VILLAGER The
Issue 123 - July 2019
and Town
Life
LOCAL NEWS • LOCAL PEOPLE • LOCAL SERVICES • LOCAL CHARITIES • LOCAL PRODUCTS
In this issue Your chance to win some
Gardening Tools The History of the
Package Holiday Win £25 in our Prize Crossword
Bringing Local Business to Local People Every Month in Buckden, Brampton, Godmanchester, Eaton Socon, ur E o Y The Hemingfords, Grantchester and all surrounding villages REpy
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Inside this issue... Junior Try Golf John O’Gaunt Golf Club
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1897 Bicycle Accident at St. Neots Common Gate.............................4 The History of the Package Holiday..................................................6 Cambridge Summer Music Festival................................................10 Win Tools to make Gardening Easier................................ 12 The Women of Wimbledon.............................................................15 A Taste of.... Malaysia and Singapore..............................................16 Nick Coffer's Weekend Recipe.........................................................19 Junior Try Golf - John O'Gaunt Golf Club.........................................20 Making your home a screen-free zone...........................................22 Colour and Style Tips Every Man Should Know...............................25 Problem Solvers.............................................................................26 Acupuncture and back pain............................................................28 Wi-Fi Woes.....................................................................................31 5 Tips for Choosing a Professional Carpet Cleaner...........................33 New Graduate? Manage your finances like a pro............................36 Who pays the mortgage when going through a divorce?...............38 Garden Buildings............................................................................40
Prolific Pests...................................................................................43 Short Walks in Buckden..................................................................44 Animal Stories................................................................................47 R.A.T.S. Rehoming Appeal..............................................................49 Children's Page..............................................................................50 Budget Friendly Family Fun............................................................52 Fine and Points: Five Motoring Misdeeds.......................................55 Ink Cartridges - Please don't throw them away..............................57 Ready, Steady, Mow!......................................................................58 Puzzle Page....................................................................................60 The Lindos Acropolis - Rhodes........................................................62 What's On......................................................................................64 The Roaming Empire......................................................................67 Hunting Pigs and Talking Dogs.......................................................70 Wordsearch....................................................................................73 Prize Crossword............................................................. 74 Book Review..................................................................................77
Women of Wimbledon
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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, Tracey Anderson, Trevor Langley, Nick Coffer, Kate McLelland, Jennie Billings, Kate Duggan, Centre for Complementary Health, Mark O'Keefe, Karen Campbell, Ann Haldon, Leeds Day Solicitors, Tom Hancock, Pippa Greenwood, RSPCA, Katherine Sorrell, James Baggott and Solange Hando
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
1897 Bicycle Accident at St. Neots Common Gate
By Peter Ibbett
The Hunts Post carries on the tradition of local reporting in an era of increasing on-line digital news. A not infrequent topic in its letters pages is the problem of cyclists being upset by drivers getting too close or of complaints about ‘lycralout’ cyclists causing problems to motorists or upset pedestrians nearly run down by pavement e-bike users. This problem is not new! The Hunts Post of 26th June 1897 reported the following bicycle incident in the days of animal horsepower:‘ACCIDENT A young man named William Todd, of the Dirt House, had an unfortunate accident at the Paper Mill Common gate late on Saturday evening last. He was crossing the common on a bicycle some distance behind a pony and cart which was being driven by Mr Ibbett, blacksmith, when at the gate Mr Ibbett stopped to give the gatekeeper a coin, and before Todd could stop or turn his bicycle, he smashed into the fence at the side of the gate turning a complete somersault over the fence, Fortunately no bones were broken, but he was much shaken and cut about the face and hands and his machine was wrecked. It was a thoughtless act to block up the road in the gateway.’ I suspect my ancestor would not have been amused at the newspapers comment and might well have felt that William Todd was
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travelling too fast and should have been taking more care! Not so long ago cattle grids were in place at either end of St. Neots Common to prevent animals from straying, but before 1950 there was a gate and a small flat-roofed hut for the Common gateman, who expected a tip for allowing you through. It was apparently unwise to upset a gateman who were known to slam the gate in a drivers face if they felt they had not been given a suitable tip! On each November 1st, when the cattle were taken off the Common, the gatemen would go around town collecting their annual sum from regular users. There used to be a St. Neots saying that when a particularly bitter wind was blowing in the High Street that “Someone has left the Common Gate open!” The 1908 postcard shows the Paper Mill end of the common which was the source of much employment in the town. More detail about the history of the Common can be found in ‘St. Neots’ by C F Tebbutt, which is available in the excellent local museum. Become a Friend or Volunteer and help with the appreciation of our local heritage and the individuality of its buildings, landscape and people. Any local memories or photographs would be much appreciated by the museum or by St. Neots Local History Society.
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Our bespoke Smart Conservatory roof insulation solutions are tailored for your conservatory and can be installed with minimal disruption, making your conservatory nice and cool in the summer and cosy and warm in the winter. Within just a few days, you will be sitting back, relaxing in your new comfortable all-year-round living area. Having an insulated conservatory roof will not just add value to your property, but it will totally change the way you are using your downstairs living area. For more information or to request a quotation, visit our website or give us a call.
For more information or to request a quotation, visit our website or give us a call.
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History
The History of the Package Holiday
Today, we take the ease of global travel for granted but it was the birth and rise of the package holiday that paved the way for world citizenship and changed the concept of the travel we now take for granted. During the first half of the 19th century only the wealthy could afford to travel, and beach holidays were unheard of. People would usually go abroad for their health or to learn about foreign culture. Travel wasn’t easy, but with the coming of the railway it became affordable. In 1841, a man named Thomas Cook organised a train excursion from Leicester to Loughborough and in 1855 he began to offer rail tours of the continent. He eventually launched his first roundthe-world tour in 1872, covering the USA, Japan, China, Singapore and India. It was a 25,000-mile journey that cost £210 and the start of a company that would become a major player in the package holiday industry. Commercial travel largely stopped during the First World War but, with the advent of passenger planes, Thomas Cook launched holidays by air in the 1930s although they were very expensive and out of the reach of most people. Following the Second World War, a demand for travelling abroad increased. Ex-serviceman wanted to re-visit places they had been stationed at and the general public wished to escape the aftermath of war and its ongoing rationing. Such was the demand that, in a bid to make holidays more affordable, Thomas Cook was nationalised as part of British Rail in 1948. A year or so later, a Russian immigrant named Vladimir Raitz set up a travel company called Horizon Holidays that chartered weekly flights to a beach resort in Corsica. As a result, many consider him to be the inventor of the modern package holiday. Possibly as a result of Horizon, in 1954 amendments were made to the Convention on International Civil Aviation that allowed for an increase in charter planes. However, there were still restrictions on pricing, making it hard for companies to be either cheap or competitive.
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There was also a shortage of hotels. That all changed in 1957 when British European Airways (BEA) launched a route to Valencia in Spain, coining the marketing phrase ‘Costa Blanca’. With the creation of beach resorts came a surge in hotel construction, particularly in Italy and Spain where small fishing villages were turned into large resorts dominated by hotels and bars. At the same time, larger and faster aircraft that cut flight times were becoming available and there were fewer restrictions on taking foreign currency abroad. Travel was easier, opening the door to a host of tour operators. Big corporations began to see the financial benefits of diversifying into the travel industry.
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Thomson Organisation was a Canadian mediabased corporation that in 1965 bought out several of the UK’s tour operators and airlines, including Universal Sky Tours’ charter airline, Britannia. Thomson – now branded as TUI – remains a market leader today. The 1970s and 1980s were boom decades for the package holiday. In 1970, the Boeing 737 was launched. The very latest in air travel, the plane could carry more than 400 passengers and revolutionised commercial flight. In those days package holidays weren’t without risk, however. There was little protection for the consumer if their travel company went bust while they were abroad, often leaving holidaymakers stranded, and frequent strikes by airport staff meant misery for many passengers – something I remember well!
The first Thomas Cook holiday was in 1841 The package holiday has become synonymous with sun, sea and sangria but there were other choices available. City breaks were rising in popularity and ski holiday destinations expanded. Adventure and long-distance tour operators like Kuoni began to market travel to exotic locations, appealing to those who wanted to indulge in their adventurous side while staying within the safety of an organised tour. Advances in aviation made faraway places increasingly accessible and holidays anywhere in the world affordable. With the abolition of price regulations, travel companies could compete for the cheapest discounts. New technology also made reservations easier and travel agents began to pop up on every high street.
By 1994, more than half of the holidays booked by the British public were package holidays, around 27 million; compare this with the one million holidays that were taken by Brits during the entire 1950s. Thanks to price deregulation, the 1990s heralded the arrival of small budget airlines that began offering package holiday routes with the added ease of online booking. In 2005 Ryanair carried more than 31 million passengers, an explosion from its two million of 1995. Today the package holiday is having to work hard to hold its place in the market. With online booking easier than ever, people are either finding the best deals direct for themselves or having a bespoke tour put together by a personal travel consultant. Baby boomers with more time and money to spend are also favouring the more leisurely pace of luxury cruises. Thanks to the humble package holiday, our world is more accessible than ever before but the future isn’t all bright. Studies suggest that with global warming, by 2030 many of our favourite holiday destinations will simply be too hot to enjoy.
By Catherine Rose
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Local News
Bach and Beyond
Cambridge Summer Music Festival 2019
Cambridge makes a wonderful day out with its iconic buildings, beautiful gardens, punting on the river and shopping opportunities. And for two weeks in July, there’s an even more compelling reason to go – Cambridge Summer Music. This long-established festival of classical, jazz and world music attracts large and enthusiastic audiences, and a quick glance at the 2019 programme makes it easy to see why. Music by (and inspired by) JS Bach and Music by women composers are the themes for this year. For the latter, highlights include a tribute to Clara Schumann (18 July); works by Judith Bingham, Hildegard von Bingen and Maria Theresia von Paradis (14 July); songs by Rebecca Clark and Alma Mahler (18 July); and a new commission from Reena Esmail (21 July). Fans of JS Bach also have wonderful treats in store, including the St John Passion (13 July), the complete Brandenburg Concertos on period instruments (20 July), the Goldberg Variations (22 July) and trio sonatas arranged for two harpsichords (24 July).
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CSM always likes to support new talent, and you’ll be able to hear some exciting young players at the start of their careers. There’ll also be some very famous names performing, from actor Crawford Logan (18 July) and composer Bob Chilcott (14 July) to violinist Jennifer Pike (17 July), tenor James Gilchrist (23 July) and soprano Dame Felicity Lott (26 July). For the full range of solo recitals, orchestral performances, children’s entertainments and jazz evenings in store – including the popular Sounds Green concerts in the Botanic Garden – visit the Festival website and be sure to book early! Online information and booking www.cambridgesummermusic.com or www.cambridgelivetrust.co.uk/tickets Box Office Cambridge Live Tickets, Wheeler Street, Cambridge CB2 3QB (Mon–Fri 12pm–6pm; Sat 10am–6pm) Tel: 01223 357851 (Mon–Sat 10am–6pm)
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Win Tools to Make
Gardening Easier Win top quality carbon steel garden tools plus a gift voucher, together worth over £100.
At Bickerdikes you’ll find a huge selection of the best quality plants: flowers, vegetables, trees, shrubs and turf. If you are new to gardening the Bickerdike team’s friendly, welcoming, professional and practical advice will ensure you plant the right plant in the right place. What’s more, hardy plants are guaranteed for two years providing they are planted and cared for correctly. For well over 80 years the Bickerdike family have been in the horticultural industry. Following the family tradition Mark and Debbie Bickerdike opened Bickerdikes Garden Centre in 1999, applying the same principles as previous generations of the family: quality, choice, value for money and above all personal service. The Bickerdikes service extends to their carry to car assistance and free delivery for larger items if you spend £15 or more. Plus the Bickerdikes Reward Card scheme means that every time you make a purchase you’ll earn points towards future purchases. Once you’ve browsed all the plants, containers and pots, tools and equipment, plant feeds and fertilisers, garden furniture, huge range of gifts and gift food you’ll be ready to visit Norton’s Café. Pop in for coffee or a light snack or maybe lunch. There’s a full menu all day starting with breakfast and there’s waitress service too.
Competition
BICKERDIKES COMPETITION ENTRY Name: Tel:
QUESTION...
How much do you need to spend to get free delivery for larger items?
Answer the question below to be in with a chance to win a compete set of seven Wilkinson Sword carbon steel garden tools, all with a five-year guarantee: (hand fork and trowel, garden rake and lawn rake, digging spade, digging fork and Dutch hoe) plus a £20 voucher to spend at Bickerdikes. (Please note the wheelbarrow is not part of the prize.) To enter, complete the form below and send to: Bickerdikes Competition, Villager Publications Ltd, 24 Market Square, Potton, Bedfordshire SG19 2NP. The winner will be picked at random. Deadline: 16th July 2019
Email: Address: 12
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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
The Women of Wimbledon
Home-grown champions from the past The Championships, Wimbledon is the most famous tennis event in the British sporting calendar. It was first contested in 1877 and played on outdoor grass courts at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club (AELTC) in the Wimbledon suburb of London, United Kingdom. The Ladies’ Singles tournament began in 1884, and the women’s game has developed massively over the last century. We are all familiar with the incredible Williams sisters, but our own Nation has a pretty impressive history in the Women’s singles, which is often overlooked by the British media. Dorothy Round Little won her first title in 1934 — the same year as her British male counterpart Fred Perry also won his first. She won her second Wimbledon title at age 29 in 1937. A devout Christian, she often refused to play on Sundays. She published two books, Modern Lawn Tennis and Tennis For Girls. After her retirement in 1939 she worked as a coach, journalist, and president of the Worcester Lawn Tennis Club. Florence Angela Margaret Mortimer Barrett beat another English player Christine Truman Janes to become Wimbledon’s women’s singles champion in 1961. She was aged 29 and partially deaf.
Ann Haydon-Jones had already won the French Open and U.S. Open twice before winning Wimbledon in 1969. She first showed her talent as a young girl. Her father was a table tennis champion and he encouraged her competitive spirit. She played the famous Billie Jean King several times but never beat her until her win at Wimbledon. Haydon-Jones was also the first left-handed female singles player to win the championship. Virginia Wade was a maths graduate, famed for her powerful serve. She defeated Billie Jean King at the US Open, earning her first Grand Slam title. She went on to win the Australian Open in 1972, and in 1977, nearly a decade after her first victory, Wade would become Wimbledon’s last British singles winner for 36 years. The year she won, defeating Dutch player Betty Stöve at Wimbledon was the Queen’s Silver Jubilee and Queen Elizabeth II herself was present to enjoy her victory. It remains to be seen whether current British number one Johanna Konta can better her semifinal performance in 2017 to add her name to the list of amazing female British tennis players who have held the Wimbledon trophy aloft.
By Tracey Anderson
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Food and Drink
A Taste of… Malaysia and Singapore Malaysia has a rich history and is located in Southeast Asia. The official language is Malaysian, with English being recognised as the country’s second language. Malaysian cuisine has been influenced from cultures including Malay, Chinese and Thai, amongst others. Singapore is an island city-state in Southeast Asia. The languages used most are English, Malay, Mandarin, plus Tamil. The cuisine has influences from Malay, China and India, plus other countries.
Rasa Sayang restaurant, opened 2008, is located in the Chinatown area of London, with casino and theatre entertainment nearby and offers Malaysian and Singaporean food. Several cooking styles are utilised, by the very talented team of chefs, at this restaurant, including Peranakan. This style has Chinese ingredients and Malaysian spices, coming together, to produce aromatic and flavoursome foods. The dishes known as ‘Heat Zone’ offer splendid cuisine for diners, being full-flavoured, with rich and hot results, plus very impressive presentations. All dishes can be adjusted to suit taste requirements. An array of nibbles, including Roti Canai with chicken curry sauce and/or dahl, commences proceedings, perfectly. Other selections include Achar (pickled pineapple, carrots, cucumber, sesame seeds, peanuts) and Prawn Paste Chicken (fried chicken marinated with prawn paste). Moving on, further options include Deep Fried Sambal Fish (fried whole sea bass, okra, onion rings, dried shrimps, chilli, sambal, lemon, lettuce), which is very popular. Beef and Chicken dishes have regular ‘devotees’, too, along with superb variations of noodle cuisine. Char Kway Teow (thick flat rice noodles, eggs, prawns, squid, beansprouts, chives) is very flavoursome and a regular choice for many diners. Presented perfectly, this merits ‘Compliments to Chef’. Desserts have Kueh Dadar (pandan pancake, desiccated coconut, palm sugar) included in a list that has something for all tastes. Sago Gula Melaka will not disappoint either. Ample different drinks suit all palates and the fantastic teas, coffees, plus chocolate temptations are outstanding. Wines and other drinks are available, too. Rasa Sayang offers an exceptional, authentic experience of Malaysian and Singaporean cuisine. Takeaways and gift vouchers are also available – now there’s a thought! Booking is advisable, particularly during popular times. Many thanks to Edwin, for cuisine advice and impeccable service, throughout. Rasa Sayang 5 Macclesfield Street, London W1D 6AY Tel: 44(0)20 7734 1382 Email: info@rasasayangfood.com www.rasasayangfood.com
As always, Enjoy! 16
ey Trevor Langl
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Food & Drink
Courgette, Chorizo and Red Leicester Muffins With three children under the age of 11, savoury muffins have become a staple part of my life in recent years. They are basically brilliant as they are practical, tasty and easy to vary. Once you have the base mix sorted (it very much resembles a scone dough), you can add whatever extras you want: grated vegetables, strong cheddar, whole cherry tomatoes dropped in at the end – the possibilities are absolutely endless. This lovely variation was made on my show by an old friend of mine, Alec Goodhand, from the Lower Red Lion pub in the heart of St Albans. He’s an excellent chef and loves creating simple family treats for my programme. These muffins may change your (packed lunch) life, mark my words! Ingredients: 3. Dice up the chorizo and mix it in. Throw in the 230g self-raising flour remaining dry ingredients. 175ml whole milk 4. Pour in the milk and the olive oil and break the eggs 1 courgette into the mix. 130g chorizo 5. Using a wooden spoon, or even a hand whisk, mix 130g red Leicester everything well together. The mix should not be 60ml olive oil runny, nor should it be dry. Add a little extra milk if 2 medium eggs it appears a bit “floury”. 3g salt 6. Line a muffin tin with paper muffin cases (or simply ½ tsp dried thyme grease the muffin tin holes) and dollop a good soup Pinch of black pepper spoonful of the mix into each case/tin. 7. Bake in the oven for around 15-20 minutes. You’ll 1. Pre-heat your oven to 180C/ Gas Mark 4 know they are ready when they have risen into a 2. Grate the courgette and squeeze out any excess nice dome and are golden on top. liquid with your hand. Pop this into a large bowl 8. Leave to cool and serve. These are best eaten on the and grate the cheese into it too. day you make them but they can also be frozen and warmed through at a later date.
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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Local News
Junior Try Golf
at John O’Gaunt Golf Club
John O’Gaunt Golf Club, located in Sutton Park, Potton near Sandy has a proud tradition of supporting and encouraging junior golf and has worked hard to build and maintain a strong Junior Section. Traditionally our junior members were the sons, daughters and grandchildren of club members: In recent years we have accepted youngsters from within the local community from non-golfing backgrounds. The Club is keen to continue this trend and in 2017 the Club launched an initiative by providing coaching opportunities in local schools and by inviting various youth groups to the Club where basic coaching was on offer using the extensive outdoor practice facilities. More recently the Club staged what turned out to be a very successful Junior, “Try Golf Day” on Good Friday, 19th April. 24 youngsters attended each of the two hour sessions held in the morning
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Try Golf Day at John O’Gaunt Golf Club Good Friday 19 April 2019
and afternoon and to cater for the demand a third session took place on Saturday 18th May. All coaching was with Club Professional Lee Scarbrow and Teaching Professional Tom Bushell and included all aspects of the game, from driving to chipping and putting. As a result a great deal of interest was created and has borne fruit with several new recruits who have been welcomed into the younger Pee Wee Club and Junior Section. The Club will be holding similar events in the future to promote golf in the local community to continue to grow our already very active Pee Wee Club and Junior sections. If you would like your child to learn to play golf please do not hesitate to contact us. Details of our Summer Golf Camps for those aged from 5 – 17 years can be found on the club’s website: www.johnogauntgolfclub.co.uk or by email to tom@johnogauntgolfclub.co.uk
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Life Begins... By Kate McLelland
Making your home a screen-free zone You’ve hidden all your precious ornaments, shifted sharp-cornered items of furniture out of the way and stocked up on nutritious snacks. Is it an earthquake warning? A tornado alert? No, just a visit from the grandkids. While it’s likely they will arrive with a full set of gadgets including (but not limited to) tablets, mobiles and computer game consoles, like most grandparents you would probably prefer to encourage a little eye-to-eye contact and discussion, rather than simply watch your grandchildren stare at a screen all day. A recent survey of 2,000 families carried out by CensusWide found that children currently spend an average of 23 hours per week using smartphones and similar tech gadgets: that’s twice as much time as they spend talking with parents and other family members face-to-face. So here are some great, non-messy, old-school ideas that might encourage them to turn their backs on technology, even if it’s only for an hour or so.
Mess-free masterpieces Many house-proud grandparents will shudder at the thought of letting their grandkids loose with a set of poster paints and a brush. This clever idea involves squeezing large blobs of poster paint onto a card sealed inside a ziplock bag. In this way, children can create a rainbow design, using their fingers to swirl the paint through the clear plastic bag, and without actually touching the wet stuff themselves. Dry the painted card with a hairdryer for speed and send your wannabe Damien Hirst home clutching his or her abstract masterpiece. Brilliant bathroom games Make Bubble Snakes by cutting the bottom off a plastic bottle, pulling a clean sock onto the cut end and securing it with an elastic band. Create a bubble mix by combining water, food colouring and dishwasher liquid on a saucer and mixing it well. Now dip the sock in the soap mix and get the child to blow into the bottle from the drinking end – it should produce a glorious, snake-like stream of
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bubbles. Alternatively, half-fill the bath and make your own version of the hook-a-duck game by fastening tape loops around the necks of some toy bath ducks and letting the grandkids take turns at catching them (if you can’t find a suitable hook, try a long-handled wooden spoon instead). Fun on the web (and not the world wide one) Use a door that’s seldom opened (a cupboard door is ideal) to create a spider’s web out of masking tape, keeping the sticky side of the tape facing the room. Now cut up some newspaper into equal sizes (big enough to turn into small balls) and give each child 8 to 10 pieces each. Ask the children to write their names on the pieces of paper then scrunch them up into tight balls. The winner is the one who gets the most paper balls to stick to the ‘web’. With a little forward planning and careful supervision, your grandkids will learn that playtime with grandma and grandad can be every bit as exciting as watching the latest cartoons or playing video games.
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House of Colour
Colour & Style Tips Every Man Should Know 1. Adding a little of the right colour – Men often veer towards neutrals as their go to, whilst women tend to be more colour adventurous as a collective, but it doesn’t have to be that way. Understand whether cool or warm colours suit you and if bright or more muted tones are for you. For business dressing try using one brighter colour as an accent with two neutrals and for casual two or three colours (contrasting or complementing). 2. It’s the detail that counts – Whether your style veers towards the more edgy, natural or classic, the power of dressing is all in the detail. Like a breath of fresh air, the best way to update your look is with a quality new accessory. Use scarves or ties to give a pop of colour. The right style sunglasses and watch can help you ooze style.. 3. Spend more money on less pieces of clothing – Avoid buying poor quality, excessive items that you don’t need, eliminate mistake purchases and reduce the volume of clothes ending up in landfill. Think about buying fewer, better-quality items that will last longer. It is win win for your wallet and the environment. 4. Think capsule - A capsule wardrobe gives you loads of benefits, like lots of outfits from a smaller number of clothes and gives you confidence that you will always look great. Think of it as a pyramid. At base level, choose everyday clothes in your best neutrals such as denim, winter coats, smart jackets, and expensive boots and bags. The middle level contains patterns and textures that suit your style and colour palette e.g. in shirts, polo shirts and jumpers and other tops. These are probably in your ‘wow’ colours - perhaps a smart chocolate jumper for Springs, or a deep burgundy shirt for winters. The top level are your statement items and accessories which people will notice immediately such as a red tie, some dapper shoes in a brighter colour and wonderful statement rucksack or bag or some serious sunglasses. 5. Liven up your shirt collection – Prints and patterns are having quite the party in the men’s aisles at the moment with assorted patterned shirts making their way onto the high street shelves. Have fun and add zest by taking the
plunge with a floral, striped or perhaps checked shirt, depending on your style, when you go out for an evening, but know whether bold or subtle, large or small patterns suit you. For some, lightweight linen is great for the summer whilst polyester is a sweaty man’s nightmare and is bad for the planet. 6. Shop for a suit in person – Most men have at least one suit, but never buy your suit online because the perfect fit is so important. Consider exact arm and leg length, trouser fit (straight, slim, hem etc) and jacket fit (including single vs double breasted, buttons etc). Take your time to buy the right suit and bear in mind a good tailor can make basic alterations. Always use a suit bag for storage. 7. Glasses - There is a huge choice on the market so know what your best colour palette is and the frame shapes that suit you. Try several colours such as a brown, navy, grey and gold or silver on, depending on what colours suit you, for a fun look why not try a red. Shape and weight are key – consider thin or thick frames, a sporty look, aviator, wrapped or oval lenses. If they look part of you, they are right, if they shout louder than you, they are wrong. 8. Make sure everything fits well. Clothes should skim your body so that they are neither too tight, nor too loose. There is nothing worse than the wrong trouser length, ill-fitting t-shirts and shirts, or a badly fitting suit, particularly when the buttons can’t be done up! By Jennie Billings, Colour and Style Consultant, House of Colour www.houseofcolour.co.uk/jenniebillings e:jennie.billings@houseofcolour.co.uk
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Health & Beauty
By Kate Duggan www.kateduggan.co.uk
Problem Solvers This month, we’re focusing on tried and tested problem solvers to see you through the summer, from frizz-fighting serums to space-saving multitaskers. When luggage space is at a premium, multitasking products are a godsend, particularly when they don’t count towards your paltry hand luggage liquid allowance. I’m a big fan of PÜR’s 4 in 1 Pressed Mineral Makeup Foundation (£29). As well as giving great, lightweight coverage and a shine-free finish, it helps to nourish skin with ingredients such as lactic acid and shea butter. It also has an SPF of 15. While that’s not enough for warmer weather, it’s handy for cooler days. Choose from 11 shades at /purcosmetics. co.uk. Hair looking a bit ‘meh’? Try treating it to Alteya Organics’ Rose Otto Invigorating Shampoo and Conditioner (£14.20 each). They’re formulated to help strengthen hair, reduce frizz and increase shine. You can forget ingredients lists of unpronounceable chemical compounds, these products are packed with natural ingredients such as aloe vera, seabuckthorn extract, hazelnut extract, ylangylang and, of course, roses grown on Alteya’s farm. (The family-run Bulgarian company has been growing organic roses for over a century.) See www.lovelula.com. If, like me, your hair turns into a frizzy mess at the merest hint of humidity, try Paul Mitchell’s Super Skinny Serum (www.paul-mitchell.co.uk). Apply it after conditioning, while your hair is still wet. It speeds up drying time and helps to lock out moisture, so your hair stays smooth, shiny and frizz-free all day. It works wonders on straight, wavy or curly hair and does its job
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whether you blow dry your hair or leave it to dry naturally. The full size bottle is £21.95, but you only need a small amount, so the 25ml travel sized version (£6.70) should last for at least a couple of weeks. According to The Sleep Council, 74 percent of people in the UK don’t get enough sleep. If you’re struggling to drop off at night, try Tisserand’s new Sleep Better Bath Salts (£13.95), Bath Oil (£12.95) or Bath & Shower Wash (£11.95). They’re fragranced with jasmine, sandalwood and lavender essential oils to help promote a feeling of relaxation. While subtle, the scent is lovely and calming. The bath oil is my personal favourite, as it leaves skin feeling softer. (Did I mention that I love a multi-tasker?) Available from Boots and www.tisserand.com. If you’re constantly reapplying hand lotion because your hands feel dry, it may be time to swap to a gentler, more natural handwash. Personally, I have to avoid any with sodium lauryl sulphate, as it makes my hands so dry and cracked they end up bleeding. I tend to use bars of soap instead, but also like vegetable oil-based liquid soaps, such as those by The Castilian Soap Company. They’re available in a range of fragrances, including peppermint, lavender and rose geranium. If your hands are super-sensitive, try the fragrance-free option. From £8 at www.lovelula.com.
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Jill Dighton BSc (Hons) MBACP (Accred)., UKCP Reg.
Counselling Service Depressed? Anxious? Relationship Issues? Low Self Esteem? Have you considered Counselling sessions? Based in Grafham village, I offer a professionally qualified Counselling Service to individuals and couples in a secure, confidential & non-judgemental atmosphere. Ample parking. Concessionary rates available. For further details: Visit: www.jilldightoncounselling.co.uk Email: jill@jdighton.co.uk Tel: 07925 852 985 (Voicemail available)
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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Complementary Health
Acupuncture and back pain Acupuncture has been around for thousands of years, it is the physical part of Traditional Chinese medicine and can be an effective treatment for back pain. Its philosophy is based on an energy system known as Qi which moves through a series of channels known as meridians through the body and can be of benefit to painful nerves and muscles in the back. When this Qi is disturbed it becomes unbalanced and illness may result. There are a few qi meridians that an acupuncturist may focus on for back pain. Some acupuncture points for lower back pain can be in: • back of the knees points • foot points • lower back points • hand points • hip points • points on the abdomen By stimulating these points, parts of the nervous system are also stimulated to relieve pain and help restore a balance. Acupuncture can also provide pain relief for a range of other neuromuscular issues. These include: • tension headaches and migraines • short term relief of osteoarthritis of the knee • TMJ / temporomandibular joint pain • musculoskeletal pain • post-surgery recovery There are scientific principles on which acupuncture is believed to work for back pain: • Stimulates nervous system. Trigger points stimulated by acupuncture could release chemicals from the spinal cord, muscles, and brain. Some of these could be naturally painrelieving. • Releases opioid-like chemicals produced in the body. Along the same lines as the theory above, acupuncture may release pain-relieving chemicals. These naturally occur in the body and have similar properties to opioid pain relievers. (Hydrocodone or morphine are examples.) • Releases neurotransmitters. These are hormones that send messages regulating the on/off mechanisms of various nerve endings. Acupuncture may stimulate some that shut off pain.
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• Triggers electromagnetic impulses in the body. These impulses can help speed the body’s way of handling pain, including the release of endorphins. Regardless of how it works, trials on acupuncture for treating back pain show great results with very little risk of side effects. Acupuncture is the insertion of very fine needles into the surface of skin. It is a safe procedure and therapy when practiced by a professional registered practitioner. People who have received acupuncture sometimes report soreness, bruising, and minor bleeding at puncture sites. These issues pose little to no risk to overall health. If you’re pregnant, certain acupuncture points could stimulate labour and delivery, so you need to inform your practitioner beforehand so alternative points can be used. Acupuncture can be used for people using blood thinners but again the practitioner needs to be informed. Practitioners in the UK should be registered either with British Acupuncture Council (BAcC), or the Acupuncture Association for Chartered Physiotherapists (AACP) or the British Medical Society of Acupuncture (BMSA). This ensures they have received an accredited training.
Website: www.CentreForCompHealth.com Email: info@CentreForCompHealth.com Phone: 01480 455221
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Wi-Fi Woes
Technology By Mark O’Keefe
How to boost the wi-fi signal in your home’s weak spots Recently a friend of mine decided to convert his garage to a games room. The big screen TV was to be the main feature. We all gathered for the big turn on to experience Netflix in full ultra HD. But all we got was a blocky, stuttering, unwatchable excuse for entertainment. It turned out that his wireless router (the bit that connects to his broadband) was plugged in at the opposite end of the house. The reception at this end of the house had always been poor, but the extra wall of the garage was just too much for the signal to push through. Result? No internet! What to do? The router had to stay by the phone socket so moving that to the centre of the house wasn’t an option. Running a network cable (a permanent wire) from the router to the TV was a non-starter because it would involve a lot of work. This meant he had to work out a different way to boost the Wi-Fi signal in the garage. I’d had a similar problem in my home and had discovered Wi-Fi extenders and repeaters (different companies call them by different names, but they all do the same thing). There were two options: A Wi-Fi repeater is basically a second router. You
put it where you receive a good signal and it then creates a new Wi-Fi area that connects to your broadband. He could have sited that in the centre of the house and thus improved the signal in the garage. There would be a bit of setting up to get this working as you have to log on to the repeater with a computer, but it’s not hard if you know what you’re doing. There are YouTube tutorials which can help. The second option is the simplest, and ultimately the one he settled on – a powerline adaptor. This is a box that plugs into your router and then into a mains socket. It actually uses your house wiring to send your broadband signal around the house. All you need to do is buy a powerline Wi-Fi extender and plug it into the wall in the room where you need it most. It’s like you’re sitting right beside your Wi-Fi point. After a quick visit to the shops, he plugged in both devices. The set-up was quick and easy (literally pressing two buttons) and he was up and running with full broadband speed. His teens could now get Youtube in the garden as an extra bonus because he put an extra extender in a socket on the wall next to the patio.
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A FREE WILL for Homeowners Protect your home and legacy for your children • • • • • •
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Cleaning
5 Tips for Choosing a
Professional Carpet Cleaner Cheap is rarely best - However attractive saving a few quid might seem, the least expensive option might actually do more harm than good. Companies that offer heavily discounted rates may use substandard cleaning products that could permanently damage your carpets. Price is important but it should not be number one on your list of questions to ask. Know the Process - Cleaning services are all different so ask questions. How does each company that go about their business? Some companies might use stronger detergents, while others might use more environmentally friendly options. How long will the drying time be? Knowing the exact process each company employs will help you to decide who to hire. Do your research - Talk to friends and family. Check review sites and ask for recommendations on social
media. The best services are found through word of mouth, so do the research and leverage your network for trustworthy recommendations. Ask About Additional Services – You don’t want hidden surprises so make sure you know whether there will be extra services? And how much the company will charge for them? Will they move furniture if they need to? How will they manage difficult-to reach areas? Are they insured and registered with Are environmentally friendly products more expensive? Keep it Local if Possible - A local carpet cleaning company will have a vested interest in keeping you happy. Local companies provide services for other local residents too, so it is in their best interest to offer a high-quality service at affordable costs to ensure customer retention.
By Karen Campbell
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Finance
New graduate? Manage your finances like a pro
Obtaining a university degree is a fantastic achievement, and not only in academic terms. It’s also a huge challenge to deal with money as a student, so if you’ve emerged relatively unscathed financially, again, many congratulations. Entering the world of work, however, means you’ll now need to change financial focus and think about income tax, pension contributions and student loan repayments. With this in mind here are a few aspects of graduate finance you might want to consider as you transition into the world of work. Graduate bank accounts and student overdrafts Graduate bank accounts allow you to pay off your student overdraft over a period of time. Typically, you’ll be offered a 0% interest overdraft facility that reduces each year for up to three years from the date you graduate, although individual offerings may vary. Additional benefits of graduate bank accounts commonly include: • Cash back on regular bills or general spending. • Interest on credit balances. • Cash incentives if you change banks. Considerations when choosing a graduate bank account Credit rating Your credit rating and general financial position will be checked prior to opening or changing your account. It’s worth knowing that it can be as detrimental to have no credit rating as a bad rating – this is because the bank has no knowledge of any previous financial behaviours. Overdraft terms It’s important to be aware of the terms and conditions of your overdraft facility. Make sure you understand the rate by which the overdraft amount they offer will reduce each year so you can budget, plan ahead, and avoid having to pay off costly debt. When the graduate term ends When the two or three year graduate term comes to an end, you’re likely to be switched to a ‘standard’ current account with its associated
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By Ann Haldon interest and fees. If you haven’t been able to pay off your student overdraft during this time, the additional monthly interest can significantly impact your finances. Your work situation If you’ve not yet secured work, a graduate account that offers the longest interest-free period is likely to be the best option. Your personal circumstances will dictate this, however. Which graduate account? Here are just a few of the graduate accounts currently available, to give you an idea of what might be on offer: • Barclays Higher Education Account: up to £3,000 interest-free overdraft in the first year following graduation; cash back offers. • NatWest Graduate Account (existing customers): up to £2,000 interest-free overdraft in the first year after graduation; Tastecard 2 for 1 meal offer. • HSBC Graduate Account: up to £1,500 interestfree overdraft in the first year following graduation and up to £1,000 in the second year. Paying off a student overdraft and managing your money well as a university graduate can set you up for life. Whether it feels like a steep learning curve or you’ve already adopted some good financial habits, your future self will definitely thank you. Barclays Higher Education Account www.barclays.co.uk/current-accounts/highereducation-account NatWest Graduate Account personal.natwest.com/personal/current-accounts/ existing-customers/graduate-account.html HSBC Graduate Account www.hsbc.co.uk/current-accounts/products/ graduate moneyfacts.co.uk/guides/students/just-graduatedwhat-happens-now moneyfacts.co.uk/guides/students/graduate-bankaccounts
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Leeds Day Solicitors
Who pays the mortgage when going through divorce? As well as dealing with the different emotions people experience when going through divorce, there are important practical decisions to be made. One of the first questions many people ask when they seek advice from a family lawyer is who will pay the mortgage during the divorce process. Firstly, it is important to understand that if your mortgage is in joint names, you and your spouse are jointly and severably liable for payment of the same. This means that you are both equally liable for the full amount owing, whether or not you continue to live in the property. It is not enough to suggest that you have paid your half of the mortgage and the other half is your spouse’s responsibility. The mortgage company doesn’t care who makes payment, they just care that it is paid. If the monthly mortgage is not paid in full each month it will affect both of your credit ratings which can cause you real difficulties in the future. In the worst cases, it can lead to the mortgage company issuing repossession proceedings. You may want to ask your mortgage provider for a mortgage holiday, which is a period of time when mortgage payments are suspended. If your mortgage provider agrees to this it will be for a limited amount of time and you need to be sure that you know how you will pay the mortgage at the end of this period. It can however, be a useful mechanism to take some strain off your finances at a difficult time. Whatever the living arrangements, the mortgage needs to be paid. It may be that you both continue living in the home until a final agreement
Our offices: Huntingdon Godwin House, George Street, Huntingdon, PE29 3BD T: 01480 454301 38
is reached about the long-term future of the home. This may not be the ideal scenario for either of you, but sometimes needs must. Most couples would prefer to live separately from the time they decide to separate, which is great if your finances allow it. You need to work together and take a pragmatic approach to paying the mortgage in these circumstances. If the spouse remaining in the property is in the stronger financial position they may well be able to pay the mortgage in full themselves. Commonly, it is the party in a weaker financial position who stays in the house, often a parent who doesn’t work or perhaps works part-time to fit around the children. That parent may not be able to pay the mortgage payment. The party who moves out is still responsible for the mortgage and must make sure that they can continue to pay the same, on top of their own costs of living independently. They may also be liable to pay child or interim spousal maintenance to the spouse that remains in the house, dependant on individual circumstances. If you are going through a separation, then the family team at Leeds Day can provide you with guidance and support on what your options are and assist you in reaching a lasting settlement with your spouse. For more information, contact us on 0844 567 2222 or visit our website: http://www. leedsday.co.uk/services-for-individuals/family/. We offer 30 minute consultation at a fixed fee of £60 plus VAT.
St. Ives 11 Station Road, St. Ives, Cambridgeshire PE27 5BH T: 01480 464600
St. Neots Xenus House, Sandpiper Court, Eaton Socon, St. Neots PE19 8EP T: 01480 474661
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Garden
1 By Katherine Sorrell
Garden Buildings A well-designed outdoor structure, whether for work or relaxation, can make a wonderful addition to a garden. The humble garden shed is the last word in practicality, indispensable for storing everything from half-used pots of paint to lawn feed and balls of string. But why be satisfied with just a shed, when other types of garden building can be much more glamorous – and equally useful? From pavilions to pods, summerhouses to shepherd’s huts, all sorts of outdoor structures are possible, provided you have space for one in your garden. They take many forms, from quirkily decorative to all-singing, all-dancing, year-round rooms – an open-sided gazebo, for example, might simply be a shady space in which to relax on a hot, sunny day, while an insulated, secure room could be an invaluable home office (and
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potentially save you the five-figure sum it costs to move to a bigger house). In short, an exterior home-from-home can be used for anything from outdoor dining to practising meditation, and will enhance the overall look of your garden, too. If you are considering adding a garden building of some kind, the best place to start is by assessing your outside space and considering how much square footage is available. It is important to leave a reasonable amount of garden to enjoy (and so as not to devalue your home). What do you need the structure for? If it is simply a cosy nook in which to put your feet up with a glass of wine after a day in the garden, a small, circular gazebo with a diameter of two or
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three metres may suffice, while a craft room, for example, would need to be more spacious, and a home office might be much larger still. Whatever you decide on, whether off the shelf, customised or entirely bespoke, is limited only by your imagination and your budget – and sometimes by whether you’ll be granted planning permission. Most garden buildings are considered ‘permitted development’, but it’s vital to check with your local authority. If the structure is going to be larger than 15 square metres, or used for sleeping in, then it will have to pass building regulations, too. Bear in mind that, unless you have been granted planning permission to do so, you can’t put an outbuilding in your front garden, nor can it be higher than 2.5m if it’s within two metres of a boundary. You’ll also want to think about how close you want the room to be to your house, whether the ground is sloping, where there are trees or other potential obstructions, how the sun falls at certain times of the day, and which way you want the windows and door to face. Next, go into detail about function. Do you want heating, lighting, plug sockets and maybe a kitchenette or bathroom? If so, unless you’re opting for solar or wind power, consider how you will connect utilities. Insulation is vital (think walls, floors and roof if the space is going to be used beyond the summer months), and so is good security. If anything valuable is going to be stored in the space, glass windows (perhaps even double glazed) are better than plastic, and a sturdy door with a proper lock will be necessary. Some may prefer rustic simplicity, perhaps a
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yurt with solar lighting and a sheepskin rug, or a thatched rotunda with a deck chair and weather vane, but others may opt for full-on opulence, which may take the form of underfloor heating, floor-to-ceiling bi-fold doors, an entertainment system, cinema set-up, ensuite bathroom, a green roof or a hot tub. Comfort and luxury are no longer limited to indoors – just step outside and see. How much will it cost? A small, DIY timber summerhouse should cost less than £1,000 – but you can easily spend a five-figure sum on a garden building, depending how large and lavish you go (David Cameron’s shepherd’s hut is said to have cost around £25,000). It really makes a difference whether the structure is conventional timber frame or highperformance structural insulated panels, while finishes such as cedar cladding and plastered walls all add up. For a fully functioning, yearround garden room, £10,000 to £20,000 is a very rough guide; but do check whether your quoted price includes gaining the necessary permissions, groundworks, connecting utilities, delivery and installation.
Summerhouse painted in House White No 2012 Exterior Eggshell, £69 for 2.5l Farrow & Ball: 01202 876141; www.farrow-ball.com. Enhance a small summerhouse with a lick of paint and some sleek blinds. Cuprinol Garden Shades, £29.76 for 2.5L: 01604 752424; www.cuprinol.co.uk. Multi-purpose Garden Igloo, £849, Cuckooland, 01305 231231; www.cuckooland.com.
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Prolific Pests
Garden
By Pippa Greenwood www.pippagreenwood.com
Bugs and beasties thrive in warmer weather, so how should these common problems be dealt with? Aphids - Aphids such as greenfly and blackfly suck sap from plants and can transmit viruses, sometimes with disastrous consequences. You can use a strong jet of water to blast aphids off plants, but be thorough or they will soon be back! Alternatively, spray with a suitable insecticide – I prefer a more environmentally friendly soap-based insecticide. Biological controls such as native two-spot ladybirds and their larvae can also be introduced – see www.pippagreenwood.com/ products/protect-your-crops for more information. Aphids breed rapidly, so regular control is necessary. Caterpillars - Caterpillars can do a lot of damage to plants and vegetable hearts. One of the best methods is to pick the pests off and either squash them or place them on the bird table. Caterpillars are easier to spot at dusk or very early in the morning. You can buy a mixture of nematodes to spray onto your plants and kill the caterpillars without harming humans or pets. Some caterpillars produce quantities of fine webbing to bind leaves or other plant parts together to create shelters. It is hard to get a pesticide or nematodes mix to reach them, so handpicking or squashing is often best. For susceptible vegetables such as calabrese, broccoli and other brassicas, stop the adults laying their eggs with horticultural fleece, netting or very fine Micromesh, either as pull-out tunnels or sheets of material cut to shape and pegged down. These keep a wide range of pests, including caterpillars,
away from the plants. Woodlice - Woodlice are rarely responsible for causing damage and are rather like vultures, moving in to clear up debris created by other pests. I say leave them be. Earwigs - Earwigs cause damage to petals or leaves, particularly on the flowers of plants such as clematis and dahlias. They can be controlled with contact insecticides but many prefer to trap the earwigs. One of the best ways to do this is with an inverted flowerpot – stuffed loosely with hay, straw or similar material – on top of a bamboo cane, and positioned amongst susceptible plants. The earwigs climb in and the pots can be emptied regularly. Mildew - Powdery mildew coats plant leaves, stems, buds and petals with a white flowery deposit, and can prevent fruits from swelling normally or cause leaves to distort or fall early. Prompt action is essential and suitable fungicides are available. Keep the damage to a minimum in the first instance by ensuring that the plants are kept well-watered – plants which are dry around the roots seem particularly prone to mildew attack. In addition, try to ensure a good flow of air around the plants, as stagnant, moist air seems to have a similar effect and can make matters worse very quickly. Careful pruning or weeding often solves the problem. Visit Pippa’s website www.pippagreenwood. com and you’ll find some great gardening items: Nemaslug, ladybirds and other great natural pest controls, stylish cloches, practical and pretty plant supports, the fantastic SpeedHoe, gardening tools, planters, Grower Frames, signed books and more! Or why not book Pippa for a gardening talk at your gardening club?
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Local News
Short Walks in Buckden Every Thursday morning at 10am, a group of walkers takes to the streets of Buckden to do a 20–30 minute short walk in order to improve their health and fitness. The group meets at the Buckden GP surgery in Mayfield Road and is part of the Huntingdonshire Health Walks scheme which aims to get people into a regular active routine to help improve physical and mental health. Councillor John Palmer, Executive Councillor for Partnerships and Wellbeing, said: “Huntingdonshire District Council’s Health Walks Scheme is provided free as part of the national Walking for Health initiative. Walking as part of a group makes it much easier to get into a regular exercise regime, with a set time to do the exercise and friends to motivate you. You too can join in with these walkers who enjoy a stroll whatever the weather. You don’t have to have any special equipment to join in, just a pair of comfortable supportive shoes.” Health Walks are suitable for all abilities and ages and for anyone who wants to get more active. New walkers are asked to complete a short health questionnaire either online at www.huntingdonshire.gov.uk/ newwalker, or turn up 15 minutes early at the start of their first walk. Children under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult. For more information on the Buckden Short walks, please call the surgery on 01480 810216. For more information about the Health Walk scheme, please contact Danielle Sancaster (HDC Active Lifestyles Development Officer) either by telephone on 01480 387047 or by email at activelifestyles@huntingdonshire.gov.uk
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Animal Stories
This month we have two lovely cats both in need of loving new homes. They came into our care back in May and have been advertised for some time, but with not one single enquiry. Firstly we have our cute little tortie cat, Dolly. Through absolutely no fault of her own, one year old Dolly had already had two homes before she found herself in our care, so she is now looking for her forever home! Although shy to start with, once Dolly has been given time to settle she is truly a loving, friendly cat who loves a good fuss. She has plenty of energy to play and keep herself amused, would suit most family homes but would prefer to be an only cat. Also looking for a new home is our very own black beauty, Diamond. Sadly found as a stray with no microchip and nobody to claim him. We believe he had got himself very lost, far away from home, so he took it upon himself to find his own place to live! He simply found a home he liked, moved into the garden and never left. Approximately four years old, this chunky fellow loves nothing more than a fuss and a cat nap, he really would make an excellent lap cat. Diamond would suit most family homes but would also prefer to be an only pet. These are just two of the cats we have in our care patiently waiting for their forever homes, but we have lots of others too! For more information about Dolly, Diamond or any other cats in our care, contact our Branch by either emailing adopt@ rspcabedsnorth.org.uk or phoning 01234 266965.
Pets
Sadly, strays like Diamond are a fairly regularly occurrence within the RSPCA. Although we always try our hardest to reunite lost cats with their owners, without a microchip it is much more difficult. Microchipping is when a tiny electronic chip is inserted into the pet animal, usually situated under the skin between the shoulder blades. Most pets will not feel the implanting of the chip, with vets believing it feels like having a typical vaccination. The microchip contains the owner’s personal information which links the pet back to them, making it much easier to reclaim them if lost or stolen. The microchips can be read by special scanners which will give out the individual chip number, which can then be checked against the chip company’s online database. Most vets, rescue centres and animal charities have these scanners which means if a lost or stolen pet animal is handed in, the owner can be contacted to be reunited their pet. However the microchip will only hold the data it was first registered with, therefore it is vitally important all details are correct and kept up to date so the owner can be easily contacted. Microchipping is such a quick, easy and small procedure which gives pets a little extra security and owners peace of mind. Speak to a vet for more information.
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Call Norm or Martin 01480477 040 / 07522661156 48
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Pets
Rehoming Appeal
Daisy
Daisy is a gentle girl who is looking for a home that will help increase her confidence with other dogs and life in general and to teach her to walk well on the lead. She is just under 3 years old and will make a great addition to any family. She can be homed with older children/teenagers and would prefer to be the only pet in the house. If you can offer this gentle girl a home, please contact Julie on 01763 289827. Alternatively, please email Philippa at info.rats@gmail.com who will be pleased to forward your enquiry onto the team. View other dogs, cats and small mammals currently in our care for re-homing on our website: www.rats-animalrescue.co.uk or facebook: www.facebook.com/ratscharity. Our next RATS event is our 35th Anniversary Companion and Novelty Dog Shows on 7th July at G & M Growers, Upper Caldecote from 10.00 a.m. onwards. Please come along to support us.
Garden Centre
Come and visit our friendly team for expert advice! Extensive outdoor plant area plus two large glasshouses bursting with: Seasonal perennials Homegrown plants Trees & Shrubs Seeds Bedding plants Gardening equipment ...and much more!
Cafe
Visit our welcoming, bright and spacious cafe Choose from our light bites menu, delicious cakes and a selection of beverages
ARRINGTON GARDEN CENTRE & CAFE
Located directly off the A1198 near Arrington, SG8 0AG | Open 7 days a week | 01223 208194
ALL YOU NEED FOR YOUR GARDEN, THROUGH ALL THE SEASONS To advertise in The Villager and Town Life please call 01767 261122
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Parenting
Budget Friendly Family Fun By Kate Duggan www.kateduggan.co.uk Have fun with the kids this summer, without breaking the bank. Kids Pass Kids Pass gives you 40% off cinema tickets and money off a range of restaurants and days out. You can even get discounts on holidays with Haven, Butlins, Eurocamp and other companies. The pass costs around £40 a year, but a month’s trial costs just £1. Think small Check whether your local amateur dramatics society is performing any plays suitable for families. Smaller venues are a lot cheaper than well-known theatres and young children really won’t care if an actor is an award-winning thespian or Mark from the corner shop. Older kids could even join the drama youth group. Don’t discount larger theatres altogether, however, as some offer discounts during the summer holidays. Children can attend a host of London shows for free during August’s Kids Week, as long as they’re accompanied by a paying adult – see www. officiallondontheatre.com/kids-week. Party time Clubbing together with other parents can help to keep costs down. Having a kids’ party at a soft-play centre, theme park, pottery barn or other activity centre often costs less per head than buying the activity and food separately for each child. Use PayPal’s Money Pools to collect the money from everyone. DIY A trip to a pottery workshop usually costs upwards of £10 a child, but if you buy the paints and pots
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online you can get that down to around £3 or £4 per child. Likewise, a home tie dye kit costs less than £15, which gives you enough dye for around ten children’s T-shirts. Fabric pens are even cheaper (and less messy). Try eBay for kits, T-shirts and other items to dye, such as cotton bags or pillow cases. Bulk buy with other parents to save money. Cheap days out Keep an eye on social media and www.familiesonline. co.uk for cheap days out. Libraries and councils sometimes organise holiday activities, such as storytelling and crafts. Country fairs often have lots on for kids and entrance is often free for under-16s as long as they’re accompanied by a paying adult. (Tickets are usually cheaper if they’re bought in advance.) For less than £15 for one adult and four children, you could enjoy a day out with aerobatics displays, ferret racing, motocross displays, puppet shows and more. Just remember to pack a cool bag with a picnic and ice pops, otherwise you’ll spend a small fortune on hotdogs, chips and ice-cream. Cashback Cashback sites such as Quidco and Topcashback give you money back every time you buy something online from one of their retail partners. They also offer discounts. When we checked, Quidco was advertising a fourteen-day Walt Disney pass for the price of seven days, and money off various flights. If you register your credit and debit cards with Quidco, you can also earn money when you shop on the high street, whether you’re buying kids’ clothes or treating the family to lunch out.
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Motoring
Fine and Points: Five Motoring Misdeeds As a motorist, it can be easy to pick up a few bad habits over the years, but you’d be forgiven for not having a good look at the Highway Code on a regular basis. However, there are some driving misdeeds that can take an unwitting toll on your wallet – here are five of them… Eating at the wheel It’s a situation many will be familiar with. You’re halfway through a long journey and when you stop at the services for some food you’re asked if you want to eat in or take away. You’re in a hurry, so you take it with you and start eating it as you pull back on to the motorway. While this will save you a few minutes, it also means you’re driving without due care and attention – and that can land you with up to nine points as well as severe financial penalties. Splashing pedestrians by driving through a puddle Section 3 of the 1988 Road Traffic Act states that driving “without reasonable consideration for other persons using the road” is an offence. The act rightly considers pedestrians to be road users, and driving through a puddle without looking to see if there’s anyone on foot and in the firing line can result in a fixed penalty posted through your door. Driving too slowly Being a cautious road user is – in most cases – quite a good thing. However, it’s possible to drive too slowly in the eyes of fellow road users – and, more importantly, the law.
If you’re driving slowly enough to be a potential hazard to motorists, you can receive an unlimited fine and up to nine points on your licence. Beeping your horn Road rage is something that should be kept in check for various reasons, and that includes the Highway Code. In general, you are only supposed to use your horn to make other drivers aware of your vehicle’s presence. However, regardless of the circumstances, using your horn between 11.30pm and 7am in a built-up area can leave you liable to be fined up to £1,000. Driving with an overly dirty number plate Keeping a car clean is always a good thing to do, but there are in fact legal ramifications that should convince you to wield a water-filled bucket and some car shampoo. Your number plate needs to be clean, or at the very least legible. Even if sections of it are obscured you’ll be liable for a £1,000 fine – and your car could even fail its MOT if it has an illegible number plate.
By James Baggott
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Local News
Ink Cartridges Please don’t throw them away We are the St Neots & District Indoor Bowls Club and our members have been collecting used printer cartridges and the money raised goes to local good causes. We have only been doing this for a few months and so far we have raised £140 which has been donated to the St Neots food bank. We could do more for the community if you were to donate your used cartridges to us. You can drop them into the club, there is a box just inside the door, leave them outside or better still come in and see what the club has to offer. Perhaps, try one of our open days. We are always looking for new members and you never know you might have discovered a new and very enjoyable pastime in a club with a very friendly atmosphere. We can be found at River Road, Eaton Socon. Phone 01480 218119 or visit the web site at www.snibc.co.uk
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Time of Year
Ready, Steady, MOW! Choose the right mower for your lawn Regular mowing is the key to an attractive, green and healthy lawn. You’ll need a mower, but which one should you choose? Small lawns - Many suburban homes have tiny lawns. A manual push lawn mower or rotary mower is powered by you pushing it rather than by electricity. The blades are mounted in a cylinder, which revolves when the mower is pushed. This produces a precise, even mowing result. They tend to be very compact which makes them manoeuvrable and easy to store. Small or medium-sized lawn - If your lawn is a little bigger or you don’t fancy a manual mower, an electric lawn mower might be for you. They run from a power source and make light work of your lawn. Electric mowers for smaller lawns are usually very easy to manoeuvre around objects. Most come with a handy container or bag to collect clippings. They are also pretty quiet and are available in energy-efficient versions. Just be aware that even with a small lawn you will probably need an extension cord. It’s wise to invest in a power breaker for safety. Accidents do happen. Larger lawn - Petrol mowers are good bigger lawns, where an extension cord becomes impractical. These mowers are powerful, but also heavy as they are often quite sizeable. They are less environmentally friendly because of the exhaust emissions. If you have more than 500 square
metres of grass, you’ll probably be better off with a ride-on petrol mower. All lawn mowers are available in various mowing widths. Generally speaking, the wider the lawn mower, the quicker you’ll get the job done. But you need to consider that wider mowers are less manoeuvrable. As a rule of thumb small lawns require a mowing width of around 29-33cm (11-13 inches); mediumsized lawns require a mowing width of around 38cm (15 inches).; large lawns may require widths larger than this, but all choices will depend on whether the lawn is ornamental, with features like ponds and trees, in which case a smaller mower might be better, or whether it’s more of an open grassy space. Most mowers are height adjustable. In other words, you can increase or decrease the distance between the blades and the ground to cut the grass at just the right height for you or the time of year. You can now buy mulching mowers. These cut the grass clippings into tiny pieces and blow them evenly into the grass. This method has the advantage of preventing the soil from drying out and gives fungus less chance to develop. A strimmer is a useful gadget for neatening up along walls, fences and the edge of flowerbeds. You can get more powerful versions which will let you attack weeds too. It’s best to wear safety goggles when using one as they generate a lot of flying debris.
By Tom Hancock
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G.B.BUILDERS NO JOB TOO SMALL FOR ALL MAINTENANCE, RENOVATIONS AND DIY WORK All general building repairs and odd jobs Specialist in Painting and Decorating & Groundwork and Grass cutting • Brickwork & Plastering Tiling Driveways • Paths & Patios Slabbing • Concreting Blockpaving • Fencing, Carpentry • Roofing Guttering • Drainage Plumbing
Call today 07877742420 or 01480 437511 Email: g.bbuilders@yahoo.co.uk
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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. 60
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Travel
By Solange Hando
The Lindos Acropolis - Rhodes According to legend, the Acropolis was founded by Lindos, the grandson of Helios the Sun god, and up on its rocky headland above the Aegean Sea, it just takes your breath away. Climb up the hill, on a donkey or up 300 steps, and the past lingers all around, glowing in the luminous light as the scent of wild flowers and herbs drifts along the steep winding path. The panorama is superb from the village, a sprinkling of white houses along the base of the rock, to the meandering coast, the blue sea and mountains beyond. But up on the top the medieval fortress bars the way with its long crenelated wall silhouetted against the sky. It was built in the early fourteenth century by the Knights of St John, a safe haven inaccessible from the sea and equally challenging from the land, enclosed by ramparts and towers. It isn’t much easier today but when you finally reach the tiny gate, you are greeted by a lonely olive tree and a jumble
of stones and rocks hiding a few inscriptions from ancient Greece. The next level leads up to the Knights’ headquarters with remains of the governor’s palace, including a coat of arms, and the Byzantine church of St John from the thirteenth century. But Lindos existed long before the Knights arrived. Tools from the New Stone Age were discovered at this spot and it was Homer who first mentioned the city, built by the Dorians in the twelfth century BC. Perched on an invincible rock guarding two beautifully sheltered harbours, Lindos reached its golden age in the sixth century BC under Cleovoulos, one of the seven sages of Ancient Greece. Trade flourished, great buildings enhanced the city, and on a former sacred site a new temple was dedicated to the goddess Athena. It still dominates the Acropolis, 116 metres above the sea, the highest point, and as you stand on the very edge of the rock, gazing at the sturdy remaining columns, you can
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imagine ancient worshippers struggling up the hill, laden with bountiful offerings as, filled with awe, they approached a divine presence between heaven and earth. Equally stunning is the Hellenistic stoa (200 BC), a passageway, originally covered, 87 metres long and 9 metres wide. Shaped like the Greek letter π, said to symbolise energy rising to the sky, it has retained 20 of its 42 Doric columns. It’s a great favourite for photographs with its lofty golden colonnade framed by blue sky and sea. There are also vestiges of a Roman stoa and temple, ancient stairways and several semicircular platforms, one with the prow of a ship hewn into the rock, where offerings were laid. Three thousand years of history are no mean achievement, and with the wonderful views all around you feel on top of the world. I mused for a while among these amazing ruins, hardly noticing the first drops of rain – but within minutes the Sun god was back in all his glory.
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0800 046 1080 UP TO 30% OFF IN JULY hello@thehomeimprovementproject.co.uk www.thehomeimprovementproject.co.uk To advertise in The Villager and Town Life please call 01767 261122
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n O s ’ t Wha 1 July Wandlebury Adventures: Fire Making 6-8pm Stable Rooms, Wandlebury Country Park £15 per session/£75 for 6. CambridgePPF. An opportunity for unaccompanied 8-12 year olds to learn how to start a fire. Advance booking only. Tel: 01223 243830 E: enquiries@cambridgeppf.org 1 July St Neots Timebank Evening 7-9pm Tesco Community Room Tel: 07590 909057 www.stneotstimebank.org.uk 1, 8, 15, 22 & 29 July Comrades Chess Club 7.30pm Comrades Club, Godmanchester Keep your mind active and play chess. Over 18s only as it’s a licensed premises. Every Monday except Bank Holidays. T: 01480 414623 E: ozzie.day5@gmail.com 2 July Hail Weston Wildlife and Gardening Group 7.15pm Members £4, Non-members £6 Garden Tour at Buckden Towers. Meet at Buckden Towers car park. Tour starts at 7.30pm, 8.30-9pm finish. Advance tickets essential. Tel: Rod Scuffle 07706 198807 Email: lizbacon187@gmail.com 2 July Bingo 7.30 for 8pm Mandeville Hall, Kimbolton Meet or bring friends, bar, cake, good prizes, a fun night out. See you there! 2, 6, 9, 13, 16, 20, 23, 27 & 30 July Farming, Food and Forgotten Folk 11am-12 noon Wimpole Estate Learn more about the arable land farmed at Wimpole. Discover past histories, archaeology, wildlife and nature as well as our current farming practices and crops we're growing today.
Deadline for What’s On entries is the 12th of the previous month. What’s on entries to whatson@villagermag.com
In July
3 July Brampton Flower Club 7.30pm Community Centre, High Street, Brampton Lynne Sharpe presenting ‘Car Boot Collection’. Tel: Jan Dobie 01480 531822 Web: www.bramptonflowerclub.com
6 July Jazz Evening 7pm Buckworth Church Tickets £15 inc. light supper. Featuring Barry Palser’s Jazz Men. Pop-up bar. All proceeds towards Buckworth Church. Tickets must be booked in advance. Tel: Denise Bream-Foster 01480 896602
3 July Black Cat WI 7.30pm Wyboston Village Hall The group meets on the first Wednesday of each month. Tel: Susie Woodman 01234 376098
6 July Big Deal Comedy – Stand-up Comedy Night 7.30pm Cambourne Sports and Social Club, Behind Everyone Active, Back Lane Tickets £7. Some of the best new and experienced comedians on the circuit. Advance booking advised. Web: www.bigdealcomedy.co.uk
3, 10, 17, 24 & 31 July Wednesday Walk 11am-12.30pm Wimpole Estate Join us for a different walk each week, showing off some of the best views, woodland paths and secret seats in and around Wimpole's parkland. Walks range from 3-5 miles. Guided walk is free but there is a parking charge for non-members. 5 July St Neots Local History Society 7.30pm Guided Walk around Diddington - Angela Ellmer/ Edmund Thornhill. Web: http://stneotslhs.org.uk 5 July Friday Night Drinks 7.30-11pm Buckworth Cricket Club, Church Road, Buckworth, Huntingdon Join us at the Club to celebrate the end of the week, have a drink, play pool, darts and skittles and relax. Web: www.buckworthcricketclub.co.uk 6 July Art & Craft Fair 9.30am-4pm Free Church Hall, St Ives Free admission. Quality handmade art and craft stalls. Tombola.
6 July Huntingdonshire Philharmonic Last Night of the Proms 7.30pm Hinchingbrooke Performing Arts Centre, Huntingdon Tickets £14/£12, Student concession £7/£6 A mixture of old and new ‘Prom’ favourites - including George Gershwin’s Piano Concerto No.1, Zadok the Priest, Quilter’s Non nobis, Domine, 633 Squadron, Walton’s Battle of Britain Suite, Elgar’s Pomp and Circumstance March No. 1 (Land of Hope and Glory), Rule Britannia and Jerusalem. Tickets available online or on the door. Web: www.huntsphil.org.uk 6 & 7 July Cambourne to be Wild Music Festival A two day festival of live music, art, wild activities and good food and drink; all in support of local wildlife. Staged at Cambourne Business Park near the Wildlife Trust headquarters. Family event with something for everyone. Book online. Web: www.wildlifebcn.org/cambourne-wild
6 & 13 July Huntingdon Music School 8.30am-1pm Hinchingbrooke School 6 July The music school operates lessons and ensemble St Neots Timebank Coffee Morning groups on Saturday mornings during term-time. 2, 9, 16, 23 & 30 July 11am-1.30pm St Mary’s Church Hall, St Neots They also offer music lessons in Huntingdon area St Ives Photographic Club 7pm Come and join us for a cuppa, chat and why not have schools. Tel: 01480 584867 or 07719 835472 Free events for budding photographers. Meet club a head massage at the same time? Each speciality Email: enquiries@huntsmusicschool.org.uk members, practice your photography and ask advice. taster is £5 each. Therapists and related stall holders Web: www.huntsmusicschool.org.uk Email: events@stives-photoclub.org.uk still needed. Please call to book your place. Web: www.stives-photoclub.org.uk Tel: 07590 909057 www.stneotstimebank.org.uk 7 July Hinxton Watermill Open Day 2, 9, 16, 23 & 30 July 6 July 2.30-5.30pm Mill Lane, Hinxton Roxton Bridge Circle Simply Saturday CambridgePPF Members free, Non-members £3, 7.15-10pm Roxton Parish Hall 12.30-2.30pm St James Church, Little Paxton Children £1. See the mill in action, riverside walk and Small friendly group playing Bridge every Tuesday For adults of all ages with lunch and various ‘Where’s Ratty’ game for children. No need to book. evening. Tel: Mary 01480 212552 activities available. Visit to Railway Garden. Email: mary@jackpike.co.uk Tel: Helen Young 01480 216255 7 July Email: young_paxton@ntlworld.com Summer Concert with St Neots Concert Band 3 July 7.30pm Berkley Street Methodist Church, St Mary's Afternoon WI St Neots 6 July Eynesbury, St Neots 2pm St Mary's Church Rooms, St Neots Fashion Show & Shopping Event Advance Adults £8, On the door adults £10, Under 18s First Wednesday of the month. Handmade Millinery 7pm Little Paxton Primary School free. Come and join the St Neots Concert Band for an & Jewellery. Tel: May Parker 07724 043941 Fundraising eventl. Many favourite brands - sizes 6 evening full of exhilarating live music. Refreshments. Email: mayp.at.home@gmail.com to 30 - up to 75% off. Tickets available online. Tickets available from band members, by telephone Facebook: www.facebook.com/St-Marys-Afternoon- Web: www.pta-events.co.uk/littlepaxtonpreschool or email. Tel: Joe Wallace 07754 901453 St-Neots-Womens-Institute-238190076940278/ Email: info@stneotsconcertband.com
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n O s ’ t Wha
8 July 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
8 & 22 July Nature Tots 10-11.30am Ferry Meadows, Peterborough £3.50. 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 songtime. Age 2+. Tel: 01733 234193 Email: visitor.services@neneparktrust.org.uk 9 July St Ives Sugarcraft Guild 7.30pm Reading Room, Hemingford Grey Monthly meetings where you can learn, hands on, various cake decorating techniques and/or sugar modelling. Tel: Shirley 01480 454616 for more info 10 July Fundraising Coffee Morning 10am-1pm All Saints Church, Market Square, Huntingdon The Hunts Society for the Blind Fundraising Coffee Morning. All welcome to come along and try our delicious homemade cakes, accompanied by a cup of tea and coffee. Craft stalls, tombola and raffle. 13 July 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 markets. Refreshments available. 13 July Wildlife Trust Guided Walk 10.30am Paxton Pits Paxton Pits nature reserve is well known for its flooded gravel pits which attract a large number of birds. The site also offers diverse habitats and is attractive to a wide variety of wildlife. Meet outside visitor centre PE19 6ET or TL199637. T: 07775 365507 Email: Alistair alistairrgrant@hotmail.com 13 July Paxfest & Fun Dog Show and other Animals 12 noon-4.45pm QEII Playing Field, Little Paxton Free admission. Lots of stalls, BBQ, beer tent, games, Connections Youth Bus, Mr Marvel’s Magic Show, refreshments, Fun Dog Show and musical entertainment. 13-27 July Cambridge Summer Musical Festival The 2019 Festival kicks off on 13 July and runs for a full glorious fortnight, focusing on two themes that promise to deliver some exceptional musical experiences: music by women composers, and music by (and inspired by) JS Bach. Web: www.cambridgesummermusic.com or www. cambridgelivetrust.co.uk/tickets
This is a small selection of the What’s On for the full listing please go to our website www.villagermag.com
In July
14 July Kimbolton Country Fayre & Classic Show 2019 Gates open 11am, activities start 12 noon Kimbolton Castle An exciting day out for the whole family. Amongst the new attractions are Guido Louis Equestrian Stunt & Tackless Show. Free car parking. Web: www.kimboltoncountryfayre.com
19 July Screen St Ives Doors open 7.30pm for 8pm The Corn Exchange, St Ives First Man. 2 hr 21 min, 2018. Cert 12A. We all remember astronaut Neil Armstrong. What was the story behind this epic mission? What was the impact for those on Earth? Web: www.screenstives.org.uk
15 July St Neots Royal Naval Association 7.30pm The RAFA Club, 44 Huntingdon Street, St Neots St Neots & District Branch of the Royal Naval Association meet on the third Monday of every month. Tel: Tony Webley 01480 215218 Email: jj.awebley@btinternet.com
21 July St Neots & District Gardening Club Visit to Bressingham Gardens. Web: www.stneotsgardenclub.org.uk
15 July 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 16 July Kimbolton Flower Club 7 for 7.30pm Mandeville Hall, Kimbolton Members £2, Visitors £7.50. Flower arranging demonstration by Emma Remington called 'Tools of the Trade'. All welcome. 17 July Carers Coffee Club 2-3.30pm 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 July Huntingdonshire Family History Society Women's Institute Centre, Waldon Road, Huntingdon Afternoon visit to Ramsey Rural Museum & Walled Garden. Tel: Caroline Kesseler 01480 390476 Email: secretary@huntsfhs.org.uk Website: www.huntsfhs.org.uk 19 July St Neots Timebank Friends Group 11am-1.30pm Frankie & Benny’s, The Rowley Arts Centre, St Neots A chance to meet and chat over a cuppa, catch up with existing friends and meet new ones. Held every four weeks and open to everyone. 19 July Stan & Ollie (PG) 7 for 7.30pm Mandeville Hall, Kimbolton The untold story of the World’s Greatest Comedy Act. Tickets available from Oliver’s, Old Swan Pharmacy, Bytes Café or on the door. Email: jrstratford@ hotmail.com. Web: http://e-voice.org.uk/ themandevillehallkimbolton/community-cinema
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23 July Wildlife Trust 7.30pm Godmanchester Nature Reserve Godmanchester Nature Reserve consists of 4 lakes which are former gravel pits which attracts a wide variety of birds, insects and flowers. We will also be on the look-out for bats at the end of the evening. Meet at reserve entrance on Cow Lane PE29 2EJ or TL2639. Email: Alistair alistairrgrant@hotmail.com 24 July Roxtonettes Monthly Music Evenings 7.30pm Roxton Village Hall, High Street, Roxton £2.50 inc. refreshments. Do you enjoy singing or playing a musical instrument? We meet on the 4th Wednesday of the month. 7.30pm onwards for Instrumentalists and 8pm onwards for Singers. Tel: Eamonn 07780 954314 or Susie 01234 376098 25 July Summer Holiday Trail 10am-4.30pm Ferry Meadows, Peterborough £1. Collect a trail sheet and hunt for clues around Ferry Meadows. Collect a prize at the end. Tel: 01733 234193 Email: visitor.services@neneparktrust.org.uk 25 July Connections Bus 7-9pm Little Paxton Village Hall Car Park Thursday evenings during the school summer holidays. The bus is a free youth club and is aimed at school year 7 and above. Internet access, games consoles, Xbox, craft activities, tuck shop and advice. The bus is supported by two youth volunteers. Financially supported by the Parish Council. 30 July Huntingdonshire Diabetes Group Millennium Hall, Burberry Road, Buckden Mike Brooks of the Cambridgeshire Bobby Scheme. Email: hunts.diabetesuk@gmail.com Web: huntingdonshire.diabetesukgroup.org 31 July Free Children’s Activity Sessions 2-4pm QEII Playing Field, Little Paxton Children’s activities during the school holiday. Come along to the QEII Playing Field. Lots of fun activities such as jenga, wide games & tennis. Organised by Huntingdonshire District Council's Roadshow team.
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Technology
The Roaming Empire Technology for wherever the path may take
One of the great things about technology is that it can help you when you’re far from civilisation. It can track your hike, provide the tools you need when you’re far from home or just give your phone a boost so you can listen to music while you explore the great outdoors. Smartwatches aren’t just for runners and cyclists: there are hiking-specific ones too. Look for features such as a barometer (for pressure, to help predict weather changes), altimeter (for altitude) and compass (for directions). Some even have thermometers you can use to help plan what you’re going to wear. As with all technology, hikingready smartwatches differ wildly in price: Garmin’s Fenix 5 is packed with features but it’ll also set you back £449.99. If you’re a serious hiker that’s a worthwhile investment, but if you’re more of a weekend stroller a more modest, more affordable watch that uses your phone for GPS might be a better idea. TomTom’s useful Spark 3, which can track your vitals and record your travels, is currently £110.
For extreme outdoor enthusiasts who think nothing of clambering up the odd terrifying tower, an action camera is a must: it’ll record what you do for those allimportant YouTube or Facebook shares later. The GoPro Hero range is the favourite here, but the cameras can be pricey; for example the Hero7 Waterproof model is currently £329. If you’d rather start with something a lot more basic, you can pick up a noname action camera for as little as £25. Of course you get what you pay for, so you won’t get the features, add-ons or ruggedness of a more expensive device, but they’re a cheap and cheerful way to get surprisingly good video when you’re out and about. Don’t forget about lowertech gadgets too, such as the legendary Victorinox Huntsman Swiss Army Knife (£24); with corkscrew, scissors, saw and bottle opener as well as knife blades it’s a perfect multi-tool for all kinds of travel. If you need even more bits, Leatherman’s range of multi-tools has you covered: the £149 Surge may
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seem expensive but it manages to cram an entire tool chest – screwdrivers, pliers and multiple blades – into an incredibly small space. Simpler and cheaper models are available too. If you’re using electronic gadgets, sooner or later you’ll encounter the same old problem: battery life. You can’t exactly plug in your phone charger when you’re halfway up a mountain, but what you can do is plug it into a portable battery pack and charge it from that. Battery packs have become much more powerful, portable and affordable in recent years, and it’s possible to get a really good one for very little money. For example, Anker’s PowerCore II Slim can charge a high-end smartphone two or three times from a single charge, and it’s small enough for even the most basic backpack. It’s cheap, too: £25.99. If you need even more power for a longer trip, the 20100 version has double the battery power and currently costs £33 – although it’s a bit heavier at 349g compared to the cheaper unit’s 213g.
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Local News
Could you Help at Home?
Cambridgeshire families need you! Here at East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH) we thrive off the generous support of our volunteers across all areas of the charity. This summer, we’re recruiting enthusiastic volunteers for our Help at Home programme. The families who receive support from us would often also benefit from practical support at home. For them, spending time together and making the most of every moment is much more important than doing the ironing or cutting the grass. And that’s where you come in. The families need volunteers ready to step into their homes and relieve some of the burden by taking on these household tasks! The Help at Home programme at EACH is such a valuable part of the support service we offer. Charlotte Redmond, EACH Volunteer Coordinator, says: “I only started working at EACH a few weeks ago and already I’m seeing what an amazing effect the Help at Home programme can have on the lives of families. I’ve no doubt we should be expanding the programme to reach more families who need simple practical support to make their day-to-day lives that little bit easier.” The only thing you need to get involved is time to give. You can get more information by contacting Charlotte at charlotte.redmond@each.org.uk or on 07889 251385. There are plenty of volunteering opportunities at EACH. You can visit the website www.each.org.uk to find out how you can support us.
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Quirky Britain
By Kate McLelland
Hunting Pigs and Talking Dogs
Eccentrics and their animals The British are known as a nation of animal lovers, so it’s not surprising to find that some of history’s most colourful characters were obsessed with their pets. But these eccentric sometimes used their pets as status symbols, kept them as curiosities or subjected them to strange experiments. Here are a few individuals whose love of animals brought them either fame or infamy: John ‘Mad Jack’ Mytton - Born in 1796, ‘Mad Jack’ Mytton came into a huge family fortune as a young man and dedicated the rest of his life to spending every penny of his inheritance. He was fascinated by animals and once rode a bear into his dining room to terrify his guests. Jack lived for risk and it was said of him “not only did he not mind accidents, he positively liked them.” In 1826 he won a bet by riding his horse up the stairs of a Leamington Spa hotel and jumping through the window into the street. He also kept over 2,000 dogs, feeding his favourites on steak and champagne. Barbara Woodhouse - In the 1980s Barbara Woodhouse burst onto our TV screens with her trademark style of dog training, complete with commands such as “Sitttt!” and “Walkies!” which quickly became national catchphrases. Barbara didn’t suffer fools gladly and she often talked to dog owners in the same brisk tone she would use for misbehaving dogs: “Now, you’re rather fidgety, Mr Chambers: can you calm yourself?”
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Her TV series ‘Training Dogs the Woodhouse Way’ was an instant hit with audiences but some of Barbara’s training methods – such as jerking the dog’s lead and issuing harsh commands – have since been abandoned in favour of positive reinforcement techniques. Jemmy Hirst - Born in Rawcliffe, Yorkshire in 1738, Jemmy was a true eccentric. As a young boy he taught a tame jackdaw and a pet hedgehog to follow him around at school, but as an adult he decided to train his beloved bull, Jupiter, to behave like a horse, riding it and letting it pull his carriage. Possibly the most bizarre incident in Jemmy Hirst’s animal training career involved him riding Jupiter to a fox hunt, using pigs instead of hounds to follow the scent. King George III heard of Jemmy’s animal exploits and invited him down to London. The bull-trainer and the monarch clearly got on well and Jemmy even invited the king to visit his Yorkshire home for a “good brandy”. George politely refused Jemmy’s invitation but reputedly gave him several choice bottles from the royal cellar for the journey back. Whatever your feelings about these notable animal eccentrics, you can’t deny their obvious affection for their pets. These days, when one in ten pets has its own social media profile and when almost a third of owners admit they buy more Christmas gifts for their pets than for their partners, who is to say we Brits are not all a little animal crackers?
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June’s Puzzle Solutions and Winners Last Month’s Crossword Winner Mr S Barker from Sandy Winner of Battle Proms Tickets Paul Calow from Huntingdon
Winner of Folk by the Oak Tickets Miss P Ray from Stotfold
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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 July 2019 Prize Crossword, Villager Publications Ltd 24 Market Square, Potton, Beds SG19 2NP
Prize
ÂŁ25
Across 1 Unable to hear (4) 3 Previously (8) 9 A lawn game (7) 10 Tease (5) 11 Produced (12) 14 Period of time (3) 16 Stop (5) 17 Feminine pronoun (3) 18 In spite of (12) 21 Shoreline (5) 22 Placing (7) 23 Daily (8) 24 Requests (4) Down 1 Twelfth month (8) 2 Embellish (5) 4 Not in (3) 5 Dimensions (12) 6 Entrants in a race (7) 7 A toy (2-2) 8 Adequately (12) 12 Map or diagram (5) 13 Communications (8) 15 Mean (7) 19 Departs (5) 20 Land measurement (4) 22 Small vegetable (3)
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Need a reliable window cleaner? Window cleaning • Gutter cleaning Conservatory roof cleaning
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Book Review The Library of Lost and Found by Phaedra Patrick
Librarian Martha Storm finds a book containing a dedication from her grandmother. But the dedication is dated several years after her grandmother supposedly died. The book sets Martha out on a quest that will rock her safe, predictable life and remind her of who she really is. A hugely enjoyable, warm hug of a book.
Stone Mothers by Erin Kelly
Marianne is back in her home village, and desperate to keep a secret hidden that could destroy the life she’s built over the last 30 years. A secret that ties her to her childhood sweetheart, Jesse, as well as the MP responsible for shutting down the local asylum. This chilling psychological tale is a slow-burner but well worth sticking with.
Internment By Samira Ahmed
Set ‘15 minutes into the future’, Internment tells the story of 17-year-old Layla, who is sent to a Muslim-American internment camp in the middle of the Californian desert. Similar to the real JapaneseAmerican internment camps of World War II, this camp is a dangerous place to stand out. Layla’s parents want her to keep her head down and not attract the attention of the vicious camp director. But Layla is prepared to risk her life for her freedom. A powerful page-turner about the price of turning a blind eye to bigotry.
Books By Kate Duggan
A Boy and his Dog at the End of the World By C. A. Fletcher
Griz is growing up in a postapocalyptic world where massinfertility has decimated the human population. His community is tiny and life is difficult. When a stranger steals the family’s dog, Griz sets out to get her back, on a journey that will take him from his tiny island on the Outer Hebrides across Scotland and Northern England. Perfect for fans of The Road and Station’s Eleven. .
The Dollmaker by Nina Allan
Andrew and Bramber start writing to each other because of their shared interest in dolls. As their friendship grows, Andrew decides to visit Bramber at the institution she calls home. Andrew and Bramber’s story is interspersed with tales written by another dolllover, Ewa Chaplin, which Andrew reads on his journey. A beautiful, strange, multi-layered book you’ll want to keep reading long after the sun has gone down.
Outlander by Diana Gabaldon
If your idea of the perfect holiday is spending several days on a sun lounger with a good book, then the Outlander series could be just what you’re looking for. On a trip to the Scottish Highlands, Claire Randall steps through a circle of stones and finds herself transported from 1946 to 1743, where she’s taken prisoner by Scottish outlaws. The hit TV show is now into its fourth season and the books are even better
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