Stevenage Jan 2022 by Villager Mag

VILLAGER The

and Town

Jan 2022

Life

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

Happy New Year Inside this issue Health and Well-being

Holidays

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Inside this issue...

Using Neutral Colours

What’s Your Hobby?..................................................................39 RSPCA: Why Not Foster?...........................................................41 Used Car Bargains....................................................................42 Seasonal Recipe: Ramen Tofu Noodle bowl..............................44 Choose a Gym...........................................................................47 Puzzle Page..............................................................................48 What’s On in January................................................................50 Wordsearch..............................................................................51 Plumbing Problems.................................................................55 Fun Quiz...................................................................................55 How to be a Vegan...................................................................56 Villager Prize Crossword...........................................................58 Book Review: Fresh Starts........................................................61 Useful Numbers.......................................................................63

Health and Well-being Holidays in the UK..................................4 Personal Electric Transport.........................................................8 How to put an outfit together..................................................10 Drinks: It’s a Gin Thing!.............................................................12 Look Back in Time.....................................................................14 Top Tech for Every Kitchen........................................................16 A Fresh New Year......................................................................18 Choosing and Using Neutral Colours.........................................22 New Year, New You for 2022.....................................................27 Out of Business? Your Rights....................................................31 New Year, New Bathroom, Fresh Start!.....................................32 All the Colours of the Rainbow.................................................35 Plants as Air Purifiers...............................................................36

How to be a Vegan

Get your business off to a flying start this year

Advertise with the Villager Magazine... prices start from just £30.00 +VAT per month Editorial: Jennie Billings, Trevor Langley, Katherine Sorrell, Gavin May, Bathing Mobility Advisory Service, Caroline Knight, Rachael Leverton, Loraine Franklin, RSPCA, Toby Malone, Tracey Anderson and Kate Duggan

Advertising Sales/Local Editorial Nigel Frost • Tel 01767 261122 nigel@villagermag.com Photography - ornitolog82 Design and Artwork Design 9 • Tel 07762 969460

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Travel

Health and wellbeing holidays

in the UK

If the last two years have taught us anything, it’s that there’s nothing more important than our health. With the New Year’s resolution season now upon us, it’s the perfect time to set some goals that prioritise your body and mind – and what better way to start than with a holiday dedicated to just that? Health and wellbeing holidays are the latest trend to hit the tourism market. In a world where our pace of life is getting faster and faster, there’s becoming a growing need for sanctuaries that allow us to slow down and take some time to focus on what’s important – our health. Fortunately, you don’t need to travel far for these kinds of holidays either. The UK is packed with fitness, health and wellbeing escapes. Arvon Creative Writing Retreats, West Yorkshire Calling all aspiring writers; Arvon’s Writing Retreats in the Pennine Hills give you the chance to shut out the noise, gather your thoughts and reignite your creativity. Regardless of your writing experience, you can enjoy a stellar line-up of published writers leading courses on everything from fiction, short stories and poetry to biography, life writing and screenwriting. Keep it simple in a single room, or stretch out in your very own apartment – the choice is yours! Reclaim Yourself, Scottish Highlands If sunrise yoga, delicious healthy meals, daily adventures and outstanding natural beauty all

sound like chicken soup for the soul, you’ll love this wilderness and wellbeing weekend in the Scottish Cairngorms. When you’re not relaxing in your rustic lodge, you’ll be freewheeling across the mountainscape, taking dips in Loch Garten and exploring the national park with a conservationist. And to top it off, Reclaim Yourself aims to offset the travel emissions of all their guests – making a holiday here good for you and the planet. The Tree, North Yorkshire Nestled in the heart of the North York Moors National Park, The Tree is the perfect place to rest your mind, body and soul. Stay for the weekend and you can expect tasty vegetarian meals (including Sunday lunch), afternoon tea, spa treatments and relaxation workshops, with plenty of time carved out to spend in the sauna and Jacuzzi too. There’s also the option to choose the yoga weekend option, for a similar itinerary but with more downward facing dog. Balance Holidays, Yorkshire Set in Broughton Hall in Yorkshire, a picturesque country estate framed by moorland, Balance Holidays’ holistic summer retreat is all about reconnecting with Mother Nature. Your days here will be filled with activities such as wild swimming, barefoot woodland walks, tree climbing, forest

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bathing and meditation workshops. Of course, rest is important too, which is why you’ll have plenty of free time to soak up your tranquil surroundings. Book a stay here, and you’re guaranteed to leave feeling blissfully refreshed. Our Retreat, Somerset This yoga and meditation retreat is hosted in a beautiful nineteenth-century farmhouse in the heart of Somerset’s idyllic countryside. A daily schedule at Our Retreat typically includes morning meditation, restorative yin yoga or Pilates, breath work, sound baths and guided walks. Don’t worry, you’ll have flexibility to do what you want too, with plenty of time carved out for reading, massages or simply dozing off in the sun. Throw in some wholesome meals and you have a retreat that’s guaranteed to nourish your mind, body and soul. Skyros, the Isle of Wight Hosted at The Grange, a Georgian B&B with sweeping sea views and a spacious garden, Skyros is famous for its two, three and four-night courses that help you become the person you truly want to be. From writing, comedy and photography to yoga, dance and wellbeing, there are holidays for everyone – whatever you’re into and whether you’re travelling

solo or with friends. The location is pretty idyllic too; set in the south of the Isle of Wight, a stone’s throw from the sea, there’s plenty to do, see and explore nearby. Yeotown, Devon This rustic-meets-luxury haven near Barnstaple is best known for its health and fitness programme. This is not your average fitness holiday; expect everything from long hikes along the North Devon coastline and bike rides in the forest to sunrise yoga and lessons on diet and nutrition. There’s also a hot tub and sauna to make the most of, not to mention healthy, vegan cuisine delicious enough to convert even the most hardened carnivore. Birch, Hertfordshire Proof that you don’t always need to escape to the countryside to slow down, this country manor hotel on the outskirts of London provides a creative space to recharge or get involved in an array of classes. Take part in classes ranging from gong baths to sourdough and soda breadmaking, glassblowing workshops and yoga. Oh, and did we mention the five-star facilities? Start your day in the gym, swim some lengths in the outdoor pool and dine on homegrown food, every day.

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Special Report

Personal Electric Transport Going Green on the Roads Our efforts to be green have been centring around transport recently. The UK is set to ban the sale of petrol and diesel cars by 2040. But what about going even greener still with small, personal electric vehicles. Personal Light Electric Vehicles (PLEV) have been around since the Eighties. The concept was pioneered by Sir Clive Sinclair with his C5. At that time, the vision of personal electric transport was ahead of its time as the technology for batteries and motors could not deliver a truly usable vehicle. But in 2021 electric powered bikes and scooters have now made their way on to our streets and roads. So, what are your choices and what are you legally allowed to do with these new PLEVs? E-bikes are the easiest to understand. These are basically bicycles, (so they are not classed as an electric vehicle), with an electric motor and battery bolted on to the frame to provide power assistance to your normal pedalling. Providing your electrically powered bicycle has working pedals, a less than 250 W motor, and a top speed of under 15 mph it still classes as a bicycle. You can ride it on roads, cycle paths and anywhere else a pushbike is legal. You can of course buy more powerful e-bikes, but as soon as you go above these specifications they are classed as a motorbike and you’ll need a licence, road tax, insurance, and everything else that goes with it. An alternative is to go for an electric scooter. You’ve probably seen these popping up around

the country in various rental hire schemes. These are basically stand-up scooters with a battery and motor built into the footplate. With a throttle and brake built onto the handlebars you simply step on and off you go. But one of the big differences to e-bikes is that electric scooters are actually illegal to ride on UK roads. This may come as a surprise as you’ve no doubt seen numerous people zipping around towns on rental machines. Scooter law is evolving fast and rental scooters have been given special permission to run on roads while the government analyses their effect on town congestion and traffic usage. But this special permission is not (yet) extended to privately owned personal electric scooters. These are still classed as electric vehicles which would again mean having tax, insurance, etc. to be legal on the roads. Even then, because they fall into the Personal Light

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Electric Vehicle category, their low-power and maximum speed mean they can’t be used on public roads. This leaves scooters stuck in an inconvenient situation, even if you made them road legal…they wouldn’t be road legal! There is a lot of pressure to change this, but for now if you have a personal electric scooter you are only legally allowed to use it on private land where you have the landowner’s permission. Riding a scooter on the road or pavement is breaking the law and you could be prosecuted. So, before you invest in one of these innovative personal transport solutions do make sure that you are legally allowed to use it to get to where you want to go. With the potential savings in carbon emissions and traffic congestion expect the laws to change quickly over the next few years as we all try to do our bit to save the planet.

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House of Colour

How to put an outfit together You’ve probably read countless articles giving you a set of rules that mean you can magically achieve the perfect look, the capsule wardrobe, the ideal level of jewellery etc. I know some of you, as indeed have I held onto many of these ideals years later. Some of which might have been helpful, some less so. We can’t all live in a box and we don’t all suit the same items or looks (although much can be tweaked to suit). I wanted to put together a set of thoughts, some guidance to consider, to help you create some impact, keep contemporary, get the most out of your clothes, and bring together an outfit. Balance – Not all of us can work a high level of volume on the top and bottom half so choose one area that will have a more relaxed, or greater volume and keep the other area neater in line with your shape. Key to this and true for almost everyone is the need to come in at the waist. I know I may be triggering a shudder here but you need to show your shape to avoid looking oversized. So, if you know your best point (we all have an area that is our most flattering for belt/ waist emphasis, and a style consultation will tell you where that is) use it – tuck your shirt in, try the French tuck if that seems too much, which is tucked in at the front and out at the back. Put a belt on a dress to give you shape. Honestly, it does look better. Hi-low dressing – this rarely seems to date. It’s the concept of taking a casual piece and pairing it with something more formal. This could be a blazer with jeans, trainers with more formal trousers. Play around with what you have adding one casual element to a more formal look and vice versa. It’s a great way to get more wear out of our wardrobe. Colour – there are a lot of neutrals around at the moment plus colour too. If you don’t yet know what colours really flatter your skintone (there are lots too!) think about the occasion. A more professional environment means more neutral tones and currently camel, cream, brown, blue and darker greens are all good contemporary choices (black is not everyone’s friend, and there are lots of alternatives). Add one piece of colour to two neutrals to balance your look in a more formal environment. Make it a wow colour for the best impact! Accessories – are key. They can add the interest to basics, and give you a much more polished look, whether dressing casually or formally. Wear a necklace, earrings, watch/bracelet, and you instantly look more put together. Keep changing them too, go

through your jewellery box and dig some out. Find a handbag that suits your look and practical needs, so you don’t have to rely on a supermarket shopper when needs must. Have you got a good umbrella, one with some colour, or style rather than a plain black one? The details can really add the impact. Shoes – in my experience they can really sabotage a look if they’re not right or look like they’ve seen better days. Highly practical options are probably the most tempting in our January weather, and there’s nothing essentially wrong with that but don’t be tempted to wear them everywhere because it’s easy and they’re near the door. Review your shoe wardrobe as you would your main wardrobe. If you need practicality, find ones that suit you too, that add something. There are lots of heavier styles around right now which are great for the weather and some clothing personalities (not all…). Do you feel good in it? If you don’t like what you’re wearing then let it go. You know how it affects your day… 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-astylist

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Food & Drink

Drinks: It’s a Gin Thing!

Juniper berries form the base flavour for gins and productions of these alcoholic beverages dates back centuries. Today, many different botanicals can be and are used, to great advantage, to produce gins that are a clear liquid through to a great number of coloured variations, which are appreciated and loved by numerous gin connoisseurs. Gin cocktails are hugely popular too and have devotees, globally. For some gin lovers a simple gin & tonic is satisfying and welcoming. I searched for a company producing a good range of handcrafted gins, that utilises botanicals to create outstanding gins, which appeal to many. The Ruddy Fine Distillery is very proud of their productions, which have been developed over recent years, by Cheryl Stretton and Rory Thorpe. Their LONDON DRY GIN (42% ABV) is infused with 11 botanicals, all carefully selected to provide an excellent, balanced product. The sweetness of orange zest is complemented by fragrant spices and botanicals, to produce this smooth, extremely popular gin. Botanicals used for the production of this gin include the exotic lemongrass. SUMMER BERRIES GIN (42% ABV) has, as the name suggests, juicy berries, evoking thoughts of summer in England. Red fruits are in abundance, for the bouquet. Again, excellent on the mouthfeel and palate’s sensation. Cardamom combines with the other botanicals, to provide this ‘pink favourite’, that pink gin lovers fully enjoy. Other Ruddy Fine gin productions include NAVY STRENGTH GIN, CHRISTMAS GIN (Limited Edition) and LOCKDOWN GIN (Limited Edition). Gift vouchers are available too, plus other merchandise to complement the range. The Ruddy Fine Distillery, created by Cheryl Stretton and Rory Thorpe, is located in the pretty, rural village of Ruddington, Nottinghamshire. The Ruddy Fine Gin Club is very popular, with memberships steadily increasing. For a ‘something different’ type of gift the Ruddy Fine Minis Gift Boxes are very attractively presented and could be the answer. As Cheryl and Rory say, “Our passion and desire to create the finest small batch craft gins comes through in every refreshing sip”. For all details and information please contact or visit their website. The Ruddy Fine Distillery Ltd, 39 Nottingham South & Wilford Industrial Estate, Ruddington Lane, Nottingham NG11 7EP. Tel: 07540 096 234 E-mail: info@ruddyfine.co.uk www.ruddyfine.co.uk ways, Enjoy!

As al

ey Trevor Langl

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Technology

Top tech for every kitchen Brilliant buys for every kind of cooking From setting alarms on our smart speakers to using an instant-read digital thermometer to check our roasts are the perfect temperature, technology has helped us make countless meals. Some of the cleverest tech is also very simple. Take the Meater, for example. It’s a thermometer with a built-in Bluetooth connection that sends temperature information to your phone and rings an alarm when it’s time to take your roast out of the oven; its case doubles as a charger so it’s always ready to help. Technology has revitalised lots of devices. The Panasonic SD-YR2550SXC is a newer version of BBC Good Food’s favourite bread maker, with programmes not just for bread but for pasta and pizza dough and cake too, while the £22 Stirr gives the humble wooden spoon an upgrade: it’s an automatic stirrer you put in your pot to prevent your soup sticking or your gravy getting lumpy. If you prefer do-everything devices, you’ll love the Thermomix. It’s not so much a gadget as an entire food preparation system that’s capable of doing pretty much anything: weighing ingredients, blending vegetables, grinding spices, boiling and simmering, kneading dough, whisking sauces, grating vegetables and cheese, chopping meat, caramelising onions and much more. Two kinds of device have become incredibly popular in the last few years: the Instant Pot and the air fryer. The former is a programmable one-pot electric pressure cooker that can do multiple kinds of cooking: slow cooking, rice cooking, steaming, sautéing, yoghurt making, soup making and much more, and with prices under £60 for the entry level model it’s a brilliant buy. An air fryer uses heat and air to get the same effects as deep frying without the oil: instead of immersing the food in a vat of boiling oil you just give it a little spray with cooking oil. The results are superb for almost everything apart from wet batters, which tend to fall off, and there are stacks of models: our current favourite, Sage’s The Smart Oven, is an air fryer, oven, grill, toaster, pizza oven, slow cooker and much more. You can even get an Instant Pot with a second lid that turns it into an air fryer: the Instant Pot Duo Crisp & Air Fryer is currently around £199.

Instant Pot Duo 7-in-1 If you haven’t tried Instant Pot boiled eggs you don’t know what you’re missing. It’s also great for making soup, stews, chilli, rice and even yoghurt. £59, Amazon.co.uk Sage The Smart Oven This brilliant multi-cooker is great for small spaces because it does so much: it’s a grill, an oven, an air fryer, a toaster, a food warmer, a pizza oven and more. £249, sageappliances.com Thermomix It’s not cheap but when you consider all the things the Thermomix can do, from weighing and chopping ingredients to sautéing and even frying, it’s incredibly useful. £1,099, vorwerk.co.uk

Panasonic SD-YR2550SXC There are bread makers, and then there are bread makers that can also make cakes and pizza dough and pasta dough. If you can bake it, this Panasonic can make it. £199, johnlewis.com

Stirr Say goodbye to the tyranny of pots that need constant stirring: Stirr does it for you so you can do something more fun while your sauce thickens or your soup cooks. £21.99, uutensil.com

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Home Products By Katherine Sorrell

A Fresh New Year

Good-looking storage makes organisation more enjoyable. Matt black steel and bamboo caddy, £10; all-purpose hob cleaner, £3; bamboo and plastic scrubbing brush, £2; bamboo round dish brush, £2; all Dunelm.

January is a great time to catch up on all those household chores and get going with an early ‘spring’ clean. Make it more enjoyable and planet-friendly by choosing good-looking tools and eco-conscious supplies. Make light work of dusting without the need for toxic chemicals. Living Nostalgia genuine natural ostrich feather duster, Kitchen Craft. This coconut fibre scourer has a bamboo handle, both of which are plant-based and biodegradable; the stainless-steel wire is easily recyclable. Bambaw reusable bamboo dish brush, £6, Beaumonde. This lemon-scented washingup soap bar is 100% natural, biodegradable, plastic-free and contains no palm oil. Dish-washing soap bar in lemon, £7.99, Suusco.

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Make light work of house cleaning

The sustainable way to clean dirty dishes. Simply compost when finished with them. Natural latex rubber gloves, £3, Zero Zen Store.

Generously sized and made from pure cotton, this gingham apron features a pair of handy patch pockets. Auberge apron in Wedgwood blue, £16.99, Walton & Co.

This eco-friendly cleaner works on a range of high-gloss surfaces, and comes in a reusable aluminium bottle along with a microfibre cloth. Glass cleaner starter pack, £6.99, Wearth London.

Take the effort out of everyday cleaning. Longhandle dustpan and brush, £25, Garden Trading.

These heavy-knitted cloths can be used, washed, and used again. Bleached stockinette dishcloth, £1.79, Walton & Co.

STOCKISTS Beaumonde: 01202 707 770; beaumonde.co.uk Garden Trading: 01993 845 559; gardentrading.co.uk Suusco: suusco.com Wearth London: wearthlondon.com

• If you can’t bear the thought of tackling all the cleaning at once, divide it into manageable tasks, and devote perhaps an hour a week – or else tackle one room at a time, maybe over a weekend. • Be prepared. Have a thorough clear-out and tidy, change into old clothes and rubber gloves, and gather the necessary equipment and products. This is where a sturdy caddy, a tool belt, or an apron with plenty of large pockets becomes invaluable – keeping everything with you as you go will save lots of time. • As you work, try to be organised, whether it’s one room at a time or one task at a time. The chores will generally divide into five main areas: vacuuming, dusting, mopping/ scrubbing, washing and wiping, and polishing, so bear this in mind when planning, so as not to miss anything out. • Don’t forget specific tasks such as turning mattresses, spotcleaning upholstery, deepcleaning the oven, defrosting the freezer, descaling the shower head and steam cleaning carpets. • Work from the top of a room to the bottom (in other words, dust the pendant light before polishing the table beneath it). Prioritise the hardest-to-clean item in the room to do early on – then the rest of the room will be a breeze.

Dunelm: 0845 165 6565; dunelm.com Kitchen Craft: 0121 604 6000; kitchencraft.co.uk Walton & Co: 01423 326 332; waltonshop.co.uk Zero Zen Store: 01737 550 844; zerozen.co.uk

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Are you returning to higher education this year and starting a course in September or October? Do you live in post codes SG1 or SG2? Did you know that you can apply to the Betty Game Opportunities Trust for a grant towards the cost of books, equipment, travel etc? And the good news is that it’s a grant – not a loan! The Trustees look forward to receiving your application – be first in the queue. Further information about the Trust and how to apply for a grant is available on our website www.bgot.org.uk or email BGOT2015@gmail.com

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Interiors

By Katherine Sorrell

Choosing and using neutral colours For a look that is classically stylish, easy to live with and works in every room, choose a subtle palette of whites, greys and browns. In a room decorated with neutrals, you will always feel at home. With an almost infinite range of colours, from the purest white to pale, mid and deep tones of grey, beige and brown, they work well for both old and new houses, and for small or large spaces. Think of the glow of polished wood, the texture of rattan, the variations of natural pebbles – these luscious shades, chosen and combined with care, can be full of character. First, the basics. Pale can definitely be interesting: shades of not-quite-white offer a surprising range of options, from fresh, bright and airy to rich, warm and restful. Rooms painted in pure white can appear bigger and brighter, thanks to the way the colour reflects light around. A clean white wall is a great background for vibrant paintings, for the coloured spines of books, or for a simple jug of flowers. And if brilliant white is too cold, choose a white with a pink or yellow undertone that warms the space and

is more flattering against the skin. Beyond white, pale neutrals vary in hue from cream to sand, through taupe to stone and bleachedtimber tones, while darker neutrals vary from charcoal and ebony to chocolate – and there is a whole rainbow in between to choose from, including beautiful greys, from palest dove to darkest steel. Many people love the laid-back, fresh feel of a room that puts white on white, or combines a range of very pale tones, but with neutrals it is also possible to employ counterpoints of darker tones against lighter colours, or even to go dark and dramatic all over. Choose colours by trying them out in situ, using small tester pots before committing to a bigger purchase. Paint at least two coats on several pieces of card, and stick them up on every wall around the room in question. Observe the colours at the times you’ll usually be in the room, and with your lights

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both on and off, as lighting has a marked effect on neutrals. The trick is to select layers of colour rather than just one, creating an interesting, subtly varied effect. When combining neutrals, avoid using different hues that are all of the same tone. An easy way to choose is to take a colour chart and go up or down (dark to light) within the same colour family, rather than working across from colour to colour. You could use darker tones for woodwork, with lighter ones for walls or, if you have features such as cornices and dadoes, perhaps vary the wall tones with lighter ones above and darker ones below the divisions. You can also use different neutrals to provide a gentle visual link from room to room: perhaps a very pale colour in a narrow hallway, with slightly darker hues in a living room and a warm tone in a dining room, for example. With paint colours sorted, continue the layering effect with flooring, wallcoverings, furnishings and accessories. In any neutral scheme, it is surfaces that are the star, and success comes from choosing textures – hard and soft, rough and smooth, squishy and knobbly – as carefully as you would colours. Natural is key, so aim for simple upholstery, window treatments, bed linen and table linens, in fabrics that have subtle and attractive variations in texture – crisp linen, soft cotton, warm wool, floaty muslin, fluffy sheepskin, and so on. Bring out the cosiness of a small bedroom, for example, with a shaggy rug, matt-painted walls, velvet curtains and soft woollen

throws. Or emphasise a light and airy living room with satin-varnished floorboards, glossy woodwork, sheer curtains and silk cushions. While there is inherent pattern in many of these textures (the weave of a rug or a wicker basket, for example) you may wish to introduce some surface pattern, too. In rooms that are, on the whole, relatively plain, small pattern features will stand out as focal points. Checks and stripes, chevrons and zigzags, damasks and geometrics can all look particularly good. Similarly, the occasional spot of colour, whether it’s a pale pink cushion, a turquoise vase or a mustard-coloured lampshade, may be the perfect finishing touch for an all-neutral room, adding just a touch of drama and personality to the calm and welcoming vibe.

1 Handmade in the UK, this love seat is composed of Scandinavian birch, with feather-wrapped foam cushions for squishy comfort. Banoffee love seat, £1,445, Loaf: 020 3141 8300; loaf.com. 2 Inspired by classic wingback chairs, these stately beds have ample storage space concealed beneath. Kenley ottoman storage bed in oatmeal fabric, £699.99 (double), Furniture & Choice: 0333 015 0000; furniturechoice.co.uk. 3 This table teams two planks of tactile and sustainably sourced white oiled oak with black metal legs. Industrial oak table, £975; Edie dining chairs, £525 (pair); all Nordic House: 01872 223 220; nordichouse.co.uk.

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104 Ampthill Road, Shefford, Beds SG17 5BB To advertise in The Villager and Town Life please call 01767 261122

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Health/Fitness

New Year, New You, for 2022 You don’t get fat and unfit between Christmas and New Year…. Think about that phrase, and then understand that the reality is, all the damage is done between New Year and Christmas! So, why is it that every year, despite our best intentions, those heartfelt resolutions we make at New Year fail to continue beyond February? The main two reasons are: • We don’t set ourselves clear, specific or even realistic targets, instead making statements like “I’ll get fitter this year” or “I’m going to eat more sensibly” • We inherently anticipate ‘failure’ as it is what we have always done…..right? WRONG…… Let’s do it differently this year by trying to adhere to the following 5 step plan: 1) SET A GOAL - Make sure that this goal is SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time-framed) not just a vague statement like, “I’m going to lose weight this year”. Change that for something like “I’m going to get back into my favourite jeans by March!’ or “I want to be able to Run 5k by Easter”. With either of these statements there are simple ways to get yourself started. With running you can easily download one of the many apps that are available that will take you from the sofa to a 5k run. Diet wise, you should always initially think about creating

a calorie deficit i.e. putting less calories in to your system than you are burning, by tracking your movements and balancing that against the calories that you consume. 2) MAKE A PLAN - Failing to plan is planning to fail. How are you going to achieve that goal? Start a training and food diary and ensure that what you write in there is realistic, honest and achievable. The mere act of logging information acts as a catalyst to help you stay on track. 3) PREPARE TO CHANGE - Habits; they are usually our downfall when it comes to following and continuing a plan. It takes at least two months for us to adopt a change or a new habit. That may be exercise, eating, drinking or anything else and so we must always bear this in mind when setting out on this journey. 4) OWN THE DECISION - Once you have decided upon your plan and your goal, you need to ‘Own It’. This means writing it down, sharing it with friends and relatives and maybe even making a statement on social media. That way, you will feel invested, and others will help and support your endeavours. 5) ASK FOR HELP - We are not all experts in nutrition, exercise and how to even go about setting ourselves a goal. So if you are unsure, seek help. Contact a Nutritionist, talk to a Personal Trainer or ask the community for help. The last two years have been a bit of a rough ride for us all, so why not use the start of 2022 as a stepping stone towards a brighter future? Gavin May (www.gavinmayfitness.com)

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A D V E R T O R I A L

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Finance

Out of Business? Your Rights When a retailer or service provider goes out of business, you may be worried about whether you’ll lose out if you’ve paid for goods or services you haven’t yet received, or you want a refund for faulty products. Let’s run through your legal rights. Administration or Liquidation? If the business is in administration then it’s still ‘in business’, even if it isn’t actively trading. There’ll be an attempt to rescue it, for example by selling it to a new owner. While this happens, your legal rights are still technically valid. This means it’s still worth asking for a refund or return as it’s possible (if unlikely) that you’ll get what you ask for. If the company has gone into liquidation, it’s definitely not coming back. You’ll need to find the appointed administrator and write to formally register your claim. In most cases you’ll only get a small proportion of what you’re owed (or nothing at all) as some creditors take priority, for example HMRC chasing uncollected taxes. However, it’s still worth lodging the claim just in case. Card Cover - Another option is to make a claim through your card provider. If you paid some or all of the cost on a credit card and the total cost was at least £100, you have a legal right to get any relevant refunds from your card provider under Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act. If you paid using a debit card, you can often make a similar claim under a voluntary industry scheme called chargeback.

Holiday Cover - Many tour operators are part of the government’s ATOL (Air Travel Organisers Licence) scheme, run by the Civil Aviation Authority. If you book through an ATOL member and they go out of business, you should get a refund. If you are already abroad when the business fails, the scheme should settle any outstanding hotel bills and cover your flight home. Note that ATOL is designed for package holidays that include a flight. If you only booked accommodation, you’ll need to check if you booked through a member of ABTA (formerly the Association of British Travel Agents). If so, and the company fails, you should get similar benefits to the ATOL scheme. Utility Cover - Another industry with protection is gas and electricity. As many customers have experienced in recent months, when a utility supplier stops trading, regulator Ofgem guarantees supplies are uninterrupted. It will source another supplier to take on the customers, though this will be at a ‘deemed’ rate that will often be more than your tariff with the old supplier. Ofgem advises customers not to initiate a switch until they are set up with the new supplier, at which point they can switch elsewhere with no exit fees. Customers who were in credit and owed money by the old supplier will get it back from the new supplier, though this may take some time. Customers who were in debit to the old supplier will normally need to pay back the money to the new supplier.

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Business Review

New year, new bathroom Fresh start! AFTER

Being able to enjoy a warm bath or a shower is something we take for granted but when mobility is impaired, people are often denied that simple pleasure. When the bathroom in your home has served you well over the years, and is functioning perfectly, it seems an extravagance to replace it. But if getting in and out of the bath or shower is becoming increasingly challenging, that investment could be the key to living independently for longer, and to improving your health and wellbeing. At the Bathing Mobility Advisory Service (BMAS) Hitchin, they know just what a positive impact having easy and safe access to a shower or bath can have. BMAS manager Lee Brand, says the benefits of making your bathroom safe and comfortable are not just restricted to the physical ones, such as reducing the risk of slipping or tripping, but have wider health benefits bringing peace of mind and improved quality of life. Regain your independence “You don’t have the anxiety of worrying about slipping or falling,” he says. “Having a bathroom that is safe and easy to use reduces the stress of trying to manage with facilities that are no longer fit for purpose.” Being able to maintain the standards of personal hygiene you would want, at any age, makes a big difference to your confidence and self-esteem too, he says. Even though a new bathroom may seem an extravagance, it can mean someone has more years of independent living and brings peace of mind to the whole family. Wet rooms are the ultimate accessibility solution, offering total level access, but BMAS also install

BEFORE

bathrooms with low level shower trays and walk in baths. Combined with specialist slip-resistant flooring, easy-clean hygienic wallboards, safety grab rails and fold down shower seating, your bathroom can become fully usable again. A complete service for your convenience BMAS provides an end-to-end service, starting with the initial free consultation to providing a well thought-out, accessible bathroom design and a comprehensive quote. They supply all the products and carry out all the necessary works themselves, including removing the old bathroom and any building adaptations and electrical works. Importantly, they manage the whole process for you, so you won’t have to arrange multiple tradespeople and payments and they will be there to answer your questions every step of the way. Works can be completed in as little as five days and your home will be kept clean and tidy throughout. To find out more about their range of bathrooms visit the BMAS showroom at 67 Hermitage Road, Hitchin SG5 1DB or call 01462 889 097 or see bathingmobility.co.uk They offer a free design appointment service in your own home with absolutely no obligation or pressure selling.

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Gardening

Caroline Knight: Gardendesignideas.co.uk

All the colours of the rainbow Joy in the winter garden - The start of a new year is the perfect time to review your patch of outdoor space to ensure it fills you with joy – even in January. You need either strong structural design that looks stunning at any time of year, or a wonderful array of rainbow shades, punctuated by architectural forms. But how can you achieve this? Planting a rainbow - Aim to provide something that fits into the chart of the seven visible spectrum colours: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet. Almost certainly, you will already have some green, but there are many different shades. The secret is to have one shade of green set off against another – dark and light is the classic combination. You can play with greens all year round, but January is the month they can really bring the show alive. Reds for the winter garden - Think about stems and bark as well as flowers, foliage and berries, and there is a feast of red opportunity. The fiery stems of Cornus sanguinea ‘Midwinter Fire’ or Cornus alba ‘Sibirica’ will set the border ablaze, particularly if you prune down your cornus in late winter or very early spring so that the new growth is pleasingly vertical. The rich mahogany bark of Prunus serrula, or Tibetan cherry, can look stunning against a backdrop of dark green hedging or the brown leaves of winter beech. Lower to the ground you might consider heuchera such as H. ‘Forever Red’ or H. ‘Paprika’. Then we have rhododendrons, some of which can be adorned with a blousy show of scarlet this month. Don’t forget red-flowering evergreen camellias too – their winter flowers stand out against the dark green foliage. Create orange and yellow sunshine in the garden With ornamental grasses in borders or pots, January will glow. Clumps of tall miscanthus with its warm,

yellow-orange stems and seed heads will look dignified in January, providing structure and colour. Choose an orange-stemmed cornus for vertical accent and dot these plants around in repeated forms to bring the picture together. Plant Eranthis hyemalis, the winter aconite, under deciduous shrubs to create a spreading, golden carpet and consider Mahonia ‘Winter Sun’, a magnificent structural shrub with yellow, scented winter flowers to transform a shady corner. Beat the winter blues with garden blue, indigo and violet - Blue fescue is an evergreen grass that can create winter blues and there are plenty of conifers and shrubs with steely-blue foliage to provide structure and colour, including Juniperus ‘Blue Star’ and Pittosporum ‘Wrinkled Blue’. Eucalyptus gunnii, with its strikingly blue juvenile leaves, can be tamed by clipping for winter beauty. For an indigo or violet hue, consider the conifer Cryptomeria japonica, which turns a pleasing shade of purple in winter. Evergreen heucheras can provide low mounds of purple foliage to line paths and provide a safe haven for wildlife. Your winter garden is likely to be viewed through glass for much of this month, so help it to come alive with colour!

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Garden View

By Rachael Leverton

Plants as air purifiers A friend recently asked me whether there are any plants which might help with the humidity and mould problem in the bathroom and back bedroom of her Victorian house. It’s a problem that actually affects many British households. Many of our homes are old, and in our damp climate humidity can rise pretty quickly in the winter when all the windows are closed, and the radiators are on. With increased humidity comes the increased risk of mould and associated respiratory problems Obviously, we can install a dehumidifier or an extractor fan, but nature also provides her own dehumidifiers and air purifiers in the form of certain house plants. The best houseplants for mould-prone areas are those which are efficient at absorbing moisture through their leaves. Not all plants are equally efficient at this task so I’ve selected four of the best. Each offers a different aesthetic so there should be one that’s perfect for you. English ivy is a native plant and it’s a low-cost option. It removes airborne mould, but also other toxins such as formaldehyde and benzene. It grows best in bright, indirect sunlight so is perfect for north-facing rooms. You need to keep it out of reach of toddlers and pets because the leaves are toxic. Peace Lilies remind me of the film Hot Fuzz. Sergeant Angel, played by Sean Pegg loved his Peace Lily, and he had good reason. Not only are they elegant plants with stunning white flowers, but research conducted by NASA found the Peace Lily to be one

of the top indoor plants for air purification. This tropical plant breaks down and neutralizes benzene, formaldehyde, and carbon monoxide. One of the advantages of a Peace Lily is that it tells you when its thirsty by drooping and that it’s getting too much light by turning yellow. They love high humidity areas with indirect sunlight like most bathrooms and are great at preventing mould. Like English ivy the leaves and flowers are toxic. Palms add a tropical touch to a room and will efficiently reduce humidity. There are many varieties and some of the best are the lady palm, dwarf palm and reed palm. Indirect light is best and keep the surface of the soil moist but not wet. The Snake Plant is a wonderfully architectural succulent. Its evergreen sword-shaped leaves grow upright, and almost resemble artificial foliage. It’s great at air purification and is one of the few plants that can convert carbon dioxide into oxygen at night. This quality makes it particularly good for use in a bedroom as it can help regulate healthy airflow. Snake plants can absorb cancer-causing pollutants, including CO2, benzene, formaldehyde, xylene, and toluene and act as an effective defence against airborne allergies. Plants can’t solve a full-on damp problem and they won’t replace a built-in humidifier or extractor fan. But plants are a great way to improve the quality of the air in your home and they look beautiful too.

Happy Indoor Gardening

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Hobbies

What’s Your Hobby? Are you looking for a new hobby for 2022? We have some great ideas, most of them modest, proving you don’t have to spend a fortune to have a hobby. Painting - If you felt that you failed at art when you were at school why not try again as an adult? It’s not about aiming to be the next Monet or Picasso (though you never know!), but about learning to express yourself in a no pressure environment. Join a Choir - Now that singing is allowed again the time is right to join a choir. Communal singing is good for reducing stress and improving your health. It also helps to make new friends. Try Pottery - If every you’ve watched The Great Pottery Throw Down (and if you haven’t why not?) and thought ‘That looks fun!,’ now is the perfect time to investigate pottery classes at your local college. Its a tactile, absorbing hobby and you’ll get to meet some lovely creative people. Start a small veggie garden - And when I say small I mean really small. If you’ve never gardened before it can be daunting. So, choose an old garden pot, or measure out one square metre of your plot and choose something interesting to grow, like rainbow chard, or heritage tomatoes. You even get to eat what you grow. As you become more confident add another pot, or another square metre. Baby steps. Learn to cook - If you can’t cook, buy a simple instructional book, and get stuck in. Delia Smith’s How to Cookbooks are particularly good. They take you through which pots and pans you need and even how to boil an egg. If you can already cook, you could set aside one night a week to try a new recipe. You might decide to try Mexican recipes, or Indian

recipes or regional recipes from around the UK. Get the family involved and have fun with it Photography - We are all photographers now. Every smartphone has a camera. There are evening classes in smartphone photography now. Or maybe you have a nice camera and have never worked out how to use it properly. Taking beautiful pictures is a skill we can all learn and being able to record a beautiful moment: the birth of a child, a family holiday, or just a sunny afternoon in the garden will make it worth the effort. Learn to Sew - A few years ago I took an evening class called ‘Make do and Mend.’ It taught simple skills like hemming, mending and minor adjustments. I even made a festive tablecloth! Of course, you might prefer to make clothes from scratch. Creating my own wardrobe is on my bucket list and one day I’ll take a class and begin to learn how. Take a Walk - Wherever you live there will be a book of local walks. Discover pocket parks, hidden historical monuments and pretty or interesting views. Better still, find a friend to walk and talk with and explore the area around your home. Learn Language but stay close to home - The UK has some beautiful languages. Choose from British Sign Language (BSL), Welsh or Gaelic. You can attend a class or learn online, or with an app. Duo is a particularly good app for Welsh or Gaelic, and it’s completely free. If you prefer in person lessons then most colleges offer evening classes in BSL. These are some ideas for new hobbies. If nothing here piques your interest, think about what you love to do and then find a class, or a book and get stuck in. By Loraine Franklin

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Why Not Foster?

Have you ever considered becoming a foster carer? Caring for a pet is very rewarding, but for some families it is not always possible. Quite often when you are renting or between homes, having a pet in not an option. For many, cost is the reason they have not got a pet. Recently the cost of kittens, cats, puppies and dogs seems to have grown and grown. So being a foster carer may be a better and cheaper option. Being a foster carer is extremely rewarding. The RSPCA are always on the look out for new volunteer foster carers who can provide a safe, calm and loving environment for the cats and dogs our inspectors rescue 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. Why do we need foster carers at the RSPCA? The volunteer role of a foster carer is both a crucial and a rewarding one, giving people the opportunity to make a huge difference to animal welfare. Our foster carers aim to help rehabilitate animals which 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. 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? There are two types of fostering roles at the RSPCA: 1) Foster carers for animals ready to be rehomed. 2) Foster carers for case animals whilst the legal proceedings take place.

Pets

All carers are responsible for the welfare of the animal in their care and are a crucial part in the rehabilitation of the animal. You would be required to provide the care the animal needs; feeding, exercising, cleaning, socialising, giving medication and grooming. Many animals that we take in have either suffered or are not used to the care and affection that they deserved. Living with a foster family helps to provide them with one-to-one 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 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 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? If you are interested in the role of an animal fosterer, 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. The RSPCA is always delighted to hear about people’s positive fostering experiences. 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, contact; 0300 1234 999. Lines are open 7 days a week 24/7. Email: info@rspcabedsnorth.org.uk Tel: 01234 266965 / 01234 930304

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Motoring

Used car bargains: the models that are escaping the big price rises In recent months, with new car production badly affected by a shortage of components – namely due to limited supplies of semiconductors, which are used in everything from reversing cameras to safety assistance systems – buyers are flocking to used cars like never before. It’s having a huge knock-on effect on the prices of used cars too – especially on the models with long waiting times for a brand-

new version. In fact, recent data from automotive analysts Cap HPI showed that values rose by 20.3 per cent in a five month period, with some cars jumping in value by nearly 50 per cent in that time. It means that used cars are now pricier than they’ve ever been. However, there is still a range of models that continue to offer great value for money. Here are the used car bargains still available.

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Vauxhall Astra Though Vauxhall’s Astra might not be the most aspirational car in its class, that has never harmed its popularity. And it’s this that works to its advantage if you’re looking for a bargain, as with the huge choice of models available, it helps to guarantee you a great deal on a used example. So while the soon-to-be-replaced Astra might cost you £20,000 new, by looking at nearly-new versions you can quite easily save yourself well in excess of £5,000. We spotted a 2020 car with under 10,000 miles on the clock for just £13,495 – you’d struggle to find a new city car for that price. While it’s often overlooked, the Astra is still good to drive, looks good and has a practical interior that is ideal for families. BMW X3 M Competition BMW’s M division is best known for its sports saloons like the M3 and M5, but these days the brand’s sporty SUVs play an equally important part. Take the X3 M

Competition, for example, the brand’s entry-level M model in the SUV line-up – though with its 503bhp twin turbo 3.0-litre engine under the bonnet, it’s far from basic in terms of performance. If you wanted a new model it would set you back an eyewatering £83,000 (and that’s before you’ve chosen any optional extras). But by looking at used versions instead you can save a considerable chunk of money. We found a 2020 car with just 5,000 miles on the clock for £60,000, which is a vast saving off the original list price. Mercedes SL While Mercedes might be gearing up to launch its new ‘SL’ as its convertible flagship, its recently axed predecessor is well worth your attention. Though more old-school in its character, this glamorous drop-top is still dripping in class, with a punchy engine that would prove effortless on the long-distance trips this Mercedes is meant for.

Though no longer available to buy new, before its production run ended a factory-fresh version would have set you back upwards of £80,000. But today, you could expect to find a one-year-old example with just a few thousand miles on the clock for around £65,000. Granted, that’s still a lot of money, but a very generous saving off the original asking price. Audi e-tron Due to the increased popularity of electric cars, it often means bargains are quite rare. One exception to that rule is the Audi e-tron – the brand’s flagship SUV – which, despite its highquality, tech-laden interior and comfortable drive isn’t holding its value quite as well as you might expect. But that just makes it a terrific used buy, especially as a 2020 car with under 10,000 miles on the clock can be had for £45,000 – a huge £15,000 saving on what you’d pay for a brand-new model. Just be aware

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that this applies to the ‘50’ model with the smaller battery option, which only allows for an electric range of around 200 miles. Volkswagen Arteon Sometimes the best trick to finding a used car bargain is to choose a car that flies under the radar, and one great example is the Volkswagen Arteon. It’s the brand’s most ‘executive’ model these days, yet despite its striking design it’s often cast aside by buyers who favour a more premium badge. By doing so they’re missing out on its refined driving experience, upmarket interior and efficient engines, though. However, you can use this to your benefit, as a 2020 car in high-spec R-Line trim with low miles is available from around £26,000 – an almost ridiculous £13,000 less than the list price of a new example. So, while used car values might be rising at a silly rate, there are most certainly still bargains that can be had.

Seasonal Recipe

This is such a light, refreshing soup and low-carb too, thanks to the addition of vegetable noodles. You could also use kelp noodles or regular noodles instead.

Ramen Tofu Noodle Bowl Ingredients 1 medium courgette (or use 150g kelp noodles or cooked regular noodles) 1½ tbsp olive oil 450g firm tofu, drained and cut into 2cm cubes 2 spring onions, finely chopped 2 garlic cloves, crushed 600ml vegetable stock 2 pak choi, roughly chopped 150g shiitake mushrooms, sliced 1 tbsp white miso paste 2 tbsp tamari soy sauce Handful of beansprouts To serve 1 tbsp toasted sesame seeds 1 tbsp chopped coriander leaves 1. Use a spiraliser to make long noodles from the courgette; alternatively use a swivel potato peeler to create long strips. Set aside. If using kelp or

Preparation time: 10 minutes Cooking time: 14 minutes Serves 4

regular noodles prepare according to instructions and drain well. 2. Heat 1 tbsp oil in a frying pan and add the tofu. Sauté for 5 minutes over a medium-high heat until the tofu is lightly golden. Remove from the pan and set aside. 3. Heat the remaining oil in a pan and sauté the spring onion and garlic for 1–2 minutes over a medium heat. Pour in the vegetable stock and bring to the boil. Add the pak choi and mushrooms and simmer for 5 minutes until the pak choi has wilted. Stir in the miso paste, tamari soy sauce, beansprouts, tofu and courgette (or other) noodles and stir briefly. Turn off the heat and allow the soup to sit for 1–2 minutes to allow the noodles to soften. 4. Ladle the soup into bowls and scatter over the sesame seeds and coriander to serve.

Nutrition per serving: 176kcal, fat 10.6g (of which saturates 3g), carbohydrates 5.4g (of which sugars 3.7g), protein 14.5g

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HERTS OVEN CLEAN Herts Oven Clean is a domestic oven cleaning specialist in Hertfordshire. Non-caustic, fume-free solution individually prepared for each customer. Ovens, Hobs, Grills, Extractors, Agas, Microwaves and Gas Barbeques. Call Richard on 01438 813492 Bring a sparkle to your kitchen today.

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Health/Fitness By Toby Malone

Choose a Gym You’ve made it through Christmas but, as usual, you’ve come out the other side with a few extra pounds around your middle. It’s time to don the workout kit and exercise. But choosing a gym can be a challenging task. What workout regime do you want? Will you feel comfortable? What facilities and equipment should you be using? The best way to find this out is to book appointments and visit a few. Most gyms will be happy to have a member of staff walk you around the facility, show you what’s on offer and explain what other classes and programs there are. As you go round you need to keep an eye open to work out if this is the right place for you. Are the staff friendly and helpful? Chat to some of the trainers and fitness team. They should be happy to talk to you about your goals and offer guidance as to what sorts of exercise might work best for you. You should get a feel for their attitude to new members, especially if you’ve never been a regular gym goer. Have a think before you go about what sorts of exercise you might like best. If you prefer classes then you’ll need to make sure you ask about their timetable. Ask to see where the classes take place and ask about numbers attending. Too few people can mean a class loses the group energy. If you like pumping iron, make sure the weight area and machines match your skill level. Again, check numbers as you want to be able to use the equipment without having to wait for too long. Are

there enough stations? Is there enough room for what you want to do? Is there enough equipment so you’re not waiting for someone else to finish with it before you can get going again? Functional training is becoming more popular now, where you use body weight and movement to build strength and flexibility. If this is your thing make sure the gym has the right equipment for what you want to do. Is there a big enough space set aside for this activity? What sort of people are using the gym? If it’s full of body builders you might feel out of place if your aim is simply to tone up a little. If the swimming pool is full of people in their seventies swimming slowly and chatting and you like to sprint lengths, you might need to look elsewhere for your work outs. The gym should be somewhere you enjoy going. Having the right mix of people goes a long way to creating that feeling. After you’ve seen round the gym think about attending for a couple of sessions before committing to a membership. Many places offer a proper introductory gym session where a trainer will take you through all the equipment and suggest an individualised workout program. Use this session to confirm whether the place is right for you and to jump start your exercise program. Going to the gym has to be fun. If it’s not you will find excuses not to go. Losing weight and getting in shape is all about perseverance. It’s hard work but worth it.

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Easy Sudoku

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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. 48

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What's On

WHAT'S ON IN JANUARY 3, 10, 17, 24 & 31 JANUARY Branch Out Social Club for Single People 8.30-10.30pm Cromwell Bar, The Sun Hotel, Hitchin Medium-sized social club for single people aged 40 upwards. Meets every Monday night. Tel: Lorna 01438 233657 Web: www.branch-out.org.uk 5 JANUARY Pic-n-Mix Social Group 10.30am-12 noon. Letchworth Library Meets the first Wednesday of every month. Each session has a theme or activity, and suggestions are made attendees. Drop in for a cuppa, a chat and make some new friends! 5 JANUARY

Aircraft Enthusiasts’ Group 1pm. Shuttleworth Members £5. ‘Ups and Downs of 30 Years’ Flying’ with Paul Drakes. Meets on the first Wednesday of every month. Entry to Shuttleworth is £15 (valid for one month) but free for SVAS and AEG members. Email: 99aegr@gmail.com Web: www.a-e-g.org.uk

6, 13, 20 & 27 JANUARY Baby Rhyme Time 10.15-10.45am & 11.15-11.45am Hitchin Library Free - donations welcome Fun half hour sessions of songs and rhymes are perfect for helping your child to learn language skills and are an opportunity for you to meet other families too. Booking essential. Web: www.hertfordshire.gov.uk

7 JANUARY Bedfordshire Family History Society 7pm. Drama Theatre, Mark Rutherford School, Bedford ‘The Brooks of Flitwick Manor’ by Richard Morgan. www.bfhs.org.uk 7, 14, 21 & 28 JANUARY Baby Rhyme Time 10.15-10.45am & 11.30-12.00 noon Stevenage Library Free - donations welcome Fun half hour sessions of songs and rhymes are perfect for helping your child to learn language skills. Booking essential. www.hertfordshire.gov.uk 7, 14, 21 & 28 JANUARY Bridge Club 1.30-4.30pm. Springfield House, Old Stevenage Community Centre Play social cut-in Chicago Bridge. Play is informal and friendly. Tel: Richard Bean 01438 221517 7, 14, 21 & 28 JANUARY BookTrust Storytime 2.15-2.45pm Letchworth Library Free - donations welcome Interactive story sessions, perfect for pre-school children. No need to book. Web: www.hertfordshire. gov.uk 8 JANUARY Cambridgeshire and Bedfordshire Hardy Plant Society 2pm. Weatherley Centre, Eagle Farm Road, Biggleswade Talk by Kerry Barehead on Roses dos and don’ts. Visitors welcome – small charge. www.hpscambsandbeds.co.uk

10, 17, 24 & 31 JANUARY Stevenage Choral Society 7.45pm Stevenage Music Centre, Mobbsbury, Stevenage Meets every Monday during term time. No audition necessary. Meet like-minded people of all ages and abilities. Try out a wide range of music, from the classics to show songs. Tel: 01438 365769 Email: info@stevenagechoral.org.uk Web: www.stevenagechoral.org.uk 12 JANUARY Tedesca Quartet with Charles Matthews 8pm. Benslow Music, Benslow Lane, Hitchin Tickets £20, free entry for under 27s, livestream tickets £10, free virtual tickets for under 27s The first visit of the year from the popular Tedesca Quartet, joined by the pianist Charles Matthews. Preconcert dining £25. Web: https://benslowmusic.org 16 JANUARY

Biggleswade Antique & Vintage Fair 9am-4pm. The Weatherley Centre, Eagle Farm Road, Biggleswade Café serving food and drinks all day. Free parking. Wheelchair/pushchair access. Tel: Marcel 07887 648255 Web: www.marcelfairs.co.uk

21, 23, 28 & 29 JANUARY The Sleeping Beauty Fri & Sat 7.30pm, Sun 1.30pm & 5.30pm Meppershall Village Hall Adults £12, Children £7, Family of 4 £34 HATS present The Sleeping Beauty. Traditional family pantomime by Norman Robbins. Web: www.ticketsource.co.uk/hatsdrama

6, 13, 20 & 27 JANUARY Sapphire Social Singles Club 8pm. The Orange Tree, Hitchin Meet every Thursday. A friendly social group for single people to meet and make new friends generally 50+ age group. Tel/text: Ian 07900 890583 for info Web: sapphiresocialsinglesclub.co.uk

10, 17, 24 & 31 JANUARY Baby Rhyme Time 10.30-11am Letchworth Library Free - donations welcome Fun half hour sessions of songs and rhymes are perfect for helping your child to learn language skills. Booking essential. Web: www.hertfordshire.gov.uk

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What's On

WHAT'S ON IN JANUARY 22 JANUARY

Bedford RSPB Local Group Meeting 7.30-9.30pm ARA Club, Manton Lane, Bedford Members £1, guests £2, under 18 free ‘Jewels in the Air’ by Wilf Powell which describes aspects of the biology and behaviour of hummingbirds. . RSPB membership not essential. Annual membership £5. rspb.org.uk/groups/bedford

UNTIL 23 JANUARY Aladdin Gordon Craig Theatre, Stevenage It’s a magic carpet ride worth waiting for! Widow Twankey wants a husband, evil Abanazaar wants the lamp, Aladdin wants adventure and Wishee Washee wants some Spiderman Pants! - can the Genie grant their wishes? Web: www.gordon-craig.co.uk

30 JANUARY Afternoon Tea 4pm. Benslow Music, Benslow Lane, Hitchin £19.95pp or £24.95pp with a glass of Prosecco. Enjoy afternoon tea at Benslow Music complemented with live music. Booking required. Tel: 01462 459446 benslowmusic.org EVERY WEEKDAY Clifton Walking Group Meets on weekdays at 8.30am and in the afternoon for an hour. A friendly bunch of people of various ages and abilities. Monthly weekend walk of 6-8 miles. No pressure to walk, just turn up as often or as seldom as you prefer. The group also meets for a coffee once a month and holds other social events. Tel: Suzanne I’ons 07933 709006 Email: ionssuzanne@gmail.com

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LETCHWORTH ARTS & LEISURE GROUP Annual membership £10 per household Many groups and activities including wine appreciation, film, gardening, theatre, art design, books, discussions, games, sports, outings, walking and much, much more. New groups are starting all the time. Online talks every month. Non-members can try activities before joining. Web: LALG.org.uk

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SHIRON

Premier

Domestic Appliances Repairs of

Painters and Decorators

Washing Machines Tumble Dryers Dishwashers Electric Ovens Electric Cookers Electric Hobs

Premier Painters and Decorators are a professional, punctual and hard working company delivering outstanding quality of work to our clients in and around Stevenage From wallpaper hanging, feature walls, coving and cornice work. We even clean facias, soffits and guttering. (PVC or Wood) If you would like to take advantage of our services, require a quote or advise please do not hesitate to contact us. Be assured when Premier quote a job there are NO HIDDEN EXTRAS. Private and commercial, exterior and interior painting services.

VAT Registered Specialist in Hotpoint, Indesit, Ariston, Creda and Whirlpool appliances.

Contact RONNIE Tel: 01438 720 304 Mobile: 07396 579717

Email: rohintoncooper@hotmail.com

For a free quotation please contact Gary on Tel: 01438 353793 Mob: 07733 227961 Email: info@premierpd.co.uk

www.premierpd.co.uk

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Bathroom Showroom ...With more than 50 displays of bathrooms, furniture & fittings Free in-house 3D design service Quality products from leading manufacturers Experienced staff offering impartial advice Free delivery within a 20 mile radius of our showroom

01438 725309

bathrooms@stevenageplumbing.co.uk www.stevenageplumbing.co.uk

Caxton House, Caxton Way, Stevenage, Herts. SG1 2XS 54

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Plumbing

Plumbing Problems. Would you know what to do? Frozen Pipes Turn off the mains water supply. If the frozen pipe has a split, empty the coldwater cistern by opening all the cold taps. If the pipe hasn’t split, thaw it out slowly by applying hot water bottles. If any part of the hot water system is frozen or there is a split, turn the central heating off and call a professional. Burst pipe Turn off the mains water. Open all the cold taps so the pipes and storage system drain quickly, but do not turn on the hot taps. Turn off the central heating, any electric immersion heaters and call a professional. By Tracey Anderson Blocked sink or toilet If the sink is blocked, unscrew the trap - the u-shaped pipe under the sink (don’t forget to put a bowl underneath to catch any water!) - and check. If the blockage isn’t there, or your toilet is blocked, use a plunger that completely covers the outlet. It creates a vacuum to suck and push the blockage away. A chemical dissolver breaks down organic material, clearing the blockage away with little or no mess. Call a professional if the blockage remains. The best way to prevent plumbing emergencies is to make sure your storage system and exposed pipes are well insulated and have your central heating system serviced annually.

Review of the Year 1. Which computer pioneer and codebreaker features on the new Bank of England 50 pound note that entered circulation in 2021? 2. Before later admitting it was an April Fool’s joke to help promote its upcoming electric cars, which car manufacturer said in a press release that it was changing the fourth letter in its name to a “t”? 3. At the 2021 Brit Awards, who became the first ever all-female group to win the Best British Group award? 4. Which online fashion retailer bought the brand Debenhams in January and the brands Burton, Wallis and Dorothy Perkins in February? 5. Name the only two players to score for England in the penalty shoot-out of the UEFA Euro 2020 Final.

6. Which British city was stripped of its UNESCO World Heritage status in 2021 due to developments along its waterfront? 7. In 2021, El Salvador become the first country in the world to make what legal tender? 8. Instead of its usual course on the River Thames, the 2021 University Boat Race was held in Cambridgeshire on a stretch of which river? 9. 2021 saw which 83-year-old become the oldest ever person to win an Academy Award for acting? 10. Name the three countries who finished above Great Britain in the medal table at the 2020 Summer Olympics.

1. Alan Turing 2. Volkswagen 3. Little Mix 4. Boohoo.com 5. Harry Kane and Harry Maguire 6. Liverpool 7. Bitcoin 8. The Great Ouse 9. Anthony Hopkins 10. USA, China and Japan

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Special Report

How to be a Vegan (or Vegetarian) The headlines about meat-eating emphasise that rearing animals for food is a major contributor to climate change, but you don’t have to look far to understand that animal welfare and personal health are also significant motivators for the increased adoption of more plant-based diets. It was recently reported that, over the last decade, the UK’s meat consumption dropped by 17%. That’s a great start, but although we know why we should consider this new way of eating, the how seems to have less attention, so let’s look at some simple changes that we can all adopt. Cooking from scratch The easiest option is to eat pretty much as you always did, but to use meat-free alternatives. Mince, burgers, sausages, fish and chicken all have vegan substitutes available and in some cases it’s really quite difficult to spot the difference. Oat milk is the winner for its sustainability credentials, with almond milk now generally frowned upon. Butter substitutes have been around for years; vegan cheese is available but is a bit of an acquired taste. Replacements for eggs depends on the recipe, so you’ll have to do your research. If this way of eating is going to stick, you’ll want to try some new recipes. Most recipes have considerably more ingredients that meat-based meals do, including herbs and spices. If you love cooking and have lots of jars of flavourings in your cupboards you won’t mind this. Otherwise, you might want to consider a ready-to-cook option. For this, look at the booming market of recipe boxes. British company Gousto offer around 60

recipes each week, with 20% vegan and a further 30% vegetarian (meaning over half the meals don’t contain meat). Around 80% of HelloFresh meals contain meat so they are not a great choice, but you could try their sister brand GreenChef and another popular provider, Mindful Chef. Ready-to-eat Supermarkets have a selection of plant-based ready meals and frozen meal deliveries are available from a number of companies, including Planty and Allplants. Take-away food is a bit more challenging. It is possible though and the online menus should offer a clear indication of which of their options are vegetarian and vegan. Eating out Choose a restaurant or pub that offers many of the same options as usual but in a veggie version, and some recipes that are specifically targeted for nonmeat eaters. Even better is a specific vegan menu, and Wagamama deserve recognition for having introduced this at the start of 2021. Happy Cow (happycow.net or download the app) is a useful resource with social feedback on many eateries, or your local Facebook group will have lots of people giving you recommendations (or ‘avoids’). Be realistic Like any new regime, a wholesale overnight change will be challenging and will often lead to failure. But even if you could just do one no-animal-products day each week, you will have cut your meat intake by 14% and in time you’ll realise that you often prefer the veggie or vegan option.

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Crossword Puzzle Solution from our December Edition Last Month’s Crossword Winner - Lindsey Smith, Abbotsley

December’s Codeword and Sudoku Solutions

Easy

Hard

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The Villager Prize Crossword Prize

£25

Across 1 King’s title (7) 5 Herb (5) 8 Sprays water (9) 9 Curved line (3) 10 Sword (5) 12 Remote military camp (7) 13 Incendiary guns (13) 15 Highest noble rank (7) 17 Tests (5) 19 Concerned with the environment (3) 20 Raised area (9) 22 Give up (5) 23 Wandered (7)

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

16th January 2022 Prize Crossword, Villager Publications Ltd 24 Market Square, Potton, Beds SG19 2NP The winner will be drawn at random from the correct completed entries.

Down 1 Disguises (5) 2 Glass container (3) 3 Genuine, honest (7) 4 Colourful small birds (13) 5 Hat (5) 6 E.g. EastEnders (4,5) 7 Finds (7) 11 Region in space (5,4) 13 Nervous (7) 14 Outside (4-3) 16 Fear (5) 18 Church council (5) 21 Climbing plant (3)

Name:

Address:



Tel:

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Fresh starts Give your New Year’s resolutions a helping hand… Running Made Easy Lisa Jackson and Susie Whalley

Whether you’ve got your mind set on running a marathon this year, or you just want to complete Couch to 5K, this book could prove as invaluable as the right pair of trainers. Within its pages, you’ll find plenty of tips, running plans and advice, mainly aimed at beginner runners. Perhaps most importantly, however, you’ll also find lots of motivational real-life stories of people who’ve used running to dramatically improve their lives.

The Book of Hopes Edited by Katherine Rundell

This book brings together poems, short stories, essays and illustrations – all designed to ‘comfort, inspire and entertain’. It’s perfect for dipping into on a coffee break or when you’re in need of a moment of solace. While it’s aimed at children, there’s no reason why The Book of Hopes can’t be enjoyed just as much by adults. A beautiful book to give or receive.

Everyday Cook Donal Skehan

Is your New Year’s resolution to cook more meals from scratch? Most of the recipes in Everyday Cook are designed to take you from fridge to table within half an hour. (Some dishes can be whipped up in just fifteen minutes.) There are also meals to freeze for days when you really don’t have the energy to cook. The recipes might be simple, but they’re far from boring. Think Cheat’s Spring Risotto, Kung Pao Chicken and Aubergine, and Spicy Prawn Aglio e Olio.

Books

By Kate Duggan

The Wildlife Gardener Kate Bradbury

British wildlife has declined dramatically over the last few decades. Once common species, such as the hedgehog, are under threat. If you want to play a role in helping to reverse the decline, this book is a good starting point. It’s packed with practical tips on encouraging all manner of wildlife into your garden. You’ll find step-by-step projects, ideas for plants and plenty of gorgeous photography. And you’ll also be taught how to identify some of your new garden visitors.

Farrow & Ball Recipes for Decorating Joa Studholme

Planning to refresh your home in 2022? Before you go anywhere near a paintbrush, get some advice and inspiration from the experts. Farrow & Ball’s no-nonsense guide covers everything from creating different moods using colour, to tackling common problems such as dark rooms and small spaces. There are several case studies and tons of photos. Whether you’re craving an ultra-modern living room or want to bring some country-cottage comfort to your kitchen, this book is for you.

The Sustainable(ish) Living Guide Jen Gale

Going green can feel pretty daunting, but this book sets out small steps we can all take to help combat climate change, reduce plastic and cut waste. It’s about making more conscious, informed choices – from small swaps that you’ll barely notice to more impactful life changes. There are no lectures, no guilt trips and no preaching – just relatable, easy-toread advice and ideas.

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VILLAGER The

and Town

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Stevenage Jan 2022

Articles inside

Book Review: Fresh Starts

What’s On in January

How to be a Vegan

Wordsearch

Choose a Gym

Villager Prize Crossword

Seasonal Recipe: Ramen Tofu Noodle bowl

Used Car Bargains

RSPCA: Why Not Foster?

Personal Electric Transport

All the Colours of the Rainbow

New Year, New You for 2022

How to put an outfit together

Health and Well-being Holidays in the UK

A Fresh New Year

Out of Business? Your Rights

What’s Your Hobby?