Cambs July 2020

VILLAGER The

Issue 135 - July 2020

and Town

Life

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

In this issue Paddling Pool Safety

Get Moving for

Mental Health Win £25 in our Prize Crossword

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Inside this issue...

News from EAAA

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Abusive Costermonger Summoned to Court Room............... 4 The History of the Pandemic........................................................... 6 Nick Coffer's Weekend Recipe.......................................................10 Dining in the Kitchen......................................................................... 12 Wines Worth Locating: The Winebarn........................................16 Handy Songs for Clean Hands........................................................18 News from East Anglian Air Ambulance..................................... 21 Summer Dressing to Keep Cool.................................................... 22 Staycation Treats................................................................................ 25 Get Moving for Mental Health.....................................................26 Covid-19 and the effect on children arrangements...............28 Lasting Power of Attorney and a Will........................................30 Silver Splendour.................................................................................. 34 Lockdown Musings.............................................................................37

Avoiding Food Waste........................................................................38 Back to Nature....................................................................................40 The Good Pet Owner's Guide to Summer................................ 43 Children's Page.....................................................................................44 Escape to Victory...............................................................................46 Puzzle Page...........................................................................................48 Fun Quiz.................................................................................................50 Paddling Pool Safety......................................................................... 52 Make your outdoors great..............................................................54 Villager Prize Crossword..................................................................58 Gail's Guide to Gin..............................................................................61 Book Review......................................................................................... 62 Useful Numbers.................................................................................. 63

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The Good Pet Owner’s Guide to Summer

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, Nick Coffer, Kate Duggan, Katherine Sorrell, Trevor Langley, Alison Williams, Jennie Billings, Kate McLelland, Leeds Day Solicitors, Ann Haldon, EAAA, Pippa Greenwood, Rachael Leverton, RSPCA, Sarah Davey, Tracey Anderson and Gail Mitchell.

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

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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

Abusive Costermonger summoned to St. Neots Court Room By Peter Ibbett Most folk pass by the Victorian buildings that comprise St. Neots Museum without realising that the original Victorian light that passed through the distinctive curved windows shone into a court room where local magistrates dealt with misdemeanours of their day. A Cambridge paper of November 8th 1879 reveals the case load of Colonel Humbley; Rev B H Puckle, Captain Duberly; J Linton, A.J. Thornhill, and C.P Rowley, Esqs. The first of three problems was easily dispatched.

William Edling, a stranger, was brought up, charged with hawking without a pedlar’s licence and ordered to leave the town. A lengthier case was that of farmer Thomas Seward of Godmanchester who was charged with stealing eight beasts, the property of Mr Edward Bull, at Papworth St. Agnes on the 4th November. It was alleged that he was seen driving them through Hilton towards St. Ives, at which town he put them on the railway, and sent them to Mr. Abbott’s auction sale at Thrapston, where they were sold to various people.

Superintendent Copping applied for a remand on the ground that he had not had time to get up the necessary evidence in this case. The case was

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remanded for a week. The third case involved a local character and turned out to be an easy one to pass judgement on. William Ibbett, costermonger (cart seller of fruit & vegetables) of St. Neots was charged with an offence under the Highway Acts.

Mr Linton said that on the 24th of last month he saw the defendant’s pony and conveyance blocking the road at Buckden, so much so that no one could pass. After some little delay, defendant came up, and being remonstrated with by witness, made use of the most abusive and filthy language. Defendant said he was a hawker, and therefore obliged to leave his pony in the roads and streets. The Bench duly informed Ibbett that he had no right to leave his pony to prowl about the highways to the danger of other passengers, and certainly not to insult persons who were inconvenienced by such neglect.

He would have to pay a fine of 2s 6d, and costs 15s. More information about other cases dealt with in this local court can be found on the St. Neots Museum web site which has added new material, including Video programmes, to compensate for its closure during the virus lock down. Do take a look for there are new items aimed at children to help support their school and home education.

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History

By Catherine Rose

The History of the Pandemic Despite our increased global mobility meaning pandemics are potentially more likely, diseases have been crossing country borders for centuries.

One of the earliest pandemics, the Justinian plague, began in 500 AD, spreading from Egypt into Palestine, the Byzantine Empire and then Europe.

Similar to bubonic plague, it killed twenty-six per cent of the world’s population – around five hundred million – thwarting Roman Emperor Justinian’s plans to revitalise the Roman Empire.

1347 saw the first wave of the Black Death, a pneumonic form of bubonic plague – one of the most devastating pandemics in human history.

Originating in Asia, it is likely to have travelled along the Silk Route and then by ship into Europe. It is believed, as with later outbreaks, that it was spread via fleas contaminated with the yersinia pestis bacteria.

The disease is estimated to have killed hundreds of millions of people worldwide and up to sixty per cent of the population in Europe. Characterised

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by a fever and buboes, the Black Death could kill within hours. Whole villages were wiped out and in cities people were confined to their homes, a cross marking the door to indicate if they had the plague within. Carts were piled high with bodies as people were ordered to ‘bring out their dead’.

It wasn’t until the nineteenth century that the bacteria were discovered. At the time, it was believed that the plague was caused by miasma or ‘bad air’. It was even thought that the illness could jump out of a dead man’s eyes and infect a healthy person.

Many believed that sinners were being punished.

Groups of flagellants took to the streets, whipping themselves to appease an angry God. What a strange sight that would be to us today!

The Black Death lasted until 1352 and had huge economic and social repercussions.

Instances of bubonic plague returned over the following centuries. In 1665, the Great Plague of London spread from ports along the Thames and

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killed twenty per cent of its population. As has happened more recently in China, it was believed that cats and dogs were spreading the disease and many were slaughtered.

The term ‘quarantine’ was coined in Venice referring to a period of forty days – the optimum time necessary for the spread of an epidemic to be contained. Cities that implemented quarantines were found to be less affected by fast-transmitting diseases.

The first of several cholera pandemics began in Russia in 1815. Acquired through contaminated water and food, the British Army unwittingly spread this serious bacterial illness across the British Empire.

Eventually India, China, Indonesia, Japan, Spain, Italy, Germany and America all succumbed to the pandemic. Millions of people died from the rapidly fatal effects of the disease which causes severe diahorreah and dehydration.

Another outbreak occurred during the Crimean War between 1853 and 1856. Nurse Florence Nightingale became famous at this time for her tireless efforts to improve unsanitary conditions.

A vaccine was created in 1885.

Smallpox, caused by the variola virus, is one of the most devastating diseases. Various outbreaks have occurred over the centuries with the earliest believed to have been as far back as 10,000 BC. During the twentieth century alone, smallpox was responsible for up to five hundred million deaths worldwide. It was finally declared by WHO to be eradicated in 1980.

The fact that COVID-19 originated in animals is one of the reasons it has been taken so seriously.

However, it is not the first pandemic virus to do so. The Spanish flu, which struck worldwide during

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1918/19, is believed to have started in birds.

Unlike regular flu, the illness targeted healthy young people more than it struck the old. With this particular strain, it is thought to be due to older people having built up more immunity over the course of their life.

Although nicknamed the Spanish flu, it first appeared in Kansas, America in 1918. Due to World War I, many European countries had news blackouts and initial announcements of the disease came from Madrid, which led to people believing it had begun in Spain.

Its arrival towards the end of the war meant it spread rapidly in the unsanitary and confined conditions of the trenches. And it came at a devastating time when populations had already been decimated.

This particularly deadly flu primarily attacked the lungs, leading to severe bronchial pneumonia. It infected a third of the world’s population and resulted in around fifty to one hundred million deaths.

During its year-long reign, public places were closed and people told to wear masks, self-isolate and not shake hands. At the time it was believed to be caused by bacteria; much smaller viruses were only discovered later.

India was one of the worst affected countries due to the high number of people living in close proximity there. Tasmania closed its borders early and implemented a strict quarantine period – as a result the pandemic was mildest by comparison.

Today, we are better informed about the spread of disease, our lives are more sanitary and scientists can more easily predict outcomes and implement strategies that contain it.

Stay safe and well.

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9

Food & Drink

Vietnamese Duck Salad Serves 4 people I used to live in East London and we had some wonderful Vietnamese restaurants there. I fell in love with this cuisine. It’s often light, fragrant, crunchy and healthy. And those four words perfectly describe this duck salad.

The star here is the dressing, which is so versatile. It was made for my show by Anne Harvey, who launched her catering and cookery course company, Taste of Vietnam, in St Albans to showcase all that is great about her country’s food. This is simple food, executed to perfection.

Ingredients 2 duck breasts 1 onion 1/2 red cabbage (shredded) 2 green mangos (peeled and julienned) 2 carrots (peeled and julienned) 15 mint leaves (roughly sliced) 10g piece of ginger 2 shallots For the dressing: 1 tbsp fish sauce 1 tbsp lemon/ lime juice 1/2 tbsp sugar 2 tbsp hot water 1 tsp garlic (finely chopped) 1 tsp chilli (finely chopped) 1 tsp ginger (finely chopped or grated) 1 tbsp crushed roasted peanuts

1. Bruise the ginger with a meat tenderiser or rolling pin. The ginger should remain in one piece.

2. Place the duck breasts in a saucepan and cover it with boiling water.

3. Add the ginger, 2 shallots and a pinch of salt to the pan. Cover with a lid and simmer for 10 minutes on a medium heat.

4. Take the duck out, leave it to rest and thinly slice it just before serving it.

5. While waiting for the duck to be poached, prepare the sauce.

6. In a small bowl, add the fish sauce, lime or lemon juice, sugar and hot water. Mix well until the sugar has dissolved. Add the ginger, garlic and chilli.

7. In a mixing bowl, combine the mango, carrot, red cabbage and mint. Add a tablespoon of dressing and toss well.

8. Transfer to a plate, add the duck breast slices on the top, and garnish with crushed peanuts and more of the dressing.

(NOTE: Duck breast can be replaced here with chicken breast or tiger prawns.)

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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Interiors

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By Katherine Sorrell

Dining in the Kitchen A quick breakfast, a family supper or an informal dinner party: design a comfortable, practical and stylish place to sit down and eat in your kitchen.

A separate dining room is a luxury for formal occasions, but for daily life the idea of preparing dinner while watching your children do their homework at the table, or chatting to friends who are sipping a drink while you whip up a tasty meal, is hugely appealing. A dining area in the kitchen can even serve as a makeshift home office.

As with any room design, consider the floor plan, taking into account the doorway, windows, any radiators, cupboards and so on, ensuring that you plan your eating space in the kitchen at the early stages, with wiring in the right places to allow suitable lighting over the table. Consider the size and shape of the available space as well as the number of regular diners and what different functions the table will serve. Ensure that any seating area is not on a through-route to, for example, the fridge or sink, and allow plenty of circulation space behind chairs (600-750mm is recommended).

In larger kitchens, the obvious choice is a standalone dining table, rectangular, square, oval or circular, depending on what will best suit the

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space. It could go parallel to the island, or in the space provided by an L-shaped run of units. If you place the table near a recessed window, in a corner or adjacent to an island unit, it might be possible to build in benches (perhaps with hinged seats for extra storage) to save some floor space; an extending table is another great option, giving you flexibility when needed. Look for a table that is easy to wipe down and that complements your kitchen in terms of style, whether it is modern and minimal or classic and more decorative. You may even wish to harmonise your table top with your kitchen worktops. Another great option is to continue the island unit with an adjacent but lower dining table, either in one line (ideal for a long, thin kitchen) or at right angles, which takes up less space than a separate table but still gives the illusion of one.

When space in the kitchen is more limited, or the proportions of the room will not allow the inclusion of a separate dining table, adding barstool seating around one or two sides of an island unit works extremely well – though as the cook

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may be preparing food while diners are waiting to eat, it does help if they are able to keep the work surface relatively clean and tidy! On the upside, it makes it easier for everyone to pitch in and help. A difference in worktop materials, or a slight change in level, is a nice way to separate the cooking area from the eating area, and don’t forget that the counter should have an overhang that extends beyond the base by at least 30cm, in order to allow your knees to fit in comfortably below. And, when a hob or other cooking area is incorporated into the island, it is very important that diners are far enough away to be safe from splashes or accidentally touching hot surfaces.

Choose bar stools with cushions or upholstery, a supportive back and a foot rail to make them more comfortable. Styles that lift up and down are ideal when family members are different heights; otherwise, measure the available height carefully to ensure that your chosen option will fit under the countertop.

In tiny kitchens, there are other options for enjoying a cup of coffee or a quick breakfast. A counter area for two or three people to perch can consist of little more than a slender ledge with

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stools tucked underneath (think of sandwich bars – if they can do it, so can you). A small flip-down table – even as little as a hinged overhang – can be attached to a wall or island and lowered just for mealtimes, with folding chairs hung on wall hooks to be out of the way when not in use. It may even be possible to install a pull-out worktop (often used as additional prep areas), which would be ideal as a breakfast bar for one or two people. With careful thought and some ingenuity, you should be able to fit a welcoming eating area into your kitchen, whatever its size, shape and style.

2 1 This island unit combines cooking and eating, with a change of worktop material and handy storage shelves. Kitchen, from £25,000, Day True: 020 7788 9229; daytrue.com.

2 By extending an island unit at a lower level it is possible to create comfortable dining on a relatively small footprint. Profile collection handleless kitchen in Anthracite Gloss, Trend Interiors: 0800 028 4466; trendinteriors.co.uk.

3 In a spacious kitchen it may be possible to include a standalone dining table as well as an area for high stools at an island or bar counter. Alderley kitchen in Bone, from £15,000, Kitchen Makers: 024 7667 1600; burbidgekitchenmakers.co.uk.

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Food & Drink

Wines Worth Locating The Winebarn Germany utilises Riesling grapes to great advantage and the resulting wines have a range from Trocken (dry), Kabinett (medium-dry), through medium and sweet, to Beerenauslese (very sweet) and Eiswein (even sweeter).

The WineBarn Ltd company specialises in finding, importing and offering German wines of superb quality and elegance. Their MD is Iris Ellmann. Iris is very much acknowledged and respected. One of the UK’s first Fellows (The Riesling Fellowship), Iris is an expert in German wines. The team are extremely proud of having been recognised as The IWC Best German Wine Merchant. Advice includes recommendations for food pairings, any occasions and events. The WineBarn also offers a Rare and Antique Wines Service, sourcing elusive investment wines from hidden German cellars. For this ‘quest’ I searched for dry Riesling wines.

The Allendorf family have a history of over 700 years, living and working in the Rheingau region, which is home to the famed Riesling white wine grape. Their estate is recognised as one of the largest family-owned wineries in the Rheingau. Allendorf Save Water Drink Riesling (dry) has a primary fruity sensation, including apricot and crisp apple, for the nasal senses. Continuing to the mouthfeel and palate’s enjoyment, this is a very popular, refreshing wine. www.thewinebarn.co.uk/collections/allendorf Since the latter part of the 15th century the Aldinger family have worked the land in the town of Fellbach.

Committed and dedicated to their productions, the wines produced have exceptional quality. Aldinger Rebhuhn Riesling Trocken I found to have very acceptable orchard fruits on the bouquet. Certainly crisp and fresh, with a good finish on the palate. Ideal to grace many dining tables, this is another popular production. www. thewinebarn.co.uk/collections/aldinger Riesling wines are great to accompany numerous dishes of cuisine, as well as having the ability to be enjoyed on their own. These and many more excellent wines with a passion - a good number of which are (multi) award-winning - are available from The WineBarn Ltd. Ordering is easy and available online, too. Orders are dealt with quickly and efficiently, dispatching to all types of properties, including hotels, Michelin-starred restaurants, retailers, private clients, homes and offices.

The WineBarn is delivering now.

The WineBarn Ltd, 16 Taylor’s Yard, Sutton Scotney, Winchester, Hampshire, SO21 3XX, England.

Tel: 00 44 (0) 1962 761215 E-mail: wine@thewinebarn.co.uk www.thewinebarn.co.uk

As always, Enjoy!

ey Trevor Langl

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Special Report

Handy Songs for Clean Hands!

As lockdown eases, we should be even more vigilant about handwashing. You can’t catch coronavirus through your skin but if contaminated hands touch your face then all the belated social distancing in the world won’t help you.

I don’t know about you, but I am sick to death of the Happy Birthday song. I will never sing it again when this is over...we were surely due a new celebratory melody after almost 130 years anyway But you still need to scrub with soap for 20 seconds to remove those pathogens and twenty seconds is a long time when you’re standing at a sink, so here are a few alternative 20-second tunes... which will probably give you an earworm for a week.

The chorus to Dolly Parton’s hit single Jolene: Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, I’m begging of you please don’t take my man. Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene. Please don’t take him just because you can.

As a teen I was in love with Morten Harket from A-Ha so I was delighted to find that the chorus of Take On Me is 20 seconds providing you hold the last note properly...and who wouldn’t? Take on me (take on me), Take me on (take on me), I’ll be gone, In a day or two.

One friend also suggested reciting The Lord’s Prayer, which is fine if praying is your thing, or you feel divine intervention is necessary!

My favourite though was overhearing my friend’s unbearably cute curly-headed three-year-old singing, “Twinkle, twinkle little star, look how clean my two hands are. Round my wrists and round my thumbs, link my fingers, almost done. Twinkle, twinkle little star, look how clean my two hands are!”

Stay safe everyone.

By Alison Williams

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ADVERTORIAL

Since June 8, Buckden Dental Clinic has been welcoming back patients with non-urgent problems and outstanding treatments. Infection control has always been a priority for Buckden Dental Clinic, and as members of the BDA Best Practice and Denplan Excel, the practice is committed to maintaining a high level of dental care and service to its patients.

However, the practice has made a few adjustments to procedures to reduce the risk of spreading COVID-19.

Focussing on reducing the patient’s time inside the clinic, additional hygiene measures and ensuring patients are able to receive treatment in good time, here are the changes Buckden Dental Clinic have made in light of the coronavirus crisis.

1. Attendance to the practice is via appointment only. The front entrance remains closed to prevent the entry of other patients and delivery personnel. Excess equipment and furniture have been removed from all areas where possible to minimise contamination and ease cleaning.

2. The team are currently setting up an online portal where patients can update contact details and medical history prior to appointment, reducing the contact with equipment in the practice such as clinipads.

3. Patients should wait in the car park on arrival, and preferably be contactable by mobile telephone. The reception team will then contact you to confirm your arrival and to issue further instructions. Buckden Dental Clinic requests patients to leave any unessential items, such as coats or bags, in the car, and to attend appointments alone unless it is necessary, for example, if a child is attending with a parent or if an adult requires support.

4. Patients will be greeted at the car park entrance by one of the clinic’s dental nurses or dentists.

You will be asked to use the alcohol hand rub provided and have your temperature checked with a contactless thermometer.

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5. Dentists and dental nurses are now carrying out treatments wearing the appropriate PPE, which includes the clinic’s highergrade masks for aerosol treatments. The practice also has washing facilities on-site so there is no need for staff to take their uniforms home potentially spreading containments.

6. Buckden Dental Clinic have installed Radic8 Virus Killers air filtration units inside the surgeries which filter the air and kill viruses with UV light.

7. The clinic also uses ‘foggers’ to dispense antiviral disinfectant around the surgeries after each patient in addition to its normal, strict, infection control procedures 8. The practice uses high power suction with rubber dam or IsoVac for treatments which reduces aerosols by 90-98 per cent.

9. When treatment is complete, a member of staff will escort you to reception if a payment or future booking is required. To help adhere to social distancing, contactless card payments is preferred. Tech-savvy patients can book future appointments via an online booking link, reducing the time spent in the reception area.

10. After reopening as an urgent dental hub on May 18, Buckden Dental Clinic is now able to treat patients needing urgent attention and has more appointments available for routine care.

The clinic is also planning to hire another dentist in July, to further increase availability and to reduce the anticipated long waiting lists.

Buckden Dental Clinic 35 Silver Street, Buckden Cambridgeshire PE19 5TS T: 01480 818298 E: info@reception@buckdendental.co.uk 19

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Local News

East Anglian Air Ambulance is still flying and saving lives, thanks to the community The team at East Anglian Air Ambulance (EAAA) has been working incredibly hard to keep the charity’s helicopters and rapid response vehicles operating throughout the crisis, never missing a shift.

The medical teams are available 24/7 (with the rapid response vehicles used at night when both helicopters are offline) and ready to respond when needed. While Covid-19 has been dominating the news, people are still having cardiac arrests, medical emergencies and accidents at home and road traffic collisions, which is when the EAAA critical care teams are needed to help save lives and get patients to hospital for further treatment.

Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire are well served by EAAA, which flies out of Cambridge Airport between 12pm and 12am with the rest of the day covered by rapid response vehicle. The teams have been tasked to Bedfordshire 56 times so far this year, and 167 times to Cambridgeshire to provide emergency care.

EAAA is proud to keep operating despite the challenges Covid-19 has presented. The main change is that its teams now have to wear personal protective equipment (PPE) on all missions. And will have to do so for the foreseeable future. The risk of being exposed to Covid-19, when the teams know very little about the patients they are treating, is going to be high for a long time. Especially as the EAAA doctors and paramedics are delivering critical care procedures

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which put them at a greater risk of coming into contact with droplets from a patient.

Adapting to this need and sourcing and financing the equipment has been a huge task for the charity.

Thanks to an overwhelming response to its emergency PPE appeal, the community has come through and helped to support the charity at an uncertain time.

However, to keep its helicopters flying and its team operational for the rest of the year, continued support from the community will be required. EAAA need to raise £13 million a year to develop and deliver its lifesaving service. All of its scheduled fundraising events and bucket collections for 2020 have been cancelled, due to the need to observe social distancing.

To help East Anglian Air Ambulance keep flying and saving lives, please give in any way that you can.

Making sure its teams can operate safely has been the number one priority. Now, the charity needs to make sure it can continue to raise funds throughout the rest of the year.

There are several ways you can help EAAA from home. You can make a one-off or regular donation, sign up to play its weekly lottery, set up your own sponsored fundraising challenge or consider leaving the charity a gift in your Will.

Anything you can do will help to keep EAAA’s life-saving teams in action. Call 03450 669 999 or go online to www.eaaa.org.uk to help.

Thank you.

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House of Colour

Summer dressing to keep cool Whether you love summer clothes or find hot weather dressing frustrating here’s my guide to keeping your cool in the warmer months.

Summer Dressing • We’re very good at wearing very little as soon as it gets hot in this country (often little opportunity I know!) but it’s not always doing us a favour. The more flesh we expose the less authority we hold.

If you’re in a professional setting, and even on a zoom call, keep your shoulders covered. A light weight jacket or even a fine knit cardigan at work is great to have on call.

• In warmer weather we can lose our own style in an effort to keep cool – anything will do! Think a little bit about your lifestyle and have a few items that serve you, give you style and shape, in really warm weather (it does still happen here!). Not all of us can work a linen peasant dress but all of us have some styles that we can use in really hot weather to keep cooler. For example I can’t do the maxi or midi dress (look like a small child lost in a grownup outfit!) but I can do a neat halterneck.

• Quality – buy less buy better. I think as our summer months can be so erratic we splurge when its warm on cheap clothing to get us by.

Investing in a summer wardrobe can seem a waste when our weather is so unreliable. But, our summers have been getting warmer and it looks like that will continue. Look for those quality items that you will wear every year in versatile colours, and the ones you absolutely love. A neutral item on the bottom half will always be more useful that a bright shade. Also, be critical of your clothes. Are they still looking good? Have they seen better days? Remember your clothes are speaking for you.

• Sales – tempting I know to go for the bargain options around but if you wouldn’t have bought it at full price then why are you buying it now?

It won’t be a bargain if it sits clogging up your wardrobe.

• Grooming, grooming, grooming. So this is a challenging one currently but it is really key to looking good in the summer months! It’s tempting to give up on make up too but a light dusting of foundation and some lipstick will help to define your look.

• Invest in good underwear for the summer.

Underwear should not be visible! Generally it needs to be a nude shade and smooth to avoid lines. If you’re stuck or hate underwear shopping

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there is a virtual solution from BraSense. She’s a miracle worker.

• Accessories – again we can forget about our accessories in warmer weather. They’re a quick way to update our look if we aren’t into investing in clothes. More importantly they complete our look, making us look finished and put together.

Think about that cameo area in your online call too, you’ll look the part with your jewellery on.

They aren’t just a piece of fun, they’re important!

• If you’ve had to have a massive clearout recently because you’ve not been wearing most of your wardrobe and are worried you might make the same mistakes again, find your local stylist for free no-obligation chat.

Enjoy your clothes this summer!

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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We’re recruiting people who care At Care UK, we’re committed to delivering the highest quality care for residents in our care homes, and we’re looking for caring and passionate people to make that happen.

You’ll need to be used to caring for others or you may have looked after someone elderly. What is for certain is that you will have a real desire to help others and lots of energy and enthusiasm.

In return, we’ll offer you a range of benefits, flexible hours and an award-winning training and induction programme that will make you will feel confident and supported from day one. You’ll also have the satisfaction of helping make people’s lives more fulfilling in a role where the work can be hard, but also fun and rewarding.

Search our vacancies and find out more about Care UK at careers.careuk.com or email rcs.recruitment@careuk.com We’re recruiting

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receptionists

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ACUPUNCTURE FOR WELL-BEING

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

Please contact Judy for a free 20 minute consultation to discuss how acupuncture treatment can help you.

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Beauty

Staycation Treats

Staying at home doesn’t mean you can’t splash out on some new skincare goodies…

Bring a touch of the exotic to your staycation, with Elemis Frangipani Monoi Body Oil (£40).

It absorbs almost instantly, and leaves skin feeling softer and moisturised, without any greasy residue. And the exotic floral fragrance lasts for ages. For the best results, use it on slightly damp skin straight after a bath or shower. I also use love the fact that it’s multipurpose. People swear by it for treating split ends, brittle nails and rhino heels. The only downside is that it tends to solidify at room temperature, so during the cooler months you have to melt it by warming the bottle in hot water. A bit of a faff, but worth it, see www.elemis.com.

There’s no denying that disposable face wipes are handy. But they’re also terrible for the environment.

If you’re looking for a more sustainable alternative,

I highly recommend Ogato’s Face Eraze cleansing pads. For £19.99, you get three makeup remover pads and two cloths, plus a headband and wash bag. The best bit? They’re designed to remove make-up without cleanser. All you need is warm water. And they really do work, even on waterproof mascara. Rinse them clean after use and then just bung them in the washing machine now and then, and they should last you for years.

Find them at www.amazon.co.uk.

I have pretty sensitive skin, so tend to steer clear of facial fake tans. However, I decided to risk trying Bali Body’s Face Tan Water (£25.95) and have to say that I’m impressed. It’s a face treatment and self-tan in one, with ingredients such as rosewater

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and hydrating jojoba oil. It’s easy to apply and results in a natural, even-looking tan. If you want a lighter tan, just mix a few drops in with your moisturiser. I also tried the Gradual Tan (£21.95) on my body. Great colour, but less ‘gradual’ than I was expecting, so if you try it make sure you’re rather more careful around knees, elbows and ankles than I was! See uk.balibodyco.com.

Dr Carl Thornfeldt developed severe eczema as a child. The experience led to a thirty-five year career in dermatology, and the launch of skincare brand Epionce (www. epionce.co.uk). One of the brand’s newest products is the Renewal Calming Cream. At £61 it’s rather pricey, but it has been proven to soothe and calm eczema flare-ups and reduce itching. So if you have eczema or extremely dry skin, that hefty price tag might well be worth it.

You don’t need to go on holiday to take advantage of travel skincare collections. As long as you’re likely to use everything in the set, they usually offer great value for money. The Sanctuary Spa Ultimate Travel Selection is hard to beat. There’s a 250ml body wash, 75ml bubble bath, 50ml body butter and a salt scrub sachet. Plus, you get a new bag to keep it all in. Not bad for £17, see www.very.co.uk.

By Kate Duggan 25

Health

By Kate McLelland

Get Moving for Mental Health During the lockdown, with so little choice of things to do, it may well be that a walk round the block became part of your daily routine. That should have reminded you of the physical and mental benefits of fresh air and moving around.

But as lockdown eases, if you find you have reverted to form and even the very word ‘exercise’ makes you want to retreat to the sofa to binge watch Netflix, we hear you!

It really doesn’t have to be a chore though. Any type of exercise is useful, as long as it suits you and you do enough of it. It should be something you enjoy or it will be hard to find the motivation to do it regularly.

As the saying goes: necessity is the mother of invention and the last couple of months have been amazing for introducing exercise that doesn’t involve being in a gym. From martial arts in the garden, online yoga and cycling to just that brisk walk round the block.

Exercise to boost your mood Aerobic exercises, where your heart rate is elevated, have been shown to help depression. They reduce your levels of cortisol (AKA the ‘stress hormone’).

You could try jogging (using the Couch to 5K app to keep yourself motivated), a virtual exercise class or just dancing in your kitchen.

Exercise to ease anxiety Yoga and pilates can have a direct impact on your nervous system, helping to calm it down and ease anxiety. Some studies have shown that yoga can also be beneficial for tackling depression, alleviating stress and even reducing pain and blood pressure.

Exercise in nature According to a study by the University of Exeter, spending two hours a week in nature is good for both your mental and physical wellbeing. This could mean your local park, a field or even doing an outdoor

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circuits session in your garden.

Virtual exercise classes Joe Wicks runs weekday PE classes at 9am on his YouTube channel and you don’t need to have children to take part. If the family classes are too energetic, try some of his other workouts, such as the ones aimed at seniors.

Don’t fancy PE? You’ll find dance, martial arts and more online. The dance troupe Diversity teaches regular classes on www.20dv.co.uk. And you can take part in Oti Mabuse’s free dance classes on her YouTube channel whenever you want.

Exercising with a health condition If you’re worried that exercise might make an existing health condition worse, do speak to your GP. Finally the NHS offers more than 20 instructor-led workouts at www.nhs.uk/conditions/nhs-fitnessstudio, starting from just 10 minutes long. There’s even a 30 minute workout using your sofa!

Keep motivated Make a note of how you feel before and after your workout. Try rating your anxiety and mood and see whether the workout has had a positive effect.

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27

Leeds Day

COVID-19 and the effect on children arrangements for separated parents The big question for those separated families with children, is what is the effect of the Stay at Home Rule introduced on the 23rd March 2020 on them and those families where there is a Child Arrangements Order?

There is an exception to the Rule which is: “Where parents do not live in the same household, children under 18 can be moved between their parents homes”.

If parents are going through a court dispute over the arrangements for their children, the courts often turn to advice from Cafcass (www.cafcass.gov.uk) who are often described as the “eyes and ears” of the court.

The courts themselves are alive to the current issues that parents face and below are examples of some of the guidance made by both Cafcass and the courts: 1. Children should keep their usual routine of spending time with each of their parents. If there is a Child Arrangements Order this should be complied with unless to do so would put your child, or others at risk. This will help your child to feel a sense of consistency, whilst also reassuring them that the parent they don't always live with is safe and healthy.

2. The exception to the Stay at Home Rule for children arrangements does not automatically mean children must be moved between homes and whether or not this happens should always be after the parents have made a sensible assessment of a child’s health, the infection risks and whether there are vulnerable individuals in either home.

3. If you're not able to maintain your child's routine due to illness or self-isolation, or any relatives/ friends who normally support your child’s contact, then communicate clearly and honestly with your co-parent. If it is not safe for you to communicate directly (e.g., if there has been a history of domestic abuse) then consider using a trusted third party to help you.

4. If any court ordered arrangements are missed, think about how you and your co- parent may

be able to make up your child’s time after the restrictions are lifted. Remember, any rearranged contact should always be for your child’s benefit and should not be used as a source of tension or conflict; especially at a time when your child is likely to be feeling anxious about the effects of the pandemic.

5. Where parents agree that a Child Arrangements Order should be changed as a temporary measure, they are free to do so. It would be sensible for each parent to record this agreement in a note, email or text message sent to each other.

6. Where it becomes unavoidable to change a Child Arrangements Order because of infection, selfisolation or risk to another vulnerable member of your household, the family courts will expect alternative arrangements to be made to maintain regular contact, for example by Face-Time, WhatsApp, Skype, Zoom etc. or, if that is not possible, by telephone.

There are of course families where children are spending time with their parents in a supervised or a supported setting. Additionally, some handovers take place at a public venue with CCTV. As a result of the Stay at Home Rule, many child contact centres are temporarily closed or community contact cannot now take place at a public venue, such as a soft play centre, leisure centre, etc. In those cases, direct contact might not be able to take place safely until the government advice on leaving our homes changes. However, even then, parents should look at alternative arrangements of video/telephone contact.

If you are a parent who has concerns about the arrangements for your child or children to spend time with the other parent due to the Stay at Home Rule or you are a parent that is facing difficulties in seeing your child or children since the Covid-19 outbreak, then the family team at Leeds Day are here to help. All three of our family law specialists are highly experienced having practiced exclusively in family law for more than 60 years between them.

Either send an email to family@leedsday.co.uk or telephone 0844 567 2222

Huntingdon Godwin House, George Street, Huntingdon, PE29 3BD T: 01480 454301 28

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29

Finance

By Ann Haldon

How Can You Protect Your Money With a Lasting Power of Attorney and a Will?

Lasting Powers of Attorney (LPAs) are legal documents that help to protect your money if you’re unable to manage your own finances for any reason. Wills contain instructions on how your money should be distributed when you die.

So why should you make a Lasting Power of Attorney and a Will, and how do you do it? Let’s start by looking at Lasting Powers of Attorney.

What is a Lasting Power of Attorney and why do you need one?

A Lasting Power of Attorney is a document that appoints one or more individuals (attorneys) to make decisions and act on your behalf (the donor) in relation to your property, finances, health and welfare.

Should you suffer a stroke, lose mental capacity or experience a debilitating ailment, a Lasting Power of Attorney ensures important aspects of your life are taken care of by one or more individuals you trust.

Setting up a Lasting Power of Attorney You can ask a solicitor to draw up these documents for you or set them up yourself. If you decide to set up a Lasting Power of Attorney yourself, you must be over eighteen and have the mental capacity to do so.

There are two types of Lasting Power of Attorney: • Property and financial affairs • Health and welfare You can download the forms from the gov.uk website or complete them online. They must be registered with the Office of the Public Guardian before they can become effective, which currently costs £82 per document.

What is a Will and why do you need one?

A Will documents your wishes regarding what happens to your money, property and possessions

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when you die. This may be a straightforward instruction to pass your entire estate to your spouse, for example, but some situations are more complex.

A Will allows you to decide in advance who will inherit your money and possessions. Making a Will helps you avoid inheritance tax, or reduce it – inheritance tax currently stands at 40% and applies to some deceased estates over £325,000.¹ How do you make a Will?

As with a Lasting Power of Attorney you can ask a solicitor or professional Will writer to make your Will or you can do it yourself. Some charities also offer free or reduced cost Will-writing services in return for a donation, so this may be worth considering.

It’s sensible to seek professional assistance in drawing up your Will if your circumstances aren’t straightforward. If you do decide to write your own Will, you can buy ‘blank’ templates that provide simple guidance and example wording at stationery stores and online. You’ll need to consider who to appoint as your Trustee(s) and who will inherit your money and possessions.

Drawing up a Lasting Power of Attorney and a Will protects your money if you fall ill or lose mental capacity, and in the event of your death. Writing these documents is an important consideration at any age, but it becomes more so as you get older – a time when your health may be more likely to fail. ¹www.gov.uk/inheritance-tax www.gov.uk/power-of-attorney www.which.co.uk/money www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk/en/articles/ planning-what-to-leave-in-your-will

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33

Gardening

Silver Splendour

By Pippa Greenwood

Why not add some sensational silvery plants to your garden?

If you are partial to aromatic plants then there are several, such as the cotton lavender and the curry plant, that have both a pungent aroma and striking silvery foliage. They look gorgeous and need not take up much space.

Hostas are herbaceous perennials suited to shady and somewhat damp spots. Their large, showy leaves come in a range of colours including some smart, silvery blues. Pair them with the somewhat silvery and densely hairy Alchemilla mollis for a great ground cover display.

Lavenders are a good ingredient for any garden where silver foliage can play a part. They smell gorgeous and have a naturally relaxing quality for most people. Bees adore the flowers too.

There are several silver-foliaged plants with a naturally trailing or cascading effect, such as Helichrysum petiolare with its long trailing stems edged with small, rounded leaves, each so densely covered with hairs that they are like silver coins. Ideal for hanging baskets, they create a waterfall effect within weeks of planting. For a year-round effect grow a variegated ivy, perhaps Hedera helix ‘Glacier’ with silvery-white edged grey-green leaves.

Many of the small Artemisias have elegant silvery foliage, not least Artemisia ‘Powys Castle’, whose finely divided foliage looks like silver filigree lace.

They are best grown in a fairly sheltered, sunny spot and will provide a fabulous display for many years.

Sometimes that touch of silver comes in the form of seed heads. Those of the lovely purple or white

34

flowered alpines called Pulsatilla are a delight, with a wispy silver plume on each seed. Some clematis have fluffy seed heads, with the silvery furry seed heads of the wild clematis aptly called old man’s beard.

For shrubs, take a look at the Cotinus – most have wonderful autumn colour and the seed heads explain its common name of smoke bush!

Many plants appear silvery due to a dense matt of short hairs on the leaves, some of which will become studded with water droplets after rain or a heavy dew.

In a tiny space, for example a small window box, grow some silver with the houseleek Sempervivum arachnoideum with its evergreen, fleshy rosette of red-tipped leaves covered with a web of silvery white hairs.

Many silvery foliaged plants have Mediterranean origins, where their dense hairs and pale colour help them withstand dry or hot conditions, making them ideal for a sunny and dry spot.

Conversely, use a few silvery foliaged plants in a slightly shaded spot, ideally combined with some plants with large, pale-coloured flowers, and see how they make a dull spot look brighter.

Combine silver foliage plants with some with very dark-coloured leaves or rich blue or purple hues for a magical effect, as the rich dark colours are brought to life with the sparkle of the silvery foliage. Plant silver foliage close to, say, Cotinus ‘Royal Purple’ with darkest purple leaves, and you’ll see what I mean.

Visit Pippa’s website (www.pippagreenwood.com) to book Pippa for a gardening talk at your gardening club or as an after-dinner speaker.

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09/03/2018 11:06

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Garden View

By Rachael Leverton

Lockdown Musings Back in May garden centres became some of the first businesses allowed to reopen to the public.

For gardeners stuck at home (even though we understood and supported the lockdown), it’s been a frustrating time. We’ve been unable to plant during one of the best springs I can ever remember.

And for many of the UK’s growers it has been devastating. Millions of lost plants nurtured to be at their best by Easter were lost. The scale of the issue was mind-boggling. Garden centres and nurseries usually make the bulk of their income during the early growing season as people prepare their plots for the summer but instead they’ve been forced to compost or recycle millions of plants, leaving one in three growers in serious financial difficulties, with little possibility of recouping their losses later in the year.

I was glad to see nurseries and garden centres reopening and in spite of my own apprehension about venturing out, I decided to go to my local garden centre reasoning that the open outdoor spaces meant transmission of coronavirus was less likely and it would be easier to maintain social distancing.

There were staff in the car park and the queue markings were 2m apart. The trolleys were cleaned before being handed to the customers and social distancing was observed throughout the one-way system. There were fewer plants on display which puzzled me for a second until I realised that growers couldn’t take the risk of planting a few weeks before when they had no idea whether they would have to destroy those plants too. Such a heart-breaking decision for them to have to make.

My own garden has been a source of solace

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throughout lockdown, but what has been particularly nice is the number of people who have discovered gardening during this period. There is a lot of psychological research which concludes that nurturing plants and flowers diverts our attention away from stresses and anxieties in our lives and goodness knows there’s been way too much stress and anxiety recently.

So, as we hit July is there anything easy which you can still plant? The good news is yes.

Nasturtiums can be sown throughout this month.

They are known for their brightly coloured flowers and attractive foliage. There are trailing, climbing, and dwarf varieties. The showy flowers can be single or double and come in fiery shades of reds, oranges, and yellows. Leaves are pale green and umbrella-shaped with long stems. They are the perfect flowers for beginner gardeners so if the kids have been dying to have a go at gardening these are your go-to plant.

Sow the seeds and within 7-10 days, you should see sprouting. They are drought tolerant and ideal for hanging baskets and containers. Even better, you can add the flowers, buds and young leaves to salads, and they have the most wonderful peppery taste.

Love-in-the-mist are easy to grow and have distinctive seed heads. These can be sown until early July and also again in September so they will get a head start for next year.

And of course, you can still plant sunflowers. Who doesn’t love a sunflower? Plant one for each member of the family and see whose grows the most. You could give prizes for the tallest, the prettiest or the largest flower.

Happy Gardening!

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Environment

Avoiding Food Waste We’ve never had it so good with the continuous year-round availability of fresh food. But it is so wasteful throwing food away just because it’s not supermarket fresh. So what can you use past its sell-by date and how?

Vegetables: any veg good for roasting – peppers, courgettes, potatoes (including sweet potatoes), onions – don’t have to be crispy-fresh to still be edible. Roasted veg are excellent to go with a barbecue or as a colourful accompaniment to many meals. And do an internet search for roasted vegetable lasagne; better than the meat version.

Fruit: lockdown made overripe bananas very popular for home-baking. But most summer fruits combined with apple or orange juice and liquidized make excellent smoothies and puddings and pies are fine with fruit that is past its best.

Bread: family favourite bread-and-butter pudding is better with slightly stale bread than fresh. Toast your leftover French stick and then chop into croutons to add to a salad.

Crisps and cake: 20-30 seconds in the microwave will remove the moisture that turned your crisps soggy or your cake dry.

Leftover dinners: one-pot meals such as chilli, lasagne, curry, casserole often have some left in the pot when all have had their fill. A home vacuum packer means individual portions are kept fresh for a few days longer and don’t get freezer burn if you decide to store for a later time.

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39

Parenting

Back to Nature Keeping kids entertained is difficult at the best of times. But having already endured weeks in lockdown and a return to complete freedom looking to be some way off, it’s a challenge to keep your little ones occupied and to tear older children away from a screen. These ideas might help though!

Take the indoors out What does your child enjoy doing that could be done outdoors? Could you make cookie dough at the garden table rather than the kitchen table? Is there any reason a board game can’t be played on a picnic rug? Could you set crafts up on a plastic sheet? (On the plus side, it saves your carpet getting covered in paint, glitter and chocolate.)

Play to their interests Younger children often like ticking off a list of things to spot when they’re out, or collecting petals, leaves and pebbles for a craft activity. If your child is an animal lover, could you go on a bug hunt? If they enjoy solving puzzles, could you go geocaching or set up a treasure hunt? Active kids might enjoy a simple obstacle course in the garden or throwing balls to knock down tin cans.

Shake things up Most of us like a bit of variety in life. Even moving a swing to a different part of the garden or trying some

40

different games can help to reignite a child’s interest.

On a more practical level, a reorganisation of their bedroom or a shared space can be exciting for them.

Play games My eight-year-old loathes going for a walk. With a passion. And he doesn’t hesitate to let us know just how boring he finds it. So our family walks tend to be less about walking and more about playing games on the move. His favourite is a game where we adults challenge the kids to impersonate an animal. When he was younger, it was a case of “Can you hop like a kangaroo?” “Can you slither like a snake?” Now it’s evolved into “Can you charge like a short-sighted rhino?” “Can you soar like an eagle with a broken wing?” We also play hide and seek and other games.

Build it into a routine If you have the option, it might be worth setting a family rule that you all have to spend a certain amount of time outside every day, even if it’s just bouncing round the garden.

Don’t be afraid of bribery I’m not suggesting you pay your child to get active, but there’s nothing wrong with promising an ice lolly or half an hour of screen time after a bike ride now and then.

By Kate Duggan

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Pets

The Good Pet Owner’s Guide to Summer The weather over the last few months has on the whole been glorious. May was particularly warm – being the sunniest and driest calendar month on record. 626 hours of bright sunshine were recorded in Spring 2020 for the UK. With this in mind as we approach the Summer, one cannot help but wonder what is in store. If we do have a warm, sunny summer as many are predicting, pet owners need to start making the appropriate preparations.

Use our easy to follow checklist to make sure the animals you love and care for have a safe and enjoyable summer.

• Check the temperature of the pavement before you take your dog out for a walk. If it is too hot to touch with your hand, it will certainly be too hot for your dog’s paws.

• Exercise your animals in the cooler parts of the day.

This may mean that your routines change slightly to accommodate this. But going out in the cooler mornings and evenings will be much better for your dog or horse.

• Think carefully about the environment your pet is in, more specifically the temperature of it. Vehicles, caravans, tents and conservatories can become extremely hot places during warm weather. Never leave pets in these places, as they can easily overheat and die.

• Pet-safe sun cream can now be purchased from a range of shops and online. Consider apply to exposed skin during the warm weather.

• Shade and fresh water are essential for the health and safety of humans during sunny days. Animals are no different. Ensure your pets have access to a shady

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area with plenty of fresh drinking water available.

• Check that any hutches or enclosures you have in your garden are not in any direct sunlight. Also make sure they have good ventilation.

• If you keep rabbits or guinea pigs, it is recommended that they are checked regularly for ‘flystrike’. The RSPCA suggest checking twice a day during the summer months.

• Water can heat up quickly in the summer, so be mindful of any fish you have as pets. Keep fish tanks out of direct sunlight and top up the water levels in ponds.

• Damp towels are perfect for pets to lie on when it is hot. Ice packs can be wrapped in towels if temperatures begin to increase, and the damp towels aren’t enough of a coolant.

• Most dogs treats can be kept in the fridge and will therefore provide your dog with a great way of cooling down. You could always make ice lollies using dog friendly ingredients.

• Adding ice cubes to a pet’s water bowl is a quick and easy way of keeping them cool. Don’t forget Kongs can be put in the freezer • Why not fill a paddling pool or spray a hose for your dog to play in (always supervised) If you need to contact our Branch (North Bedfordshire) for any reason we can be reached by the details below, or for an animal welfare issue or emergency, contact 0300 1234 999.

Lines are open 7 days a week 24/7.

Email: info@rspcabedsnorth.org.uk Tel: 01234 266965 / 01234 930304

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WORDWHEEL

Using only the letters in the Wordwheel, you have ten minutes to find as many words as possible, none of which may be plurals, foreign words or proper nouns. Each word must be of three letters or more, all must contain the central letter and letters can only be used once in every word. There is at least one word that uses all of the letters in the wheel.

TARGET Excellent: 32 or more words Good: 25 words Fair: 22 words

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Fun Activities

Escape to Victory Escape rooms have gone online

Do you like escape rooms? Have you always fancied having a go at one but never got around to it before lockdown started?

Escape rooms became popular over the past couple of years, with families and groups of friends who like a challenge. Kind of like The Crystal Maze (remember that?) in concept where you have to solve puzzles as a team to ‘escape the room’.

As physical escape rooms have had to close, so these businesses have been quick to adapt and take the experience online. You can play as a family or with groups of friends as a social experience.

There are many online; some are free, and some are paid for. the free ones are a good way to try the experience to see if you enjoy it.

Hogwarts Digital Escape Room was created by an American librarian in Pennsylvania. It’s loosely based on Hogwarts and the puzzles are fun. My family enjoyed it but found it quite easy and we were finished very quickly. But we discovered we enjoyed the concept and signed up for others which are more involved.

Trapped In The Web is a game you can play solo or with a team to complete tasks that will take between one to two hours. It’s reasonably priced at around £8 per person.

There are five themed rooms to choose from: Space Race; Cabin Fever; A Night at the Theatre; School’s Out, and Out of Hours. There is a different storyline attached to each one and different clues to collect and puzzles to solve.

These family-friendly escape rooms will get you started, but if you find you’ve got the

By Sarah Davey bug you can find many more complex versions online.

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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

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ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ

Easy Suduko

Hard Suduko

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

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49

Twins 1. By what name are twin sisters Gabriela and Monica Irimia more commonly known?

2. Which planet’s two moons are named after twin brothers from Greek mythology who personify fear and dread?

3. On the TV show The Simpsons, what is the name of Springfield’s neighbouring city that is treated as its twin city, even though it has a strong rivalry with it?

4. Which two actors played the title roles in the 1988 film Twins?

5. According to legend, which twins founded Rome?

6. In the TV series Twin Peaks, Twin Peaks is a town in which US state?

7. The pop group The Thompson Twins took their name from detectives called Thompson and Thompson who featured in comic strips centred around which character?

8. In which Star Wars film is it revealed that Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia are twins?

9. In 2012, which village in Perthshire in Scotland was twinned with the town of Boring in Oregon?

10. Of the three Gibb brothers who made up the Bee Gees, which two were twins?

1. The Cheeky Girls 2. Mars (the moons are called Phobos and Deimos) 3. Shelbyville 4. Arnold Schwarzenegger and Danny DeVito 5. Romulus and Remus 6. Washington 7. Tintin 8. Return Of The Jedi 9. Dull 10. Robin and Maurice

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51

Parenting

Paddling Pool Safety With more of us staying at home this summer many of us will be tempted to buy paddling pools and bathing pools (if we’re lucky enough to have a large enough space). Most parents are hypervigilant when near a hotel or campsite pool, but it’s easy to become more complacent when we’re at home in our own ‘safe’ environment.

It’s possible for a young child to drown in just a few inches of water. That’s why it’s important not to overfill your paddling pool: 5-10cm of water is enough for lots of splashy toddler fun.

Just as you’d supervise a child while playing in a hotel pool or on the beach so it’s important to supervise them while they are playing in a paddling pool. If you need to step away for a moment to answer the phone, switch the kettle on or check on dinner – be sure to take the kids out of the pool while you’re away. It might be a bit of a faff but so much better to be safe not sorry.

I’m betting you check that baths are not too hot when you run them. How many of us check our pools are not too cold? Water from outdoor taps tends to be very chilly. Adding a kettle or two of boiling water to the pool to take the chill off before the kids use it is kinder to tiny bodies.

The area around your paddling pool tends to become very slippery very quickly. A couple of old towels for them to stand on as they climb out helps

52

By Tracey Anderson

to prevent accidents.

If you’re re-using a pool from previous years make sure you give it a thorough clean to get rid of cobwebs, bird and mouse droppings and general muck before filling it with water. Children ingest a surprising amount of paddling pool water and you really don’t want any nasty tummy bugs. A tablespoon of bleach when cleaning and rinsing it AFTER use will help keep it spotless and safe.

Gardens are full of sharps things, like twigs and stones. To avoid puncturing the pool, or inflicting any nasty cuts and grazes, check it for sharp objects before filling and keep an eye out for new debris whilst the kids are leaping in and out. If you do spot a puncture, tear, or rip, you’ll need to fix it before letting your kids play in it. Once filled with water a damaged pool can collapse or deflate depositing water and bathers all over the lawn!

The bright colours and sparkly water in paddling pools means they are a magnet for insects! You may need to fish a few out of the pool now and then. A small net, or an old sieve is great. It might also be a good idea to apply plenty of insect-repellent to your children to help ward off things that bite and sting!

Sun protection is important. Beachwear with a high SPF is perfect paddling pool attire. And don’t forget to slather on lashings of high SPF waterproof sunscreen and keep reapplying throughout the day.

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53

Technology

Make your outdoors great

July is time to embrace the great outdoors. If your hard work has the garden looking great, it’s time to enjoy the benefits with our gadgets for summer days and nights.

MUSIC One of our favourite pieces of outdoor technology is the wireless speaker, which can soundtrack anything from sunbathing to social events. You don’t need to spend a lot of money on a wireless Bluetooth speaker though. For example, Sony’s excellent SRS XB01 can be bagged for £19.99, runs for six hours between charges and is water-resistant. If you can afford higher-end models you’ll get even better sound and smart features.

The Sonos Move may well be the best portable speaker in the world right now; it’s just a shame it costs £399.

LIGHTING Another favourite is outdoor

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lighting. There are two options: solar lighting that costs nothing to run and smart lighting that runs from a power socket. The former is available in many designs, from single posts to curtains of fairy lights, colour-changing flowers, security spotlights and decking lights – all you need is a reasonably sunny spot for the solar panel.

Smart lighting isn’t as cheap, but it’s tons of fun. Philips’ excellent Hue lighting continues to add new outdoor ideas, with a range that now includes spotlights and wall lights as well as light strips and floodlights designed to deliver more subtle ambient light. Just like the indoor versions you can choose from endless colours, create your own lighting ‘recipes’ and set up automation that’ll trigger the lights either at set times or when specific things happen, such as the sun going down or you arriving home. It’s a fairly expensive

option, however – individual lights such as the Appear, Resonate and Lily lights cost £129 each – and the lights’ hub needs to be within range of your Wi-Fi router.

HEAT Although the UK gets comfortably warm July days, the temperature drops dramatically when the sun starts to go down. Instead of a fairly wasteful gas-powered heater, an electric one with halogen bulbs uses a lot less energy and is much cheaper to run, although you need to be within reach of a plug socket for them to work.

Unlike gas heaters, which heat the air around them, electric heaters heat the things they light up but not the air in between: you might find a smaller tabletop heater (from around £70) or a parasolmounted heater (around £89) keeps you warmer than a more powerful big one that you have to sit further away from.

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Puzzle Solutions for The Villager June Edition Easy

Hard

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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 2020 Prize Crossword, Villager Publications Ltd 24 Market Square, Potton, Beds SG19 2NP

Prize

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Across 1 Written announcement (6) 4 Film regulator (6) 9 Fan (7) 10 Subject (5) 11 Type of hat (5) 12 Closest to (7) 13 Sound transmitters (11) 18 Ruler (7) 20 Edition (5) 22 Tale (5) 23 Easily seen (7) 24 Lower down (6) 25 Helpful (6) Down 1 Close to (6) 2 Stopwatch (5) 3 Custodian of museum (7) 5 Surplus (5) 6 Most important (7) 7 Repeat aloud (6) 8 Carried along (11) 14 Make better (7) 15 Beginnings (7) 16 Stopped (6) 17 Relating to teeth (6) 19 Type of poem (5) 21 Horizontal board (5))

Name: Tel:

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Word Ladder

Change one letter at a time (but not the position of any letter) to make a new word - and move from the word at the top of the ladder to the word at the bottom, using the exact number of rungs provided.

B E L L

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Special Report

Gail’s Guide to Gin

By Gail Mitchell

I fell in love with gin when I went to a gin tasting event a few years ago. These events are a bit thin on the ground right now for social distancing reasons, so if you are gincurious and wondering where to start I’ll to try to be your guide.

Gin is a flavoured alcohol, with juniper as the predominant botanical. Juniper is a fragrant shrub and its aroma and taste should be the signature note in any gin. Even the name ‘gin’ is derived from either the French genièvre or the Dutch jenever, which both mean juniper.

You can add other botanical ingredients, but juniper should always be the primary one. There is actually a legal EU definition of gin: it must be a juniper-dominated spirit, with an agricultural origin and a 37.5% ABV. This means that as well as the main botanical being juniper, the base alcohol must be made from something natural such as wheat, barley, rye, molasses, potatoes or grapes, and there must be at least 37.5% of pure alcohol in the total volume of liquid.

London Dry Gin This doesn’t have to be made in London, it can be made anywhere in the world but it’s important to know that it’s the highest-quality gin you can produce. It has to be made with all-natural ingredients (no artificial flavourings), highquality alcohol and only contain 0.01g of sugar per litre of alcohol.

Crucially you can’t add any other flavourings after distillation. It’s the purest form of gin and is a good place to start your gin journey. I would say No. 3 London Dry Gin is one of the best places to start your gin journey. It’s won the world’s best gin 4 times and is a beautiful smooth gin which won’t disappoint.

Regular distilled gin This is made in a similar way to London Dry Gin but may have flavourings, essences and sugar added to it after the distillation process.

Craft distillers have been producing more variety and exciting new flavours recently. Broadly there are herbal gins (less sweet), floral gins (light and fragrant), fruity gins (sweeter) and citrussy gins (light and fresh). Look at the list of botanicals to see which appeal.

Geographical gins Just as champagne has to come from a specific region in France so certain gins have to come from a particular geographical area.

Mahón Gin can only come from Menorca, it’s a sweeter style of gin which comes in various flavours, and Vilnius Gin from Lithuania,

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which is quite smooth and has a citrussy / pine flavour. The UK used to have a geographical gin - Plymouth gin - but it lost its protected status in 2014.

Sloe gin - is a gin liqueur. It contains more sugar and its ABV is between 20-25%, which is below the minimum requirement of a spirit.

Old Tom gins An older style of gin. These gins are sweeter because in the 18th Century, when gin was also very popular sugar or honey was added to disguise bad-quality gin they used. Nowadays Old Tom Gins are made to a high standard and are the gin you would use in a Tom Collins cocktail, which should be made with soda water rather than tonic, because tonic would add too much sweetness to an already sweet alcohol.

61

Books

Books to keep you busy

By Kate Duggan

Electrician

Frank Plater Electrical Extra sockets - Lighting - Extensions - Re-wires Security Lighting - Showers - Inspections

Dream Big! Heroes Who Dared to Be Bold

by Sally Morgan

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My ten-year old and I have both enjoyed learning more about some well-known names (e.g. David Attenborough and Maya Angelou) and discovering other inspirational people neither of us had heard of. As well as being a great read, it’s opened up conversations about racism, sexism, LGBTQ+ rights and having the courage to stand up for what’s right.

Highly recommended.

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Heating and Plumbing Services

The Sin Eater

By Megan Campisi

14 year old May Owens expects to be sentenced to death for stealing a loaf of bread. But her sentence is much worse. She’s to become a Sin Eater – responsible for taking on the sins of others so that their soul is cleansed. The role means she’s to be forever shunned. So when she discovers someone is trying to blame dead women for sins they didn’t commit, no one will listen. Intriguing setting, believable characters and a great story. Pre-order it now for delivery at the end of July.

The Sleeper and the Spindle

by Neil Gaiman and Chris Riddle

This beautifully illustrated book takes the story of Sleeping Beauty and adds a dollop of darkness and a few ‘what ifs’. What if the sleeping sickness spread? What if there was a queen with hair as dark as a raven’s wing, lips as red as blood and several dwarves by her side, who could set out on a quest to rescue the princess? Yes, The Sleeper and the Spindle is aimed at young adults and takes under an hour to read, but don’t let that stop you from adding it to your wish list.

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Pest Services

Reliable Local Pest Control Services We provide fast and effective control of WASPS, RATS, MICE, COCKROACHES, BEDBUGS and FLEAS Jobs and service contracts catered for Call today 01480 369802 / 07969753267 Please note: we are currently using unmarked vans

Property Maintenance

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