Cambridge Feb 2019

VILLAGER The

Issue 118 - February 2019

and Town

Life

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

In this issue The History of

Hysteria

My Gardening

Valentine Win £25

in our Prize Crossword

Bringing Local Business to Local People in

Buckden, Brampton, Godmanchester, Eaton Socon, The Hemingfords, Grantchester and all surrounding villages every month

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Inside this issue...

Win a Bottle of Bedfordshire Bubbly and Vineyard Tour

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St Neots Gas and Coke Company......................................................4 The History of Hysteria.....................................................................6 Namibia - Etosha National Park......................................................10 Win a Bottle of Bedfordshire Bubbly............................... 12 That's the Spirit - Gin.....................................................................14 Sing into Spring with Phoenix........................................................17 Support Bereaved Parents..............................................................18 Do you need a fitness tracker?........................................................21 2019 Wildlife Photography Competition........................................22 How did you sleep?........................................................................24 Go for a wild workout.....................................................................26 How to Effortlessly Wear Living Coral.............................................29 Spire Dental Group win awards at National Dentistry Awards........31 Sleep Right, Sleep Tight.................................................................32 International Probate and International Wills................................34 Fun Quiz.........................................................................................35 Wordsearch....................................................................................35

Spring Clean your Finances for a Richer 2019.................................38 My Gardening Valentine.................................................................40 Greensand Country Announces 2019 Festival.................................43 World Spay Day..............................................................................45 Children's Page..............................................................................46 Taking Back Control - Going Freelance............................................48 Smart Motorways Explained..........................................................51 The Changing face of Television......................................................53 Nick Coffer's Weekend Recipe.........................................................54 Does Cupid Love Tech?....................................................................59 Puzzle Page....................................................................................60 Parental Stress - Has it Changed Over 50 Years...............................62 What's On......................................................................................64 Swimming, Super Sport.................................................................67 Displaying Art in your Home..........................................................68 Prize Crossword.................................................................... 74 Book Review..................................................................................76

Greensand Country 2019 Festival

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Get your business off to a flying start this year

Advertise with the Villager Magazine... prices start from just £35.00 +VAT per month Editorial - Peter Ibbett, Catherine Rose, Solange Hando, Trevor Langley, Ian Collins, Dr. Michelle O'Reilly, Jennie Billings, Centre for Complementary Health, Leeds Day Solicitors, Ann Haldon, Rachael Leverton,RSPCA, Kate Duggan, James Baggott, Nick Coffer, Kate McLelland, Lesley Wade and Katherine Sorrell

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

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

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

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History

By Peter Ibbett

St Neots Gas & Coke Company It is the time of year when those of us with the latest smart meters become rather dubious of the claim that you are saving money when its digital figures are getting larger by the second!

Once upon a time the Regional Gas Board had a monopoly. Now there is a bewildering choice for those seeking to hunt out the cheapest price.

100 years ago St. Neots locals had only their local gas and coke company for supplies. Betty Ibbett in the Spring 1998 St. Neots History Magazine discovered that ‘the Gas Company at St. Neots was one of the earliest to be established when it was founded in 1846, and it is of interest to note that gas was available in this small market town by the year 1851, when the Great Exhibition held in London had no gas and regularly closed at sundown. This early achievement was probably due to the considerable trading activity of the mid-19th century as a result of access by river barges. The St. Neots Gas Company premises were situated adjacent to the southern entrance to the Common, near Paine & Company’s Bedford Street mill as shown on the 1901 OS map.

Minutes of the meetings of the Gas Company between 1888 and 1913 seem to prove that the company was run shrewdly and efficiently, and at the end of its accounting year to 24th June 1888

it had an available balance of £677 - 18s - 6d and was able to declare a dividend to shareholders at the rate of 10% and still have £127 - 18s - 6d to carry forward for current expenses. This old-established business, properly known by the title of St Neots Gas and Coke Company, was nationalised in 1948 and placed under the direction of the Eastern Gas Board who closed it in about 1958. The buildings were demolished and the site taken over as part of the premises of Paine and Company.’

St. Neots was an early pioneer in the use of gas, as the plaque to George Bower illustrates. Make a new year’s resolution to regularly visit St. Neots Museum and find out more about the heritage of this historic Huntingdonshire Market Town.

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Our bespoke Smart Conservatory roof insulation solutions are tailored for your conservatory and can be installed with minimal disruption, making your conservatory nice and cool in the summer and cosy and warm in the winter. Within just a few days, you will be sitting back, relaxing in your new comfortable all-year-round living area.

Having an insulated conservatory roof will not just add value to your property, but it will totally change the way you are using your downstairs living area. For more information or to request a quotation, visit our website or give us a call.

For more information or to request a quotation, visit our website or give us a call.

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10/05/2018 15:39

History

The History of Hysteria

By Catherine Rose Everyone knows the modern day meaning of hysteria. The Oxford dictionary defines it as ‘exaggerated or uncontrollable emotion or excitement, especially among a group of people’.

But did you know it was also an old-fashioned term for a female medical condition during the 19th century? The following article contains sensitive material!

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The term hysteria comes from the Ancient Greek word for womb. Physicians believed that many female ailments were caused by a ‘wandering uterus’ that moved around inside the body resulting in blockages that caused all kinds of physical diseases.

During the second century, a Roman physician, surgeon and philosopher named Galen

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hypothesised that the disease of hysteria was caused by sexual deprivation so was most prevalent in nuns, virgins and widows.

During the sexually repressed Victorian era, doctors’ diagnosis of hysteria in female patients became increasingly common. In 1859, a French physician, Dr Pierre Briquet claimed that a quarter of Victorian women suffered from what he called hysteron-neurasthenic disorders.

Physicians believed that many female ailments were caused by a ‘wandering uterus’ It was believed that women were of a more nervous disposition than men and could develop any number of psychological symptoms from the simple fact they possessed a womb. Hysteria would be diagnosed from a range of physical symptoms such as feeling faint, anxiety, insomnia, fluid retention, muscle spasms, breathlessness, loss of appetite, emotional instability and irritability. It was therefore easy for a woman to be misdiagnosed with hysteria when she really had a serious physical condition such as epilepsy.

The cure was simple however. The patient was advised to have regular sexual intercourse.

However, for unmarried women, this simply wasn’t possible, so doctors would carry out pelvic massage to induce what they termed ‘hysterical paroxysm’.

This seems shocking to us today, despite the fact we are far more sexually liberated and educated than these Victorian women were, many of whom led such sheltered lives they didn’t even know what sexual intercourse involved until they married.

Other treatments for hysteria could include bed rest, bland food, isolation and lack of any mental stimulation. In extreme cases a hysterectomy was performed, or the woman was sent to an asylum.

Contrary to what you might expect, physicians considered pelvic massage to be no more than a medical duty. In fact, it was looked upon as a tiresome task that often took time and effort to achieve. As a result, to meet the growing need for the treatment of ‘hysterical’ women, the first vibrator was invented – not the modern sex toy, but a bona fide medical aid.

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Initially, treatment was hydrotherapy-based.

Hydrotherapy had in fact been around since the 1700s at bath houses for general massage and wellbeing (much as in spas today), but it was now specifically redesigned for pelvic massage via a jet of water attached to a special chair.

Then in 1870, a clockwork vibrator became available. Three years later, an electromechanical device was invented and is said to have been tried out at an asylum in France.

Rather frighteningly, an American doctor, George Taylor, came up with a steam-powered vibrator called ‘The Manipulator’ in 1869 that was the size of a dining room table and needed coal regularly shovelled into it to make it work!

By the beginning of the 20th century hand-held portable electrical vibrators such as ‘Dr Harry F Waite’s Tissue Oscillator’ were now available to the general public so that women suffering from hysteria could treat themselves in the privacy of their own home.

The development of psychology and increased understanding of the human mind meant that the idea of hysteria was replaced by more accurate diagnoses of either physical or specific psychological conditions such as personality disorders, anxiety and neuroses.

As for vibrators, they gradually came to be seen not as health aids but as devices for sexual gratification and were appearing in pornographic films as early as the 1930s, long after respectable doctors had disowned them as a form of medical treatment.

The American Psychiatric Society dropped the term ‘hysteria’ in 1952 and today it is no longer recognised as a medical condition.

However, there are still psychological definitions related to the term. Histrionic personality disorder for example is said to affect around two to three percent of the population. People with this disorder tend to be overemotional and exhibit attention-seeking behaviour, amongst other traits. Psychoanalysis now uses the terms ‘conversion’ or ‘somatization’ disorder for people who are suffering from symptoms that are rooted in the mind and have no apparent physical cause, whether patients are women or not.

A film with an all-star cast including Sheridan Smith and Jonathon Pryce about the invention of the vibrator was released in 2011. It was called ‘Hysteria’.

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AFTERNOON TEA AT THE HOUSE Savour the quintessentially English past-time of taking afternoon tea, in the grand setting of The House, Shuttleworth. The House will be open from 09.30 with guests encouraged to explore the rooms and find out about the Shuttleworth Family and Old Warden Park.

Sunday 10th February Sunday 14th April

2019 Dates

Sunday 14th July Sunday 13th October

Pre-book via - www.shuttleworth.org/afternoontea The House at Shuttleworth, Old Warden Park, Beds, SG18 9EA

To Villager advertise in TheteaVillager and19.indd Town1Life please call 01767 261122 - Afternoon advert FP Feb

01767 627970

09/01/2019 11:55:52

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Travel

Namibia

By Solange Hando

Mountains, desert or ocean, Namibia is amazing but did you know it was the first country in the world to include conservation in its constitution?

Today, with its national parks alongside game and nature reserves, over 40% of the land is protected, a haven for the wildlife, so varied and abundant.

The top viewing area is the Etosha National Park created in 1967 on a former game reserve, across the Kalahari basin up in the north-west. The name means the ‘Great White Place’, referring to a salt pan so large it can be seen from space. It’s a desert in the dry season, a land of mirages and sweeping wind, but during the summer rains it all comes alive as huge flocks of flamingos and other migrating birds return to their seasonal lagoon.

Beyond the pan which covers 23% of the park, the savanna ranges from open grasslands to dwarf shrubs, thorn bush and trees, most common the acacias and the lovely Mopane whose leaves are shaped like butterflies.

Etosha National Park

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Wildlife thrives in all areas but some species have favourite habitats – for instance, elephants like to shelter under the trees; lions, on the other hand, find the perfect camouflage in tall golden grass, so the best way to tick names off your list is to trust the local guides.

Mountains, desert or ocean, Namibia is amazing but did you know it was the first country in the world to include conservation in its constitution?

Sightings are guaranteed, they say, within three minutes of entering the park, though during the wet season, so beautifully lush and green, this may be more difficult. However, the dry season, June to October, is always rewarding, as animals wander across the arid land on

their way to the waterholes. Best safari times are early or late in the day – be prepared for the cold – but what matters is not the distance covered but an attitude in tune with nature: slow down, stop and wait, look around, listen and for sure something will happen.

So what might you see in such a pristine place rising like a dream out of this world? 113 species of mammals, 350 of birds, 110 of reptiles, amphibians and even fish. Once endangered species, such as elephants, lions, rhinos and the black-faced impalas, are recovering well, but most common are zebras and gambolling springboks.

Lucky visitors may spot a lonely leopard, a cheetah with her young or a speeding hyena, but the elegant giraffes and the long-horned creatures are there for all to see, be it a red hartebeest zigzagging away to escape a predator, a solitary greater kudu, an eland – the largest African antelope – or an oryx, the national animal. Then there are the little ones: the rock hyrax, the yellow mongoose, the black-backed jackal, the smallest antelope or dick-dick, and of course the birds: hornbills, plump red bishop, yellow masked weaver, lilac-breasted roller and many more. As the sun sets over the savanna, the gently floodlit waterholes are pure magic as animals approach ever so carefully, waiting patiently for their turn to drink under a starlit sky.

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WIN A BOTTLE OF

BEDFORDSHIRE BUBBLY and a Vineyard Tour for two at

Warden Abbey Vineyard Did you know Bedfordshire’s medieval vineyard is now an exciting community project?

Nestled in the rolling Bedfordshire hills, this beautiful five acre field near Old Warden was first planted with vines in medieval times by monks at Warden Abbey - one of the oldest Cistercian settlements in England. Centuries later, the monks’ “Lyttel Vineyard” was re-planted and has produced award-winning wines ever since, with medals at regional, national and international level.

Bedfordshire Rural Communities Charity now lease the vineyard and run it as a “not for profit” community project, offering opportunities for learning, improving physical and mental wellbeing, and reducing isolation. All proceeds from wine sales go to keeping the project going.

Today it’s an army of volunteers who turn out in sun, rain and even snow to tend the vines. They also promote the project, fund-raise, run tours and talks, a donate-a-vine scheme, school visits, as well as social and therapeutic horticulture, wildlife and heritage projects.

Public and group tours are held on a number of dates each year (see website). Also, visitors to the annual Open Day on Sept 8th will be able to discover its history, tour the vineyard, taste wines and relax with local food and craft stalls, children’s activities and BBQ. Tel: 07981 113714 Email: info@wardenvineyard.org.uk Website: www.wardenvineyard.org.uk

Competition

(Entrants must be aged 18 or over)

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

WARDEN ABBEY VINEYARD COMPETITION ENTRY

Which well known Bedfordshire “Pilgrim” is the vineyard’s Nonconformist wine named after?



Tour vouchers will be posted out to the winner, and the bottle of wine will be available for collection during their tour.

Alternatively, the winner may arrange to collect the wine at another time. Please note the prize CANNOT be delivered.

Name: Tel: Email: Address: 12

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Food and Drink

That’s the Spirit

Gin

Gin’s basic flavour is from juniper berries and gin making can be traced back to the Middle Ages. Today, many gins are widely available. There are different styles of gins, plus flavoured and very aromatic gins, too. Gin cocktails continue to be hugely popular, with many ‘devotees’.

Warner Edwards are creators and distillers of hand-crafted, artisan gins. Their Victoria’s Rhubarb Gin is named because the original rhubarb crop, from which the current rhubarb crops are descended, was grown in the kitchen garden of Buckingham Palace, during Queen Victoria’s reign. The mouthfeel and palate enjoys the tangy sweetness. Also, prosecco makes a great mix with this gin. Other Warner Edwards hand-crafted gins include their splendid Harrington Dry. www.warneredwards.com The Cotswolds Distillery, established 2014, produces an excellent quality, hand-crafted, dry gin, which is unfiltered, so as to retain all the flavour of the botanical extracts and essential oils. This classic production is produced in small batches and is well-balanced, with an ‘inviting’ nose of citrus amongst the bouquet’s appeal. The mouthfeel and palate continue the enjoyment, which is clean and crisp. This exceptional gin is part of their range. www.cotswoldsdistillery.com Gordon’s is a very well-established company. Premium Pink Distilled Gin I found refreshing and aromatic. The inclusion of raspberry, strawberry and redcurrant ‘natural flavourings’, make for a superbly-balanced and often-selected gin production. Another impressive gin, inspired by Gordon’s original pink gin recipe of 1880. A company dedicated and committed to producing and supplying high-quality drinks. www.gordonsgin.com Chase Rhubarb & Bramley Apple is a single-estate production, from the Chase Distillery Company, Chase distils from the field to the bottle and has an excellent range of drinks. This gin is carefully crafted by distilling G B gin with freshly-pressed rhubarb and bramley apple juice, which comes directly from the farm. This impressive production is perfect anytime and great for spritz cocktails. www.chasedistillery.co.uk I located these gins at Waitrose, the food and retail division of John Lewis Partnership. Founded during 1904, Waitrose possesses a royal warrant to supply groceries and offers food and beverages of outstanding quality, many of which are multi award-winning. www.waitrose.com

As always, Enjoy!

ey Trevor Langl

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Everyone is involved At Nelson Lodge care home, we embrace wellness. We support each of our residents as individuals with their own rich history, skills and abilities and likes and dislikes. Our home is our community and it’s our resident’s life stories combined with our unique expertise in caring for people, that ensures they can express themselves, maintain their dignity and identity and live full and meaningful lives.

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Local News

Sing into Spring with Phoenix!

Looking for something new to try? Do you love to sing in the car, or the shower?

Or maybe you used to sing in a choir, and are looking for a new opportunity?

Sing into Spring with Phoenix!

Starting on 5th March, Phoenix Chorus are running a 4-week course in A Cappella singing. If you’re a fan of the Pitch Perfect movies or Pitch Battle and The Voice on TV, here’s your chance to try it.

Indulge your love of music and singing Experience the unique 4-part a cappella harmony Make time for you at least one night a week for a month, to do something you really enjoy!

We’re a Ladies A Cappella chorus based in Potton, Beds, but our members come from all over, most within a 25 mile radius. As long as you’re at least 16 we’d love you to join us in March so we can all learn a new song together and you can take part in a free ‘Friends and Family’ performance too.

Have a look at our website https://phoenixladies. co.uk or call us on 07845 101799 for further information on how you can……

Sing into Spring! We’d love to meet you!

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Local News

Support Bereaved Parents

runs from January 26th – February 2nd

Still birth and neo-natal death charity Sands is seeking local volunteers to help out at your local Cambridgeshire Sands.

“I found out my baby had died just before Christmas.

There are no words to describe the utter despair I felt” Not all committee members have to be bereaved parents.

Sands is the leading stillbirth and neonatal death charity supporting hundreds of parents every year.

We work nationally to reduce baby deaths through promoting better maternity care and funding research. We have a programme of training and a wealth of resources to support professionals to improve the bereavement care they provide following the death of a baby. We provide a comprehensive bereavement support service nationally through our FREE Helpline and locally through over 100 regional support Groups across the UK including your own Cambridgeshire Sands.

Losing your much longed for baby in late pregnancy or shortly after birth is the most traumatic and devastating trauma any parent can experience. A whole future is taken from that family. Sadly that happens only too often. Currently 15 babies a day die in the weeks just before or after birth. Sands aims to care for those families with practical and emotional support for as long as they need it.

15 babies a day die just before or shortly after birth - a shocking statistic.

Cambridgeshire Sands is currently looking for new Committee members to help them run the Group and people to train as Befrienders. Sands support groups are run on a voluntary basis by people many

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of whom have themselves experienced the death of a baby. However not all Committee members have to be bereaved parents. As long as you have an empathy and interest in our work we would urge you to get involved. Befrienders, most of whom are bereaved parents, grandparents or close relatives or friends, are also needed to provide support to anyone affected by the death of a baby over the phone and in person at group meetings. The new befrienders must successfully complete Sands’ befriender training, and a minimum of two years must have passed since their baby died.

For further information on the roles or to find out more about the group contact Rose Abrehart, East Network Coordinator at Sands on 07707 480020 or email: rose.abrehart@sands.org.uk About Sands: Sands is the leading stillbirth and neonatal death charity in the UK. They work nationally to reduce baby deaths through promoting better maternity care and funding research. They have a programme of training and a wide range of resources designed to support professionals to improve the bereavement care they provide following the death of a baby, and they provide a comprehensive bereavement support service both nationally through their helpline and locally through around 100 regional support groups based across the UK. Further information can be found at www.sands.org.uk

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Open Mon to Sat 9.30 til 5.30 See our website for details about: Social Crafting Groups Craft Supplies Handmade Gifts Workshops 01480 700890 www.craftityourself.co.uk 16 St Benedicts Court, Huntingdon PE29 3PN

St Ives Antiques Fair (AA signposted) Saturday 23rd & Sunday 24th February 10am–4pm each day

Admission: £2.50 adult/£2 concessions

Now with our unique Café Chats 3 times each day!

More than 50 dealers www.stivesantiquesfair.co.uk Burgess Hall (One Leisure) Westwood Road St. Ives, Cambs PE27 6WU To advertise in The Villager and Town Life please call 01767 261122

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Health and Fitness

By Ian Collins

Do You Need an Activity Tracker?

Activity trackers have become very popular in recent years. Fitbits are the device that everyone has heard of but there are many others. If you’re thinking of buying one, ask yourself these questions: Do you exercise regularly?

Lots of people buy a Fitbit or its equivalent because they think it will help them to exercise consistently. But these devices are not magic bullets. If you make any and every excuse NOT to exercise then a Fitbit won’t change that, you will simply make excuses to avoid exercise while wearing a gadget!

Would you wear it, and use it?

For a fitness tracker to give you actionable data you need to wear it almost all of the time, even while asleep. Some people can’t wear watches or jewellery while they are at work, others hate the feeling of anything on their wrist, and others have sensitive skin which is irritated by straps. If you don’t wear it then it can’t do its job, so it’s not worth buying one.

Will you use the app?

You’ll need to download the app to your phone and use it if you want to make use of the data your activity tracker collects. Interacting with your device and the app is key to success, so if you can’t commit, don’t buy.

Are you a data nerd?

Some of us love to monitor our sleep, our heart rates, the number of steps we do each day. We find ourselves endlessly fascinating. The basics of losing weight and becoming healthier are simple,

but the specifics for our own body can vary wildly.

If you don’t care about specifics and are happy with just eating a bit less and exercising a bit more, an activity tracker might be a waste of money for you. If you have a medical condition or are in training for an event, or just enjoy looking at data, then having organized and detailed information at your fingertips is a great resource.

Would my phone do the job instead?

There are hundreds of fitness, pedometer and cycling apps on both Android and iOS. If you’re unsure about whether an activity tracker is the right purchase for you try using one or two of these apps for a month. You might find they give you all the data you need. Also, if you find you can’t be bothered to use the apps, then you are very unlikely to benefit from buying an activity tracker.

Are you competitive?

Some activity trackers (particularly Fitbits) are social. You can add friends, compare step counts and earn milestone badges. You can also create groups and engage in competitions and challenges.

While these are good features, they aren’t for everyone. You might not need such a high-spec activity tracker if you don’t want to engage in the social side of things.

Activity trackers are useful devices and many people enjoy them and benefit from using them, but they won’t turn a reluctant exerciser into a highly motivated one, and if you aren’t actually interested in all the data, they might not justify their price tag.

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Local News

2019 Wildlife Photography Competition This year’s Wildlife Trust BCN Photography Competition is now open and closes 15 April (much earlier than last year). With generous sponsorship from Fuji, the prizes are significantly more prestigious (eg camera equipment worth £300 for first prize) and Fujifilm will produce large scale prints of the top three winning images in super quality. As with the last two years, a selection of the best images will be chosen to feature in the Trust’s 2020 Wildlife Calendar.

The theme for 2019 is Contrast in Nature, wide open to interpretation with the aim of inspiring interesting juxtapositions. It could mean incorporating a high contrast technique – say crisp contrasted with fuzzy focus, comparing large with small, male with female or capturing something wild in a contrastingly urban background – or anything else that works. The theme is deliberately very broad and designed to evoke a broad range of interpretation; the judges will be looking for unusual, innovative images which stand out from the crowd. This year’s Wildlife Trust BCN Photography Competition is now open and closes 15 April (much earlier than last year). With generous sponsorship from Fuji, the prizes are significantly more

Last year’s stunning winning entry Little Owl, Sharnbrook, Bedfordshire

by Simon Wantling prestigious (eg camera equipment worth £300 for first prize) and Fujifilm will produce large scale prints of the top three winning images in super quality. As with the last two years, a selection of the best images will be chosen to feature in the Trust’s 2020 Wildlife Calendar. All photos must be taken in Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire or Northamptonshire.

For further info, terms and conditions, please visit Wildlifebcn website www.wildlifebcn.org/get-involved/photo-competition

February only

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Offer applies to blinds, curtains & shutters. To claim your offer please mention this advert when booking.

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Health

How did you sleep?

“There are twelve hours in the day, and above fifty in the night.” (Marie de Rabutin-Chantal) Sorry to be nosey, but did you sleep well last night? The answer to this will have huge implications not just for getting through your day today, but also for your future physical and mental health.

In our caffeinated, over-stimulated, 24-hour day world, only a lucky few of us seem to escape the all-enveloping clutches of disrupted and inadequate sleep. The consequences are simply staggering. An explosion of biological evidence in recent years shows that inadequate sleep ambushes your immune system, even increasing your risk of cancer. While you sleep, your body produces cytokines, which help to fight off infections and illness. Sleep loss also puts the health of our hearts at serious risk; short sleep increases the likelihood of our coronary arteries getting blocked, leading to cardiovascular disease, stroke, and heart failure. Insufficient sleep is also known to increase our risk for weight gain and obesity (short sleep raises the levels of the hormone ghrelin that makes us feel hungry) and diabetes (too little sleep disrupts our blood sugar levels).

Our brains are extremely vulnerable too. Recent neuroscientific evidence shows that getting too little sleep across your lifespan will significantly raise your risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease.

Our mental health is jeopardised; sleep problems contribute to depression, anxiety, even suicidality.

Too little sleep affects our ability to remember, as suggested by studies showing that sleep helps consolidate long-term memory. Neuroimaging studies have established that just one night of sleep deprivation impairs learning and encoding -related activity in the hippocampus, a structure that is associated with memory and is located deep within the middle of the brain.

Other cognitive abilities are also in the line of fire, especially attention i.e. our ability to focus, to ignore distractions, and to multi-task.

Neuroimaging research shows that activity in the frontal parts of our brain during attention tasks is reliably affected by sleep loss. Tragically, these attention deficits are implicated in the huge numbers of traffic accidents and fatalities caused

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by sleep-deprived driving.

Sleep loss triggers changes in how we process our emotions too. Only one night of sleep deprivation resulted in a 60% increase in reactivity of the part of the brain responsible for processing emotion (especially fear and anxiety): the amygdala. This occurred in response to negative images such as spiders, snakes, and mutilations. The reward system of our brain also gets highjacked by a bad night’s sleep. Does reaching for another chocolate when you’re tired sound familiar? The reward network in the brain also shows sensitivity to sleep deprivation; this susceptibility is due to altered function of the dopamine neurotransmitter and leads to changes in risk-taking behaviours, sensation-seeking, and impulsivity.

So what can poor sleepers do about this quite alarming constellation of risks? Thankfully, there are many different ways to improve our sleep. In my next article here next month, I will set out the methods that are backed up by solid scientific evidence for getting a restorative night of sweet, precious sleep.

by Dr. Michelle O’Reilly Ph.D. Neuroscientist, science writer and lifelong insomniac.

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Local News

New Year Resolutions Go for a Wild Work Out! What better way to start 2019 than making a resolution to ‘give time’ to a charity - volunteering for The Wildlife Trust involves meeting like-minded people, having a great outdoors work out (free!), as well as helping the local environment – a win, win, win scenario! The Wildlife Trust relies on a wonderful army of volunteers who are very highly valued; joining a work party on a nature reserve is the ideal way to get some fresh air, keep fit and make a huge difference for local wildlife. Many volunteers feel a tangible, positive benefit from their involvement.

“Volunteering at the reserve helps me keep fit and meet new people and it’s also great to see so much wildlife.”

WT BCN Senior Reserves Manager Nancy Reed says: “Since I started working in conservation nearly 15 years ago, I’ve seen many times how helpful and even transformative volunteering can be for people struggling with their mental health. My life has been changed by it and so have many others. There’s something about being outdoors, carrying out physical work with a group of friendly, welcoming, like-minded people, that can just help to lift your mood. It needn’t be the start of a career, like it was for me, it might just be a hobby, but it’s one that can lead to a lifelong interest and better mental health – and that’s a scientific fact!” Volunteering with the Trust’s work parties is both sociable and varied - often involving cake and a cuppa along the way. www.wildlifebcn.org/get-involved/volunteer www.wildlifebcn.org/get-involved/volunteer/ work-parties

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Beds Wildlife Trust Conservation Taster Day Saturday 5 January, 10.30am-3pm Totternhoe, Want to learn more about conservation? For a great start to 2019 experience doing something great for wildlife in the great outdoors! Join The Wildlife Trust BCN for the first volunteer task of the new year to see if practical conservation volunteering is for you.

To discover if you would like to get more involved with the Trust’s work come and join Rich and his team of volunteers to give it a go. Come along for the morning or bring a packed lunch and stay longer; please wear weather-appropriate clothing and sensible footwear - all protective equipment will be provided.

For further info call 01525 817314 or email toddington@wildlifebcn.org www.wildlifebcn.org/events/2019-01-05conservation-taster-day

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Jill Dighton BSc (Hons) MBACP (Accred)., UKCP Reg.

Counselling Service Depressed? Anxious?

Relationship Issues?

Low Self Esteem?

Have you considered Counselling sessions?

Based in Grafham village, I offer a professionally qualified Counselling Service to individuals and couples in a secure, confidential & non-judgemental atmosphere.

Ample parking.

Concessionary rates available.

For further details: Visit: www.jilldightoncounselling.co.uk Email: j.dighton@hotmail.co.uk Tel: 07925 852 985 (Voicemail available)

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House of Colour

How To Effortlessly Wear

Living Coral – The Colour of 2019 The Pantone Colour Institute has announced their colour of 2019 is the gorgeous Living Coral (16-1546) but can we all wear this warm and energising colour?

Through their extensive research, The Pantone Institute chose Living Coral ‘partly as an antidote’ to the ‘cold and distant’ digital world and as ‘a shade of connection’.

How to wear it….

1. We associate coral with the fresh, warmth and sun-kissed coral seas of Australia, Indonesia and the Philippines – but the gorgeous warm hue that is Living Coral will not work for all skin tones; particularly those that suit cool colours. Some of us have warm pigment in our skin which is yellow based, while others of us have cool pigment which is blue based. When you wear the right tones for your skin you will look brighter, fresher and younger but when a blue based cool skin undertone is wearing warm colours they appear sallow and slightly blurred. Equally when someone with a warm yellow based skin undertone wears cool colours they will appear washed out, older and tired. Coral is a warm yellow based pink and so will suit those with warm skin tones much better than those with cool.

2. Don’t despair though if you are cool toned ie if you have a Winter or Summer colour palette, blue based equivalents range from Winter’s shocking pink, magenta and ice pink to Summer’s softer rose, powder pink or raspberry. If you are cool toned but still want to wear the oh so modern Living Coral then an alternative is to wear a pattern with a splash and a dash of coral.

3. Springs and Autumns should check their own wardrobes before racing to the shops. You may

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already have variants of coral - which range from soft peach through to perfect coral and orange reds - which look gorgeous on you and are already within your capsule wardrobe. Shockingly 30% of the clothes in British wardrobes are rarely worn.

If you do want to buy something of sartorial style in Living Coral consider whether you would better suit wearing Living Coral from head to toe in a gorgeous maxi dress or summer suit, but for others it may best work as a blouse or as summer trousers.

As a pop of colour, coral looks gorgeous as a scarf, belt, shoes or handbag, particularly against a backdrop of a warm navy and maybe more in 2019’s spring and summer time which are the times of year when coral naturally finds its way into the shops. Using a pop of coral in these types of accessories will also work well with your neutrals for a memorable business look.

Coral is also fantastic in a lipstick, blusher and on nails for those with warm colour tones. Just make sure you don’t go too orange, which can look exciting on some people but not on everyone.

At a time when looking at how to drastically reduce pollution, plastics, disposal and carbon emissions is of critical importance, Living Coral couldn’t be timelier. Just as coral reefs are a source of sustenance and shelter to sea life, Living Coral reminds us of our precious world and our responsibility to protect it.

By Jennie Billings, Colour and Style Consultant,HOUSE OF COLOUR www.houseofcolour.co.uk/jenniebillings jennie.billings@houseofcolour.co.uk www.pantone.com/color-of-the-year-2019

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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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Cambridgeshire’s Spire Dental Group

is awarded Best Team and Best Patient Care at National Dentistry Awards

The Spire Dental Group in St Neots and Buckden is celebrating after winning at the Dentistry Awards across two categories for Best Team and Best Patient Care in the Eastern region. The event is the UK’s largest dental awards ceremony and was held at the historical Athena venue in Leicester on 23rd November. The prestigious award is judged by an independent panel of dental professionals and recognises excellence in dentistry.

Spire Dental Group prides itself on providing dental care in a relaxed and friendly environment, offering a range of general dental care and cosmetic dental treatments, as well as Denplan payment plans.

Practice Manager Jenny Cook said she is delighted with the awards: “The awards were especially welcome as the team were short listed in three award categories last year but we came away empty handed. We still recognised that it was an amazing achievement, even though we were pipped at the final post last year, so to win this year was a fantastic surprise.”

Principle Dentist and Practice Owner Dr Georgina O'Callaghan commented: “We are astounded to have won not one but two of the awards, which was beyond our expectations. It is a fantastic accomplishment for the whole team who have put in a lot of hard work throughout the years.

We'd also like to thank all our patients for their continuous feedback and support. We add these awards to our win in the Hunts Post Business Awards 2017 Business Development and Dental Awards 2017 Best Practice.”

For further information about dental services at the practice contact the Spire Dental Group at 18 Huntingdon St, St Neots, Cambridge, PE19 1BG Tel: 01480 470570 Email: info.hh@spiredental.co.uk or 35 Silver Street, Buckden, Cambridge, PE19 5TS Tel: 01480 812 898 Email: info.ss@spiredental.co.uk Visit: https://www.spiredental.co.uk/

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31

Complementary Health

Sleep right, sleep tight!

Sleep is vital for our health and wellbeing, and not only do we function less well when we don’t get enough quality sleep, but it can lead to longterm health problems. Roy Palmer, Alexander Technique Teacher explains the three most common sleep positions and what you can do to help your sleeping posture.

Side sleeper - The most common, and in my opinion, the best sleeping posture. If you sleep on your side, it's important to ensure your spine is horizontal to the bed, and you head is level with your spine. If your mattress dips and fails to support you where you curve, your spine will twist. Check your pillow supports your head and neck without it tilting down, and for extra comfort, place a pillow between your knees and ankles to prevent your top leg from dropping forward and twisting your lower back.

Back sleeper - If you're most comfortable on your back, check your neck is fully supported by your pillow, and your lower back is in contact with your mattress. A gap between your lower back and bed can lead to lower back pain. If your mattress isn't giving your back full support, place a pillow under your knees then your lower back will come into full contact with the mattress.

Front sleeper - This is the least common sleeping

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posture and potentially the worst for your neck.

A thick pillow will stretch the neck and cause discomfort in the morning. Many front sleepers don't use a pillow and that again can place stress on the neck and shoulders, but it is possible to buy one tailored for sleeping on your front.

Roy also adds that “a mattress and pillow that supports your body in the right places is essential for a good night’s sleep as this will help you to release the muscle tension that can build up during the day”. There is a wide range of products on the market from memory foam mattresses to different shaped pillows that are worth testing out. Ultimately, the best position is down to your daytime posture habits, and getting good support from your bedding.

If you would like further advice on sleep or how to choose the best products for you, The Sleep Council at www.sleepcouncil.org.uk is full of great tips or see our website www.CentreForCompHealth.

More info: Website: www.CentreForCompHealth.com Email: info@CentreForCompHealth.com Phone: 01480 455221

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33 07/02/2017 15:54

Leeds Day Solicitors

International Probate and International Wills It has become far more common for people to own assets in more than one country Administering an estate which involves a crossborder element can raise complicated questions about which law applies to the inheritance of assets, the validity of the Will (if any), the foreign and UK tax treatment of the estate, how you obtain control over the foreign assets and how you ultimately transfer or sell them in due course.

If a friend or family member has died and they owned assets overseas you will need to consider the following: • Where was the deceased domiciled when they died? This may affect the tax position for the estate and which law governs who inherits the estate and how they inherit.

• Did the deceased leave a Will (either in the England or a Will made overseas)?

• Does that Will govern worldwide assets or only the assets in the country where the Will was made?

• What is the nature of the assets situated in the UK and overseas?

We can help with probate, wills and estate administration involving cross border issues.

We can work with you to overcome the difficulties and problems which may result from

having assets in a jurisdiction outside your normal country of residence.

We can assist you with obtaining probate in estates of persons:• who are foreign domiciled but have assets in England • or for people who are domiciled in England but have assets overseas.

It will often be necessary for probate or the equivalent to be obtained in all the countries where the assets are situated.

We can help with aspects of succession and cross-border situations and have experience with inheritance issues and international estate administration.

More than one will If you have a foreign property it is usually advisable to make a Will in England to deal with all your assets except the foreign property and to then have a separate Will in the country concerned to deal with the foreign property.

Great care must be taken to ensure that the foreign Will does not revoke the Will made in England and that there is no conflict between the two. Specialist advice should be taken to ensure the appropriate form of Will in each country is prepared.

We will advise you in an appropriate and practical manner and ensure that your wishes are recorded accurately. Please contact us on 0844 567 2222 by email at wills@leedsday.co.uk or visit our website www.leedsday.co.uk if you would like to discuss your requirements.

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

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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

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Fun Quiz - Poetry 1. In the poem The Rime Of The Ancient Mariner, what type of bird does the mariner shoot and kill?

2. The novel Tender Is The Night by F. Scott Fitzgerald took its name from a line in which famous poem by John Keats?

3. What type of poem shares its name with the third most populated city in the Republic of Ireland?

4. Well known for the many love poems she wrote for other women, on what island was the ancient Greek poet Sappho born?

5. As well as the title characters, what other two types of animal feature in Edward Lear’s poem The Owl And The Pussycat?

6. Celebrating the life and poetry of Robert Burns, Burns Night occurs on the 25th of which calendar month?

7. The epic poem The Iliad by Homer is set during a ten-year siege of which city?

8. Inspired by the final two lines of a poem by William Ernest Henley, “I am” is the motto of which international sporting event?

9. What is unusual about the entire content of a poem by Demetri Martin called Dammit, I’m Mad? 10. In a famous poem by Rudyard Kipling, complete the last line of the verse that begins “Man’s timid heart is bursting with the things he must not say, for the Woman that God gave him isn’t his to give away, but when hunter meets with husbands, each confirms the other’s tale”...

1. An albatross 2. Ode To A Nightingale 3. Limerick 4. Lesbos (leading to origin of the term “lesbians”) 5. Pig (whose ring in its nose is used as a wedding ring) and Turkey (who marries them) 6. January 7. Troy 8. The Invictus Games 9. It is a palindrome (i.e. it reads the same backwards as it does forwards, as does its title) 10. The female of the species is more deadly than the male

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37

Finance

By Ann Haldon

Spring Clean Your Finances

for a Richer 2019 Spring is the season when we give our homes a good clean and tidy up, so why not do the same with your finances? There are many ways to take control of your financial life, and the majority of them are so easy it’s worth looking at all the possibilities.

Get organised -Financial decluttering offers a clearer view of your overall financial situation and valuable insight into unhealthy spending habits.

Begin by finding all your relevant paperwork such as mortgage statements, insurance policies, credit agreements and utility bills, and decide which documents you need to keep.

Reduce outgoings and make paying easier - Not only can you save money by cancelling subscriptions that you no longer need, sorting out your paperwork highlights any excessively high payments you’ve been making and allows for tighter financial control. You can sign up to receive paperless bills and bank statements, which helps to declutter your physical living space.

Becoming debt-free is a liberating and important element of a financial spring clean Make a new budget - Whether or not you already operate a budget, making a new one can instil fresh life into your finances. Ensure you factor in all important annual events including birthdays, Christmas and holidays in the budget, so you arrive at an accurate plan for monthly expenditure.

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Plan finances ahead - If you’re planning a big purchase in 2019 – say a holiday or a car - in conjunction with your new budget, saving a little each month can help to achieve your goals without going into debt. Maybe you could open a new savings account for each prospective large purchase or use a traditional piggy bank at home and watch your savings grow the old-fashioned way.

Track your spending - With so many personal finance apps and tools now available, you can track your spending wherever you are. You might prefer to use a spreadsheet, or write down your spending in a notebook. Whatever you do, keeping track of your spend helps you stick to your budget and deal confidently with the inevitable financial setbacks we all experience.

Tackle debt - By tackling debt, you free yourself from the threat of serious financial difficulty and provide new opportunities to save. You might choose to use the ‘debt snowball’ method of paying off the smallest debts first or get stuck right in and pay off the largest debt. However you decide to approach it, becoming debt-free is liberating and an important element of a financial spring clean.

Overhauling your finances can make a significant impact on life in general and helps you to make the most of your money. Start your spring clean this month and you’ll be reaping the rewards not only in 2019, but for many years to come. http://tiny.cc/Clearscore-finance http://tiny.cc/Goodhousekeep

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Garden View

My Gardening Valentine

By Rachael Leverton

In the run-up to Valentine’s Day someone always asks me what they should buy for the gardener in their life.

It’s a tricky question to answer. Many people think we must like cut flowers, but actually I’m not keen and most gardeners I know aren’t either. We have gardens full of the things after all, and we tend to prefer our plants living and breathing in their natural environment, rather than imported from abroad and wrapped in cellophane.

Unless you know a bit about gardening, and the tastes of your own particular gardener you’re probably best-off avoiding plants too. The nongreen-fingered venture into dangerous territory when they try to buy plants because there are so many variables. Will it suit the soil? Is it too invasive? Will it poison the gardener’s dog…or children…eek?

It’s a thorny issue (pardon the pun) so here is my go-to gift list guaranteed to make you the Valentine hero of your gardening amour.

Don’t buy a sweatshirt which declares ‘headgardener. They are naff, and most gardeners prefer old, comfy clothes which do the job better.

However, if you present your gardener with a tough tunic or gardening apron, which is thornproof, and which has lots of deep pockets to house secateurs and trowels, they will love you forever.

Then there are wellies. Who knew wellies could be romantic? But gardening folk drool over wellies the way Supermodels drool over Jimmy Choos.

And there’s so much wellie-choice now. We all prefer something with a thick sole but there are bright and colourful wellies and traditional ones.

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For the ultimate in warmth and breathability I can recommend a proper Gore-Tex pair...sheer luxury. Mine remain the favourite Valentine gift my husband ever bought me. He knows how to romance a woman!

A proper long-necked watering can, with a brass rose will also earn you Valentine brownie points.

Bigger isn’t necessarily better though unless your Valentine boasts big biceps! Watering cans are heavy when full. I find 3-4 litres is about the right size.

A bunch of long-stemmed red roses will set you back at least £40 and they might last a few days.

For a similar price you can buy the gardener in your life Felco secateurs (with Valentine red handles) and they’ll last forever. I know which I’d prefer.

Garden trugs are so practical. Most gardeners I know would be delighted to receive one. The trug is a great gift but even better when filled with a few gardening goodies such as packets of seed, water retaining granules, plant food etc. You could add some hand tools too, such as a trowel and a fork. Make sure they are stainless steel and have long handles for ease of use.

And insulated mug or a good flask will always warm the heart of your Valentine because hot drinks don’t remain hot for long outside, even on a warm day.

Finally, don’t forget gardening vouchers. Often us gardeners spot the perfect plant or gardening accessory when we’re strapped for cash, so vouchers are a perfect gift to save for a rainy day... and gardeners love rainy days, Valentine’s or not.

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Local News

Greensand Country Announces 2019 Festival Following the huge success of the first Greensand Country Festival in 2018, the Greensand Country Landscape Partnership is planning an even BIGGER and BETTER programme of events for 2019, and extending the Festival to run throughout May. The Greensand Country Festival, from 1 – 31 May, will encompass a wide variety of events, provided by our partners, local businesses, special interest groups, clubs and visitor attractions across the landscape, from Leighton Buzzard to Gamlingay.

The Festival is a celebration of Greensand Country, helping to encourage those living within this distinct landscape to get out and explore the beautiful countryside on their doorstep. There are a variety of events already scheduled, including open gardens, churchyard tours, history talks, nature walks, village treasure trails, introductory sessions for bowls, photo and poetry competitions, art workshops, children’s activities and traditional country crafts.

Lindsay Measures, Events and Engagements Officer at the Greensand Country Landscape Partnership

explains: “We were overwhelmed with the fantastic response to our first Greensand Country Festival and have therefore decided to extend the programme this year. With family fun, trail runs, countryside walks, horse-rides, guided trains and nature activities, there really is something for everyone to enjoy.”

The Greensand Country Festival is a great opportunity for local organisations and businesses to promote our shared landscape for the benefit of everyone. If you have an idea for an event or would like to run an activity, please contact lindsay@ greensandcountry.com The Greensand Country Landscape Partnership is led by the Bedfordshire Rural Communities Charity and the Greensand Trust and funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund. It is made possible by National Lottery players. Without them we couldn’t fund the project.

For further information about the Greensand Country Landscape Partnership visit www.greensandcountry.com and for regular updates follow @greensandsocial on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

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ALL SEASONS GArdEN & PrOPErty MAiNtENANcE

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Pets

World Spay Day The last Tuesday of February, every year, is World Spay Day. Originally started in 1995 by the Doris Day Animal League in America, it is now recognised and supported by animal charities in 70 countries worldwide, and this year on Tuesday 26th February, it celebrates its 25th anniversary. The purpose of World Spay Day is to raise awareness of the importance of neutering and encourage more owners to snip or spay their cat.

It is estimated that there are between 9.5 and 11.6 million owned cats in the UK, 75% of these cats are acquired as kittens. Although a large majority of these will be neutered, sadly not all are which has lead to the cat population in the UK reaching crisis point. The National RSPCA reported that in October the RSPCA as a whole took in more than 12,000 cats in just four months. Although not a direct solution, owners can help tackle the cat crisis by ensuring their cats and kittens are neutered.

There are many common myths surrounding cat neutering, the most prominent being that cats should be allowed to have a litter of kittens before spaying.

This is not true. Allowing a cat ‘one litter’ gives a very small window to neuter because of the need to wait until her kittens have been weaned; by which time the cat may be pregnant again. The probability of an unneutered cat getting pregnant is over 80% and 85% of these are either unplanned or unwanted litters. A cat or kitten can be neutered from 4 months old or otherwise determined by your vet.

Although the most obvious benefit of neutering a cat

is to prevent it getting pregnant, there are actually many other positives to getting a cat snipped or spayed; so here are the facts.

• Female cats are spayed, meaning the womb and ovaries are removed • Males are castrated or snipped, meaning the testicles are removed • Spaying prevents females coming into season, where they would ordinarily attract unwanted male attention • Neutering prevents the risk of testicular cancer in males and uterus infections and cancers in females.

• Castration prevents males urine marking and roaming • Neutering will protect cats from the disease FIV • Neutering in some cases can also reduce the risk of a cat being stolen for breeding To promote the importance of cat neutering, most animal charities have schemes in place to support the public and their cats, and our local Branch is no different! RSPCA Bedfordshire North are offering cat neutering vouchers to the public to help with the cost of neutering, and support the cat crisis. The vouchers are for the value of £30 to go towards the cost of a spay or neuter at one of our participating vets and are available to members of the public in receipt of benefits.

If you would like support getting your cat neutered, or have a general enquiry regarding spaying or castrating, please contact the Branch via email info@rspcabedsnorth.org.uk

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Parenting

Taking back control Going Freelance While more employers are offering flexible working, few jobs give you the freedom of running your own business.

Self-employment doesn’t suit everyone. For a start, there’s no sick pay, no holiday pay and no regular salary. However, if you’re fed up of juggling childcare and missing out on time with your kids, it’s well worth considering.

Flexible hours If you’re a freelancer, you can usually fit your work around the kids. (I’m writing this article in the hairdresser’s while my son gets his hair cut.) If work is quiet and you fancy taking the kids to the beach after school, you can.

On the downside, if you’ve got a lot of work on, you can end up working late into the night, or at weekends.

Attracting customers You’ll need a plan for attracting customers. That plan is likely to

include creating and updating a website, attending networking events, contacting people through social media and searching for opportunities through LinkedIn and other platforms.

If you’re a graphic designer, you could contact local design agencies to let them know you’re available. If you make artisan handbags, you could sell them through Etsy, Not on the High Street or Folksy. You’ll need to factor in the platform’s fees as part of your costs. It also takes time to gain those all important reviews and you’ll be competing against a lot of other small businesses.

If you can, start working on your business part-time, before you leave your job, and build up some savings to see you through lean periods.

Finding your ‘tribe’ It’s worth connecting with other

freelancers for ideas, inspiration and ‘tea break’ chat. There are hundreds of networking events across the UK but some are little more than money-making schemes, so try a few before you commit to a membership. You might also want to sign up to forums, social media pages and groups in your industry.

You could also team up with other professionals to bid for bigger projects. A plumber, electrician, decorator and builder might work together on house extensions, for example. I’m a member of The Hoxby Collective – a global team of freelancers (from copywriters and designers to accountants) who work together to deliver projects. Hoxby co-founder, Lizzie Penny, explains, “When Alex Hirst and I set up The Hoxby Collective, it was partly because I wanted to spend more time with my family.

Some of the best talent was being excluded from the workforce because of geographical location, parental responsibility or a myriad of other reasons. We believe people should be able to fit their work around their lives and not the other way round.”

By Kate Duggan www.kateduggan.co.uk

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Motoring

By James Baggott

Smart Motorways Explained Smart Motorways are being created across the UK. Here’s how to drive on them.

Vast swathes of UK roads are being transformed into ‘Smart Motorways’. They are cited as the solution for congestion, with the hard shoulder being used as a live lane and overhead gantries displaying variable speed limits with cameras enforcing them.

Highways England says the introduction of Smart Motorways has ‘increased journey reliability’ and reduced personal injury accidents. But this new network requires a new way of driving, as well as a better understanding of what the overhead signs mean.

Are there different types of Smart Motorway?

There are, and different types of Smart Motorway are dotted throughout the country.

The first is a controlled motorway, which retains its hard shoulder for emergency use. The remaining lanes are subject to variable speed limits, which are displayed on overhead gantries, and enforced by speed cameras. If no speed limit is displayed, then the national speed limit is in place.

Then there are all-lane-running sections of motorway, where all

lanes are live, and there isn’t a hard shoulder. In the event of an incident, a red ‘X’ is displayed above the closed lane. Any driver who ignores this will receive a £100 fine and three penalty points on their licence. Again, overhead speed limits are enforced by cameras.

Finally, you’ve got a dynamic hard shoulder, which can be opened to live traffic during periods of congestion, with overhead gantry signs showing whether or not it can be used. It shouldn’t be used if the signs above the lane are blank or displaying a red ‘X’. Again, this is enforced by the overhead cameras.

What happens if I break down on a motorway with no hard shoulder?

Look out for an emergency refuge area (ERA), denoted by blue signs with an orange SOS telephone symbol, and dotted at 1.5 mile intervals along the highway.

If you’re unable to get to an ERA, you should attempt to get onto the verge (providing there is no barrier), switch on your hazard lights and exit the vehicle safely via the nearside door. If you can’t get

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to the nearside of the motorway safely, stay in the vehicle with your seatbelt securely fastened.

If you can get out of the car, contact Highways England via one of the phones placed in the ERA. However, if you can’t exit the vehicle, you need to call 999 from your mobile.

Can I get caught for speeding even if a limit isn’t displayed above the road?

Highways England states that: “All mandatory speed limits are enforced by police, as is the national speed limit of 70mph when no speeds are shown. If you break the speed limits you will be caught.” The best advice is simply not to exceed the speed limit.

Do Smart Motorways actually work?

According to Highways England, Smart Motorways are helping to keep roads moving. Published statistics say that journey reliability has improved by 22 per cent and personal injury accidents have been reduced by more than half.

Highways England also says that where accidents did occur, their severity was much lower overall.

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Special Report

The Changing Face of Television By 1971, TV was so integral to our lives that, according to Joe Moran’s Armchair Nation, “Ten per cent of homes still had no indoor lavatory or bath, 31% had no fridge and 62% had no telephone, but only 9% had no TV.” Yet back then we were watching just 3 channels.

The launch of satellite TV in the UK in 1989 brought Sky One, Sky News, Sky Movies, Eurosport, MTV, Screensport, Lifestyle and The Children’s Channel on air (along with porn channels swiftly banned by Parliament). Suddenly, we were spoilt for choice. As the ‘90s progressed, we began to pay for that extra choice but were offered more channels and access to Premier League matches.

We were enjoying EastEnders, Coronation Street and Only Fools and Horses, alongside US shows destined to become iconic: Friends on Channel 4 and The X-Files and The Simpsons on Sky. Sky brought us Digital in 1999, with 160 channels and innovative interactive services, and soon after, Sky+. We could now pause live TV to make a cuppa – and record it without a VHS or DVD recorder!

Telewest offered a rival digital cable subscription service while Freeview, and later Freesat, boxes offered a range of free channels (including some from Sky).

As satellite TV turns 30 in the UK, how has TV changed in those 30 years?

During the noughties, we watched reality TV like Big Brother, Wife Swap and their back-to-basics

stablemates Ray Mears’ Bushcraft and Castaway 2000; fell in love with BBC’s rebooted Dr Who; and became hooked on hit dramas like Spooks (BBC), Lost (CH4) and 24 (Sky One). The talent and contest show reboot brought us the X Factor, Britain’s Got Talent, Pop Idol and Strictly Come Dancing. By 2008, there were 9 million British Sky subscribers, with 500,000 watching in HD. But the disruptive force of TV streaming was on its way. Netflix launched its UK service in 2012 and has produced original content with the hugely popular series Stranger Things. Having bought Lovefilm in 2011, Amazon morphed it into its new Prime Video streaming service in 2014 and has produced its own hits too, including Outlander and The Man in the High Castle. Both companies have also rescued programmes unpopularly dropped by other channels, such as BBC’s Ripper Street (Amazon) and Fox’s Lucifer (Netflix). Rival streamer Hulu scored its own original hit with The Handmaid’s Tale.

However, ‘normal’ TV can still hold an audience, producing smart thrillers like Sherlock and Broadchurch and the unlikely hit, The Great British Bake Off, on terrestrial TV, while satellite delivers epic sci-fi and fantasy with the phenomenally successful Game of Thrones and The Walking Dead.

TV has brought triumphs and tragedies such as war, the moon landing, terrorist attacks and royal weddings into our homes, as well as entertainment, and today, we don’t even need a TV ‘set’ to watch it. But if you don’t own one, then I have to ask, in the words of Joey from Friends: “What does your furniture point at?”

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Three Counties Radio

Caramel Drip Cake

As we head into a New Year, this is a show-stopper cake to banish all the blues. What is great about it is how you can make it look so spectacular with relatively easy techniques. It’s the creation of a lovely cake maker, Hayley Pfeifer, from the Dunstable Cake House, who is a regular on my Weekend Kitchen show. She likes her cakes big, bold and glamorous and this caramel drip cake fits the mould perfectly!

For the sponge: 450g caster sugar 450g self-raising flour 450g butter 450g eggs (approx. 8 Large Eggs) A tablespoon of store-bought caramel from a jar A little drizzle of caramel flavouring Buttercream 500g butter 1000g icing sugar Drizzle of caramel Flavouring Extra caramel from the store-bought jar for filling and drip effect Flake chocolate for decorating Pre-heat oven to 160C/ Gas Mark 3

1. Line 3 x 8” tins 2. Mix the butter and caster sugar together until creamy and fluffy. Add the sieved flour gradually, then add the eggs, the caramel and flavouring.

3. Divide the mix between the tins, then put them into the oven.

4. Bake for 25-30 minutes, until a skewer comes out of the sponges clean.

5. Leave the cakes to cool on a wire rack.

6. Mix the butter and icing sugar together for the buttercream filling and add a drizzle of caramel flavouring.

7. Take one cake. Spread caramel on top, then buttercream.Top it with another cake, then repeat the caramel and buttercream filling.Top with the last cake.

8. Add buttercream to the top and sides and create a smooth finish using a side scraper or a pallet knife dipped into some hot water.

9. Pour lots of caramel onto the top centre of the cake and use a pallet knife to ease the caramel towards the edges to create the drips. Be creative - it’ll look different every time.

10. Sprinkle some chocolate flakes on the top and it’s ready to serve.

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

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Abbey Driveways Surfacing Ltd RESIN BOUND DRIVEWAYS AND PATIOS

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Using our resin bound aggregate to overlay your driveway, pathway or patio area.

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Seasoned Firewood Locally sourced hardwood Split and fully seasoned

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Technology

Does Cupid love tech?

Techy gifts your significant other will love

It’s that time of year again: the restaurants are packed, florists are working around the clock and garages are eagerly anticipating the last-minute purchasing of flowers by people who forgot Valentine’s Day. But if you don’t want to say it with flowers or chocolate, can you say it with tech instead?

The trick is to find technology that actually delivers something your beloved will want. It’s really expensive, but Dyson’s new hairdryer is a great example: the £299 Supersonic isn’t just a machine for drying hair but a genuine time machine, because it does the job so well its owner can spend less time drying and more time doing fun stuff.

Not all beauty tech is a good present idea – steer clear of anything to do with hair removal or weight loss if you value your life – but luxury products such as high-tech hair dryers, straighteners and stylers are often good.

Luxury technology isn’t just

about making yourself look nice, though. It can be about relaxing too. We’re big fans of noisecancelling headphones, a real boon for people who regularly travel on trains or planes: they analyse the ambient noise and create a pattern to drown it out.

You can spend nearly £300 on high-end phones such as Bose’s QuietComfort 35 and they’re worth every penny, but you can get pretty good sets for a lot less: Bose’s QuietComfort 25 are currently £129, while Sony’s awfully named WH-CH700N are just £79.99 at the time of writing.

Another good option is a Kindle or Kindle Fire tablet, both of which are made by Amazon. The former is a dedicated ebook reader and the latter is a surprisingly good budget tablet that includes the Kindle app but also enables you to watch video and listen to music. The seven-inch model fits in big pockets and average handbags and is constantly on special offer: through November it was £39.99, down from the usual

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£59.99, and Amazon is constantly cutting its price during the rest of the year too.

If a £399 Apple Watch is out of your price range, the Nokiaowned Withings brand makes some very lovely watches that double as activity trackers. Forget the RRP because these watches are very heavily discounted – for example, the really pretty Activité Pop has an RRP of £109 but is widely available for as little as £35 if you go for the blue or pink models.

What if your beloved already has all the tech they want? As the old joke goes, you can buy the person who has everything a box to put it in – or rather, a case.

Whether it’s a Kindle or an iPad, a Galaxy Note 9 or an iPhone XS, there’s a dizzying range of cases including some from well-known designers. Just watch if you’re buying leather cases: many supposedly leather cases are made of bonded leather, a faux leather that doesn’t wear like real leather does.

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ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ

Easy Suduko

Hard Suduko

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

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Life Begins...

By Kate McLelland

Parental Stress

Has it changed over 50 years?

If you’ve recently watched your adult son or daughter – now a parent themselves – searching the internet for the latest advice on nappy rash or teething problems, it probably triggered memories of the new-parent panics you experienced when you were young. At that time it’s likely you picked up the phone to ask your mum, dad or grandparents for advice but nowadays, when the internet is the go-to source on information on everything from breast feeding to building a tree house, it’s rare – if not unheard of – for the older generation to be asked for advice about childcare.

So what else has changed over the past fifty years when it comes to bringing up a child? According to the magazine Psychology Today, “Anxiety has become the hallmark of contemporary parenting”.

Healthcare worries Advances in healthcare have made the process of giving birth much safer for both mothers and babies over the last half century. As soon as a pregnancy begins, everything from the baby’s growth to maternal blood pressure is tested and monitored.

While this high level of care is

No more outdoors?

Many grandparents look back nostalgically to the time when they roamed parks, streets and open spaces, playing with other children without adult supervision, but these days youngsters are lured by the indoor attractions of computer games, TV and the internet.

These days parents are more fearful about the risks of letting their children play outside, citing concerns about road safety, ‘stranger danger’ and bullying by other children. However, Dr Michael Ungar, author of ‘Nurturing Resilience’ believes parents are too fearful of outdoor hazards. “Where the real dangers lie is indoors,” he writes in a blog published by Psychology Today.

“Excessive screen time, often occurring while children snack on unhealthy foods, combined

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reassuring in one way, it can also add to the anxiety experienced by new parents.

Grandparents may feel a pang of nostalgia for those long-lost ‘Motherknows-best’ days

with low levels of activity and few opportunities to learn responsibility or social skills, leave children terribly unhealthy.”

Spare the rod Smacking a child may not have been frowned on in the ‘60s, ‘70s and ‘80s but after 1990, when the UK signed up to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, it also became less socially acceptable. While it’s currently illegal to use discipline that inflicts actual physical harm, UK legislation stops short at hitting or slapping that doesn’t leave a lasting mark on the child.

However there is huge pressure to change the law: this year the Scottish government is leading the way with a new bill to outlaw any form of physical assault on a child.

Looking back over the past five decades, a mixed picture emerges: while parents are probably more anxious than they were back in the ‘60s and ‘70s, children’s health and welfare is considered more important than ever. Thankfully one thing remains the same: most parents just want their children to grow up to lead happy, healthy and productive lives.

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n O s ’ t Wha In February

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

What’s on entries to whatson@villagermag.com

1, 8, 15 & 22 February Friday Night Lights 7.30-8.30pm Longsands Academy Astro, Longsands Road, St Neots Friday Night Lights aims to provide the local community of St Neots with the opportunity to experience hockey in a casual, relaxed and family orientated environment. Tel: Chris 07792 044878 Email: cjbryden08@hotmail.co.uk

4, 11, 18 & 25 February West Hunts Friendship Club 9.30am-3pm Great Staughton Village Hall We are looking for new members who are retired to join our happy team. Members can participate in a range of activities as well as a hot meal at lunch time. Transport can be arranged for those who live within a six miles radius of Great Staughton.

Tel: Annabelle Blackham 07527741495

2 February St Neots Timebank Coffee Morning 11am-1.30pm St Mary’s Church Hall, St Neots Table-top sale, new and used. If you would like to reserve a table for £3 to sell your goods then contact us. Non-members welcome. Tel: 07590 909057 Web: www.stneotstimebank.org.uk

4, 11, 18 & 25 February Comrades Chess Club 7.30pm Comrades Club, Godmanchester Keep your mind active and play chess. Over 18s only as it’s a licensed premises. Every Monday except Bank Holidays. Ozzie: 01480 414623 Email: ozzie.day5@gmail.com

2 February Arts and Crafts Winter Fair and Preloved Sale 11am-4pm Roxton Village Hall Free admission. Local artists, crafters and a preloved sale all under one roof. In aid of the Village Hall Trust. Contact roxtonhall@gmail.com

4, 11, 18 & 25 February Oakington Singers 7.45-9.30pm Oakington Parish Church Oakington Singers invite new Tenors and Basses to join them on Mondays. Their accompanied and unaccompanied repertoire includes Rutter Anthems, Queen, Folk Songs, Spirituals, international songs and much more! Email: paul.tann@btinternet.com

2 February Simply Saturday 12.30-2.30pm St James Church, Little Paxton For adults of all ages with lunch and various activities available. Tel: Leisa Hunt 01480 471748 Email: young_paxton@ntlworld.com 2 February Monteverdi Vespers of 1610 7.30pm Peterborough Cathedral The Sixteen performs one of the most magnificent pieces of the classical repertoire, Monteverdi’s Vespers of 1610, famed for its thrilling rhythms, grand choruses and beautiful solo movements.

Web: https://thesixteen.com 2, 9, 16 & 23 February Huntingdon Music School 8.30am-1pm Hinchingbrooke School The music school operates lessons and ensemble groups on Saturday mornings during term-time.

They also offer music lessons in Huntingdon area schools. Tel: 01480 584867 or 07719 835472 Email: enquiries@huntsmusicschool.org.uk Web: www.huntsmusicschool.org.uk 4, 6, 11, 13, 18, 20, 25 & 27 February St Neots Badminton Club 8-10pm One Leisure, St Neots Play badminton to a good standard and interested in joining a club? St Neots badminton club play at One Leisure Mondays and Wednesdays.

Email: Committee@stneotsbadminton.org Web: www.stneotsbadminton.org 4, 11, 18 & 25 February Scottish Country Dancing 8-10pm Queen Elizabeth School, Godmanchester Tel: Mrs Pat Crowe 01480 453774 Email: pat@patcrowe.plus.com

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5 February Hail Weston Wildlife and Gardening Group 7.30pm Hail Weston Village Hall Members £1, Non-members £2. Talk by Andrew Sankey on ‘How To Cope With A Dry Garden’. Raffle.

All welcome. Tel: 07706 198807 Email: lizbacon187@gmail.com 5 February Huntingdon and District Branch of the Royal Air Force Association 7.30pm for 8pm First Wednesday of the month.

Tel: Tony Perryman, Secretary 01480 465395 Email: rafa.huntingdon1@btinternet.com 5, 12, 19 & 26 February Roxton Bridge Circle 7.15-10pm Roxton Parish Hall Small friendly group playing Bridge every Tuesday evening. Tel: Mary 01480 212552 Email: mary@jackpike.co.uk 5 & 24 February Comberton Ramblers 10.15am 5 Feb - Anstey, 5 miles. 24 Feb – Linton, 6 Miles.

Walks are 5-7 miles, usually ending near a public house. New walkers are welcome to join us with up to 2 free walks. Annual membership £8.50 per person. Tel: Stella (Secretary) 01954 210049 Email: stella.ramblers@hotmail.com Web: www.combertonramblers.org.uk 6 February Godmanchester Senior Citizens Club Coffee Morning & Raffle 10am-12 noon Godmanchester Town Hall Monthly coffee morning and raffle. Annual membership fee is £10. Tel: Geoff 01480 434697

6 February Volunteer Woodland Work 10am-3pm Wandlebury Country Park, Cambridge CambridgePPF event. Come and help us care for our green spaces and the wildlife that thrives in them.

This February our volunteer work party will be assisting with vital woodland work. All instruction, equipment and tools provided. Wear tough clothing and footwear, and bring a packed lunch. No need to book, just turn up. Meet at the car park noticeboards.

6 February St Mary’s Afternoon WI St Neots 2pm St Mary’s Church Rooms, St Neots First Wednesday of the month. Speaker is Hon. Sec. of Jane Austen Society with ‘Jane Austen & Marriage: Fact & Fiction’. Tel: May Parker 07724 043941 Email: mayp.at.home@gmail.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/St-Marys-AfternoonSt-Neots-Womens-Institute-238190076940278/ 6, 13, 20 & 27 February St Neots Choral Society 7.30-9.30pm Eynesbury Junior School, Montagu Street, Eynesbury New members are very welcome to join and there are no auditions to frighten you. There is an annual subscription once you decide to join the Society.

Tel: 01480 212298 for membership or information Web: www.stneotschoral.org.uk 7, 14, 21 & 28 February Healthy Walking 10am or 10.30am-11am Wandlebury Country Park, Cambridge Free event. CambridgePPF event. Keep fit and join our healthy walkers every Thursday. Meet at the Stable Rooms at 10am for a longer walk or 10.30am for a shorter stroll. Walks end around 11am with tea and coffee in the Stable Rooms. All welcome, suitable for all abilities. Free of charge and no need to book.

Donations towards the upkeep of the park are always welcome.

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

11 & 25 February Nature Tots 10am-11.30am Ferry Meadows, Peterborough £3 age 2 years+ A fun outdoor parent and toddler group. Each session has a nature theme and will include a messy craft activity, time to explore the beautiful outdoors, story and song-time. Adults may bring up to two paying children. Accompanying siblings below the age of 2 years may attend at no cost.

Tel: 01733 234193 Email: visitor.services@neneparktrust.org.uk

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n O s ’ t Wha In February

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

12 February St Ives Sugarcraft Guild 7.30pm Reading Room, Hemingford Grey Monthly meetings where you can learn, hands on, various cake decorating techniques and/or sugar modelling. Tel: Shirley 01480 454616 for more info

13 February Wildlife Trust 7.30-9pm Brampton Memorial Centre, Thrapston Road, Brampton Entry £2.50, accompanied children free Speaker will be Dr. Edgar Turner on ‘Butterfly’s Eye View of Conservation’. Ed has been involved with the Wildlife Trust since 2006 when he worked as Ecology Groups Officer on a project studying Duke of Burgundy Butterflies. Since then his research has concentrated on the impacts of deforestation and palm oil expansion in Southeast Asia. Tonight’s talk will centre on these beautiful butterflies and the impact of conservation on their success in the UK. Tel: Tim Fryer 01480 457795 15 February St Neots Timebank Members & Friends Group 11am-1.30pm The Priory Centre, St Neots The more people that come the merrier it is. Enjoy a free cuppa with friendly people. Meet the coordinator who’s happy to listen to your needs.

15 February Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again (PG) 7 for 7.30pm Mandeville Hall, Kimbolton Film tickets Adults £4, 16 and under £2, over 60s £3 “A jukebox musical romantic comedy film.” Five years after the events of Mamma Mia (2008), Sophie prepares for the grand reopening of the Hotel Bella Donna as she learns more about her mother’s past.

Bar, ice cream, and free popcorn. Tickets available from Oliver’s, Swan Pharmacy, Bytes Café or by email.

Email: jrstratford@hotmail.com Web: http://e-voice.org.uk/ themandevillehallkimbolton/community-cinema 15 February Screen St Ives Doors open 7.30pm for 8pm The Corn Exchange, St Ives Early Man (Nick Park 2018 US/UK/France 89mins) Cert PG. Set at the dawn of time when prehistoric creatures and woolly mammoths roamed the earth, we meet Dug, who along with his sidekick Hognob, unite their tribe to save their home against the mighty and awful Lord Nooth. If you love Wallace & Gromit, Shawn the Sheep and Nick Park’s other wonderful characters you’ll love this!

Web: www.screenstives.org.uk 18 February St Neots Royal Naval Association 7.30pm The RAFA Club, 44 Huntingdon Street, St Neots St Neots & District Branch of the Royal Naval Association meet on the third Monday of every month. Tel: Tony Webley 01480 215218 Email: jj.awebley@btinternet.com

18 & 19 February February Half Term Holiday Bushcraft 8.30am-4pm Wandlebury Country Park, Cambridge Holiday Bushcraft at Wandlebury is designed for children ages 5-12 and is run by experienced, qualified teachers from the outdoor learning experience group, Wild Thyme & Embers. All basic bushcraft techniques suitable for this age range will be taught. Booking essential.

Web: wildthymeandembers.co.uk for further info 18-22 February Wildlife Trust Family Fun Drop-in Sessions 10am-2pm daily Paxton Pits Education Centre, Little Paxton £5 per child. Indoor and outdoor activities for half term to engage children and families.

Tel: 01480 473161 for further info Web: www.wildlifebcn.org/events/2019-02-18paxton-pits-family-drop-sessons 19 February Volunteer Work Party - Scrub Clearance 10am-3pm Coton Reserve, Grantchester Road CambridgePPF event. Help us care for our green spaces and the wildlife that thrives in them. Get active, meet new people and enjoy learning about your local environment assisting with vital scrub clearance. Please come along and lend a hand! All instruction, equipment and tools provided. Wear tough clothing and footwear, and bring a packed lunch. No need to book, just turn up.

19 February Wildlife Trust Spring Fun at the Fen 10.30am-3.30pm Countryside Classroom, Ramsey Heights £4 per child. Get set for spring with half term activities. Tel: 01487 815524 for further info Web: www.wildlifebcn.org/events/2019-02-19spring-fun-fen 20 February ‘Mooch and a Moo’ Walk at Wandlebury 10.30am-12 noon Wandlebury Country Park, CB22 3AE CambridgePPF event. Join one of our wardens on a guided walk as you make the acquaintance of the Country Park’s resident highland cows. Suitable for ages 5+ to 90+. No need to book. Meet at the car park noticeboards.

20 February Huntingdonshire Family History Society 7.30pm Women’s Institute Centre, Waldon Road, Huntingdon Speaker will be Gill Cable on ‘Mapping Your Ancestors’. Non-members most welcome - contact the Secretary to attend. £1 donation at the door appreciated. Please check website for any last minute changes to programme.

Tel: Caroline Kesseler 01480 390476 for more details Email: secretary@huntsfhs.org.uk Website: www.huntsfhs.org.uk

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21 February Monthly Meander 11am-12 noon Trumpington Meadows, Granchester Road, Trumpington The best way to get to know the reserve! Regular Wildlife Trust BCN guided walk with the rangers, who will show you all the seasonal wildlife.

22 February Build a Nest Box 1-3pm Trumpington Meadows, Granchester Road, Trumpington £10 per nest box. Celebrate National Nest Box Week with the rangers. Build a box to take home or help build some for the reserve.

23 & 24 February St Ives Antiques Fair 10am-4pm Burgess Hall (One Leisure Centre), Westwood Road, St Ives Adults £2.50, Concessions £2. Fun and friendly Antiques Fair with around 50 dealers offering affordable quality antiques and vintage pieces.

Ample free parking, wheelchair access from street level, on-site catering and licensed bar. Dealers welcome from 9am upon production of business card. Tel: 01480 896866 Email: parkhousepr@aol.com Web: www.stivesantiquesfair.co.uk Facebook: www/facebook.com/stivesantiquesfair Twitter: www.twitter.com/StIvesAntiques 26 February Little Paxton Pictures Doors open 1.45pm St James’ Church ‘Little Paxton Pictures’ has arrived at St James’ Church - a new community cinema project, kindly supported

by Little Paxton Parish Council. We are looking to run our Film afternoon/evening on the last Tuesday of every month. Refreshments provided. All donations welcome. Any thoughts on films‑, please fill out a slip and pop it in the box at the back of the church in Little Paxton or send to the contacts below. Want to know more or get involved? We’d be delighted to hear from you. Web: www.thepaxtonsbenefice.org Email: Anita Bailey ajlbailey@aol.com or Nicci Jones admin@thepaxtonsbenefice.org 26 February 2019 Huntingdonshire Diabetes Group 7.30pm Millennium Hall, Burberry Road, Buckden AGM Monthly meetings on the last Tuesday of each month. All welcome: diabetics, family, friends and carers. Email: hunts.diabetesuk@gmail.com Web: huntingdonshire.diabetesukgroup.org 27 February Roxtonettes Monthly Music Evenings 7.30pm Roxton Village Hall, High Street, Roxton £2.50 inc. refreshments. We meet on the 4th Wednesday of the month. 7:30pm onwards Instrumentalists and 8pm onwards - Singers. Under the guidance of Eamonn Nicholson-Clinch, we are an informal community singing group.

Tel: Eamonn 07780 954314 or Susie 01234 376098

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LESTER O’DRISCOLL CARPENTRY Door Hanging, Skirting, Flooring, Fitted Kitchens, Fencing, Decking, General Carpentry, Bespoke Timber Garden Offices, Workshops & Garden Sheds

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Health & Fitness

Swimming, Super Sport!

Swimming isn’t a sport, it’s just a way to keep from drowning! So goes the old joke. But swimming is a great way to keep fit, and here’s why.

It’s a full body workout - Swimming is a great mixture of cardio and strength. It improves endurance and works out all your muscle groups.

It improves mental health - The motion and act of swimming through water is very meditational. The focus it requires reduces stress levels and anxiety.

It’s a mood booster - Swimming, like most exercise, produces endorphins encourages the release of serotonin. These chemicals are known to boost your mood.

You’re unlikely to injure yourself - Swimming is non-weight-bearing so the risk of injury is very small.

It is sweat-free - If you hate getting sweaty, swimming is perfect. The water constantly cools you down.

It’s for everyone - Fat, thin, old, young, disabled or able-bodied. Almost anyone can swim.

It has long-term health benefits - Swimming has been found to lower blood pressure, reduce joint pain, improve heart function and lung capacity, and increase bone strength.

It’s a great calorie-burner - Swimming burns more calories than running!

By Lesley Wade Take a trip to your local pool today.

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www.gsn.co.uk 67 09/04/2018 15:24

Interiors

By Katherine Sorrell

Displaying art in your home Make the most of your favourite paintings or photographs by integrating them within your decorating scheme.

More than just a finishing touch, hanging art on your walls is the essential addition to any room, immediately transforming it into a personal space. Some would even argue that a decorating

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scheme should be built around a work of art from the start. It is wise, then, not to treat art as just an afterthought, but to give as much care and attention to choosing and hanging drawings, paintings and photographs as you would to choosing fabrics and furnishings.

Start by identifying the optimal locations for the works. Above the mantelpiece in the sitting room is often a good spot, but any room in which you spend a lot of time is ideal, whether it be the kitchen (away from humidity and splashes, of course), family room or conservatory, so you can enjoy a favourite piece as much as possible. Bear in mind that direct sunlight can damage precious works, so use special protective glass if necessary, or try to find a more suitable spot.

Size is important. Bigger pieces, quite obviously, need an expansive space in which to shine (and enough room to step back and admire them), while smaller works may look odd when hung on their own on a large wall. The solution to the latter is either to find a niche wall on which to hang a smaller work – perhaps above a bedside table or next to a cosy armchair – or to create a larger grouping of pieces that work together, by colour, theme or subject matter. Pairs of complementary

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pictures make a nicely symmetrical display and work well in a traditional setting, while informal groups, perhaps with a variety of frames and hung asymmetrically, create a sense of intimacy and individuality. Another option is to group works that are the same size and shape, and framed identically, in closely packed rows, creating a formal design that is particularly well suited to a dining room or a hallway.

While a white wall behind paintings or photographs confers an art-gallery style atmosphere, it is by no means the only choice of backdrop. Depending on the effect you desire, you could pick a colour from the painting in question and replicate it in the colour of your walls, or even hang works against wallpaper (again, using complementary colours). If you do not wish to draw too much attention to the walls, pick a small pattern to use as a backdrop to a sizeable work.

It is always beneficial to light works of art so they can be seen properly after dark – even if it is simply a case of adjusting a table or floor lamp to cast a glow towards them. For a more formal, professional effect, custom lighting is ideal, using either traditional picture lights fitted above the work or a discreet track and spotlight. Experts recommend using LED bulbs because they don’t heat up, use little energy and are very small; it is worth experimenting with the colour ‘temperature’ of the bulb, ensuring that it is neither too ‘cold’ and white or too ‘warm’ and yellow. And if you wish to get into the real detail, choose a bulb that has excellent colour rendition (the ability to show true colours) at 95CRI or above.

How high to hang? This can be tricky, and everyone will have a personal preference. It will also be dictated by the size and shape of the piece, the proportions of the room, including ceiling height, and the surroundings in general.

That said, many people hang works of art higher than necessary – especially when considering that one is often sitting down when looking at them. It may help to consider that museums and galleries typically hang modern works at 1.55m to the centre line of the picture (Old Masters, if

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you were wondering, go a little higher) – roughly equivalent to the average human eye line. The advent of damage-free hanging strips and hooks has revolutionised the process of picture hanging, in that if you are not happy, you can simply try again. So don’t be afraid to experiment until you get it right, and you can enjoy an impressive and attractive display of art on your walls.

1. The Island Breeze bedroom collection is available with contrasting oak tops or painted all over in a choice of contemporary colours. Chest of drawers, £699; small wardrobe with drawer, £749; low-foot bed frame, from £489; small bedside chest, £225; all The Painted Furniture Company: 01285 656 041; paintedfurnitureco.co.uk.

2. A collection of Virserum frames, from £5 each, Ikea: 020 3645 0000; ikea.com/gb.

3. The soft pinkish-brown of Temple sets this modern painting off beautifully. £48.50 for 2.5l Pure Flat Emulsion, Paint & Paper Library: 0845 880 5844; paintandpaperlibrary.com.

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Your perfect loft access and storage solution Loft ladders supplied and fitted from as little as ÂŁ225.00 Our services include: Loft Ladders Insulation Loft Hatches Balustrades Loft Boarding LED Lighting Garage Lofts We are a family run business who comply to building regulations, where our fitters are fully insured and all of our work is guaranteed.

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January’s Puzzle Solutions and Winners Last Month’s Crossword Winner Mrs D Roberts from St Neots Henlow Building Supplies Competition Winner Rob Lumkin from Shillington Easy

Hard

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The Villager Prize Crossword

Prize

ÂŁ25

Across 1. Chewing (6) 4. Acquiesced (6) 9. Garbage (7) 10. Religious images (5) 11. Points on a saw (5) 12. Rising (7) 13. Impersonations (11) 18. Evolve, mature (7) 20. First-rate (5) 22. Arm joint (5) 23. To carry out, to perform (7) 24. Robin red-_____ (6) 25. Modifies for purpose (6)

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

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

Down 1. Explodes, pops (6) 2. Item of furniture (5) 3. Not that or this (7) 5. Sorrow, sadness (5) 6. Wearing away (7) 7. Blueprint (6) 8. Deep thinker (11) 14. Mobile, transportable (7) 15. Alternatively (7) 16. Word describing an action (6) 17. Crawls, inches (6) 19. Grassy gardens (5) 21. Rotund (5)

Name: Tel:



Address:

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Books

Book Review

By Kate Duggan This month’s books are perfect for discussing at your book club, dissecting over dinner and chatting about on social media.

The Silence of the Girls

By Pat Barker

The Silence of the Girls is a vivid retelling of Homer’s Iliad. However, this time the focus is on the minor characters, namely the women taken as ‘spoils of war’. Queen Briseis is taken as a sex slave by Achilles when he destroys her city. Through Briseis we hear of the other female slaves in the encampment – women who are forced to serve the men that killed their husbands, fathers, brothers and sons.

This is Going to Hurt

by Adam Kay

From 100 hour weeks to moral conundrums and emergency operations, the life of a junior doctor is far from easy. Adam Kay reveals all through six years of diary entries.

Surprisingly, This is Going to Hurt is an incredibly funny book, particularly the numerous footnotes explaining hospital lingo. However, Kay also gives us an insight into the stark reality of life on the frontline of the NHS.

Once Upon a River

by Diane Setterfield

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A man stumbles into The Swan inn carrying the body of what appears to be a dead girl in his arms. A few hours later, the little girl stirs. But who is she? Part adult fairy tale, part folk tale, Once Upon a River celebrates the art of storytelling and weaves numerous stories into one rich tapestry.

Thoroughly enjoyable.

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Classifieds Electrician

Pet Services

KING ELECTRICAL FULLY CERTIFIED ELECTRICIAN

Over 20 years’ experience in all electrical installation work Extensions, rewires, Sockets, lighting, fuse board replacement. Part P registered.

Call for an estimate Please contact Chris on 01480 810133 or 07717 172100 Email: kingelectrical01@gmail.com

Electrician

Sleep Practitioner

Frank Plater Electrical Extra sockets - Lighting - Extensions - Re-wires Security Lighting - Showers - Inspections No job too small. Free estimates Established in 1996 Tel: 01480 432154 Mob: 07976 797111

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and Town

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