Cambridge November 2019

VILLAGER The

Issue 127 - November 2019

and Town

Life

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

In this issue The History of

Thanksgiving Win ice skating tickets to

The North Pole 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 Ice Skating Tickets to the North Pole

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Evacuated to Sleepy St. Neots in 1939........................................4 The History of Thanksgiving.......................................................6 A Taste of France......................................................................10 Win Ice Skating Tickets to the North Pole.................................12 Roman Site in Morocco.............................................................15 Britain's Oddest Laws...............................................................16 The Fall of the Berlin Wall: 30 Years On.....................................19 Heaven Scent...........................................................................21 Gifted Inspiration for 0 to 8s.....................................................23 Simple Ways to Reduce your Plastic Footprint..........................25 Presents and Parties.................................................................26 Tips to Beat Anxiety.................................................................28 Wordsearch..............................................................................28 International Stress Awareness Week.......................................31 'Grey Pound' Movies: Are they moving us on?..........................32 Surviving the Financial Fallout of Separation...........................34 The Geek Shall Inherit the World..............................................37 Too late to save for retirement?................................................38 Winter Hanging Baskets...........................................................43

Pots of Cabbage!......................................................................44 The Hardest Decision - Putting your dog to sleep.....................47 R.A.T.S. Rehoming Appeal........................................................48 Animal Know-How...................................................................50 Who do you call to help a struggling child?..............................53 Children;s Page........................................................................54 Nick Coffer's Weekend Recipe...................................................57 Bedfordshire Steam and Country Fayre....................................58 Puzzle Page..............................................................................60 Keeping your pets calm on Bonfire Night.................................62 What's On................................................................................64 Air Ambulance's muddy obstacle run is back............................67 Can you bag a bargain on Black Friday?....................................69 Be a Super-Saver......................................................................70 Fun Quiz...................................................................................70 Prize Crossword........................................................................74 Book Review............................................................................76

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Bedfordshire Steam and Country Fayre

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, Trevor Langley, Solange Hando, Kate McLelland,Nadia Houston, Sarah Davey, Kate Duggan, Kath McLean, Tracey Anderson, Robert Grant, Centre for Complementary Health, Leeds Day Solicitors, Ann Haldon, Pippa Greenwood, Rachael Leverton, RSPCA, and Nick Coffer

Advertising Sales/Local Editorial Nigel Frost • Tel: 01767 261122 nigel@villagermag.com Photography - ND3000 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

Evacuated to Sleepy St. Neots in 1939

By Peter Ibbett

A recent national newspaper article referred to ‘sleepy St. Neots’, which was hardly an accurate description for the largest town in Cambridgeshire! But eleven year old Myra Fletcher found it so in September 1939 when she was taken to her grandparents in East Street to stay for two and a half years from her Kent home.

She remembered, in a St. Neots History Magazine article in 2006, that the town came alive on Market Day (Thursdays) when folk from the surrounding area poured into the town. She also remembered that ‘there were many businesses in the town which had been managed by the same family for many years. Grandma bought her groceries from Mr Farrar in Huntingdon Street. Goods were not pre-packed; biscuits were weighed according to the customer’s requirements from tins with lift-up glass-topped lids. Sugar and tea were weighed on request and butter was cut from a big block according to orders. Further along Huntingdon Street was Bert Baker’s bakery, where the bread was baked on the premises in large, solid-fuel

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ovens. Our meat was bought from Mr Bonham’s butcher’s shop on the High Street. Opposite Mr Bonham’s shop was a large pork butcher’s shop owned by John Raynes Smith. They made wonderfully tasty pork pies and sausages. My father always took some home when he visited St Neots. A shop which fascinated me as a child was Plum’s Café. The window was always full of attractive, individual iced cakes, but they were only for sale if you went into the café and ordered a pot of tea and a plate of cakes; so I had to be content with looks and no tastes!’ (The photograph is c1900). Milk was delivered to the house daily by Mr Gale. Grandma put jugs on the window sill and the milkman measured out the required amount from a large milk churn which he had attached to a special bicycle – and yes, his whole round was completed by pedal power. He used a special measure of one gill volume (4 gills = 1 pint).’

If you have any memories of a sleepy St. Neots do let the very active museum (free to locals) know so that they can be added to the archives.

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History

The History of Thanksgiving

By Catherine Rose

On the fourth Thursday of November, Americans abroad and in the UK will celebrate Thanksgiving. Similar to Christmas, there is a traditional meal of turkey, but what were the origins of this national holiday?

Thanksgiving is believed to have born with The Mayflower – the ship that sailed for America carrying the Pilgrim Fathers to a new life after persecution in Europe. The American and Canadian celebration is said to have originated with the Pilgrims’ first harvest and is known in American history as ‘The First Thanksgiving’.

This harvest festival lasted for three days in October 1621 when 53 Pilgrims sat down with 90 Native American Indians and their chief, Massasoit, from the Wampanoag tribe – indigenous people who had lived in the region for centuries.

The shared feast was said to have been prepared by four Pilgrim women – Eleanor Billington, Elizabeth Hopkins, Mary Brewster and Susanna

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White, along with their daughters and servants.

It took place as the result of an agreement made between the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag in March 1621 to work together for mutual protection and food.

The agreement came after the Plymouth settlers had suffered a harsh winter for which they were unprepared when half of them died, while the Native Americans had already lost many of their tribe to disease.

Sadly, this was one of the rare occasions where white Europeans and Native American Indians forged such a collaborative bond.

As well as fish and venison, the feast included turkey. In his account of that time, Pilgrim Father William Bradford wrote: “…as winter approached… there was great store of wild turkeys, of which they took many…”

And Pilgrim Edward Winslow’s account of the First

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Thanksgiving says: “…Our harvest being gotten in, our governor sent four men on fowling, that so we might…rejoice together after we had gathered the fruits of our labor. They four in one day killed as much fowl as...served the company almost a week….many of the Indians coming amongst us…. whom for three days we entertained and feasted…”

Thanksgiving celebrations later became commonplace across New England but these were based on religious fasting rather than feasting.

Following George Washington’s official declaration in 1789 that a day of thanksgiving should be celebrated by every American to mark independence, in 1817 New York became the first of several states to officially adopt an annual Thanksgiving holiday.

In 1863, after more than 30 years of pressure on the government by writer and journalist Sarah Josepha Hale (most famous for the nursery rhyme ‘Mary had a Little Lamb’), President Lincoln declared Thanksgiving to be a federal holiday to take place on the fourth Thursday of November.

It was intended to help boost morale and “heal the wounds of the nation” due to the Civil War as well as give thanks to “our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the heavens”.

Today, Thanksgiving is regarded not as a harvest celebration or one of fasting but the commencement of the winter holidays that include Christmas and the New Year.

Over the long Thanksgiving weekend, families come together to eat traditional Thanksgiving dinner which consists of turkey, cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes, gravy, stuffing, candied yams (sweet potato) and squash, corn on the cob and Brussel sprouts, which it is custom to precede

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with a Thanksgiving prayer. Other traditional fare includes green bean casserole, fruit plates and pumpkin pie. Forty-six million turkeys are eaten in the US over Thanksgiving.

Traditional Thanksgiving parades take place in many cities such as New York, Detroit and Philadelphia, the earliest having begun in 1920.

Some of these parades also feature Santa Claus linking into Christmas festivities, and cities are usually decorated in lights from this time.

American football games feature highly in the celebrations both by amateur groups, known as ‘Turkey Bowl’ games, and professional leagues.

For these reasons, Thanksgiving is sometimes said to be about the three F’s: Food, Family and Football and as a non-religious celebration, Thanksgiving is important as it includes all American (and Canadian) citizens.

Since 1947, the National Turkey Federation has given the US President one live and two dressed turkeys for Thanksgiving. After President John F Kennedy stated that he would not eat the live bird, it has since become customary to grant a ‘turkey pardon’. This official ceremony was made a permanent presidential tradition in 1989 by George W. Bush. The pardoned turkeys are usually sent to petting zoos – although that doesn’t guarantee they won’t be eaten the following year!

Although it leads into Christmas, Thanksgiving is the more important winter celebration in the US and Canada, even though presents are not exchanged. The day after Thanksgiving has become known as Black Friday, when stores sell goods at a massive discount in the run up to Christmas and gift-giving.

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Food and Drink

A Taste of....

France

France is renowned, globally, for many aspects. From history and architecture, through arts, literature, music, fashions and so much more, there is something to interest all. French wines need little introduction and the cuisine of France is now available around the world.

Le Garrick Restaurant is recognised as an ‘institution’. Very popular with theatrical actors and actresses, Le Garrick offers all-day dining, in a venue that has a lot of history. This ‘little piece of France’, in the West End of London, is known for its excellent, regional French food, service and atmosphere.

Having a ground floor, with window tables, plus a downstairs restaurant area, with intimate candlelight alcoves, Le Garrick offers character, exceptional dining and splendid cuisine. Being in close proximity to many theatres, pre and post-theatre dining is very popular.

The menu is undoubtedly French. Les Entrées has selections that include Scallops and an Assiette de Charcuterie, for example. Boeuf Bourguignon (slow-cooked beef marinated in red wine and served with new potatoes, vegetables and lardons) is extremely popular for a main course – compliments to chef! Other mains have ‘devotees’ for their succulent Honey-glazed Duck and Fish dishes. Tender Steaks have ‘followers’, too and are served with a choice of sauces, plus French fries. The team of chefs ensure all cuisine is cooked and/or presented to perfection. The complementing flavours of the dishes are outstanding and impress, constantly. Desserts have something for all tastes and Tarte au Citron or a Chocolate creation will certainly not disappoint.

Champagne, plus high-quality wines/drinks, that are elegant, light, rich and powerful, have something for all palates. Having a good number of theatres within easy distance, this is most certainly a restaurant to consider prior to or after a theatre visit, as well as a venue to return to, when in the area and to make a destination, too. All dietary requirements can be catered for and gift vouchers are available, also. Le Garrick has regular clientele – always a good sign. Booking is advisable, particularly during popular times.

Le Garrick Restaurant 10-12 Garrick Street, Covent Garden, London WC2E 9BH Tel: 44 (0) 20 7240 7649 Email: info@legarrick.co.uk www.legarrick.co.uk

As always, Enjoy!

ey Trevor Langl

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FESTIVE AFTERNOON TEA WITH CAROL SINGERS This Christmas savour the quintessentially English past-time of taking afternoon tea with a festive twist, held in the grand setting of The House, Shuttleworth. Each sitting will enjoy a wonderful festive carol service performed by our beautiful choir.

The Festive Afternoon Tea Dates are as follows: Sunday 1 December 2019 Sunday 8 December 2019 Sunday 15 December 2019

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

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01767 627970

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THE NORTH POLE

CAMBRIDGE IS BACK!

The Villager Magazine is offering two lucky readers the chance to be part of the festive fun with a prize draw competition to win FREE ice skating tickets for a family of four worth £40!

This November, Parker’s Piece Park will be transformed into an enchanting winter wonderland for The North Pole Cambridge.

Families, couples and groups will be able to take to the rink under the sun, moon and stars in the centre of Cambridge this winter, getting outdoors for some festive fun on the ice, before extending the seasonal spirit with a visit to the Alpine pop-up food and drink stalls, plus a funfair for some traditional family entertainment. Open from 16 November 2019 to 5 January 2020, visit thenorthpolecambridge.co.uk for more details and to pre-book your tickets and skate aids now.

Terms: There are two prizes of one family ticket for a 45-minute ice skating session at The North Pole Cambridge. Each prize is worth £40 and includes entry to the rink for one ice skating session for four people.

Prize does not include skate aids or entry or access to other attractions within The North Pole Cambridge which are run independently to the ice rink.

The promoter will not accept responsibility for any technical, or other reason that affects entry being made or the winner being notified or drawn within the specified time period.

Promoter: Arena UK & Europe, Needingworth Industrial Estate, St Ives, Cambridgeshire, PE27 4NB.

THE NORTH POLE COMPETITION ENTRY



For a chance to win a family ticket simply complete the form below and send to: The North Pole Competition, Villager Publications Ltd, 24 Market Square, Potton, Bedfordshire SG19 2NP. Deadline: 16th November 2019.

Winners will be notified via email and advised how to redeem their prize.

Name: Tel: Email: Address:

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For full terms and conditions please go to www.villagermag.com

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Travel

By Solange Hando

Roman Site in Morocco Rising above the fertile plain near Meknes, Volubilis scatters its ruins on a lonely hilltop with superb views all around. There are oleanders morning glory and olive groves, and beyond the gently rolling land you can see Mount Zerhoun and the holy town of Moulay Idriss. But Volubilis stands in a class of its own, listed by UNESCO for “its outstanding importance at the frontier of the Roman Empire”.

First settled by local tribes, the ancient capital of Mauretania flourished from the third century BC, trading with Carthage until the Romans annexed it in AD 40. The Berbers took it back around 285 and in the late eighth century, Volubilis became the capital of Idriss the First, founder of the Moroccan State. Yet by the end of the fourteenth century it was abandoned and later destroyed by the Lisbon earthquake.

The 1920s excavations revealed a 42-hectare site once enclosed by a massive wall dotted with bastions and gates. Much remains to be unearthed but as soon as you reach the entrance, the House of Orpheus takes your breath away with its hammam – hot, warm and cold rooms – and its fabulous mosaics of dolphins and local fauna charmed by Orpheus playing the lute. Then beyond the Thermal Baths and their communal toilets – a most sociable place for the Romans – you are in the heart of town, gazing at the paved square of the Forum once decorated with statues, the Capitol dedicated to three gods and the

impressive remains of the Basilica where justice was delivered and, today, storks build their nests on top of the columns.

Then a Triumphal Arch honours Emperor Caracalla near the House of the Acrobat and that of the Dog, best known for the giant rock phallus that identified the brothel. Other attractions include the North Baths and olive press and more houses famous for mosaics such as the Labours of Hercules, Dionysus and the Four Seasons, Nymphs Bathing and Wild Beasts. But best of all perhaps is the romantic House of Venus with erotic designs sure to entertain its royal resident Juba II, a King of Mauretania loyal to Rome.

These luxurious dwellings were in the northern district crossed by the main ‘highway’, the Decumanus Maximus as straight as an arrow, lined with columns and so well-preserved it sends shivers down your spine. Few visitors venture this far in the blazing sun but it’s the most inspiring place to reflect and feel the past almost within reach. Best time to visit is in the spring when the grass is lush and green and poppies splash colour among daisies and asphodels. All you can hear are storks rattling their beaks or the occasional bleating of sheep in the meadows.

Meanwhile, down in the valley, be sure to enjoy the ‘golden apples’ so loved by the Romans – we call them oranges – and when you sip a glass of wine, remember they planted the first vineyards almost 2,000 years ago.

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Quirky Britain

By Kate McLelland

Britain’s oddest laws Since 1215, when King John put his signature to the Magna Carta, all sorts of laws have crept onto our statute books. We may be keen on creating new laws, but it appears we’re not quite as good at getting rid of old ones that are no longer fit for purpose.

Some of these laws are so obscure that you could be committing an offence without even realising, but if you did happen to break one, it’s very unlikely that you would ever be prosecuted.

Don’t walk the plank Congestion zone charges and 20 mph speed limits are making life more difficult for the capital’s drivers, so if you live in London it would be understandable if you decided to walk, rather than drive, to your local DIY store. But here’s the problem: as you stroll home holding your newly bought plank or ladder, you are actually breaking the law. According to the Metropolitan Police Act 1839 it is an offence to “roll or carry any cask, tub, hoop, or wheel, or any ladder, plank, pole … upon any footway, except for the purpose of loading or unloading any cart or carriage, or of crossing the footway”.

Suspicious salmon Section 32 of the Salmon Act 1986 warns that you can be prosecuted for “handling salmon in suspicious circumstances”, although the Act doesn’t fully explain what those circumstances might be.

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We’ve heard some fishy tales in our time but can’t really imagine Sherlock Holmes on the lookout for dodgy-looking salmon handlers.

Low al-cow-hol beer, please The Licensing Act 1872 not only outlawed drunkenness in pubs, it also made it an offence to put salt in beer (something crafty landlords did to make their customers extra thirsty, thus increasing sales). Another unusual clause in the same act made it illegal to be drunk in charge of a cow or a steam engine on a highway or other public place.

Parliamentary protection?

These days it seems there are always battles raging in parliament, so it’s probably just as well that a law from 1313 forbids people from entering the Houses of Parliament wearing a suit of armour. The PM and Chancellor can also relax: numbers 10 and 11 Downing Street are protected by section 55 of the Metropolitan Police Act 1839, which makes it illegal to fire a cannon within 300 yards of a dwelling house.

The British legal system has been built up over centuries of law creation, amendment and repeal, so a ‘spring clean’ is probably long overdue. For the moment, however, we can go on enjoying the comedy value of these archaic pieces of legislature, safe in the knowledge that the long arm of the law is very unlikely to reach out and grab us.

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“It’s nice to know someone is there to help if I need them.”

Nelson Lodge care home has given me a new sense of freedom and independence. I am now able to enjoy social activities such as dancing and gardening, whilst still being empowered by making my own decisions and sharing my Anchor story with loved ones.

Nelson Lodge care home, St Neots, PE19 8AB Visit anchor.org.uk/NelsonLodge Call 0808 102 4342 Rated March 2018

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Santa’s Grotto and Festivities 7, 8, 14 and 15 December 2019 Watch Santa fly in* to The Collection’s aerodrome, then follow a festive trail around The Swiss Garden to find Santa in his grotto.

With lots of activities running all day there’s something for everyone at Shuttleworth this Christmas.

For more details and prices please visit: www.shuttleworth.org/santas-grotto or call 01767 627933.

Other Festivities Include: Traditional Funfair Rides, Wreath Making Workshops, Face Painting, Mulled Wine and Kids Hot Chocolate, Festive Pony Rides, Steam Engine with Living Wagon, Roasted Chestnuts, Kids Craft’s and Activities!

Old Warden Aerodrome, Biggleswade, SG18 9EP

enquiries@shuttleworth.org

*Flying subject to aircraft serviceability and weather on the day (Saturdays only).

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Special Report

By Nadia Houston

The Fall of the Berlin Wall:

30 Years On 9th November 2019 marks thirty years since Berlin became reunified, with the fall of the Berlin Wall which had kept the city divided for almost the same amount of time.

Today Berlin is a bustling city, home to over three million people offering city breaks to Europeans, an innovative art scene, museums and a vibrant night life. But it hasn’t always been this way.

At the end of WWII, Germany was divided in to East and West zones. Whilst Berlin sat entirely within the Soviet part of the country, it too was divided into Allied and Soviet territories. For the first several years, freedom of movement was permitted, with many citizens living and working in different areas of Berlin. As time progressed, repressive laws and regulations, a deteriorating economic climate and poor living conditions were all motivating factors that encouraged people to leave East Berlin, with almost 3000 leaving in a single day at its peak. In a desperate attempt to stop this flow of migrants and ‘brain drain’ to the West, the Communist government of East Germany began to build a wall between the two areas in August 1961.

During the night of 13th August, soldiers and workers set about tearing up the streets that led to West Berlin in an attempt to stop anyone fleeing the area. Concrete posts and barbed wire were put up to further restrict movement as a temporary measure. In just two weeks, the army, police force

and a swathe of construction workers had erected the temporary barrier.

Once built, the wall was kept under heavy surveillance by guards, who were authorised to shoot anyone who attempted to cross it. Travel was officially permitted through one of three checkpoints – Checkpoints Alpha, Bravo and Charlie. Over time the permanent wall was put in place: 12 feet tall and 4 feet wide, topped with a smooth pipe to ensure scaling it was almost impossible. In all, more than 100 people died trying to cross into West Berlin over the thirty years the wall stood, a stark symbol of the Cold War and Iron Curtain that separated the Soviet Bloc and the democratic West.

By 1989, after years of resistance to westernised reforms by the East German leader Erich Honecker, the East German government was overrun by the democratisation that was sweeping the rest of Eastern Europe.

Demonstrations were already taking place across much of Europe until eventually, on 9th November 1989, it was announced that travel restrictions would be eased in Berlin. Crowds began to gather at checkpoints on both sides of the wall in anticipation of the return of freedom of movement. Passport checks were eventually abandoned, as people climbed on top of the wall, celebrating with their east and west counterparts, graffitiing and chipping at the wall in the process.

In one of the greatest demonstrations of ‘people power’ the world had ever seen, Berlin was informally reunified.

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Heaven Scent What’s the first thing a guest notices when they walk into your home? Your antique coat stand? The ornate mirror? The pristine hardwood flooring? No, it’s actually the smell. Smell is our most powerful sense and will override the other four senses if something foul wafts our way. So, if your house smells like musty wet dog, stinky shoes, or last night’s fish supper, none of the other details will matter. How your home smells leaves an impression on visitors so it’s nice to make that impression a good one, and of course it’s nicer for you too; after all you live there!

There’s a whole industry devoted to home fragrance, so you have lots of choice. But the secret to a nosefriendly atmosphere isn’t synthetic scents. Aside from being overly perfumed, they often contain chemicals that can irritate some sensitive people, particularly asthma and migraine sufferers.

Let the outside in - The simplest most effective way to freshen up your home is to open doors and windows yet very few of us do it on a daily basis.

Stale air is a health hazard and a mood zapper. I’m not suggesting that you leave the windows open all day in November, but just five minutes will give you an instant, and totally free, air refresh.

Grow an indoor herb garden - Fresh herbs such as basil and mint give off a lovely aroma. If you’re feeling ambitious try planting a herb box overflowing with marjoram, lemon balm and rosemary. Sweep your hand across them to agitate the foliage and spread the fragrance around.

Chop up a few lemons and limes - For a quick and easy fresh smell, you can’t beat citrus. Slice a few

Home Fragrance lemons, limes and oranges into thin wheels and bake them at a very low temperature for several hours until they are dry to the touch.

You can pretty much forget about them while they are in the oven except for the fact your house will smell incredible. When they are done you can make potpourri. Thread some on a string with a cinnamon stick and some star anise and hang in your kitchen or pop them in a pretty glass bowl.

Bonus tips Make citrus salt - Grind the citrus wheels to a powder in a spice grinder and mix with flaked sea salt.

Make citrus sugar - As above but mix with sugar.

Make sweets - Dip them in dark chocolate and sprinkle with flaky sea salt.

Buy quality scented candles - Organic beeswax scented candles are very different to synthetic chemically fragranced varieties. Try them and you won’t look back. If you are wondering which scents to try, fresh citrus scents have universal appeal; incense and patchouli are lovely at this time of year. Vanilla has long been named as the most popular choice among air-freshener companies and in candle form it takes on an even warmer, more mellow quality.

Make your own air freshener - For a quick-fix, all-natural air freshener, fill a pan with water, add fresh rosemary or lavender and bring to the boil, then simmer for an hour and let the vapours drift around the house, scenting the air. Later, you can let the mixture cool and decant the liquid into a spray bottle. Store in the fridge and spritz a little as needed.

By Sarah Davey

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Parenting

By Kate Duggan - www.kateduggan.co.uk

Gifted Inspiration for 0 to 8s

Are you planning to welcome a mischievous elf to your home this year? How about this crocheted version from Best Years? It’s handmade, Fairtrade and rather cuter than the plastic mass-produced versions. It’s £18.99 from www.bestyears. co.uk.

Ewan the Dream Sheep (£39.99) is sure to prove popular with newborns and new parents alike.

This award-winning modern classic has been helping babies (and parents) to get some shuteye for 10 years now. It mimics the environment a baby has grown comfortable with in the womb, by glowing softly and playing soothing sounds.

Rather than jangling nursery rhymes (which parents will

grow to hate rather quickly), Ewan’s main sound is a recording of a heartbeat, which is then combined with other gentle sounds, such as white noise or rainfall. The deluxe version even turns on automatically when a baby cries. Anything that babies and toddlers come into contact with is likely to get grubby rather quickly, particularly when they’re as soft and cuddly as Ewan. Luckily, you can take the electronic pod out to give him a good wash.

Looking for a new Christmas duvet for your child?

We love the Christmas Jumper Bedding Set from George at Home. And the cuddly Yeti Stocking from Sainsbury’s (£4) is sure to be loved long past Boxing Day. New, uber-soft PJs are a must for Christmas, but ones bedecked with snowmen and snowflakes can feel out of place by New Year.

We like these organic, Fairtrade pyjamas by OceanBluu. They’re kind to skin, kind to the people who make them, and kind to the planet. The brand is plastic-free and donates a pair of PJs and underwear to a child in need for every purchase. They’re £25 from www.oceanbluu.com.

Ice cream and lollies may not be the most appealing of treats to adults in winter, but kids love them all year around. And GLTC’s wooden Lolly and Scoop Ice

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Cream Shop (£65, www.gltc.co.uk) will last a lot longer than the edible variety. There are ice lollies, cones, wafers, tubs and ice cream balls ready to scoop up and serve. Perfect for imaginative play.

The White Stuff Christmas Veg Box Set is a bargain at £9.95. Why not split the decorations up to use as stocking fillers? See www. whitestuff.com.

Speaking of stocking fillers, the chunky woodland creature range from National Trust is perfect for toddlers. Each one is priced at £2.75, www.nationaltrust.org.uk.

Planning to really push the boat out this Christmas? The Flexa Play Work Bench (£161) is made from birch wood and comes with a vice. Add the Toolset (£21) and ToolBox (£30) to keep your child entertained for hours. See www. nubie.co.uk.

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your secret haven of relaxation‌

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07/02/2017 15:54

ACUPUNCTURE FOR WELL-BEING

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

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

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Simple Ways to Reduce Your Plastic Footprint

Environment

Stop straws - If a straw is a must, instead of a plastic one purchase a reusable stainless-steel straw and carry it with you.

Invest in reusable produce bags - A single plastic bag can take 1,000 years to degrade. Purchase or make your own reusable produce bag but be sure to wash them often.

Give up the gum – Chewing gum is made of a synthetic rubber which is actually plastic!

Buy boxes over bottles - If your laundry detergent comes in a box it will be more easily recycled than a plastic bottle.

Buy from bulk bins - If possible, purchase food, like cereal, pasta, and rice from bulk bins using your own container or bag. Not only will you save on packaging you’ll also save money.

Take your own cup to coffee shops - Some establishments offer a reduction in price for this!

Ditch the disposables - Disposable nappies are a huge source of landfill. Modern cloth nappies are nothing like the monstrosities of yesteryear. Check them out, reduce your baby’s carbon footprint and save money in the process.

Squeeze your own - Make your own fresh squeezed juice or eat fruit instead of buying juice in plastic bottles.

It’s healthier and better for the environment.

Lead with your lunch - Pack your own lunch in reusable containers and bags.

Use a real razor - with replaceable blades instead of a plastic disposable razor.

These are all simple steps but if more of us follow them they have the potential to make a big impact on our joint plastic footprint.

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Beauty

By Kate Duggan

Presents and Parties New beauty releases to see you through the Christmas season The perfect party make-up starts with the right base.

Urban Decay’s new Stay Naked Weightless Liquid Foundation (£29.50) is waterproof, long-lasting and available in a staggering 50 shades. The light texture is similar to a tinted moisturiser and you can build it up for the coverage that’s right for you, whether that’s barely there or airbrushed perfection. Head to an Urban Decay counter for help choosing the right shade. Don’t fancy battling through the Christmas shoppers? Try the online colourchoosing tool. For a flawless finish, follow up with the Stay Naked Correcting Concealer (£20), which is semi-matte, designed to last all day (and night) and available in 25 shades.

See www.urbandecay.co.uk Give someone the gift of painfree hair styling.

The Alfa Italia Liscio detangling brush (from www. alfaitaliapro.com) is suitable for wet or dry hair and makes detangling a breeze. The bristles make short work of tangles but are gentle enough not to snag or break hair. The brush is also an ideal stocking filler, being priced at under £10 and just the right size to fit in the toe of a large stocking.

With their glittery design and baby soft fibres, StylPro brushes are perfect for Christmas. They don’t use animal hair, so they’re suitable for vegans. Treat someone to the set, or split them up to use as stocking fillers. The set of eight is priced at £39.99 from Argos, so each brush works out at around £5. See www.styltom. co.uk

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A brand new make-up palette reminds me of untouched snow – almost too pristine to disturb. If you fancy treating someone to a new palette, without breaking the bank, take a look at W7’s Socialite Eyeshadow Palette – an absolute bargain at £11.95. The palette contains 18 eyeshadows, ranging from daytime nudes to glitter-infused golds and shimmery pinks. Unlike some of the more high-end brands, this palette even includes a brush and mirror. The eye shadows are easy to apply, and blend well. Whether it lasts until Christmas Eve, or somehow finds its way into your own make-up bag, is up to you.

See www.w7 makeup.co.uk.

Know a unicorn-loving beauty addict? The bestselling Yes To range has recently released two new products in its Yes to Grapefruit range. The Vitamin C GlowBoosting Mud Mask contains kaolin clay to exfoliate and detox skin, aloe vera to hydrate and grapefruit extract to give skin a dose of antioxidants. Together, they help to tighten pores, reduce shine and leave skin looking brighter and healthier. Central heating can leave skin feeling dry, tight and parched, so the Vitamin C GlowBoosting Unicorn Brightening Mist should prove a welcome relief.

Planning to vamp it up for your Christmas party? Try PÜR Cosmetics’ Velvet Matte Liquid Lipstick (£16). It goes on like a gloss, but has a matte, non-sticky finish. Agave extract and Vitamin E help to make it less drying than some other lipsticks. Try Addiction for full red-wine vamp, or Ever After for an easier to wear pink, from www.feelunique.com.

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Accepting New NHS Patients Limited Spaces Available

Also Welcoming New Patients Spire Dental Practice, 18 Huntingdon Street, St Neots

Call: 01480 470570

Email: reception@spire-dental.com Visit our website: spiredental.co.uk To advertise in The Villager and Town Life please call 01767 261122

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Well-Being

Tips to Beat Anxiety Breathe – Don’t fight the racing heart or sweaty palms, breathe into it.

Place the palm of your hand on your stomach and breathe slowly and deeply. The aim is to train your mind to get used to coping with panic, which takes the fear of fear away.

Face your fears - Avoiding fears makes them seem scarier. By facing them you should start to make them fade.

Don’t try to be perfect – We’re surrounded by images of perfection on Facebook and Instagram. It can make us feel very anxious if we perceive our own lives as not measuring up. Real life is full of stresses; bad days and setbacks happen, and it’s important to remember that life is messy.

Visualise a happy place – Practice closing your eyes and imagine a place of safety and calm. It might be a beach you love, or a forest, or snuggled up in bed with your puppy. Let the positive feelings soothe you until you feel more relaxed.

Talk - Sharing fears takes away a lot of their scariness. Talk to a partner, a friend or a family member, or if you don’t feel you can talk to someone you know call a helpline such as Samaritans.

If your anxiety is not getting better, please talk to your GP. Call The Samaritans free on their 24 hour help line 116 123

By Tracey Anderson

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Complementary Health

International Stress Awareness

Week

Understanding Stress Everyone feels stressed sometimes. Stress is caused by our body's reaction to feeling threatened or under pressure. We all have different ways of reacting to pressure, and your comfortable level may be higher or lower than others around you. In the right situations, a little bit of pressure can be motivating, and can help us meet the demands of home, work and family life. But if we have too much stress for too long, we can find it hard to deal with.

There are a number of relaxation techniques and complimentary therapies that may be helpful in the physical manifestation of stress including breathing exercises, Mindfulness, The Alexander technique and Acupuncture.

How The Alexander Technique Can Help How you react to a situation is based on how you assess that situation. For example, two people can do exactly the same job, yet while one may find the tight deadlines stressful, the other may thrive on the adrenalin rush and love their work. People under stress often say they feel ‘things are running away from them’, or ‘life is too fast’, or ‘they don’t have time to think.’

Learning the Alexander Technique can help you take control and assess a situation before you react. The practical techniques will get you into the moment, also known as ‘being in the now’.

When we are focused and living in the moment, we appear to have more time to think and have the ability to choose how we respond to each situation we find ourselves in. Events don’t appear to get ahead of us, we think more clearly and can ultimately prevent excess adrenalin flooding our system.

Remember, stress is your reaction to a situation, not the situation itself.

How Acupuncture Can Help Stress is a common complaint cited by acupuncture patients, with a variety of possible associated symptoms. The most prevalent of these is anxiety. However other conditions that stressed people frequently talk about are such as back pain,

chronic pain, depression, headache, insomnia, migraines and neck pain.

In general, acupuncture is believed to stimulate the nervous system and cause the release of neuro-chemical messenger molecules. The resulting biochemical changes influence the body's homeostatic mechanisms, thus promoting physical and emotional well-being. Stimulation of certain acupuncture points has been shown to affect areas of the brain that are known to reduce sensitivity to pain and stress.

Acupuncture for back and neck pain is thought to provide pain relief stimulating nerves located in muscles and other tissues, releasing endorphins and other substances in the nervous / hormonal system. It is believed to reduce inflammation by releasing vascular and immuno-modulatory factors, and also improving muscle stiffness and joint mobility - by increasing local microcirculation.

For more information about stress and how complimentary therapies can help, please get in touch and we will be happy to help.

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

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Life Begins...

By Kate McLelland

‘Grey pound’ movies: are they moving us on?

In recent years the ‘grey pound’ – that’s the term coined to describe the purchasing power of senior citizens – has created new marketing opportunities for everything from holidays to household gadgets. It is even starting to affect the films we watch on TV and in the cinema, as movie studios begin to understand the earning potential of shows pitched at an older audience.

Over the past decade films such as Quartet and The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel have been partly responsible for breaking the mould. The tide began to turn in 2003, when a groundbreaking film based on a true story was released in the UK. Calendar Girls told the story of a group of Yorkshire women who, under the auspices of the Women’s Institutes, produced a nude calendar for Cancer Research following the death of a WI member’s husband.

Focusing on middle-aged women not just as wives, mothers or aunts, but as people in their own right, Calendar Girls was a rare film for its time. It was also the surprising hit of 2003, winning Best Comedy Film at the British Comedy Awards

and eventually grossing almost £80 million pounds in box office revenue worldwide, but UK cinema audiences had to wait a further eight years before they were able to watch another British film that put older people at the heart of the story.

That film was The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, which opened to great acclaim in 2011. It told the story of seven British pensioners who decide to move to a retirement hotel in India. Soon after, in 2012, the films Quartet and A Song for Marion – coincidentally both about singing pensioners – hit our screens and a sequel to the Best Exotic Marigold Hotel was released in 2015.

So do these movies provide a more positive view of aging? Those in favour believe that placing a stronger focus on older people’s lives has helped to eliminate the lazy stereotypes previously used by film-makers: the sweet, undemanding grandmother or eccentric, obsessive older woman; the grouchy old man in the street or the pathetic, aging father suffering from memory loss.

Less sympathetic reviewers

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have accused ‘grey pound’ filmmakers of opting for “light laughs over deeper insights” while condemning them for their “condescending” and “simplistic” approach to story lines and characters. The suspicion is that film studios are simply aiming at a lucrative audience sector rather than attempting a longoverdue transformation of the way older lives are represented on screen. Actor and director Emma Thompson is one of a number of critics who dislike films aimed at a particular segment of the cinema audience. “The film industry has tried to separate us into groups, and it’s a mistake culturally, artistically and economically,” she told the BBC in 2014.

Opinions over the quality and content of ‘grey pound’ films might be divided, but at least these movies have made senior citizens more visible on our screens.

No longer limited to playing benign grannies or grouchy old men, older actors now have the opportunity to portray characters who, despite – or maybe because of – their age, lead vibrant lives every bit as interesting as those of their younger counterparts.

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

Counselling Service Depressed? Anxious?

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33

Leeds Day Solicitors

Surviving the financial fallout

from Separation

The fallout from a separation can often be dramatic and have immediate and serious financial consequences. For instance, the breakdown of a marriage may well compel you to move out of the family home into separate accommodation.

It often takes 6 - 12 months to resolve the long term financial issues associated with divorce proceedings, but separating couples should take expert advice in the immediate aftermath of separation, particularly the economically weaker spouse, who is often the parent with the care of any children.

Many people who find themselves in this situation are not aware that, as the economically weaker, dependent spouse they may be entitled to immediate ongoing financial support from their spouse following separation. This is often well before the divorce proceedings have concluded and long term financial issues have been resolved. Courts have the power to award maintenance pending the final divorce known as “maintenance pending suit�.

These are ongoing payments to meet immediate monthly needs such as the mortgage repayments, council tax utilities or car running costs and also some discretionary expenditure such as clothes, food and social events.

The non-earning spouse is entitled to a reasonable or fair level of support; what that actually amounts to will depend upon the income and resources of the economically stronger party and the parties’ reasonable needs. The law looks at the standard of living enjoyed during the marriage as a benchmark.

Inevitably however, when one spouse has moved into alternative accommodation, both parties must cut back as there is often just one income available to run two households, rather than just one household like before.

If the parties cannot reach an agreement or the economically stronger party refuses to negotiate

Our offices: Huntingdon Godwin House, George Street, Huntingdon, PE29 3BD T: 01480 454301 34

given their position of power, then the vulnerable party can ask the courts to intervene. Judges can make an award to solve short term cash flow issues.

This can provide a benchmark for the long term future resolution of the case.

If you want to make such an application, you will need to think very carefully about what you will be asking for and work closely with your solicitor to prepare a suitably detailed budget of reasonable short term needs.

The court will examine the budget critically and exclude long term needs. Your solicitor should use the benefit of their experience and knowledge of the local Judges to pitch the case at the right level.

Family courts have the discretion to make awards within quite a wide range, so legal advice is essential.

It is important to understand the consequences of not reaching an agreement if an application for maintenance pending suit is made. The successful party can often expect to recover some or all of their costs after a court-imposed award. This is different from the normal rules in court proceedings dealing with resolving the long term financial arrangements which is that unless there has been serious misconduct, the starting point is both parties pay their own legal costs. It is therefore important to adopt a reasonable approach and reach agreement if possible.

At Leeds Day, our team of highly experienced family lawyers are able to provide advice on the above issues and on divorce and separation generally.

To find out more, contact us on 0844 567 2222 or family@leedsday.co.uk or visit our website: www.leedsday.co.uk/family

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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Technology

The Geek Shall Inherit the Earth!

Get started in coding for a brighter future Technology runs the world. Almost everything we touch these days has a computer inside. From the obvious things like our laptops and smartphones all the way down to our televisions, cars, fridges, and even toasters. Many of these are now also connected to the Internet and large software systems collect and analyse our information 24 hours a day.

As our demand for technology increases every year society is in desperate need of more people who can build and program these devices and software.

Our school system has finally caught on to this idea and started to bring computer science into the classroom but there is a nationwide shortage of specialist teachers.

But outside of schools there is a fantastic eco-system of passionate companies and individuals who want to develop the next generation of software and electronics developers. You just need to know where to look and where to start.

The biggest hurdle in exciting your child about technology is to capture their imagination. Almost every kid plays computer games, so these are one of the best places to start. Learning how to code computer programs can be tedious, especially using the traditional textbook teaching methods. But put the coding exercises into a gaming environment and suddenly the subject comes to life. Programming your own spaceship to move around the screen and fire bullets opens up a whole world of gaming possibilities.

But where do you start?

Technology again comes to our rescue, this time in the form of YouTube, probably the best home learning tool there is. You’ll find a whole range of tutorials and exercises all based around learning to code by writing your own games programs. But the sheer amount and variety of these videos can be overwhelming. Which one will work for your child? Is the tutorial at the right level? What happens if your child gets stuck?

To cut through the confusion I’ve been developing games programming courses for 10’s and over to take them from absolutely zero experience through to A-level programming standards and beyond. I’ve been through the process with my own 10-yearold. I’ve seen his frustration when things are hard to set up, don’t work first time or simply left him stranded with no idea what to do. My course uses software that installs in under a minute and lets you get your first game up and running in less than half an hour, all using “proper typed in code” as my son calls it. From there they can take one of the full programming courses and learn all the software techniques needed to write your own programs.

Everything, including all the software is absolutely free.

So why not have a look at bytesnbits.co.uk and get your child on the road to becoming the next Bill Gates or Steve Jobs.

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By Robert Grant

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Finance

By Ann Haldon

Too late to save for retirement?

We’re often told by financial experts that it’s never too late to start saving for retirement, and that even in our 50s building a substantial retirement pot is possible. Clearly this depends on individual circumstances and it’s always going to be better to start saving early, but it’s heartening to know you may still be able to fund a decent retirement lifestyle.

Workplace pensions If you’re in employment, a workplace pension can often be the best way to save for your retirement.

Your contributions are matched by your employer; they’re typically deducted from your gross pay automatically and attract tax relief.

Pension auto-enrolment, a government initiative intended to help people save for their retirement, means that if you’re aged over 22 and earn more than £10,000 per year you should automatically be enrolled in a workplace pension scheme.

If you’re close to retiring and also in debt, however, it might be better to prioritise paying off your debts rather than contributing to a pension, but you need to speak to an authorised financial adviser who can assess your individual situation.

Personal pensions If you’re self-employed or not working you can benefit from tax relief on pension contributions by paying into a personal pension. Unlike a workplace pension scheme, a personal pension is an individual contract between yourself and the pension provider, which is often an insurance company.

The pension provider invests your contributions, but in the same way as a workplace pension you’re not able to access your money until you’re 55 years of age under current legislation.

What about the state pension?

Under current legislation the full new state pension is £168.60 per week.¹ If you’re eligible, the amount you’ll receive depends on the number of ‘qualifying years’ of National Insurance contributions you’ve built up.

Currently, you need 35 qualifying years to receive the full payment of £168.60 per week, but state pension regulations may change again over the coming years – when new governments are elected, for example.

Stocks and shares ISAs Investment ISAs are another way to build up retirement savings, and the current maximum limit for saving into a stocks and shares ISA is £20,000 (2019/20 tax year). You need to make sure your money is growing above the inflation rate, however, otherwise you’re effectively losing money.

Stocks and shares ISAs offer more flexibility than pensions as you can access your money more readily, whereas workplace and private pensions aren’t usually accessible until you reach the age of 55. Investment ISA providers typically allow you to pay in a lump sum, ‘drip-feed’ in a monthly amount, or both.

Some people choose to save into an investment ISA as well as a pension scheme, so they spread the investment risk and don’t tie up all of their money up in one place. As with most important financial matters, it’s important to seek guidance from an authorised adviser who can analyse your financial situation and present the best options.

1

www.gov.uk/new-state-pension/what-youll-get

www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk/en/articles/ automatic-enrolment-into-a-workplace-pension www.gov.uk/personal-pensions-your-rights

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SB TURF

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Gardening

By Pippa Greenwood

Winter Hanging Baskets Hanging baskets are a great way to create a miniature gardening space with your choice of colours. Once established they make even the gloomiest back yard look more cheerful, or the prettiest patio look even more gorgeous. Making a hanging basket is not difficult and although traditionally a summer planting feature, they work just as well for the winter months.

Plenty of plants make for a colourful basket and your local garden centre or nursery should have a good selection, including winter-flowering pansies (I am fond of the purple and yellow varieties) and heathers, Gaultheria with its waxy red berries, dianthus for late autumn into early winter and assorted miniature shrubs, including variegated Pieris, Choisya ternata ‘Sundance’ and variegated euonymus, to help give structure and colour. The shrubs will look great in a container for a year or two, before being planted in the garden.

A thicker, almost felt-like liner provides insulation in cold weather as well as keeping the compost and plants in place. I suggest a 35cm (14”) diameter basket as it can take more plants and, because it is larger, resists cold better. You’ll also need compost.

Stand the basket in a large flowerpot before you start to prevent it rolling about. Once the liner is in place, remove the chain at one anchor point to stop it getting in the way. The liner will protrude above the basket edge at this stage but this helps to keep the compost in place. Use good quality multi-purpose compost, firming it gently, and fill

the basket about half full.

Mesh baskets allow for easy side planting. Cut holes in the liner then insert small plants such as pansies at regular intervals around the sides of the basket, inserting them from the outside inwards to reduce damage. Nestle the roots into the compost and make sure that the liner is back in position after the last plant is in place.

Add more compost to cover the roots of the side plantings and firm again gently. Next get the central plant in place and add three more upright plants such as miniature shrubs, equally spaced around the edges.

For extra colour, add more winter bedding plants around the very outermost edge of the basket. Pinch out any faded flowers and add more compost, carefully filling in any gaps before watering thoroughly.

Your hanging basket will soon fill out but stand it in a sheltered spot for a week or two to allow the roots to establish before hanging it in position, watering if necessary. Regular deadheading and removal of faded flowers plus a feed with a high potash fertiliser after about a month will keep it looking great, well into the spring.

At Pippa’s website (www.pippagreenwood.com) you’ll find l natural pest controls, stylish cloches, practical and pretty plant supports, the fantastic SpeedHoe, gardening tools, planters, raised bed kits, Grower Frames, and the Grow Your Own with Pippa vegetable growing system! Or book Pippa for a talk at your gardening club

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Garden View

Pots of Cabbage!

By Rachael Leverton November can be a bit of a grey, miserable month.

My kids would call it ‘meh’. I like to inject some colour with winter bedding plants. A cheerful pot by the front door can make you smile on the gloomiest morning.

Obviously, the choice of plants for winter is not as large as during the summer months but there are enough varieties around to make very attractive combinations for pots. My favourite plant for winter pots has to be the ornamental cabbage.

These robust beauties come in wonderful colours including cream, pink and purple – with either attractive frilly or very spiky leaves. They pair beautifully with winter-flowering pansies and hardy cyclamen.

Try planting three pots of different sizes using a colour scheme which co-ordinates with the cabbages. Plant a 50cm / 20inch pot with four large ornamental frilly cabbages surrounding a central spiky one, to give some height to the display. Then choose a smaller pot (38cm / 15inches) and plant one frilly ornamental cabbage surrounded by pink and purple winterflowering pansies. Finally plant a small pot (25cm / 10inches) with a mixture of hardy cyclamen and white pansies. The resulting display will give you pleasure through November, December and January.

Tips Select a frostproof container because these pots need to withstand wintery conditions. The most

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By Rachael Leverton

dependable pots are made of fibreglass, lead, iron, heavy plastic, or stone. Most terracotta will crack in cold temperatures, but some glazed varieties are frost-proof.

Use a good general-purpose compost. There are mixes specifically made for use in containers, which provide the essential drainage that plants living in pots need.

Make sure you place plenty of drainage material in the bottom of the pots.

A good compost will contain enough slow release fertiliser to maintain the plants for several weeks during autumn and winter. If they still going strong as winter turns to you can give them a bit of a feed, but by February or March you will want to think about replanting your pots with spring bedding.

Think about gravel – I like to use a layer of gravel over the soil of my winter pots for several reasons.

It gives the planted pots an attractive finish, keeps rain from splashing back on to the plants, provides some insulation for the soil and reflects light and warmth in any winter sun thus creating a little microclimate in which the plants will be happier.

Water them! The plants will need moisture around their roots so water as needed unless the soil in the container is frozen. Do not water frozen pots because the plants are unable to absorb the water.

Happy Gardening

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Pets

By Tracey Anderson

The Hardest Decision Putting Your Dog to Sleep No dog owner wants to think about putting their dog to sleep, but it’s a decision that you may find yourself faced with at end of your dog’s life.

Although its heart-breaking, sometimes the kindest option for your pet is to let them go. It’s never easy to agree to put your dog down but doing your research before the day arrives may help you to come to terms with the decision.

If your dog’s quality of life is suffering with no sign of getting better you are faced with a difficult choice; on the one hand you want to spend as long as possible with them but, on the other hand, you want to make the best decision for them.

Usually you will have at least a few days to think things through. A good vet will be happy to discuss the process with you. They will also have a good insight into how your dog’s health issues will affect their quality of life. They will help you consider things like mobility, appetite, breathing, comfort, happiness and response to treatment, but ultimately the final decision to put your dog to sleep will be yours.

Your dog is probably an important and muchloved member of your family so the decision will

be hard for everyone, especially children. If you can, discuss the situation with them honestly.

They will be upset but try to focus the discussion on what is best for your dog. Reassure them that the reason the procedure is called ‘putting a dog to sleep’ is because it is a very peaceful procedure and will help their beloved pet pass away with as little pain and distress as possible. The vet administers a measured overdose of a drug, similar to an anaesthetic, which will put your dog into a deep and permanent ‘sleep.’ If you want to, you can stroke or cuddle your dog as they drift off.

Afterwards you have a number of choices. You can take your dog home and bury them in your garden.

Bear in mind that some councils place restrictions on home burials, and you will not be permitted to do this on public ground or if you are in rented accommodation. You may arrange for your dog to be buried or cremated at a pet cemetery or you can ask the vet to arrange a cremation.

In the days and weeks after loss of your dog, try to focus on the good times you had together, and take comfort in the fact that the final decision you made for your pet was the best one for them.

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Pets

Rehoming Appeal Lola Lola is a pure white short-haired cat and she is two years old. She can be a little shy when she first meets new people, but she soon makes friends. She has a very gentle nature and will make a lovely companion.

She is neutered, microchipped and her vaccinations are up to date.

She has had a very unsettled time so far during her life and we would like to find her a quiet home with no small children or other pets and with someone who is at home most of the day so that she can gain her confidence back.

If you would like to find out more about this pretty cat, please contact Liz on 01767 681157.

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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Pets

Animal

Know-How

Winter Watch

Winter Nights Now that the nights are drawing in and the weather has become much colder, we need to consider the welfare of our pets and wildlife. So with a little thought and careful planning our little or large, furry or feathery friends can stay healthy, warm and safe.

If you are taking your pet outside for exercise or if they live outdoors in a field, consider whether they need and extra layer or two – just like humans do.

Your dog, for example, may need a special jumper or coat for those wintery walks. There is now a large choice of clothing for pets in the shops. Or why not try making your own. An additional consideration if you are walking your dog in areas that may have been gritted by rock salt, please ensure you wash their paws when you have returned home.

Anti-freeze and rock salt can be poisonous to dogs.

Reflective wear like leads, collars and coats are highly recommended for animals that will be out in the dark eg: dogs and horses. Bedding for all animals needs to be checked regularly so that it remains dry, warm and free from draughts. Much of our wildlife is reliant upon the food and water we provide during

the winter. Ensure water baths have not frozen over and snow has been cleared from any feeders. Keep them topped up, and even put out extra fat balls and treats.

Christmas Guide Make sure everyone has a merry Christmas with this quick guide: • Alcohol: often left lying around or spilled, even more dangerous to pets than people.

• Leftover food: any fatty, spicy or ‘unusual’ foods can cause gastroenteritis.

• Stuffing/gravy: the ones containing onions are particularly poisonous to animals.

• Christmas pudding: sultanas, currents and raisins are toxic.

• Cakes: artificial sweeteners (especially Xylitol) are poisonous.

• Cooked bones: can get stuck in teeth or intestines.

• Chocolate: safe for humans, poison for animals.

• Nuts: all nuts can be dangerous, macadamias particularly so.

• Cheese: all can cause gastroenteritis; blue cheese is toxic.

Even these things require consideration when you have puppies or inquisitive pets: • Christmas Trees: sharp pine needles can damage mouths and perforate intestines.

• Christmas Ornaments: if eaten tinsel can cause a blockage.

• Toys: to a dog a toy soldier or a Lego piece is a tempting morsel.

• Wrapping Paper/String: dogs play with and eat paper. Cats do the same with string.

• Silica Gel Packs: often packed with presents, if eaten can cause intestinal blockage.

• Batteries: just as dangerous to you pets as to babies.

• Wreaths/Christmas plants: Lilies, mistletoe and poinsettia are all highly toxic if eaten.

• Pot pourri: the aromatic oils that make this smell nice are toxic for days if eaten.

Brought to you by the RSPCA Bedfordshire North Branch www.rspca-bedfordshirenorth.org.uk 50

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ALL SEASONS GArdEN & PrOPErty MAiNtENANcE

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21 OCTOBER TO 20 NOVEMBER

Godmanchester Maths and English Study Centre

01480 414417 Terms and conditions apply. Fees vary. Participating study centres only.

Please refer to your local study centre. Subject to availability.

kumon.co.uk

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Parenting

Help! I Need Somebody…

Who do you call to help a struggling child?

If your child is struggling in school the chances are that you are struggling to figure out how to find the most effective help for them.

There are many reasons why a child might fall behind. Some children find that despite a lot of effort, they are frustrated by learning disorders.

Some fall behind because they have a hard time focusing on learning or making an organized effort to get homework done.

Some children will get the support they need to succeed from specialists in their school, in the classroom or in sessions outside of class. But every year many parents feel that their child is not receiving adequate assistance and end up sourcing their own help.

This is where things can get confusing. What sort of help might be best for your child? Think carefully about your child’s needs.

Subject support – Sometimes a child falls behind in a particular subject for an obvious reason: they were off sick for a while, or they’ve had a succession of supply teachers, or disrupted lessons. If your youngster is failing in one particular subject, a specialist tutor might be the way to go. It’s easy to understand what a tutor is and does: They are knowledgeable in a particular subject area and can bolster a child’s success by filling in background information your child might have missed and offering deeper explanation and practice to help the student acquire the necessary skills. These people are specialists so expect to pay between £20-40 per session depending on subject and area.

Homework support - If your child’s challenge isn’t a particular subject, but trouble settling down to tackle the work itself, a homework helper might be what you need. A homework helper provides structure and support. Many parents find themselves filling that role for their kids, being present and providing back-up when kids get confused or unfocused. But for some children who are really struggling with focus and organisation (many kids with ADHD and autism fall into this category) homework becomes a major area of conflict, so having a professional homework helper on the case can be a big relief for both parents and kids. Helping a child succeed at homework without involving parents can remove a lot of stress from the whole family’s evening. The person does not have to be a specialist teacher, they do have to be good at helping a child to organise their thoughts and their time.

Learning support - For a child with serious learning issues, an educational therapist can work with them to strengthen the skills they need to be able to keep up. Educational therapists come to the task with a range of professional skills, from special education to speech and language therapy to psychology.

What they have in common is that they will work with an individual child’s learning style, and then help him develop skills and strategies that will enable him to build on strengths and compensate for weaknesses. Children with dyslexia particularly benefit from this approach.

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By Tracey Anderson

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Food & Drink

Crab cakes, pickled kohlrabi

and mooli, chilli and tarragon mayonnaise

This is such a lovely recipe. Full of colour, flavour, texture, crunch and a sweet and sour hit. It’s the creation of local chef Tom Brittain, who spent years honing his trade before rather romantically going back to his home village and working at the Lytton Restaurant at Chalfont Dene in Chalfont St Peter.

The thing I like about recipes like this is the fact that all the elements are interchangeable and can be incorporated into other dishes. Plus, the vegetables and vibrant mayonnaise would go just as well with breaded chicken or a large breaded mushroom.

For the crab cakes 400g handpicked white crab meat (or tinned crab) 400g mashed potato 100g coriander 100g fresh chilli 100g spring onion 250g panko breadcrumbs 1 egg For the pickled mooli and kohlrabi 1 mooli 2 heads kohlrabi 1 habanero chilli 1 litre white wine vinegar 1 litre water For the chilli and tarragon mayonnaise 150g fresh chilli 1 bunch tarragon Half a litre good quality mayonnaise Salt and pepper 1 tsp lemon juice

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Extra leaves for serving 1. For the crab cakes, combine all ingredients into a bowl. Use your hands to shape into balls and season to taste.

2. Peel and dice the kohlrabi into fine strips.

Using a potato peeler shave strips off the

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mooli. Bring the water and vinegar to a boil and leave to cool.

Once the water and vinegar has cooled, combine with the kohlrabi and mooli in a kilner jar and leave in the fridge. The longer you leave it the better it will be in truth.

Make the mayonnaise. Finely dice the chilli and tarragon together, fold into the mayonnaise, add lemon juice and salt and pepper to finish. The mayonnaise will keep and can be used in other dishes, as can any excess pickled vegetables too.

Cook the crab cakes in a deep fat fryer at 180C for 3 minutes. You can pan fry them if you prefer.

Make a bed of the pickles, place the crab cakes on top and add some leaves for colour and flavour too. Drizzle with a little of the pickling juice and serve.

Hear wonderful recipes on Nick Coffer’s Weekend Kitchen every Sunday morning on BBC Three Counties radio at 11am. You can also join Nick every weekday afternoon at midday for brilliant local guests with great stories to tell and all the music you want for your early afternoon.

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Local News

Bedfordshire Steam & Country Fayre The Bedford Steam Engine Preservation Society are pleased to announce that the Bedfordshire Steam & Country Fayre will return on the 18th, 19th & 20th September 2020 at our new venue Turvey House by kind permission of the Hanbury family. Turvey House is a Grade 1 listed Country House, set in established parkland on the River Great Ouse, just 9 miles from Bedford on the A428 Bedford to Northampton road. With good transport links to Bedford, Northampton and Milton Keynes with access by public transport, we are looking forward to holding our 61st annual event at this new location. The Bedford Steam Engine Preservation Society have a long history with Turvey village, being home to our Founder John Crawley for many years.

The Bedfordshire Steam & Country Fayre is one of the premier events of its kind in the Country and one of the largest events held within Bedfordshire each year, with plenty to see and do for all ages. Attracting over 20,000 visitors each year and hosting over 800 exhibits, we aim to pull together an insight into life at the turn of the 20th Century.

Details for exhibiting and trading at the event will be released shortly via our website www.bseps.org.uk and further details will be posted via our social media channels as they become available.

We look forward to welcoming friends old and new and hope you will support us in 2020 and beyond.

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ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ

Easy Suduko

Hard Suduko

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

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At Homesafe Electrical Services we love anything electrical.

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Pets

Keeping Your Pets Calm on Bonfire Night The noise and flashes of light on Bonfire Night are startling for any animal, and it’s understandable if your pet feels anxious and stressed. So is there anything you can do to help them stay calm, both beforehand and on Bonfire Night itself?

On Bonfire Night • Close windows and curtains before it gets dark.

• Switch on the television or radio to mask the sounds.

• Speak to your vet about pheromone diffusers or calming medication.

• Provide a ‘safe’ place in the house – maybe a den under a table, for instance, with their favourite comfort blanket, some toys, or an item of your clothing to cuddle.

• Bring outdoor hutches into the house, shed, or garage, and add some extra straw or hay for soundproofing and an extra feeling of security.

Before Bonfire Night Noises CDs Noises CDs are sometimes used as therapy for pets that become upset or anxious by loud noises. If

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you play them fairly softly during the weeks before Bonfire Night, they may become more used to the sounds of fireworks and be able to stay calmer.

Collars and name tags Hopefully your pet won’t need to go outside during the evening but if they do, you need to make sure they’re wearing their collar and name tag. If you have a dog you’ll be able to take them out on a lead, but cats may become startled once they’re outside and run away to hide. pets.webmd.com/features/pet-pheromoneproducts-for-behavior-problems#1 www.bluecross.org.uk/pet-advice/fireworksand-pets www.pdsa.org.uk/taking-care-of-your-pet/ looking-after-your-pet/all-pets/pets-andfireworks

By Ann Haldon

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G.B.BUILDERS NO JOB TOO SMALL FOR ALL MAINTENANCE, RENOVATIONS AND DIY WORK All general building repairs and odd jobs Specialist in Painting and Decorating & Groundwork and Grass cutting • Brickwork & Plastering Tiling Driveways • Paths & Patios Slabbing • Concreting Blockpaving • Fencing, Carpentry • Roofing Guttering • Drainage Plumbing

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n O s ’ t Wha In November

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

What’s on entries to whatson@villagermag.com

1 November St Neots Local History Society 7.30pm Eynesbury Junior School ‘Stained Glass in Huntingdonshire’ by Rev Stephen Day. Web: http://stneotslhs.org.uk 2 November Art & Craft Fair 9.30am-4pm Free Church Hall, St Ives Quality handmade art and craft stalls. Tombola.

2 November St Neots Timebank Coffee Morning 11am-1pm St Mary’s Church Rooms, St Neots Come and join us for a cuppa and cake.

Tel: 07590 909057 www.stneotstimebank.org.uk 2 November Simply Saturday 12.30-2.30pm St James Church, Little Paxton WI Jewels Choir. For adults of all ages with lunch and various activities available from 1.30pm.

Tel: Helen Young 01480 216255 Email: young_paxton@ntlworld.com

6 November Brampton Flower Club 7.30pm Community Centre, High Street, Brampton AGM followed by speaker Karen Armstrong with ‘The work of a flower judge’. Floral arrangement competition for members.

Tel: Jan Dobie 01480 531822 Web: www.bramptonflowerclub.com 6 November Black Cat WI 7.30pm Wyboston Village Hall The group meets on the first Wednesday of each month. Tel: Susie Woodman 01234 376098

6 November Huntingdon and District Branch of the Royal Air Force Association 7.30pm for 8pm First Wednesday of the month. Telephone or email for further info. Tel: Tony Perryman 01480 465395 Email: rafa.huntingdon1@btinternet.com

10 & 24 November Comberton Ramblers 10.15am 10 Nov - Little Walden, 5 miles. Meet at Crown PH, Little Walden, CB10 1XA. 24 Nov - Henham, 4.5 miles. Meet at The Cock Inn, Henham, CM22 6AN. Walks are 5-7 miles, usually ending near a public house. Annual membership £8.50 per person.

Tel: Stella (Secretary) 01954 210049 Email: stella.ramblers@hotmail.com Web: www.combertonramblers.org.uk 11 November Godmanchester Trefoil Guild 7.30-9pm Godmanchester Football Ground Trefoil Guild is a branch of Girlguiding for Adults aged 18+. They meet on the second Monday of the month. Email: jeanmking@outlook.com for more info

12 November Squeeze with special guests Heaven 17 6 November Corn Exchange, Cambridge Little Paxton Gardening Club ‘The Difford And Tilbrook Songbook Tour’ is raising 8pm Little Paxton Village Hall food, funds and awareness for the Trussell Trust Members £1, Non-members £2. Talk by Clare Kneen network of food banks. The 27-date tour will see the 2 November ‘All about Irises’. Clare has grown irises for over 20 South London legends play their extensive list of hits.

Cambridgeshire and Bedfordshire years. She is a British Iris Society Judge and featured Web: www.cambridgelive.org.uk Hardy Plant Society on the TV series ‘The Great British Garden Revival’.

2pm Weatherley Centre, Plants for sale.Tel: Jane 01480 218805 12 November Eagle Farm Road, Biggleswade Email: lpgardeningclub@hotmail.com Kimbolton Flower Club AGM followed by Russell Bowes ‘Say it with poison 7 for 7.30pm Mandeville Hall, Kimbolton stories of murders from the herbaceous borders’.

8 November Visitors £12.50. Christmas demonstration with David Web: www.hpscambsandbeds.co.uk Ghost Stories Wright ‘The Twelve Days Of Christmas’. Charity parcels 7.30pm Leper Chapel, Barnwell Junction on on sale, raffle of the arrangements and seasonal 2 November Newmarket Road, Cambridge refreshments. Visitors welcome.

Choral Concert by Candlelight Tickets £12. Two chilling and thrilling tales from 7.30pm St Mary’s Church, Godmanchester M R James, the master of the English ghost story, 12 November Tickets £15, Students £5. Huntingdonshire performed by Robert Lloyd Parry. NB. there is no St Ives Sugarcraft Guild Philharmonic Choir and players. Requiem Gabriel parking or facilities at the chapel. Please park in 7.30pm Reading Room, Hemingford Grey Fauré. De profundis Marcel Dupré. Jessica Smith, nearby streets or come by bus or on foot.

Monthly meetings where you can learn, hands on, soprano; Joseph Doody, tenor and Jonathan Midgley, Web: https://deadmens.eventbrite.co.uk various cake decorating techniques and/or sugar bass. Tickets available online (no fees) or on the modelling. Tel: Shirley 01480 454616 for more info door. Web: www.huntsphil.org.uk 8 & 9 November St Ives Photographic Club 12 November 2 & 13 November Annual Photographic Exhibition Hail Weston Wildlife and Gardening Group Creative Mixed Media Workshops 10am-5pm Free Church, Market Hill, St Ives 7.30pm Hail Weston Village Hall 10am-1pm Art and Soul Cafe, St Neots Free entry to view over 200 images presented by club Members £1, Non-members £2. Corrine Price with Come to fun experimental workshops and find your members Web: www.stives-photoclub.org.uk ‘The Swiss Garden: Restoration of a Regency Gem’. creative self! Email: caroline.dewar@hotmail.com Raffle. Email: Liz Bacon lizbacon187@gmail.com Web: www.artandsoul.cafe 9 November Hemingford Village Market 13 November 4 November 9am-1pm Parish Centre, Hemingford Grey Cambridgeshire Rural M.E. Tea & Chat Adult Evening Classes St Ivo Academy Second Saturday of the month. Food, crafts, plants Second Wednesday of every month. Monthly meetCourses starting this week include Curry House and flowers from small local businesses. Hemingford up for adults with M.E. and partners/friends.

Favourites, Sourdough, Sugarcraft, Social Media, Grey Parish Council surgery should you wish to meet Web: www.crmetea.org Microsoft Excel and Makeup for mature skin. councillors to discuss local issues.

Tel: 01480 495717 Web: www.aclearning.org.uk 13 November 9 November Fundraising Coffee Morning 10am-1pm 4 November International Games Week All Saints Church, Market Square, Huntingdon St Neots Timebank Evening 9.30am-4.00pm St Neots Library The Hunts Society for the Blind Fundraising Coffee 7-9pm Tesco Community Room Free event – donations welcome. International Morning. All welcome to come along and try our Members evening. Topic to be advised.

Games Week is an initiative from around the world delicious homemade cakes, accompanied by a cup of Tel: 07590 909057 to reconnect communities through their libraries of tea and coffee. Craft stalls, tombola and raffle. Every Web: www.stneotstimebank.org.uk all types of games. There will be a choice of board second Wednesday from March-November. games and card games.

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n O s ’ t Wha In November

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

13 November Children’s Pop Up Book Group 4-6pm St Neots Library Read the book, tell us what you thought, do some activities and make new friends!

13 November Wildlife Trust ‘The Marine World A Natural History of Ocean Life’ 7.30pm Brampton Memorial Hall, Thrapston Road, Brampton The Huntingdonshire Local Group of the Wildlife Trust invite you to a fascinating talk by Dr Frances Dipper.

Frances will describe an immense three-dimensional living space inhabited by marine life that varies from the mundane to the bizarre. Tel: Alistair Grant 07775 365507 Email: alistairrgrant@hotmail.com 14-16 November Holiday Snap 7.30pm Offord Village Hall The Offord Players production of Holiday Snap by Michael Pertwee and John Chapman.

Web: theoffordplayers.co.uk 15 November St Neots Timebank Friends & Members Group 11am-1.30pm Priory Centre Join us for a chat and a coffee.

15 November Green Bok (12A) Doors open 7pm Mandeville Hall, Kimbolton 2019 Oscar award for best picture, and best supporting actor, Green Book is a heart-warming film based on a road trip through the deep south in the early 1960s. Tickets available from Oliver’s, Old Swan Pharmacy, Bytes Café or on the door.

Email: jrstratford@hotmail.com Web: http://e-voice.org.uk/ themandevillehallkimbolton/community-cinema 15 November Christmas Shopping Evening 7-9pm Alconbury C of E Primary School Adults only evening. Browse the many varieties of stalls from handmade children’s clothes to bespoke silver jewellery. Refreshments available. All funds raised improve the education of our children.

15 November-24 December Wildlife Trust Pop up Shop Westgate Arcade, Peterborough Run by staff and volunteers the shop will be stocked with wildlife-themed merchandise.

16 November Saturday Bushcraft for Families 9-11.30am Wandlebury Country Park £18 per family, £12 single adult + child. Every third Saturday of each month you can explore the natural world through the skills of bushcraft together as a family. Includes all specialist equipment, drink and snack. Dress accordingly. Booking essential. Parking £3, CambridgePPF members free.

Web: www.wildthymeandembers.co.uk

16 November Harriet Kelsall Bespoke Jewellery Xmas Event 9.45am-5pm North Barn, Fairclough Hall Farm, Halls Green, Hertfordshire, SG4 7DP Kick off the festive season with mulled wine, mince pies and beautiful jewellery including the limited edition 2019 Christmas collection. Personalise your own disc pendant for £35 which includes £10 donation to Garden House Hospice.

Tel: 01462 790565 www.hkjewellery.co.uk/events 16 November Local Police Surgery 10am-12 noon The Hub, Little Paxton Great opportunity for residents to meet the local Police team and to raise any concerns with officers.

16 November Lego Club 2-3.30pm St Neots Library 50p per child. See what you can build at our Lego Club! Suitable for children aged 5-11.

16 November Greyhound Theatre Show 7-9.30pm St Neots Library Whilst the war rages above them, the residents of Shuttlefield struggle to stage a production of Henry V to raise money for the local Spitfire fund. Licensed bar. Suitable for adults and young people (12+).

Web: www.cambridgelive.org.uk 16 November Massed Bands Concert 7.30pm Hinchingbrooke Performing Arts Centre, Huntingdon Tickets £16. Huntingdonshire Concert Bands and the Honourable Artillery Company Regimental Band. In aid of in aid of SSAFA (Armed Forces Charity).

Tel: Box office 07980 316402 Web: hinchingbrookepac.ticketsource.co.uk 19 November Coffee Morning 10am-12pm St Neots Library £1 per person. Join us for a slice of cake, some conversation and a cup of coffee or tea.

20 November St Mary’s Church Advent Coffee Morning 10am-12 noon Buckden Village Hall £2 inc. coffee and cake Raffle, cards, knitwear, gifts and cakes. Everyone welcome.

20 November Alexander Technique Workshop 10am-12 noon St Neots Library £12 per person. The Alexander Technique can help improve posture, balance, breathing and co-ordination. Discover the Alexander Technique and how it can help you in this introductory workshop with local teacher Conrad Brown. Advance booking essential. Tel: 0345 045 5200 Email: stneots.referral@cambridgeshire.gov.uk

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20 November Friends of Paxton Pits Talk 2pm Visitor Centre, Paxton Pits Nature Reserve £2.50 on the door. ‘Creating Wildlife Gardens’ an illustrated talk by Angela Potter. Angela will talk about her experience of creating a garden at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show. Tel: 01480 406795 21 November St Ives & District Flower Club 2.15pm Burgess Hall, St Ives Visitors £7. Demonstration by Jo Pouter ‘All Shapes and Sizes’.

22-25 November Little Paxton Celebrates 125 Years!

Fri 10.30am-4pm, Sat 10am-4pm, Sun 12 noon-4pm, Mon 10am-3pm St James Church. Free admission On 4 December 1894, Little Paxton Parish Council was formed. Official grand opening of the event at 10.30am on the Saturday. Exhibitions, photograph displays, timeline with village historic facts from Dec 1894 to Nov 2019, specially commissioned model of the village, news articles, music, Village 125 Trail, Bell ringing, Local historical characters in period costume, artefacts of old, children’s activities, refreshments. Bell Tower open for visitors (Sat only).

26 November Huntingdonshire Diabetes Group 7.30pm Millennium Hall, Burberry Road, Buckden Social evening and quiz.

Email: hunts.diabetesuk@gmail.com Web: huntingdonshire.diabetesukgroup.org 27 November Engage Extra: Playing with Perspective 10.30am-1pm St Neots Library Tickets £10 inc. cost of materials. Art workshop for adults hosted by local artist David Brown. Booking required.Tel: 0345 045 5200 Email: stneots.referral@cambridgeshire.gov.uk 29 November Wildlife Trust Christmas Shopping 3-6.30pm The Manor House, Cambourne Join the Trust for their annual Christmas shopping event - enjoy a glass of festive mulled wine and a mince pie while browsing a lovely array of wildlife inspired gifts including: wildlife art - drawings, paintings and prints, mugs and greetings cards; fused glass creations; 2020 calendars and cards; handmade and bespoke items - bags, wallets, purses, note books; bird boxes and insect houses.

Children’s activities and Christmas raffle.

30 November Adult Learning and Skills Saturday Workshops St Ivo Academy A wide range of courses including Chinese & Indian cookery, Christmas long-lasting flower ring, Watercolours, Wellness, Worry Less!

Tel: 01480 495717 Web: www.aclearning.org.uk

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Air Ambulance’s muddy

obstacle run is back East Anglia’s mud obstacle run Only The Brave is back in 2020 for its fifth year and early bird tickets are now on sale.

The muddy obstacle run in aid of East Anglian Air Ambulance (EAAA) takes place at Thetford Forest and is celebrating its fifth birthday, at the same time the charity celebrates 20 years of saving lives.

To mark these historic milestones, the event, which saw nearly 2,000 runners take part last year, will see brand new obstacles including the kit carry bag challenge, 24/7 clock climb and the rotor scramble, as well as a new route through Elveden Estate.

The popular race is set to take place on Sunday, March 29, and provides both a six and 10 mile course, with 20 to 35 obstacles, lots of mud, slides, straw bales and challenging hurdles.

The event, which this year is sponsored by Mark

Local News Ewin Estate Agents, is in aid of EAAA’s life-saving work, a charity which relies on donations and operates two high-tech helicopters from its Norwich and Cambridge bases every day of the year. In February the charity launched a new campaign to raise an additional £1m annually to help them become a 24/7 service.

The charity will be offering an early-bird rate until the November 30.

Catrina Miller, events manager at EAAA, said: “This obstacle course is for everyone and hosts competitive runners sprinting for the time, people who want to have a fun team day out with their friends or work colleagues, people who want to set themselves a challenge to people who want to just take part in a fun event and raise money for EAAA. We can’t wait to unveil our brand new obstacles next year and celebrate 20 years of saving lives!”

The early-bird rate provides several options ranging from £25 upwards. Every entry will receive an OTB official t-shirt, a medal and a goody bag when they finish the course.

To book your early bird tickets or find out more, visit www.onlythebraveraces.co.uk

For more information on East Anglian Air Ambulance, visit www.eaaa.org.uk or call 03450 669 999.

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FREE QUOTES ALL WORK GUARANTEED FULLY INSURED Tel: 07502 253276 Web: www.meltonheating.co.uk Email: info.meltonheating@gmail.com meltonplumbingandheating

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Technology

Can you bag a bargain on Black Friday?

November is the month of big deals. Are some too good to be true?

Black Friday is the annual sales event that crossed the Atlantic to become huge in the UK too. But does that mean you’ll get a good deal?

Black Friday is actually two big days of deals: Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Black Friday is the start of the Christmas shopping season in the US, because it’s when retailers traditionally ran ‘door-buster’ sales on the day after the Thanksgiving holiday.

The following Monday has been dubbed Cyber Monday because apparently everybody goes back to work, panics about Christmas presents and hits the online shops on the same day.

Black Friday gets bigger every year. A long weekend became a week of deals, until now Black Friday runs for two weeks or more, with all kinds of deals announced well in advance as well as flash ‘lightning deals’ on Black Friday and Cyber Monday.

It’s become the most important part of the retail calendar not just for technology but for many retailers selling fashion,

homeware and jewellery too.

It’s a good time to buy smart home technology, which attracts massive discounts at this time of year.

Can you really get good deals?

The answer is a qualified yes.

There are plenty of deals to be had, but some of them are illusory: common tactics include listing RRPs that no sensible person would pay – you’ll see this a lot with TVs, which promise massive discounts on recommended retail prices nobody paid – or gently increasing prices in the run-up to Black Friday so they can be lowered in time for the big event and labelled with a big ‘Sale!’ sticker. And like any sale, often the deals are on products that are being phased out to make room for new products or because they’re no longer being made.

End-of-line products aren’t necessarily bad buys, but research anything before you decide whether or not to spend. Before you hit the ‘Buy Now’ button on a bargain, search for it in Pricespy.

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co.uk. That shows you what other retailers are selling the product for, and tells you whether you’re really getting a good deal. It works on everything from DVDs to dishwashers and it also tells you whether products are in stock: a deal isn’t much use if you can’t actually order the product.

If you’re looking at a deal on Amazon, have a look at uk.camelCamelCamel.com. Simply copy and paste the address of the Amazon product listing or the exact product name and it’ll show you the price history – so for example if we search for the cult favourite Instant Pot pressure cooker we can see that while its price varies from £70 to £130, it’s usually sold for around £90.

One of the simplest tricks to Black Friday and Cyber Monday is to make sure you only buy things you actually need. This time last year we bought some fancy headphones on Black Friday; this week we’re selling them on eBay, still in the original sealed packaging. A bargain isn’t a bargain if you don’t use it.

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Finance

Be a Super-Saver

By Kath McLean

Most of us know we should be saving but most of us also find it difficult. Try these tips.

Pay Yourself First - Put an allotted amount into a designated savings account before you pay anything else, rather than trying to save leftover funds at the end of the month.

Make it a habit - It doesn’t matter how little you are able to save every month; the important thing is to make the commitment so that monthly saving becomes a habit.

Budget - Include savings as part of your spending plan. Make it a priority above spending for anything else.

Make it automatic - Use your online banking resources to set up an automatic deduction from your current account to your savings account just after your alary goes in.

Save extra money - When you reduce or eliminate an expense, put all or part of that money into additional savings. Put any tax refund, salary raise or bonus you receive into savings rather than spending it.

Emergency Fund - Open a separate bank or savings account and name it “emergency fund”; even better if it earns interest. As with your other savings, deposit money into the account every month before you pay other bills. Make this savings part of your spending plan too so you aren’t tempted to spend it on something else. If you have a true emergency in the future, such as a car repair or a washing machine breakdown tap into your fund. Otherwise, let the money grow and continue to contribute to the fund each month. An emergency fund should ideally be about 6 months’ salary, but studies show that even a moderate amount of £500 in a saving account increases your sense of financial well-being.

Lords & Ladies 1. Which alternative name for the devil literally means “lord of the flies”?

2. Florence Nightingale became known as “the lady with the lamp” after checking on wounded soldiers at night during which war?

3. What word comes after “first lord of the” to complete the inscription on the letter box of 10 Downing Street?

4. Which famous 1949 British film has a title that is taken from a line in the poem Lady Clara Vere De Vere by Alfred, Lord Tennyson?

5. Which singer is often referred to as “the first lady of country music”?

6. An anagram of “I am Lord Voldemort”, what was the birth name of Lord Voldemort in the Harry Potter novels?

7. First used to refer to the leading female singer in an opera company, what two word term means “first lady” in Italian?

8. What were the names of the landlord and landlady of the Queen Vic when the TV show EastEnders was first broadcast?

9. What word for a wealthy and powerful business person comes from a word meaning “great lord” that was used as a title for leaders of Japan?

10. According to legend, only one person spied on Lady Godiva when she rode naked through the streets of Coventry. What two word phrase was used to refer to this person and has come to be used more generally to refer to anyone who gets sexual pleasure from secretly watching others?

1. Beelzebub 2. The Crimean War 3. Treasury 4. Kind Hearts And Coronets 5. Tammy Wynette 6. Tom Marvolo Riddle 7. Prima Donna 8. Den Watts and Angie Watts 9. Tycoon 10. Peeping Tom

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0800 046 1080 30% OFF ORDERS PLACED IN NOVEMBER hello@thehomeimprovementproject.co.uk www.thehomeimprovementproject.co.uk 72

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Crossword Solution for The Villager October Edition Last Month’s Crossword Winner - Rita Hobson from Brampton

October’s Codeword and Suduko Solutions

Easy

Hard

Advertising in The Villager is easy.

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The Villager Prize Crossword

Prize

ÂŁ25

Across 1 A strong effect on (6) 4 Sore (6) 9 Stopping place (7) 10 Narrates (5) 11 Slumber (5) 12 Arrives at (7) 13 Presenting (11) 18 Item (7) 20 Mechanical engine (5) 22 Higher up (5) 23 Dealt with (7) 24 Help (6) 25 Theatre seats (6)

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

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

Down 1 Be certain of (6) 2 Wood smoothing tool (5) 3 Crunchier (7) 5 Additional (5) 6 Popular sea mammal (7) 7 Withstand (6) 8 Components of recipe (11) 14 Countries (7) 15 Remark (7) 16 Yellow fruit (6) 17 Classifications (6) 19 A board game (5) 21 The whole amount (5)

Name: Tel:



Address:

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01223 787275 To advertise in The Villager and Town Life please call 01767 261122

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Books

Book Review

By Kate Duggan The Giver of Stars

by Jojo Moyes

Times are hard in Kentucky at the end of the Great Depression. Five women set out to bring some light back into people’s lives, through books. This isn’t your average mobile library; the librarians have to travel hundreds of miles every week, on horseback. Amongst them is Margery – whose family and unconventional lifestyle mean she’s all but ostracised by ‘polite society’. And Alice – a lonely incomer far from home. A great story, great characters and great writing make The Giver of Stars the perfect gift.

The Hairy Bikers’ One Pot Wonders

by Si King and Dave Myers

The Hairy Bikers are back with another cookery book packed with more than 100 recipes. Create delicious dishes with minimum effort and mess. Recipes include Sausage and Bean Tray Bake, and Boozy Syllabub Trifle. Just make sure the recipient of your gift invites you over for dinner soon.

The Secret Series

by Pseudonymous Bosch

Young adventure fans are sure to appreciate this series, starting with the first book – The Name of This Book is Secret. (My ten year old daughter devoured all five in quick succession.) Cass and MaxErnest are unlikely friends who find themselves caught up in a quest to uncover a secret. Danger, mystery, friendship, villains and humour abound.

LESTER O’DRISCOLL CARPENTRY Door Hanging, Skirting, Flooring, Fitted Kitchens, Fencing, Decking, General Carpentry, Bespoke Timber Garden Offices, Workshops & Garden Sheds

07842 195152 01480 811629 76

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Classifieds Cleaning Services

Domestic Appliance Repairs

Domestic Appliance Repairs Guaranteed Repairs To:

Washing Machines • Tumble Dryers Electric Ovens/Cookers • Dishwashers No Call Out Charge!

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Tel: 01767 680621 or Mob: 07778 891490

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Classifieds Electrician

Personal Trainer New BARRECONCEPT® class incorporating Yoga, Pilates, Resistance Training and Ballet Queen Elizabeth Hall, Godmanchester PE29 2NB

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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

Heating and Plumbing Services

Plumber

Interior Services MM INTERIOR SERVICES

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INTERIOR SERVICES

From just £35.00 per month plus VAT

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USEFUL NUMBERS

VILLAGER The

and Town

Life

Alcoholics Anonymous..............................0845 769 7555 Al-Anon Family Groups..............................0800 008 6811 Anglian Water............................................08457 145 145 Addenbrooks Hospital............................... 01223 245151 Papworth Hospital..................................... 01480 830541 Benefits for people with Disabilities...........0800 882 200 Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue............... 01480 444500 Carers Line..................................................0808 808 7777 ChildLine...........................................................0800 1111 Citizens Advice...........................................0344 245 1292 Cocaine Anonymous..................................0800 689 4732 Crimestoppers..............................................0800 555 111

Bringing Local Business to Local People Your local full colour A5 monthly magazine delivered free of charge to 1000s of homes and businesses in your local area.

The Villager and Town Life is dedicated to promoting local businesses, charities, community groups and everything else in your local area.

Cruse Bereavement Care............................0333 252 9152 Floodline....................................................0845 988 1188 Frank—Drug Advisory................................0800 776 600 National Debt Line.....................................0808 808 4000 Gas Emergency............................................0800 111 999 NHS Direct.........................................................0845 4647 National Rail Enquiries..............................03457 48 49 50 Non Emergency Police Line.........................................101 NSPCC.........................................................0808 800 5000 Relate..........................................................0845 48 49 50 RSPCA Cruelty Line....................................0300 1234 999 Samaritans............................................................116 123 Tax Credit Helpline.....................................0345 300 3900 Victim Support..........................................0845 30 30 900

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