Cambridge Jan 19

VILLAGER The

Issue 117 - January 2019

and Town

Life

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

In this issue Corsica Discover the Alta Rocca

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Inside this issue...

Make the most of the January Sales

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A hot chocolate where justice was once administered.....................4 The History of Coco...........................................................................6 Corsica - Discover the Alta Rocca....................................................10 Win £100 to spend on ‘Real Deals For You’......................... 12 Dining - South Bank Style..............................................................14 Once Upon a Time..........................................................................16 Learn a Language...........................................................................19 Are Aging Lines a Good Thing.........................................................20 Make the most of the January Sales...............................................23 Do you need a Social Detox?...........................................................25 Upping your Style Game in 2019....................................................27 Is Standing Better for your Health?................................................28 The Best of the Best.......................................................................31 Back Pain and Pilates.....................................................................33 Spot the Pension Scammers...........................................................36

Separation and Divorce at Christmas..............................................39 Great Gardening Books..................................................................42 Winter Colour.................................................................................44 R.A.T.S. Rehoming Appeal..............................................................47 RSPCA Animal Stories.....................................................................49 Children's Page..............................................................................50 How to get the best deal on car insurance......................................52 Nick Coffer's Weekend Recipe.........................................................54 Arthur Rank Hospice Charity..........................................................57 Encyclopaedia Britannica Turns 250...............................................58 Puzzle Page....................................................................................60 Grab your knitting and take to the streets......................................63 What's On......................................................................................64 Beat the January Blues...................................................................66 Small Space? No Problem!..............................................................69 Fun Quiz.........................................................................................73 Prize Crossword............................................................. 74 Book Review..................................................................................76

Spot the Pension Scammers

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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, Lesley Wade, Tracey Anderson, Kate McLelland, Sarah Davey, Louise Addison, Helen Venables, Kate Duggan, Centre for Complementary Health, Ann Haldon, Pippa Greenwood, Leeds Day Solicitors, Rachael Leverton, James Baggott, Nick Coffer, Tom Hancock, Katherine Sorrell and Kate Duggan

Advertising Sales/Local Editorial Nigel Frost • Tel 01767 261122 nigel@villagermag.com Photography - Alexander Raths 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

A Hot Chocolate where Justice was once administered

By Peter Ibbett

There are some I know who still lament the loss of the local St. Neots paper, published in printing works behind the present café up to the late 70’s. I remember being taken by my grandfather into their printing works and being given a piece of metal type with my name on it ‘hot from the press’. I instantly dropped it as it was rather warm! The old Tomson & Lendrum offices have been replaced by the old habit of passing the time of day over a hot drink whilst watching market traders haggle with miserly locals. A late Victorian letter to the paper reminisced over the current buildings forerunner:-“Your place of business, Mr Editor, was not existing. The site was occupied by a curious old structure with three gables in principal elevation, fronting on the Square with a large dial clock on the centre gable, and as far as my memory serves me it was a good timeist. Old Mrs Ellis, Dr Adams and Goodliffe, the hairdresser, were the occupants.

The property came into the hands of the late H P Standley of Paxton Place who cleared the site, and rebuilt the residences and offices you and others now occupy.” Mr Tebbutt, in his 1970’s book on St. Neots (still available from the excellent museum shop) states that:- The original building, a Court Hall, probably dates back to

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the late medieval days when St. Neots Priory would have administered the markets and fairs as well as the Manor Courts which dealt with local disputes and minor offences. The clock may have been added in the 17th century. The old building façade was replaced, probably in the late 1820’s.

If you have the time to drink, gossip and watch the locals go by do find the time, once you have finished, to take yourself round to the museum where you will find a warm welcome, good merchandise, exhibitions and events that reflect the heritage of a unique Huntingdonshire Market Town.

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10/05/2018 15:39

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History

The History of Coco

By Catherine Rose

Chanel is one of the most iconic names in haute couture and its founder, Coco, was a legend in her own lifetime. Said to be responsible for making the tan fashionable, she is equally famous for her sayings that included “A woman can never be too rich or too thin”. This month we look back at the inventor of the LBD and Chanel No. 5.

Coco Chanel’s story is a classic rags-to-riches tale. Born in 1883 at a charity hospital to unmarried parents Eugénie Devolle (Jeanne) and peddlar Albert Chanel, Gabrielle Bonheur Chanel rose above her humble start to become

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one of the most influential people of the 20th century – not only for her fashion design, dressmaking and millinery skills but also for the way in which she revolutionised how women dressed.

Chanel grew up with two brothers and three sisters in a one-room lodging house until her mother died of TB when she was 12. She was then sent to an orphanage in Aubazine. It was here that she learned to sew.

Her early aspirations were to be a performer, however, and after she left the orphanage, Gabrielle got a job singing between acts at

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La Rotonde, a popular cabaret venue. It was here she earned the nickname Coco. Her voice, however, was not good enough to propel her onto the main stage.

At the age of 23, she met the rich textile heir Etienne Balsan at La Rotonde and became his mistress, moving into his chateau near Compiègne. Balsan showed her a life of luxury and she started designing hats. Two years later she attracted the attention of a friend of Balsan’s, an Englishman called Arthur ‘Boy’ Capel.

After she became a licensed milliner in 1910, it was Capel who installed her in Paris and set her up with her first shop – Chanel Modes.

She quickly earned the patronage of actress Gabrielle Dorziat and her hats became sought after.

In 1913, Capel helped finance her second shop – a clothing boutique in Deauville which sold casual outfits for leisure and sport in fabrics like jersey and tricot, which had previously only ever been used to make men’s underwear. She conceived her popular sailor blouse here and was helped by her sister Antoinette and her Aunt Adrienne, who would model and promote her designs.

In 1915, with World War One underway, Coco opened another shop, this time in Biarritz where many wealthy Spaniards had been exiled. The shop was so successful that Coco was able to pay back all the money that Capel had given her.

Capel’s elegance and taste in clothing influenced Coco greatly and although she loved him, he went on to marry an English aristocrat, Lady Diana Wyndham, in 1918. It was a terrible blow to Coco when he was killed in a car crash a year later and she never truly recovered from it.

By now a qualified couturière, she set up her own fashion house in the prestigious Rue Cambon in Paris, selling hats, clothing and her Chanel No. 5 perfume. Women adored her boyish look and modern easy-to-wear style. Her eponymous little black dress was nicknamed Le Garçonne (the boy) and was revolutionary for using a colour previously only worn for mourning. Her famous straight-lined Chanel suit, which was released in 1925, bore many hallmarks of men’s tailoring and didn’t

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require a corset. She would say: “Luxury must be comfortable, otherwise it is not luxury.”

The business grew and in 1920 Coco was helping to both finance and design dance costumes for the famous Ballet Russes, inviting the exiled Russian composer Igor Stravinksy and his family to share her home Bel Respiro.

Theophile Bader, the founder of Galleries Lafayette, was keen to sell Chanel No. 5 with its signature square bottle (said to have been modelled on Capel’s aftershave), and persuaded Coco to part with all but a 10% share in ‘Parfums Chanel’ that he set up with the Wertheimer brothers, owners of the perfume and jewellery firm Bourjois. Coco was to regret her decision for the next twenty years and after the war, took the men to court and had the terms re-negotiated with back payments that made her a millionaire.

Known for her cutting wit, Chanel moved in the most fashionable circles in Paris and was friends and lovers with the talented, famous and elite, including Pablo Picasso and the Prince of Wales. The Duke of Westminster, a long-time lover, gave her the land on which she built her villa La Pausa and even proposed to her, but she never married, saying: “I never wanted to weigh more heavily on a man than a bird”.

During the 1930s, popularity with her clothes waned and she decided to shut her Maison de Chanel at the start of the war – 4,000 people lost their jobs. Her anti-Semitic views and subsequent affair with a German soldier caused scandal and following the war, Coco went into hiding in Switzerland.

In the 1950s, Coco Chanel re-emerged on the fashion scene to become as popular as she ever was. She was 70. Marilyn Monroe famously said that Chanel No. 5 was the only thing she wore in bed.

Coco spent her last 30 years in the Paris Ritz and died there in January 1971. Designer Karl Lagerfield took over her mantle in 1983 and still works out of her original premises.

Today her famous Chanel brand, with the interlocking C logo she designed, is owned by the Wertheimer family and generates millions.

As Coco once said: “Fashion fades but style remains.”

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Everyone is invited 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 is your life-story, combined with our unique expertise in caring for older people, that ensure our residents can express themselves, maintain their identity and dignity and live a full and meaningful life.

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Nelson Lodge care home Eaton Socon, St Neots, PE19 8AB If you’d like to find out more about the choices Anchor care homes offer our residents call 0808 102 4303 or visit nelsonlodge.co.uk Rated March 2018

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Travel

Corsica

With 40% of the land protected by a Regional Nature Park, Corsica is often called the ‘Isle of Beauty’, a worthy epithet as beyond the fabulous coastline, the hinterland has its own spectacular scenery. Down in the south, just inland from the popular resorts, the Alta Rocca is one of these lovely mountain regions laced in walking trails with only a couple of minor roads winding their way across the land. Up there time seems to stand still.

Forests rich in oak and chestnut trees, lofty Laricio pines, pastures, tumbling streams and dramatic rocks, this is a paradise for all nature lovers. Red kites soar in the thermals and there are peregrine falcons, golden eagles and bearded vultures with a mighty wingspan. Nuthatches splash colour in the trees, lizards and salamanders scamper along the tracks, wild cats and boars forage here and there. Meanwhile deer graze in the shade but the mouflons with long horns like to perch on the most inaccessible rocks, basking in the bright Mediterranean sun. Flowers and plants vary with the altitude but favourites include myrtle and thyme, the delicate blue ancoli peeping out of rocky crags and the wild sweet-scented immortelle.

The Alta Rocca starts in Ospedale, the first mountain village at 900 metres, then stretches north towards the Bavella pass where at 1,218 metres one enjoys superb views of the pink rocky ‘needles’ by the same name. This is on the old transhumance route and the nearby trails invite

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By Solange Hando

Discover the Alta Rocca you to explore further. It’s an awesome spot protected by the statue of Our Lady of the Snows, installed with great difficulty by local monks.

It may feel like the roof of the world but besides its natural wonders, the Alta Rocca is a land of hilltop villages where traditions survive on the ‘heritage trail’. On the western edge, Sainte Lucie de Tallano is a lively little place, all granite houses and cobbled lanes with convent and church, old bread ovens, oil mill and nearby thermal springs in their natural settings. Then there’s Levie and its Alta Rocca museum and the ‘coutellerie’ where traditional Corsican knives are still made in various shapes and sizes. Yet this pretty village has other claims to fame for if you feel like a walk, a trail can lead you to the archaeological site of Cucuruzzu dating back to the Bronze Age. It’s quiet and atmospheric, dotted with remnants of walls, tower and storing areas. According to historians however, the Alta Rocca has 9,000 years of history, making it one of the oldest inhabited districts in Corsica.

At just over 300 metres, the village of Sartène can vouch for that, with a museum of prehistory, nearby dolmens and menhirs and gateway to the highlands, once known as the Land of the Lords.

Enjoy the local wine then, as you wander through stepped alleyways and narrow lanes framed by granite hills, you may well agree that as the locals say, Sartène is ‘the most Corsican of all Corsican villages’.

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Win £100 to spend on our Real Deals For You Promotion

When you buy tools from your nearest Real Deals for You Approved Stockist you can be assured that you’re not only supporting Henlow Building Supplies, a local independent business, but you’re also buying big name products at the fairest prices. With incredible offers and brand new products, Real Deals for You offer you unbeatable shopping savings.

Competition

To be in with a chance to win £100 to spend on the Real Deals For You Promotion, simply answer the question and complete the form below and send to: Henlow Building Supplies Competition, Villager Publications Ltd, 24 Market Square, Potton, Bedfordshire SG19 2NP. Deadline: 16th January 2019.

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Residential Interior Design Business based in Cambridgeshire

• Colour Consultations & Decorating • Windows & Soft Furnishings

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Call Maria to discuss your needs and arrange a free home consultation. Tel: 07824 339054 www.thelivingroominteriors.org

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Food and Drink

Dining South Bank Style

London’s South Bank has a lot to offer all ages. World-class attractions provide interest and fascination for the whole family. The London Eye, Royal Festival Hall, London Dungeon, Sea Life London Aquarium and much, much more are all extremely popular. Restaurants on the South Bank offer everything from a light snack, through brasserie-style grills, to full, top restaurant experiences.

The London Marriott Hotel County Hall boasts Gillray’s Steakhouse and Bar. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, to both residents and non-residents, this restaurant has fine views of the River Thames, Houses of Parliament, Big Ben, the London Eye and surrounding area. The Library serves awardwinning Afternoon Teas, plus Dinners. An exceptional range of wines/drinks and handcrafted cocktails, including a magnificent selection of over 100 gins and more than 50 whiskies are available.

Starters, in Gillray’s restaurant, can include Cornish Oysters, champagne dressing, spring onion, chilli and Pan-Fried Scallops, black pudding purée, apple salad, hazelnut dressing. Beetroot-Cured Salmon and Hand-Chopped Steak Tartare, all with accompaniments, are further very popular options. Main courses have a splendid range of 35 Day Dry-Aged Aberdeen Angus hand-selected Steaks (choose your preferred design and style of steak knife, from the boxed selections that are offered), all served with bone marrow and confit vine cherry tomatoes. Whether ‘bone-in’ or ‘bone-out’ is favoured, sizes include 150g Fillet, through 500g Prime Rib, to Gillray’s Bulls Head 1kg Bone-In Rib-Eye and their outstanding ‘Meat Feast’ (Compliments to Chef ). Other dishes include Spatchcock Chicken, Fish and more, which are further often-selected choices.

The very talented brigade of chefs and kitchen personnel ensure all cuisine is cooked and presented, perfectly. The tender succulent steaks have regular ‘devotees’. Sunday roast is always popular, too. The complementing flavours of the dishes of cuisine are superb. Desserts include Chocolate & Hazelnut Bar and Adult Ice Cream with gin, brandy and rum – another popular selection.

All dietary requirements can be catered for, plus parties, events and occasions accommodated easily. Many thanks to Yara and Alexandra for impeccable service, throughout.

Gillray’s Steakhouse & Bar London County Hall, Westminster Bridge Road, London SE1 7PB Tel: 44(0) 20 7902 8000 Email: enquiry@gillrays.com www.gillrays.com www.marriottcountyhall.com

As always, Enjoy!

ey Trevor Langl

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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

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Time of Year

By Lesley Wade

Once Upon a Time

National Storytelling week runs from January 26th – February 2nd When did you last tell a story? Probably more recently than you think because as humans we tend to think in images and narrative.

Think about your favourite anecdote; the one you’re called upon to recount at every family gathering and which gets embellished a little more each time it’s told. That’s story telling in action and it’s the oldest art form in the world.

Since man first developed the power of speech, stories have been the traditional medium of communication between generations, used to educate and entertain.

There is evidence of storytelling in languages as diverse as Sanskrit, Old German, Latin, Chinese, Greek, Icelandic and Old Slavonic.

One of the earliest surviving records is from Egyptian culture. The sons of Cheops (the pyramid builder) are pictured in hieroglyphics on ancient papyrus entertaining him with stories.

Specialist storytellers evolved, known as bards. They were also poets and musicians and their job was to entertain by creating and performing poetic oral narrations. These generally chronicled the events of a war or praised the daring deeds and achievements of leaders and their forebears.

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Bards were also known as minstrels and jongleurs and often enjoyed a high status within their community.

The bardic community preserved many tales from different cultures which are still enjoyed today, including: • The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood (English) • The Iliad and The Odyssey (Greek) • The Tain (Irish) • The Ramayana (Indian) Religious leaders also made use of storytelling to guide and teach their followers. This practice is still used, particularly in Hinduism and Buddhism Ordinary folk also told stories, particularly at festival time and many such folk tales were collected and recorded by writers such as The Brothers Grimm.

The Society for Storytelling organises the National Storytelling Week each year to promote the art, value and practice of storytelling.

Storytelling events will be taking place in schools, libraries, museums, art galleries and residential homes. Check out what’s in your area.

Web Address - The Society for Story Telling www.sfs.org.uk

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Learning

By Tracey Anderson

Learn a Language Want to learn a new language in 2019? It’s not as hard as you think! I learned Spanish alongside my son to encourage him while he was studying for his GCSE. It started as a joke, but I quickly became hooked. Here’s what I learned about language learning.

New words? - You may not need to learn as many as you think! In English just 300 words make up 65% of all written material! We use some words a lot, and luckily that’s the case in every other language too.

You can buy or make decks of flash cards of these words. There is even a flash card app called Anki which presents words at precisely the right intervals to maximise memorisation.

Cognates - These are words which are spelled almost the same in English and which have the same meaning. In French, lots of ‘ion’ words are spelled the same even though they are pronounced differently: action, nation, communication etc. In Spanish the same words end in ‘ción’ and in Italian ‘zione’. Simple right?

There are also words such as hélicoptère (French) or aeropuerto (Spanish) which are similar enough to the English word that you will recognise them immediately. You can google ‘Cognates’ for the language you are learning.

Interaction - You need to hear and speak the language consistently. Look up Radio stations, YouTube channels, news websites, and blogs in the language you want to learn. Advertise for someone to practice conversation with. Ask

friends on Facebook or in the school playground whether they know a native speaker who would converse with you for half an hour in exchange for coffee and cake! There are groups dedicated to language exchange on Facebook too. By forcing yourself to converse you will improve very quickly.

Free Resources – I have passable Spanish thanks to the Duo Lingo app. The BBC has introductory courses to around 40 different languages.

Omniglot.com is a great open-source resource to all manner of languages, and I found fluentu.com brilliant for Spanish.

Embrace mistakes – We learn by making mistakes.

As children we speak, we’re corrected, and we adapt.

Even at aged fifty I still come across new English words and phrases. You can’t ever completely learn a language. Just use everything you know with the emphasis on communication rather than perfection.

Native speakers will not be offended by your slips... they will most likely be charmed and fall over themselves to help correct you.

Use SMART goals - SMART means Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant and Timed. A good example is, ‘By the end of January I will be able to hold a simple conversation with a waiter, book a table, order food, and ask for the bill. Or you might aim to complete three lessons per day on Duo Lingo for the whole of a month. You might even set yourself the task of passing an online test, a GCSE. The point is, you have a time frame, and the achievements you make are measurable, so you can see how far you’ve come.

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Life Begins...

Are Aging Lines a Good Thing?

By Kate McLelland

Walk into certain Superdrug stores nowadays and you might come away with more than toothpaste, deodorant and bubble bath. Once you’ve filled your basket with all the usual health and beauty products, you can slip into a private room for a BOTOX® injection.

BOTOX® has been around as a cosmetic treatment since the early Nineties, when it was hailed as a miracle anti-aging procedure.

The procedure eases out ‘dynamic’ facial wrinkles (created by muscle contractions) by paralysing the muscle underlying the wrinkle, resulting in a smooth and more youthful appearance that can last up to four months.

By public demand?

Superdrug’s new ‘Skin Renew’ initiative, which brings anti-aging treatments to the high street, is part of a wider beauty marketing trend designed to persuade us that non-surgical cosmetic treatments such as BOTOX®, dermal fillers and chemical peels should be considered as part of a normal beauty routine. Caris Newson, Head of Superdrug’s Health and Wellbeing Services, insists that the firm is only “listening to what people are telling us they would like” following feedback from

10,000 customers, but the initiative has been criticised by the British Association of Aesthetic and Plastic Surgeons, who say that customers could suffer from skin infections or even permanent muscle paralysis if treatments are not administered correctly.

Preventative measures Controversially, Superdrug’s ‘Skin Renew’ service is available to customers over twenty-five, and this has led to accusations that the company is encouraging younger people to seek unnecessary treatment. Cost may be another factor that encourages consumers, old and young alike, to experiment with anti-aging treatments.

Customers who would previously have expected to pay around £300 for BOTOX® injections at a beauty clinic can now book a Superdrug appointment from just £99.

While this may make non-surgical cosmetic treatments available to all (rather than just the rich and famous), it seems ironic that this high street roll-out has come at a time when many celebrities are resisting the pressure to stay young-looking for as long as possible.

Celebrities speak out Last year Marie Claire magazine

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asked a number of high-profile stars for their opinion about cosmetic treatments, and the results were surprising. Out of those in favour of BOTOX®, forty-five-year-old Broadchurch actor Olivia Colman admitted “I LOVED it” after having a course of injections, while plain-speaking film star Scarlett Johansson bluntly declared: “I don’t want to be an old hag!”

But a greater number of celebrities seemed to be against anti-aging treatments. Julia Roberts (star of movies such as ‘Pretty Woman’ and ‘Notting Hill’) has been a vocal opponent of cosmetic surgery in recent years. She says: “Your face tells a story… and it shouldn’t be a story about your drive to the doctor’s office.”

Whether you love the fact that BOTOX®, chemical peels and fillers are becoming more affordable and easier to obtain, or you support Julia Roberts’ views on aging naturally, as our population steadily ages (we’ll see 8.6 million extra people aged 65 years and over in 50 years’ time) it’s likely that we’ll see more and more of our high street outlets promising to iron out our wrinkles and restore the glow of youth for less than £100.

The Old White Horse • 1 High Street • Biggleswade • SG18 0JE Tel: 01767 314344 www.lolineinteriors.co.uk e: dave@lolineinteriors.co.uk To advertise in The Villager and Town Life please call 01767 261122

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Time of Year

By Sarah Davey

Make the most of the January Sales We all love a bargain, and sales save us so much money, right? Yes...but you need to shop smart to take proper advantage of the discounts, and to avoid buying things you don’t need.

So here is our one-stop shopping guide to the January Sales.

Do your research - Many retailers market their sales beforehand and some even let you fill your shopping cart before sales officially open. This means you can think and plan, and make sure that your purchases are relevant to your needs.

Goodbye post-sales regrets!

Shop your wardrobe first - Take stock of what you already own. This is important when you’re sales shopping. It’s easy to get caught up in the frenzy of snapping up a great deal only to find that you already own three almost identical items to the bargain you just bought. If you go sales shopping armed with the knowledge that you DON’T need brown boots, or another leather jacket, you are more likely to make wise buying choices. Also, if you already know what you do own you can think about what each item you purchase will co-ordinate with, and just like that, you’re adding cool-headed calm to the salesshopping mix!

Don’t forget postage costs - If you’re shopping online, extra costs like postage, customs and shipping aren’t usually included in discounts.

Factor this in and keep checking your cart before you hit the ‘Pay’ button.

Force yourself to try things on - If it’s worth

queueing for the changing room, and you still love it when it’s on, it’s probably a good find! If you can’t be bothered to queue then put it back, you don’t love it that much.

Set a budget - If you don’t start with a limit you’re almost guaranteed to blow your budget. Because... new clothes! Also treat your budget as a limit not a target!

Beware of returns policies - Most retailers won’t let you return sale items just because you don’t like them once you get them home but...

Know your rights - If a sale item is faulty then your rights as a consumer are exactly the same as if the item was full price.

Plan your route - Planning will keep you focused and avoid you being lured into shops you’re better off avoiding.

Take a friend - Make sure they are the rational, honest type of friend who will tell you if something doesn’t suit you or doesn’t fit you. to keep you from blowing your budget on things you shouldn’t.

Wear clothes that are easy to get in and out of - you don’t want to have to spend half an hour in the changing room taking off boots with fiddly catches and tops with twenty buttons multiple times. ‘Nuff said!

Eat something first - Food is cheaper and healthier at home. Plus, it’s scientific fact that clothes shopping on an empty stomach causes us to make impulse buys to satisfy hunger cravings!

The human brain is quirky like that.

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With over 20,000 copies being delivered door to door every month can your business wait any longer to be in The Villager?

Advertising in The Villager and Town Life could not be easier, for further information or to book your advertising space please call Nigel on 01767 261122 or e-mail nigel@villagermag.com or visit our website www.villagermag.com

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Time of Year

Do you need a Social Detox?

By Louise Addison

January is the traditional time for a detox after the excesses of the festive period, so how about a social detox?

Do I need one? If there is someone in your life who drains your emotional energy, then that person is likely to be toxic and you are better off without them.

Fortunately, our seven-step plan will free you from social toxicity in 2019 Identify – Toxic people are manipulative and selfish.

They are impossible to work with. They rarely apologise for or own their mistakes. If you dread spending time with a person, they are probably toxic and it’s time to move on. If it’s a colleague or a boss start looking for another job.

Be determined - The person might be part of your social circle, or your immediate superior, or they might recognise that you are distancing yourself and try to claw back the friendship. You need to be clear in your own mind and create a mental separation, even if you can’t create a physical one right now.

Set boundaries – Don’t respond to texts, block their number if you can. If it’s a work colleague, only respond to work-related matters and keep the relationship strictly professional. Social media is trickier. Blocking or unfriending can make life awkward if you share mutual friends or work together. I would suggest you unfollow rather than unfriend, and don’t interact with them. The algorithms of most social media sites tend to flag up people you interact with regularly, so by not commenting or responding to them they will gradually disappear from your online world. Stick to your boundaries because toxic people exploit weakness.

Be less ‘nice’ - Not to everyone, just to toxic people.

Toxic people take advantage of kind people.

They thrive by draining your good energy. There is no need to be nasty, simply stop being overly accommodating.

Accept you can’t save them - Toxic people show up when they need something: attention, money; a shoulder to cry on. They want a way back into your life. Be determined and maintain your boundaries. If they are in real straits direct them to resources that specialise in the help they currently require. Solving their problem is not your responsibility.

Family matters - Toxic family members are particularly difficult to deal with as a clean break is often impossible. But you can still establish clear boundaries, even if they are in your head. Limit interactions, perhaps only phone a toxic parent once a month for 20 minutes, or restrict visits to three times per year, whatever works for you. The point is, take control, visualise your boundaries clearly then stick to them.

Treat it like a relationship break-up - Be kind to yourself. We are primed as humans to need relationships, but we don’t need unhealthy relationships. The more time you spend away from toxic people, with positive, loving people who bring joy to your life, the more uplifted you will feel. Make time for people who bring you happiness and let go of those who bring you anything less.

IMPORTANT - Please note that there is a difference between people who are truly toxic and people who have a negative outlook because they struggle with depression. Most of us can tell the difference between toxicity and depression. If your friend or family member suffers from clinical depression let them know that you love and support them. Don’t cut them out of your life.

To advertise in The Villager and Town Life please call 01767 261122

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delicious! be with

Slimming World

Monday

9:30am, 5:30 & 7:30pm - Eaton’s Community Centre, EATON SOCON Call Julie - 01480 210115

Tuesday

9:30am - The Priory Centre, ST NEOTS - Call Oly 07342 651243 5:30 & 7:30pm - Priory Junior School, Longsands Road, ST NEOTS Call Ursula - 01480 211568 5:30 & 7:30pm - Middlefield Academy, Andrew Road, EYNESBURY Call Oly 07342 651243

Wednesday 9:30am - Bowling Club, St Anselm Place, ST NEOTS - Call Oly 07342 651243 5:30 & 7:30pm - The Priory Centre, ST NEOTS - Call Oly 07342 651243

Thursday

5:30 & 7:30pm - Buckden C of E Primary School, BUCKDEN Call Helen - 07720 773782 5:30 & 7:30pm - The Hub, LITTLE PAXTON - Call Pam - 07859 793779 7:30pm - Village Hall, Fishers Close, GREAT BARFORD Call Jennie 07754 210479

Saturday

8:30 & 10:30am - Conservative Club, New Street, ST NEOTS Call Jennie 07754 210479

slimmingworld.co.uk 0344 897 8000 26

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House of Colour

A cold and gloomy January is the perfect time to gain style kudos by balancing warmth and comfort with sumptuous fabrics to create an altogether chic look.

Even wearing the right winter wrap can mean you ooze layered style, especially if it is in one of your wow colours; whilst wearing the right or wrong type of boots for your body shape could make or break your outfit. Here’s how to up your style game in the colder months of 2019.

1. The new year is often a time for self-reinvention. Do you know what you like and like what you know?

Why not dare to try something a little different?

Quite often we rule out wearing a different colour or style because we find its easy and safe to wear the same type of things. Find your fashion groove by mixing different neutrals and wow colours from your colour palette or choose an on-trend pattern you haven’t tried before.

2. Now is the time to declutter. Evaluate whether you love each item of clothing in your wardrobe or whether its just ok. You don’t need a jam-packed wardrobe to look good, but you should love everything in it. Keep your loved clothes and give away anything that doesn’t suit you, giving you space to start afresh and organise your style. It also makes getting dressed in the morning a lot easier.

Cleared wardrobe, clear mind.

3. On the back of the growing drive towards more ecological dressing, this new year choose carefully from shops you know support your ethics and only buy the items you love and will be able to wear again and again. Think carefully but don’t be afraid to spend if it is an investment and a much-needed piece. Quality speaks!

4. The new year is often a time for us to focus on giving our health a boost. Have you considered that what you wear when you exercise can really affect how you feel about taking part? If you look and feel good in your leggings, swimsuit or running shorts, then you are more likely to drag yourself out of bed to the gym. Invest in some quality sports gear to give yourself the oomph you might need to get out of bed.

5. Try some new accessories. We all have our daily favourites but try wearing a necklace or earrings

Upping Your Style Game in 2019

that makes a statement that’s all about you. You will be amazed how many compliments you get when you wear jewellery that’s perfect for your style personality and colour palette.

6. Don’t turn yourself into a walking rainbow but try mixing up to three colours in your colour palette including the neutrals that suit your season.

Everyone gets a form of white in their season, Autumn colour palettes suit rich, warm earthy colours such as oyster, whilst Springs suit a warm beige or cream. Winters look gorgeous in a cool bright white and stone. Summers suit cool, subtle neutrals such as soft white and pink beige. Add a pop of colour to your neutrals with a vibrant bag, hat/ scarf and gloves set, or a pair of red boots as seen in all the shops this winter.

7. Love your body and shape. Cinch in your waist or elongate your mid-section, draw attention to your best parts and wear the right length hemline, trouser length and sleeves. Style is the detail.

8. If you are planning to hit the sales just make sure that you choose items not because they are a great bargain but because they are perfect for you. A great rule of thumb is never to buy something you wouldn’t be happy to pay full price for. It is all about quality over quantity.

9. Winter is an amazing time to wear gorgeous prints whether it’s this season’s hot checks, gorgeous floral or animal prints. Winter is also a great time to try different materials that suit your body type whether that be leather, tweed, velvet or silk just to name a few. Try pairing a chunky knit sweater with a leather skirt for a smart casual look if you love a bit of drama. Alternatively, a neutral colour wool dress worn under a tweed jacket will create a sophisticated yet chic vibe for anyone who loves a classic look.

10. Not everyone suits high necks but if they look good on you then pair a high neck with long boots to create an elongated silhouette or opt for a high neck worn underneath a circle neck jumper or tunic dress for a layered and more casual look.

To advertise in The Villager and Town Life please call 01767 261122

By Helen Venables, MD at House of Colour www.houseofcolour.co.uk

27

Complementary Health

Is Standing Better

for your Health?

A study by the University of Chester, has proven that standing for longer each day could have real benefits for your health. In fact, standing for an extra few hours a day can help reduce your risk of heart disease, diabetes and obesity. The study showed that standing increases your metabolic rate, the production of insulin, and promotes the production of the enzyme that breaks down blood fats to fuel your muscles.

You may think that standing for 3 or 4 extra hours a day would lead to lower back problems, sore feet and tiredness, but in a study at an estate agents, they found workers who stood at desks designed to be used when standing, found none of these expected symptoms to be a problem.

The study compared blood glucose levels from a day of standing with a day of sitting and found the levels returned to normal more quickly after eating when standing.

We often work with people who say they suffer from long hours of standing during their working day. However, this isn't due to the act of standing, it's because of poor standing postural habits.

‘The slump’ - can cause upper back, shoulder

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or neck pain because the weight of the head (approx 8-9 lbs) is pulling the neck forward.

The 'stand up straight' posture - requires too much effort especially in the lower back and not many people can hold this for long before collapsing back into the slump position.

Whereas a ‘poised stance’ - needs much less effort than the above, because the head sits nicely positioned on the top of the spine and helps to balance the body with minimal muscular effort. And because most of the work is done by your postural muscles, they rely more on oxygen for energy, this means you can do this for hours without experiencing the usual aches and pains many suffer when sitting or standing badly.

So why not try standing for part of your day if you have a sedate job. Standing when making phone calls is an easy one to start with and could easily add up to one hour in a single day!

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

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

Counselling Service Depressed? Anxious?

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

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Burwash Manor, New Road, Barton, Cambridge, CB23 7EY e. info@burwashdragonfly.com • www.burwashdragonfly.com Beauty SpaVillager Advert AUGUST14 131x94mm.indd 1 01767 261122 To Dragonfly advertise in The and Town Life please call

29 07/02/2017 15:54

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Health & Beauty

The Best of the Best

By Kate Duggan www.kateduggan.co.uk

The best thing about being a beauty writer is that I get to try a lot of products for free. Over the years I’ve tried hundreds of them, from high-tech gadgets to budget buys. I’m a sucker for shiny new things, so a product has to be very, very good for me to buy a replacement once it runs out. Without further ado, here’s my ‘best-of-the-best’ – the goodies I come back to time and time again.

A lot of beauty writers seem to spend hours on their daily skincare routines. I am not one of those people. I’m lucky to have five minutes to myself of a morning, so I really love a multitasker. Frances Prescott’s Tri-Balm is a cleanser, exfoliator and moisturiser in one. I have to admit, I do still use an extra moisturiser most days, but if I don’t have time then at least I know my skin will still feel soft and nourished. Now £46 seems pretty steep for a cleanser I know, but I use mine pretty much every day and it lasts for months. See www. francesprescott. com I love lighting a candle when I’m in the bath and Janjira’s Grapefruit and Tangerine Massage Candle is one of my favourites. And this is no ordinary candle – it slowly melts to give you a small pool of natural oils to massage into your skin. Heaven. The scent is subtle but gorgeous. £32, from www.janjira.co.uk.

If, like me, you sometimes struggle to get to sleep, try Neal’s Yard Remedies Goodnight Pillow Mist. I spray it liberally onto my pillow and it really does seem to help. It’s a blend of organic essential oils known for their ability to calm the senses and promote rest – such as lavender, vetiver and mandarin. The result is a gentle, comforting scent. It’s £15 from www.nealsyardremedies.com.

I find a lot of lipsticks too drying and dislike the stickiness of lip gloss. Bobbi Brown’s Extra Lip Tint is my go-to alternative.

It’s like a moisturising lip balm but flushes your lips for a hint of colour and adds shine.

The effect lasts about as long as a lip gloss. I’m currently on my second Bare Pink and am planning to treat myself to the Bare Melon and Bare Popsicle shades soon. £25.50, from www.bobbibrown. co.uk.

While I like to have a few perfumes on the shelf, I tend to have a favourite for a few years at a time, while the rest sit gathering dust. My current favourite is Connock London’s Kukui. There’s a dash of fresh flowers, including gardenia rose and white jasmine, warmed by sandalwood, vetiver and white amber. Cashmere and vanilla add the comfort factor. The result is a grown-up fragrance that’s sensual, subtle and (in my opinion) totally addictive. It’s priced from £35 at www. connocklondon.co.uk, but do Google for offers.

At the time of writing I have my eye on a giftset that includes three 30ml Connock London fragrances for £42.49 (RRP £84.99) at www.psyche.co.uk.

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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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Back Health

Back Pain and Pilates

So many of us are plagued by sore, stiff muscles and back pain. There are a number of lifestyle factors that influence why this is, including; too much sitting; sedentary jobs; being overweight/underweight.

Many lifestyle related back pain stems from bad posture and not using deep postural muscles. We have two types of muscles; those that keep us upright (postural muscles, usually deep within the body) and those that help us move (movement muscles, usually nearer the surface that ‘lever’ our bones). Our clever bodies give our postural muscles the characteristics they need to not tire quickly so they can support our skeleton all day. But with our modern lifestyles these postural muscles are often underused and weak.

In that case, our movement muscles take over. These muscles are not designed for use all day. They get tired, sore and strained. Brilliant for graceful movement, walking, running, playing sports, gardening they’re not designed for standing in good posture for long periods.

We end up with an imbalance where our postural muscles are weak and our movement muscles are overused and tight. This causes pain in our backs, shoulders, hips and creates tight hamstrings, lower backs and necks which makes the pain worse!

So what to do about it? My personal go to is Pilates. Pilates is a set of exercises performed on a mat that improves the strength of postural muscles, mobilises the joints and teaches the body to operate in better alignment. For me it is the ideal form of exercise to support gentle development of inner strength. There are lots of adaptations to make Pilates safe and achievable for most of us and I’ve worked with lots of people who have found it very beneficial to successfully address their back pain.

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Finance

By Ann Haldon

Spot the Pension Scammers

Since new regulations were introduced in 2015 allowing greater pension freedoms, criminals have been targeting retirees, and those approaching retirement, in an attempt to fraudulently exploit the system.

Figures published by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) show that victims of pension scams lost £91,000 each on average in 2017, with more than 30% of pension holders aged 45-65 being unaware of how to check that they’re dealing with a legitimate pension adviser.¹ So how do you know if you’re being targeted by pension scammers?

Unexpected contact Unsolicited contact by someone offering advice on your pension is likely to be a scam. They may claim to be backed by the government, but no legitimate pension-related organisation or adviser would cold-call you. This type of contact could also be made by email, text, post or in person.

Free pension review A common tactic used by scammers, and one that gives them access to a considerable amount of personal and financial information, is offering a free pension review. If you’re under 55 they may try to persuade you to take your pension early; otherwise

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it could be with a view to transferring your pension into a fraudulent or unregulated scheme.

Releasing pension monies early If you’re under the age of 55, pension scammers may tell you it’s possible to access your pension early. This isn’t the case unless you meet certain, very limited, criteria regarding your health.

Withdrawing your pension below the age of 55 will trigger a tax liability of 55% of the amount withdrawn. You may also lose your pension entirely if the proposed new scheme/investment plan is fraudulent or unregulated, and still face this tax charge.

Higher/guaranteed returns One of the fundamental aspects of investing is that there are no firm guarantees. Scammers may tell you guaranteed returns at a certain percentage are available, or perhaps that you’ll receive higher returns from the investment product they’re offering, but this is not the case. They may also say their investment strategy is low risk, but a low-risk strategy is not associated with high returns.

Time-limited offers Scammers sometimes pressurise their victims into signing quickly, saying it’s a time-limited offer.

They may even arrange for a courier to deliver their documents and then wait until you sign them. This gives you little time to go through the documents properly, and to carefully consider what you’re doing.

Tax loopholes Pension fraudsters might say they know of tax loopholes, or ways in which you could make extra savings on tax. There are no tax loopholes with legitimate pension arrangements.

Withholding contact details If they don’t want you to call them back, have limited contact information available, only a mobile phone number or a PO Box address, for example, you should cease communications with them straight away.

Hopefully, being aware of the common tactics used by pension scammers, and when they’re likely to be used, will offer some protection, and help you avoid becoming one of the unfortunate and startling statistics. ¹www.fca.org.uk/news/press-releases/regulatorswarn-public-pension-scammer-tactics-victimsreport-losing-average-91000-2017

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37

VIRTUAL PA / GIRL FRIDAY

DO YOU EVER WISH YOU HAD AN EXTRA PAIR OF HANDS? NO MONEY OR TIME TO EMPLOY THAT EXTRA PERSON! WHY NOT CALL ME!!

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PART TIME GROUNDSPERSON REQUIRED Little Paxton Parish Council is seeking an additional Groundsperson to help maintain QEII Playing Field, Childrens Play Parks, Allotments, Little Paxton Lawn Cemetery, St. James Churchyard, grass verges and general maintenance.

Chainsaw qualifications would be an advantage although not essential. Training will be provided.

You will need to be able to use your own initiative and a have a flexible approach.

Candidates must have a full driving licence and PA1 & PA6 spraying licence.

12 month Fixed contract Hours of work: 20 hours per month to include attendance at Paxfest on 13th July 2019 Occasional weekend work will be required to assist with events.

Salary: Based on National Joint Council for Local Government Services SCP12 (£8.90)- SCP15 (£9.32) depending on qualifications and experience.

Please contact the Parish Clerk for an application form.

Tel: 01480 470193 or email: clerk@littlepaxtonparishcouncil.gov.uk Application forms, job description & specification are also available on www.littlepaxtonparishcouncil.gov.uk Closing date Friday 25th January 2019 5pm

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Leeds Day Solicitors

Separation and Divorce is hard for everyone, especially at Christmas There is often a sharp increase in new divorces in January. The stress of Christmas often brings to a head issues previously brewing. Splitting up can be done inexpensively, but if you rush and make bad decisions, the costs can be high, financially and emotionally.

When seeking advice on ending your marriage and reaching agreement with your spouse over future arrangements, there are alternatives to traditional “lawyer to lawyer” negotiation and/or formal court proceedings: Mediation: Trained in conflict resolution and family law, a mediator facilitates discussions between you and your spouse and can inform you about potential financial and childcare arrangements, helping to reopen the discussion if things break down. This reduces your legal costs because you and your spouse shoulder the burden of gathering/sharing information yourselves, and while your mediator's hourly rate may not be any cheaper than those of your solicitor, you'll spend far less time together with the mediator.

Collaborative law: You and your spouse instruct solicitors and conduct discussions round the table with a commitment to resolving your differences without resorting to court proceedings. There will be the short term cost of instructing solicitors to help you reach agreement together, but if agreement is reached, you avoid the long term cost of drawn out litigation. Most of all, you keep control of the process, something that is lost the moment a court is asked to determine your future.

How to reduce the cost? - Avoid these mistakes Unrealistic expectations. One household is about to be split into two. Unless you're a rock star, expect money to be a little tight.

Getting into an endless battle. Turning the negotiations into a battleground will drain your emotions and your finances. Pick your battles wisely.

Getting hung up on the numbers. A fair split is not necessarily an even split. Two households will be needed. Priority will be given to housing any children.

Not listening to professional advice. If you are paying for legal advice, listen to it. The mediator, solicitor or collaborative practitioner will know more than your friends or family!

What can Leeds Day offer?

Headed by Simon Thomas, a trained collaborative solicitor based at the firm’s St Neots with over 16 years’ experience, we offer a comprehensive range of family law services.

Lisa Leader is based at the St Ives branch, offering clients some twenty years’ experience in family law, and her reputation as an experienced practitioner precedes her.

Lee Bailham completes the team, undertaking family law work at the Huntingdon office having also some twenty years’ experience. Like all our family solicitors, he believes a calm approach to matrimonial disputes is the best option and that the best lawyers keep their clients out of the stress and expense of court proceedings, compromise being the ideal solution.

To find out more or to book an appointment, contact Leeds Day on 0844 5672222, send an email to family@leedsday.co.uk or visit our website: www.leedsday.co.uk/family.

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

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

To advertise in The Villager and Town Life please call 01767 261122

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

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JANUAR

Up to 35

selected and bat

Sale runs from 28t to 31st Jan

Stylish bath kitchens to current needs

With a spacious w in the heart P & R Interiors is a lo that provides inspirat and cost-effec for both kitchens There are 54 stu in our beautif which are cons So, you can come i you are buying and e with workin We can supply and Open to the pu

Christmas Opening Hours: 28th and 29th December from

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P&R Interiors Jan 19.indd 1

Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts

RY SALE

5% off

kitchens throoms

th December 2018 nuary 2019

hrooms and o suit your s and budget

working showroom t of Bedford, ocal family-run firm tional modern design ctive solutions s and bathrooms. unning displays ful showroom stantly updated. in, see exactly what experience first-hand ng displays. d fit or supply only. ublic and trade.

m 10am to 4pm. Normal trading resumes on 2nd January P & R Interiors, 9 Lurke Street, Bedford MK40 3HZ Tel: 01234 352414 Email: sales@pandrinteriors.store Web: www.pandrinteriors.co.uk Monday to Friday 9.00am to 5.00pm Saturdays 10.00am to 4.00pm To advertise in The Villager and Town Life please call 01767 261122

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07/12/2018 09:34:5

Garden View

By Rachael Leverton

Great Gardening Books

If you didn’t get what you wanted for Christmas now is the perfect time to curl up in front of the fire with a gardening book you’ve brought for yourself. We have a few to recommend.

RHS Great British Village Show by Matthew Biggs and Thane Prince - The village show is a quintessential British tradition, and for many gardeners it represents the pinnacle of their sowing and growing year. This charming and informative book takes you behind the scenes of this very British institution, offering insights into the worlds of judges and contestants. It’s beautifully illustrated with photographs, and offers wonderful gems of insider information, including how to stage your produce, and what the judges are really looking for. There are even recipes for prize-worthy jams and preserves. If you’ve never attended a village show this book will make you yearn for a summer of tents and teas; you might even be tempted to become a competitor.

One Magic Square by Lolo Hubein – Following on from the previous book, have you ever wanted to have a go at growing your own vegetables and fruit but feel completely clueless? We’re always hearing that the best and cheapest food is the food you grow in your own garden, but it all seems rather complicated to a total novice. In One Magic Square, Lolo Hubein shows how you can start your own productive food garden in ten minutes a day on a single square metre. She provides simple plot designs starting with salads, and gradually expanding to include beans, tomatoes, corn, roots and much more. She also stresses the benefits of companion planting and provides ideas. The bite-sized designs (pun totally intended!) allow you to extend by one square metre each season, or to pick your favourites. The magic of square-metre gardening is in allowing your project to grow in a manageable way, from simple to more complex. There are even designs catering for different tastes and specific diets.

RSPB Gardening for Wildlife by Adrian Thomas - If you long to have butterflies and bees in your flowerbeds, birds singing in your trees, and hedgehogs bustling about under your bushes then look no further than this wonderful guide to wildlife gardening Adrian Thomas explains the intricacies of attracting wildlife to your garden whether you have a small plot or more than an acre. His style is accessible, but rich in detail. He draws on the latest wildlife research to explain the ecological principles, and to dispel some of the myths which have traditionally prevented gardeners from pursuing a wildlife-friendly approach. There are practical projects to help you create entire habitats, and long lists of suitable plants and trees, and it’s packed to brim with helpful photographs. If you love wildlife and want to encourage more to visit your garden, this inspirational book will help you sow the seeds and reap the rewards.

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ALL SEASONS GArdEN & PrOPErty MAiNtENANcE

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0800 046 1080 UP TO 40% OFF IN JANUARY hello@thehomeimprovementproject.co.uk www.thehomeimprovementproject.co.uk To advertise in The Villager and Town Life please call 01767 261122

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Garden

Winter Colour

By Pippa Greenwood www.pippagreenwood.com

Happy New Year to you! Despite the winter weather, with planning and strategic planting your garden can still look gorgeous, with colourful plants to add interest to your plot.

Dogwoods or Cornus are great winter stem-colour plants. Planted in a moist sunny spot, the crimsonred stems are stunning during winter, plus in autumn you’ll get red and purple foliage. To keep these colourful stems coming, cut them back to ground level in late spring every alternate year.

Winter classic good looks come from hollies, either green-leaved or in variegated form, such as ‘Argentea Marginata’ with silvery leaf edges, ‘Golden Queen’ with golden-yellow leaf edges, or ‘Ferrox Argentea’ with silver-edged leaves covered with prickles!

Some willows can be kept quite small, and have stunning coloured winter stems. For egg-yolk yellow stems go for Salix alba ‘Vitellina’, for scarletorange stems there is ‘Britzensis’, or Salix acutifolia ‘Blue Streak’ has purple stems with a slivery-grey bloom and grey buds. These stems also need to be cut back to ground level every two years.

The ghost bramble, Rubus cockburnianus, a relative of the standard bramble, has arching white stems that look great in winter sunshine. In summer it produces sprays of small purple flowers.

Christmas Roses or hellebores, including Helleborus argutiflorus, have cup-shaped green flowers with prominent stamens, are tough and perform well. The classic Christmas rose proper is white-flowered (developing a pink tinge as they age), and look stunning against the central cluster of golden-yellow stamens. The variety ‘Potters

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Wheel’ has flowers up to 10cm in diameter.

Snowdrops in single and double forms look great planted in drifts or naturalised on a grassy bank.

Buy ready-to-flower snowdrops in pots now, plant them out, and then plant them ‘in the green’ in a month or two’s time, when you can get the bulbs, complete with leaves, ready for planting by mail order.

Winter aconites have bright yellow, shiny petals and flowers like golden stars, and produce a superb display when planted close to and amongst snowdrops. Plenty of moisture without waterlogging is key.

Winter flowering pansies make a splash of colour in any garden, with just about every conceivable colour available. Even when struck by frost, the flowers soon perk up again.

Clematis cirrhosa is a winter-flowering climber with yellow to white bell-shaped flowers and a delicate lemony perfume. The inner surface of the petals is delicately freckled, with variety ‘Freckles’ having the best dark spotting. The flowers last from early winter until the start of spring.

Winter-flowering jasmine can be loosely trained against a wall for a great winter display of bright yellow starry flowers, and will remind you that spring is coming!

At www.pippagreenwood.com you can join ‘Grow Your Own with Pippa Greenwood’ for great vegetable plants and weekly advice, practical and pretty plant supports, the fantastic SpeedHoe, gardening tools, signed books and more! Or why not book Pippa for a talk at your gardening club?

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Pets

Rehoming Appeal Cookie & Crumble

Cookie and Crumble are two indoor Abyssinian female Guinea Pigs. They are just over a year old and came from a home where they had not been handled and it has taken time to get them used to being picked up and stroked.

They are improving and looking for an experienced home to bring them on.

They love being fed treats, pieces of carrot etc and do not bite, they just need someone who can be patient with them.

If you could offer Cookie and Crumble a home, please call Hazel on 01234 357788.

Any potential home will be vetted by one of our volunteers.

Alternatively, please e-mail Philippa at info.rats@gmail.com who will be pleased to forward your enquiry on to the team View other small mammals, dogs and cats currently in our care for re-homing on our website: www.rats-animalrescue.co.uk or facebook: www.facebook.com/ratscharity You can also see photographs and details of the animals in our care in our charity shop in Hitchin Street, Biggleswade SG18 8AX. Open Monday to Saturday from 10.00 am until 4.00 pm.

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Pets

Animal Stories Our small RSPCA Branch covers a large area including the whole of North Bedfordshire, taking care of cats, kittens and small animals in need before finding them happy, forever homes. A large majority of these animals come into our care via National RSPCA Inspectors, sadly not all coming from very nice situations. However this isn’t always the case. Once in a while due to various reasons and circumstances a truly beloved pet can simply no longer be kept. It can be a heartbreaking decision, but one made in the best interest of the animals.

In this instance it was these two, Tarquin and Millie-Mollie. The pair had lived together with a lovely lady since they were kittens. Unfortunately their owner was moving into sheltered housing where she was unable to take them with her. She made the devastating decision to sign the cats into our care, to find them new homes.

Tarquin, 6 years old and Millie-Mollie, 8 years were much loved, well fed and truly pampered pets.

Although their previous owner has said they didn’t particularly get on, more tolerating each other’s company than actual companions but since coming arriving at our cattery they seem to be glad to have each other close by. We would love them to go to a new home together, somewhere quiet with plenty of company during the day.

Handsome boy Tarquin has a beautifully marked

ginger coat. His little bent over ear adds to his charm and good looks and suits his cheeky chappy personality. Millie-Mollie is your typically pretty girl next door tuxedo cat who is definitely the more timid of the two. She is very sweet, but also very shy. They both like their food and come running when ‘dinner time’ is announced.

Although a sad start to the story, we are hoping to give this lovely duo a happy ending, where they can become someone else’s pride and joy. If you would like to give Millie-Mollie and Tarquin a loving home, or would like to find out more about them, please do not hesitate to contact us by telephone on 01234 266965 or via email at adopt@rspcabedsnorth.org.uk.

We have lots of older cats in our care needing homes which are sadly notoriously more difficult to rehomed compared to kittens, but are not without their benefits! Older cats already have their personalities developed, so you can find the perfect fit for your family. They are also usually well trained, easy to fit into routines and are more content, happy to relax in your company rather than getting into mischief. If you would like to find out about the other cats in our care needing homes, please feel free to contact us or visit our website www.rspca.org.uk/local/bedfordshirenorth-branch

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Motoring

By James Baggott

How to get the best deal on your car insurance

Pay annually – if you can afford to The total annual insurance price when paying monthly is often higher than paying one lump sum, so you’ll save in the long run if you can afford to do this – but don’t take out bank loans or use a credit card, as this will cost more than a monthly direct debit.

Take a Pass Plus course Pass Plus courses are great for any motorist – new or old – and insurers recognise the course benefits and offer discounts for those who have taken them. You’re a safer and more experienced driver in their eyes, thus less of a risk.

Don’t be afraid to shop around As convenient as it may be to pick the cheapest insurance deal from a price comparison site, it won’t save much money.

Use that as a starting point, and then pick up the phone. Tell one insurer of another’s prices and see if they’ll offer a better deal – and if they do, go back to the first and let them know. You could knock hundreds of pounds off your premium with a few calls.

Nobody likes to pay more than they have to with car insurance. We take a look at how you can save money on your premiums.

Increase your excess Keeping your excess low to minimise the upfront cost can result in much higher premiums, so experiment with different excesses when shopping around. Your policy price could tumble by simply adding £50 more to your excess, but make sure you can afford to pay it in the event of a claim.

Consider your annual mileage The more miles you tell your insurer you’re doing, the more of a risk you are, hence the price is higher. So if you’re covering a few thousand miles less each year than your insurance allows, cut them out of your policy.

Keep the number of named drivers down Adding multiple users to a policy will increase costs, so drop anyone who uses the car very infrequently and use a temporary cover service when needed instead.

Add an alarm system Although most new cars have excellent security equipment, some older models lack decent anti-theft protection.

Investing in an aftermarket alarm system with an immobiliser will result in long-term savings by way of cheaper insurance premiums – especially if you fit a Thatchamapproved system.

Opt for a black box policy For younger drivers in particular, a black box policy can drastically reduce insurance costs. Insurers fit a data recorder to your car and monitor your driving habits, mileage covered and where you’ve been. As they can track exactly how you’re driving, your initial cost is reduced and good road habits can lead to renewal discounts.

Are the extras necessary?

Options like breakdown and courtesy car cover sound worthwhile, but can often be found cheaper elsewhere, while extras like cover while driving abroad may be unnecessary.

Garage your car Securely parking your car in a garage makes it less likely to be stolen and it won’t get damaged while parked, meaning cheaper premiums. The same applies if you can park in a secure area at work.

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Three Counties Radio

Chocolate Custard, Chocolate Crumble, Salted Caramel Sauce Having made this dish myself, you have my word that it’s wonderful. It should come with a health warning though, as the dusty chocolate crumble is utterly addictive. I found myself eating it off the spoon, and that was before I’d made the set custard! This dish is the creation of chef Steve Barringer, a former Masterchef The Professionals runner up. He’s just taken the leap and opened his own relaxed fine dining restaurant, Eileen’s, in the beautiful market town of Ampthill. This dessert enables you to serve food at home which looks like fine dining, but with a method which is very much open to all levels of cooking confidence.

Set custard 375ml double cream 60ml egg yolk 113g sugar 190g milk chocolate 1.5 leaves gelatine (soaked in water) Caramel Sauce 200g sugar 200ml double cream Chocolate crumble 100g sugar 125g ground almonds 75g plain flour 50g cocoa powder 3g salt 65g melted butter Whole hazelnuts, coarsely chopped to serve Chocolate Custard Whisk the egg yolk and sugar, bring the cream to the boil. Pour this on to the egg and sugar mix, place it all back into the pan and cook on a low heat until the mixture coats the back of a spoon.

Whisk in the soaked gelatine.

Pop the chocolate into a bowl, pour the mixture on to the chocolate and mix until the chocolate has melted.

Place into container and leave to set for around 2 hours, or until set. You can also just pour it into individual ramekins.

Caramel sauce Place the sugar into cold plan and put on the heat.

Cook it until it has reached a light caramel stage, add the cream and then whisk until the sugar has disappeared. Add salt and place into container to cool.

Chocolate crumble Mix all the dry ingredients in a bowl, melt the butter, add it to the dry ingredients, stir with a wooden spoon and then place it on a tray.

Bake at 180C/ Gas Mark 4 for around 10 minutes, stirring a few times. It’ll come out dusty and powdery.

Pipe the custard into your serving bowls, top with the caramel and finish with the crumble and hazelnuts.

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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We clean your oven‌. ....so you don’t have to.

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Rob Radford contact details Tel: 01767 640594 Mobile: 07960 467805 www.ovenwizards.com

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Sharing time and talents

I would like to welcome you all to ‘Arthur’s shed’ it is a studio room located in the landscaped gardens at the hospice; which provides an alternative space for all to enjoy. Our vision is for the wider community and people connected to the hospice to come together in a safe, warm and friendly venue.

Volunteers offer their time and talents to deliver a programme of wide-ranging activities from woodwork to card making, to less structured informal sessions where attendees can learn from bespoke sessions on basic budgeting skills, cookery for pleasure, or 1-1 sessions to understand how to e-mail, or shop on-line.

Feedback from shed users "Informal/relaxed environment. Good guidance and able to do your own thing."

"I’m not crafty at all and enjoyed my first experience with clay."

We have a dedicated webpage and to view the activities list you can book on to, visit arhc.org.uk/arthurs-shed or call 01223 675777.

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Special Report

By Solange Hando

Encyclopaedia Britannica Turns 250

The Encyclopaedia Britannica, which turns 250 this month, is the oldest and longest continuallypublished English-language general print encyclopaedia. It was first published by Colin Macfarquhar, a bookseller and printer, and Andrew Bell, an engraver, both from Edinburgh. The title page of the first edition, published in parts between 1768 and 1771, read: ‘Encyclopaedia Britannica; OR, A DICTIONARY OF ARTS and SCIENCES, COMPILED UPON A NEW PLAN.’ This ‘new plan’ meant Britannica offered something different to its contemporaries. Long ‘treatises’ and shorter articles on the arts and sciences, all alphabetically ordered and cross-referenced, meant it served serious students and those just wanting quick reference material. Letters indicate that William Smellie, writer of the fresh content in Britannica and later superintendent of the Edinburgh Museum of Natural History, devised this ‘new plan’.

The second edition was the first to contain biographies and the third was the first to carry articles from outside contributors. This 1797 edition is famous for its fawning dedication to King George III and its controversial article on ‘motion’, which rejected Isaac Newton’s theory of gravity and suggested it was caused by the classical element of fire instead! It also spawned a pirate American version.

The fourth, fifth and six editions featured articles by the foremost scholars of the day. Sir Walter Scott wrote on chivalry and Thomas Young’s groundbreaking efforts to decode the Rosetta Stone were included. An index appeared in the seventh edition and the eighth carried the first American

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contributions and articles on new subjects, including photography, communism and the telegraph.

The ‘scholar’s edition’ (the ninth), published in 1875– 89, was the first to appear officially in the US, where it sold more than in Britain. It reflected the scientific discoveries and new critical methods transforming the world. T.H. Huxley wrote on evolution and Peter Kropotkin on anarchism. Years later, a young Neil Gaiman leafed through this edition and picked his favourite article: lycanthropy. “Yes, I had a favourite 1890s Britannica article when I was ten. I am now aware this is not entirely usual,” he says.

A separate atlas accompanied the tenth edition and the eleventh had a dual dedication to King George V and William Taft, US President, reflecting Britannica’s new ownership by Americans. In the twelfth edition, Marie Curie wrote on radium, Albert Einstein on space-time, Sigmund Freud on psychoanalysis and Harry Houdini on conjuring.

The editors of the thirteenth edition, hoping but struggling to cover WWI objectively, instead gave space in the end to contributors from all sides. The fourteenth edition included John F Kennedy and Alfred Hitchcock among its famous contributors and the fifteenth saw a radical restructuring of content into the Micropaedia: Ready Reference and Index; the Macropaedia: Knowledge in Depth; and the Propaedia: Outline of Knowledge.

However, even mighty Britannica couldn’t resist the internet age. Although 1990 was its best year, with 120,000 printed sets sold, just six years later sales were down to 40,000. In 2012, the company announced there would be no more print editions, redirecting their readers inevitably to Britannica online – and signalling the end of an era.

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FREE BIKE SAFETY CHECK* Tuesday to Saturday 10am-4pm 33 High Street Behind the Royal Oak Roxton MK44 3EA 01234 870200 www.spokenwheel.co.uk *The Legal Stuff Present this flyer at our workshop and receive a free bicycle safety check. Parts are not included. Services and repairs are at an additional cost. Subject to availability. One safety check per bicycle. Not to be used in conjunction with any other offers. Copies will not be accepted. This voucher has no cash value. Valid until 30/03/2019

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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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• Wood Burning Stoves • Multi Fuel Stoves • Chimney Lining • Twin Wall Flue Systems • Installation and Supply • Fireplace Renovations • Stove Accessories • Trade sales welcome

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Quirky Britain

By Kate McLelland

Grab your knitting and take to the streets Fluffy and lovable, ‘yarn bombing’ could be described as graffiti in sheep’s clothing. It combines the ‘matronly’ crafts of knitting and crochet with the maternal gesture of wrapping something cold in a warm blanket, with the objective of transforming the concrete and steel objects usually found in an urban streetscape. Lamp-posts, parking meters, bicycles, cars — even objects as large as buses and bridges — have all been ‘bombed’ in recent years.

Yarn bombing (aka guerilla knitting or guerilla crochet) has become a way for artists to reclaim and personalise public spaces that might otherwise be considered unwelcoming. The trend began in 2005 in Houston, Texas, when textile artist Magda Sayeg decided to cover the door handle of her shop with a knitted wrapping.

Magda admits that at the time she had no idea of where her actions might lead: “All I wanted to see was something warm, fuzzy and humanlike on the cold, steel grey facade I looked at every day.”

British artist Lauren O’Farrell learned to knit while recovering

from cancer treatment in her twenties, and subsequently formed a knitting club with her friend. As her skills developed she decided to direct her energies towards becoming – in her words – a “squishy Banksy”.

Lauren isn’t afraid of making big statements with her work. One of her early projects involved covering a phone box (displayed in Parliament Square as part of the BT ‘Art Box’ charity project) with a giant ‘cosy’. She didn’t seek permission to cover the box and admits she didn’t worry until the police asked her what she was doing. “We told them it was a craft project and we wanted to take a photo, and they let us,” Lauren explained to theartsdesk.com.

“The fact that they did opened the floodgates. I thought, I could now do this anywhere.”

These days people of all ages are inspired to take to the streets with knitting needles and crochet hooks. A few years ago 104-yearold grandmother Grace Brett came to public attention as possibly the oldest street artist in the world.

As part of a band of ‘yarnstormers’

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known as the Souter Stormers, she helped to decorate various landmarks in Selkirk, Scotland, during the YES Arts Festival, where yarn-bombed items included public benches, phone boxes and trees. Grace, who became a focus for media attention during the festival, told interviewers she thought the town looked lovely, adding: “I’m not bragging, but I’m quite pleased with what I’ve done.”

Yarn bombing has now become an integral part of many community events and festivals across Britain and its gentle, non-confrontational approach has also led to an association with a number of projects linked to mental health. In Cornwall “We are enough: the creative yarn bomb of love” is a project created to raise awareness of people who suffer with social anxiety. This year-long community arts initiative will conclude in May 2019 during Mental Health Awareness Week and the project reflects the views of many communities who see yarn bombing as the perfect way to convey a message of hope, positivity and kindness.

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n O s ’ t Wha In January

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

What’s on entries to whatson@villagermag.com

2 January Holiday Bushcraft 8.30am-4pm Wandlebury Country Park, Cambridge, CB22 3AE Designed for children ages 5-12 and 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: www.wildthymeandembers.co.uk 2 January 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 or 07515 881209 2 January Black Cat WI 7.30pm Wyboston Village Hall The group meets on the first Wednesday of each month. Tel: Susie Woodman 01234 376098 2, 9, 16, 23 & 30 January Kimbolton Bridge Club 9.30am-12 noon Mandeville Hall, Kimbolton Meets every Wednesday morning to play friendly, social bridge. No partner needed. Just come along or call Vanessa. Tel: Vanessa 01480 453929 3, 10, 17, 24 & 31 January 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.

4 January St Neots Local History Society 7.30pm Eynesbury Junior School St Neots & District in Old Photos Part 2 by Rodney Todman. Web: http://stneotslhs.org.uk

5 January Cambridgeshire and Bedfordshire Hardy Plant Society 2pm Weatherley Centre, Eagle Farm Road, Biggleswade Simon White talks about the Highlights of Chelsea and Hampton Court. Simon has been Sales/Garden Centre Manager at Peter Beales Roses for over 36 years. Web: www.hpscambsandbeds.co.uk 5, 12, 19 & 26 January 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

6, 13, 20 & 27 January Kingfisher Church 10.30am Kingfisher Church, Little Paxton Primary School Every Sunday. All welcome. Services include children’s groups and a crèche. Refreshments served.

Tel: 01480 476811 Web: www.kingfisherchurch.co.uk 7, 9, 14, 16, 21, 23, 28 & 30 January 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 7, 14, 21 & 28 January West Hunts Friendship Club 9.30am-3pm Great Staughton Village Hall Meets every Monday except Bank Holidays. 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 enjoying 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

7, 14, 21 & 28 January Godmanchester Senior Citizens Club 1.30pm Afternoon Bingo 4, 11, 18 & 25 January 6.30pm Whist Drive Friday Night Lights 7.30-8.30pm Godmanchester Town Hall Longsands Academy, Longsands Road, St Neots £1 for Whist drive inc. tea & biscuits St Neots Hockey Club. Friday Night Lights aims to The club has a lively atmosphere and a wide range provide the local community of St Neots with the of activities. Members also meet on a Saturday opportunity to experience hockey in a casual, relaxed morning for games, chat, tea and biscuits for 50p. and family orientated environment.

Non-members are welcome to visit on Saturday Tel: Chris (Club Development Officer) 07792 044878 mornings. Tel: Geoff 01480 434697 or 07515 881209 Email: cjbryden08@hotmail.co.uk 7, 14, 21 & 28 January 5 January Comrades Chess Club Simply Saturday 12.30-2.30pm 7.30pm Comrades Club, Godmanchester St James Church, Little Paxton Keep your mind active and play chess. Over 18s only For adults of all ages with lunch and various as it’s a licensed premises. Seeking new members activities available. Tel: Leisa Hunt 01480 471748 novice or experienced. Ozzie: 01480 414623 Email: young_paxton@ntlworld.com Email: ozzie.day5@gmail.com

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7, 14, 21 & 28 January 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! They are a friendly and experienced group and the choir is free!

Email: paul.tann@btinternet.com 7, 14, 21 & 28 January Scottish Country Dancing 8-10pm Queen Elizabeth School, Godmanchester Tel: Mrs Pat Crowe 01480 453774 Email: pat@patcrowe.plus.com 8, 15, 22 & 29 January 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 9 January Cambridgeshire Rural M.E. Tea & Chat Second Wednesday of every month. Monthly meetup for adults with M.E. and partners/friends. All details and latest meet-up information available on website. Web: www.crmetea.org 9 January Wildlife Trust 7.30-9pm Brampton Memorial Centre, Thrapston Road, Brampton Entry £2.50, accompanied children free Speaker will be Jim Stevenson, who is known locally as the Senior Ranger for Huntingdonshire District Council, based mainly at Paxton Pits. Jim’s background is in education and nature conservation with various bodies such as the RSPB, the Wildfowl Trust and Birdlife International. Anyone who is interested is most welcome to attend. Tel: Tim Fryer 01480 457795 9, 16, 23 & 30 January 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 but an ability to read a little music is helpful! There is an annual subscription once you decide to join the Society. New members are welcome in all voices. Please check dates over the festive season. Tel: 01480 212298 Web: www.stneotschoral.org.uk 12 January 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.

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n O s ’ t Wha In January

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

13 & 27 January Comberton Ramblers 10.15am 13 Jan - Abington Piggots, 6 Miles.

27 Jan - Therfield, 5.5 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. Tel: Stella 01954 210049 Email: stella.ramblers@hotmail.com Web: www.combertonramblers.org.uk

14 January Godmanchester Trefoil Guild 7.30-9pm Godmanchester Football Ground Trefoil Guild is a branch of Girlguiding for Adults aged 18+. They meet on the second Monday of the month. Email: jeanmking@outlook.com 14 & 28 January 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 15 January Kimbolton Flower Club 10am-12 noon Youth Hall, the Mandeville Hall, Kimbolton Admission £5. Coffee Morning. Join us for coffee, cake and biscuits, and a chat. There will be a raffle too. All welcome.

15 January Buckden Gardeners Association 7.45pm Village Hall, Burberry Road, Buckden Buckden Gardeners Association is a group of people who meet on the third Tuesday of the month from October to April. Topics are varied, focusing on gardening but also include related subjects such as wild flowers, bees and birds. In the summer months we organise outings to gardens and related areas.

The speaker in January will be George Cottam who is Warden of Brampton Wood. George will explain how this ancient woodland is managed to encourage the flora and fauna that make this such a beautiful place.

Web: https://buckdengardeners.info 16 January Carers Coffee Club 2.30-4pm The Royal Oak, Hail Weston Are you caring for a loved one with a memory loss?

Come along and enjoy a cup of tea or coffee whilst chatting with others in a similar situation. Our informal group meets on every third Wednesday of the month. Tel: Neil Silby 07889 319888 Email: kimpigfarmer@tiscali.co.uk 17 January St Ives & District Flower Club 2.15pm Burgess Hall, St Ives Visitors £7

17 January St Neots Royal Naval Association 8pm 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

17 January Love’s Farm Women’s Institute 8-10pm St Neots Football Club The Love’s Farm Ladies is Love’s Farm’s new WI group, meeting on the third Thursday of the month.

Tel: Nikki Jackson 07563 715043 Email: lovesfarmladieswi@gmail.com 18 January 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.

18 January The Bookshop (PG) Meal 6 for 6.30pm, Film 7 for 7.30pm Mandeville Hall, Kimbolton Film tickets Adults £4, 16 and under £2, over 60s £3 Kimbolton Community Cinema. England 1959. In a small East Anglian town, Florence Green decides against polite but ruthless opposition, to open a book shop, starring Emily Mortimer and Bill Nighy.

Meal will be Beef Chilli with herb rice, Chocolate Tart with Crème Chantilly. 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 18 January The Greatest Showman 7.30pm Offord Village Hall Tickets £5. Tickets available from Offord Village Stores or by telephone. All profits go to maintain Offord Village Hall. Tel: John 01480 810049 18 January Screen St Ives Doors open 7.30pm for 8pm The Corn Exchange, St Ives The Greatest Showman (Michael Gracey 2017 US 115mins) Cert PG A barn-storming musical that tells the story of PT Barnum, legendary innovator of modern show business, with his circus of curiosities and spectacle.

In his quest to bring high-brow entertainment to everyone he stakes everything on Jenny Lind, the ‘Swedish Nightingale’. Will they succeed?

Web: www.screenstives.org.uk 21 January Little Paxton W I 7.45pm St James’ Church Little Paxton WI meets every third Monday of the month, except December when it meets on the second Monday. Email: evans-margaret@sky.com

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24 January St Neots & District Gardening Club 8pm St Mary’s Church Hall, St Neots Members £2, Non-members £2.50 Drought Tolerant Plants talk by Barry Gayton.

Web: www.stneotsgardenclub.org.uk

25 January Campfire Cooking 10.30am-12pm & 1.30-3pm Ferry Meadows, Peterborough £5 per child. Learn how to use basic bushcraft techniques to light a fire and have a go at cooking and eating some simple campfire recipes. For age 7+. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Maximum of 3 children per adult. Tel: 01733 234193 Email: visitor.services@neneparktrust.org.uk 25 January The Hinchingbrooke Bösendorfer Piano Concerts 7.30pm Hinchingbrooke Performing Arts Centre, Hinchingbrooke Park Road, Huntingdon Adults £15, Groups of 20+ £10 each, Students under 21 £5. Katya Apekisheva and Charles Owen, piano duo. Katya and Charles have separately distinguished themselves as soloists and ensemble players of the very highest quality. Here they will join forces to create an unusual and exciting duo team on one piano. Programme including works by Schubert, Schumann and Brahms.

Tel: Box Office 01480 375678 (9am-3pm) Web: www.ticketsource.co.uk/hinchingbrookepac 25-27 January Robinson Crusoe and the Pirates Fri 7.30pm, Sat 2.30pm & 7.30pm, Sun 2.20pm Stuart Memorial Hall, Tempsford Adults £11, Children £8, Family £32. This Pirates’ pantomime is a treat for all the family, packed full with swashbuckling action. Tel: 01767 691982 Web: www.ticketsource.co.uk/kingfisherplayers 27 January Moments with Trees - Family & Friends Volunteering 10am-12pm & 1-3pm Ferry Meadows, Peterborough Everybody welcome. All tools and training provided.

Tel: 01733 234193 Email: visitor.services@neneparktrust.org.uk 29 January Little Paxton Pictures 1.45pm 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. All donations are welcome.

Email: Anita Bailey ajlbailey@aol.com or Nicci Jones admin@thepaxtonsbenefice.org Web: www.thepaxtonsbenefice.org

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Time of Year

Beat the January Blues

By Tom Hancock

It’s hard not to feel a little deflated after all the festive fun. Here are five ways to beat the January blue Exercise! I can hear your groans but one of the best ways to fight the blues and improve wellbeing is exercise. January is a great time to join a gym... motivation for change is high and there are lots of introductory deals and taster sessions on offer.

But if the gym doesn’t appeal then try walking. A brisk walk in the open air is guaranteed to get your endorphins racing Eat well! I know we’ve all eaten rather too well over Christmas but now is the time to sort out your diet.

In a post-festive slump, we are far more likely to continue the cycle of eating junk food for a quick high – only to spiral downwards into feelings of guilt and self-loathing as the sugar rush subsides. Stock up on fruit and veg, lean meat, nuts and grains, and watch your energy levels rise.

Sleep more - Most of us don’t sleep enough over Christmas, and sleep-deprivation is known to contribute to feeling blue. Over the Christmas period our sleep patterns tend to be more irregular, due to late nights, sleeping in unfamiliar surroundings at relatives’ houses, and the consumption of more than usual quantities of alcohol.

Go to bed and wake up at the same time each day, and ensure you get at least eight-hours sleep for a couple of weeks. See how much your mood and performance increases.

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Interiors

By Katherine Sorrell

Small Space? No problem!

Small may be beautiful, but living in a small space is not always easy. Our tips will help you make the most of every room, no matter what its size.

1 Are you making the most of every centimetre of your space? The best way to tell is by drawing a scale plan and checking for areas that could be improved. Ask yourself whether relatively simple changes such as repositioning a radiator, re-hanging a door or simply moving the furniture could make a big difference.

2 Storage is vital. In fact, it is often the case that losing a little floor area to create built-in storage will actually make the room seem more streamlined and therefore larger. Think bookshelves and cupboards in the living

room, wall-to-wall wardrobes in the bedroom, floor-to-ceiling shelving in the study and a tall coat cupboard in the hall. Add storage into any ‘dead’ space you can, whether it’s in chimney alcoves, around a bed head or above a doorway.

Wall racks and hooks on the backs of doors are invaluable.

3 Whatever storage you buy or build, don’t forget to design their interiors to make them incredibly functional. Adding internal drawers, shelves, baskets, hooks and so on will enable every bit of space to be put to good use.

4 Aim high. In a child’s bedroom, for example, a high-sleeper bed can include a desk, sofa or play area beneath. Why stop at the normal height when bookcases, kitchen cupboards and wardrobes can all be built right up to the ceiling, adding some vital extra storage space? You just need to remember to plan for somewhere to store a ladder or step stool, too.

5 Get clever with colour. While pale colours appear to recede, and thus increase the sense of space, darker colours absorb light and therefore appear more enclosing. So, for a bright, airy, open look, opt for a unified, pale colour scheme.

Paint built-in storage and radiators the same colour as the walls to make them disappear.

6 Use mirror and glass to open up a room. Think about light sources – whether sunlight through windows or light fittings – and place mirrors so

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that they bounce the light around. And choose glass or acrylic when possible for furnishings or accessories so as to create that barely-there look.

7 While it is not always necessary to opt for smallscale pieces, select furniture carefully, avoiding deep, squishy upholstery, fussy details and bulky outlines. Simple, lightweight styles have the least impact in a small space, and anything raised on slender legs will make the room seem larger (because there is more visible floor area). When appropriate, look out for compact, folding, wheeled, extending, dual-purpose or wall-mounted furniture, each of which can provide great solutions for different space problems. The only condition is that it must be comfortable, fulfil its function and suit your overall style.

8 Decide on one design style and make sure it is cohesive throughout. Employing complementary (pale) colours, interesting natural textures and subtle patterns will generate a sense of harmony and understated visual appeal.

9 If you are working on a renovation, then largerscale alterations may be achievable, even if you cannot enlarge your square footage. Consider

replacing bulky radiators with underfloor heating, going open plan, enlarging windows, replacing doors or walls with glass to allow light to flow from room to room, or even – if height allows – adding a mezzanine floor level.

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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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December’s Puzzle Solutions and Winners Last Month’s Crossword Winner Mr John Morley from Letchworth Christmas Competition Winner Sue Sandford from St Neots Easy

Hard

Fun Quiz - Review of the Year 1. When he was born in April, what position did Prince Louis of Cambridge take in the line of succession to the British throne?

2. Ingvar Kamprad, who died in January at the age of 91, is best remembered for founding which business in 1943?

3. Which country hosted the 2018 Winter Olympics?

4. After over two decades on the BBC, what was broadcast on ITV for the first time in April as part of an advert break during an episode of Britain’s Got Talent?

5. In January, the results of Donald Trump’s first medical since becoming US President revealed that he was taking a drug called finasteride to try to prevent what?

6. In June, which country officially lifted a ban meaning that there were no longer any countries in the world where women were forbidden to drive motor vehicles?

7. Which song did Theresa May briefly dance to as she stepped onto stage for her keynote speech at the 2018 Conservative party conference?

8. Following their wedding in May, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle became the Duke and Duchess of where?

9. In June, the Prime Minister of New Zealand, Jacinda Ardern, became only the second ever elected head of government to do what while in office?

10. In July, which song dropped from number one to number 97 to set a record for the fastest ever fall from the top of the UK singles charts in a single week?

1. Fifth 2. Ikea 3. South Korea 4. The National Lottery results 5. Hair loss 6. Saudi Arabia 7. Dancing Queen 8. Sussex 9. Give birth 10. Three Lions

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The Villager Prize Crossword

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

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

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Across 1. Small town (7) 5. Hot chocolate (5) 8. Pant leg (7) 9. Estate, farm (5) 10. Defeated side (5) 11. Computer software (7) 12. Basement (6) 14. Removed skin (6) 17. Anglophone (7) 19. Vagrant (5) 22. Ran (5) 23. Changing (7) 24. Ease off, put feet up (5) 25. Snakes and ____, game (7) Down 1. Absolutely necessary (5) 2. Appears, seems (5) 3. Mozart’s home (7) 4. Our continent (6) 5. Ship’s freight (5) 6. Manage, direct (7) 7. Repentant (7) 12. More obvious (7) 13. Well reasoned (7) 15. Went into (7) 16. Large spade (6) 18. List of words at back of book (5) 20. Similar (5) 21. Sheets (5)

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Books

Book Review

By Kate Duggan Reasons to Stay Alive

By Matt Haig

An estimated 10% of people will suffer from depression at some point in their lives. If you’re waging your own battle against this debilitating illness, Reasons to Stay Alive may help. Matt Haig chronicles his own fight against depression and shares what worked for him. It’s an honest, warm, humorous and very relatable read. You may also find Haig’s Notes on a Nervous Planet of interest if you suffer from anxiety or panic attacks.

Slow

by Gizzi Erskine

Comfort eating doesn’t have to mean chocolate, shop-bought pies and a vat of ice cream. It can mean taking the time to show yourself some self-care by preparing delicious, wholesome, hearty dishes.

Slow has plenty of recipes to help you do just that, from warming winter stews to slow-roasted meats and decadent desserts. They’re all written in Gizzi’s usual easy, unaffected style. Salt Beef Brisket anyone? Or Lemon Sherbet Meringue Pie? Yum.

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