Cambridge October 2019

VILLAGER The

Issue 126 - October 2019

and Town

Life

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

In this issue The History of

Witches

Win tickets to see

The Nutcracker Win £25 in our Prize Crossword

Bringing Local Business to Local People Every Month in Buckden, Brampton, Godmanchester, Eaton Socon, ur E o Y The Hemingfords, Grantchester and all surrounding villages REpy

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Inside this issue...

Win Tickets to the Festive Gift Fair

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Father's Late for Dinner at Windmill Row...................................4 The History of Witches................................................................6 Win a Pair of Tickets to see The Nutcracker...............................10 Win a Pair of Tickets to the Festive Gift Fair...............................12 Ragdale Hall Spa: The Experience.............................................14 Wood Green - The Animals Charity...........................................17 Fireworks - How they work!.....................................................18 The Jack O'Lantern...................................................................20 Nick Coffer's Weekend Recipe...................................................23 Fast Fixes..................................................................................24 Skin Deep - Basal Cell Carcinoma..............................................27 Golfers and Back Pain...............................................................29 How to dress well for your job..................................................30 Planning for a future with Dementia........................................33 Is early repayment right for your mortgage?............................35 The Big Draw - October 1st to 31st...........................................38 The Rock Garden is Alive...........................................................40 Animal Know-How...................................................................42 R.A.T.S. Rehoming Appeal........................................................45

Children's Page........................................................................46 The Screen Time Debate...........................................................49 The Best Seven-Seaters on Sale Today......................................51 Winnipeg - Canada's Gateway to the West...............................53 Panto: The UK's Quirkiest Tradition?.........................................54 Small Steps Make a Big Impact................................................56 Things that go bump in the night.............................................59 Puzzle Page..............................................................................60 Pick a Retirement Hobby while you are still working................63 What's On................................................................................64 A Marrow Just Knows...............................................................66 Fab Floors.................................................................................68 Prize Crossword........................................................................74 Book Review............................................................................77

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Wood Green, The Animal Charity

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, Tracey Anderson, Aoife Brennan, Nick Coffer, Kate Duggan, Centre for Complementary Health, Jennie Billings, Ann Haldon, Leeds Day Solicitors, Karen Campbell, Pippa Greenwood, RSPCA, Louise Addison, James Baggott, Solange Hando, Kate McLelland and Katherine Sorrell

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

Father’s Late for Dinner at Windmill Row

By Peter Ibbett

‘Buy a second property for it will be your pension one day’ is one piece of advice that you may wish to ponder on. James Tristham believed in it for he owned two local windmills in late Georgian times and on retirement he developed a yard off St. Neots High Street and gave it a name that reflected his life’s work. It was here that Ivy Shepherd was born on August 8th 1900, a daughter of a journeyman tailor. When interviewed in the 1980’s she recalled that ‘we used to be posh and called it Windmill Terrace, but it was just a row! When I was eleven I would return garments that had been repaired by father.

He did repairs as a side-line to his tailors job. He had a bench at the window and sat cross-legged.

The trousers and jacket would be folded up in a piece of black lining. I’d go to houses and wait to have my cloth returned, and got paid 1s 6d for the trousers mended, cleaned and pressed. A suit was 2s 6d. Cleaning was done with a drop of ammonia in warm water, and then pressed with a board across his knees and a large flat pressing iron which had been heated in front of the fire.

Father didn’t work Sundays. Whenever I went shopping mother always made me demand a receipt. We had our main meal at midday when Dad came home. We had to wait for father so we’d

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be really hungry. We sit in the passage and waited.

The church had a dinner bell which was rung at 1 o’clock’. If he was late we’d all chant:Father, dear father, come home to us now The clock at the steeple’s struck one You’d said you’d come home when your work was done Father, dear father, come home to us now.

Mother daren’t dish up until he’d arrived. Mum would make baked hazlett. This was sliced liver, onions, potatoes, baked in the oven with gravy and flour to thicken it. Sometimes she’d buy leaf and this was stretched over the pudding dish before going into the oven. We had lots of pork puddings. Saturday nights fishmongers and butchers would sell out as there was no means of refrigeration. It was sold off cheap. We certainly didn’t have mugs of milk as it had to go round.

We had to be spare with it. Mum would send us for a ha’pence worth when the milkman came round. He’d come walking up our row with his can.’ Acknowledgements to Jeffrey du Cann Grenfell-Hill’s ‘Edwardian Childhood in St. Neots.’

If you have any ‘modern’ childhood memories posterity will thank you for recording them or passing them on to grandchildren to remember.

St. Neots Museum (free to locals) is always happy to welcome volunteers to help manage and add to its collections and stored memories.

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Having an insulated conservatory roof will not just add value to your property, but it will totally change the way you are using your downstairs living area. For more information or to request a quotation, visit our website or give us a call.

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History

By Catherine Rose

The History of Witches Magical rites and rituals have long been an important part of ancient pre-Christian civilizations. The earliest witches were often respected wise women who lived by and honoured the cycles of nature and had expert knowledge of how to use plants to make potions for healing. They sometimes acted as village midwives.

However, witches also came to be labelled devil worshippers and heretics and were persecuted for hundreds of years.

The image of a witch as a cackling hook-nosed crone bent over a cauldron was probably cemented by Shakespeare in his depiction of the three witches in Macbeth. But it was the Bible itself that helped seal their fate with the Book of Exodus

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in the Old Testament stating: “thou shalt not suffer a witch to live” (22:18).

Witch hunts began in the mid-fifteenth century with witches popularly being burnt at the stake, hanged or drowned. The latter method was the result of a test devised to root out a genuine witch, which in any case proved fatal.

It was believed that if a witch was bound (usually by tying the thumbs to the toes), then thrown into water and subsequently sank (which would normally result in her drowning), she was innocent; if she floated however, she was guilty and so put to death anyway. A variation of this method was the ducking stool.

Prior to this, confessions were extracted by various forms of torture including the witch’s bridle – an

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iron headpiece which inserted a tongue clamp in the victim’s mouth after which they were hung against a wall, depriving them of sleep and nourishment.

A book called The Malleus Maleficarium (The Hammer of Sorcery), written by Catholic Dominican monks Jacob Springer and Henrik Kramer, was published in Germany in 1486. It declared the practice of witchcraft to be heresy and explained how to identify a witch and what to do when you found one. Their belief that women were morally weaker and therefore more prone to the influence of the Devil became the basis of a gender bias that was to endure.

The book sold so many copies between 1486 and 1500, it was second only in Europe to the Bible.

In 1542, practising witchcraft was declared a crime in England and the post of Witchfinder General was created to rid towns of ‘troublesome and dangerous’ witches.

The famous Pendle witches were three generations of one family who, in 1612, were paraded through the streets and hanged in Lancaster. Witchfinder General Matthew Hopkins, who oversaw purges in East Anglia and Essex, was responsible for 300 executions. Hopkins put 68 people to death in Bury St Edmunds between 1645 and 1646 alone.

From 1500 to 1660, it is believed up to 100,000 people in Europe were accused of witchcraft and more than half of these killed, with the highest number of executions taking place in Germany.

Religious professor Barbara McGraw has noted that some German towns had no women left in them.

The hysteria subsequently spread to America with the famous Salem Witch Trials in 1692, but over the following hundred years or so the

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prevalence of witch-hunts died down, with new laws introduced to protect innocent people from being falsely accused at a time when someone could be put to death for having a hairy mole (the Devil’s mark) or owning a black cat (believed to be a supernatural entity)!

Witchcraft has long been associated with evil but in fact, modern witchcraft rejects the Devil on the basis that he is a Christian concept. Witches often practice the ancient pagan religion of Wicca (or Wicce) whose root beliefs lie in revering the natural world with a creed of ‘harm none’. Wiccans also believe in the ‘Law of Three’ which means that whatever you send out into the world, whether good or evil, will come back to you threefold.

Therefore, putting a hex on someone will only result in something three times worse happening to you!

In Wicca, witches are considered healers, protectors and teachers. Spells, incantations and charms are taken from The Book of Shadows, which despite its sinister name is an encyclopaedia of ancient wisdom for practising witchcraft and magick.

However, there have been other somewhat darker religions pertaining to magic and the occult over the last 100 years. Once described as “the wickedest man in the world”, the notorious Aleister Crowley founded the cult of Thelema at the turn of the twentieth century, which advocated “do what thou wilt” in the practice of magic.

The Church of Satanism was set up by Anton LeVey in 1966. It focused on hedonistic principles and ‘sins of the flesh’, while The Temple of Set was inaugurated by Dr Michael Aquino in 1975.

Although named after the ancient Egyptian god of darkness, it didn’t believe in the power of a deity but in man’s limitless potential that could be unleashed by using ‘dark’ magic to benefit the individual rather than others.

Whether for good or evil, magic spells and witches continue to intrigue and fascinate us, particularly at this time of year with the coming of Samhain, or Halloween.

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WIN a PAIR of TICKETS

to see THE NUTCRACKER It’s Christmas Eve and the festivities have begun. The magnificent Christmas ball is upon us and Clara receives a present from her Uncle Drosselmyer the Toymaker, in the form of a key. With the help of the Nutcracker, they open up four magical kingdoms. Can Clara bring all the kingdoms back together again in harmony? Or does the Sugarplum Fairy have a cunning plan? Come and enjoy this magical retelling of the classic tale that will captivate the imagination of audiences both young and old.

This is a bespoke ballet for the Cambridgeshire Youth Ballet Company choreographed by Artistic Director and Royal Ballet trained dancer Saskia Lockey.

Performances will be held at Huntingdon Performing Arts Centre on the weekend of the 26th and 27th of October.

www.thelittleboxoffice.com/swevents For a chance to win two tickets to the performance, please answer the following question: What is the name of the Disney film adaptation of the Nutcracker which was released last year?

Please send your answer to events@stageworkstudio.co.uk along with your full name and address.

Competition closes on the 13th October 2019 10

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The biggest and most lively indoor Christmas Shopping Fair in the Midlands is back!..... with so much choice, fabulous bargains and great musical entertainment The Festive Gift Fair 14-17th November 2019 NEC, Birmingham From the moment you arrive, you’ll be caught up in the fabulous atmosphere, anticipation rising as you browse 300+ stalls overflowing with thousands upon thousands of unusual gifts, stocking fillers, decorations and artisan food & drink at prices worth celebrating! It’s an Aladdin’s cave of sparkling stalls offering more choice, more variety and more fun than the High Street, and it’s all under one roof.

The run up to Christmas Day involves a lot of planning and most of us have so much to do and so little time to do it! Take the pressure out of Christmas shopping and find all the presents you want at the one-stop shop Festive Gift Fair. When your bags are full, just drop them off at the Present Creche and continue to shop some more!

No other Christmas fair in the UK has as much entertainment in one hall to get you into the Christmas spirit…

The Grinch will be up to his usual menacing antics! • Father Christmas will be mingling The Stilt Jazz Band will be legging it up the aisles! • The UK’s largest snowman will be amazing the children The outrageous Panto Dame will be causing havoc around the hall The fabulous CHRISTMAS BAND will be performing throughout the day.

THE BASETONES will have you toe-tapping as you shop, with their Motown-style Christmas harmonies For more information and how to book your advance tickets please visit www.festivegiftfair.co.uk

We have 10 pairs of tickets to give away Simply send your name and address by 16th October 2019 to: Festive Gift Fair, Villager Publications Ltd, 24 Market Square, Potton, Beds SG19 2NP The winners will be drawn at random. If you are not a lucky winner, adult tickets are priced from just £6.00. Book now by calling The Ticket Factory hotline on 0844 581 0808 or online at www.theticketfactory.com

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Food and Drink

Ragdale Hall Spa: The Experience Ragdale Hall Spa has won numerous awards, over many years. This world-class spa can boast awards and commendations, including Best UK Spa, UK’s Best Destination Spa, plus Best All-Round Health Spa. The different areas, within this venue, have parts which capture inspirations from global destinations.

Having six pools (including a rooftop infinity pool, aqua gym and candle pool) and with a river of warm water, leading to an outside paradise, all is very calming. The gymnasium and exercise studios are stateof–the-art and extensive daily programmes have regular ‘devotees’. A wealth of thermal experiences have steam rooms and saunas appealing to many, including the volcanic salt bath. Numerous treatment rooms (100+ qualified, experienced therapists), beauty express areas, the pavilion and impressive shops, all have something to occupy, continually. Indeed, from manicure to makeover!

Included in several packages and deals is the fabulous buffet lunch. Starters are served or help yourself from the buffet. The buffet offers a lot of different foods that include seafood, fish and meat choices. Stir fry, honey-glazed roast gammon and a good deal more are very popular, too. Mohamed Bardouz is the Dining Room Manager and ensures all guests have a memorable, most enjoyable dining experience. All cuisine is cooked and presented to perfection by the brigade of very talented chefs, kitchen personnel and carvers. Desserts can be served and are also help yourself from the buffet, that includes yoghurts and chilled options. Complimentary mineral water and tea or coffee are included, also.

With several packages being available – from a short visit to an extended stay – there is always time to take the opportunity for a treatment (or three!). From a few minutes, to deep massages, it is very worthwhile including this aspect in a visit to Ragdale Hall Spa. Mountain bikes, tennis courts, plus croquet and more, are all available, too.

For evenings the dining room is transformed, with pristine, candle-lit table settings adding to the ambience.

All courses are served, to table. The 90+ beautiful, inviting bedrooms offer wonderful, comfortable accommodation.

Gift vouchers are available – perhaps surprise someone special?

Ragdale Hall Spa, Ragdale Village, Nr Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire LE14 3PB General Enquiries. Tel: 44 (0) 1664 434831 Reservations. Tel: 44 (0) 1664 433000 E-mail: enquiries@ragdalehall.co.uk E-mail: reservations@ragdalehall.co.uk www.ragdalehall.co.uk

As always, Enjoy!

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ey Trevor Langl

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Elsie May’s Electric Lounge Café & Bar

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Local News

Wood Green, The Animals Charity Wood Green’s aim is to help every pet and pet owner that comes to them.

Wood Green, The Animal Charity’s aim is to bring pets and people closer together, providing pets with loving homes that they deserve whilst empowering owners with the knowledge to take the very best care of their beloved pets. Wood Green offers free pet advice to anyone who needs it, whether you are considering having a pet in the future and need guidance on pet choice, or you already have a pet and need some general advice or intensive support. In a year, Wood Green found loving homes for more than 4,000 pets and reunited 164 pets with their owners. Their dedicated team gave one-to-one care and support to 2,343 pets and their owners, with more than 10,000 veterinary consultations and around 3,200 operations carried out.

Sponsoring a pet pen is a meaningful way to be part of rescue pets’ journeys at Wood Green and help the financial effort in providing the best quality treatment and care possible – from shelter, regular nutritious meals and veterinary care to training, love and affection. Pets at Wood Green stay for an average of 30-35 days, meaning you will play a vital role in giving a number of adorable pets the happy ending they deserve. You will receive regular updates from your dog, cat or small animal pen and follow pets’ amazing journeys, seeing first-hand how your support is making a difference.

Find out more at woodgreen.org.uk

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Time of Year

Fireworks

By Tracey Anderson

How they work!

Most of us love watching fireworks, but have you ever thought about how rockets work? It’s a fascinating science and if you read on, you’ll be able to amaze your friends in the pub after attending your local display.

Fireworks are essentially small missiles designed to explode in a controlled and colourful way. The word ‘firework’ originates from the Greek word pyrotechnics, which means, ‘fire art’ or ‘fire skill’; and modern rocket designs require both in huge amounts.

Rockets mostly consist of five main parts.

The tail or the stick – This protrudes from the bottom and ensures the firework shoots in a straight line, which is important for two reasons: first, so that the rocket doesn’t fly off in a random direction, and injure someone; and second, because it aids accuracy and precision when creating complex displays.

Fuse - This is the part that allows the firework to be ignited safely. It allows a time delay before the main part of the firework (the charge) begins to burn. This charge ignites other, smaller fuses that make the interesting, colourful parts of the firework (the effects) explode a little later. In a basic rocket, the main fuse consists of a piece of paper or fabric that you light with a match.

In a complex public firework display, fuses are lit by electrical contacts known as wirebridge fuseheads. When the firework technician pushes a button, an electric current flows along a wire into the fusehead, which ignites the main fuse. Electrical ignition has the advantage it can be done at a very safe distance.

Charge - This is actually a fairly crude explosive designed to blast the rocket up into the sky. Some rockets travel at speeds as fast as a fighter jet. The charge is usually made up of tightly packed, coarse explosive gunpowder (known as black powder) and simply sends the firework high into the air, clear of spectators; it’s not responsible for the spectacular colours.

Effect - This is the business end of the firework. A single firework may have just one effect, or several, packed into separate compartments which fire off in sequence, ignited by a timedelay fuse. Effects are explosives too, but different from the main charge. Each effect is made up of more loosely packed, finer explosive material, often fashioned into separate ‘stars’, which make up the small, individual, colourful explosions from a larger firework. The arrangement of patterns and colours depend on how each effect is made and packed.

Head - This is the top part of the firework which contains the effect or effects. Sometimes the head has a pointed nosecone to make the firework faster and more aerodynamic and improve the chance of it going in a straight line.

However, you choose to enjoy the fireworks this year remember safety should always be paramount. Follow the firework code.

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Time of Year

The Jack O’ Lantern

By Aoife Brennan

Why we carve pumpkins at Halloween We think of the Halloween pumpkin lantern as an American invention but in fact it was the Irish who took the tradition of carving pumpkins to America, except the original Jack O’ Lantern was not a pumpkin because they didn’t exist in Ireland. Celtic cultures actually carved turnips on All Hallows’ Eve and placed a glowing piece of coal or a candle in them, to ward off evil spirits.

There are many stories behind these turnip lanterns but one of the most popular comes from The Tale of Stingy Jack.

Stingy Jack was a grumpy old drunkard who liked to play malicious tricks on just about everyone including his family, friends and his mother. He was proud of his antics and boasted that he could trick the Devil himself. The Devil heard about Jack and paid him a visit. Jack was as good as his word and tricked the Devil into climbing up an apple tree.

Once the Devil was in the tree, Stingy Jack hurriedly placed crosses around the base of its trunk. The Devil couldn’t touch the crosses, so he was stuck in the tree. Stingy Jack made the Devil promise him not to take his soul when he died. Reluctantly the Devil agreed, and Stingy Jack removed the crosses, and allowed the Devil to climb back down.

Many years later, when Jack died, he found his way to the pearly gates of Heaven. Saint Peter told him that because he’d been mean and cruel and

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had led a miserable, worthless life he could not let him enter Heaven. Stingy Jack then went down to Hell. The Devil smiled mischievously and said he was bound by the promise he’d made in the apple tree and would not allow him to enter Hell. Stingy Jack became really scared. He had nowhere to go and was doomed to wander about forever in the dark Netherworld between heaven and hell. He protested to the Devil that there was no light, so the Devil tossed him a piece of coal from the flames of Hell. Jack always carried a turnip with him because it was one of his favourite foods. He hollowed out the turnip and placed the glowing coal the Devil had given him inside. From that day onward, Stingy Jack roamed the earth without a resting place, lighting his way as he went with his ‘Jack O’ Lantern’.

On all Hallows’ eve, it became the tradition for Irish people to hollow out Turnips, swedes, potatoes and beets. They placed a little light in them to ward off evil spirits and keep Stingy Jack away. These were the original Jack O’ Lanterns. In the 1800’s waves of Irish people travelled to America in search of better lives. These Irish immigrants quickly discovered that American Pumpkins were bigger and much easier to carve, so they began to use pumpkins for Jack O’ Lanterns. Eventually this new trend found its way back across the Atlantic to Ireland and the UK.

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Food & Drink

Pineapple Teriyaki Grains with In the ten years since I started hosting the Weekend Kitchen on BBC Three Counties Radio, the rise in popularity of vegetarian and vegan dishes has been phenomenal. We’ve come a long way from the days where guests would say “it tastes good for a vegan dish”. Chefs are now creating fantastic food, standing alone for quality in its own right. First comes the taste, second comes whether it happens to be vegan or not. One such very creative young chef is Greg Owen, who runs the funky Monstera Canteen in Luton. His food is fabulous, and this lovely vegan dish was a big hit on my show. Don’t be concerned by the list of ingredients. You can sub in and out any grains, and just use any vegetables which you have to hand.

Ingredients: Serves 4 Grains 100g brown rice 100g pearl barley 100g freekeh 80g wild rice 80g oats Sauce 4 tbsp soy sauce 1 can pineapple slices or chunks 2 tbsp Mirin 1 tbsp garlic 2 tbsp brown sugar (or maple syrup) 1 tsp ginger (optional) 1 tsp garlic powder (optional) 1 tbsp rice wine vinegar (optional) Vegetables 50g edamame beans 50g carrot, chopped 50g courgette, chopped 1 small Leek, sliced 1 Red onion, chopped 1/4 chilli (optional) Handful of Rocket (optional) Coriander leaves (optional) Sesame seeds (optional) For the Crispy Mushrooms 4 large flat mushrooms Plain flour Panko breadcrumbs Unsweetened soya milk (or any similar milk) 1 tsp apple cider vinegar

Crispy Mushrooms

1. Cook all the grains as per the packet instructions.

You can cook them all in the same pan, or, better still, in a pressure cooker.

2. Chuck all the sauce ingredients in a blender, blitz and set aside.

3. Mix a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar in a smallish bowl of milk and whisk with a work for a few seconds. The acidity will naturally thicken the milk into a butter milk style.

4. Prepare a bowl of plain flour and a separate bowl of breadcrumbs.

5. Remove the stalk and slice the jumbo mushrooms horizontally into two discs.

6. Dust in flour, then dip in the milk, then into breadcrumbs to coat. You can shallow fry them, deep fry them, or spray with oil and bake in the oven too.

7. Sauté all the veg until they are cooked but still with a nice bite.

8. Mix in the sauce, then add the cooked grains, stir for another 2 minutes and plate up!

9. You can garnish the top of this dish with rocket, chopped chillis, coriander and sesame seeds.

10. Finally slice the cooked crispy breaded mushrooms and arrange on top to 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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Beauty

Fast Fixes From chapped lips and dry skin to acne, tackle your skin or hair dilemma quickly with one of these problem-solving, wallet-friendly mini-marvels.

Puffy eyes or chapped lips?

Try Nature’s Kitchen Skin Nourishing Eye and Lip Treatment. This little multitasking genius is packed with nature’s finest skincare ingredients, from aloe vera, jojoba oil and avocado to cocoa butter. It even includes hyaluronic acid to boost hydration. It’s very rich so you only need a small amount to tackle fine lines, puffy bags, dark circles and dry lips. Use it as a night-time treatment, or as and when needed. It’s £10.99 at www.lovelula.com.

Tackle spots with Tisserand Aromatherapy’s Tea Tree & Aloe Skin Rescue Stick, £4.50. The blend of antibacterial tea tree oil and witch hazel treats blemishes, while the aloe vera moisturises skin to prevent peeling.

Super dry skin or mild eczema? Try an oat bath.

Pop a handful of organic porridge oats into the foot of an old pair of tights and tie a knot. Drop your oat bomb into the bath while the water is running. It’ll send the water all milky and you can use it like a sponge.

It’s a simple treatment, but incredibly effective. If you don’t have an old pair of tights, put the oats in a sieve and hold it under the tap.

Feeling a bit meh now the days are closing in and the sun has decided to hang up its hat? Try adding a splash of colour with a bright nail

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By Kate Duggan

polish. Peacci nail varnishes are vegan, cruelty-free and available in a range of shades.

They’re not gloopy (unlike some polishes), so are easy to apply and mistakes can be wiped off with a tissue if you’re quick. You’ll need two coats for a flawless finish. It’s £10 at www.peacci.com.

If your hands feel dry and cream isn’t helping, the answer may lie with your hand wash.

Liquid hand soaps usually contain sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS), which some people can find very drying. I try to avoid it completely as it makes my hands so dry the skin starts cracking. Thankfully, there are plenty of SLS-free handwashes and bars of soap out there – www.faithinnature.co.uk, www.naturisimo. com and www. biggreensmile.co.uk have lots to choose from. Or just pop into your nearest Holland & Barrett.

Hair feeling dry and parched after the summer? Coconut oil could be your saviour.

You can find it in some supermarkets and health-stores, or buy it online.

Coconut oil is solid at room temperature so scoop up around a tablespoon of it and use the warmth of your hands to melt it. Then just smooth it through your hair (avoiding the roots), leave for half an hour and rinse out. Coconut oil is packed with fatty acids and minerals so works like an intensive conditioner. You can also use it as a body oil and cleanser. (And for cooking of course.)

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Experienced Care Worker My name is David Walker. I am a care worker with over 30 years experience in caring for DEMENTIA/ALZHEIMER clients I am DBS checked, (references can be supplied on request), and have a full clean driving licence and my own transport I am available for night care and respite care.

Assisting with and accompanying able bodied and disabled people with daily activities and am also qualified to assist with personal and domestic needs I can offer companionship, friendship and emotional support.

For more information or to discuss your needs please call me on 07950 960649 or email walkerdavid443@gmail.com To advertise in The Villager and Town Life please call 01767 261122

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ACUPUNCTURE FOR WELL-BEING

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

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

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Health

Skin Deep - Basal Cell Carcinoma It began with an insect bite on my right cheek.

At least I thought it was a bite though I didn’t remember being bitten. I dabbed it with tea tree oil and waited for it to heal up. It sort of did, but then grew a little and flaked a little. It was tiny, maybe 2-3mm across but something about it bothered me. I told myself that if it hadn’t gone in a month, I’d see the GP. It didn’t change much over that time, but neither did it go away so, listening to my gut feelings, I went to see my GP feeling a little foolish (I wasn’t sick after all) and fully expected to be dismissed as one of the worried well, but after inspecting it the GP looked thoughtful. “I think it might be a BCC. A basal cell carcinoma.” I was shocked. Carcinoma was cancer, right? I was only 50. Was I going to die?

A basal cell carcinoma is indeed a type of skin cancer. There are two main types of skin cancer: melanoma and non-melanoma. BCC is a nonmelanoma type, and accounts for more than 80% of skin cancers in the UK. As with most skin cancers, exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light from the sun or from sunbeds is the cause, which is why they often appear most often on the face or head of fair skinned people like me. I am not a sunbather, nor have I ever used sunbeds.

I do like to be outdoors, cycling and kayaking but I always wear sun protection and a hat. I’m a natural redhead though, with freckles so I am in a higher risk group.

BCCs vary in appearance, from small red flaky areas; scabs that bleed but don’t heal, or pearly

little lumps, often with a central depression. They are generally painless, although sometimes they can be itchy or bleed a little if you catch them with your nail.

I had to undergo a skin biopsy under local anaesthetic to confirm the diagnosis. The dermatologist was at pains to reassure me that BCCs rarely spread to other areas of the body and can be cured in almost every case, although treatment can be more complicated if the BCC has been present for a long time, or if it occurs in an awkward place, such as close to the eye or on the nose or ear.

The commonest treatment for BCC is surgery under local anaesthesia. The BCC is cut away, along with some surrounding skin. There are generally just a few stitches but sometimes a skin graft is needed. Sometimes radiotherapy, curettage (scraping), cautery (heat treatment), cryotherapy (freezing treatment), photodynamic therapy (PTD), or creams may be used instead.

My BCC was removed surgically. I was worried I would have a large scar as the wound seemed very large in comparison to the size of the lesion but six months later it’s faded so much that you can barely see it.

Treatment is easier if a BCC is detected early. So, if you notice a new lesion on your face (or anywhere on your body) which is growing, or which bleeds and never really heals, or if your skin appearance has changed in any way don’t wait, consult your GP. It’s worth it.

By Aoife Brennan

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Complementary Health

Golfers and Back Pain: Don’t suffer for your sport

Back Care Awareness Week 7-11 October 2019 I see many golfers in my practice suffering from back pain. In this article we’ll look at one simple technique to help reduce stressing your back while swinging. Yes, there are exercises to condition your body for golf, but unfortunately, stronger muscles don’t necessary result in better technique.

A golfer at the top of their game is a beautiful sight, as science, art and skill combine to achieve what logically appears almost impossible. A thought creates a chemical reaction, translates into a billion electrical pulses, activates around 700 muscles and 206 bones to perform a miracle of coordination, organisation and implementation to achieve an expectation. If you catalogued each and every single action in this brief moment it would take months, but you can do it in a second.

When it works well, it feels so simple, easy and immensely satisfying. When it doesn’t, it seems like each part of your body is doing its own thing in conflict with every other part.

If the ball doesn’t go where you intended, forget it about, you’ll have another shot to put things right shortly. But if your back goes out, then it’s game over for the day, or worse, for much longer.

So why the difference? What works so well one moment and not the next?

It only takes a tiny amount of inappropriate activity in one seemingly insignificant muscle to upset your coordination, that in turn, places stress on another muscle that is not up to the job.

Unfortunately, the majority of us don’t have the degree of sensitivity or self-awareness to notice the small differences from one shot to the next that affects coordination.

Let’s look at one of the many variables that can affect your swing and potentially strain the back.

Do you clench your jaw just before you swing?

Would you notice? It’s probably not on your list of things to do, but I see many golfers doing it in preparation. Does it matter? If you unknowingly do this to prepare, it changes the dynamics of your swing. I say ‘unknowingly’ because it could well be clenching your jaw has become a habit.

If it’s a habit, you won’t know you’re doing it, and therefore you can’t control it.

Tightening the jaw stiffens the neck. Neck muscles are hugely influential in coordination, so even the slightest tension can compromise movement – just like applying the handbrake before driving.

Try this. Relax your jaw and face, feel the release flow down your neck, shoulders, into your hands, down the back and legs and into the floor. See how much this can free up the swing. Allow your nervous system to contract and release your muscles at the right time to take the strain out of the shot. Now see what if feels like when you clench the jaw. What impact does this have on your body? Is it tight or free? Spend a second to implement this simple technique and your back will thank you for it – and you could also see the ball fly straighter!

Roy Palmer is a teacher of The Alexander Technique and author of Golf Sense: Practical Tips On How To Play Golf In The Zone.

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

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House of Colour

How to Dress Well for your Job

Whether your work place is really casual or quite formal what we wear does affect how we are viewed at work. What we need are some hard and fast ways to look professional, dress well for our job and feel good so we can leave home for the day with confidence (and not spend ages in the morning fretting over it!):1. Knowing what suits you means you can spend a little longer in bed, with your kids or at the fym in the morning. If your capsule wardrobe is full of clothes that fit you, are the right style for you and in the best colours for you then you can save a huge amount of time (and money) and eliminate wardrobe stress first thing.

2. The Corporate Look – Only one in 10 employees are thought to wear a suit to work. It may be that in very formal or conservative jobs a suit still signals professionalism but what’s wrong with adding some flare? If you dress like everyone else then you may feel like you fit in more easily, but you are less likely to get noticed.

If tailored jackets don’t suit you go for a more unstructured jacket or a cashmere or a good quality cotton cardigan in a colour that makes you look radiant.

3. Take Pride - Being well groomed and wearing the right size and style can make or break your professional look. Wearing shoes that make you walk badly or being unkempt is a poor start to you entering the room for an important meeting. Taking care of yourself sends a message that you take care with your work and also your colleagues.

4. It is all in the detail - We all suit different hemlines, necklines, trouser lengths, lapels and sleeves, not to mention of course colours etc.

Know what suits you rather than necessarily opt for the latest trend.

5. Wearing quality – it says we are successful because we have investment power. Quality is always better than quantity for your look, not to mention your wallet and the environment too.

Cost per wear is a great philosophy for life.

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6. Colour – Only 1 in 4 of us can look good in black whether that be a suit or other workwear and that includes the gents. Choose the colours that makes you look fresh and dynamic not drained, but in your mind professional.

7. Personalise your work attire with easy-update, ready to grab accessories such as gorgeous bags, scarves and quality jewellery to add oomph.

Perfectly pair with a fabulous pair of shoes that can boost your confidence and empower neutral smart attire in particular. Use a pattern shoe such as snakeskin, a bold colour or detail depending on what suits your personality.

8. Be authentic - Know who you are. Mark Zuckerberg, Oprah Winfrey, Melinda Gates and Richard Branson all have a clear work look that makes them themselves. If you have a bubbly and bright personality, then try a gorgeous funpatterned blouse with cigarette trousers. If you are a classic dresser then ooze timeless style with a gorgeous shift dress. Add a ruffle or two if you have some gorgeous curves. Being and dressing true to yourself actually leads to stronger bonds with your peers and removes barriers in the workplace.

9. Confidence bags the job – It is important not just how you are perceived by others but how you feel about yourself. Have a bit of variety in your wardrobe so you can feel confident if you need to be authoritative and chic because you have a big meeting, or more relaxed and creative because you are writing an important document.

Always be authentically you but dress for the day ahead to be confident.

10. Understand Smart Casual – If your job role is more casual still always opt for a smart-casual to give the best impression. Be on your boss’s radar for all the right reasons. The old adage still stands - dress for the job you want, not the job you have. Over half of workers believe a casual dress code is more affordable and takes less upkeep, and more than one fifth say they felt more able to express their personality, but this doesn’t mean you shouldn’t look good at work.

By Jennie Billings, Colour and Style Consultant, House of Colour www.houseofcolour.co.uk/jenniebillings e:jennie.billings@houseofcolour.co.uk

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Call Nadia on 07790 000256

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Leeds Day Solicitors

Planning for a future with Dementia If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with dementia it is important to review your legal affairs to ensure they are in order.

Dementia is one of many conditions that can affect a person’s capacity to deal with their own affairs.

The most common form of Dementia is Alzheimer’s.

Other types of Dementia include vascular dementia and Pick’s disease. Symptoms often include memory loss, mood changes and problems with reasoning and communication skills. Whilst a diagnosis may be life changing it is certainly not life ending and many people living with dementia lead an active and fulfilling life for many years after diagnosis. However, symptoms will gradually become worse and so making plans for the future will ensure that your finances are in order and you receive the care and support that you want.

Lasting Powers of Attorney can be put in place to manage your property and financial affairs and health and welfare. Under the Lasting Power of Attorney for property and financial affairs, your attorney(s) can deal with financial matters including managing bank accounts, paying bills, making investments and selling and purchasing property.

Under the Lasting Power of Attorney for health and welfare your attorney(s) can make decisions about your medical treatment, what type of care you receive and where you live if you become unable to make these decisions yourself due to mental incapacity. Without these documents in place your wishes may not be followed. Many people assume that their spouse or children will have the legal right to deal with their affairs in any event but this is not the case.

It is also important to make a Will and keep it up to date. A Will ensures that your loved ones are looked after and well provided for, avoids disputes after

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

your death, saves your loved ones the worry at an already stressful time, details your funeral wishes and can deal with inheritance tax planning. Even if you believe that your wishes are very simple it is better to seek legal advice to avoid unforeseen problems.

An individual living with dementia may require some level of care and this can be expensive. Attorneys can ensure that the correct assessment is carried out by the local authority as to how much you should contribute towards your care. It may be that the local authority will pay some or all of the fees and you may qualify for full funding by the NHS. Additionally, it may be possible to safeguard part of the value of jointly held property against care fees by setting up life interest trusts under your Will. Similarly, if you wish to leave a gift to someone under your Will who has been diagnosed with dementia you should consider setting up a trust so that the assets are used in the best interests of the person with dementia and do not interfere with any means tested benefits that they receive.

Leeds Day is a Dementia Friendly Firm and our staff have been trained to deal with sensitive issues surrounding diagnosis. We offer a personal, friendly and sympathetic approach to assist in dealing with estate planning, Wills and Lasting Powers of Attorney.

If you need any advice then contact Leeds Day on 0844 567 2222 or email wills@leedsday.co.uk

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

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

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Finance

By Ann Haldon

Is early repayment right for your mortgage?

If you have money left over at the end of each month, or have received an unexpected lump sum, you may be thinking about paying off your mortgage early. You can save large amounts in interest and potentially cut your mortgage term by years but it’s not always the best option.

So what factors do you need to consider before deciding whether to clear your mortgage early?

Does your mortgage allow for overpayments?

Not all mortgage products let you overpay and some will charge you for doing so, but many allow borrowers to overpay up to 10% of the outstanding mortgage with no penalties. If you’re not sure about the terms and conditions of your mortgage, get in touch with your lender or check the original documentation.

Are you enrolled in any pension schemes?

If you’re currently paying into a pension scheme it could be more beneficial in the long run to increase your contributions because of the tax relief offered by the government. If not, consider using the extra money to start saving taxefficiently for your retirement.

What are the current savings rates?

Although savings rates have been extremely low in recent years, there may be a fixed rate or longer term savings account that offers a higher rate of interest than that charged by your mortgage lender.

Do you have significant unsecured debt?

Paying off more expensive debt such as credit card and store card balances, and unsecured loans, is always a good idea if you have residual income

and should be prioritised over paying extra sums to your mortgage. Once this type of debt is paid off you’ll automatically increase the amount of money you have available each month and can then consider overpaying your mortgage, which is a lower cost debt.

Do you need extra life insurance?

You probably had to take out a life insurance policy to cover your mortgage loan amount, but it might only cover death rather than illness or disability.

It’s a good idea to review your insurance needs from time to time – you may want to change from a fixed period that covers your mortgage term to a ‘whole-of-life’ policy where the timing of a payout isn’t restricted, for example.

Do you have an emergency fund?

If you lost your job, could you pay the bills for at least six months? If not, it would be worthwhile building an emergency fund with your residual income rather than paying down the mortgage.

A mortgage is typically the largest debt that people take on. It represents a huge financial commitment whatever your stage of life, and paying it off early always seems a very attractive option at first glance.

Before you do, though, consider some of the other areas where the money could be put to better use, at least for a while – then you can go ahead with confidence and potentially shave years off your mortgage term. www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk/en/articles/shouldyou-pay-off-your-mortgage-early

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Time of Year

The Big Draw October 1st -31st October is the official month of the worldwide project The Big Draw, which promotes the benefits of drawing for children and adults.

I enjoyed art at school but like many kids I stopped drawing when I realised I’d never be ‘good’. Turns out you don’t need to be. The beauty of drawing is that you get all the benefits even if you make the average toddler look like Da Vinci.

Drawing develops fine motor skills - Drawing provides immediate visual feedback that changes depending on the type of pencil, pen or crayon used and how its manipulated. This feedback helps to identify the best ways to produce the desired result. Fine motor skills are important for writing and typing in school, but are also great for adults with arthritis or mobility issues.

Drawing improves hand-eye coordination - If you’re trying to reproduce what you see then you are exercising hand-eye co-ordination. This helps with writing but also in sport!

Drawing helps you see - By drawing objects in

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By Karen Campbell

proximity to each other we learn about distance, size, perspective, and texture. It makes us really look at the world in ways we may never have done so before.

Drawing aids concentration - Studying an object, focussing on form and detail takes time. If we’re enjoying that process it aids concentration. This is helpful for both children in school, but also older people, particularly in early stage dementia.

Drawing improves problem-solving - How do you connect body parts, convey distance or size, represent emotion or texture? These are all creative problems to be solved.

Drawing boosts confidence - If you practice, you improve and feel good, whether you’re an adult or a child, that’s a confidence boost you can take into other areas of your life.

Drawing is a great activity and beneficial for any age group or ability level. Look out for local activities related to The Big Draw.

For more information visit https://thebigdraw.org

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Gardening

By Pippa Greenwood

The Rock Garden is Alive…

If you have ever dreamed of Sound of Music landscapes, then create your own! A garden mountain range might not be possible, but you may have space for your very own rock garden. So what do you need to do?

You’ll need to choose a fairly sunny spot, ideally away from overhanging deciduous trees – most alpine plants like a fair bit of light and detest becoming clogged up with deteriorating leaves.

Even if space is limited, make the rock garden on as large a scale as possible, for more impact and planting opportunities, and a more realistic feel.

If possible include gullies running down the rock garden, perhaps ending in a pond or pool, by arranging rocks so that water can over or between them. Where the water runs beneath rocks (rather the over them) you should use guttering or drainage pipes that are hidden by soil or rock outcrops.

Get yourself a good selection of rock from local or mail-order suppliers and don’t be tempted to use old chunks of concrete – the end result will look like a rubble pile with plants!

Use a pile of rubble or broken bricks to create the classic mound shape – this will be hidden by the good-looking rocks. The rubble pile also ensures good drainage; alpines typically hate being too wet.

Use upturned turves on top of the mound, laid grassy side down. Then add a layer of sandy soil, to a depth of about 30cm (12in), over the top of the turves; these prevent the soil from slipping down amongst the rocks. Then, using string and pegs,

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mark out where you want each outcrop of rock.

Once the soil is well-firmed, use a spade or a trowel to dig out a hole for each rock; this keeps the rocks securely embedded so they won’t shift even in heavy rain.

Use smaller bits of stone beneath the rocks to wedge them firmly. Add more soil over these bits of stone and then more soil between the rocks when they are in position. Water well to settle the soil, topping up if necessary.

Alpine plants are available in nurseries and garden centres now, but just choose a few – buying more throughout next spring and summer will give you an array of alpines to provide flowers and interest throughout most of the year.

Arrange your plants, still in their pots, on the surface of the soil. When you are happy with how they look, use a trowel to make a planting hole, then remove the pot, pop the plant in the hole, and fill in around it with some compost. When you have finished planting you can top-dress the soil surface with good-looking horticultural grit or gravel.

Visit Pippa’s website www.pippagreenwood. com and you’ll find some great gardening items: Nemaslug and controls to sort out lawn infestations and other great natural pest controls, stylish cloches, practical and pretty plant supports, the fantastic SpeedHoe, gardening tools, planters, Grower Frames, signed books and more! Or why not book Pippa for a gardening talk at your gardening club?

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41

Pets

Animal

Know-How

As Bonfire Night approaches, lots of people start getting excited about watching fireworks and going to bonfire displays. However, the excitement is not shared by all. Many animals find fireworks scary. Did you know that approximately 45 percent of dogs in the UK show signs of fear when they hear fireworks?

So, what can we do to help our pets during the Bonfire Night celebrations? There are a lot of straight forward things you can do to help your pet cope with fireworks. By preparing in advance before all the fireworks start, your pet will be able to cope better with the sudden loud bangs and bright lights.

Ask your neighbours whether they are planning to have a firework display in their back garden or if they are going to attend an organised one. Read our top tips and find out how you can keep your pets safe and happy during the celebrations. f you have a dog, talk them for a walk during daylight hours, thus avoiding times when fireworks are being set off. Make sure all windows and curtains are closed as this will cushion and muffle the noises outside. You could always play some music or put the television on to mask the sound of the fireworks.

This will help to create a calm atmosphere. If your dog is particularly nervous and frightened, we would suggest making a quiet hiding place where your dog can go to feel safe and in control. It is important to follow their lead, as different pets cope with fireworks in different ways. Providing a safe place to

hide is really sensible but be aware some dogs might prefer to be near their owners. Keep a close eye on them and try to gauge how they are feeling. Have plenty of toys to hand to distract them, if there are any sudden noises.

Cats would also benefit from having places to hide.

Perhaps make two or three around your home, for them to retreat to if they start to feel stressed. Cats often feel safest when they are high up, so they may prefer a space on a shelf or a cupboard. Avoid picking up cats or restraining them as cats prefer to control how they cope. Like dogs, cats respond to the soothing voice of their owner, and can often mimic the emotions of their owners. For example – if their owner is frightened or becomes startled that will unsettle the animal.

Many of us have outdoor pets living in hutches and cages. These small animals are particularly vulnerable by being outside. Some owners of small animals prefer to bring them indoors during the Bonfire Night celebrations. If that is not practical, you could partially cover outdoor cages and pens with blankets. This acts as soundproofing and will provide your pets with an area to take shelter and hide. Other animals may benefit from being given extra bedding so they can burrow and hide from the loud noises and bright lights. Garages and sheds can also be used as a temporary homes for your outdoor pets.

So, whatever you are doing on Bonfire Night, have fun, stay safe and think carefully about how to keep your pets safe and happy.

Brought to you by the RSPCA Bedfordshire North Branch www.rspca-bedfordshirenorth.org.uk 42

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Pets

Rehoming Appeal Kiera & Narla Kiera and Narla are two tortoiseshell coloured cats that came to RATS from the same home. Kiera, is the dark tortoiseshell and she is 3 years old. She is a lively, outgoing cat who is playful and loves attention.

Narla is 4 years old. She is quite shy and not as confident and outgoing as Kiera. Once she gets to know you, she is really a very sweet, gentle little cat who likes to be fussed.

Both cats are neutered, microchipped and vaccinated and they can be homed together or separately, but a home without young children would be preferable for them.

If you would like to find out more about either or both of these pretty cats, 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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21 OCTOBER TO 20 NOVEMBER

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By Louise Addison

Parenting

The Screen Time Debate How much is too much?

For many parents battles over screen time and devices have become a frustrating part of family life. So how much screen time is too much for kids? Well, it’s complicated. For some years parents have been advised to limit media consumption, but new research suggests it’s the quality not the quantity that matters.

Until quite recently parenting advice centred around the concept of screen time quotas with a Goldilocksstyle sweet spot of two or so hours of screens a day, beyond which media use could become harmful. But now the advice is more conflicting. There seems to be a general consensus that under the age of six there should be no more than one hour of “high-quality programming” per day, but for older kids the advice is simply to “place consistent limits on the time spent using media” and to designate some screen-free time as a family. Unfortunately it’s not clear whether “consistent limits” means four hours playing a video game on a Sunday every week, or whether three 20-minute sessions on an iPad is preferable to one hour-long session.

What is clear is that for young children one of the most important things is whether parents and kids play, watch or browse together. The nature of screen time matters. Passive TV is potentially more harmful than game-playing, socialising, or using creative apps. Psychologists are likening our media diets to what we put on our plates. It’s not just about digital junk-food, it’s about the relationship we have with technology and the role it plays in our family life. We need to avoid using screens to distract teens or younger children from uncomfortable emotions, in the same way we wouldn’t encourage the use junk food to soothe them.

Interestingly a recent study of 20,000 parents published by the Oxford Internet Institute and Cardiff University determined that there was no correlation between limiting device use and children’s wellbeing.

Another study by the University of Michigan on children aged four to 11 similarly found that it was how children use devices, not how much time they spend on them, which is the strongest predictor of emotional or social problems connected with screen addiction.

Although specific screen time limits are out of date, there is evidence that excessive use has negative impacts, affecting sleep, health and mood. Screen time, in and of itself, is not harmful – but reasonable restrictions vary greatly, depending on your child’s behaviour and personality. A useful strategy for parents is to ensure that what they’re watching, playing and reading is high-quality, age-appropriate and safe – and to join in wherever possible.

Balancing the online and offline world seems to be key, and that may vary greatly from family to family.

Research shows that not having access to the digital world has a negative impact on kids too – so it’s all about finding the right amount for your family, with an holistic approach.

There’s a lot to be said for knowing your child and using your common sense!

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Motoring

These are the best seven-seaters on sale today Need plenty of space, both for luggage and occupants too? You’ll want a seven-seater then.

Fortunately there are plenty of options, offering a choice of body styles from a variety of brands.

But which are best?

Land Rover Discovery - This list was always destined to feature Land Rover’s go-anywhere Discovery. As well as seven comfortable seats, its off-road technology makes it just as capable at scaling steep inclines as it is making the weekly shopping run. It’s expensive, but the Discovery comes loaded with equipment and is available with a range of engine choices.

Volvo XC90 - The first-generation XC90 stormed the market thanks to its rock-solid build quality and efficiency. The latest edition continues the legacy, albeit with a lot more technology and equipment. It’s also one of the safest cars on the market thanks to a raft of assistance systems. For families, there are few better options than the XC90.

Seat Alhambra - For the best possible passenger space, look no further than the Seat Alhambra. It may be a little outdated inside, but makes up for it with a huge amount of interior room. It’s also surprisingly good to drive, and frugal, too.

As the Alhambra is not a new model, you’re likely to find good deals at the forecourt.

Skoda Kodiaq - Skoda hit the nail on the sevenseater head when it released the Kodiaq. Rocksolid build quality and incredible value for money meant that this Czech SUV enjoyed immediate popularity and has continued to do so.

It’s available with a range of efficient engines too, including a new performance-orientated model, the Kodiaq vRS.

Audi Q7 - The big Q7 flies the flag for premium manufacturers here, offering that top-notch driving experience you’d expect from an Audi.

A high-quality interior and silky-smooth petrol and diesel engines seal the deal. There’s the allconquering SQ7 available too – which puts many ‘normal’ performance cars to shame.

Tesla Model X - Representing the electric contingent is Tesla’s Model X. Spaceship-like in design, it’s a real looker out on the road. A realistic 300-mile all-electric range means it’s usable for long-distance drivers, too.

Though it may be expensive to buy outright, the Model X justifies its high price tag with minimal running costs and plenty of performance.

Mercedes GLS - The Mercedes GLS takes the fight to the Audi Q7, and having recently been updated, packs more technology and features than ever before. A longer wheelbase than the car it replaces means there’s more space than before, and improved legroom for all occupants. The interior of the car has been vastly overhauled, with a full widescreen infotainment system helping to give the cabin a particularly high-tech feel.

Ford S-Max - Though Ford’s S-Max has been around a little while now, it’s still one of the bestdriving seven-seaters around, and offers genuine practicality as well. A range of frugal engines help to keep trips to the pump to a minimum, and build quality is solid.

A range-topping Vignale is now available, though even lower trims get a vast amount of standard equipment.

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By James Baggott

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Winnipeg

Travel

By Solange Hando

Canada’s Gateway to the West On the edge of the prairies, Winnipeg is one of the sunniest cities in Canada, multicultural, vibrant and the capital of Manitoba.

Named ‘Muddy Waters’ after the big lake out of town, it is located at the confluence of the Red River and the smaller Assiniboine where, before the Europeans arrived, the First Nations had been trading for thousands of years.

Times have changed but set in acres of greenery, the ‘Forks’ remain a popular meeting place. In this National Historic Site, converted warehouses and new buildings beckon with craft shops and gleaming stores, al fresco cafés and a convivial market hall serving food from all over the world.

Here’s the Old Spaghetti Factory, there a rail carriage full of Victorian candy, an art exhibition or the observation tower for stunning city views.

Down by the water, wild flowers wave in the breeze, Canadian geese peck undisturbed and locals stroll quietly along the river or meditate under the trees, inspired by a painting or a poem on the back of a lonely seat. There’s bright sunshine in summer, dazzling ice in winter for skating on a rink or on the river trails used by commuters on their way to work.

On the northern bank of the Assiniboine, the grand Legislative Building is topped by a golden statue of Hermes, the god of trade, while around the corner, close to the Forks, Winnipeg claims the only museum in the world fully dedicated to human rights. In an innovative spiralling building inspired by mountains, clouds and prairies, twelve galleries lead up to the Tower of Hope, rising high above the city and the Red River spanned by the Esplanade Riel. Honouring Manitoba’s founder and Métis leader, this iconic pedestrian bridge connects the Forks to the French Quarter,

a lovely relaxing place with early 1900s facades, restaurants, pastry shops and the rebuilt St Boniface cathedral, Mother Church of Western Canada. Equally enticing are Little Italy, Chinatown and the cool Osborne Village, well known for street art and ethnic eateries.

Meanwhile, in the south-west, the Assiniboine Park Zoo is a treat for animal lovers, its highly praised conservation project caring for almost 200 species on 80 acres of ground from pools and enclosures to dens and rugged areas. Spot a rare snow leopard or red panda, look out for reindeer, Arctic fox, yak, tiger, camels, snakes, poisoned dart frogs, butterflies and birds such as the colourful scarlet ibis, and much more. But most breathtaking is the ‘Journey to Churchill’, exhibiting the different habitats of North Manitoba and – in the best natural environment – looking after polar bears whose life would otherwise be threatened. Some are orphaned cubs, others fully-grown creatures who acquired a taste for human flesh. Also loved by everyone in the park area is the statue of Lieutenant Harry Colebourn and the young bear he rescued, calling her Winnie after Winnipeg, his Canadian home, and who was the inspiration for the legendary character of Winnie-the-Pooh.

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Quirky Britain

Panto: the UK’s quirkiest tradition? Oh, yes it is!

Christmas may seem a long way off, but such is the

By Kate McLelland popularity of pantomime, the best seats could have already disappeared in a puff of fairy dust.

Pantomime is a British tradition that’s guaranteed to mystify anyone who is unfamiliar with our culture. The name itself creates confusion: when US-based Baywatch actor Pamela Anderson received her first offer to appear in pantomime in Liverpool in 2010, she was convinced she would be “miming in a box” (bizarrely, she agreed to do it anyway).

Like most traditions, pantomime has grown from customs and practices that have been transformed over time by changing tastes and fashions.

There’s nothing like a Dame One of pantomime’s best-loved characters is the ‘Dame’.

Nearly always played by a man, the Dame is generally portrayed as a vain, foolish woman, determined to get a husband at any price. But, with the possible exception of the villainous Ugly Sisters in Cinderella, the Dame never fails to gain the audience’s affection. It seems that we Brits simply love the idea of a man acting out a female role.

Maybe that’s because the practice of men appearing as women on stage is deeply embedded in British culture.

Until the law was changed in the early 1660s, it was illegal for women to act in theatres, so audiences were used to seeing men performing in female attire.

Copying Commedia Commedia dell’arte was a broad type of comic performance popular in Italy between the sixteenth and eighteenth centuries, which is said to be the forerunner of our traditional pantomime. Based on ‘stock’ characters, the plots generally featured a pair of lovers, a mischievous servant, a clown or pierrot character and a money-grabbing old man.

While pantomime’s young lovers have changed little from Commedia dell’arte days, some of the other characters have been reworked to fit different plots. The clown is still with us in the shape of daft but lovable Simple Simon or Wishee Washee, while Cinderella’s footman Buttons is a pale reflection of the Commedia’s high-spirited servants. Finally, the stock character of the old man appears variously as the foolish Baron Hardup (Cinderella), the villainous Fleshcreep (Jack and the Beanstalk) and the power-hungry Abanazar (Aladdin).

Harlequinade to pantomime In the seventeenth century, British theatre borrowed some of Commedia’s characters to create an early type of pantomime known as a ‘Harlequinade’. But pantomime as we know it today was created when audiences began to demand more and more spectacle. Canny theatre producers discarded the less popular parts of the Harlequinade but kept the transformation scene, where Harlequin waved his magic baton (nowadays a fairy wand) to show fairytale characters and scenes dramatically changing before the audience’s eyes. By the Victorian era the Harlequinade had become the two-act pantomime we would recognise today.

So pantomime goes on, changing year on year to suit current tastes, but in many respects remaining true to its earliest origins. It’s the one theatre entertainment that can successfully play to an audience aged between two and ninety-two, but will it continue to do so for centuries to come? Oh, yes it will!

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Parenting

Small steps to make a big impact It’s not always easy to be eco-friendly, but there are ways you can work together as a family to lead a greener life.

Discuss the issues - Talk to your family about what you want to achieve and why. You might be surprised at what they come up with. After watching ‘War on Plastic with Hugh and Anita’, my children announced they were giving up jelly pots and other plastic-wrapped snacks. Can you commit to walking or cycling to school rather than going in the car? Can you all agree to use reusable water bottles rather than buying drinks while you’re out?

Recycle - Make recycling easier by labelling your bins so it’s clear what goes in each one. Print pictures to stick on the lids if you have young children. Short on space? Ikea sell space-saving stackable storage bins.

Crisp packets, biscuit wrappers, toothbrushes, contact lens packaging and baby food pouches usually aren’t collected by the council, but they can be recycled by TerraCycle. Alternatively, Ellie’s Fund has recycling collection points across the UK to raise money for brain tumour research, see www.elliesfund.com/recycling.

Get crafty - Most children love crafts, so why not look at a few eco-projects? You could make beeswax wraps together (an alternative to cling film) or soy candles to give as gifts. My children decorated some organic tote bags (£1 each on eBay) to donate to the local shop for customers to borrow.

Go wild - Cut down on the weeding and do your bit for insects by letting an area of your garden go

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wild. Encourage birds by hanging up some bird feeders and bird boxes, or planting large shrubs or a hedge for them to nest in. Don’t have a garden?

Search the RHS website for pollinator-friendly plants for pots and window boxes.

Reuse - Try to reuse before buying new. You could melt wax crayons down in silicone cake moulds to make new chunky crayons for example. Kids desperate for plastic toys? Buy them second-hand on eBay or Facebook Marketplace.

Take action - Get your kids involved in campaigning! You could encourage them to write to your MP or send letters to ask favourite brands to reduce plastic waste. You could even take part in family-friendly climate marches together.

Make the switch - one of the things that make the most difference actually take the least amount of work. Switching to a renewable energy supplier such as Bulb, Ecotricity or Octopus only takes a few minutes. Most green energy companies have excellent customer service ratings and sometimes work out cheaper than the larger companies.

Move your money - Banks often use your savings and loan repayments to invest in companies you may not want to support. It’s easy to move your family’s money to a more ethical provider. Charity Bank, Triodos and Ecology Building Society all offer a range of ethical investment opportunities and savings accounts. Want to stick to a high street bank? The Co-operative Bank has a strict ethical policy that sets out what it won’t invest your money in.

By Kate Duggan - www.kateduggan.co.uk

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Technology

Things that go bump in the night How to protect your tech from disaster

Ghosts aren’t the only thing we need to worry about over Halloween: there’s also the ever-present risk of dropping or damaging your device. Whether it’s lumps, bumps or ending up underwater, all kinds of horrors can affect our phones, tablets and laptops.

One way to prevent problems is to look for hardy hardware in the first place. For example, many smartphones (e.g. a recent Samsung Galaxy or iPhone) now boast what’s called IP68 certification, which means they’re water and dust resistant. If you have an older phone, you can buy protective cases that promise IP68 protection for around £15.

It’s important to understand what IP68 and its sister rating, IP67, actually mean – and remember, water resistance is not the same as waterproofing. IP67 and IP68 tell you that a phone can be immersed in a specific depth of water for a specific amount of time: one metre deep and half an hour for IP67, rising to one and a half metres for IP68. This means

that when new, your phone can be dropped in pure water and survive for a short time.

Pure is important, because chlorine in swimming pools or salt in the sea is very corrosive.

Repeated exposure to either will eventually wear away the seals and damage your phone’s water resistance.

One of the biggest dangers for devices is being dropped or scratched. Solve the former with a protective case, and the latter with a screen protector. Plastic screen protectors are harder to fit properly because of air bubbles, but glass ones can crack and can be hard to remove when they’ve been scuffed.

Protective cases come in a variety of flavours, styles and prices.

The trick is to think about what kind of protection you want, so for example if you’ve got kids it’s worth looking for a relatively thick case with very large lips, so when – and it’s a case of when, not if – the device gets dropped, the case keeps the screen well away from the floor. Some kids’ cases include

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carrying handles that make them less likely to be dropped in the first place.

For grown-ups, it’s about striking a balance between substance and style: you want protection, but not so much protection you can’t fit it in your bag or pocket. Slim cases can still do a very good job of protecting your phone’s back and sides, but they do leave the screen relatively exposed: it’s a good idea to look for one that still has a bit of a lip around the screen and to put a good screen protector on too.

No matter what protection you use, it’s designed for relatively minor things – so for example most protective cases are designed to protect from drops of a few feet, not from the top of a ladder. If the worst happens and your phone is seriously and expensively damaged, check your home insurance: it may well cover the damage to your phone. If you have a bank account that offers various rewards for a monthly fee, you may have phone insurance in there too.

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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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Life Begins...

By Kate McLelland

Pick a retirement hobby while you are still working Retirement beckons, and with it the opportunity to do the things you’ve always wanted to do but haven’t had time for. However, research by the Skipton Building Society has shown that we don’t always follow up on our dreams of an active retirement: apparently many of us start to feel bored and undervalued within just ten months of stopping work.

According to the Age UK Index of Wellbeing in Later Life, the rate of our general wellbeing can increase by 20% if we simply engage with the world around us, whether that’s through social activities in the community, physical activities or creative pastimes.

Finding the right hobby can help you make new friends and give you a sense of purpose, which ultimately benefits both your physical and mental health. But here are so many options, it’s often hard to know where to begin.

Sociable hobbies Joining a choir can be one of the most rewarding ways to

spend your leisure time. It’s estimated that a staggering 2.8 million Britons now belong to a choir, and recent research has shown that group singing is a particularly fast way to create social bonds – in other words, it’s a speedy short cut to making new friends.

Other ways to meet people include volunteering at an animal shelter, joining a book or film club or local amateur dramatic society, helping at a charity shop, or starting a social media group such as a neighbourhood watch.

Home alone If you want something you can do at home, creative hobbies such as upcycling furniture, card-making or jewellery-making could be perfect. Get inspired by the speedy arts and crafts videos available on YouTube or scour charity shops and second-hand bookstores for cheap ‘how to’ books that can teach you a new skill.

Buy vintage jigsaws and share the completed pictures with friends online, write poetry or short stories, take up knitting or

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baking or learn to fix up an old car. Alternatively, find a pen pal in the UK or overseas with the help of clever phone apps that make it easy for you to chat to people all over the world.

The great outdoors Exercise is important for health.

Whether you choose something like metal detecting (which you can do on your own) or Nordic walking (which you would normally do as part of a group), there are so many hobbies that encourage you to explore the great outdoors and get fit in the process.

Fishing, trainspotting, birdwatching and amateur astronomy are also popular and will encourage you to get out and about in the open air.

Although you may be tempted to put off choosing a hobby until you’ve finally finished work, the evidence suggests that it’s a good idea to have a plan in place. With a little preparation you should be able to walk out of work and straight into a life filled with exciting new possibilities.

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n O s ’ t Wha In October

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

What’s on entries to whatson@villagermag.com

2 October Black Cat WI 7.30pm Wyboston Village Hall The group meets on the first Wednesday of each month. Tel: Susie Woodman 01234 376098 2 October Brampton Flower Club 7.30pm Community Centre, High Street, Brampton Tel: Jan Dobie 01480 531822 Web: www.bramptonflowerclub.com

2 October Huntingdon and District Branch of the Royal Air Force Association 7.30pm for 8pm First Wednesday of the month.

Tel: Tony Perryman Secretary 01480 465395 Email: rafa.huntingdon1@btinternet.com 2 October How can Little Paxton become a Dementia Friendly Community?’

7-8.30pm St James’ Church, Little Paxton Talk by Dementia Friendly Communities Officer.

2 October Little Paxton Gardening Club 8pm Monthly meetings and trips out in the summer months. Tel: Jane Hill 01480 218805 Email: lpgardeningclub@hotmail.com 4 October St Neots Local History Society 7.30pm Eynesbury Junior School ‘David Parr House, Cambridge’ by Tamsin Wimhurst.

Web: http://stneotslhs.org.uk 4 October Wildlife Roadtrip 7.30pm Hinchingbrooke Performing Arts Centre, Huntingdon For fans of wildlife on TV, Springwatch presenter Iolo Williams teams up with amiable presenter Martin Hughes-Games on a roadtrip which brings them to Hinchingbrooke Arts Centre. Book early to avoid disappointment. Web: www.wildlifebcn.org/roadtrip 5 October Adult Learning and Skills Saturday Workshops St Ivo Academy A wide range of courses cookery, astronomy, flower arranging, art, glass jewellery, makeup for mature skin, calligraphy, first aid, car maintenance.

Tel: 01480 495717 Web: www.aclearning.org.uk 5 October Art & Craft Fair 9.30am-4pm Free Church Hall, St Ives Quality handmade art and craft stalls. Tombola.

5 October St Neots Timebank Coffee Morning 11am-1pm St Mary’s Church Rooms, St Neots Come and join us for a cuppa and cake (only £1.50!)

Come wearing something orange and/or yellow.

We’ll have pumpkin pictures to colour and the best dressed and best colouring will win 5 Tempo Credits which can be exchanged for free entrance to venues across England and Wales. Tel: 07590 909057 Web: www.stneotstimebank.org.uk

9 October Wildlife Trust ‘Six Legs Good – More Legs Better!’

7.30pm Brampton Memorial Hall, Thrapston Road, Brampton A fascinating talk by Brian Eversham, Chief Executive of the Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire, on the many species in our animal kingdom that have six or more legs.

Tel: Alistair Grant 07775 365507 Email: alistairrgrant@hotmail.com

5 October Simply Saturday 12.30-2.30pm St James Church, Little Paxton Carpet bowls. For adults of all ages with lunch and various activities available. Tel: Helen 01480 216255 Email: young_paxton@ntlworld.com

9 & 23 October Knit, Stitch & Natter Group 1.30-3pm St James Church, Little Paxton £2 inc. tea, coffee, cakes & biscuits Tel: June Griffin 01480 39977

5 October Cambridgeshire and Bedfordshire Hardy Plant Society 2pm Weatherley Centre, Eagle Farm Road, Biggleswade John Amand with ‘Unusual bulbs and how they get to your garden’. John is the Managing Director of Jacques Amand International and a new speaker for the group. Web: www.hpscambsandbeds.co.uk 5 October Apple Day! 1-4pm Wandlebury Country Park, Cambridge Free event. CambridgePPF. Guided walks around the park, bring your own apples for juicing (don’t forget the containers!), learn more about cooking with apples, try your hand at archery, and browse the various activities and stalls.

5 October Quiz Night 7.30pm Offord Village Hall Tickets £5. Teams up to 6 can be made on the night.

Bring your own food and drink.

Tel: Contact John 01480 810049 7 October St Neots Timebank Evening 7-9pm Tesco Community Room Tel: 07590 909057 www.stneotstimebank.org.uk 8 October St Ives Sugarcraft Guild 7.30pm Reading Room, Hemingford Grey Monthly meetings where you can learn, hands on, various cake decorating techniques and/or sugar modelling. Tel: Shirley 01480 454616 for more info

9 October Fundraising Coffee Morning 10am-1pm All Saints Church, Market Square, Huntingdon The Hunts Society for the Blind Fundraising Coffee 5 October Morning. All welcome to come along and try our St Neots & District Camera Club Annual delicious homemade cakes, accompanied by a cup of Exhibition 10am-4pm The Priory Centre, St Neots tea and coffee. Craft stalls, tombola and raffle. Every Admission £1. A superb exhibition of over 300 prints. second Wednesday from March-November.

Refreshments. www.stneots-camera-club.org.uk

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10 October Stay Calm & Learn CPR 7-8.30pm Village Hall Meeting Room, Little Paxton Community Defibrillator Awareness. Do you know the difference between a heart attack and cardiac arrest?

They are not the same. Would you know what to do?

Learn how to recognise sudden cardiac arrest, use the defibrillator and do CPR. It takes only 5 minutes to save a life. Tel: Parish Clerk 01480 47019 11 October Tea & Antiques at Williams Antiques 9.30am-1pm Tythe Farm, School Lane, Colmworth In aid of Breast Cancer Care.

Web: www.williamsantiques.co.uk 11 October Bedford Brass Concert Doors open 7pm, concert starts 7.30pm Little Paxton School Hall Adults £8, Children £5. Tickets available from The Anchor Pub, St James Church, by telephone, email or on the door. Fundraising concert for St James Church.

Light buffet will be served. Tel: Jenny 01480 219022 Email: admin@the paxtonsbenefice.org 12 October Hemingford Village Market 9am-1pm Parish Centre, Hemingford Grey Second Saturday of the month. Food, crafts, plants and flowers from small local businesses. Hemingford Grey Parish Council surgery should you wish to meet councillors to discuss local issues. Refreshments available all day in the Hemingford Garden Room.

Until 12 October Life Lines 2 - New work by Buckden Life Drawing Group 11am-4pm St Neots Museum The Buckden Life Drawing Group present a stunning exhibition of drawings, and paintings revealing the human body in all its beauty and complexity.

12 October Quiz Night 7.30pm United Reformed Church, High Street, Tebbutts Rd, St. Neots £5. 6 people per team. Bring your own food and drinks. Closing date 9 October. Tel: Lee 07931 315648 Email: lm.duncan@ntlworld.com

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n O s ’ t Wha In October

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

12 October Theatre at the Leper Chapel: Hamlet 8pm The Leper Chapel, Cambridge £15. For ages 14+. Tickets available online or at the venue from 7.30pm on the night. No parking onsite.

Web: www.insitutheatre.co.uk

17 October Love’s Farm Women’s Institute 8-10pm St Neots Football Club Meets on the third Thursday of the month.

Tel: Nikki Jackson 07563 715043 Email: lovesfarmladieswi@gmail.com

14 October 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

18 October The Hinchingbrooke Bösendorfer Piano Concerts 7.30pm Hinchingbrooke Performing Arts Centre, Huntingdon Adults £15, All 5 concerts £60, Groups 20+ £10 each, Under 21s £5. Florian Mitrea, piano. Florian, born in Romania, is a multi prize-winner, including in his successes competitions in New York, Vienna, Verona, Munich and Glasgow. Since studying at leading institutions in Bucarest and London he has made his home in the UK and forged an impressive international career. His programme will include music by Beethoven, Liszt and Debussy.

Tel: 01480 375678 (9am-3pm) Web: www.ticketsource.co.uk/hinchingbrookepac

15 October 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.

15 October Kimbolton Flower Club 7 for 7.30pm Mandeville Hall, Kimbolton Visitors £7.50. Harvest Celebration with a ‘Bring a Plate’ supper. Talk on healthy living by a representative from Healthwatch.

16 October Carers Coffee Club 2-3.30pm The Royal Oak, Hail Weston Are you caring for a loved one with a memory loss?

Come along and enjoy a cuppa whilst chatting with others in a similar situation. Our informal group meets on every third Wednesday of the month.

Tel: Neil Silby 07889 319888 for further details Email: kimpigfarmer@tiscali.co.uk

19 October St Neots Community Day 10am-3.30pm Great Hall, The Priory Centre Free admission. 30 local community groups, clubs and organisations will be coming together to illustrate what is available for the residents to take part in or join. Included will be various sporting activities, several musical genres in and creative arts, with visitors being able to meet their members, see displays and demonstrations.

19 October Bow Ties and Jewels 7pm Alconbury Church 16 October Tickets £10. St Neots Jewels and Huntingdon Male Friends of Paxton Pits Talk 7.30pm Visitor Centre, Voice Choir present an evening of favourite songs.

Paxton Pits Nature Reserve Tel: 01480 453137 Email bookings@hpfwi.co.uk £2.50 on the door. ‘Orchids’ an illustrated talk by Graham Bellamy. Although thought of as exotic 20 October plants found in remote places, there are over 50 Autumn Craft Fair 12-4pm species found in the British Isles. Half of these are St Peter’s Church, High Street, Offord Darcy found in the Beds and Cambs area and some of them Local crafts people will be selling their wares in time are very rare. Come and find out about their range of for some early Christmas shopping. Refreshments. habitats and their fascinating natural history.

Tel: 01480 406795 22 October Halloween Biscuit Craft Activity 16 October 10am-12pm St Neots Library Huntingdonshire Family History Society Free admission Tel: 0345 045 5225 7.30pm Women’s Institute Centre, Email: stneots.referral@cambridgeshire.gov.uk Waldon Road, Huntingdon ‘Mr Pickwick’s Huntingdon Scrapbook 1838’ with 23 October Mike Petty. Tel: Caroline Kesseler 01480 390476 Art & Science Workshop Email: secretary@huntsfhs.org.uk 11am-1pm & 2.30-4.30pm St Neots Library Website: www.huntsfhs.org.uk Workshop by artist Tinkamel for inquisitive and creative minds to make art that lights up!

17 October Experiment with a range of techniques, components Friends of Paxton Pits Guided Walk and power sources (including solar energy and smart 10am-12.30pm textiles) to create inventive and beautiful electronic Visitor Centre, Paxton Pits Nature Reserve circuits on paper or fabric. All materials provided. £2.50 on the day. The route taken is designed to Suitable for families, adults and young people aged show you the best of what the Reserve has to 8+. Tickets available online. offer. Walks start at the Visitor Centre and last Web: www.cambridgelive.org.uk approximately two hours. Tel: 01480 406795

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24 October St Ives & District Flower Club 2.15pm Burgess Hall, St Ives Visitors £7. Demonstration by Ducie Lofting ‘Ode to Autumn’.

24-26 October The Good Old Days 7.30pm plus 2.30pm matinee on Thursday Papworth Village Hall Evening tickets £15 inc. traditional ploughman’s supper, Matinee tickets £10 inc. tea & cakes Celebrating songs and sketches from 1850 to 1945.

Tel: Louise Hewitt 07855 698348 www.ticketsource.co.uk/the-music-hall-society 25 October Engage: A look at the town in 1975 and now 2-4pm St Neots Library Local history talk with Sue Jarrett. T: 0345 045 5225 Email: stneots.referral@cambridgeshire.gov.uk 26 October St Neots Art Group Autumn Exhibition 10am-4.30pm United Reformed Church, High Street, St Neots Free admission. Raffle with all proceeds to Parkinson’s UK. Refreshments served.

27 October Rumpelstiltskin 2-3pm St Neots Library The Theatre of Widdershins will create gold on stage with this new version of the Grimm’s classic tale.

Suitable for families with children aged 4+. Tickets available online. Web: www.cambridgelive.org.uk 29 October Little Paxton Pictures Doors open 1.45pm, Film 2pm St James Church, Little Paxton Free admission. ‘High Society’ (U). Refreshments available. Subtitles. Donations welcomed.

29 October Little Paxton Pictures Doors open 7.15pm, Film 7.30pm St James Church, Little Paxton Free admission. ‘Star Wars’ (U). Refreshments available. Subtitles. Donations welcomed.

29 October Huntingdonshire Diabetes Group 7.30pm Millennium Hall, Burberry Road, Buckden With Ryan Chillingworth - Falls Prevention Service Co-Ordinator, Everyone Health.

Email: hunts.diabetesuk@gmail.com Web: huntingdonshire.diabetesukgroup.org 30 October Michaelmas Fair 10.30am-3.30pm Longstowe Hall Admission £5. In aid of British Red Cross. Wide variety of exciting stalls. Free parking. By kind permission of Mr and Mrs Bevan. Tel: Caroline Hudson 01223 868684 or 07734 286343 Email: chudson@redcross.org.uk

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Short Story

By Jackie Brewster

A Marrow Just Knows “Make room on the table for my marrow, Linda,” Edna barked, hugging the vegetable to her chest, while pretending not to notice Linda slipping something she shouldn’t into her coat pocket. “It’s my donation to the tombola.”

“Edna, what a surprise!” Linda shrilled, smoothing her clothing. “I thought you were helping to get the cream teas ready?”

“All done,” said Edna, heaving the marrow onto the table, “so I thought I’d come and give you a hand.”

“I’m nearly done here too.” Linda needlessly fussed over her display.

“We’ve got a good spread.” Edna stood back and admired Linda’s arrangement of donated tombola prizes. “Would you look at that!”

“You mean the hamper?” Linda remarked casually.

“A very generous donation.”

The tombola table was heaving with jars of chutneys and jams, some very nice-looking homemade cakes and some not so nice-looking homemade cakes. But it was the hamper that everyone would be want to win.

“Must be a few bob’s worth of stuff in there – chocolates, prosecco and some very fancy smellies,” Edna winked at Linda. “Looks like number five is the ticket everyone will be trying to get their mitts on.”

“Is it?” Linda unconsciously touched her pocket. “Oh yes, of course it is.”

“Very good of you to help,” Edna continued. “It’s always nice to get new volunteers.”

“Very kind of you to donate your marrow.” Linda patted the huge vegetable. “I’m sure anyone would be delighted to win that.”

“Doubtful,” Edna snorted. “I’m glad to see the back

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of it.”

“Really?” Linda frowned. “Why’s that?”

“Look at it.” Edna nodded warily at the marrow.

“I’ve had that thing staring back at me from the vegetable plot for weeks.”

“How odd. It looks as though the stripes have formed a human face on it. It’s quite sinister isn’t it?”

Linda whispered. “It’s as though it’s scowling.”

“Its eyes follow you everywhere,” Edna growled. “It knows all your secrets.” Edna warmed to her theme.

“Last week I forgot to leave some money out for the milkman, and that marrow wouldn’t give me any peace until I put it right.”

“But that’s crazy.” Linda stepped back. “How can it know?”

“It just knows,” Edna shrugged, and let her words hang in the air for a moment. Finally, she added cheerfully, “Are you going to stick a raffle ticket on it?”

“Yes of course.” Linda jumped and battled with the tape dispenser while keeping her eye on the marrow.

“Shall we put the tickets in the tombola barrel?”

Edna said. “That’s the last job isn’t it?”

Edna watched as Linda anxiously folded the raffle tickets, a mist of sweat beading her top lip. The women worked in silence while the marrow looked on, angrily.

Edna knew it wouldn’t be long until Linda cracked.

A marrow always works a charm on a guilty conscience. Even a marrow with a face drawn on with felt-tipped pen. Ticket number five would soon find its way out of Linda’s pocket and back into the tombola barrel, with no questions asked.

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Interiors

1

Fab Floors From traditional wooden boards to soft carpet, funky rubber to classic stone, flooring is fundamental to the look and feel of a room.

Choose the right flooring for each space and it will both look good and last.

Timber

By Katherine Sorrell from an architectural salvage yard – these have the advantage of years of beautiful patina.

Solid-wood engineered boards are cross-bonded for stability (meaning they won’t warp or move, which solid timber is prone to), making them a good choice with underfloor heating, while cheaper, but less longlasting, are either a multi-layered or veneered wood floor, where the surface is a thin layer of hardwood attached to a base of cheaper wood, MDF, cork or plywood, or a wood-effect laminate floor, in

Flooring must be practical. For the hall and probably the living room, too, the toughest, most durable flooring is best, while a more delicate type will be fine in a spare bedroom. For kitchens, bathrooms, utility rooms and conservatories, consider how well it will withstand spills, splashes and general humidity.

Beautiful and hard-wearing, timber floorboards are available in a range of colours and patterns. It is often possible to recondition an existing wood floor by mending or replacing damaged boards and sanding carefully, then finishing it with oil, wax or lacquer. If not, choose new hardwood from an environmentally friendly source or seek out recycled boards

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What flooring where?

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WALL COATING

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which a photograph of wood is bonded to a chipboard base and protected with a high-pressure laminate surface.

Carpet

Soft, warm and quiet underfoot, carpet comes in two main types: woven, which is harder-wearing and more expensive, and tufted, the durability of which is related to its pile height and density.

Carpets are classified for light, moderate, general, heavy and extra-heavy domestic use. Select a tough carpet for a hallway: perhaps an 80:20 (wool:nylon) twist classified for heavy domestic, while for a living room a combination of a luxury look with a robust performance, such as a loop or velvet pile, would be best. A spare bedroom carpet could be more delicate – a velvet or Saxony classified for light domestic use, for example. For a seamless look, lay carpet suitable for general use throughout.

3

Carpets are inadvisable in kitchens and bathrooms.

2

Natural fibres

In a wide range of colours and weaves, sisal, coir, seagrass, rush and jute are warm and soundproof and, often, good value for money. The rougher the surface, the more hard-wearing it will be – so sisal and coir may feel uncomfortable underfoot at first. Jute has the softest feel, but is the least durable. A stain inhibitor is advisable.

Hard surfaces

Sandstone, limestone, granite, marble and terrazzo are expensive floorings that last a lifetime and have a beautiful, individual grain and patina. In areas that might become wet and slippery choose a version that is matt or slightly textured – sanded for a rough finish, or riven for an attractive, hand-split effect. Ceramic tiles are heat- and water-resistant, hard-wearing and low maintenance. They vary widely in price and come in a vast array of shapes, sizes and designs. Unglazed terracotta tiles (or quarry tiles) are rugged and non-slip.

Sheet flooring

Softer and warmer than stone or timber, sheet floor coverings – vinyl, linoleum and cork – are relatively inexpensive and very easy to clean. Lino is a traditional material made from natural ingredients, while vinyl is a PVC-based man-made material,

which comes in a huge range of textures and patterns. Cork is hard-wearing, resilient to water and offers an interesting, natural look. Rubber, good-looking, practical and tactile, is available in smooth or textured designs, the latter ideal for bathrooms.

Rubber floors should be laid professionally.

What Lies Beneath

The success of any flooring depends on the sub-floor underneath. It must be level and dry, with no protruding nails. A good quality underlay will prolong carpet life and add comfort and insulation, while laying thin sheets of board may be necessary to prepare for sheet flooring such as vinyl or lino. Before laying heavy stone tiles, the sub-floor may need reinforcing – check with your builder or a structural engineer if in doubt. Tiles are best laid onto a smooth concrete or cementbased backer board.

1 For the last word in elegance, it’s hard to beat a solid wood floor with a simple rug. This oak floor comes with a lifetime guarantee and a Uniclic Multifit system for quick and easy installation.

Palazzo Oat Flake white oak oiled hardwood, £69.99 per square metre, Quick-Step: 02830 250 477; quick-step.co.uk.

2 Made from hard-wearing honed limestone, this tumbled stone creates a modern rustic vibe, with fossilisation and markings adding to its look and feel. It can be laid in all rooms and is suitable for use with underfloor heating.

Tumbled Med-Grey limestone, from £49.08 per square metre, Indigenous: 01993 824 200; indigenous.co.uk.

3 Laying a stair runner creates a sense of elegance in any home. These narrow-woven runners are created using a British wool blend, spun and dyed in Yorkshire and woven on traditional looms for a hand-finished feel.

Pelham Slate in 100% wool, £129 per linear metre, Roger Oates: 020 7351 2288; rogeroates.com.

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71

W. COOK ELECTRICAL www.wcookelectrical.co.uk

Electrician local to St. Neots and surrounding areas Available for all your domestic electrical needs in and outside your home Elecsa certified Fully insured For a free quote, call Warren on

07533 865309

or email: wcookelectrical@virginmedia.com 72

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Crossword Solution for The Villager September Edition Last Month’s Crossword Winner - Mr T James from Huntingdon Ed Byrne Competition Winner - Cloe Turnbull from Hitchin

September’s Codeword and Suduko Solutions

Easy

Hard

Advertising in The Villager is easy.

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The Villager Prize Crossword

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

16th October 2019 Prize Crossword, Villager Publications Ltd

Prize

ÂŁ25

Across 1 Actors in a play (4) 3 Grow or enlarge (8) 9 At rest (7) 10 Odd (5) 11 Numerical (12) 14 Short sleep (3) 16 Very angry (5) 17 Epoch (3) 18 However (12) 21 Call in (5) 22 Spiciest (7) 23 Agitated (8) 24 Classification (4) Down 1 Ritual (8) 2 Divided (5) 4 Head movement (3) 5 Necessities (12) 6 The mean value (7) 7 Beige (4) 8 Exploratory (12) 12 Adjust (5) 13 Tape container (8) 15 Crushes (7) 19 Foe (5) 20 Above (4) 22 Owns (3)

24 Market Square, Potton, Beds SG19 2NP Name: Tel:



Address:

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N O T YO U R AV E R A G E H O M E I M P R OV E M E N T C O M PA N Y

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0800 046 1080 30% OFF ORDERS PLACED IN OCTOBER hello@thehomeimprovementproject.co.uk www.thehomeimprovementproject.co.uk 76

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Books

Book Review

By Kate Duggan The Dutch House

by Ann Patchett

This is a book about the bond between siblings, the repercussions of past events that echo down the years and the attachment people can feel for a place. In this case, the place is a big, grand house, and the siblings are Danny and his big sister, Maeve. Their mother flees when Danny is just a toddler, leaving Maeve to step into her shoes. When the children gain a stepmother, they soon learn they’re not welcome in their own home and the future they had planned comes tumbling down. A beautifully written, gentle book, The Dutch House is one to savour.

Tall Tales and Wee Stories

by Billy Connolly

Tall Tales and Wee Stories brings together some of the most popular sketches from Billy Connolly’s 50 year career in comedy, including Jojoba Shampoo, The Last Supper, Shouting at Wildebeest and more. Dip in when you need an instant pick-me-up after a bad day.

(Just don’t read it on the train, unless you don’t mind snorting with laughter in public.)

Time to Cook

by Nadiya Hussain

Like to eat home-cooked food but often struggle to find the time? This book is for you. From batch-cooking to making the most of leftovers, plus plenty of quick and simple recipes, Time to Cook is a treasure trove of ideas. Enjoy Harissa Bean Pizza for brunch (with just ten minutes hands-on time), followed by One Tray Peanut Chicken for dinner and Caramelized Biscuit Traybake for pudding.

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