x 375g packs of ready-rolled puff pastry

• 100g baby spinach leaves

• 85g shelled pistachios

• 1 red chilli, deseeded and diced

• 100g grated Cheddar cheese

• 4 tsp green pesto

• 4 tsp cranberry sauce

• 1 medium free-range egg, beaten

1. Preheat the oven to 200°C / fan 180°C / gas mark

6. Line 2 baking trays with baking parchment.

2. Place the squash and red onions on 2 other baking trays and drizzle with the olive oil and maple syrup. Tuck the garlic cloves in between, season lightly with salt and pepper and roast in the preheated oven for 30-40 minutes, or until tender and starting to caramelise.

3. Meanwhile, roll out the pastry sheets, if necessary, until they are about 6mm thick and

big enough to cut a large round from. Place each one on a lined baking tray. Using a 27cm flan tin or a dinner plate as a guide, place it on top of each pastry sheet and cut round it to make a large circle. Set aside the pastry trimmings. Next, use a smaller plate to lightly score out an inner circle in the centre of each round. Use a sharp knife to cut through the pastry of the inner circle, first lengthways, then widthways, and again through the quarters to create 8 sections.

4. Squeeze the garlic out of the skins and stir into the hot roasted squash and onion mixture. Add the spinach and leave it to wilt slightly and soften. Place spoonfuls of the mixture in a ring around each pastry disc, avoiding the outer edge and the central star. Sprinkle with the pistachios, chilli and grated cheese. Drizzle alternately with pesto and cranberry sauce around the ring on top.

5. Work your way round each disc, raising the outer edge a little and pulling the point of each cut inner section over the filling towards the pastry edge. Pinch them together with your fingers to seal.

6. Lightly brush the pastry with beaten egg and, if using, attach some pastry stars with a little more beaten egg. Bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes or until puffed up, crisp and golden brown.

Recipe extracted from The Veggie Christmas Cookbook by Heather Thomas, published by HarperNonFiction, £12.99 hardback, with photography by Joff Lee.

Sock it to Them Time of Year

By Kate McCarthy

As a child growing up in the Seventies, I thought socks were the most boring Christmas gift possible until the year my Aunty Glenda bought me a rainbow-striped over-the-knee pair with individual toes. She was the coolest aunt and they were the coolest socks. I was the envy of my friends and my obsession with socks began. Socks are actually the perfect Christmas gift. They are great for stocking fillers, brilliant for Secret Santa, and just the thing for those awkward relatives and friends.

Everyone needs a pair of socks in the winter, particularly now we’re all trying to use the heating less. Bed socks and Hygge-style lounge socks are making a big comeback this year as we all try to keep warm.

And socks wear out, they also have a propensity for disappearing. It’s a rare person who can claim to have too many socks!

They are affordable too. Even if you have a friend who favours designer brands, a pair of socks is usually within budget. Admittedly cashmere socks

are super-expensive, but the recipient will love you forever.

And there’s a sock for everyone: witty, pretty, glittery, bright, pastel, practical, and luxurious. The choice is endless.

And every time the recipient wears your gift, they’ll think fondly of you.

So, sock it to everyone this Christmas.

What's On

WHAT'S ON IN DECEMBER

1, 8, 15 & 22 DECEMBER

Riverport Singers 10.15-11.15am

The Corn Exchange, St Ives Community choir for people living with dementia, their carers, family and friends.

Tel: Agi 07757 811802 Email: agipeach@icloud.com Web: facebook.com/ riverportsingers

1, 8, 15 & 22 DECEMBER

Huntingdon Male Voice Choir

7.30pm

Abbots Ripton Village Hall

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

1, 8, 15, 22 & 29 DECEMBER

Bingo

7.30pm

Alconbury Sports & Social Club Eyes down for the weekly Bingo session!

Web: www.assc.org.uk

2 DECEMBER

Christmas Fair

3-7pm

The Manor House, Cambourne Free entry

Come along to The Wildlife Trust BCN headquarters to celebrate unique, locally handmade arts, crafts and gifts. Children's activity area. Mince pie and mulled wine for the adults to help bring on the festive cheer.

2 DECEMBER

St Neots Local History Society

7.30pm

Eynesbury Primary School

SNLHS members free, visitors £4 ‘One place, one time, one life: Lord Fairhaven’s life at Anglesey Abbey’ by Helen Ackroyd, a National Trust Speaker. Web: www.stneotslhs.org.uk

2, 9 & 16 DECEMBER

Great Fen Little Bugs 10.30am-12pm

Great Fen Countryside Centre, Ramsey Heights Wildlife Trust BCN child member £5, non-member £7 A fun and sociable morning of exploration and discovery for preschool children and their guardians. Web: wildlifebcn.org

3 DECEMBER Saints Crafters 9.30-3.30pm Free Church Hall, Market Hill, St Ives Art and craft fair. Buy original and handmade items direct from the crafter. Email: saintscrafters@gmail.com

3 DECEMBER Cambridgeshire and Bedfordshire Hardy Plant Society 2pm Weatherley Centre, Eagle Farm Road, Biggleswade ‘Wildlife Gardening’ with the Wildlife Trust. Christmas food after the talk. Visitors welcome – small charge. Web: www.hpscambsandbeds.co.uk

3, 10 & 17 DECEMBER

Snowflake Family Workshop 10am-4pm Grafham Water Visitor Centre £5 per person

View real snowflakes through a microscope and use them as inspiration to design a stamp. Use your stamp to make Christmas cards, gift tags, and wrapping paper. Led by science-art educator Katie Bironneau. No booking required.

3, 10 & 17 DECEMBER

Visit Father Christmas 11am-4pm St Neots Museum Tickets £6. Visit Father Christmas in his specially decorated Christmas grotto at the museum and take a present home! Call to book. Tel: 01480 214163

5 DECEMBER

St Neots Astronomical Association 7.30pm Paxton Pits Visitor Centre Observing evening. Non-members welcome - first meeting free. Web: snaa.co.uk

6 DECEMBER

Hail Weston Wildlife and Gardening Group

7.15pm for 7.30pm

Hail Weston Village Hall

Members £1, non-members £3 Festive evening with cheese and wine. Raffle. hwwgg@yahoo.com

6 & 13 DECEMBER

St Neots Sinfonia

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

6, 13, & 20 DECEMBER

St Neots & District Camera Club 7.15pm for 7.30pm Bowls Club, St Neots Regular talks and competitions. www.stneots-camera-club.org.uk

7 DECEMBER

Brampton Flower Club

7.30pm The Priory Centre, Priory Lane, St Neots Tickets £15, club members £12.50 An evening of floral artistry from Jacqui Arnold, a talented national demonstrator and floral designer. Arrangements will be raffled. Selection of stalls. Email for tickets. Email: Margaret.horne@me.com www.bramptonflowerclub.com

7 DECEMBER

Buckden Local History Society

7.30pm Millard Suite, Village Hall Visitors £4, children free

‘A Victorian Family Christmas in Peterborough’ by Liz Davies. Meets first Wednesday of each month. New members/visitors welcome. Annual membership £16. Web: www.buckdenhistory.co.uk

The deadline for What’s On entries is 9th December. What’s on entries to whatson@villagermag.net

WHAT'S ON IN DECEMBER

7

& 14 DECEMBER

St Neots Choral Society

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

7,

14, 21 & 28 DECEMBER

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

8 DECEMBER

If I was Father Christmas

10.30-11.30am St Neots Museum Free entry. Join for fun, free history activities for children and take home an art creation too! Sessions are aimed at children aged 3-4. Children under 2 can attend but do not require a ticket. Booking essential. stneotsmuseum.org.uk

8

DECEMBER

Ghost Walk

7.30pm St Neots Museum Tickets £7. Discover the haunted buildings, ghostly secrets and spooky stories of St Neots on a Ghost Walk! Walks start at the Museum and lasts approximately 90 minutes. Tel: 01480 214163 curators@stneotsmuseum.org.uk Web: stneotsmuseum.org.uk

10

& 17 DECEMBER

St Neots Farmers & Craft Market 8am-1.30pm. Products from local food producers and craft makers.

12 DECEMBER

Perry WI

7.30pm Sailability Club House, Grafham Water Centre Christmas meal. Tel: Jakki Spall 07703 431900

16 DECEMBER

Kimbolton Community Cinema

Doors open 7, film 7.30pm

Mandeville Hall, Kimbolton

The Railway Children Return. Tickets available from Bytes Café (Mon/Fri mornings), online or on the door. kimbolton.cinema@gmail.com Web: www.ticketsource.co.uk/ mandeville-hall-kimbolton

17 DECEMBER

Carol Concert

6pm St Mary's Church, Eaton Socon Joint concert with St. Neots Choral Society and St Neots Sinfonia. Wellknown carols, Christmas-themed works and readings. Children are welcome to join the percussion section for a special work!

20 DECEMBER

Greensands Writers' Group 7-9pm. Join Greensands Writers' Group for a monthly online meeting. greensandswriters.wixsite.com

20 DECEMBER

Dementia Café

10am-12pm

St Ives Free Church, St Ives £2.50 per person. For people with dementia and their carers. Tel: George 07725 588145 Web: facebook.com/ stivesdementiafriendlycommunity

23 & 23 DECEMBER

Creating Christmas Baubles

11am-3pm.

St Neots Museum

Child tickets £4.50, adults free Use tools and objects to make amazing Christmas baubles to take home with you! 40-minute session suitable for ages 4+. Book online Tel: 01480 214163 curators@stneotsmuseum.org.uk Web: stneotsmuseum.org.uk

31 DECEMBER

New Year’s Eve Party 8.30pm-1am Hinchingbrooke Country Park Adults £25, Under 16s £12 Join in the celebrations seeing in the New Year in the Country Park. Drinks on arrival, live music, reasonably priced bar, buffet and a glass of bubbly at midnight. Web: www.ticketsource.co.uk/hcp

Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts

Hunts Waste Busters Top Tips for Saving Money, Getting Creative & Reducing Waste This Christmas

The Hunts Waste Busters believe in sustainable living, making minor changes to reduce our carbon footprint. Christmas is a time where our waste increases dramatically, with the bulk, ending up in landfill. We have compiled a few thoughtprovoking ideas, that can assist you in reducing your waste this Christmas, in addition to saving money and creating memories.

Buy Pre-Loved

There is an abundance of ways to seek presents that are pre-loved, finding the ideal gift at a fraction of the price. Support local charities or make use of modern websites, apps or local buy and sell pages, saving you money and rehoming a good product whilst reducing the amount of unwanted gifts/clothing sent to landfill. The best present may be right around the corner from you...

Creative Menu

Save money by utilising end of life food or leftovers to create a unique meal, reducing your food waste as well as trying something new. The internet is full of festive food ideas and recipes with the ability to input your available ingredients to make a dish that not only tickles the tastebuds but impresses guests with your cooking skills. If you don't get through it all, freeze it for a later date, giving you a much-needed night off cooking. *Please remember all food waste including peelings and even bones, can be put into your garden waste bin, which is processed for composting.

Make Your Own Decorations

You may find the least expensive way to decorate is right under your nose, with items such as twigs, fir cones, and holly and willow wreaths being just some of the examples, our great outdoors has to offer, to create the ultimate in Christmas decorations. Many examples, tutorials and inspirational ideas can be found online, offering a great conversation starter for any guests.

Make Your Own Reusable Calendar

Advent calendars are a major contributor to plastic waste over the festive period, with the bulk having

plastic inserts that cannot be recycled with ease. Say NO to disposable and YES to reusable, making your own tasty treats, offer another fun activity for children or a perfect opportunity to show off your creative side.

Recycle, Recycle and Recycle

Always check if what you are throwing away can be recycled. For any items not recyclable through your recycling bin, check your local supermarket, most have dedicated recycle points for items such as soft plastics and batteries, making it easy to bring with you when doing your food shop. In the case of many electrical stores, they will also accept e-waste such as TV's, PC's, Laptops and phones.

*Placing batteries in your kerbside bins can cause fires in the collection vehicles. Inspired? We hope you are... every small change makes a difference to our environment. All we can ask this year is to THINK, ACT, CHANGE and assist us in reducing waste, maximising recycling and creating a sustainable Christmas ethic that can live on for generations.

From all the Hunts Waste Busters Team, we wish you a Merry Christmas and a Sustainable New Year.

Check your Christmas holiday collection dates here: https://www.huntingdonshire.gov.uk/refusecalendar/

By Kate Duggan

Demon Copperhead

Barbara Kingsolver

Demon Copperhead looks set to cement Barbara Kingsolver’s reputation as one of the best authors of our time. In this modern-day reimaging of Charles Dickens’ David Copperfield, the ‘Demon’ of the title is born to a single, drug-addicted mother in poverty-stricken Virginia. At every turn, the odds are stacked against him, from the broken care system to the lack of job opportunities and his own sense of worth. Raw, angry, starkly beautiful, this book is an absolute masterpiece.

Good Comfort

Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall

Healthy recipes tend to focus on what to leave out – whether the focus is on cutting carbs, ditching meat or reducing fat. With Good Comfort, the focus is on what to add to make a meal or snack more nutritious (and more delicious). Think lamb tagine with apricots and chickpeas, pork ribs with fennel slaw, and hot chocolate with raw cacao powder, oak milk, brown sugar and cardamom pods.

The Paper Palace

Miranda Cowley Heller

Not a new one this, but if you haven’t read it yet, The Paper Palace is definitely worth adding to your wish list. An unexpected passionate liaison with a childhood friend sees Elle looking back over her life and the decisions she made along the way. Tragedy, romance and family dynamics all combine to make this a cracking story. Perfect for curling up with on Boxing Day.