Cambs june 18

VILLAGER The

Issue 110 - June 2018

and Town

Life

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

In this issue Win a 1 Year Membership at

Beadlow Manor Creative

Containers Win £25

in our Prize Crossword

Bringing Local Business to Local People

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

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Inside this issue...

Win a Family Pass to Folk by the Oak

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Daily Mail Aeroplane Causes Truancy at Eaton Socon in 1912...........4 How we fell in love with perfume....................................................6 Win a Family Pass to the Folk by the Oak Festival...........................10 Win a 1 Year Membership at Beadlow Manor.................................12 Downsize your dish and your dress size..........................................15 Give Blood......................................................................................17 Wines: Gems of Austria..................................................................18 Museum launches new Inns and Pubs Town Walk..........................23 Understanding Travel Insurance.....................................................24 Lets go Nordic Walking...................................................................26 Wordsearch....................................................................................29 Location, Location, Location...........................................................30 Protect your property from the cost of care home fees...................33 Women over 50 - CEOs at work and play........................................34 Keeping control of your Future.......................................................34 You are a SPECK in the Cosmos.......................................................37 I don’t want to be with my partner any more.................................38

Totally Tropical...............................................................................40 Creative Containers........................................................................42 It’s dark outside, so pick up your paddle.........................................45 What’s wrong with a little rose-tinted nostalgia?..........................46 Animal Heroes................................................................................49 Cyber Bullying................................................................................51 Children’s Page...............................................................................52 10 Electric Vehicle Myths Busted....................................................57 Nick Coffer’s Weekend Recipe.........................................................58 Puzzle Page....................................................................................60 What’s On.......................................................................................62 Bedford Model Engineering Society...............................................65 Teddy Bear Festival Returns to Woburn Abbey...............................67 National Volunteers Week..............................................................68 Milan Cathedral..............................................................................70 Fun Quiz.........................................................................................73 Prize Crossword..............................................................................74 Book Review..................................................................................77

Milan Catherdral

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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, Lucy Robson, Louise Addison, Trevor Langley, Tom Hancock, Sally Power, Centre for Complementary Health, Leeds Day Solicitors, Tony Larkins, Suzanne Roynon, Rachael Leverton, James Baggott, Pippa Greenwood, Kate McLelland, RSPCA, Sarah Davey, Solange Hando, Nick Coffer and Kate Duggan

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

Daily Mail Aeroplane Causes Truancy at Eaton Socon in 1912 My grandfather (born 1895) reputedly considerably upset his parents by taking to the skies in 1916 for a hop around Hendon airfield. I suspect the probable cost of one guinea in war time was the source of parental displeasure rather than putting his life in danger by unnecessarily defying the force of gravity. Perhaps my ancestor couldn’t resist the chance to fly due to an encounter with an aircraft that had landed near St. Neots in 1912.

During that year the Daily Mail aeroplane made a number of tours around the country as part of a campaign to promote aviation. Stopping at Eaton Socon was not in the pilots flight plan as the account in the local paper explained:‘An aeroplane, flying south, passed over St Neots at 6 a.m. on Friday 28th June. It contained two people and alighted in a field of Mr J W Addington’s between Eaton and Wyboston. It is a Daily Mail aeroplane, and we presume the aviator is Mr H Ewen, who on Thursday flew from Hendon to Cambridge. He came close to St Neots Station and passed over Eynesbury, flying very low. His programme was to go from Cambridge to Peterborough. At 8 a.m. the aeroplane was still at Wyboston. The aviators descended because they

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had lost their way and found themselves in a very strong current. About 100 scholars at Eaton Socon school played truant on Friday morning until 11 o’clock, when they were too late to receive their mark. Of course they had been to see the Daily Mail aeroplane at Wyboston. It appears that some of the boys said they had got a half day’s holiday, and others, thinking this was true, at once set off for Wyboston. We understand that several of the scholars stayed from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. without dinner or tea.’ It would not be surprising if my grandfather had gone to view the aeroplane and perhaps formed a passion to be a daredevil and get a flight in a plane if the opportunity presented itself in the future! Thanks to George Basson for material contained in the St. Neots History Society Magazine.

By Peter Ibbett

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10/05/2018 15:39

History

How We Fell in Love with Perfume

By Catherine Rose

The word perfume is derived from the Latin per fumum, meaning ‘through smoke’. This is possibly because the perfumes of ancient civilisations were often incense-based – a dried paste made from herbs, spices, essential oils and fragrant tree resins (including the biblical frankincense and myrrh), which was made to be burned.

Today, true perfumes are a distillation of a certain percentage of oils in alcohol, with eau de toilette and eau de cologne being diluted versions.

The perfume-making process was described by Pliny the Elder, a well-known Roman philosopher who was born around twenty years after the death of Christ. But although the Romans were well-known to be very fastidious in their toilet habits, perfume very much pre-dates them.

Used significantly across Asian cultures, it is believed perfume may have originated in Arabia – still sometimes described as ‘the land of perfumes’.

Iraq, Kuwait, northern Saudi Arabia, parts of

eastern Syria and south-east Turkey were once known as Mesopotamia. The perfume formulas of a female Mesopotamian chemist known as Tapputi-Bellatekalim have been translated from a three-thousand-year-old tablet written in ancient cuneiform script.

In the ancient world, perfumes were much more than just pleasant smells – they were also revered. The Bible refers to a sacred perfume, only allowed to be used by priests, that was made from myrrh, cinnamon, cassia and sweet cane.

The ancient Egyptians believed perfume was ‘the sweat of the gods’ and used it in death rituals.

They would burn kyphi in their temples, a devotional incense made from sixteen ingredients: myrrh and other resins, sweet rush, juniper, cypress grass, wine, honey and raisins. They also anointed their dead with perfumes whose scent could still be detected when tombs were re-opened.

But perfume is even older than this.

Ancient Hindu Ayurvedic texts dating

By Catherine Rose

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AFTERNOON TEA AT THE HOUSE Enjoy a freshly baked afternoon tea in the delightful setting of The House at Shuttleworth, with a chance to explore its grand rooms. £20.95 per adult and £10.95 per child (additional charge for Father’s Day Afternoon Tea). For more information call 01767 627965 or email events@shuttleworth.org.

2018 Dates Sunday 17 June (Father’s Day) Sunday 29 July

Sunday 19 August Sunday 28 October

Additional dates may be added, see website for details.

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

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back to 3000 BC refer to its distillation. In India, different fragrances were used in tantric rituals where women would be spiritually anointed with spikenard for their hair, patchouli on their cheeks and neck, jasmine on their hands, amber on the breasts, musk for the abdomen, sandalwood on the thighs and, finally, saffron for their feet.

Then, in 2004, the oldest evidence of perfume was discovered with the remains of a Bronze Age perfume ‘factory’ unearthed in Cyprus.

It is thought that 13th century Crusaders brought back perfume from Palestine, and its use was eagerly taken up by Europe’s nobility (Queen Elizabeth I became a fan).

The Sun King Louis XIV, who ruled France from 1643-1715, loved perfume so much that his palace became known as ‘the perfume court’.

This might have had something to do with the fact that, like most of the nobility at that time, he was loathe to take baths, believing (quite understandably) that water made you ill.

King Louis had a different perfume for every day and installed a pavilion that he kept filled with flowers and would visit with his mistresses. He insisted on dousing every palace visitor with scent and the most important had their own signature perfumes.

One of his favourite perfumes, used to fragrance his shirts, was called Aqua Angeli (‘water of angels’) and consisted of, amongst other ingredients, nutmeg, cloves, jasmine, orange flowers, musk and aloe wood, all boiled in rose petal water.

During this time, France became a force in Europe for the manufacture and supply of fine perfumes, and Grasse in southern France, renowned for its natural variety of flowers, was a leading supplier.

In England, where sanitation was also abysmal and disease rife, perfumes were not only worn; they were also kept inside jewellery and the heads of canes to be inhaled by the wearer for health-giving properties and to ward off illness.

As well as essential oils from flowers and plants, ingredients for perfume were also derived from animal excretions. Castor was extracted from beavers, musk from male deer and ambergris from the sperm whale.

In the 1800s, synthetic fragrances made an appearance, their less expensive ingredients allowing for the first mass marketing of

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perfumes, thus launching famous companies that are still around today such as Coty and Guerlain.

It was discovered, for example, that a mixture of nitric acid and benzene gave off a scent like almonds, so this was consequently used in soap.

It is not possible to obtain essential oils from some flowers, lily of the valley for instance, so the development of synthetic scents proved ideal to replicate them.

With mass marketing, perfume bottle design became increasingly important and the Art Nouveau period saw the launch of many beautiful styles, some of them designed by the artisans of the era such as Rene Lalique.

Then in 1921, Chanel created her signature scent, Chanel No. 5, with the help of Grasse parfumier Ernest Beaux who had made perfumes for the Russian royal family. Under her direction, he gave her numbered samples to choose from – the rest is history.

Today our love of perfume remains undiminished and fragrances are popular with both men and women. But one thing hasn’t changed in that, even used daily, perfume is still viewed as a gloriously indulgent and luxury item – pure olfactory pleasure in a bottle.

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Win a Family Pass to the Folk by the Oak Festival in Hatfield Sunday 15 July

Folk by the Oak is the UK’s largest one day folk festival, and promises all the open air buzz of a 3 day festival packed into one joyous day of music, fun and bunting, without the need to camp! As well as bringing together an exceptional line- up of folk, roots and acoustic talent, which this year includes international festival favourite Amy MacDonald, the legendary Billy Bragg, and critically acclaimed Eliza Carthy, Folk by the Oak is a festival designed with fun for all the family in mind.

The Main Stage with its outdoor arena means that children can freely dance about in the parkland and the smaller, covered Acorn Stage attracts a little gathering of children right at the front singing along to favourite songs. As well as programming a day of back to back sublime music across these 2 stages, the organisers have lovingly gathered together many magical, unique and imaginative activities for children of all ages to enjoy, either in our dedicated family area or dotted around the festival site.

Unusually in the festival world, you can even bring your own picnic to Folk by the Oak, so feeding kids doesn’t mean spending a fortune or leaving the auditorium and missing out on the action. Should supplies run low there’s a carefully selected and plentiful array of tasty food stalls available too, as well as that festival essential for the grown-ups, the Real Ale Bar! To be in with a chance to win a family pass (2 adults and 2 children) simply send your entry by 16th June 2018 to: Folk by the Oak, Villager Publications Ltd, 24 Market Square, Potton, Beds SG19 2NP. The winner will be drawn randomly.

FOLK BY THE OAK COMPETITION ENTRY

For a chance to win a family pass simply complete your details below and post your response by 16th June 2018 to: Folk by the Oak Competition, Villager Publications Ltd, 24 Market Square, Potton, Beds SG19 2NP. Name:



Don’t want to leave it to chance? For the full line-up and to book tickets go to www.folkbytheoak.com

Address:

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EXCLUSIVE MOTABILITY OFFER

£150

The Freedom to Explore...

Pop into any of our T.C.Harrison dealerships to chat with our specialist Motability team, and we’ll help you regain your Freedom with a brand new Motability vehicle. PLUS with every purchase we’ll give you...

MOTABILITY VOUCHER

TO CLAIM YOUR DISCOUNT, PLEASE HAND THIS VOUCHER QUOTING TCHB18 TO ONE OF OUR FORD MOTABILITY SPECIALISTS Discount only available on production of this voucher and prior to negotiation. Motability customers only. Strictly one voucher per person. This offer supersedes any other offer and cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer. Offer applies to vehicles delivered in 2018. Exclusions apply.

To apply for the Motability scheme, speak to a member of the team or visit www.tch.co.uk/motability

0333 014 5509 Cambridge Street, St Neots, PE19 1JL

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Official fuel consumption figures in mpg (l/100km) for Ford Car range: urban 5,5-43,5 (6,5-51,4), extra urban 4,960,1 (4,7-57,7), combined 5,2-53,3 (5,3-54,3). Official CO2 emission 134-139g/km. Under the scheme the vehicles are leased from Motability Operations Limited (Registered Company No. 1373876), City Gate House, 22 Southwark Bridge Road, London SE1 9HB. Some Ford models are not available on the Motability scheme, please ask the dealership for details. Exclusions apply. Discount only available on production of this voucher and prior to negotiation. Offer applies to vehicles delivered in 2018. Further details on the discount can be found on the voucher.

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Win a 1 Year Membership at Beadlow Manor Hotel and Golf Club

Beadlow Manor Hotel and Golf Club is a golf club set in 307 acres of Bedfordshire Countryside and is one of only two golf courses in the county with 36 holes and a 25 bay flood lit driving range. The Baroness golf course measures 6,098 yards. The Baron course is the more challenging golf course and measures 6,611.

When you finish playing you are assured a warm welcome in our clubhouse where you can relax with a beverage and try food from our new bar menu. Room hire available for parties and corporate meetings too.

Membership Types

Contact Sean for details:- Tel: 01525 860800 Email: sales@beadlowmanor.co.uk Seven Day Membership £540 Full seven day playing rights on two 18-hole golf courses, 14-day advance tee booking rights, access to all Club competitions, 10% discount off Food and Beverage purchase free 30 minute lesson with our resident golf professional.

Junior Memberships from £49 Corporate Memberships tailored to suit you Military memberships discounted fee 999 memberships discounted fee WWW.BEADLOWMANOR.CO.UK

The Villager Magazine has partnered with Beadlow Manor to offer its readers the chance to win a 1 year membership at Beadlow Manor Hotel and Golf Club (worth £540). The prize includes the use of two 18 hole golf courses, 7 day playing rights, exclusive member discounts and excellent practice facilities.

BEADLOW MANOR HOTEL AND GOLF CLUB COMPETITION ENTRY

For a chance to win a 1 year membership simply complete your details below and post your response by 16th June 2018 to: Beadlow Manor Competition, Villager Publications Ltd, 24 Market Square, Potton, Beds SG19 2NP. Name:



The winner will be drawn at random.

Address: Tel: Email: All entries will be passed to Beadlow Manor.

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Weight Loss

Downsize Your Dish...

Smaller plates may be a key to weight loss.

Several years ago, a food psychologist called Brian Wasink gathered a group of 85 food and nutrition experts. He gave each of them a small bowl or a large bowl and a small scoop or a large scoop.

Then he asked them all to serve themselves a ‘portion’ of ice cream. Now these were people who knew about nutrition, yet they scooped 31% more than the average serving size into the large bowl and 15% more from the large scoop.

Studies at the University of Pennsylvania conducted similar experiments hypothesising that giving student subjects a smaller scoop would mean they would take more than one, but most of the students took only one scoop regardless of size.

So, what can those of us who want to shed a few pounds take from this? Swap your 10 inch / 25cm dinner plate for an 8 inch / 20 cm one and put fattening foods like gravy or salad dressings into

...and your dress size! small bowls with small spoons. Put salad stuff and vegetables in a big bowl with a large serving spoon and then tuck in.

Downsize with science!

Aisling Lodge Residential Care Home St Neots

By Lucy Robson

Unde r N E W Owne rship

Quality care for the elderly set in the heart of St. Neots • Home-From-Home Feel • Independent, family owned care home • 24 Hour Care • CQC Good Rating 2017 • Competitive Fees

STILL AVAILABLE:

Last few newly refurbished rooms with en-suite facilities

Please call 01480

476789 for more information

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Time of Year

By Louise Addison

Give Blood!

World Blood Donor Day is June 14th

Most of us have had or know someone who has had a blood transfusion. Blood donation is vital to help treat thousands of seriously ill patients every day and new donors are desperately needed.

Currently only 4% of the eligible population are active blood donors.

Here are 10 reasons to consider giving blood: Life-saver - You change lives each time you give blood. Every blood donation can save or improve the lives of up to three adults or six children.

Desperate need - NHS Blood and Transplant needs many more donors to come forward to make sure the nation’s blood stocks remain at a safe level for the future.

Day-to-day needs - You may think blood is only used for massive blood loss in A&E patients, but your blood could help many different people.

Donated blood is also used for patients having surgery, maternity emergencies, and for people with cancer or blood disorders.

6000 donations are needed per DAY! - It’s true that changes in medical practices mean demand for donated blood has reduced. But hospitals across England and North Wales still need around 6,000 blood donations every day to treat patients.

A quick pint - If you book an appointment, the whole process takes less than an hour. One hour, every three to six months. Just a short amount of time to do something wonderful for another human being.

You’re probably eligible - You need to be in general good health and weigh over 50kg to

donate blood. If you are looking to donate for the first time you need to start on or before your 66th birthday. To check if you are eligible go to www.blood.co.uk You might be a missing type - Blood from all groups is needed but some blood groups are particularly vulnerable to shortfall such as O negative – which can be given to all patients in an emergency: think of those episodes of Casualty or ER where the doctor in charge yells ‘Where’s the O-NEG’!

You might be young - We need more young donors. Around half of current donors are aged over 45. The more young people get involved the better future blood stocks will be safeguarded. You can start donating at 17.

You might be BAME - Are you black, Asian or from an ethnic minority? Please consider becoming a donor as some rare blood types are more common among these communities. Conditions such as sickle cell and thalassemia are also more likely to affect these groups and patients require regular blood transfusions, ideally from donors from a similar ethnic background.

There are biscuits - Free food! Around 6 million biscuits are eaten by donors every year. Aren’t we a greedy bunch? But the post donation biscuit and cuppa are important because sitting quietly while eating and drinking something helps the body to recover.

If I’ve inspired you to become a donor go to www.blood.co.uk or call 0300 123 23 23.

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Food and Drink

Wines: Gems of Austria Austria attracts many visitors, from global origins, constantly. From pretty alpine villages, through cities, boasting beautiful architecture, to stunning landscapes, with lakes, mountains, glaciers and so much more, there is something for everyone. Vienna is the capital city and home to Strauss, the renowned family that is famous for numerous musical scores, including much-loved and well-known waltzes. The Vienna Boys Choir has many followers, worldwide. Locating Mozart’s birthplace, cathedrals and a lot of other locations, including some of the world’s finest museums and art galleries, hold much interest. The high-quality wines, produced in Austria, many of which are multi award-winning, have become recognised for their distinctive, superb attributes.

Domäne Baumgartner is currently reputed to be the largest wine estate in Austria. Having centuries of experience and, now, combining tradition with innovation, Domäne Baumgartner produces outstanding wines. Indeed, Grüner Veltliner Rosenprinzessin (Rose Princess) is, truly, ‘Music in the Bottle’. This wine is ‘treated’ with/to music, having frequencies ‘encouraging’ the eventual outcome.

The resulting wine is elegant and has a very good, full body. Taste the music – absolutely! Their ranges include classic, dry Grüner Veltliner wines, which are medium-bodied and full of character, through Zweigelt and Pinot Noir Grande Reserve productions, displaying most impressive fruit depths. All are great pairings with many dishes, complementing cuisine to an exceptional standard. www.weinbaumgartner.at Hauermandl is a family-owned winery in the Langenlois area. Several grape varieties are grown, including Riesling, Chardonnay, Muskateller, Pinot Noir, Zweigelt and, of course, Grüner Veltliner. Their Steiner wine ranges include Grüner Veltliner Sommeliers and Privat Riede Neuberg. On, through Grüner Veltliner Riede Dechant Reserve, to others, that include Riesling Riede Steinhaus and Muskateller, to Zweigelt Reserve. These productions prove to be very popular. Each to their own, the Zweigelt is often selected to impress – and impress it certainly does! This production has many ‘devotees’ and is regularly chosen to grace numerous dining occasions. This red, fruited wine, is both delicate and elegant. The silk-red conveys throughout, from the appearance, through the bouquet, to the superb pleasures, on the mouth and palate, with a memorable finish.

Wonderfully delicious. www.hauermandl.at

As always, Enjoy!

ey Trevor Langl

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Coach Coac the

Here comes the sun, and with it our new summer mezze menu!

You’ll find some fresh flavours in our small dishes, inspired by Asia and the Middle East.

Perfect for eating in the beer garden with a glass of something cold.

Beer food

Mezze

Beer-battered king prawns prawns.......................£6

Moroccan-spiced feta & beetroot ‘sigara’....£5

Cajun squid ............................................................£6

Lebanese beef skewer ........................................... ...........................................£6 £6

Sausage on a stick ......................................... .........................................£1.5 £1.5

Grilled halloumi ............................................................£6

Chicken goujons ................................................. £5

Sticky pulled, spiced lamb ..................................£6

Coach chips (v) .................................................. £3.5

Pitta & dips .........................................................................£5

Asian dressing lemon mayo

Lincolnshire sausage & ketchup garlic mayo

Sweet potato fries ......................................... £3.5 garlic mayo (v)

lettuce wedge & tzatziki (v)

hummus, roasted red peppers & flatbread

chopped ezme salad & pomegranate dressing (v) flatbread, tzatziki, pomegranate & mint hummus, tzatziki & ezme (v)

Middle-Eastern grilled chicken wings......£6 lettuce wedge & tzatziki

01767 260221 www.coachhousepotton.co.uk

Served 12-2.30pm & 6-9pm (v) = vegetarian

Mezze Villager advert.indd 1

16/05/2018 13:54

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Kimbolton Castle

Sunday 8th July 2018 Main Ring Events for 2018:

Savage Skills: Free Style Mountain Bike Stunt Team, Sealed Knot, Beagles and Heavy Horses

Stage 2018:

Haka, Gavin James Burke – Classical and Musical Theatre Vocalist, Galaxy Big Band and Lindyhop Dancers, Morris Dancers

Other Attractions:

A flypast by the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, 1000 Classic Cars, Dreamrides, Model Car Racing, over 70 stalls and stands. And much more...

Children:

Millers Ark Mobile Farm, Mobile Cave and Bungee Trampolining.

Ground admission for Public from 11.00am, Main Show Ring Events from 12.00pm Entrance: Adult £10, Family £25, Children £5 (Under 5’s free) Charities for 2018: All monies raised will be donated to Charities and good causes supported by the Rotary Club of Kimbolton Castle and/or Sporting Bears.

Charities supported in recent years included: Hemi Help, Samuel Pepys School, Ellesmere Opportunity Group, Autism Concern, EACH (East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices), Burn Camps, Holly Ward (Hinchingbrooke Hospital), Mission Motorsport and local Rotary Supported Charities

Organised by the Rotary Club of Kimbolton Castle in partnership with the Sporting Bears

www.kimboltoncountryfayre.com 20

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Offer ends 30th June 2018.

Ts & Cs apply.

www.cambridgesunblinds.co.uk 01223 904023

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Local News

Museum launches new Inns & Pubs Town Walk

Raise a glass to the launch of a new town walk...

Thanks to new volunteer, Chris Jones, we are launching a fascinating new monthly town walk this summer, ‘From Half Moons to White Lyons’ about the history of the inns, pubs and beerhouses in St Neots town centre.

Curator, Liz Davies says, ‘Chris has been working hard to research the history and stories linked to the local hostelries in the town and will be revealing all sorts of interesting information on the walk; from medieval histories to the early 1900s, discover which inns are the oldest in the town, which posting house could store your motor car, which inn boasted a modern billiard table and which long forgotten St Neots inn featured on the BBC Antiques Roadshow in 2013. ‘ The first walk takes place on Thursday 10th May,

with further walks on 14th June, 26th July, 16th August and the 13th September.

Tickets are £6.00 per person either from the museum or book on Eventbrite.

Our existing ‘Story of St Neots’ town walks continue on Wednesday evenings throughout the summer.

St Neots Museum, 8 New Street, St Neots, PE19 1AE Open: Tuesday to Saturday 11.00am - 4.00pm Admission Free to Local Residents Visitors: Adults £3.00, Seniors £2.00 & Children £1.00 www.stneotsmuseum.org.uk

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23

Travel

Understanding

By Tom Hancock

Travel Insurance It can seem like just one more extra cost you could do without, but travel without it and you could be in trouble.

Crippling costs - You risk footing a very large bill should you need healthcare or have your baggage lost or stolen. something as simple as a stomach bug in California with a stomach bug, which requires treatment and later flights home, could cost in the tens of thousands of pounds. A broken hip in a European destination could lead to a bill of £15,000 Don’t forget - If you are planning any sports or other activities, mention it. Skiing and extreme sports are obvious examples, but scuba diving and other activities you may not think of as “extreme” may still need extra cover. Know how much it would cost to replace baggage, from suitcases to clothes, to jewellery, including wedding rings.

Why it matters where you’re going - EU countries tend to be less expensive while Canada, the US and the Caribbean are much more so due to the

incredibly high cost of medical care in those regions.

Declare pre-existing conditions - certain medical conditions will add to the cost of your insurance, because insurance is about risk and certain ailments make it more likely that you might require medical attention. It may be worth looking at insurers which specialise in providing this type of insurance.

Tell them everything - Even if it feels like you are hiking up the cost of your insurance policy. You don’t want your insurance to be invalid if you need to make a claim.

Read! - When you get your policy, make sure you read the full terms and conditions and the medical declaration carefully, so you understand exactly what you’re covered for.

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24Dragonfly Beauty Spa Advert AUGUST14 131x94mm.indd 1 07/02/2017 15:54 Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts

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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25

Complementary Health

Let’s go Nordic Walking

and turn a stroll in the park into a whole body exercise!

Now that the weather is improving what better time to get people thinking about Nordic Walking as a great way to get some exercise. Nordic Walking is a full-body exercise that combines the simplicity and accessibility of walking with simultaneous core and upper body conditioning.

It’s easy on the joints and suitable for all ages and fitness levels. More than 10 million people globally enjoy this outdoor activity all year round.

What is Nordic walking?

Nordic Walking is based on using specially designed walking poles in a way that harnesses the power of the upper body to propel you forward as you walk. The technique is similar to the action of cross country skiing. It is a recognised way to turn a walk into a whole-body exercise.

Who is Nordic walking suitable for?

Nordic Walking is a very accessible activity and can be shared by people of all ages and fitness levels.

Walking can range from gentle walks for people with health concerns, or for people who haven’t exercised in a while and for those who dislike traditional sports or gym activities. However at the other end of the spectrum it can also be approached as a workout walk; to gain higher fitness levels and is often used by athletes for cross training. It is also useful for injured athletes because the poles provide support whilst working to improve fitness as part of their rehabilitation.

Whatever your age from 8 to 80+, you’ll probably enjoy discovering the benefits of Nordic Walking and how it can improve your quality of life.

What equipment do you need?

You’ll need a pair of Nordic Walking poles (which are different to those used for trekking because of how the strap is used and the angle you plant them on the ground), walking shoes and appropriate clothing.

How will it benefit my body?

Nordic Walking combines the simplicity and accessibility of walking with simultaneous core and upper body conditioning. The result is a full body workout, which means you: • burn up to 46% more calories compared to walking without poles, therefore improving tone and fitness • release tension in the neck and shoulders • improve your posture and gait

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• strengthen your back and abdominal muscles • reduce the impact on the lower body joints making you feel lighter in your feet and legs As with other forms of moderate activity, Nordic Walking can help to lower your risk of getting chronic illnesses, such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, asthma, stroke etc. When used as part of a regular exercise programme Nordic Walking will also help you to lose weight.

What’s the technique?

You move in a similar way to ordinary walking and swing your arms from your shoulder with your elbows straight – think of a soldier marching. To get the full benefits and avoid injury, you could start with lessons to get the basic technique.

Is Nordic Walking hard on your joints?

Nordic Walking is no harder on the joints than normal walking. It’s an activity suitable for people with a range of joint conditions including osteoarthritis (wear and tear arthritis) or for those who may be carrying some extra body weight.

How do you get started?

Nordic Walking can be done in any location, city or countryside, but it’s recommended that you learn the technique from a qualified instructor. Most instructors also run local groups, which you can join for regular walks once you have learned the technique Nordic Walking specialist Neal Thomas in Brampton is always happy to help. www.fit4purpose.me/nordic-walking T: 07887 845703

Centre for Complimentary Health Tel: 01480 455221 Web: www.CentreForCompHealth.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: j.dighton@hotmail.co.uk Tel: 07925 852 985 (Voicemail available) To advertise in The Villager and Town Life please call 01767 261122

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PAXTON HILL HOUSE, GREAT PAXTON SELF CATERING ACCOMMODATION

Fully furnished weekly lets In the wooded grounds of a country house • The Garden House Sleeps 4-6 • The Loft Sleeps 6 • The Lodge Sleeps 3-4 All equipment and linen included.

For further information Visit www.paxtonhillhouse.co.uk or telephone Benita Sanders 01480 216237 Keep this page for future reference

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Colours Amber Apricot Azure Beige Black Blue Blush Bronze Brown Cerise Copper Crimson Cyan Emerald

Green Taupe Grey Teal Indigo Violet Ivory White Jade Yellow Orange Peach Pink Plum Puce Raspberry Red Rose Ruby

Find the names of colours in the grid and the remaining letters will spell out a related phrase

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Local News

Location Location Location Calling all Property Hunters in Bedfordshire and the surrounds!

Channel 4’s ‘Location, Location, Location’ is planning to come to BEDFORDSHIRE and the surrounding areas to film an episode for our new series.

Property experts Kirstie Allsopp and Phil Spencer will be helping people find their dream home early this coming summer, 2018.

Chain free buyers struggling to find the right property are welcome to apply. The sooner you apply, the better chance you have so if you’re looking for a home of your own - don’t delay, apply today!

Whether you’re upsizing or downsizing, buying your first property or hoping to find your ideal forever home, you could have two top property experts on your side. Whatever the budget and however tricky the search - we would love to hear from everyone! Phil and Kirstie may be just the helping hand you need!

The online application form can be found via the following link: https://www.shortaudition.com/LocationLocation-Location

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We are looking for more delivery people in this area to deliver our magazine.

Please contact Nigel for more details

Tel: 01767 261122

Email: nigel@villagermag.com

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Leeds Day Solicitors

Protect your property from the cost of care home fees With the cost of residential care currently being as much as £1,000 per week for any person with assets of more than £23,250,it is not surprising that people are keen to protect their property to pass on to their family.

When it becomes necessary for a person to move into residential care, a financial assessment is undertaken and any assets in that person’s sole name will normally be used to pay for their care.

A share of joint assets will also normally be taken into account. However, the value of a home will be disregarded while a spouse (or certain other relatives) continues to live in the property.

However, if one spouse dies and the surviving spouse requires residential care, the full value of the house will be available and will be taken into account in assessing the funding of residential care fees.

An effective way to protect a share of a jointly owned property is for a couple to make Wills which include Life Interest Trusts. Trusts of this type allow a share of a jointly owned property to be held for the surviving spouse to have full use of it during a specified period (often for the whole of the survivor’s lifetime).

In practice, this enables the surviving joint owner to benefit from the whole property during his or her lifetime, whilst preserving a share of the

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

capital value to pass to other named beneficiaries (often the couple’s children) following the death of the surviving joint owner.

The trust protects the surviving joint owner, giving him or her the right to live in and make use of the property for as long as they wish to do so.

If the survivor wishes to downsize, he or she will usually be free to do so. Similarly, if the survivor is not able to continue living in the property, he or she may receive any income (after expenses) generated from the share of the property held in the trust.

The surviving joint owner does not own the share of the property held in the trust but has the right to occupy it or receive an income from it. As such, the share of the property held within the trust will be protected for the ultimate beneficiaries and will not be taken into account if the surviving joint owner requires residential care.

Changes are proposed to the amount people will have to pay for their care in the future. This will be capped but this will not apply to the costs of food and accommodation. The potential benefits of using a Life Interest Trust will therefore remain.

If you would be interested in discussing this with one of our members of staff, please contact us on 0844 567 2222 by email at wills@leedsday.co.uk or visit our website www.leedsday.co.uk

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

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St. Neots Xenus House, Sandpiper Court, Eaton Socon, St. Neots PE19 8EP T: 01480 474661 33

Business

Women over 50 CEOs at work and play!

Did you know that many women over 50 are flouting the stereotype? Instead of retiring and ‘taking it easy’ as previous generations have done, they are reinventing and reinvigorating their lives.

Many are launching their own businesses. The desire to be their own boss, create a better work/ life balance and take control of their own success drives them forward.

One such local ‘olderpreneur’ Heather Aylett from Sandy, Bedfordshire, has grasped that second bite of the cherry!

In 2017 at the age of 54 and already owner of her own successful children’s entertainment business A for Active, Heather launched All About Enterprise providing schools with innovative business enterprise training days, which are both stimulating and fun, utilising her lifetime passion for training whilst capitalising on her vast experience of working with children. “it’s absolutely fantastic being able to give pupils a taste of life beyond the classroom and show them that they can use their own specific talents to develop successful businesses when they are older, inspiring them to become the business leaders and entrepreneurs of the future. It’s never too early to introduce children to the world of business and as such my programmes are suitable from year 6 upwards” Launching the business was relatively straightforward (having done it all before 10 years earlier). However, Heather struggled with the isolation of not having a support network that understood her own particular needs of being a businesswoman over 50 in a very different contemporary business world.

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“marketing, so vital for any business - but particularly a start-up, is a very different world these days, with new thinking, technology and social media to understand and at first I found this overwhelming.

It’s so important to command an understanding of this aspect of running a business. Indeed, All About Enterprise’s signature programme is about marketing and offers school students a real life ‘Dragon’s Den/ The Apprentice type experience” Heather’s experience changed when she connected with fellow businesswoman Ali MilesJenkins, founder of The BoomBiz. The BoomBiz helps women over 50 reach their potential and gives them the confidence to take control of their own success, to achieve a profitable lifestyle and become their own boss at work and play. “it’s fantastic being part of The BoomBiz. Ali, a successful business woman in her own right is a great mentor. It’s also invaluable being part of a group of like-minded women and the support within the group is amazing” Heather has been lucky enough to be part of Ali’s K.I.M programme, which offers business support to ladies over 50 who have survived cancer and have gone on to launch a business.

“I feel very honoured to be given this opportunity to take advantage of the K.I.M programme, it has been invaluable in helping me launch, develop and market my business” If you would like further information regarding All About Enterprise or The BoomBiz, please see the contact details below: www.AllAboutEnterprise.co.uk www.theboombiz.com

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Extensions & newbuilds Design & Planning Approvals Building Regulations Project Management Professional service Fully insured as featured in Channel 4’s The Best Laid Plans

www.rgharchitects.co.uk Tel 01462 790808

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Life Coaching

I don’t want to be with my partner any more...

Hang on! You chose to be with this person originally. He or she had something really special which made you want to match your life with theirs. Did they change or did you?

NB: If your partner is abusive, controlling, unstable, violent or unfaithful, unless you have made a conscious decision to stay with them, your desire to leave is entirely understandable.

However, if you have children together, a successful business or maybe know deep inside there is a really strong bond worth saving, then read on……..

How often do you moan about your partner? Does it make you feel better? No! Actually, it makes you feel a lot worse, but more significantly, your attitude injects negativity into the relationship.

When you groan to your friends or gripe to your mother about your partner, you actively damage the bond between you. It’s time to re-frame your thinking.

Part of the life coaching process involves turning negative statements into positive intentions. These are just a few

of the transforming phrases my clients have shared; I want my partner: • To be more affectionate • To acknowledge my needs • To be kind in the words they use to me • To share responsibility for our home • To try my hobbies and interests News flash: Your partner probably wants all of those things from you too! Ouch! That stung didn’t it?

Another way to damage your relationship is blaming your partner for making you feel bad.

Get honest with yourself and stop believing your partner is to blame for your emotions. They aren’t!

By acknowledging you have sole responsibility for your feelings you take control of your response to the situation you are in. No one can make you feel anything. You choose to allow your emotions to react in a positive or negative way.

Once you get the hang of that little gem, every part of life becomes a whole lot better.

When you take responsibility for

your thoughts, words, and feelings and cancel your subscription to the blame game, you may realise your partner still has that special something! This is a great time to assess what you are putting into the relationship and restore the balance you’ve been missing.

If you want them to be affectionate, show them some affection. If you want a better sex life, be a considerate and caring lover to them. If you want your partner to listen to you, start by paying attention to them.

By changing your perspective you allow the energy in the relationship to shift into a more positive place and give your partner space to be the person you fell in love with.

Keep it up and you might just realise the relationship really does matter to you both.

Even if ultimately the relationship ends, you will have learned a valuable lesson about taking personal responsibility for your words, thoughts and emotions which will help all areas of your life.

Suzanne Roynon is a personal performance life coach. www.yoursuccess.coach

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Garden View

Totally Tropical The ‘greenhouse effect’ is an environmental hot topic. And it’s true that despite the grim winter of 2017-18 we’ve generally been experiencing milder conditions in recent years. I’ve certainly started to experiment with more exotic plants. It’s a little risky; one hard winter can wipe out a tender specimen. But between now and September there’s every chance that many tropical plants will survive if planted out in our gardens. They need a sunny sheltered spot, like the one you would choose for petunias, tobacco plants and rose beds.

Try Cannas. They have luxuriant broad spearshaped leaves, which can be deep green, purple or even striped with orange or yellow. They produce vibrant flowers which look like gladioli but better!

Or how about planting scarlet dahlias like ‘Bishop of Llandaff’, which also sports attractive bronze foliage.

A big clump of African marigolds provides a blaze of fiery colour. Or try tender perennial salvias in colours which range from magenta through to scarlet and deep purples and blues. They won’t survive the first winter frosts but they an easy to propagate from shoot-cuttings which can be over-wintered in a cool greenhouse ready for the following spring.

Verbena bonariensis produces tall wands of dainty lilac flowers. They self-seed freely, which is great if you consider that a bonus in a plant (I do) but maybe avoid this one if self-seeding bothers you.

You could even try a banana plant. The variety “Musa Banjo” is wonderfully architectural, and though it does not produce fruit it will create impact. Plant in a large pot and let its fan-like leaves create fabulous shadows on the patio. It hails from Japan originally and loves sunshine, but it is hardy to -6C so perfect for the suburban UK climate. Do note that in winter the leaves naturally die back and turn brown. I thought I’d killed mine the first year, but the leaves grow back quickly in the spring.

The Honey Bush (Melianthus major) is a terrific half-hardy foliage specimen with its 50cm long grey-green deeply serrated leaves, which look as though they’ve been cut with pinking shears.

Some of these plants will survive a British Winter with protection but it’s probably best to treat your ‘tropical’ border as a temporary display.

Experiment and have fun creating your very own suburban rainforest.

By Rachael Leverton

Happy Gardening

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Gardening

Creative Containers Colourful containers are a welcome sight in any garden, and pots, planters and troughs can transform a dull back yard or a gloomy terrace or patio. Plus, wacky and more unusual planters can easily be created with a little imagination and ingenuity.

Plastic flower pots can be transformed by wrapping them in hessian. Available in a range of colours from classic pale brown to reds, greens and blues, it’s weather-tolerant and tough but looks great.

Plastic pots are more exciting with a bit of planting around the sides, so cut holes just over an inch in diameter at regular intervals around the sides to create a planter perfect for small bedding plants.

Fill with compost to the base of the lowermost holes, add plants through the holes, add more compost to the next layer of holes and continue upwards, finishing off with plenty of colour on the top.

Acrylic paints are ideal to colour a boring or discoloured container. Use a single colour to match existing garden features, or the colour of your front door or window frames, or design a pattern of wild, fantastic colours for a planted-up art gallery.

Mosaic tiles from your local craft or hobby store can be used to cover a container, or if time is short to just make a mosaic rim. Use rich colours to make a Moroccan style pot. Protect it when winter comes by placing it in a frost-free spot, unless you use the grouting adhesive used for swimming pools to make it more weather resistant.

Old tyres filled with compost make ideal planters, and can be stacked to make deeper versions.

Trailing flowers – such as trailing geraniums – cascading over the edges give a really striking effect.

An aged wheelbarrow is great for a larger display or permanent planting. If there are no holes in the pan of the barrow, place a layer of gravel or stones in the base so that the compost does not become waterlogged.

An old wellington boot makes a stylish planter.

Fill the foot and ankle area with gravel or grit for drainage, add compost and plant up the top.

Acrylic paints can jazz up a boring pair of wellies, but make sure the paint is dry before you start planting.

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Old gardening, walking or work boots have planting potential too, and because they have heavier soles and are lower to the ground they are useful in a less-sheltered place. Plant up with bright bedding, or for a long-term display use a few house-leeks or sempervivums – their fleshy rosettes of leaves in shades of green and purple look great!

An old kitchen or bathroom sink can be put to good use; either remove the plug to provide drainage or fix it firmly in place with sealant to make a miniature water garden.

I’ve even seen a loo cistern packed full of trailing plants including blue and white lobelia and trailing silvery foliage plants. The mass of blue, white and silver made a great waterfall of colour from an otherwise boring water closet.

Visit Pippa’s website www.pippagreenwood. com and you’ll find some great gardening items: Nemaslug, green controls for leatherjackets, chafer grubs, ants and greenfly, plus garden plant supports, raised bed kits, Easy-Tunnels, gardening tools, Grower Frames, signed books and more. You can even book Pippa for a gardening talk!

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GARDEN MACHINERY AND TRAILER CENTRE

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Quirky Britain

It’s dark outside, so pick up your paddle

“I’m in the centre of London ... No traffic, no street beer din, no synched steps of business folk rushing for the train… I can breathe. The air here has rarely felt so clean; I’ve never seen the city with so much sky.” So writes blogger Sam Haddad on the website mpora. com, describing his night-time journey along the Thames in – of all things – a kayak.

Sam is just one of a growing number of outdoor adventurers who like to explore the UK’s rivers, lakes and coastal waters by kayak as night falls.

It’s one of those off-the-wall activities that have recently grown in popularity and are particularly favoured by social media users looking for quirky and unusual experiences to post on Facebook or Instagram.

The Oxford Dictionary defines a ‘kayak’ as “a canoe of a type used originally by the Inuit, made of a light frame with a watertight covering having a small opening in the top to sit in”. Kayaks are light, manoeuvrable and hard to capsize, but to the average landlubber a kayak may not seem the obvious choice for a nocturnal adventure in a busy waterway. It’s hard to understand the attraction of this type of transport until you hear the first-hand accounts of people who have actually experienced night kayaking: “It was like a dream” …“We couldn’t stop talking about our experience for days” …

“Outstanding and magical.” (Comments left by firsttime night kayakers on the travel site Trip Advisor.)

Don’t underrate the risks Despite being an enthusiastic proponent of nightkayaking, experienced sea kayaker Duncan Smith is aware of the dangers: “On nights where the moon is not providing natural light you are more reliant

on your night vision. This can be cut dramatically by the glare from any head-torch or deck light you carry and whilst you can see into the distance … it can be difficult to see/read the water in front of you.” He adds: “Sound seems amplified in the dark, to the point when tiny waves breaking on the pebbled shore can sound like huge, dumping surf.”

Dipping your toe in the water If you’re keen to try kayaking by night but have never used a kayak before, you should take your first trip under the guidance of an experienced leader. Organised excursions are available across the UK, with many different experiences to choose from. Most excursions include instructions on how to handle a kayak, but if you’re in any doubt about whether the route is suitable for you, you should check with the operator prior to booking.

Join a club If you are already familiar with kayaks but have never ventured out at night, you could join a club for support, companionship and advice. There are numerous kayak clubs throughout Britain – contact the British Canoeing Union (britishcanoeing.org.uk) to find your nearest group, but be aware that not all clubs practice kayaking after dark.

When you read the testimonials of people who have experienced night-kayaking, it’s easy to understand why it creates such a sense of awe and wonder.

Noisy daytime environments become peaceful, skies become bigger and familiar landscapes take on an eerie new beauty. But most seasoned kayakers will also admit to enjoying the moment when they reach dry land, looking forward to the chance to warm up over a pint in a cosy local pub.

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Life Begins...

By Kate McLelland

What’s wrong with a little rose-tinted nostalgia?

“When I was young ...”; “In my time …”; “The good old days …”

Be honest. How often do you use expressions like this to talk about the past? Of course, there’s no harm in a little nostalgia; thinking back to the experiences we’ve enjoyed in our lives helps us hold on to our identities in this fast-changing world. But some would argue that constantly reflecting on the past makes it harder for us to appreciate the present or look forward to the future.

How we make memories Nostalgia is a wistful longing for the past. Hearing a song, visiting a place linked to your youth or seeing an object that connects you with happier times can result in a flood of positive emotions, but it’s often the memories made in childhood and as young adults that affect us most.

A study by the University of Leeds has revealed that our early memories are closely connected with the way we develop a sense of self. As children, and later as young adults, our strongest imprints develop around new experiences – that’s why, years later, we can recall exactly where we were, and who was with us, when we first tried something new.

Self-deception or rosy retrospection?

The French novelist and critic Marcel Proust wrote: “Remembrance of things past is not necessarily the remembrance of things as they were.” In order to fully enjoy our nostalgic memories, psychiatrists have found that our minds tend to blank out any details that might spoil the picture. This behaviour – known as ‘rosy retrospection’ – allows people to remember events in a positive light, even though they may have been less than happy at the time.

In one study of this phenomenon, researchers

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found that a group of Disneyland visitors who complained about their experience on the day of their trip recalled it as a great experience when they were quizzed several weeks later.

While there’s clearly an element of self-deception at play when it comes to reliving past memories, research suggests that nostalgic thoughts can actually be good for you. A study carried out in America in 2013 concluded that reflecting on happier times provides comfort and improves our mental health, particularly when we are upset or unhappy. Researchers also discovered that far from being backward-looking introverts, people who enjoy thinking about the past believe they are more open to new experiences than many others.

Keeping it real Of course, not everyone dons rose-tinted glasses when they reflect on the past. Joan Fraser – contributing to a forum discussion on the SilverSurfers website (www.silversurfers.com) writes: “Thinking back to freezing bedrooms, one bath a week, and times when we couldn’t travel so widely, and women faced such a number of ridiculous restrictions, makes me appreciate the home comforts and freedoms I have”. But even Joan admits that she indulges in a little nostalgia from time to time: “I often also yearn for the people and places I loved so much; but this seems OK and natural, and doesn’t detract from me looking ahead and hoping for good (better) times ahead.”

Perhaps the argument about whether it’s better to hark back or look forward is best summed up by 19th century Danish Philosopher Søren Kierkegaard, who wrote: “Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards.”

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Business gone slow?

Let us help!

Advertising in The Villager is easy. To find out more call Nigel on 01767 261122 or email nigel@villagermag.com

GILKS FENCING LTD

All Types of Fencing, Gates & Railings, SUPPLIED & INSTALLED

Call for a FREE Survey & Quotation Visit our Display Area at:

Gilks Fencing

Drove Road, Gamlingay, Sandy, Beds SG19 2HX Tel:

01767 650 615

Email:

gilksfencing@hotmail.com

www.gilksfencing.co.uk To advertise in The Villager and Town Life please call 01767 261122

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Can I go to the Paddocks for my Holiday please?

Paddocks Boarding Cattery Peaceful location. No dogs boarded.

Spacious, individual, heated chalets with large covered runs.

Inspection welcome. Boarding from ÂŁ7.50/day.

Rabbits/guinea pigs also boarded.

64 Meadow Road, Great Gransden

Telephone 01767 677 759 www.catterybedfordshire.co.uk Open all year.

The cattery for caring owners.

Comfort and security for your pet.

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Pets

Animal Heroes Shocking cruelty – happening on your doorstep

Our RSPCA Inspectors, Animal Welfare Officers and Animal Collection Officers do amazing work in Bedfordshire. In 2017 alone, they visited and investigated 1,470 complaints! That’s four new animal welfare concerns every day.

This shocking figure makes Bedfordshire the 10th cruelest county in the South East. Such information has been released as part of the RSPCA’s annual Cruelty Statistics. These show that, nationally, 143,760 complaints about animal welfare were investigated in 2017 alone.

Among the cases, investigated by the RSPCA in Bedfordshire last year, were four dogs who sadly died after they were shut away in a room for four weeks without food and water.

The most calls received in Bedfordshire related to dogs (870), cats (392) and equines (130). The scale of the problem is worth repeating. That’s in just one year.

The RSPCA’s staff are constantly stretched to their limits as they try and help all the suffering, sick and dying animals in the county. Many readers will be surprised to read this. We are in 2018 – yet the awful incidents of cruelty still, sadly, continue.

Although this is clearly emotionally draining work, the staff and volunteers at the RSPCA keep focused on the fact that they are rescuing these animals from horrific neglect or brutal cruelty – and giving them a second chance.

The RSPCA North Bedfordshire Branch is a small,

local animal charity – which helps to transform the lives of thousands of animals in Bedfordshire each year. However, the public also plays a vital role too – by reporting cruelty and supporting our efforts to raise funds. Much needed funds are created by donating to the charity shop in Bedford, buying from it, leaving a legacy in your will, Gift Aiding donations or donating to street collections.

Additional volunteers are always welcome too – whether it’s helping in the shop, fostering cats or helping on a stall at a local fete.

If you feel uncomfortable or shocked reading this – we are sorry. But, please think about how you can help prevent, and ease, the horrific cruelty that may be happening closer than you think.

If you are concerned about an animal’s welfare, you can report this to the RSPCA’s cruelty line on 0300 1234 999 (24-hours) or online on rspca.org.uk More information, and fundraising packs, can be also be found on rspca.org.uk Call 01234 266965 or email donate@rspcabedsnorth.org.uk with any enquiries.

ANIMAL HEROES is one of a series of articles brought to you by the RSPCA Bedfordshire North Branch www.rspca-bedfordshirenorth.org.uk

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Cyber Bullying

Parenting

By Sarah Davey

Although playground bullying is not new it’s nature has changed with the advent of smart phones and social media. Now we see more cyber bullying, or rather we don’t see it as it tends to be hidden and carried out in secret. Almost half of all young people say they have been bullied online and more than 70% say they’ve seen it happening.

As parents it can be difficult to know what to do if your child is being bullied, or conversely is a bully.

Here are some tips: Discuss bullying with your child from an early age.

Discuss netiquette. Adults sometimes behave more aggressively when they are behind the safety of a computer screen, and it’s the same for children, who are still learning to navigate the online world.

Make it clear that being a target is not their fault.

Make it clear that whether it’s in real life or online bullying is never acceptable.

Advise your child to protect their phone number by only giving it out to trusted friends or family

members. Tell them to keep track of who they have given it to.

If your child has received a bullying message, tell them to screenshot it and send it to you. Make a note of the time and date it was sent and the number it came from, as evidence to show teachers or police.

Do not respond to the message. The phone number or email will probably identify the source.

If the bully gets no response then they tend to stop doing it.

Don’t panic if your child is the bully. It doesn’t mean they will grow into a terrible human being.

But bullying behaviour can often be a cry for help. Perhaps they are finding the teen years more stressful than they are letting on. Maybe they are struggling to negotiate friendships and schoolwork. Make time to talk with them, not only about their own issues but about the impact they might be having on someone else’s life.

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Buckden Private Hire

Local and Long Distance Airport Specialist Business Contracts Welcome

01480 812929 www.buckdenprivatehire.co.uk

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Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts

10 electric vehicle myths busted Confusion surrounds the running and operation of an electric car.

Here, we try to clear that up.

1. You can’t boil the kettle while charging an electric car A National Grid report warned that home networks might struggle to cope with high-capacity car charging.

However, EV owners with a lowcapacity home network wouldn’t have a high-capacity charger, so there’s little chance of the network being overloaded.

2. EVs are more expensive than petrol and diesel cars Generally, the base price of an EV will be slightly more expensive, but manufacturers compensate by offering a generous specification so that with the government’s £4,500 zero-emission vehicle grant taken into account, they’re a pretty good deal, plus have low running costs.

What’s more, as EV technology becomes more prevalent, costs will reduce – the new Nissan Leaf starts at £1,500 less than the old one.

3. They’re more likely to catch fire in a crash Concerns about crash safety are

largely driven by a couple of highprofile Tesla Model S fires in 2013.

The EV maker upgraded its underbody battery pack protection in 2014 but also noted that the odds of fires in its cars were “five times lower than those of an average gasoline car”.

4. You can’t drive them in car washes or when it’s raining Water and electricity don’t mix, so manufacturers carefully seal all of the electrified components to make sure there aren’t any problems using car washes, or driving or charging in the rain.

5. You can’t go very far Most electric vehicles now have a range in excess of 150 miles, with 200 miles becoming the norm – and the average journey is less than nine miles.

6. There’s nowhere to charge them Long trips require a bit more planning, but charge point locator Zap Map indicates there are almost 15,000 connectors at more than 5,000 locations in the UK, with more added all the time.

Plus, rapid chargers can provide 80 per cent of charge in about 30 minutes.

Motoring 7. The batteries don’t last very long Batteries do have a finite life but most manufacturers offer battery leasing for a monthly fee and will replace it for free when needed. Others offer replacement warranties, with five- to eight-year cover the norm.

8. EVs are less environmentally friendly across their life cycle The energy required to build an electric car can make it less environmentally friendly to produce than a traditionally fuelled car. However, a Norwegian study quoted by the BBC estimates an EV is about 10 per cent better over its life cycle, and that will continue to improve.

9. Battery disposal poses a huge environmental issue It does, but the EV boom has encouraged lateral thinking to improve recycling rates, with companies taking used EV batteries for use elsewhere, such as home energy storage.

10. They’re boring to drive Modern electric cars can be genuinely fun to drive, particularly thanks to the high-torque motors, which make acceleration brisk.

Tesla takes this to extremes with its Model S, which reaches 60mph in less than three seconds – comparable to the new McLaren Senna supercar, with its petrolpowered twin-turbo V8.

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Three Counties Radio

CHERRY BAKEWELL TART I cannot resist a sweet treat, and luckily we have them every week on the Weekend Kitchen.

This sumptuous Bakewell Tart was created by a highly talented young local cake maker and pastry chef called Victoria Chidgey. She set up her business, Little Tring Cakes, after several stints in top London businesses – and the pastry recipe here was given to her by a chef at the Savoy Hotel when she was 16 years old.

She swears by it, and it creates an incredibly light, flaky and moreish tart.

You’ll need 1 x 9” Pie Mould / Tart Ring or a 12 whole bun tray with round pastry cutter.

Pastry: 340g Flour 225g Butter 110g Golden Caster Sugar 1 Egg Frangipane: 120g Butter 120g Golden Caster Sugar 120g Ground Almonds 2 Eggs 1 teaspoon Almond Essence 25ml Brandy (if you have it knocking about) Filling: 125g Black Cherry Compote Topping: Flaked Almonds Icing Sugar (Golden is best but it doesn’t matter too much)

1. Preheat the oven to 160C, 140C Fan, Gas Mark 3.

2. Beat the butter with the sugar until it is well incorporated and has lightened in colour.

3. Scrape the bowl and add the flour. Beat on a low speed and, when the flour is just incorporated, add the egg. Keep mixing until it all comes together.

4. Wrap the pastry in clingfilm and leave in the fridge for an hour or so, or in the freezer for 15-25 minutes. The recipe is enough pastry for two tarts so you can freeze whatever you don’t use.

5. For the frangipane, melt the butter in the microwave until it is very soft but still holds its shape.

6. Mix in the sugar with a wooden spoon and lightly beat for around 3 minutes.

7. Add the ground almonds and brandy and mix until incorporated. Add the egg and beat for 1-2 minutes.

8. Roll out the pastry to approximately 3mm thick.

9. Line the tart case. Push the pastry into the corners and then use your fingers in an upward motion. If you have opted to do smaller individual tartlets, use a round cutter to cut a disk of pastry and line the bun holes.

10. Trim away any excess pastry with a sharp paring knife, leaving a slight lip if possible. Prick the bottom of the tart with a fork. Patch up any imperfections with pastry using your thumb.

11. Spread the cherry compote on the bottom of the tart case and place in the fridge or freezer. This prevents any of the filling bleeding through the frangipane.

12. Using a piping bag or the back of a hot spoon, spread the frangipane on top of the compote to just below the rim of the pastry. Scatter flaked almonds on top and bake for approximately 35-40 minutes. Once out of the oven dust the top with icing sugar while still warm.

13. Serve with brandy cream or crème fraiche mixed with some lemon zest.

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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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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n O s ’ t Wha 1 June Nature Kids 9.30am-3pm Ferry Meadows Country Park, Peterborough £15 per day or £60 for all 5 days Fun nature inspired activity days for children aged 7-11years in half-term. Learn how to build a shelter, light a fire and use natural materials in woodlands crafts. Activities will take place in a wooded area and surrounding grassland. Please bring lunch and drinks for the day. Booking essential.

Meet at Lakeside Car Park. Tel: 01733 234193 1 June Wildlife Trust 30 Days Wild 10am-2pm Paxton Pits Environmental Centre Drop in Family Fun. This event marks the kick start of 30 Days Wild! Tel: 01480 473161 Email: debbie.mckenzie@wildlifebcn.org Web: www.wildlifebcn.org/30dayswild

3 June British Red Cross Open Gardens - Great Staughton 2-5.30pm The Old Vicarage, Great Staughton, St, Neots Admission £6 for both gardens, Under 12s free The Old Vicarage: This lovely garden was originally designed in 1850 with ornamental areas and space to provide food for the resident vicar and family.

Over the last 20 years with design help from Pam Turner, a garden architect and friend of the owners, it has evolved into a more family-friendly space with a natural swimming pond, kitchen garden, borders and tennis court and play area while retaining the charm of the original. Wheelchair accessible. Book stall and plant stall. Cold drinks available. Teas at The Manor. No dogs. Parking here for both gardens. By the kind permission of Mr & Mrs Richard Edmunds.

3 June British Red Cross Open Gardens - Great Staughton 1 June 2-5.30pm St Neots Local History Society Staughton Manor , The Town, Great Staughton 7.30pm Eynesbury Junior School Admission £6 for both gardens, Under 12s free ‘Medieval Graffiti’ with Matthew Champion.

This is a large, relaxed, country garden in a beautiful Web: http://stneotslhs.org.uk/ setting with some significant sample trees. Most of the present garden was designed about twenty 2 June years ago. Housing two ponds and a swimming pool, Art & Craft Fair the Georgian Manor House looks out onto beautiful 9.30am-4pm Free Church Hall, St Ives lawns which once were the practise areas for an Quality handmade art and craft stalls and tombola. English croquet captain. Another captain, ‘Jack’ Howie, had a miniature railway which ran through 2 June the garden down to the main village and there Strawberry Fair are one or two items in the garden left from those 10.30am-11pm Midsummer Common, Cambridge days. Teas. Disabled parking only. No dogs. By kind Enjoy an eclectic mix of music and performances permission of Ross & Lorraine Goody. from over 100 groups. Plus community stalls to find out what is going on in Cambridge. Variety of food 3 June and drink stalls.

A Midsummer Night’s Dream 7.30pm St Peter’s Church, Offord Darcy, St Neots 2 June General admission £12.50, Under 16s £5, Simply Saturday Family of 4 £30. This production is to be performed 12-2pm St James Church, Little Paxton by the cast of ‘This is My Theatre’ for one night only.

A new venture for adults of all ages at Little Paxton This reduced company of actors will bring one Church, with lunch and various activities available. of Shakespeare’s best loved plays to life in a one Tel: Leisa Hunt 01480 471748 act adaptation with live traditional folk music to Email: young_paxton@ntlworld.com accompany this comedy of love, magic and mischief.

Using the play’s original language in combination 2 & 3 June with traditional folk music played live, choral St Neots Food & Drink Festival song and modern characterisation, this beautiful Sat 10am-9pm, Sun 10am-6pm adaptation will captivate audiences of all ages.

Regatta Meadow, St Neots Tickets available by telephone, email, online or Wide range of foods and drinks and programme of locally. Cash only for tickets purchased locally please. live music.

Free parking on adjacent field.

Tel: 07732 253311or 01480 811126 3 June Email: ticketoffice.stpeters@gmail.com Tipplefair 2018 - The Heron Pub, Southfields Web: www.thisismtheatre.com Drive, Stanground, PE2 8QB Admission £2, free after 1pm. Sale of probably the 4, 11, 18 & 25 June largest selection of drink related memorabilia!

West Hunts Friendship Club Mike Peterson of the Association of British Brewery 9.30am-3pm Great Staughton Village Hall Collectibles will be providing an Appraisal and Meets every Monday except Bank Holidays. We are Valuation Service at the event. looking for new members who are retired to join our Tel: Maxine on 07506 296801 happy team. Members can participate in a range Email maxinegchantry@gmail.com of activities, such as music and singing exercises,

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

What’s on entries to whatson@villagermag.com

In June

quizzes, card and board games as well as enjoying a hot meal at lunch time. Transport can be arranged for those who live within a six miles radius of Great Staughton. Tel: Andrea 07808 184894 4, 11, 18 & 25 June Godmanchester Senior Citizens Club 1.30pm Afternoon Bingo 6.30pm Whist Drive Godmanchester Town Hall £1 for Whist drive inc. tea & biscuits If you are feeling lonely and over 55 years of age, then you will find a warm welcome waiting for you in the Senior Citizens Club. The club has a lively atmosphere and a wide range of activities. Friday afternoon is an opportunity to play Whist. Members also meet on a Saturday morning for games, chat, tea and biscuits for 50p. Tel: Geoff 01480 434697 4, 11, 18 & 25 June 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. Seeking new members – novice or experienced. Ozzie: 01480 414623 Email: ozzie.day5@gmail.com 4, 11, 18 & 25 June Oakington Singers 7.45-9.30pm Oakington Parish Church Oakington Singers invite new Tenors and Basses to join them on Mondays. Their repertoire includes Rutter Anthems, Queen, Folk Songs, Spirituals, international songs and much more! They are a friendly and experienced group and the choir is free!

Email: paul.tann@btinternet.com 4, 6, 11, 13, 18, 20, 25 & 27 June St Neots Badminton Club 8-10pm One Leisure, St Neots Play badminton to a good standard and interested in joining a club? St Neots badminton club play at One Leisure Mondays and Wednesdays.

Email: Committee@stneotsbadminton.org Web: www.stneotsbadminton.org 5, 12, 19 & 26 June Roxton Bridge Circle 7.15-10pm Roxton Parish Hall Small friendly group playing Bridge every Tuesday evening. Just come along or call/email for more information. Tel: Phyllis 01480 374327 Email: mary@jackpike.co.uk 6 June Godmanchester Senior Citizens Club Coffee Morning & Raffle 10am-12 noon Godmanchester Town Hall Monthly coffee morning and raffle. Annual membership fee is £10.

Tel: Geoff 01480 434697 or 07515 881209

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n O s ’ t Wha In June

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

6 June St Mary’s Afternoon WI St Neots 2pm St Mary’s Church Room, St Neots First Wednesday of the month. Ladies of the SOE. WW2 Theme open event.

Tel: May Parker 07724 043941 Email: mayp.at.home@gmail.com

9 June Concert by The Variations Choir from Kettering 7.30pm Roxton Thatched Chapel Tickets £10 inc. light refreshments A musical selection for summer’s evening. Tickets available on the door.

10 June 6 June British Red Cross Open Gardens - East Lodge Farm Brampton Flower Club 7.30pm 2-5pm Leighton Estate, Leighton Bromswold, Community Centre, High Street, Brampton Huntingdon Members Social Evening. Another chance for Admission £5, Under 12s free members to create their own arrangement using just A large family garden in a beautiful rural setting 5 flowers. Quiz and ploughman’s supper. with both formal and informal areas, and an orchard.

Tel: Jan Dobie 01480531822 Sweeping lawns leading to a lake. Rose garden with Web: www.bramptonflowerclub.com David Austin roses. By kind permission of Martin & Jane Eayrs. Plant stall. Teas. Parking. Dogs on leads 6 June but not in the barn where teas will be served if wet.

Black Cat WI 7.30pm Wyboston Village Hall 10 June The group meets on the first Wednesday of each Huntingdonshire Fauna & Flora Society month. Tel: Susie Woodman 01234 376098 2.30pm Brampton Racecourse Leader Pat Doody. Brampton Racecourse is 20.6ha 6, 13, 20 & 27 June in extent and was notified under Section 28 of Little Fishes the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 in 1984, 10am-11.20am Grafham Village Hall and revised in 1990. A happy combination of Stay and Play Tots Session during term-time. Babies local interest in natural history and the desire to welcome too. Sessions include free play and craft establish a racecourse helped with the survival of activities, bible story and sing along. one of the best unimproved species-rich meadows Tel: Jean Clark 01480 890033 for more information in Cambridgeshire. Park in the members’ car park, Email: robnjeanclark@tiscali.co.uk TL207723. Please wear sturdy footwear and clothing appropriate for the site conditions and weather.

8-10 June Tel: Sarah Orbell 01480 383567 Comberton Twinning Association Trip to France Web: www.hffs.org.uk.

Adults £70, Children £35 Comberton Twinning Association is taking a coach 12 June to its twin village of Le Vaudreuil in Normandy.

St Ives Sugarcraft Guild Over the weekend there will be a medieval festival 7.30-9pm Reading Room, Hemingford Grey to commemorate a thousand years of their village Visitors £6 Monthly meetings where you can learn, church. Speaking French is not a requirement. You hands-on, various cake decorating techniques and/or will be hosted by French families. sugarcraft. The group meets on the second Tuesday Tel: Paul Hardy 01223 263232 of the month. Tel: Shirley 01480 454616 Email: info@CombertonTwinning.org.uk Web: http://CombertonTwinning.org.uk 13 June Sharing the Caring & Pride in Our Carers Awards 9 June 10am-4pm KingsGate Church, Peterborough Hemingford Village Market Come along to our workshops, marketplace and 9am-1pm Parish Centre, Hemingford Grey interactive sessions and Pride in Our Carers Awards Second Saturday of the month. An opportunity to ceremony in the afternoon. Lots of valuable buy food, crafts, plants and flowers from small local information to help you in your caring role. Lunch businesses. Hemingford Grey Parish Council hold and refreshments included. Booking essential. a surgery at the market should you wish to meet Tel: 01480 499090 Web: www.carerstrustcpn.org/ councillors to discuss local issues. events/pride-carers-2018 9 June Wildlife Trust Grafham Water Guided Walk 10.30am-1pm One or more of the Trust’s reserve officers will show us the area of the reserve usually known as Savages, including meadows full of common spotted orchids, ancient woodland and a hide overlooking one of the better sites for water birds. Meet in the (free) car park near Hill Farm, Church Road, Grafham PE28 OBE. Tel: Tim Fryer 01480 457795

15 June The Darkest Hour Doors open 7.30pm, film starts 8pm Corn Exchange, St Ives Tickets £5 + booking fee 1940: Britain is on the brink of Nazi invasion.

Chamberlain’s government is divided and weak.

At this grim time an unpopular solution emerges.

Enter Winston Churchill as he embarks upon a policy direction that begins to build his reputation as an iconic war leader. Web: www.screenstives.org.uk

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16 June Over Village Market 10am-12.30pm The Green, Over An initiative by local producers in Over and Swavesey to encourage local trade and community.

16 June Paintbox Spring Art Exhibition 10am-4.30pm Scout Hut, Mill Hill Road, Eaton Ford Free admission. Teas and cakes.

18 June St Neots Royal Naval Association 8pm The RAFA Club, 44 Huntingdon Street, St Neots St Neots & District Branch of the Royal Naval Association meet on the third Monday of every month. el: Tony Webley 01480 215218 Email: jj.awebley@btinternet.com 21 June Charity Golf Tournament Wyboston Lakes In aid of Cornerstone Care in Confidence, a local pregnancy advice centre. Tel: Cornerstone 01480 457711 to register/further info Web: www.pregnancyadvice.org.uk 21 June St Ives & District Flower Club 2.15pm Visitors £7 Burgess Hall, St Ives Demonstration by Joyce Furssedonn from Knebworth, Herts entitled “Coast to Coast”.

23 June Abbots Ripton Village Hall Classic Car & Village Fete 9am-5pm. Cars, stalls, refreshments and competitions! Fun for all the family.

Web: www.abbotsriptonvillagehall.co.uk 23 & 24 June Cambridgeshire Food & Drink Festival 9am-7pm East of England Arena, Peterborough Demonstrations from the Hairy Bikers on Saturday and James Martin on Sunday. Over 200 different exhibitors to visit. Music from tribute acts and local bands. Web: www. cambridgeshirefoodanddrinkfestival.co.uk 30 June Paintings in the Pews 10am-4.30pm Roxton Thatched Chapel, High Street, Roxton Free admission. Raising funds for the restoration of the Grade II* listed building. Open art exhibition by local artists. Teas in the gardens.

30 June St Neots Choral Society & St Neots Sinfonia Summer Concert 7.30pm St Mary’s Church, Eaton Socon Advance tickets £10, On the door £12, accompanied school age children free To include Gilbert & Sullivan – Trial by Jury.

Web: www.stneotschoral.org.uk

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Local News

Bedford Model Engineering Society From time to time you hear about that “best kept open secret” or a “hidden gem” that everyone should know about and here is another example.

The Summerfields Railways can be found just off the A600 at Haynes between Bedford and Sheffield.

The Bedford Model Engineering Society is based here and operate a variety of miniature engines for their own and visitor’s pleasure. Mainly railway engines but all types are welcome.

Members get together to share experiences and skills on a weekly basis to build, run, service and repair the engines but also to assist in the maintenance of the entire club.

Several times a year the club runs what is called a public running day when members of the public get the opportunity to ride on the miniature trains in and on a variety of coaches pulled by the engines.

If you are interested in becoming a member or a volunteer there is plenty of scope for all people, as well as engineers and railway enthusiasts, to have

a place in helping to keep the club running for the enjoyment of all. Have a look at the website www. bedfordmes.co.uk or look at and like the Facebook page. If you like it then tell your Facebook and Twitter followers to have a look.

It’s a great day out so take the whole family, with picnic areas, a buffet and plenty of space for the children and dogs to have fun. High chairs are available in the buffet for really little people.

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Window Doctor Repairs to Windows, Doors & Conservatories • • • • • • •

Misty Units New Locks Draughty Windows Dropped Doors Broken Hinges/Handles Extra Security Installation of New Windows, Doors and Conservatories

25 Years Experience Contact Stewart Gyles on T: 0798 444 1638 or

01767 221 057

E: stewy_133@msn.com

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Local News

Teddy Bear Festival Returns to Woburn Abbey

Following the success of last year’s inaugural event, the Teddy Bear Festival is returning to Woburn Abbey on Sunday 10th June.

The festival, which is a homage to all things teddy bear, will take place from 10am to 3.30pm in the Sculpture Gallery and Grounds.

There will be over 150 stalls, where visitors will be able to browse and buy the finest examples of Artist bears and animals, antique and vintage teddy bears and soft toys. In addition, there will be an opportunity to meet experts and get free teddy bear valuations from Daniel Agnew of Special Auction Services.

Other highlights include an exhibition of rare and famous teddy bears kindly on loan from collectors. The famous Bristol Bear, a 1910

German antique bear lost at Bristol airport that was only found thanks to a public appeal, will also be on display. There’ll be a hospital for bears in need of repair too.

Visitors can make a day of it; there will be refreshments in the central courtyard and tickets can be upgraded to include a visit to the Abbey itself.

Entry tickets to the Festival are £12 and include entry to the Festival and fair and the historic gardens and grounds of the Abbey all day.

To purchase tickets, visit www.woburnabbey.co.uk/events Follow us on Facebook @ Woburnteddybearfestival

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Time of Year

By Sarah Davey

National Volunteers Week 1st – 7th June

This year, Volunteers’ Week is about volunteering for all – celebrating the huge range of people who give their time in so many ways.

Could you volunteer, and why should you bother?

Studies have found that taking time out to help others reduces stress levels, improves immunity and increases life-satisfaction. This is because helping someone else interrupts tensionproducing patterns and replaces it with a sense of purpose, which leads positive emotions.

Whether you’re looking for a change in career or advancement in your current one volunteering is an excellent way to boost your prospects.

Volunteers tend to create a positive impression, appearing more innovative, creative and skilful.

In an Adweek article on the state of recruitment in 2015, they found that recruiters rank volunteer participation higher than personal presentation, political affiliations and spelling and grammar errors when looking at a candidate’s potential. This is probably because employers value transferable soft skills and volunteering gives you plenty of those, particularly problem-solving, teamwork, leadership and people skills. Candidates with realworld experience also tend to be more insightful and ready to be more hands-on in projects.

Away from the corporate world many people look around their community and long to make a difference but don’t know how. Look for community volunteering projects and get involved. It gives you the

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chance to think about the kind of community and world you want to live in, and to be part of something bigger than yourself.

If you’re still not sure where to start your volunteering journey think about where your passions lie. Maybe you love animals, are passionate about butterflies, or you want to share music, or life experience, or gardening skills. Look on the web, there will probably be some volunteer group where your passion or knowledge will be useful.

If you are feeling adventurous volunteering abroad allows you to travel with a purpose. Before deciding on a programme it’s advisable to ask: • How will it benefit the local community?

• Does the organisation respect the local culture?

• What is the reason behind your volunteering trip?

• What problem will the end-product help solve?

Volunteering abroad changes how you see the world as you meet people daily from different countries, backgrounds and quality of life.

Many of us are lonely in our modern lives. Maybe we moved away from our families for work, or we’re divorced, or widowed, or the children have left home. Volunteering introduces you to people from all walks of life and provides a means of making real friends who can have a lasting impact on you.

Volunteering can shake you out of old routines and help you figure out where you want to head next. You might come up with ideas on how to improve your own community, or even discover a new life calling.

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Travel

By Solange Hando

Milan Cathedral Among the largest churches in the world, the Duomo rises on a magnificent square at the heart of Milan. It is dedicated to St Mary of the Nativity, an iconic landmark which took almost 600 years to complete. The last gate was inaugurated in 1965.

Work began in the late 14th century by the church of St Maria Maggiore. Foundations were laid for three naves, soon increased to five as both the local bishop and duke aimed to raise the city to new heights. A canal network was designed to transport material. Gothic architecture would rival the great cathedrals in northern Europe but flexibility and innovations were welcome. Marble was used, foreign architects, artists and craftsmen joined the Italian team, and on this ancient pagan site building progressed unusually, from back to front. It started with the apse while the façade of St Maria Maggiore remained in use until 1682. The new one was only completed in the 1800s by order of Napoleon.

Elegant buildings line the vast panoramic square but all lead the eye to the Duomo, stretching 92 x 158 metres. Inside are 98 gargoyles, 135 spires and over 3,400 statues which found their niche around the cathedral. The pink-hued marble of Candoglia cleverly hides the brickwork, playing all day long with light and shade to take your breath away. The main bronze door greets visitors with stunning bas-reliefs, while the 18th century sundial is still used to set the clocks around town.

Large enough for 40,000 people, the interior is striking, with five broad naves supported by 40 columns. At 45 metres, the central aisle is the highest in a finished Gothic church and is

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decorated with impressive stained glass windows. Up above the apse, a small red light marks the holy place where a nail from the cross is kept. On the Feast of the Holy Cross in mid-September, the archbishop of Milan is slowly hoisted up in an angel-decorated basket to bring the relic down for display.

Statues, frescoes, sarcophagi, pulpits and the largest organ in Italy, but most famous is the 16th century statue of St Bartholomew Flayed, a sad disturbing figure by Marco d’Agrate. More enticing are the three superb altars by Pelligrino Tibaldi, who was appointed by archbishop Borromeo to lighten up the old Gothic style with the flourishing Italian Renaissance.

Visitors could easily spend an hour or more in the cathedral but most exciting of all is the rooftop walk. Beyond the first terrace accessed by a lift are narrow passageways and slippery steps up to the wide open space of a safe but steeply-slanted roof.

Up there, above pinnacles, flying buttresses and statues, the golden Madonna rises on the very top to bless the city at her feet. Views are superb and in clear weather the Alps are visible. It’s the perfect place to reflect on this unique building and the work of so many architects and artists over the centuries.

Mark Twain described it as ‘so grand, so solemn, so vast’ and across the square, on the equestrian statue flanked by lions, Victor Emmanuel II, first king of the newly united Italy, seems to approve.

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May’s Puzzle Solutions and Winners Last Month’s Crossword Winner Mr E Hathway from Letchworth Winner of the Battle Proms Competition Gary Gunn from Langford

Winner of the Dunston Hall Competition Miss Sharon Carter from St Neots

Easy

Hard

Fun Quiz - Land 1. Published in 1956, The Last Battle was the seventh and final novel in a series set in which fictional land?

2. Which group won Best Album at the Brit Awards in 2004 for their debut album, called Permission To Land?

3. What is the most populated country in the world to have a name ending in “land”?

4. Which “land” featured in a play called The Birds by the Ancient Greek playwright Aristophanes, and has come to be used as a general term for a state of absurdly over-optimistic fantasy?

5. Reading from what turned out to be the wrong card, which individual mistakenly named La La Land as the winner of the Best Picture Oscar at the Academy Awards ceremony held in 2017?

6. In a famous novel, what name is given to the land that is made up of four countries called Winkie, Gillikin, Munchkin and Quadling?

7. What animated film is set in Pepperland?

8. Who composed Pomp And Circumstance March Number One, which later became the basis for the song Land Of Hope And Glory?

9. What is the only country in the world to display a map of its land on its flag?

10. In which well known poem do the title characters go to “the land where the Bong-tree grows”?

1. Narnia 2. The Darkness 3. Thailand 4. Cloud cuckoo land 5. Faye Dunaway 6. Oz (in The Wonderful Wizard Of Oz) 7. Yellow Submarine 8. Edward Elgar (accept Elgar) 9. Cyprus 10. The Owl And The Pussycat

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The Villager Prize Crossword

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Across 7 Type of fruit (6) 8 Astute (6) 9 Encounter (4) 10 Fluttering (8) 11 Diary (7) 13 Honestly (5) 15 Regularly (5) 17 Nearest (7) 20 Pupils (8) 21 Encourage (4) 23 Chortles (6) 24 Four score (6)

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

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

Down 1 Very unusual (4) 2 Repartee (6) 3 Central (7) 4 Customary (5) 5 Correct (6) 6 Diminishes (8) 12 Formal (8) 14 Clutched (7) 16 Sufficient (6) 18 Smear (6) 19 Fake (5) 22 Barrier (4)

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Books

Book Review

By Kate Duggan Lazy Days Wish List Planning to stock up on books for lazy days in the sun? Add these to your wish list…

Now You See Her

by Heidi Perks

Charlotte only took her eyes off the little girl for a few minutes but when she doesn’t turn up, Charlotte is ostracised by the community and blamed by the media. And, of course, the little girl’s mother is never going to forgive her.

But then the two women come under police investigation and something isn’t quite as it seems. A tension-filled thriller, with plenty of twists and turns.

Finding Gobi

by Dion Leonard

This is the story of ultramarathon runner Dion Leonard and the small stray dog that joined him on his 155-mile race through the Gobi Desert. Dion becomes determined to offer the dog a home, but there’s an awful lot of red tape to get through, and then the dog disappears. This Sunday Times bestseller has also been rewritten as a picture book and as a young readers’ book, so do make sure you order the right version!

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