VILLAGER The and Town Life LOCAL NEWS • LOCAL PEOPLE • LOCAL SERVICES • LOCAL CHARITIES • LOCAL PRODUCTS Your FREE copy Issue 161 - September 2022 Bringing Local Business to Local People Every Month in Buckden, Brampton, Godmanchester, Eaton Socon, The Hemingfords, Grantchester and all surrounding villages Inside this issue Visit Cape Verde Pruning Power Win £25 in our Prize Crossword
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To advertise in The Villager and Town Life please call 01767 261122 3 Inside this issue... Editorial - Peter Ibbett, Solange Hando, Trevor Langley, Jennie Billings, Leeds Day Solicitors, Martin Lewis, Caroline Knight, Alan Titchmarsh, Rachael Leverton, RSPCA, Darren Cassey, Tom Hancock, Louise Addison and Kate Duggan Advertising Sales/Local Editorial Nigel Frost • Tel: 01767 nigel@villagermag.com261122 Front Cover Photography: Gerper Design and Artwork Design 9 - Tel: 07762 969460 VillagerPublishersPublications Ltd 24 Market Square, Potton, Bedfordshire SG19 2NP Tel: 01767 261122 Email:www.villagermag.comnigel@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. Pruning Power 38 RSPCA - Have you considered fostering? ................................. 40 Seasonal Recipe: Fish Stew 43 Ford Fiesta ............................................................................................ 44 Puzzle Page 48 What's On in September ................................................................ 50 Crying the Mare and other Harvest Traditions 53 Home Heating - Is it time for a change? ................................... 54 Villager Prize Crossword ................................................................. 58 Book Review 61 Useful Numbers ................................................................................. 63 Auctions to continue at New Street St Neots 4 Five reasons to visit Cape Verde this winter ............................. 6 Wines from Austria: A Good Choice 12 Eat, Drink Repeat ................................................................................ 17 Transitional Weather Dressing 20 Home Start .......................................................................................... 23 Bedfordshire Walking Festival 25 Free Money .......................................................................................... 29 Is your family lawyer is up to scratch? 30 Money on my Mind ...........................................................................32 Make September a Sumptuous Celebration 34 Green Fingers .......................................................................................37 Get your business off to a flying start this year Advertise with the Villager Magazine... prices start from just £35.00 +VAT per month Home Heating Time for a change? Pruning Power 38 54
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History Auctions to continue at New Street St Neots Peter
By
Ibbett
Today’s photograph is tomorrow’s history. An occasional visitor to St. Neots would be familiar with Peacock’s Auction yard standing between two unmade potholed roads by St. Neots common and might, at a glance, have concluded that on-line auctions had claimed another victim from the analogue pre-digital era. However, the old buildings and yard have been swept away to make way for improved 21st century standard buildings and facilities. Traditional auction houses have become hybrids adding on a world-wide digital audience to compete with in-person Thebidders.history of the site can be traced back to at least the Georgian era. Wrycroft’s Almanac of 1902 suggests that before the Parish workhouse was built in Church Street in 1768 it was formerly at the north end of New Street near the Common gate. Thus this site may have been a workhouse. The first auction yard seems to have been that of Frank Maddison (1820-1878) who was here in 1864. He was followed by F.J. Maddison, and by 1905 it had become Maddison & Son (date of the advert in Homeland Handbooks Vol 40 Huntingdon & The Great Ouse with St. Neots & St. Ives.) In 1912 the business was taken over by Dilley, Son & Read of Huntingdon & St. Ives. ( C J Tebbutt St. Neots 1978. St. Neots museum is always interested in any material and memories of changes in the town. Entry is free for locals and surrounding parishes.
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3. You could see turtles and whales Cape Verde is home to some of the most important loggerhead turtle nesting sites in the world. On the reasons to visit Verde this winter
Want
Five
Cape
With its endless white-sand beaches, stunning mountain scenery and vibrant culture, it’s no wonder Cape Verde is fast becoming one of the UK’s favourite spots for winter sun. Blessed with clear blue skies and temperatures in the high twenties, it’s the perfect destination to escape to during the UK’s colder months. This idyllic archipelago off the west coast of Africa may be known for its winning combination of sun, sea and sand, but with ten islands to explore there’s plenty of room for adventure too. From watching turtles hatch and hiking still-active volcanoes to a whole host of water sports, Cape Verde is packed with things to do should you need a break from the sunlounger. All just a six-hour flight away! to know Here are five reasons to consider Cape Verde when planning your next winter break – and what not to miss while you’re there.
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1. The beaches are simply divine Powder-soft sand washed by turquoise sea, lined with swaying palm trees: the beaches in Cape Verde are pictures of pure paradise. Sal, the archipelago’s most popular island, is home to the gorgeous Santa Maria beach, where bustling bars, shops and restaurants offer a welcome break from the midday sun. Fancy a little more peace and quiet? On the island of Boa Vista, you’ll find unspoilt stretches of sand with barely a soul in sight to share them with. Praia de Chaves is a must-visit; this otherworldly beach boasts over 5km of sand and dunes that stretch as far as the eye can see.
2. There are adventures to be had Thought Cape Verde was just a fly-and-flop destination? The beaches may be beautiful, but the archipelago’s volcanic landscape, jaw-dropping mountain scenery and cities bursting with culture make the islands an adventurer’s playground too. Witness the lunar-like landscape of Fogo, also home to the country’s largest volcano, or immerse yourself in Santiago’s rugged peaks and lush green valleys. If you’re looking for a more cultural experience, you’ll love the island of São Vicente with its vibrant nightlife and buzzing live music scene. What’s more, the higher winds during November and March also make Cape Verde’s beaches a fantastic place to practice water sports, from windsurfing and kitesurfing to sailing. Wherever you go, you certainly won’t be short of things to do.
more?
By Solange Hando
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5. It’s the perfect place to go island-hopping With each island offering its own unique flavour, why settle for just one? Imagine starting your holiday on the beach, followed by a couple of days spent walking through jaw-dropping mountain scenery, then the next morning you’re off to hike an active volcano. If that sounds exciting, you’ll love an islandhopping holiday around Cape Verde. With boat tours leaving daily, there’s ample opportunity to experience the true diversity of Cape Verde for yourself. Don’t miss out on the chance to visit the tiny island of Santo Antão – a wonderland for hikers. It’s by far the greenest island in the archipelago and is often considered the most scenic too.
Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts island of Sal you can visit Project Diversity, a nonprofit organisation that protects the turtles’ nesting sites and helps hatchlings make their way to the sea. Visit between July and December for the best chance of witnessing the tiny turtles’ journey. The waters around Boa Vista are also a known breeding ground for humpback whales, giving you the chance to book a catamaran tour to see the mighty mammals for yourself. Sightings are possible from late February through to May. Keep an eye out for dolphins too! 4. The festival fever is alive and kicking Festival-lovers listen up. Winter in Cape Verde brings with it a whole host of fantastic festivals and celebrations. Mindelo’s annual Carnival on the island of São Vicente is by far the archipelago’s most famous event. Held each year on Shrove Tuesday, the carnival sees the small Cape Verdean town come alive with live music, colourful costumes and Takingdancing.its influence from Brazil’s Mardi Gras, the carnival officially lasts a week – but locals will tell you Carnival fever begins at the end of the previous year! The event was unfortunately cancelled in 2022, but should be back up and running in 2023.
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WINZER KREMS has the reputation of being one of the most significant producers of estate bottled quality wines in Austria. Winzer Krems produces wines of excellence. Specialising in growing grapes of major Austrian varieties, the juices are extracted using state-of-the-art equipment and then fermented with controlled temperature. www. winzerkrems.at Importer: Ehrmanns Ltd. For all details of the full range of wines, from each company, please visit their respective websites. Enjoy! Langley
Food & Drink
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Austria attracts many visitors, from global origins, constantly. From pretty alpine villages, through cities, boasting beautiful architecture, to stunning landscapes, with lakes, mountains, glaciers and so much more, there is something for everyone. Vienna is the capital city and home to Strauss, the renowned family that is famous for numerous musical scores, including much-loved and well-known waltzes. The Vienna Boys Choir has many followers, worldwide. Locating Mozart’s birthplace, cathedrals and a lot of other locations, including some of the world’s finest museums and art galleries, hold much interest. The high-quality wines, produced in Austria, many of which are multi award-winning, have become recognised for their distinctive, superb attributes. www. Grüneraustrianwine.comVeltlineris the most-planted grape variety in Austria. The grape is very capable of producing excellent white wines, from light productions to more concentrated and also sparkling delights. Zweigelt is Austria’s most-planted red wine grape variety. Zweigelt is utilised, to great advantage, to produce wines from dry to sweet in taste, including ice wines.
Trevor
Importer: Awin Barratt Siegel Wine Agencies.
WEINGUT ALLRAM is a major winery of the Kamptal, having well-known vineyards, including Heiligenstein, Gaisberg and Renner. Michaela and Erich Haas-Allram produce wines to an exceptional standard. Lorenz HaasAllram is manager of the cellar and ensures high-quality productions of this company’s wines. www.allram.at
ARTNER boasts some of the finest wine growing locations in Carnuntum. This region is located in the eastern area of Austria. Artner wine estate specialises in Austrian grape varieties that include Zweigelt. Several grapes, for white wines, are grown too. The estate also grows other varietals, such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah. www. artner.co.at Importer: Lea & Sandeman Co Ltd.
As always,
Wines from Austria: A Good Choice
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17To advertise in The Villager and Town Life please call 01767 261122 Travel Eat, Drink, Repeat Consider yourself to be a foodie? Then you will love these destinations where the cuisine is the top tourist attraction Somerset, UK What makes Somerset so intriguing as a foodie destination is perhaps its perfect location – close to the water for seafood, surrounded by a perfect farming and arable landscape, and located a sensible distance from London to still attract some of the best chefs. Bath has a wealth of fine dining experiences, including Menu Gordon Jones and The Olive Tree, plus the ‘sea-foodie’ must-visit, The Scallop Shell. Then there’s the Michelin-starred restaurant-cumpub The Pony and Trap in Chew Magna, and Osip and Matt’s Kitchen in Bruton, and The Courtyard Restaurant in Wells. And September could be a great time to plan a road trip through the county, as Weston-SuperMare hosts the eat:Weston festival (Sept 24th and December 11th), showcasing some of the best local producers. San Sebastian, Spain Boasting the second highest concentration of Michelin stars per square mile in the world after Kyoto, this Spanish Basque city is a unique culinary Yetgem.beyond the critically acclaimed Alameda, Elkano, Kokotxa and Zuberoa, there is also an array of fine tapas available in the old quarter of the city.
Copenhagen, Denmark The city that spawned the ‘New Nordic Cuisine’ culinary trend – which revolves around using local ingredients and seasonal produce to create simple, elegant dishes, adapted from traditional Nordic techniques – Copenhagen is not only home to the world-famous Noma restaurant (ranked best restaurant in the world by Restaurant Magazine in 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2014), it is also the best place to sample Danish ‘must-try’ dishes such as pickled herring, Danish cheeses, and the classic Smørrebrøda Danish open-faced sandwich.
As you would expect, seafood is the main appeal for a city located on the coast, but the influence of Basque food also plays a major role, with everything from Idiazabal cheese to Espelette peppers to meaty stews, all washed down with the most perfect sangria or cerveza! Melton Mowbray, UK Back in the UK, and chocoholics would be crazy not to head to Melton Mowbray, the quintessential English market town on the weekend of November 19th/20th, when Chocfest descends in all its melty, sugary glory. Known as the ‘Rural Capital of Food’, Melton Mowbray has become the centre of excellence for local food producers, with its famous, generous pork pies – which are prided on the fact they don’t contain preservatives, flavours, artificial colours or hydrogenated fats – and stilton cheese.
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Silk skirts work particularly well with knits but it applies to patterned too. Colour - Are there some colours that you bracket as only to be worn in cooler months? Try breaking these out into different areas of your wardrobe. Could a ‘summery’ t-shirt work with a knit or jacket from your ‘winter’ wardrobe? Take your clothes out of the wardrobe (particularly your ‘winter’ clothe) House of Colour and go through them. Could they be paired with any of your lighterweight options that you might be about to put away? The other good reason to do this is to cast a critical eye over what is needed in the forthcoming season and what needs to be recycled etc. If you need more help putting outfits together and making your wardrobe really work for you find your nearest stylist and get a wardrobe session. You have more options than you think!
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Please mention
Statement skirts into Autumn – could your lightweight skirt from the summer work with a boot, ankle or knee high and layered knit on the top half?
Article by Jennie Billings – House of Colour House of Colour has a network of stylists to help you update your look – find your nearest at houseofcolour.co.uk/find-a-stylist
The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts New season stock well into place in the shops and the weather getting a little cooler or unpredictable means a style shift. With our variable weather and temperatures, we need pieces that will allow us to accommodate those changes. Here are some tips to get you well prepared. Waistcoats – knitted or in lightweight fabrics have been a theme and continue into the Autumn this season. They work well over lighterweight shirts, t-shirts and can be useful as an additional layer under jackets. Chunkier knitted options, the sleeveless turtleneck, will take you further into the cooler months, work well paired with midi dress and boots if you can work looser layering. They also work well under a tailored jacket for another smoother layered look. Silk layers – layering underneath can be more flexible than adding a cardigan, much loved though they are. A silk layer can be cool when it’s warm and warm when it’s cool. They are an absolute go to for me when the weather turns. Give yourself a variety of neckline options so that they don’t interfere with the neckline of your top. Patra Selections has a great range. Tailoring – more structure appearing in looks this season so use a tailored jacket over your lightweight knits. This continues the trend we’ve been seeing in the Spring looks too. Shorter and more waisted shapes are appearing in tailoring, great news for those who need a neater silhouette. Lightweight Leather – faux, real and vintage, there are lots of leather options available and they’re a great additional layer as the weather cools. Try alternative colours, pine greens, creams, tans, rather than the traditional black to update the look.
Transitional Weather Dressing
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.
ACUPUNCTURE FOR WELL-BEING
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23To advertise in The Villager and Town Life please call 01767 261122 Home Start Local News Do you have a bit of spare time and want to make a difference to a family’s life? Why not become a Home-Start Cambridgeshire volunteer. As a home visiting volunteer for Home-Start Cambridgeshire you will be carefully matched with a family for up to 6 months, offering practical and emotional support. The focus of the support is what the family feel they need to help alleviate the strain they are under. Our role is to empower them to see they either have the resources within themselves to do this, or to signpost and support them to access longer term support within their community. Our aim is to help parents be the best they can be, in order to give their children the best possible start in life. We are looking for volunteers from a wide range of backgrounds and experiences who know what it’s like to bring up small children. No qualifications are needed to become a Home-Start volunteer other than being committed, passionate and non-judgemental about supporting families to recognise and use the strengths they have to thrive. Being a home visiting volunteer is hugely rewarding and builds a sense of achievement knowing that you have made a difference to the families you visit. We know it helps develop confidence as individuals and many of our volunteers move onto paid work after gaining skills and experience through Home-Start Cambridgeshire. If you want to be part of our amazing team, please give us a call on 01480 700242 or email: office@homestartcambridgeshire.co.uk. Dates for our next Volunteer Preparation Course are: 4th, 11th and 18th October 2022.
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10th to 18th September inclusive
Those who prefer to stride out and cover the miles taking all day will have to travel but their journeys will be worthwhile starting at Harrold Country Park on the first weekend with an Ouse Valley exploration of 12 miles on Saturday and a Village Meander of 18 miles on the Sunday. On Wednesday 14th join the Slow Ways linear walk from Bedford Bus Station to Riseley of 11 miles, and on Thursday a 16 mile circular gallop starts from Riseley and takes in the remoter parts of north Bedfordshire.
Bedfordshire Walking Festival
individuals as the festival has teamed up with the award winning John Bunyan Boat. A morning informative walk from Priory Marina to Great Barford is followed by an afternoon leisurely cruise back to Bedford. Flexibility is the key on this one because if the walk is too far for you there are options to join or leave at Willington and whatever you decide to do the cost of the trip is the same at just £20 per person. Booking necessary. www.johnbunyanboat.org.
The highlight of the weekend of 17th and 18th is the challenge of the Greensand Ridge Path 40 miles, 19 miles on Saturday and 21 miles on Sunday. Its harder than it looks but well worth the We’veeffort.mentioned just a few and the great thing is almost all the walks are free and no booking Programmesrequired. are now available both in printed form and on the festival web site www.bedswalkfest.co.uk.
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Have you ever thought about getting out into the countryside but feel it would better to go with others, or, are you are new to Bedfordshire and want to see what the county has to offer ? The Bedfordshire Walking Festival, could be just for you, with over 40 walks during the nine days the festival offers an opportunity not to be missed. Nine are in this part of the County starting on Sunday 11th with a morning 7 mile circular LangfordfromVillage Hall. Other circular morning walks include Willington/Moggerhanger, Three Mills and a nature reserve from Stotfold, Greensand Western Parkland from Everton, plus an afternoon four village circular from Roxton on Saturday 17th. If informative Heritage guided walks appeal to you there are two fascinating afternoon walks. The first on Monday 12th when doors are opened and curtains pulled back to reveal how Ladies, Leisure and Lakes have helped to shape Henlow. Entitled the “Three L’s of Henlow” and starts from St Mary’s Henlow at 1-30pm. This is followed on Wednesday with an equally fascinating walk on the Greensand Ridge examining the settlements and geology which forms the landscape to-day. Entitled “The other side of the ridge” and starts from Old Warden Church at 1-30pm. Just a little further away on Thursday 15th there is an opportunity to mix walking with river cruising to create a great day out for groups and
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Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts28 Jill Dighton MA Counselling & Psychotherapy Practice BSc (Hons) Integrative Counselling MBACP (Accred)., UKCP Reg. Counselling Service Depressed? Anxious? Relationship Issues? Low Self Esteem? Have you considered Counselling sessions? Based in Grafham village, I offer a professionally qualified Counselling Service to individuals and couples in a secure, confidential & non-judgemental atmosphere. Ample parking. Concessionary rates available. Fo r further details: Te l: 07925 852 985 (Dedicated line with voicemail) Email: jill@jdighton.co.uk or visit www.jilldightoncounselling.co.uk VIRTUAL PA / GIRL FRIDAY DO YOU EVER WISH YOU HAD AN EXTRA PAIR OF HANDS? NO MONEY OR TIME TO EMPLOY THAT EXTRA PERSON! WHY NOT CALL ME!! • NVQ 3 IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION • ECDL QUALIFICATION • EXPERIENCE IN WORD, EXCEL AND OUTLOOK • EXPERIENCED RECEPTIONIST • EXPERIENCE IN SAGE LINE 50 AND VARIOUS IN HOUSE ACCOUNTS PACKAGES • EXPERIENCE IN PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTORS *REASONABLE RATES* TAKE A LOOK AT THE WEBSITE AND GIVE ME A CALL TO DISCUSS YOUR REQUIREMENTS www.helpinghandso ceservices.com Tel: 01767 690075 / 07966 554304 Email: maureen@helpinghandso ceservices.co.uk
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Inflation continues to rise, and with it the gap between your outgoings and income shrinks. You can’t completely stop spending, but you can earn cash back when you spend. There’s a range of ways to do this, but you need to check the conditions carefully. Credit cards - The best-known option is a cashback credit card. This will give you a percentage of your spending back as money, usually sent to your bank account. You may get a fixed percentage on all spending, a percentage that depends how much you spend, or a varying percentage that depends exactly what you are spending on. Watch for any monthly fees and be sure these won’t wipe out the benefits. The key rule for using such cards is that you should only use them for purchases that you would have made anyway: don’t buy stuff just to boost your Thecashback.interest rates on cashback credit cards are often quite high, so make sure you pay the balance off in full every month, preferably by direct debit. And don’t get cash advances such as bank machine withdrawals as, again, the rates can be high. Bank accounts - Another option is to get a bank account that offers some form of cashback, often called a reward account. There’s often a small monthly fee, but if you are paying regular bills you can usually come out ahead. Check the conditions carefully though: some rewards accounts have a minimum amount that you must pay in each month.
Apps and online - The newest option is to use specialist apps and online sites. These aren’t operated by banks or credit card providers, but rather by independent businesses. In principle, all you need to do is visit the site or app before being passed on to the retailer and you’ll then earn a percentage of any spending as cashback.
However, make sure you check prices carefully and see if you could get it cheaper elsewhere, outweighing the rewards. Be particularly wary of any membership costs. Often such services are free or have a free tier, but they can have monthly fees that may come as a surprise and reduce the overall benefit. Loyalty cards - Finally, don’t forget about supermarket loyalty cards. They don’t pay cash but do offer discounts on future shops. These days, the best value often comes from taking advantage of tie-ups with other retailers and programs, though this does mean doing some research and keeping up to date with the latest policies.
For example, earlier this year anyone using the option to convert Sainsbury’s Nectar card points to Avios air miles effectively boosted their cashback by 25 per cent – though of course, that’s only worthwhile for people who planned to spend their air miles. Remember also that how much financial benefit you get from air miles can vary depending on the type of flight you book.
Free money
. How
Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts30 Leeds Day GeorgeGodwinHuntingdonHouse,Street,Huntingdon,PE293BDT:01480454301 St. Ives 11 Station Road, St. Ives,PE27Cambridgeshire5BH T: 01480 464600 St. Neots Xenus House, Sandpiper Court, Eaton Socon, St. Neots PE19 8EP T: 01480 474661
There are many solicitors who practice family law, which includes handling divorce cases, financial matters arising on marital breakdown, as well as disputes over children. However, the old adage that “You pay for what you get” is not always true. What really matters is not, for example, how much you are paying your solicitor but, instead, having a way to gauge or measure their experience and legal knowledge, as you, the client, sift through the minefield of legal services available today. One way of verifying whether your family solicitor is both experienced and up to date on legal matters, is to check whether he or she is Accredited by Resolution within the family laws area they practice in. Resolution is an independent body comprising over six thousand family lawyers and other professionals who are members committed to the constructive resolution of family disputes. Resolution members follow a Code of Practice promoting a nonconfrontational approach to family problems. They encourage solutions that consider the needs of the whole family, and in particular the best interest of Asidechildren.from Resolution’s main aims, it offers its solicitor members the ability to gain Resolution Accreditation within their chosen area of family law. Accreditation essentially means the solicitor has achieved and has maintained the highest professional standards and can demonstrate experience in their chosen fields, as well as a detailed knowledge of the law and legal remedies available to their clients. Accreditation can be granted in, for example, financial disputes arising from relationship breakdown, disputes over children or in domestic violence Accordingly,cases.some family law solicitors are not members of Resolution at all, whilst some are members of Resolution but are not accredited in this way. In general family law solicitors are not required to seek accreditation in order to be able to handle family law cases and those that seek this mark of competence do so voluntarily. The accreditation process is demanding and requires the family solicitor candidate to undertake an examination which can take several months to complete. Each candidate will be required to submit detailed case accounts of specific cases they have dealt with over the last 12 months which illustrates the level and depth of their experience. In addition, the solicitor will be examined on their knowledge of the law and will be required to answer detailed legal questions which are likely to be encountered by the lawyer in the legal office when acting for family law Onlyclients.upon passing the entire course will they be declared an Accredited Member of Resolution. Such recognition is therefore a clear indication the solicitor is competent, experienced and up to date in the relevant law. Our family lawyers at Leeds Day include Resolution Accredited solicitors specialising in financial matters on relationship breakdown, including complex financial cases, as well as disputes over children. The family team comprises Simon Thomas, Lisa Leader and Lee Bailham and all are highly experienced solicitors exclusively practising family law. In addition Simon Thomas also specialises in collaborative family law. To find out more, contact the family team at Leeds Day on 0844 567 2222, or send an email to family@leedsday.co.uk. We are able to see clients at any of our offices in Huntingdon and St Neots. Our team is able to offer a full range of dispute resolution options, all of which can be found on our website at www.leedsday.co.uk do you know if your family lawyer is up to scratch?
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Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts32 Money
Money on my Mind
In an era of prices rising inexplicably across the board in other elements of our life, the time is now to start working the equation back in our favour, so have a look at your bill, survey the competition and start the conversation!
The Martin Lewis column He’s the UK’s leading money saving expert - a journalist and presenter who has kept millions of pounds in people’s pockets as well as lifting the lid on the threats and dangers we need to be aware of as consumers. In this month’s column, Martin Lewis looks at how, in a time of rising costs, we can make savings in other places. There’s so much attention at the moment on the cost of petrol, the cost of our utilities, the rise in inflation, and it all seems like bad news. Yet sometimes we are all guilty of obsessing over the negative elements whilst failing to recognise good opportunities elsewhere; and if you’re looking for one sector where costs, pretty much consistently over time, have always decreased, then reach into your pocket and take out your trusty mobile Telecommunications,phone.
Every other provider is piggybacking off their signal, so, in effect, it’s the same signal. So by selecting one of the smaller companies all you’re doing is going with a virtual network, and everything else should remain the same. Obviously check before you sign up to see if 5G or tethering conditions are available, but beyond those things it’s the same line. It’s strange that mobile phones are such an integral part of our lives, yet many of us take for granted the competitiveness of the industry and don’t realise where we can be making savings.
broadband and connected industries continue to slash prices in what is a consumer-led price war, and the simple truth is many of us are still paying too much for our mobile phone contracts. So if you’re coughing more than about a tenner a month for your mobile phone contract – and by that I mean calls, texts and data, not the device itself – you’re probably in line to save some money. It all comes down to looking for the best-priced SIM for your needs, because once you find the right deal, it’s really very easy nowadays to grab your PAC code and switch networks. Now usually when I suggest switching to a different mobile provider, people come back with concern over signal strength for, say, Lebara Mobile or PlusNet or whoever it is offering the best deal on data. The reality though is that the communications network is run by four companies and four companies only – O2, EE, Vodafone and Three.
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The sunny flowers of rudbeckia ‘Goldsturm’ create a splash of yellow during September. This awardwinning beauty ensures that sunshine will stay in your garden right through to October and beyond. It works well with ornamental grasses and other daisy types including heleniums. The crimson red flower of helenium ‘Moerheim Beauty’ is one of the best. Asters, with their astonishing display of daisy-like purple, lilac and pink blooms, are often covered in bees and butterflies in September. They set the garden alight with vibrant colour just when you think the show is almost over. Asters are known as a symbol of love and wisdom – let’s all have some of these! September a celebration
Make
It’s not all over in September. Indeed, many people choose this month as their favourite when it comes to drama in the garden. If your outdoor space is looking past its best, this is an opportunity to add to your plant palette. After all, wise gardeners plant today if they believe in tomorrow. Looking good in September Top marks go to ornamental grasses as they are reaching their peak in terms of beauty. There’s a grass to suit just about every type of space and the effect at this time of year is stunning. Swathes of gently swaying grasses lighten the soul. Some measure just a few centimetres high whilst others tower to three metres and more. The seed heads can be pink, purple, cream and white. A few grasses look like lambs’ tails and several resemble giant plumes on a circus horse’s head. For something completely reliable in free-draining soil and a sunny position, try Anemanthele lessoniana, or pheasant’s tail grass. It’s a semievergreen mound of golden and green loveliness that is steaked with red at this time of year. Use some of the larger grasses, including Miscanthus, as specimen plants amongst your borders. They will add froth and glory that improves throughout the year. When most plants are fading, these grasses will be stealing the show with their clump-forming habit and spectacular autumn flowers. Contrast and drama Pay attention to foliage if you want to create some astonishing contrast. Acers, in particular, are now working their way to a crescendo. Their colour takes on a vibrancy that will improve over the next few weeks as the leaves turn gradually crimson, purple, bronze and brilliant yellow, according to variety.
Make the most of ground cover plants such as heuchera, sometimes known as coral bells. There are red, yellow, lime green and orange-leafed varieties. Plant them in groups, next to others with contrasting foliage, to brighten up the autumn understorey. The same applies to heathers, with late-summer and autumn flowers in pinks, purples and white. Erica varieties like free-draining soil in light shade and they can look stunning when planted amongst rocks and boulders, or towards the front of borders. Calluna, or ling heathers, like full sun in acid soil, so there is a heather suitable for almost any location except full shade or bog. More shrubs and perennials for September
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sumptuous
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TheGreenFingersAlanTitchmarshcolumn
He’s a brilliant presenter, accomplished gardener, talented novelist and all-round horticultural inspiration. This month, Alan Titchmarsh discusses putting early preparations in place for winter. So then, winter is coming! Okay, so it’s a way off yet, but getting our plans together early for what we want to see in our gardens in winter, is actually a really good idea, even if the whole discussion feels a little, well, ‘out of season’, you might say! The notion of the winter vegetable is one we all stand by – rough, rustic, wholesome and happy, they are the meal mainstays of a season in which we want to be inside, wrapped up warm, with the products of our labour in front of us. Think about kale, brussels sprouts, parsnips, and who can resist the Jerusalem artichoke? These are all easy to get into the group, simple to maintain, and will flourish as the year goes on, ready for picking just when the temperatures begin to drop sharply in YouNovember.alsoneed to start thinking about early spring vegetables – they’ll be longer in the ground but still working their magic through the winter months. In this case, definitely consider spinach, typically planted at the start of autumn, and carrots too. We associate carrots with sugary, summer flavours, but planted in November and with a bit of protection, the Adelaide carrot flourishes across the colder months for an early-spring treat.
All of this proves that while many of us believe the end of the summer will gradually see our gardens lose their colourful, bountiful appeal, there is still plenty of work to do, and plenty of our outside spaces still to be enjoyed.
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You’ve also got leeks, something that are a must on a winter plot – they offer volume, flavour and spiciness right up until the soil freezes solid – and winter salads… rows of Lambs Lettuce, Land Cress and mustard will need some protection from the elements, but once in the ground are resilient and happy to be picked across the colder months, where they’ll regrow and keep the supply to your lunch table constant. And you can never ignore hardy, tough and tasty onions (and shallots). They are easy to plant, brilliantly versatile, and incredibly resourceful in the soil. Onions have an incredibly long growing season too and require slightly longer in the ground, so planting now will mean they won’t be ready until next summer.
Pruning forces a plant into ‘growth mode’ as it tries to replace what it has lost. When should we prune?
Many autumn-pruned plants benefit from ‘the rule of three.’ My grandfather taught me this and it and means that each year, in the autumn, after the shrub has flowered, you prune out one third of the oldest shoots. This encourages new growth the following spring while still allowing the shrub to flower on the old wood. Treated this way, the shrub will be completely rejuvenated every three years but will flower every year.
Pruning is a word which can instil fear into the heart of a novice gardener. I often get asked when to do it; how to do it, and how extensive it should be? Rarely do I get asked WHY do we do it?
magic or mystery involved: we’re working with the natural inclination of the plant. If the foli age and flowers are produced on new wood, then it makes sense to encourage the plant to produce as much of this as possible. It also makes sense to prune in the spring because any new growth in the autumn would be vulnerable to frost.
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While a shrub won’t die if it isn’t pruned, it might grow too large for the space, or become straggly, or produce poor quality flowers. So, gardeners prune in order to enhance a plant’s performance; to encour age it to produce better foliage, flowers, or fruit.
Pruning Power
By Rachael Leverton
There are two main pruning seasons: autumn and spring. Shrubs that flower in the winter, spring and early summer generally produce their flowers on old wood, which is any stem that grew the previous year. These shrubs need to be pruned in the autumn. Shrubs that flower in mid-summer or autumn tend to produce their flowers on this season’s growth, which means on stems that were produced this year. These shrubs should be left until spring before There’spruning.no
Pruning is best approached with a clear purpose. What is your aim? If a reshape is in order and you’re only partially shortening a stem, always prune to an outward facing bud which encourages a nice, open shape. As I’ve already mentioned, pruned plants will do a lot of growing, which means they’ll expend a lot of energy, hence all pruned plants need a good feed in the spring, before the growing season gets Finally,underway.ifyou do get it completely wrong, don’t panic. Generally, the worst that happens is that the plant looks a bit naff for one season then bounces back the following year. That’s the good thing about plants: they just keep on growing Prune in spring Buddleia, perovskia, dogwood, caryopteris, lavender, roses, fuchsias Prune in autumn Cotinus, forsythia, winter jasmine, philadelphus, spiraea, weigela, deutzia
To advertise in The Villager and Town Life please call 01767 261122 39 FOUR SEASONS TREE SERVICES Qualified & Professional Tree and Client Care PRUNING • LOPPING • FELLING PLANTING • REDUCING & RESHAPING CROWN RAISING • HEDGE TRIMMING THINNING • POLLARDING • STUMP REMOVALS OVERGROWN GARDENS PUT BACK INTO SHAPE FRUIT TREES TREATED • LOG & WOODCHIP SALES FREE ESTIMATES & ADVICE WITH NO OBLIGATION For quality jobs at a competitive price call: Home: 01353 721665 - Mob: 07771 707921 All work carried out to BS 3998 Standard A genuine family managed business est. for over 30 years - fully insured WasteRegisteredCarrierThiscompany offers a 7 day cooling off period
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Pets
currently own one and you are able, you can foster two horses as company for each other. If you fit the criteria for an equine foster carer why not find out more and apply online. How can I get involved?
Have You ConsideredEverFostering?
Our foster carers aim to help rehabilitate the animals in their care. This then increases their chances of finding a forever home. Naturally, we try to rehome our animals as quickly as possible, but if they are involved in a prosecution case we could have them in our care for long periods. Some animals need one-to-one care or perhaps don’t cope well in an animal centre environment. This is where our team of fantastic foster carers comes in.
If you are interested in the role of a foster carer, use our volunteer search on our national website to find opportunities near you. If there is nothing listed in your area, then it’s always worth checking with your nearest RSPCA branch or animal centre. We are always delighted to hear about people’s positive fostering experiences. So please do get in touch if you have a story you’d like to share. If you need to contact our Branch (North Bedfordshire) for any reason we can be reached by the details below, or for an animal welfare issue or emergency, please contact 0300 1234 999. Lines are open 7 days a week 24/7.
Being a foster carer is exceptionally rewarding. The RSPCA are always on the look out for new foster carers who can provide a safe, caring and loving environment for the cats and dogs that are rescued each year. Fostering an animal can help them recover from neglect, abuse, illness or injury - taking the first steps towards finding a new, loving forever home. It’s very fulfilling to know that you played a key part in helping a rescued animal recover and to then start a new life with a new family. Fostering also gives those who are unable to take in an animal long term, due to commitments and circumstance, with an alternative. Why do we need foster carers?
When an animal is fostered space in our centres then become free, so that we can rescue more animals in desperate need. What does the role involve? You would be required to provide the care the animal needs; feeding, exercising, cleaning, socialising, giving medication and grooming. Essentially, there are two main avenues within fostering at the 1)RSPCA:Foster carers for animals ready to be rehomed. 2) Foster carers for case animals whilst the legal proceedings take Someplace.of the animals that we take in have are not used to the care and affection that they deserved. Living with a foster family helps to provide them with that one-toone care, allowing them to build up their confidence and get used to a normal lifestyle. You may even be asked to foster an animal that is convalescing following illness or injury while they prepare for the adoption process. Providing stable futures Pardon the pun, but did you know that you could also foster a horse or a pony? You can foster a horse or a pony as a companion for your own horse. Or if you don’t
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4.
pan
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Discard
crusty bread. Ingredients 1 tbsp sunflower oil 225g carrots, peeled and cut into small pieces 1 onion, peeled and thinly sliced 1 clove garlic, peeled and chopped 1 x 400g can chopped tomatoes A handful of pitted black olives 1 bay leaf Salt and freshly ground black pepper 550g skinned and cubed white fish (cod, coley, pollock, hake) 115g mussels, debearded and cleaned Chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley, to garnish Crusty bread, to serve (optional) Fish Stew Seasonal Recipe Serves Preparation4 time 8 minutes Cooking time 15-20 minutes For more seafood and fish recipe inspiration, visit seafish.org Hearty and wholesome, this vibrant fish stew makes the perfect midweek meal
that
2. Stir in the chopped tomatoes, olives and bay leaf, and season to taste with salt and freshly ground black pepper.
5. Pile into a large warm serving bowl, sprinkle over the chopped parsley and serve with lots of
1. Heat the oil in a saucepan, add the carrots, onion and garlic and cook for 2-3 minutes.
3. Add the fish cubes and cook for another 8-10 minutes. Discard any of the cleaned mussels do close when tapped, or that are damaged or broken. Add the remaining mussels to the and cook for 2-4 minutes to heat through. any mussels that remain closed.
What is it? The Ford Fiesta is still the most common sight on UK roads and is a huge seller for Ford. It’s small yet practical and great value for money. With tweaked styling and improved technology, we’ve tested the latest version to see if it’s still one of the best all-rounders. What’s new? An obvious change is the tweaked exterior design, and there are also new technologies such as Matrix LED headlights and a configurable digital instrument display. What’s under the bonnet? One of the Fiesta’s key selling points is its range of electrified engines and there are hybrid and mild-hybrid petrol powertrains available. Our test car had the 1.0-litre mild hybrid with 123bhp and 170Nm of torque, promising 50mpg on the combined cycle. It felt punchy enough but would work better with manual transmission, as the seven-speed automatic on our car felt lethargic in urban driving. What’s it like to drive? Aside from the gearbox, the Fiesta is fantastic to drive. Our ST-Line Vignale specification test car included ‘sportstuned suspension’ but this generally delivered a comfortable ride on all but the most potholed roads. The steering is light and easy to use around town without being too fidgety at higher speeds. The Fiesta is a bit noisy on the motorway but is otherwise well-refined. How does it look? Subtle changes to the Fiesta’s classic shape give it a simpler, more sophisticated edge. A new bonnet shape increases nose height and the upper grille is larger. The new LED headlights give a more modern appearance, while the rear lights have a classy new black surround. Each trim level now has a more distinctive appearance. Our sporty ST-Line model gets a new upper grille with a deeper insert and gloss-black honeycomb finish, plus wide side vents. What’s it like inside? The Fiesta is pretty spacious, though the driving position can be slightly awkward for taller drivers. Materials quality is impressive. The technology is decent for a car of this size, especially the new 12.3-inch digital instrument display. The infotainment system’s screen feels a little dated, however. What’s the spec like? Our ST-Line Vignale costs £25,270, with features including 18-inch alloy wheels, ST-Line body kit, selectable drive modes, Ford’s Sync 3 infotainment technology with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, heated front seats and steering wheel, and various driver-assistance features. Total price was £27,970 after optional extras, including Matrix LED headlights (£850) and B&O premium sound system (£425). The parking pack is good value at £300. Although all this equipment makes the Fiesta more appealing, it does impact value for money when you consider the basic model starts at around £18,000. Verdict There’s still a lot to love about this smart supermini. It’s sweet to drive and comes with impressive equipment and technology. If you’re sensible with your specifications, it’s easy to get a smart supermini with everything you need for a small family.
Darren Cassey tests the updated Ford Fiesta to see if it’s as good as ever.
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Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts48 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZEasyCodewordSudoku Hard Sudoku 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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6 SEPTEMBER Hail Weston Wildlife and Gardening Group 7.15pm for 7.30pm Hail Weston Village Hall Tickets £4 Join us for a summer social evening with something tasty to eat and drink. Raffle. Email: hwwgg@yahoo.com
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4 SEPTEMBER The Huntingdonshire Local Group of the Wildlife Trust Walk 10.30am Free event – donations welcome Guided walk at Brampton Wood. Meet and park at the entrance barn (TL1844269809) Tel:plates.plodding.photocopy.What3WordsPatDoody01480392706
for the weekly
4 SEPTEMBER Hinxton Watermill Open Day 2.30-5pm CambridgePPF members free, nonmembers - adult £3, child £1 This stunning working watermill dates to the seventeenth century. See the mill working and hear the history of this incredible building. Web: www.cambridgeppf.org
4 SEPTEMBER Claude Bourbon Guitar Concert 7.30pm St Peter’s Church, High Street, Offord Darcy Tickets £10 inc. complimentary drink. Claude is known for his amazing guitar performances that have Blues, Spanish, Gypsy, Jazz, and Russian influences. All seats unreserved. Parking available. T: 07776 426103 E: /ticketoffice.stpeters@gmail.com
3 SEPTEMBER Cambridgeshire and Bedfordshire Hardy Plant Society 2pm Weatherley Centre, Eagle Farm Road, Biggleswade ‘Plants and Castles of Transylvania’ with Razvan Chisu, known as the Transylvanian Gardener.
What's On
1, 8, 15, 22 & 29 SEPTEMBER Bingo Alconbury7.30pmSports Social Club Eyes down Bingo Web:session!www.assc.org.uk
7.15pmGroup
1, 8, 15, 22 & 29 SEPTEMBER Riverport The10.15-11.15amSingersCornExchange, St Ives Community choir for living with dementia, their carers, family and Agi 07757 811802 agipeach@icloud.com riverportsingersfacebook.com/
WHAT'S ON IN SEPTEMBER
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‘Herschel's Planet’ by Mike Foulkes. Meets first Monday of the month (second if bank holiday). Solar observing session at 5.30pm if weather permits. Non-members welcome - first visit free. Web: snaa.co.uk
7 SEPTEMBER Buckden Local History Society 7.30pm Millard Suite, Village Hall Visitors £4, children free ‘The Renovation of Buckden Towers Gatehouse’ by Keith Lawrence. Meets first Wednesday of each month. New members and visitors are welcome. Annual membership £16. www.buckdenhistory.co.uk
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Annual membership
Members free, visitors
Visitors welcome – small charge. Web: www.hpscambsandbeds.co.uk
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5 SEPTEMBER St Neots Paxton7.30-9.30pmAssociationAstronomicalPitsVisitorCentre
3 SEPTEMBER The Village Show at Keysoe Keysoe Village Hall Free entry. Please contact Penny for a schedule. Tel: 01234 378878 penny.heming@btinternet.
1 September Roxton District Local History for 7.30pm Village Hall £4 £20. mariascreen1@gmail.com roxtonhistory.org.uk
10 SEPTEMBER Great Paxton Arts & Crafts Market 12pm to 5pm Church Yard, High Street Visit the fantastic arts and crafts market, grab some amazing food, find a bargain at the garage sales on Saturday and Sunday, and see all the events/scarecrow-festival.phpWeb:scarecrows!www.greatpaxton1000.co.uk/
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2 SEPTEMBER St Neots Local History Society Eynesbury7.30pm Primary School SNLHS members free, visitors £4 ‘All that Glisters- Anglo Saxons, Beds and Gold’ by Alison DickensDirector, Granta Heritage. www.stneotslhs.org.uk
Roxton
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6, 13, 20 & 27 SEPTEMBER St Neots Eynesbury7.45-9.30pmSinfoniaJuniorSchool, Montagu Street, Eynesbury Rehearsals are every Tuesday in term time. Tel: 01480 212298 Web: www.stneotssinfonia.org.uk
7 SEPTEMBER Brampton Flower Club 7.30pm Community Centre, Brampton High Street Meets the first Wednesday of the month. Visitors welcome.
7, 14, 21 & 28 SEPTEMBER Kimbolton Bridge Club Mandeville10am-12pm Hall, Kimbolton Meets every Wednesday for friendly, social bridge. Players of all standards are welcome with or without a partner. Just turn up! 7, 14, 21 & 27 SEPTEMBER St Neots Choral Society Eynesbury7.30-9.30pmJunior School, Montagu Street, Eynesbury Rehearsals are every Wednesday in term time. Tel: 01480 212298 for membership enquiries Web: www.stneotschoral.org.uk
Crazy Lego! St Neots Museum Free entry. A fun and family friendly temporary exhibition featuring mountains of Lego and Duplo that visitors can use to create buildings, animals, vehicles – anything that can be made from the standard bricks. A Lego model of a Roman Villa discovered in Eynesbury in the 1960s will be on display. Book online. Web: stneotsmuseum.org.uk To advertise in The Villager and Town Life please call 01767 261122 51 The deadline for What’s On entries is 12th September. What’s on entries to whatson@villagermag.net
Godmanchester WI 7.30pm Church Hall, Chadley Lane, Godmanchester Meets the third Wednesday of the month. Regular speakers and activities. New members welcome. 22
St Neots & District Gardening Club Meeting 7.30pm St Mary's Church Hall, Brook Street, St Neots Members £2, Non-members £2.50 AGM and planning for next year. The club will also have a plant stall at the farmers market on 24 www.stneotsgardenclub.org.ukSeptember. 24
WHAT'S ON IN SEPTEMBER What's On 10 SEPTEMBER 128th Dean and Shelton Country Dalton1-4.30pmShowHall, Kimbolton Road, Upper Dean Entry £2, children free. Classic vehicles go free. Wide variety of stalls and displays including vintage vehicles display, Corby Silver Band, children's entertainer, refreshments, craft stalls, raffle, tombola and auction of deanandsheltoncountryshow.org.ukWeb:Email:produce.dscountryshows@gmail.comwww. 10 SEPTEMBER Miss Franks’s Autumn Sale Mandeville2-4.30pm Hall, Kimbolton Visit for lots of bargains! 10 SEPTEMBER Autumn Flower & Vegetable Show and Beer Festival 2-5pm Village Hall/QEII Playing Field, Little Paxton 75 free to enter show classes including fruit, vegetables, home produce and children’s classes. Bring along deck chairs, picnic rugs and enjoy Bedford Brass Band from 2.304.30pm. Refreshments available. Web: littlepaxtonparishcouncil.gov.ukwww. 10-18 SEPTEMBER Great Paxton Scarecrow Festival Take a walk around the village and find all the scarecrows. Grab a map and voting form from the pub, shop or website and be in with a chance to win a prize. Web: events/scarecrow-festival.phpwww.greatpaxton1000.co.uk/ 10 & 24 SEPTEMBER St Neots Farmers & Craft Market 8am-1.30pm Products from local food producers and craft makers. 12 SEPTEMBER Perry 7.30pmWISailability Club House, Grafham Water Centre ‘An Author and his books’ by Patrick McDonald. Patrick has written a thriller and a book about the Irish famine. His third book is set in Tel:Godmanchester.JakkiSpall0770 343 1900 14 SEPTEMBER The Huntingdonshire Local Group of the Wildlife Trust Talk 7.30pm Brampton Memorial Hall, Thrapston Road, Brampton £3.50 per person. ‘How not to find a dinosaur’ by Paul Trevor, Senior Ranger at The Great Fen. Tel: Alistair Grant 07775 365507 Email: alistairrgrant@hotmail.com
16, 23 & 30 SEPTEMBER Great Fen Little Bugs 10.30am-12pm Great Fen Countryside Centre, Ramsey Heights Wildlife Trust BCN child member £5, non-member £7. A fun morning of exploration and discovery for preschool children and their guardians. Web: wildlifebcn.org 16 SEPTEMBER Kimbolton Community Cinema Doors open 7, film 7.30pm SEPTEMBER SEPTEMBER SEPTEMBER OCTOBER
Mandeville Hall, Kimbolton Tickets £5, concessions £4, children £2.50 (subject to classification) The Duke. Tickets from Bytes Café Monday and Friday mornings, online or on the door if available. Small booking fee applies online. E: mandeville-hall-kimboltonW:kimbolton.cinema@gmail.comwww.ticketsource.co.uk/ 20 SEPTEMBER Dementia Café 10am-12pm St Ives Free Church, St Ives £2.50 per person. For people with dementia and their carers. Tel: George 07725 588145 Web: stivesdementiafriendlycommunityfacebook.com/ 21
Race Night 7pm Alconbury Sports & Social Club Web: www.assc.org.uk 24 & 25 SEPTEMBER Cromwell Quilters Showcase 2022 Buckden10am-4pmVillage Hall, Burberry Road, Buckden Entry £3, under 16s free An inspirational exhibition of patchwork, quilting and textile art from members and affiliated groups. Sales table and cushion raffle. Refreshments. Disabled access. Free parking. Proceeds to local charities. Tel: Pamela Tasker 07980 608576 Email: cromwellquilters@gmail.com UNTIL 8
Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts52 0800 046 DRIVEWAYSRESINBOUNDwww.thehomeimprovementproject.co.ukhello@thehomeimprovementproject.co.uk1080 • MAINTENANCE AND WEED FREE • HARD WEARING • QUICK INSTALLATION • CAN BE USED AS OVERLAY • BESPOKE DESIGNS • SUITABLE FOR DRIVEWAYS, PATHS AND PATIOS • 10 YEAR GUARANTEE NOT YOUR AVERAGE HOME IMPROVEMENT COMPANY
The cutting of the last sheaf was subject to considerable ceremony in most parts of the country. It was known as ‘the mare’ or ‘the neck’ or ‘nack’ and was treated with great reverence. The last sheaf was where the harvest spirit was said to retreat and take refuge. The act of cutting it was known as ‘crying the mare’ or ‘cutting the neck’ and it effectively meant slaying the harvest spirit, so it was taken very seriously.
The last strands of the last sheaf were woven into a ‘corn doll,’ which gave the Harvest Spirit somewhere to live over the winter. This was carried in procession and given pride of place at the Harvest Supper.
‘haerfest.’
Crying the Mare. And other harvest traditions
In the majority of places cutting the last sheaf was seen as an honour but some people were fearful of being held responsible for making the Corn Spirit homeless. In these instances, to prevent being cursed with bad luck groups of reapers would take turns in throwing their sickles at the sheaf. In this way the blame was shared, and the bad luck diluted.
By Tom Hancock
The word harvest comes from the Anglo-Saxon word for autumn, For our ancestors it represented the culmination of the year’s work, ensuring they would survive the harsh winter. Much folklore is connected to the grain harvest because grain provided the staple diet of most people in the form of bread, porridge, oatcakes, and beer. The labour was carried out by itinerant workers who generally elected one of their number to be the Harvest Lord. He was appointed to negotiate pay and conditions with potential employers.
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Time of Year
• Heat pumps: using a similar technology to that which operates your fridge freezer (but in reverse), heat pumps will be one of the main ways new-build homes are heated after 2025, by utilising only air and a small amount of electricity.
• Solar thermal panels: designed to be used alongside a regular gas or biomass boiler, solar thermal panels absorb heat from the sun, which is then transferred to a water tank for you to use as a hot water supply or for heating for your home.
• Biomass boilers: these work in the same way as a conventional gas boiler, but rather than gas, the fuel is a plant-based mixture of either wood, pellet or woodchip. This means it’s a much greener solution than conventional fossil fuels.
• Infrared heating panels: by emitting infrared energy into a room, the energy is absorbed directly into solid objects within three metres of the panel, causing them to warm up instantly. The infrared cannot warm air unfortunately, so the room will feel cold the moment it’s turned off.
Working from home this winter?
Home heating Is it time for a change?
Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts54Special Report By Louise Addison
Rather than electric portable heaters, which are really costly to run, an efficient central heating system set to around twenty degrees is still the recommended choice, even if you plan on heating just one room of the house. By using individual thermostats or radiator valves (or a smart thermostat) in each room, you can focus the heat towards the room you need to keep cosy, avoiding having to wear gloves and a woolly hat on your Zoom calls!
With winter just around the corner, now is the time to think about your home’s heating system. Is your boiler running safely and efficiently while keeping running costs to a minimum? Home heating can contribute up to 60% of your home’s utility bills, so it’s important to ensure you are up to date with the best practices for maintaining and operating your central heating system. Out with the old The general rule is that once your boiler reaches around twenty years of service, you should replace it with a new unit. On average, your boiler will begin to operate less efficiently after ten to fifteen years, meaning it will need to work harder to heat your home, resulting in increased utility bills. Along with the potential cost of breakdowns and repairs for older boilers, it may be financially prudent to replace your boiler before it becomes a bigger expense. In with the new According to the plan for the UK to reach carbon net zero by 2050, the UK government has announced that new-build homes will not be allowed to install traditional gas boilers after 2025. This doesn’t mean you have to replace your existing gas boiler by this date, but you may wish to consider these heating alternatives, which will soon be considered the norm.
55To advertise in The Villager and Town Life please call 01767 261122 FOR ALL YOUR GLAZING NEEDS: • SINGLE & DOUBLE GLAZING • SEALED UNITS GONE ‘FOGGY’ • MIRRORS • SHELVES • WINDOWS & DOORS • LOCKS, WINDOW & DOOR ACCESSORIES 01480 www.brookviewglaziers.com896678email:info@brookviewglaziers.com CALL FOR A FREE, NO OBLIGATION QUOTE yourUselocalglazier
56 Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts LESTERCARPENTRYO’DRISCOLL Door GeneralFencing,Skirting,Hanging,Flooring,FittedKitchens,Decking,Carpentry,BespokeTimber Garden Offices, Workshops & Garden Sheds 07842 195152 01480 811629 Shire Roofing Quality above all Roof Design and Costing • Slate and Tiled Roofing • Specialist Lead Roofing Installations Mineral Felt & GRP Roofing • Maintenance and Repairs • Property Maintenance FOR MORE INFORMATION Tel: 07778 634900 or email: russ@shireroofing.comFamily Run
To advertise in The Villager and Town Life please call 01767 261122 57 Last Month’s Crossword Winner - Will Punchard from Bythorn EditionAugustfromSolutionPuzzleCrosswordour August’s Codeword and Sudoku Solutions Advertising in The Villager is easy. To find out more call Nigel on 01767 261122 or email nigel@villagermag.com Easy Hard
Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts58 Tel:Address:Name: The Villager Prize Crossword Complete the crossword and fill in your details below, before 16th September 2022 Either cut out this page and send to Prize Crossword, Villager Publications Ltd. 24 Market Square, Potton, Beds SG19 2NP Or photograph your entry and email to competitions@villagermag.com The winner will be drawn at random from the correct entries. Prize £25 1AcrossInaddition (4) 3 Greets (8) 9 Painful condition (7) 10 Childminder (5) 11 Developments (12) 14 Appropriate (3) 16 Braid hair (5) 17 Winter sport (3) 18 Purposefully (12) 21 Time-piece (5) 22 Distinctive (7) 23 Moving very fast (8) 24 Questions (4) 1DownFrom the United States (8) 2 Tantrum (5) 4 Used for seeing (3) 5 Condensed (12) 6 Parts of an hour (7) 7 Speaks (4) 8 Talented (12) 12 Delete (5) 13 Two wheeled vehicles (8) 15 Rigid support frame (7) 19 Departs (5) 20 In debt (4) 22 Male child (3)
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61To advertise in The Villager and Town Life please call 01767 261122 Falling off the Ladder Helen Hill It’s daunting taking the leap into self-employment. Even the most confident amongst us will wobble at times. Falling off the Ladder is like having a supportive friend on the sidelines cheering you on. It’s about changing your mindset, valuing what you have to offer and celebrating your achievements. There’s also advice on everything from finding a community of fellow business owners to dealing with overwhelm. Out of Office: Ditch the 9-5 and Be Your Own Boss Fiona Thomas From reasons to take the plunge to things to consider before you do, and practical advice on aspects such as tax, insurance, raising an invoice and building a client base, this book has it all. Plus, it’s actually enjoyable to read (not something that can be said for most business books). Making Your Website Work Gill Andrews Offering ‘100 copy and design tweaks for smart business owners’, this book will help you to tighten up your website so it attracts more visitors and converts them into customers. It’s packed with great advice, from how to improve your contact page to what to include in your footer. Whether you’re creating your own website or hiring an agency, this book is a must. Taking the plunge Books Whether you’re freelancing, running a side hustle or thinking about setting up a small business for the first time, these books could make your life that little bit easier. By Kate Duggan
Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts62 Heating and Plumbing Services Frank Plater Electrical Extra sockets - Lighting - Extensions - Re-wires Security Lighting - Showers - Inspections No job too small. Free estimates Established in 1996 Tel: 01480 432154 Mob: 07976 797111 Electrician Property Maintenance Classifieds Are you looking for a mortgage? We can help with: MOVING HOME • HELP-TO-BUY FIRST TIME BUYERS • REMORTGAGING BUY TO LET ELITE MORTGAGES 01767 260800 enquiries@elite-mortgages.com Mortgage Specialist Plumbing Gary’s Plumbing Over 40 years experience No job too small! Please call Gary on 07530 728091 GardenElectriciansSpecialist Osteopathy
To advertise in The Villager and Town Life please call 01767 261122 63 Your local full colour A5 monthly magazine delivered free of charge to 1000s of homes and businesses in your local area. The Villager and Town Life is dedicated to promoting local businesses, charities, community groups and everything else in your local area. Alcoholics Anonymous ............................. Al-Anon Family Groups .............................0800 008 6811 Anglian Water ...........................................08457 145 145 Addenbrooks Hospital .............................. 01223 245151 Papworth Hospital .................................... 01223 638000 Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue .............. 01480 444500 Carers Line .................................................0808 808 7777 ChildLine ..........................................................0800 1111 Citizens Advice ..........................................0344 245 1292 Cocaine Anonymous .................................0800 689 4732 Crimestoppers .............................................0800 555 111 Cruse Bereavement Care...........................0333 252 9152 Floodline ...................................................0845 988 1188 Frank—Drug Advisory...............................0800 776 600 National Debt Line ....................................0808 808 4000 Gas Emergency ...........................................0800 111 999 NHS ............................................................................. 111 National Rail Enquiries............................. 03457 48 49 50 Non Emergency Police Line ........................................ 101 NSPCC ........................................................0808 800 5000 Pre-bereavement Helpline Support .........0808 801 0688 Relate ......................................................... 0845 48 49 50 RSPCA Cruelty Line ...................................0300 1234 999 Samaritans ........................................................... 116 123 Tax Credit Helpline ....................................0345 300 3900 Victim Support ......................................... 0845 30 30 900 Bringing Local Business to Local People For more information or to reserve your space please contact Nigel on: Tel: 01767 261122 Email: nigel@villagermag.com Web: www.villagermag.com USEFUL NUMBERS VILLAGER The and Town Life
