VILLAGER The
Issue 121 - May 2019
and Town
Life
LOCAL NEWS • LOCAL PEOPLE • LOCAL SERVICES • LOCAL CHARITIES • LOCAL PRODUCTS
In this issue Win Tickets to a
Ballet Central Performance Exam Stress
How to come out on top
Win £25
in our Prize Crossword
Bringing Local Business to Local People Every Month in Buckden, Brampton, Godmanchester, Eaton Socon, ur E o Y The Hemingfords, Grantchester and all surrounding villages REpy
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Inside this issue... Win Tickets to the Ballet Central Performance
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Walking in the Footsteps of History at Buckden Towers....................4 The History of the Mayflower...........................................................6 Exam Stress - How to come out on top...........................................10 Win Tickets to a Ballet Central Performance...................................12 Loving Liqueurs..............................................................................15 Bank Holiday Bonanza...................................................................16 Cambridgeshire Country Show.......................................................19 National Vegetarian Week..............................................................20 Green-fingered Gadgets.................................................................23 Driving related Postural Problems..................................................25 How to Dress for your Figure..........................................................27 Fit at Fifty and Beyond...................................................................28 Spring into Summer.......................................................................31 Separation or Divorce Made Easier.................................................32 Visit the Biggest Model Railway Exhibition....................................34 Could debt snowballing be the quickest way out of debt?.............37 Scaling the Wall - Clematis.............................................................40
Huntingdonshire Fauna and Flora Society......................................42 Hire a Handyman! Or Handywoman!..............................................44 Make it Minimal.............................................................................47 Animal Stories................................................................................49 R.A.T.S. Rehoming Appeal..............................................................50 Children's Page..............................................................................52 The best barely-used bargain cars..................................................55 Nick Coffer's Weekend Recipe.........................................................57 National Smile Week......................................................................58 Puzzle Page....................................................................................60 Astana, Kazakhstan in Central Asia................................................62 What's On......................................................................................64 The Modern Bedroom....................................................................66 Choose the Perfect Sunglasses.......................................................71 Wordsearch....................................................................................73 Prize Crossword..............................................................................74 Book Review..................................................................................77
Scaling the Wall Clematis
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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, Louise Addison, RSPCA, Trevor Langley, Sarah Davey, Centre for Complementary Health, Jennie Billings, Sharon Clement, Kate Duggan, Leeds Day Solicitors, Ann Haldon, Rachael Leverton, Tom Hancock, Pippa Greenwood, James Baggott, Nick Coffer, Solange Hando and Katherine Sorrell
Advertising Sales/Local Editorial Nigel Frost • Tel: 01767 261122 nigel@villagermag.com Photography - serezniy Design and Artwork - Design 9 Tel: 07762 969460 • www.design9marketing.co.uk
Publishers Villager Publications Ltd 24 Market Square, Potton, Bedfordshire SG19 2NP Tel: 01767 261122 Email: nigel@villagermag.com www.villagermag.com
Disclaimer - All adverts and editorial are printed in good faith, however, Villager Publications Ltd can not take any responsibility for the content of the adverts, the services provided by the advertisers or any statements given in the editorial. No part of this publication may be reproduced or stored without the express permission of the publisher.
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History
By Peter Ibbett
Walking in the Footsteps of History at Buckden Towers
There are few local places where you can walk in the footsteps of Kings, Queens, Bishops, rich Victorians and ordinary folk who have, since the age of William the Conqueror, created a unique site that can today be enjoyed at leisure. The medieval Bishops of Lincoln needed regional sites to administer the largest diocese in England and found the moated Buckden site suitable for their needs. Nothing remains of their buildings, leaving the Tudor Tower and gatehouses as the oldest buildings seen today. The Bowling Green area found use in the Victorian Era as a kitchen garden to a quality house built by the Marshall family in 1872. Today, due to the vision of one man and the hard work of volunteers it is a Tudor style Knot Garden dedicated to Katharine of Aragon, once Queen of England, imprisoned for a while at the Towers upon the orders of Henry VIII. Henry is recorded as visiting the Towers in 1541 with Catherine Howard, following in the footsteps of previous monarchs Henry III (1248) and Edward I (1291). James I seems to have been the last King to visit (1619) though the Prince Regent walked through the gatehouse
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in 1814. The modern site is private property but the Friends of Buckden Towers guides arrange a limited number of tours during the year for small groups of individuals, interested societies and also an occasional coach party. Contact them via the web site. Money raised from this and other activities contributes towards maintaining and developing the site. Public short tours will take place this year on Sunday pm 22nd September, National Heritage Day.
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Our bespoke Smart Conservatory roof insulation solutions are tailored for your conservatory and can be installed with minimal disruption, making your conservatory nice and cool in the summer and cosy and warm in the winter. Within just a few days, you will be sitting back, relaxing in your new comfortable all-year-round living area. Having an insulated conservatory roof will not just add value to your property, but it will totally change the way you are using your downstairs living area. For more information or to request a quotation, visit our website or give us a call.
For more information or to request a quotation, visit our website or give us a call.
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10/05/2018 15:39
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History “Mayflower in Plymouth Harbor” by William Halsall, 1882
The History of the Mayflower
By Catherine Rose
The famous ship that carried the Pilgrim Fathers to the New World is celebrating its 400th anniversary from November this year, with a programme of over 400 events planned along the Mayflower Trail. Most people have heard of the Mayflower, but what was its history? In England, hawthorn is often referred to as the May flower but the Mayflower or Epigaea Repens (also known as the gravel plant after its ability to survive in dry, sandy soil) is a trailing arbutus native to North America. Now rare due to the destruction of its habitat, it has white or pale pink star-shaped flowers that are one of the first to bloom in spring. Since 1919 it has been the official state flower of
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Massachusetts, USA, after its namesake, a ship called the Mayflower, made history by landing there almost exactly 400 years ago on 27th November 1620. The Mayflower carried a group of passengers who were Puritans, now known as Pilgrims or the Pilgrim Fathers. They had embarked at Plymouth, England to sail to what became Plymouth, New England in America for a new life. Puritans were a specific sect of English Protestants who were disillusioned with the Church of England. They wanted to ‘purify’ Christianity according to the teachings of John Calvin, a Swiss Protestant reformer. Many of these Puritans had already left England
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to start a congregation in Holland. After some had been arrested in Amsterdam, the remainder set up a community in Leiden but were alarmed at what they saw as a decadent Dutch society. Among them was William Bradford who later became a leading figure on the Mayflower. He collaborated with the English Puritans and together they decided to seek a new life and found a community in the USA – the ‘New Worlde’ – which they saw as the ‘promised land’. The Mayflower was a 17th century English merchant ship that had seen service in Europe. With a square rig and a beakhead bow, it was a working ship built to withstand sea storms and is estimated to have been the size of a blue whale. The ship had a cargo capacity of 180 tons, ideal for all the Pilgrims’ belongings, livestock and the food and drink they needed at sea. It could also hold 180 multi-gallon casks designed for wine trading.
The voyage took more than two months and was beset by severe storms The Mayflower was part-owned and captained by Christopher Jones Jr., believed to have been born in Harwich in around 1570 to a seafaring family. After Jones agreed to set sail, the Puritan elders William Bradford and William Brewster led the Pilgrims. The Mayflower’s voyage was delayed, however, after the Speedwell – a ship from Holland originally set to accompany them and filled with Leiden settlers – developed a series of leaks and had to return twice for repairs. There is a theory that the captain of this vessel had reservations about voyaging to the New World and so the crew made the leaks deliberately in an act of sabotage. Eventually, the Mayflower was forced to abandon the Speedwell and set sail on its own on 16th September 1620, taking some of the Dutch passengers. In total there were 102 passengers on board with a crew of around 30. The voyage took more than two months and was
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beset by severe storms. The prevailing seasonal westerly winds forced them to land at Cape Cod rather than their original destination of Virginia, where they had been granted a plantation settlement by the Virginia Company. The delay and the bad weather meant that the ship arrived in the dead of a bitterly cold New England winter, which the passengers weren’t prepared for. In the end, only half survived, the rest dying of malnutrition, exposure and disease. But despite being forced to steal food from the natives on arrival (which it is said they paid back six months later), they were helped by the local Wampanoag tribe who taught them how to hunt, gather shellfish and grow corn and vegetables. Eventually, the Pilgrims established a colony at what they named Plymouth in Massachusetts with every member contributing to the community through the Mayflower Compact – a 200-word document that was drafted on their arrival by the elders and described by them as a ‘civil body politick’ with ‘just and equal laws’ that swore allegiance to the King of England. It formed the framework for democratic government in the USA. The granite slab upon which it is said the Pilgrim Fathers first set foot is now protected and commemorated as Plymouth Rock (although it is smaller than it once was due to previous souvenir hunters). A replica of the Mayflower (Mayflower II) that sailed the same route is now permanently on display in Plymouth Harbour, Massachusetts. Today, it is believed that 30 million US citizens are descended from the Pilgrim Fathers.
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Time of Year
By Louise Addison
Exam Stress
How to come out on top It used to be thought that being a child meant living through the happiest days of your life. How times change. Now, with league tables, SATS, and GCSEs, many children are falling victim to stress. So, if you (or your children, if you’re a parent reading this) are feeling pressured, with no-where to turn, we have some great tips to help you get through exam season relatively unscathed. First a few words about stress. Stress is caused by the way our body responds to outside events, not necessarily by the events themselves. Some stress is good: adaptive stress releases adrenaline and helps us to rise to a challenge. It’s a temporary state and the body returns to normal very quickly. Problem stress occurs when the body stays in a heightened state for a prolonged period of time. It’s this type of stress which is causing problems for today’s children. Unlike when we were young and exams were end-of-term or even end-of year events, today’s child has seemingly relentless pressure to perform all year round with the result that they get very little down-time in which their body can recover from all that adrenaline. Not everyone suffers in the same way from stress. Some children seem to cope with it well. Research
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has shown that these children are generally more positive, have a good sense of humour and have parents who themselves deal well with potentially stressful situations. Finally, it’s useful to understand that while exams are important, they are not worth making yourself ill over. You can always sit them again. Exam Busting Tips! Get plenty of rest - sleep is important Take regular breaks - you’ll stay fresher Leave time for some fun - when you’ve reached your revision goal reward yourself with an activity you enjoy Be realistic - Don’t overdo it Eat properly - avoid caffeinated drinks like coffee or coke. Exercise - It’s a great stress buster and improves your mood Be nice to yourself - Don’t beat yourself up about the things you haven’t done, be positive about all you’ve achieved Relax - When it all gets too much just chill for a while. You’ll feel much better. Useful Web Addresses www.studentminds.org.uk/examstress.html https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/stress-anxietydepression/coping-with-exam-stress/
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Images by ASH Photography
Win 2 Tickets to the Ballet Central Performance
at The Broadway Theatre, Letchworth on Friday 28th June 2019 Ballet Central brings its exceptional range of dance repertoire to The Broadway Theatre, Letchworth on Friday 28th June and we are delighted to offer you the chance to win two tickets to the performance. This is a chance to see young dance graduates on the cusp of their professional careers perform a varied programme of classical ballet and contemporary dance theatre. An exciting evening of theatricality, technical excellence and drama choreographed by top dance industry influencers is promised, with stunning costumes enhanced by powerful music. Highlights include Christopher Marney’s Carousel Dances, inspired by the 1945 musical Carousel by Rodgers and Hammerstein, a unique version of the Dying Swan Solo created by Calvin Richardson, and the Company is delighted to present an extract from Frederick Ashton’s acclaimed Valses Nobles et Sentimentales performed to Maurice Ravel’s suite of waltzes. For more information, visit www.broadway-letchworth.com/theatre/whats-on/ballet-central
Competition
BALLET CENTRAL COMPETITION ENTRY
Who wrote the 1945 musical “Carousel”?
To enter, answer the question and complete the form below and send to: Ballet Central Competition, Villager Publications Ltd, 24 Market Square, Potton, Bedfordshire SG19 2NP. Deadline: 16th May 2019.
Name: Tel: Email: Address: 12
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Loving Liqueurs
Food and Drink
Liqueurs are widely acknowledged to have been produced by monks, during the 13th century. Derived from the Latin ‘liquifacere’, which means to liquify, liqueurs have evolved, over the centuries, to become very popular alcoholic beverages, today. Liqueurs can be flavoured with fruits, herbs and spices etc. They are usually quite sweet and regularly have a lower alcohol content than spirits, although some liqueurs can have an ABV which is high. Liqueurs are great by themselves, over ice and/or used in cocktails-with fabulous results! Some liqueurs have recipes which are only known to a small number of people.
Numerous countries, globally, produce liqueurs, a good number of which are award-winning productions and for this quest I searched for a well-established company that has been producing an extremely popular liqueur for many years. Licor 43 (Cuarenta y Tres) is a true taste of Spain and has a unique blend of 43 ingredients. The Zamora family, some 70 years ago, became the custodians of a secret recipe for this very fine liqueur. Renowned as Spain’s No. 1 liqueur and for exporting too, Licor 43 is recognised globally and the popularity increases yearly. Vanilla, Mediterranean citrus, spice, sugars and alcohol are amongst the ingredients for this yellow, gold-coloured production. The taste, which follows the appearance and enticing bouquet, is unmistakable. Superb on its own, with ice and for making great cocktails. Licor 43 Orochata is another production from the same company. Light, silky, delicate and with a creamy texture, this is infused with original Licor 43. Tiger nuts, spices and citrus are utilised, to great advantage, for this liqueur. The mouthfeel is complemented by the aroma, bringing together another combination of ingredients to achieve a most splendid liqueur. Licor 43 Baristo combines the essence of Licor 43 original with rare and exotic coffee from the Canary Islands. The freshly-roasted coffee, mature fruit, plus citrus and vanilla combine to produce this delightful, elegant liqueur, with its complex flavours. I found this Licor 43 Baristo production wonderful for an end of meal experience. A perfect ending to any dining occasion. For more information and details, please visit www.licor43.com Also available online.
As always, Enjoy!
ey Trevor Langl
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Time of Year
By Sarah Davey
Bank Holiday Bonanza It’s that time of year when there seems to be a bank holiday bonanza. We’ve just had Easter Monday, and now we have two bank holidays in May. Us Brits certainly like to celebrate the arrival of spring. But as a nation we’re a funny old bunch (and that’s without mentioning Brexit!) and we tend to panic at all this extra time off. What on earth will we do with it? So here is my Brits guide to Bank Holidays... We ask everyone else what they’re doing, kind of like Christmas! As a nation we get excited about the prospect of a longer than usual weekend. We make vague plans about weekends away. According to my immediate circle of friends The Cotswolds / Paris / Ironbridge / The Lake District (delete as applicable) are all ‘lovely at this time of year...’ But we will always leave it too late, or won’t agree on a destination, or discover every hotel has suddenly doubled its prices, so we never actually go. At least one friend will remind you in bitter tones that they are a nurse / barperson / taxi driver (delete as applicable) and they will be working while you are relaxing. Sympathise with them, and maybe buy them a bottle of wine. Without these people the country would grind to a halt. Every teacher friend you possess will make a huge deal about them not actually having a holiday weekend, because they will be marking...again! Teachers do this every holiday though, because they suspect we secretly think they are all part-timers. We check the weather forecast repeatedly and
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rejoice equally in headlines which read IT’S GOING TO BE A SCORCHER or IT’S GOING TO BE A WASHOUT...because Brits love weather…all weather! We buy paint in anticipation of giving a room a facelift. Bank holidays were absolutely designed for repainting the sitting room! We buy bedding out plants, compost and ‘garden features’, because Bank holidays were absolutely designed for prettying our little plot of land. We tentatively suggest a barbecue to family and friends because as well as being obsessed by weather we are also eternal optimists about it. And if it rains, we still barbecue because that’s what you do on a bank holiday in May, and well...it gives the guests something to talk about while they sip their beer, ‘Looks like it might brighten up later...’ as the hail slams into the awning. We plan a film night. When we finally face the reality that there isn’t going to be a heatwave, and the weather is more barmy than balmy we hit Netflix or Sky Movies and dial a pizza with extra pepperoni and a large garlic bread. Because Bank holidays and carbs were made for each other. Finally, we have the Sunday blues on a Monday night. Bank holidays are gone in the blink of an eye and all too soon it’s back to work. But cheer up, it’s only four days until the weekend. Unless you’re a teacher... they’ll be marking all weekend...again!
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Sleep tight even when it's light
20% off Blackout Blinds
Offer ends 31st May 2019. Ts & Cs apply.
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Local News
Cambridgeshire County Show The Cambridgeshire County Show Celebrates it’s 20th Anniversary on Sunday June 2nd 2019, it promises a fantastic day out for the family. This year, show visitors will be able to see large eagles flying, cheeky terriers racing, American quarter horses performing, Along with stalls selling produce and crafts, a farm animal area, fairground rides and ever-popular food and beer tents, the show will also feature some spectacular main ring displays. Highlights include a breath-taking show from quad bike stuntman Paul Hannam, magnificent eagles and vultures in flight-displays and American quarter horse demonstrations as well as cheeky terriers racing through the crowds to make everyone laugh. You will also get the chance to see, the sheep dogs ‘coming-bye’, Young Farmers Clubs’ competing and much more. Farm robot Tom will be one of the attractions at the Cambridgeshire County Show, demonstrating just much farming has changed in recent years. Tom is part of a ‘ground-breaking’ trial at Wimpole Home Farm and a fleet of remote controlled Tomlets will also make their UK premiere, so that everyone — young and young-at-heart — can get a feel for the latest in agri-tech. Why not log onto the website www. cambscountyshow.co.uk and download your robot entry form today for a chance to win a Family Ticket to the Cambridgeshire show. (Deadline 6th May) Come along and join the fun on Sunday 2nd June, 10am – 5pm, at Wimpole Home Farm SG8 0BW. Please follow Show road signs for free car parking. Dogs welcome on leads. Tickets: Adults £10, Family £30 (2 adults, 2 children), OAPs and Under 16s £6, Under 5s free
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Time of Year
National Vegetarian Week May 13th – 19th
This month plays host to National Vegetarian Week. More of us are turning to vegetarianism thanks to an abundance of scientific research that demonstrates both the health and environmental benefits of a plant-based diet. An estimated 70 percent of all diseases, including one-third of all cancers, are related to diet. A vegetarian diet reduces the risk for chronic degenerative diseases such as obesity, coronary artery disease, high blood pressure, diabetes and certain types of cancer including colon, breast, prostate, stomach, lung and oesophageal cancer. A vegetarian diet tends to increase bone strength. When there isn’t enough calcium in the bloodstream, our bodies leach it from existing bone. This results in our skeletons gradually becoming porous and losing strength. Although you can take supplements, it’s better to obtain calcium from your diet because food also supplies other nutrients such as phosphorus, magnesium and vitamin D, that are necessary for the body to be able to absorb and make use of calcium. Even if you have to avoid dairy, calcium-rich foods include beans, tofu, plant-based milks like soy, oat, rice or almond, and dark green vegetables such as broccoli, and kale. For those of us going through the menopause many vegetables and fruits are rich in phytoestrogens, the plant-based chemical compounds that mimic the behaviour of oestrogen. Maintaining a balance of these in your
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diet helps ensure a more comfortable passage through menopause. Soy is by far the most abundant natural source of phytoestrogens, but they are also found in apples, beets, cherries, dates, garlic, olives, plums, raspberries, squash and sweet potatoes. Vegetarians tend to have more energy. Whole grains, legumes, fruits and vegetables are high in complex carbohydrates, so they supply the body with plenty of energizing fuel. Vegetarians also suffer less with constipation, haemorrhoids and diverticulitis! Eating a lot of vegetables necessarily means consuming more fibre, which absorbs water and bulks up, helping your stools stay soft, so waste can be easily pushed out of the body. A vegetarian diet is more environmentally friendly. Much of the grain we grow is fed to animals raised for slaughter. As a rough guide it takes 2,500 gallons of water, 5.5Kg / 12lbs of grain, nearly 16Kg /35lbs of topsoil and the energy equivalent of 4.5L /1 gallon of petrol, to produce one pound of beef! A vegetarian diet can sustain many more people, so is a more efficient use of resources. Finally, a vegetarian diet is cheaper. Eating vegetables, grains and fruits in place of beef, chicken and fish would cut individual food bills by an average of £500 per year. If you are thinking about becoming vegetarian, or even just incorporating more vegetarian meals into your normal diet, there is lots of information and some great recipes on the website www.nationalvegetarianweek.org
By Sarah Davey
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Open Mon to Sat 9.30 til 5.30 See our website for details about: Social Crafting Groups Craft Supplies Handmade Gifts Workshops 01480 700890 www.craftityourself.co.uk 16 St Benedicts Court, Huntingdon PE29 3PN
St Ives Antiques Fair (AA signposted) Bank Holiday Sunday & Monday, May 26th & 27th 10am–4pm each day
Admission: £2.50 adult/£2 concessions Now with our unique Café Chats 3 times each day! More than 50 dealers www.stivesantiquesfair.co.uk Burgess Hall (One Leisure) Westwood Road St. Ives, Cambs PE27 6WU
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Technology
Green-fingered Gadgets
Technology to help get ready for summer
As your garden begins to bloom once more, it’s time to let technology give Mother Nature a helping hand. If you’re a keen gardener and you’re going on holiday, an electronic timer can keep your hydrangeas hydrated while you’re away. We like Hozelock’s Automatic Watering System, which is a modular collection of automatic timers, hoses, connectors and even an Apple/ Android-compatible Cloud Controller, which enables you to control the water from your phone or tablet. You can adjust the watering according to the actual weather conditions, ensuring you don’t under- or over-water everything, and you can also create much more complex schedules than you can with a traditional timer. The original RRP of £160 for the Cloud Controller was a lot of money, but it’s widely available now for less than £90. Every year we ask ourselves the same question: can we afford
a robot lawnmower yet? Prices continue to fall – robot mowers were over £2,500 a few years back but had fallen to around £550 last year. Prices are starting to level out but you can pick up the Worx Landroid for around £410 on Amazon. That’s nearly a third off the RRP. We wouldn’t recommend a robo-mower for really complicated gardens, but for straightforward ones they’re really useful. If that’s still a bit too much for a mower, cordless lawnmowers are getting cheaper too, and their batteries are more than up to the job of even fairly large lawns. Flymo’s Mighti-Mo has dropped from £234 to around £170, and it won’t run out of puff until you’ve cut almost 250 square metres. Cordless power isn’t just convenient, although not having to run cables to the very corners of the garden is certainly a boon. It’s also safer, because there’s no danger of accidentally cutting an electric cable. And electric motors have improved to the
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point where they can be taken just as seriously as petrol ones, so you can get decently powerful electric trimmers, saws, loppers and chainsaws. The higher the voltage, the more power – so a 36V model such as Black and Decker’s Lithium-ion chainsaw, currently £235, is considerably more powerful than the more common and slightly cheaper 18V models. Some of the biggest names in power tools have embraced cordless, so for example you’ll find a range of tools from the likes of Makita, Stihl and DeWalt as well as budget brands such as Worx. If you’re considering a cordless device, it might be worth investing in a second battery: there are few things as annoying as running out of charge when a job is nine-tenths done. Just make sure you actually charge it in advance, because it’s even more annoying to plug in a spare only to discover that it’s completely flat.
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09/09/2016 16:42
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Complementary Health
Driving related postural problems
Many of us spend a good couple of hours a day in the car, commuting to work, picking up kids or running errands. 30-60% of drivers are affected by what is referred to by repetitive driving injuries such as lower back pain, neck pain and headaches. Driving is not great for our spines, they like movement and when driving they are very stationary, with very little space. They are subjected to constant low vibration and jolting as well as certain muscle groups being used repetitively. Jane Morris from the Centre explains there are two main types of poor driving positions. The relaxed/race position - people who adopt the 'relaxing at home on the sofa' position have the backrest at 120-130 degrees, there is often a gap at the bottom of the seat with no support for the lower back and the head tips forward slightly to compensate. Often suffering with chronic neck and shoulder pain, headaches and lower back pain they also have to overstretch to depress the pedals, which causes overuse of the hamstrings in the back of the legs and the buttocks. The leaning forward position – when the driver looks like they're sitting on top of the steering wheel, they grip the wheel tightly, lean forward and hunch their shoulders up. This can cause headaches, neck pain, shoulder pain and or low back pain.
So how do you have the correct driving posture? • THE BACK REST: Should be around 100 degrees. Sit with your buttocks as close as possible to the back rest, and adjust the distance to the pedals so your legs are slightly bent when you press the pedal to the floor. • LOW BACK: If you have an adjustable lumbar support, use it, if not use a small cushion. Make sure that the support is in the natural curvature of your lower back. • SEAT HEIGHT: The seat should be high enough for your hips to be in line with your knees and your view out of the window halfway between the top of the windscreen and the steering wheel. • ARM POSITION: Your arms should be bent at a 30-40 degree angle and should be able to reach the top of the steering wheel easily without having to move your head or shoulders off the backrest. • LEG POSITION: Your legs should be slightly bent when you press the pedals to the floor. Adjust the tilt of the seat to help you do this more easily. Your thighs should rest lightly on the seat cushion without pressing on it. • SEAT LENGTH: The distance between the back of the seat and your knees should be 2-3 fingers wide. • HEAD REST: The upper edge of the head rest should be aligned with the top of your head. • FEET POSITION: Your feet need to be placed on a firm surface and at the right height to avoid transferring stress to your lower back. It is ideal to have your knees at a right angle. Finally, take regular breaks and if you find yourself stuck in traffic often, do some shoulder shrugs rolling the shoulders forwards and backwards and neck rotations etc. when it is safe to do so.
Website: www.CentreForCompHealth.com Email: info@CentreForCompHealth.com Phone: 01480 455221
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House of Colour
How to dress for your figure 1. When you are dressing for your individual figure, the most important things to bear in mind are your body architecture and your style personality. For example, if an asymmetric hem doesn’t suit your body shape and style personality then it will always look wrong, no matter how gorgeous the dress or skirt might look on another person. 2. Dressing for your shape is all in the detail. We all suit different hemlines, necklines, trouser lengths, lapels and sleeves, not to mention of course colours, fabrics, structure, patterns and details. 3. If you suit classic, dramatic, sporty or natural clothing, then choose items to fill your capsule wardrobe along those lines. For example, tailoring continues to gain momentum offering the ultimate smart casual look particularly for classic and gamine style personalities. Natural style personalities should choose relaxed skirts with movement. Structured or asymmetric outfits can add edginess for the dramatics amongst us. 4. It may seem obvious but wear clothes that fit you. Overly baggy or clothes that are too tight can really undermine you. Did you know that if your clothes really fit you, you should hardly know you are wearing them? 5. Love your body and shape. Know what your best parts are and draw attention to those areas whether that means cinching in your waist or
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elongating a shorter mid-section for example., If you carry a bit of weight around your middle, but have shapely legs show them off in both your trouser and skirt choices. If the widest part of your body is your hips, you can bring balance by focussing detail to your top half. The extra detail could be adding pattern or ruffles or lovely statement jewellery on your top half. Women with an hourglass figure often try to hide their curves with shapeless styles and forget they have a smaller waist. To compliment your killer curves, avoid bulky and boxy styles, choose cuts of clothes and fabrics which follow your curves, and accentuate your narrower waist. An athletic figure looks best when they’re drawing attention to their toned physique, with clothes that skim the surface of their silhouette rather than high tailoring or very structured looks. Don’t sabotage your look by getting your style right but wearing colours that don’t suit you. The colours that suit us are determined by the pigments in our skin and eye colour. Primary red is the only colour we can all wear. By Jennie Billings, Colour and Style consultant, House of Colour www.houseofcolour.co.uk/jenniebillings e:jennie.billings@houseofcolour.co.uk
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Health
By Sharon Clement
Fit at Fifty
And Beyond
Attention over-fifties! When was the last time you visited a gym? You kind of know you should be making an effort, right? But do excuses such as ‘too expensive’; ‘lack of time’, and ‘no motivation’, sound familiar? Or maybe like me you have a pathological fear of lycra? But assuming you have no major health problems we can tackle this issue in bite-size chunks. As an over-fifty myself (quite a lot over if I’m honest) I overcame my own gym-phobia and have been reaping the rewards since. Motivation - This is the key. You need a specific goal. I wanted to achieve a healthier lifestyle with improved cardiovascular fitness. Time - Look in your diary and you will find a spare hour at least once, or better still, two or three times a week. Cost - Can be as expensive or affordable as you want. A ladies-only gym with a personal trainer can be expensive, but a mixed gym membership in off-peak hours brings the cost down considerably and you can still get instruction and advice from an on-site trainer. Most gyms now take membership fees on a monthly direct debit basis. Clothing - Lycra isn’t compulsory, but clothes must be comfortable, and this includes your undergarments. Remember, it’s not a fashion parade and chafed tender bits will put you off exercise forever! If you’re feeling hesitant repeat to yourself, “I can do this; I want a healthier and fitter me; I have the
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time to do this”. This is your Mantra. Say it often enough and you will start to believe it. Don’t be put off by glum folk who say it’s all a waste of time. Mix with positive people who will encourage you and improve your self-esteem. Metabolism slows down as you get older and this can lead to weight gain, but exercise helps keep weight on an even keel because you build lean muscle. You also improve your immune system and cardiovascular system; reduce bad cholesterol and boost brain-power. Research shows that only 32% of men and 21% of women aged over 50 in England undertake some form of regular exercise. In the over-65’s this drops to 17% of men and 12% of women, and in Scotland the figures are even less! The trainers at your Gym will discuss the best way to get you back into shape. If you haven’t exercised before or for a long while they will advise that you start slowly and build up gradually. Good instructors are enthusiastic and well-trained and will arrange a set of exercises to suit to you. Before you know it, you’ll have a routine e.g. 5 minutes bike, 5 minutes treadmill, 5 minutes weights. It will only take a few sessions before you improve and begin to compete with yourself. You’ll notice the benefits of improved posture; glowing skin; improved breathing, zest and vitality almost immediately. We are all living longer but perhaps we should also be aiming to live more healthily too.
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Jill Dighton BSc (Hons) MBACP (Accred)., UKCP Reg.
Counselling Service Depressed? Anxious? Relationship Issues? Low Self Esteem? Have you considered Counselling sessions? Based in Grafham village, I offer a professionally qualified Counselling Service to individuals and couples in a secure, confidential & non-judgemental atmosphere. Ample parking. Concessionary rates available. For further details: Visit: www.jilldightoncounselling.co.uk Email: jill@jdighton.co.uk Tel: 07925 852 985 (Voicemail available)
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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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Health & Beauty
By Kate Duggan www.kateduggan.co.uk
Spring into summer From a bargain day cream to a luxe fragrance, there’s plenty to tempt you this month, whatever your budget. British luxury fragrance brand Tom Daxon has a new fragrance out – Midnight Saffron (from £105). Lavender, saffron, jasmine and amber combine to create a warm, spicy, unisex cologne that’s really quite distinctive. See www.tomdaxon.com. Itchy, dry scalp or supersensitive skin? You’ll want to check out the award-winning Dermikelp range. As the name suggests, the key ingredient in all Dermikelp products is an extract taken from sustainably sourced brown sea kelp (Ecklonia maxima). Not only is it extremely gentle, this type of kelp is a powerhouse of nutrients that have been shown to benefit skin and hair. The shampoo and conditioner in the Hair Essentials Starter Kit (£24.99) are designed to soothe itchy, dry scalps and boost hydration. Together, they leave hair feeling softer and healthier. The Body Essentials Starter Kit (£38.99) includes a body wash, lotion and soothing cream to treat sensitive, irritated or dry skin. See www. dermikelp.co.uk. I get offered some eye-wateringly expensive beauty products to try but can honestly say you don’t need to pay megabucks for decent skin. I’m currently loving the Botanics Organic Hydrating Day Cream (£9.99) and Hot Cloth Cleansing Balm (£10.99). They’re packed with active natural ingredients, such as cocoa butter, jojoba oil and organic rosehip extract. A little goes a long way, so I reckon each one will last four to six months. By my reckoning, that’s less than 18p a day for instantly softer, smoother, plumper skin. How’s
that for a bargain? See www.boots.com. A new season seems like a good time to sort through your makeup bag and bathroom cupboards. For a start, ditch anything that’s been open for way longer than its recommended Period After Opening (PAO) date. (Check for a little icon showing an open tub or bottle and a number of months.) It may seem like a waste to throw products out, but the PAO is there for a reason. Not only do products become less effective as they degrade, they can also go ‘off’ and harbour bacteria, leading to irritation. Some products, such as perfume, can last for years, but do always check for changes in colour, texture and fragrance. If you do need to get rid of anything, empty the contents into the bin and check whether the bottle or tub can be recycled – most can. You might want to give your makeup bag a clean with a squirt of hand soap before repacking it. If the time has come to treat yourself to a new bag, there are some fabulous ones on the market at the moment. Just take a look at this little lot:
• • • • • • •
Jungle Decorative Make Up Bag, White Stuff, £15 Gold Honeycomb Make Up Bag, John Lewis, £18 Folk Doves Make Up Bag, Rex London, £7.95 Alphabet Wash Bag, Oliver Bonas, £24 Slogan Clear Pouch, A Gift From The Gods, £7 Floral Love Wash Bag, Oliver Bonas, £25 ‘Wake up Nice’ Conscious Living Organic Cotton Pouch, Paperchase, £8 • Ariba Palm Pouch, White Stuff, £15 • Plant Lady Cosmetic Bag from Primark (Price TBC)
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Leeds Day Solicitors
Separation or Divorce made easier Going through a separation or divorce can understandably be stressful and a difficult time for all involved. At Leeds Day, our highly experienced family law specialists are committed to focusing on our clients’ needs and not just the legal processes. There are several ways to deal with the disputes that may arise following a divorce or separation. We can advise and assist you as to which process is likely to be the most appropriate to your individual circumstances. These are as follows: 1. Negotiating between yourselves If there are minimal assets, this may be the most appropriate and certainly the most cost effective way of reaching agreement. The agreement would still need to be converted into a formal legal document which will only become legally binding once approved by a court within divorce proceedings. Even if you agree, it is important to take legal advice to make sure you understand the implications of any agreement reached. 2. Mediation This is where you work together in discussion with a family mediator to reach a mutual agreement. Most people going through mediation find it helpful to take advice and support from a family lawyer during the process. Family lawyers can also make sure that agreements reached in family mediation are fair and reasonable. At Leeds Day, we often assist individuals who are attending mediation with their partner and advise them on the merits of any settlement reached.
3. Collaborative Law This process lets you talk through the issues you need to solve, with you and your partner each having a specially trained collaborative family lawyer by your side at each meeting. Using collaborative law is a way of solving problems without having to go through court. To keep focused on this, everyone signs an agreement that commits each party to the process and if the process breaks down, your collaborative lawyer will not be able to represent you in court. Simon Thomas, a Partner at Leeds Day and the firm’s family team leader, is an experienced collaborative lawyer. 4. Lawyer negotiation Even if mediation or collaborative law is not for you, your family lawyers can negotiate an agreement on your behalf. Issues are often successfully resolved with the support and expertise of one of our family law specialists. 5. Going to Court There are rare occasions when this option becomes unavoidable. Our family lawyers are all highly skilled court advocates and will advise and assist you through the process. All are members of Resolution, the family law association for England and Wales. To find out more, contact the family team at Leeds Day on 0844 567 2222 or send an email to family@leedsday.co.uk Quote this article when making an appointment before the end of May 2019 and your first 30 minute consultation will be free of charge.
Our offices: Huntingdon Godwin House, George Street, Huntingdon, PE29 3BD T: 01480 454301
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St. Ives 11 Station Road, St. Ives, Cambridgeshire PE27 5BH T: 01480 464600
St. Neots Xenus House, Sandpiper Court, Eaton Socon, St. Neots PE19 8EP T: 01480 474661
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DON’T PUT IT OFF – Don’t let your home and money disappear, make sure your estate goes to your family… leaving “what you want” to “who you want”. CALL 01767 660250 for more information or to book a free meeting with one of our Will and Estate Planners either in your own home or at our offices. Baystrait Ltd t/a Will & Estate Planning, Baystrait House, Station Road, Biggleswade, SG18 8AL
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Local News
Come and see one of the biggest Model Railway Exhibitions in the country on 8th & 9th June 2019 Following the closure of the Arena at Wood Green Animal Charity Centre, the show, organised by St Neots MRC, now has a bigger, better venue in the Arena at Kettering Conference Centre, NN15 6PB. You will see 40 of the best model railway layouts from across the country in all the popular scales together with specialist traders selling everything you need for the hobby. There will also be representatives from local model clubs and associated societies and demonstrators will be showing you ‘how to’. If you loved this show when it was in Godmanchester, you will love it even more now. It will be held every year during the second weekend in June and is continues to be an ideal event for model railway enthusiasts as well as the whole family. The facilities are very good, the outdoor miniature traction engine will still be running and there are many other attractions in the area including ‘Kid’s Zone’ next door and Wicksteed Park just a short way up the road. If you are travelling by train, the vintage bus will be doing free transfers to and from Kettering Railway Station. For those travelling by car, there will be plenty of free parking with a courtesy bus running to overflow car parks. The exhibition is all on one level with good access and refreshments will be available. The show is open from 10am - 5pm on Saturday 8th June and 10am - 4pm on Sunday 9th June or advance tickets will be allowed entry at 09.45am on both days.
Farmers Drove in N gauge by Steve Farmer. (Photograph by Paul Bason courtesy of Railway Modeller). For more information and to order advance tickets visit: https://www.stneotsmrc. com/exhibition-news Any questions? Contact Exhibition Manager, Jackie Kneeshaw 07810 861362
Feltham Road MPD in OO gauge by Ray Norwood.
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VIRTUAL PA / GIRL FRIDAY
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Finance
By Ann Haldon
Could debt snowballing be the quickest way to get out of debt? Debt snowballing is a term used to describe a particular method of dealing with debt, which in some ways goes against ‘traditional’ thinking. It’s commonly advised to deal with the most expensive debt first in terms of interest rates and charges, which is a natural and effective approach to paying down debt. But one issue that isn’t taken into account when repaying debt in this way is the psychology that can sometimes influence a successful outcome. Here’s how to debt snowball • Make a list of all your debts – the one with the smallest balance at the top. • Pay off the minimum amount on all your credit cards and other debts, apart from the one with the smallest balance. • Pay as much as you can off this debt and repeat each month until you’ve paid it off in full. • Cross it off your list of debts and use the money released towards the next debt. • Continue in the same way down your list (the second smallest next), making the minimum payment on all other borrowing. • If you’re able to earn more money, putting it towards the debt you’re currently repaying increases the snowball effect and reduces your overall level of borrowing. • When the debt you’re focusing on has been paid off, cross it off your list – rinse and repeat until you’re debt-free. Human psychology when paying off debt Debt snowballing is a system that applies a little human psychology to paying down debt, and
acknowledges that we all lack motivation at times. The method only works if you have sufficient funds to make the minimum payments on all your debts, however, so if you don’t, you would need to look at alternatives. The sense of accomplishment when you can cross a debt off your list is invaluable in encouraging you to carry on, and could in fact be one of the main reasons for the success of debt snowballing. Advantages of debt snowballing • It offers vital motivation. • It’s a simple and straightforward system that’s easy to maintain. • You’re forced to focus on one debt at a time, and as long as you keep up the minimum payments on other debts you can forget about them for a while. • It helps you manage your money for the long term and introduces good money habits. Are there any downsides to debt snowballing? The main downside of debt snowballing is the extra interest you pay on your debts when compared with the debt avalanche method, and when considered only from a mathematical point of view it clearly isn’t the most obvious option. Repaying debt is a little like dieting, however – small wins offer the motivation that many people need to continue and succeed. One important issue is to make sure you dedicate any money released when a debt is repaid to paying off the next one. Without this, the ‘snowball’ effect of increasing amounts being available to tackle your next debt doesn’t materialise, and the system will stall.
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Garden View
By Rachael Leverton
Scaling the Wall - Clematis What do you think of if I say ‘clematis’? I think most of us would think of the large, purple-flowered, “Jackmanii” or the rampant, bronze-leafed, pinkflowered montana rubens. They are both terrific plants, but I think they are a little over-used. My husband teases me that I tend to give my ‘clematis lecture’ when visiting friends’ houses and see one scrambling over a trellis. For your benefit I’ve written it down here. Clematis is known as the ‘Queen of Climbers’. It can be utterly spectacular and should definitely not be relegated to trellis. It can used for covering fences and arbours, old tree stumps, sheds and even in beds and borders. Choose wisely and you can have flowers from early spring until late autumn. For beds and borders you don’t want anything as vigorous as montana, which will smother everything it touches. Instead choose a daintier one such as a variety of texensis or viticella. The flowers of the texensis hybrids look like finely cut bells. “Etoile Rose” is a beautiful dark pink edged with paler pink and “Princess of Wales” is a beautiful rosy red. Both of these will scramble through shrubs and flower all summer. They die back in winter so can be tidied up then. Viticella hybrids produce flowers which look like little pixie hats as they open. “Minuet” has purple and white flowers suspended on fine stems while “Purpurea Plena Elegans” produces double blooms
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which open into little purple rosettes. One of the most difficult sites to find climbers for is an east or north facing site. My absolute favourite clematis thrives in this situation and flowers in early spring. Clematis alpina “Pink Flamingo” produces nodding, semi-double, creamy flowers veined with deep pink. It has the added bonus of producing beautiful fluffy seed heads after the flowers fade. Clematis prefers its feet in the shade and its head in the sun. Make sure the plant’s roots are shaded: pieces of broken flagstone are ideal, or an old cracked upside-down terracotta pot with the bottom knocked out. When clematis is happy it will flower prolifically. Large-flowered clematis tend to produce a second flush in the autumn, but others like tangutica and orientalis wait to flower until then. Both of these are very vigorous and are great for covering unsightly sheds or old trees. Finally, if you have a sheltered spot against a wall try cirrhosa balearica. This is a beautiful, winterflowering variety with ferny foliage and pale-green flowers spotted with crimson. So, there it is…my clematis lecture. Hopefully you took notes and are ready to branch out into a whole new world of climbers.
Happy Gardening
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Local News
Huntingdonshire Fauna and Flora Society Welcome to the world of wildlife in Huntingdonshire! Are you interested in finding out more about the wildlife around Huntingdon and Peterborough? Perhaps you are already sending records to one or more of the online sites such as iRecord or posting plant and animal photographs via a Facebook account or Twitter page. If so, why not join the Huntingdonshire Fauna & Flora Society? Founded in 1948 the objective of the Society is to promote the study, conservation and recording of wildlife throughout Huntingdonshire and Peterborough. Membership is open to all with an interest in the wildlife living in our local area. In the summer months specialists in groups of species, which include flowering plants, mammals, fungi, insects and all kinds of other invertebrates, visit specific sites. They are joined by enthusiastic amateurs, some with extensive knowledge and others just starting. In 2019 we intend to visit sites as far apart as Portholme Meadow (Brampton) and Therfield Heath (near Royston). Although we set out to record wildlife the meetings are informal and give an opportunity to learn and contribute to our better understanding of the value of our countryside. Ultimately this contributes to the conservation of our environment. In the winter months we meet in the Hinchingbrooke Countryside Centre where illustrated talks on natural Grizzled skipper a butterfly of ancient meadows history provide additional information. These are open meetings. Subjects in 2018/19 range from European butterflies, Paxton Pits Nature Reserve and Phenology, the study of seasonal rhythms in plant and animal life cycles. There is a small charge for non-members. Publication of the results of research and survey form an important part of our contribution to the conservation of species and sites. Books describing the distribution of plants throughout our area and the wildlife of Brampton Wood are amongst the more recent. Huntingdonshire Grasslands were the subject of a volume to commemorate the Society’s 60th birthday. Just published is a book about the orchids of Huntingdonshire and the Soke of Peterborough. A book on butterflies is in preparation. Annual reports Flowering rush a plant of river and lake sides provide shorter descriptions of other interesting features of wildlife interest. We have a Web Site - http://www.hffs.org.uk/ which includes details of walks and talks for 2019. and a Facebook group – https://www.facebook.com/groups/288750741769891/ If you like what you see come to one of our meetings. If you would like to join us, membership forms are on the web site. Alternatively Contact: Stuart Irons, Hon. Treasurer & Membership Secretary, 4 Appleyard, Stanground, Peterborough, PE2 8JH. phone: 01733 760441, email: nebria@ntlworld.com.
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09/03/2018 11:06
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Home Improvement
By Tom Hancock
Hire a Handyman! Or handywoman! Do you have lots of household DIY tasks mounting up? Are you starting to feel a little overwhelmed? Hire a handyman! A good handyman will have right tools, and know-how to get the job done efficiently. Hiring someone who knows what they are doing will eliminate a lot of stress. Also, they will almost certainly save you money, especially if you would have to buy the right tools before you start or make a mistake which has to be put right! When hiring: Be Specific - Give an idea of the scale and scope of the job or jobs. For example, ‘Rehang garden gate, repaint gate and 17 metres of 2m high garden fence.’ Measurement are important as it gives idea of the scope of the task. Send photos if you can - In the example above send photos of the gate and the fence. A picture will save a lot of words and help the handyman provide an accurate quotation. Remember cheapest isn’t necessarily the best. Check an online price guide. There is lots of
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guidance available, but you should definitely bear in mind the total hours required. The handyman should be insured and have his own tools. Check all insurance documents carefully. Take your time, be pleasant and ask questions. Get a quote in writing to make sure you know exactly what you’re getting. Then sit back and relax while someone else takes care of your household jobs!
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Borderstyle & Landscaping We offer all aspects of soft or hard landscaping Driveways, Patios, Fencing Garden Design and Renovation Border and Garden Clearance Family Run Business Ten year warranty contract given. We are fully insured. Portfolios & references available.
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Garden
Make it Minimal By Pippa Greenwood www.pippagreenwood.com
There is increasing enthusiasm for a more minimalist garden style, where fewer plants have greater individual impact in a more designed situation with straight lines aplenty, so here are some suggestions for achieving the effect you want. Decide on the plants you like and that will suit your garden but keep to as few different types as possible. The biggest impact will be achieved if you are selective, for example concentrating on ornamental grasses. Also key is clever use of straight lines, ideally with a few right angles too. Edges must be sharply defined, perhaps using sleepers, other timber or angled metal. Keep plants well back from the border edging so these lines are not interfered with. Colours should fit your preferences and the surroundings but restrict the number of colours for a calmer and simpler effect. Existing features such as sheds or fences can be recoloured or painted to fit in with the colour scheme – otherwise, their current colour will have to be included in that scheme.
Edges need to be sharply defined, perhaps using sleepers or other timber A stunning minimalist effect can be achieved by using a single type of plant and container – for example, conifers in terracotta containers. The only variation is in the size of the conifer: all colours, textures and plants are the same. Buy different sizes of the same conifer type and clip regularly to maintain the size difference or buy one size and trim lightly to achieve the desired look.
Green, in the form of foliage, helps add a feeling of tranquillity to a minimalist garden so include it, perhaps as a neatly clipped box hedging or as a few bay lollipops in angular containers. Containers must be very plain, ideally straightsided angular styles in a single colour. An evenly spaced trio of pots, each with a single central plant, provides a perfect choice of container planting. If you like topiary stick to simple tightly clipped spheres or ‘lollipops’, cubes or at most spirals; there is no space for a fantastically sculptured creature if you’re going minimalist! Plants with simple or angular shapes such as iris, alliums, conifers, clipped box, canna or palms are an excellent choice, but opt for personal (but simple) favourites available locally. Grass alternatives such as gravel may feature highly. Gravel needs less maintenance than grass, but keep it weed-free and easy-care by installing a weed-membrane (rather like woven, plastic hessian) on to the soil before putting down the gravel. Thoroughly weed the area then firm and compact well before putting the fabric down. Don’t use cheaper plastic sheeting as rain won’t penetrate. Opt for simple, classically styled garden furniture with as few colours and textures as possible and it won’t detract from the minimalist environment and look – now sit back and enjoy! Visit www.pippagreenwood.com for advice, natural pest controls, stylish cloches, pretty plant supports, gardening tools and more. Or book Pippa for a gardening talk at your club.
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GARDEN MACHINERY AND TRAILER CENTRE
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SB TURF • Turf supplied and laid • All overgrown gardens rotivated • Cleared, levelled and laid with cultivated lawn turf • Grass seeding • Block paving and patio service All work carried out by experienced staff Recommendations and portfolios available Free Estimates
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Pets
Animal Stories At RSPCA Bedfordshire North Branch a large majority of the animals that come into our care are cats, but occasionally we will receive a rabbit or small furry in need of a new home. This month this beautiful little rabbit, Ratty, arrived in our care after his owner could sadly no longer keep him. He is approximately ten months old and had previously been kept as an indoor bunny. He is currently in foster care and has settled in very well, but we are now looking to find Ratty his new forever home. Although used to living indoors, since arriving at his foster home he has loved running around the garden, exploring his surroundings and having a good nibble on the grass, so we would love to find him a home where he can carry on enjoying spending some of his time outside. He is a very friendly rabbit, always running up for a fuss and some nose rubs when he sees someone to play with. All rabbit’s need lots of enrichment and Ratty is no exception, he absolutely loves playing with his tunnels and toys which will go with him to his new home. Rabbits are naturally very social animals and are happiest when they have a companion, the best combination being a neutered male and female pair. When bonded with a suitable rabbit it prevents them from becoming lonely and they can play together, groom each other and look out for one another. With that in mind, we would like to find Ratty a female friend to go and live with. Another animal we have in our care at the
moment, with a very similar story to Ratty’s, is a cat called Sixpence. Approximately two years old, Sixpence came into our care after his owner could also no longer keep him. Like Ratty, he was also kept as an indoor pet, but his young and super friendly personality would suit being able to have a good explore outside. When Sixpence first arrived in our care he was quite shy but soon settled into our cattery. He loves a fuss and likes nothing more than to roly poly around to show off his lovely spotty tummy. Although friendly, he would prefer to be an only cat in an adult only household as this is what he has been used to. All animals that are adopted are neutered and fully vaccinated before they go to their new homes. For more information about Ratty or Sixpence, as well as other animals in our care, please visit our website www.rspca.org.uk/local/bedfordshirenorth-branch. To enquire about adopting one of these friendly fellows, please email our Branch at adopt@rspcabedsnorth.org.uk, or contact us by phone on 01234 266965. For all up to date information about the animals in our care, adopted success stories, or what our Branch is up to visit our facebook page www.facebook.com/rspcabedsnorthbranch.
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Local News
Rehoming Appeal Humphrey & Dougal This pair of male guinea pigs are Humphrey (tri-colour) and Dougal (brown). They are a really nice pair of guinea pigs. Dougal is very friendly, Humphrey a little shyer but they will make great pets for any family. They have come to R.A.T.S. as their previous owners no longer had the time for them. If you can offer these boys a home, please contact Hazel on 01234 357788 Alternatively, please email Philippa at info.rats@gmail.com who will be pleased to forward your enquiry onto the team. View other dogs, cats and small mammals currently in our care for re-homing on our website: www.rats-animalrescue.co.uk or facebook: www.facebook.com/ratscharity. You can also see photographs and details of the animals in our care in our charity shop in Hitchin Street, Biggleswade SG18 8AX. Open Monday to Saturday from 10.00 am until 4.00 pm.
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Swimming Lessons
Private pool - Tadlow ASA qualified teachers Beginners & stroke technique classes 1-3 pupils per class 10 week courses (term time only) Mother and Toddler classes
Call Heather on Tel: 01767 631053 Mob: 07511168499
Email: tadlowswimming@btinternet.com
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Motoring
The best barely-used bargain cars Opting for a car that’s a year old over a brand-new model could save a packet. Here are 10 of the best. Finding money off a barely-used car can be tricky, so we’ve found classified ad examples representing huge savings over brand-new options. The prices quoted are correct at the time of writing. BMW 3 Series GT Price new: £38,280 Price one-year: £19,890 The 3 Series GT is pitched as an all-occasion car. It’s part-hatchback, part-saloon, part-executive, but this vehicle trying to be three hasn’t proved very successful. That said, it offers a high level of quality along with that premium badging. A new 320d M Sport Gran Turismo is £38,280, but with 10,000 miles on the clock and last year’s plate it costs around £19,890. Land Rover Discovery Sport Price new: £45,810 Price one-year: £32,444 This baby Discovery is a desirable family car, mating a superbly practical seven-seat body with Land Rover prestige, albeit with a dated interior and lack of top-end technology. At £12,000 off list price, a one-year old example is a bargain. Jaguar XF Price new: £36,495 Price one-year: £27,500 The XF drives nicely and has a
decent engine range, but hasn’t sold well. We found a 2018-reg R-Sport car fitted with the 2.0-litre 178bhp diesel engine for £27,500 with 4,000 miles on the clock – a huge saving. BMW 3 Series Price new: £42,870 Price one-year: £39,990 With the 3 Series being replaced this year, there are great deals to be had – the 330d Touring model with a 3.0-litre straight-six engine is ideal for motorway driving, and falls from £42,870 new to £39,990 at a year old. Infiniti QX30 Price new: £29,720 Price one-year: £17,000 This combination of Mercedes platform, Nissan interior and Renault diesel engines was a reasonable mix until you looked at the price. However, at around £17,000 for a year-old example, the QX30 becomes easier to recommend. Suzuki Swift Sport Price new: £18,499 Price one-year: £13,999 Last year’s all-new Swift Sport offered a fun driving experience and bags of equipment, but its £18,499 price tag put it into a performance bracket where it couldn’t really compete. Used examples at under £14k make it a real bargain.
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Ford Mondeo Vignale Price new: £30,625 Price one-year: £19,999 Ford’s upmarket Mondeo Vignales are an absolute steal on the used market and come with a lengthy equipment list. We found a oneyear-old example for just under £20,000. Vauxhall Astra Price new: £21,760 Price one-year: £9,799 With £12,000 or 54% off a sportylooking Astra SRi with the excellent 1.0-litre turbo petrol engine at just a year old, we wonder why anyone buys a new Vauxhall! Toyota Yaris GRMN Price new: £26,295 Price one-year: £21,995 The Toyota Yaris GRMN may be a bargain buy at £21,995 and with less than 1,500 miles on the used market, particularly as its limited numbers and widely-hailed driving experience may make it a future collector’s item. Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT 6.2 Price new: £63,995 Price one-year: £38,995 It’s the Grand Cherokee’s monstrous 6.2-litre V8 engine that puts buyers off, but for performance, power, and sheer noise on a budget, this is a great way to go.
By James Baggott
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Food & Drink
Red Velvet
Cake
I find the science of baking fascinating. What makes the texture of one cake different to the texture of another one? How can seemingly similar ingredients create totally different effects? With this Red Velvet Cake, it is the addition of the buttermilk and the acids which contribute to a tighter, slightly denser crumb, somewhere between a Victoria Sponge and a brownie. It was made for my Weekend Kitchen show by a very talented young baker called Victoria Chidgey. Throughout her appearances on my show, I have watched her Little Tring Cake company grow through hard work and creativity. Seeing skilled young people take risks, open businesses and watching them grow is probably one of the biggest pleasures I get from being on the radio… Ingredients: 125g butter 325g caster sugar 40g cocoa powder 2 eggs 1 tsp red extra colour paste (you will need to buy the proper stuff, not the small bottles of red liquid) 1 tsp vanilla extract 250g buttermilk 325g self-raising flour 15g bicarbonate of soda 30g white wine vinegar 1. Beat the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. Meanwhile add all the dry ingredients to a bowl and set aside. 2. Slowly beat the eggs into the butter and sugar mixture. Add the red colouring and the vanilla too, followed by half of the dry ingredients and half the buttermilk.
3. Repeat until everything has just come together. 4. Pour in the vinegar and beat until throughly mixed. Split between 3 x 6” cake tins or 2 x 8” cake tins. Bake in a pre-heated oven at 160C/ Gas Mark 3 for 27 minutes. The cakes are baked when a skewer comes out clean. For the icing: 150g butter 150g cream cheese 450g icing sugar 1 tsp vanilla extract 1. Beat the butter, icing sugar and vanilla until it’s very light in colour. Add the cream cheese one spoonful at a time, mixing well each time. Once all the cream cheese has been added beat on a high speed for 3 minutes. 2. Level off the cakes with a knife and put any off-cuts into a food processor to blitz into a fine powder. 3. Assemble the cake by putting a layer of cream cheese icing between each cake. Cover the rest of the cake with icing, smoothing the top and sides with a pallet knife. 4. Gently push the cake crumbs into the side of the cake to get an even layer.
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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Time of Year
National Smile Month
By Louise Addison
National Smile Month is the largest and longest-running campaign to promote good oral health. Between 13th May and 13th June 2019, National Smile Month will promote positive messages and to engage people with maintaining a healthy mouth. For the best oral hygiene: Brush your teeth - At least two minutes twice a day using fluoride toothpaste. Make sure you clean your teeth before bed, as your mouth doesn’t have the same salivary protection during the night as it does during the day. Floss - Each tooth has five sides; a toothbrush only cleans three sides. The other two sides are where most decay and foul odours originate. To clean between the teeth requires dental floss or tiny inter-dental brushes. Clean your tongue - This is an important part of oral hygiene and works wonders with stale, smelly breath. You can use a tongue scraper or a toothbrush Give up smoking - Smoking dries the mouth, depleting the protective saliva. It also exposes your gums, soft palate and tongue to harmful and cancer-causing toxins, and it makes your breath smell. Use a mouthwash - This freshens breath and coats the teeth with a protective layer, helping to prevent plaque build-up. Avoid those which contain alcohol though. Cut out sugary foods and drinks - Sugary snacks feeds the bacteria in your mouth which ultimately break down your enamel and cause decay. Visit your dentist regularly! http://www.nationalsmilemonth.org/
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ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
Easy Suduko
Hard Suduko
Fill in the grid so that each row, column and 3x3 box, contains the digits 1 through to 9 with no repetition. Use your logic to solve the puzzles. 60
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Travel
Astana, Kazakhstan
By Solange Hando
in Central Asia
In 1998, barely seven years after independence, a new capital rose in Kazakhstan in the middle of the steppes on the banks of the Ishim River. Planned by the Japanese architect Kisho Kurokawa, it grew into a futuristic dream, replacing Almaty, the former capital enclosed by mountains with little room for expansion and prone to natural disasters. Today, with over one million people sharing 100 nationalities, Astana is the northernmost capital in Asia and the second coldest in the world. Although much of the old town still spreads along the right bank, the new capital across the water dazzles everyone with innovative architecture, wide avenues and open spaces and parks. Day or night, the central Nurzhol Boulevard is a wonderful place for a stroll, a wide traffic-free oasis full of greenery, fountains and flowers
and traditional sculptures, here a shaman, there a dancer or a nomad. Stretching for over two kilometres towards the riverside presidential headquarters, it is dominated by the Bayterek Tower, the top attraction in Astana. It’s easy to see why: rising to 97 metres, this lofty monument is crowned by a 300 tonne glass ball where colours change according to the natural light. Bayterek, they say, is a ‘tree of life’, clutching an ‘egg’ between its branches to ensure a peaceful and prosperous future. It is truly enticing and up on the top, inspired no doubt by the wonderful views, many visitors make a wish, eyes closed as they place their hand in the president’s golden print. Away from the river, the boulevard opens onto a vast circular space leading to fine
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outdoor restaurants and flower shops and an archway framing the Khan Shatyr centre, an indoor place for souvenir and other stores, as well as family amusements – including a beach covered with sand from the Maldives. But most exciting is the actual building, moulded like a giant steel yurt, gleaming white, slightly topsy-turvy, and one of Norman Foster’s landmarks. Bold and dynamic, the new Astana also pays tribute to its roots, be it in the museums, the stark blue Palace of Independence or the Central Concert Hall, where the main room is shaped like a dombyra lute, Kazakhstan’s national instrument. Sculptures of Samruk, the mythical bird, pop up here and there to protect the country. In 1999, UNESCO declared Astana a ‘City of Peace’, a theme upheld in the newly-erected Peace Wall, inscribed with the word ‘peace’ in 51 languages, and the glass pyramid, known as the Palace of Peace and Reconciliation. There a stained glass painting displays 130 doves symbolising cultural and religious tolerance. Islam is the main religion, open and relaxed for most followers, and with its white minarets and domes, the iconic Hazrat Sultan mosque claims the largest complex of its kind in Central Asia. Inaugurated in 2012, it was named after a 12th century poet and mystic, linking past and present in one of the youngest capitals in the world.
G.B.BUILDERS NO JOB TOO SMALL FOR ALL MAINTENANCE, RENOVATIONS AND DIY WORK All general building repairs and odd jobs Specialist in Painting and Decorating & Groundwork and Grass cutting • Brickwork & Plastering Tiling Driveways • Paths & Patios Slabbing • Concreting Blockpaving • Fencing, Carpentry • Roofing Guttering • Drainage Plumbing
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n O s ’ t Wha 1 May May Day Morris Dance 5-6am Free event - donations welcome Wandlebury Country Park, Cambridge Traditional English dancing event. Dancing starts at 5.29am. Refreshments will be available for purchase on the day Tel: 01223 243830 ext 207 Email: bookings@cambridgeppf.org Web: www.cambridgeppf.org/whats-on
1 May St Mary’s Afternoon WI St Neots 2pm St Mary’s Church Rooms, St Neots First Wednesday of the month. Resolutions and Quiz. Tel: 07724 043941 Email: mayp.at.home@gmail.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/St-Marys-AfternoonSt-Neots-Womens-Institute-238190076940278/ 1 May Brampton Flower Club 7.30pm Community Centre, High Street, Brampton Visitors £6 inc. light refreshments Demonstration by Pat Barton with ‘Where in the World’. Tel: Jan Dobie 01480 531822 Web: www.bramptonflowerclub.com 1 May Huntingdon and District Branch of the Royal Air Force Association 7.30pm for 8pm First Wednesday of the month. Tel: Tony Perryman, Secretary 01480 465395 Email: rafa.huntingdon1@btinternet.com 1 May Little Paxton Gardening Club 8pm Little Paxton Village Hall Members £1, Non-members £2 Talk by Joe Sharman ‘Collecting Plants in the Wild’. Joe is from Monksilver Nursery and will take us through the rigours and enjoyment of collecting from field notes, conservation and images of plants in the wild.Tel: Jane 01480 218805 Email: lpgardeningclub@hotmail.com 3 May St Neots Local History Society 7.30pm Eynesbury Junior School ‘Flag Fen to Must Farm’ with Stuart Orme. Web: http://stneotslhs.org.uk 4 May Art & Craft Fair 9.30am-4pm Free Church Hall, St Ives Free admission. Handmade art and craft stalls. 4 May Family Book Festival 10am-4pm St Neots Library A fun-filled programme of free events with wellknown authors, illustrators and poets. For details of author and illustrator events download the brochure and book tickets online. Web: www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/arts
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In May
4 May St Neots Timebank Coffee Morning 11am-2pm St Mary’s Church Hall, St Neots Tel: 07590 909057 www.stneotstimebank.org.uk
5, 12, 19 & 26 May Junior Parkrun 9am Wimpole Estate Weekly free 2k timed run for 4-14 year olds. Web: parkrun.org.uk/wimpoleestate-juniors
4 May Simply Saturday 12.30-2.30pm St James Church, Little Paxton For adults of all ages with lunch and various activities available. Tel: Elisa Hunt 01480 471748 Email: young_paxton@ntlworld.com
8 May Improve your IT Skills 9.30am-2pm St Neots Library Do you want to learn to use a computer, be able to use the Internet, send emails, use a smart phone or tablet and edit writing and pictures? Join a new three-week course starting 8 May. Tel: 01223 703530 Email: cambsals@cambridgeshire.gov.uk
4 May Bingo 7-8pm Buckworth Cricket Club, Church Road, Buckworth, Huntingdon Come and join us for the clubs regular bingo evening. Eyes down 7.30pm. Light refreshments and a raffle. Web: www.buckworthcricketclub.co.uk 4, 11 & 18 May Huntingdon Music School 8.30am-1pm Hinchingbrooke School The music school operates lessons and ensemble groups on Saturday mornings during term-time. They also offer music lessons in Huntingdon area schools. Tel: 01480 584867 or 07719 835472 Email: enquiries@huntsmusicschool.org.uk Web: www.huntsmusicschool.org.uk 4, 11, 18 & 25 May Parkrun 9am Wimpole Estate Weekly free 5k timed run. Web: parkrun.org.uk/wimpoleestate 5 May Wildlife Trust 2.30pm Brampton Wood, Grafham Road, Brampton Entry £2.50, accompanied children free The Beautiful Bluebells of Brampton Wood. George Cottam, Warden of Brampton Wood, will lead us through the woodland where a rich variety of flora can be seen. Please park in the Trust car park – no charge but donations welcome. Tel: 01480 45080 5 May St Neots & District Gardening Club 8pm St Mary’s Church Hall, St Neots Members £2, Non-members £2.50 inc. refreshments & raffle ticket. Visit to Knebworth Spring Show. Web: www.stneotsgardenclub.org.uk 5 May Cambridge Gliding Centre Open Day 10am-4pm Gransden Lodge Airfield Free admission. Find out about the sport of gliding. Discounted trial gliding lessons with our qualified instructors will be available using a choice of winch launch, aerotow or motor glider. Call the office to book your flight in advance. The Airfield entrance is on the B1046 between Little Gransden and Longstowe, opposite Gransden Lodge Farm (enter SG19 3EB into your sat nav). Tel: 01767 677077 Web: www.camgliding.uk Facebook: www.facebook.com/ CambridgeGlidingCentre
8 May Fundraising Coffee Morning 10am-1pm All Saints Church, Market Square, Huntingdon The Hunts Society for the Blind Fundraising Coffee Morning. All welcome. Craft stalls, tombola and raffle. The coffee mornings are held every second Wednesday from March-November. 11 May Hemingford Village Market 9am-1pm Parish Centre, Hemingford Grey Second Saturday of the month. An opportunity to buy food, crafts, plants and flowers from small local businesses. Hemingford Grey Parish Council hold a surgery at the market should you wish to meet councillors to discuss local issues. 11 May Jumble Sale 10am-12 noon Keysoe Village Hall Raising funds to help finance The Village Show at Keysoe. Tel: 01234 378878 for further info 11 May Plant Sale 10am-2pm Offord Village Hall Free admission. Refreshments. Free Parking. 11 & 12 May Hemingford Art Club Spring Exhibition Daily 10am-4.30pm Hemingford Abbots Village Hall Exciting new works of art for sale, framed and unframed also handmade original cards. 11 & 12 May Bourn Windmill Open Day and Teas 2-4pm CambridgePPF Members free, Adults £3, Children £1 Come and see inside one of the oldest mills in the country, set in beautiful scenery near Bourn village. On five Sundays during the summer the mill is opened and guides will show you how the mill works and tell you the history of this incredible building. Not only can you see inside, you can also have a go at the task of turning the whole mill on its post - an amazing sight. The mill is owned by local charity CambridgePPF and run by dedicated volunteers. No need to book. Accessible by car or on footpaths from Bourn. OS grid reference TL 312 580. Tel: 01223 243830 extension 207 Email: bookings@cambridgeppf.org Web: www.cambridgeppf.org/whats-on
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n O s ’ t Wha
12 May Lions Safari Walk 40th Anniversary Grafham Water Having raised over £200,000 for many local charities and worthy causes over the last 39 years, the Huntingdon Grafham Water Lions Club will be celebrating their 40th anniversary this year. They are inviting local charities, clubs and individuals who would like to raise money for their own worthy cause to join the walk. Walkers retain 90% of the money for their cause and 10% is donated to the Lions Club chosen charity which this year, is their ‘Message in a Bottle’ project. A car show at Marlow car park, Grafham Water, will also be held alongside the Walk giving enthusiasts an opportunity to show off their cherished vehicle. Tel: Bernard Dable 01480 81070 Email: bernarddable@gmail.com Until 12 May Lambing Time 10am-4pm Wimpole Estate Normal admission applies. Head to Home Farm to meet our rare breed ewes and lambs and if you’re lucky you may see a live birth. Learn more about lambing from our farm staff. Tel: 01223 206000 Web: www.nationaltrust.org.uk/wimpole 13 & 20 May Scottish Country Dancing 8-10pm Queen Elizabeth School, Godmanchester Tel: Mrs Pat Crowe 01480 453774 Email: pat@patcrowe.plus.com
17 May St Neots Timebank Members & Friends Group 11am-1.30pm The Priory Centre, St Neots The more people that come the merrier it is. Enjoy a free cuppa with friendly people. Meet the coordinator who’s happy to listen to your needs.
17 May St James Church Quiz Night 7.30pm St. James Church, High Street, Little Paxton Tickets £5. 6 people per team. Bring your own food and drinks. Closing date for tickets 15 May. Please order early as numbers are limited. Tel: Lee Duncan 07931 315648 Email: lm.duncan@ntlworld.com 18 May Adult Learning and Skills St Ivo School, St Ives Saturday Workshops. A wide range of courses including: Car Maintenance, PowerPoint, Chinese Take-Away Favourites, Needle Felting - Landscapes, Baby Signing, Families Animal Macaroons, Family Dog Workshop, Indian Dance, Makeup for Mature Skin, Body Massage, Digital Camera, Sewing a Summer Skirt and Worry Less. Tel: 01480 495717 Web: www.aclearning.org.uk
18 May Fall in Love with Reading 10.30-11.30am St Neots Library Learn how to foster a love of stories with your child 13 & 27 May on this free three-week course. Suitable for parents Nature Tots 10-11.30am with children aged 3-7 years. Booking is essential Ferry Meadows, Peterborough and you must attend all three course dates (1 June £3.50. A fun outdoor parent and toddler group. Each and 15 June) Tel: 0345 045 5225 session has a nature theme and will include a messy Email: StNeots.Referral@cambridgeshire.gov.uk craft activity, time to explore the beautiful outdoors, story and songtime. Age 2+. Tel: 01733 234193 18 May Email: visitor.services@neneparktrust.org.uk Specialist Plant Sale 11am-3pm Buckden Towers Adults £2.50, Children free 14 May Gardens open to visitors. Refreshments available. Tea & Tablets 2-4pm St Neots Library Easy parking. Join us for a cup of tea and we’ll help you with your iPad or Android Tablet. We can show you how to 20 May download books, newspapers, audio books etc. Painting and Drawing in Summer Four-week course 12-3pm 14 May £150 per person.Connect with the ancient heritage St Ives Sugarcraft Guild of England’s flora on this unique four-week drawing 7.30pm Reading Room, Hemingford Grey and painting course with treescape artist Debbie Monthly meetings where you can learn, hands on, Baxter. Rediscover your local landscapes on this various cake decorating techniques and/or sugar creative adventure, with plein-air and studio modelling. Tel: Shirley 01480 454616 for more info instruction from a professional artist. It doesn’t matter what your skill level is – both group and 15 May individual tuition will be provided in drawing, RNLI (Ouse Valley Branch) Coffee Morning acrylics, and watercolour painting. Materials list will 10.30am-12 noon Gt Barford Village Hall be provided on booking. Please email to book. Bring & Buy, plants, cakes, raffle and souvenirs. Email: debbiebaxterart@yahoo.co.uk Come and support us and bring a friend. 24 May 16 May Food with Friends 7-11pm Buckworth Cricket St Ives & District Flower Club Club, Church Road, Buckworth, Huntingdon 2.15pm Burgess Hall, St Ives Visitors £6. This popular event continues throughout 2019 £7. Demonstration by Morag Bennet ‘For Home with members bringing different cuisines from and Away’. around the world. www.buckworthcricketclub.co.uk
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This is a small selection of the What’s On for the full listing please go to our website www.villagermag.com
In May
24 May Uncle Funk & The Boogie Wonderband Charity Show. Doors open 7pm for 7.30pm Papworth Village Hall Uncle Funk & The Boogie Wonderband, the UK’s top live 70s disco act, are coming to Papworth Everard to play a special show to support the charity Disabled Huntingdonshire (DISH). Tickets available from the Norfolk Deli in Papworth or online. Web: www.unclefunk.co.uk Web: https://www.wegottickets.com/event/461604 24 May Prize Bingo 7.30pm Offord Village Hall Raffle. Refreshments provided. 25 May Wool Shearing Course 10am-4pm Wimpole Estate £110 per person. For those people thinking of acquiring sheep this course will give you the confidence to tackle sheep shearing with traditional blades. The course content includes how to sharpen and use the shears, how to handle the sheep ready for shearing, how to use the hand shears effectively and safely while shearing, how to wrap the fleece and grade the wool, how to trim the feet and age the sheep. Booking essential. Tel: 01223 206000 Web: www.nationaltrust.org.uk/wimpole 27-31 May M.A.D. Multi Activity Days 9am-7pm Ferry Meadows, Peterborough £37 per day/£170 for 5 days. Want something to do during the school holidays? Why not come and join in with one of our Multi Activity Days. Book one day or the whole week. 8-16 years. Tel: 01733 234193 Email: visitor.services@neneparktrust.org.uk 28 May Huntingdonshire Diabetes Group 7.30pm Millennium Centre, Burberry Road, Buckden Monthly meetings on the last Tuesday of each month (except June). All welcome: diabetics, family, friends and carers. Email: hunts.diabetesuk@gmail.com Web: huntingdonshire.diabetesukgroup.org 29 May Free Children’s Activity Sessions 2-4pm QEII Playing Field, Little Paxton Free admission. Children’s activities during the school May holiday. Lots of fun activities such as football, short tennis and games. Organised by Huntingdonshire District Council’s Roadshow team. Please bring a water bottle. Aimed at children aged 7-11 years. No need to book 30 May Wildlife Day 11am-4pm Ferry Meadows, Peterborough Free admission. Come and see what Peterborough has to offer from spotting minibeasts to meeting mammals. Local conservation and wildlife groups will be in the Park with a variety of activities for all to enjoy. Tel: 01733 234193 Email: visitor.services@neneparktrust.org.uk
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Interiors
By Katherine Sorrell
The Modern Bedroom Does your bedroom look a little dated, or is it brimming with contemporary style? We outline some quick and easy ways in which to give it a brand new look. A quiet retreat, a calm haven, and a cosy place in which you can relax, read, watch TV, listen to music, make phone calls or even sleep – your bedroom is your own personal space, and the ideal room in which to express your unique personality. If, however, it feels boring rather than beautiful, dull rather than delightful, why not consider a top-to-toe makeover? With some forward planning (and without spending a fortune) you can transform a tired space into a gorgeous room that you’ll love spending time in. A pop of colour Bold colours are on trend this spring, often quite dark and moody – an intriguing antidote to the careful beiges, greiges, stones and neutrals that have predominated over the last few decades.
Where better than a bedroom to go for this dark décor? Be brave and use fuchsia, turquoise, emerald, orange, mustard or deep blue in arresting combinations or, if you don’t feel quite courageous enough, perhaps just cover one wall with a strong shade. Even the simple addition of a bright headboard, rug, throw or group of cushions can make all the difference. On the walls A new paint colour will transform the room. Experiment by using a tester pot to cover a large sheet of card and sticking it to different walls at various times of the day, so you can see how the colour changes according to the light. Another way to make a difference is to use patterned wallpaper, all over (for huge impact) or just on a
1 Bluebell Gray Peggy Midnight duvet cover set, £135, Hurn and Hurn: 01603 559 250; www.hurnandhurn.com 2 Dusk bedding, £105 for a double set, Clarissa Hulse: 020 7226 7055; www.clarissahulse.com 3 Wildflower quilted bedspread, £98, The French Bedroom Company: 01444 415 430; www.frenchbedroomcompany.co.uk
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ALL ASPECTS OF ELECTRICAL WORK UNDERTAKEN DOMESTIC - COMMERCIAL - INDUSTRIAL INSPECTION AND TESTING CALL FOR A FREE QUOTATION ALL WORK INSURED AND CERTIFIED
Contact ROBERT SNEDDON Tel: 07878 491467 or 01480 382962 Email: R2.ELECTRICAL@OUTLOOK.COM
Apart from the obvious aesthetic benefits to a clean roof, there are many more serious reasons why you should remove build up from your roof. Moss, algae and lichens on your roof absorb and retain water. Weight on the roof is increased, this stresses the roof and supporting structure. Damp battens and roof structures under increased load will eventually buckle and warp. Roof tiles constantly wet eventually become porous. Wet tiles splinter and break when subjected to frost. Wet sand and cement mortar will splinter and break. Roof tiles, ridge, hip and bonnet tiles can become dislodged. Damp battens and roof structures start to deteriorate through damp rot, dry rot etc.
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MELTON
PLUMBING
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A RELIABLE, QUALITY SERVICE YOU CAN TRUST - Gas Boiler Servicing and Maintenance - High Efficiency Gas Boiler Replacements - Full System Installations and Updates - Unvented Hot Water Installations - Landlord Gas Safety Certificates - All General Plumbing and Bathrooms - Radiator Flushing Based in St. Neots Covering All Surrounding Areas
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feature wall. Or opt for a wall-sized mural – they are easy to order, sized to your dimensions, via specialist websites, and look absolutely amazing, whether the image is of, for example, a wooded glade, tropical palms, a cityscape, oversized flowers or a starry night sky. Beautiful bed linen To transform a bedroom from boring to boudoir, introduce sumptuous bed linens that are gorgeous to look at and soft to the touch. You may wish to use plain white as the basics, just adding a stunning throw, blanket, eiderdown or quilt – or several – for a jolt of eye-catching colour and pattern. Or go for broke and put colour with colour, plains with patterns, and revel in the excitement and drama of layered vibrancy. Take the floor In a bedroom where wear and tear is not a factor, luxurious, deep-pile carpet laid wall-to-wall is an option to consider. It’s not cheap, however, so if that’s beyond your budget, consider sanding back your floorboards and either varnishing or painting them, then adding a rug or two in a bold, modern style (blocks of vivid colour, chevrons or Berber, perhaps) for heaps of character. Lights fantastic Assess your lighting and ensure it’s both subtle and flattering. You can make it more adaptable by adding table or floor lamps in the corners and fitting a dimmer switch to the central pendant. Even changing the bulbs makes a difference – LED for energy saving, choosing warm white and not
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overly bright. For bedside reading, a pair of swingarm, wall-mounted lights will free up space on a bedside table, or go with the on-trend look and hang a bare filament bulb from a coloured cotton flex that’s suspended either from the ceiling or a wall-mounted bracket. How to update your furniture Wardrobes, chests of drawers, blanket boxes and bookcases are an investment, and not necessarily items that you’ll want to replace too often. But there are ways in which to improve or disguise such furnishings that are old-fashioned, overly bulky or otherwise just not quite right. A lick of paint works wonders, for example, though it’s inadvisable on anything antique. Sand thoroughly, undercoat and cover with a top coat – choosing either a colour which will stand out or, if your aim is to minimise the look of the piece, the same colour as the wall behind. It’s also possible to paste wallpaper (or wrapping paper, maps, sheet music, posters – the list is endless) onto the flat panels of wooden furniture, painting the rest of the piece in a co-ordinating colour to give it a quirky new look. Another surprisingly effective upgrade is simply to change the knobs or handles for something more sleek and modern. It may even be possible to do the same for feet or legs, where appropriate.
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Your Perfect Loft Access and Storage Solution Our services include: Loft Ladders Loft Hatches Insulation Loft Boarding Loft Lighting Balustrades We are a family run business who comply to building regulations, where our fitters are fully insured and all of our work is guaranteed. Covering Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Essex.
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Time of Year
Choose the Perfect Sunglasses It’s that time of year when we traditionally invest in a new pair of sunglasses for the summer. There’s so much choice though! How do you whittle it down to the perfect pair? First choose the right colour frame. Warm browns and tortoiseshell suits warmer colouring. Cool greys, blues and blacks suit cool skin colouring or grey hair. Next pick a pair that flatters your features. There are no hard and fast rules. Look at what your face lacks and use the sunglasses to even out your proportions. Rounder faces often lack definition and benefit from a sunspec with strong lines. Long thin faces might need a softer, rounder style with an upswept edge. Try on as many as you can. Take selfies and compare. Add length to a short nose with a high bridge or shorten an overly long nose with a low (butterfly shape) bridge. A strong jaw can be balanced with a heavier top bar. Sunspecs are all about protecting your eyes from UV so make sure that any pair you buy has a CE kite mark, and that sunglasses are marked UV400. Cheap sunspecs not bearing these marks will probably not provide adequate protection from the sun’s harmful UV rays. Choose larger frames for protection but bear in mind that deeper the frame the shorter your face will look, so if you have a long face shape, go ahead and choose a deep frame. A shorter face needs a frame that’s less deep, while still providing enough coverage for UV protection. Take your eyebrows into account! If your brows stick out of the top of the frame at an odd angle, you’ll look permanently surprised, or angry! Choose your sunnies wisely and you’ll be able to add instant glamour to any outfit. By Sarah Davey
N O T YO U R AV E R A G E H O M E I M P R OV E M E N T C O M PA N Y
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LESTER O’DRISCOLL CARPENTRY Door Hanging, Skirting, Flooring, Fitted Kitchens, Fencing, Decking, General Carpentry, Bespoke Timber Garden Offices, Workshops & Garden Sheds
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April’s Puzzle Solutions and Winners Last Month’s Crossword Winner Isobel Dunkley from Stotfold Winner of the Classic Ibiza Competition Lisa Pullen from Eynesbury
Winner of the Ragdale Hall Spa Competition Mrs Jean Charter from Biggleswade
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The Villager Prize Crossword
Prize
£25
Across 7. UK’s continent (6) 8. Waldorf salad nut (6) 9. Utilised (4) 10. Valuable, highly admired (8) 11. Repairs, mends (7) 13. Midriff (5) 15. Publish, issue (5) 17. Freedom (7) 20. Added extra (8) 21. Poisonous metal (4) 22. Cut into pieces (6) 23. More wealthy (6)
Complete the crossword, fill in your details below, cut out this page and send to the address below before
16th May 2019 Prize Crossword, Villager Publications Ltd 24 Market Square, Potton, Beds SG19 2NP
Down 1. Largest country (6) 2. Timber (4) 3. Tribes, nationalities (7) 4. Clean with broom (5) 5. Last, final (8) 6. Lines of people (6) 12. Persuade (8) 14. Meals (7) 16. Puzzle, enigma (6) 18. Bartered (6) 19. Ditzy, light-headed (5) 21. Ornate fabric (4)
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We’ve been cleaning windows in your area for over 25 years. Window cleaning • Gutter cleaning Conservatory roof cleaning
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WALL COATING
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Book Review By Kate Duggan The Familiars by Stacey Halls
1612 is a dangerous time to be a woman in Northern England, as King James has declared war on witches. Fleetwood is 17 and pregnant for the fourth time. Her other pregnancies ended in miscarriage. Desperate not to miscarry this child or lose her own life in childbirth, she turns to a local midwife, Alice Grey. When Alice gets accused of witchcraft, Fleetwood has to decide how far she’ll go to save her friend. Loosely based on the Pendle witch trials, this is a gripping, atmospheric page-turner.
Louis & Louise By Julie Cohen
A baby is born in 1970s Maine, USA. In one reality she’s a girl – Louise; in the other, a boy – Louis. Both have the same friends, the same interests and the same ambitions. Both flee from their hometown after one fateful night that changes everything. Thirteen years later, Lou’s mother is dying, so he/she returns to face the past. Original, thought-provoking and highly enjoyable, Louis & Louise is perfect for book clubs.
The Honey Bus By Meredith May
With a depressed single mother who could barely get out of bed, Meredith relied on her grandfather for love and solace. She also found another avenue for learning life’s lessons – her grandfather’s bees. Through the hive, Meredith learned about family, loyalty, self-sacrifice and resilience. A thoughtprovoking memoir.
Books The Energy Plan By James Collins
Nutritionist James Collins is a world leader in the field of performance nutrition. He’s guided the eating habits of Olympic athletes and premier sports stars. His first book, The Energy Plan, is not about cutting out food groups, quick fix diets or denial. Instead, it’s about fuelling your body so it performs better and you feel fitter, have more energy and can fight off illnesses. The Energy Plan is well worth a read, whether you’re training for a marathon or just want to avoid the 3pm energy slump.
Voices of Powerful Women by Zoe Sallis
When Maya Angelou calls something a ‘fascinating collection’, you know you’re in for a treat and Voices of Powerful Women certainly doesn’t disappoint. Zoe Sallis interviewed 40 women for her book, including Judi Dench, Tracey Emin, Benazir Bhutto and Mariane Pearl. Each one gives us a glimpse into what made her who she is today. You’ll learn what inspires these women, what angers them, who they admire and what advice they want to pass on to the next generation.
Micro Living Derek ‘Deek’ Diedricksen
This book takes the concept of downsizing to the extreme. Many of the 40 homes featured are smaller than 150 square feet. From a refurbished Airstream to a treehouse, what these homes lack in space, they more than make up for in character. The book includes floorplans, advice and lots of lust-worthy photographs. Whether you’re thinking of building your own tiny home, want some tips to make the most of smaller rooms or just fancy taking a peek into how other people live, Micro Living is for you.
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Classifieds Electrician
Heating and Plumbing Services
KING ELECTRICAL FULLY CERTIFIED ELECTRICIAN
Over 20 years’ experience in all electrical installation work Extensions, rewires, Sockets, lighting, fuse board replacement. Part P registered.
S C Heating Services Oil Boiler Servicing • Oil Boiler Installation Oil Tank Installation Heating System Installation • Bathroom Installation Pipework & Drainage for Kitchen Appliances General Plumbing Works and Maintenance • Free Quotes Based in Cambourne
Call for an estimate
M: 07972 867 298 H: 01954 718 130 E: scheatingservices@gmail.com
Please contact Chris on 01480 810133 or 07717 172100 Email: kingelectrical01@gmail.com
Pet Services
Electrician
Frank Plater Electrical Extra sockets - Lighting - Extensions - Re-wires Security Lighting - Showers - Inspections No job too small. Free estimates Established in 1996 Tel: 01480 432154 Mob: 07976 797111
Handy Man
Plumbing Services AQUADUCT PLUMBING SERVICES
Kevin Giddings
30 years experience time served plumber. Good rates. No VAT. No job too small. Telephone: 07931 726180 3 Great Northern Street, Huntingdon PE29 7HJ Serving Huntingdon and surrounding areas
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Storage
SELF STORAGE UNITS AND SECURE CONTAINERS AVAILABLE 2 MILES FROM GODMANCHESTER COMPETITIVELY PRICED
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