Stevenage July 2020

VILLAGER The

and Town

July 2020

Life

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

In this issue Paddling Pool Safety

Get Moving for

Mental Health Win £25 in our Prize Crossword

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Inside this issue...

R.A.T.S. Rehoming Appeal..............................................26 The Good Pet Owner’s Guide to Summer........................28 Handy Songs for Clean Hands!.......................................31 Escape to Victory............................................................33 Gail’s Guide to Gin..........................................................34 Puzzle Page....................................................................36 Villager Prize Crossword.................................................42 Book Review..................................................................44 Useful Numbers.............................................................47

Gail’s Guide to Gin

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The History of the Pandemic............................................4 Paddling Pool Safety........................................................8 Wines Worth Locating: The Winebarn.............................12 Get Moving for Mental Health........................................14 Summer Dressing to Keep Cool......................................16 What do our national animals say about us?..................18 Nick Coffer’s Weekend Recipe.........................................20 Hearing Loss and Brain Health.......................................23 Silver Splendour.............................................................24

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The Good Pet Owner’s Guide to Summer

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: Catherine Rose, Tracey Anderson, Trevor Langley, Kate McLelland, Jennie Billings, Nick Coffer, Discreet Hearing, Pippa Greenwood, RSPCA, Alison Williams, Sarah Davey, and Gail Mitchell

Advertising Sales/Local Editorial Nigel Frost • Tel 01767 261122 nigel@villagermag.com Photography - famveldman Design and Artwork Design 9 • Tel 07762 969460 • www.design9marketing.co.uk

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Disclaimer - All adverts and editorial are printed in good faith, however, Villager Publications Ltd can not take any responsibility for the content of the adverts, the services provided by the advertisers or any statements given in the editorial.

No part of this publication may be reproduced or stored without the express permission of the publisher.

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History

By Catherine Rose

The History of the Pandemic Despite our increased global mobility meaning pandemics are potentially more likely, diseases have been crossing country borders for centuries.

One of the earliest pandemics, the Justinian plague, began in 500 AD, spreading from Egypt into Palestine, the Byzantine Empire and then Europe.

Similar to bubonic plague, it killed twenty-six per cent of the world’s population – around five hundred million – thwarting Roman Emperor Justinian’s plans to revitalise the Roman Empire.

1347 saw the first wave of the Black Death, a pneumonic form of bubonic plague – one of the most devastating pandemics in human history.

Originating in Asia, it is likely to have travelled along the Silk Route and then by ship into Europe. It is believed, as with later outbreaks, that it was spread via fleas contaminated with the yersinia pestis bacteria.

The disease is estimated to have killed hundreds of millions of people worldwide and up to sixty per cent of the population in Europe. Characterised

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by a fever and buboes, the Black Death could kill within hours. Whole villages were wiped out and in cities people were confined to their homes, a cross marking the door to indicate if they had the plague within. Carts were piled high with bodies as people were ordered to ‘bring out their dead’.

It wasn’t until the nineteenth century that the bacteria were discovered. At the time, it was believed that the plague was caused by miasma or ‘bad air’. It was even thought that the illness could jump out of a dead man’s eyes and infect a healthy person.

Many believed that sinners were being punished.

Groups of flagellants took to the streets, whipping themselves to appease an angry God. What a strange sight that would be to us today!

The Black Death lasted until 1352 and had huge economic and social repercussions.

Instances of bubonic plague returned over the following centuries. In 1665, the Great Plague of London spread from ports along the Thames and

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killed twenty per cent of its population. As has happened more recently in China, it was believed that cats and dogs were spreading the disease and many were slaughtered.

The term ‘quarantine’ was coined in Venice referring to a period of forty days – the optimum time necessary for the spread of an epidemic to be contained. Cities that implemented quarantines were found to be less affected by fast-transmitting diseases.

The first of several cholera pandemics began in Russia in 1815. Acquired through contaminated water and food, the British Army unwittingly spread this serious bacterial illness across the British Empire.

Eventually India, China, Indonesia, Japan, Spain, Italy, Germany and America all succumbed to the pandemic. Millions of people died from the rapidly fatal effects of the disease which causes severe diahorreah and dehydration.

Another outbreak occurred during the Crimean War between 1853 and 1856. Nurse Florence Nightingale became famous at this time for her tireless efforts to improve unsanitary conditions.

A vaccine was created in 1885.

Smallpox, caused by the variola virus, is one of the most devastating diseases. Various outbreaks have occurred over the centuries with the earliest believed to have been as far back as 10,000 BC. During the twentieth century alone, smallpox was responsible for up to five hundred million deaths worldwide. It was finally declared by WHO to be eradicated in 1980.

The fact that COVID-19 originated in animals is one of the reasons it has been taken so seriously.

However, it is not the first pandemic virus to do so. The Spanish flu, which struck worldwide during

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1918/19, is believed to have started in birds.

Unlike regular flu, the illness targeted healthy young people more than it struck the old. With this particular strain, it is thought to be due to older people having built up more immunity over the course of their life.

Although nicknamed the Spanish flu, it first appeared in Kansas, America in 1918. Due to World War I, many European countries had news blackouts and initial announcements of the disease came from Madrid, which led to people believing it had begun in Spain.

Its arrival towards the end of the war meant it spread rapidly in the unsanitary and confined conditions of the trenches. And it came at a devastating time when populations had already been decimated.

This particularly deadly flu primarily attacked the lungs, leading to severe bronchial pneumonia. It infected a third of the world’s population and resulted in around fifty to one hundred million deaths.

During its year-long reign, public places were closed and people told to wear masks, self-isolate and not shake hands. At the time it was believed to be caused by bacteria; much smaller viruses were only discovered later.

India was one of the worst affected countries due to the high number of people living in close proximity there. Tasmania closed its borders early and implemented a strict quarantine period – as a result the pandemic was mildest by comparison.

Today, we are better informed about the spread of disease, our lives are more sanitary and scientists can more easily predict outcomes and implement strategies that contain it.

Stay safe and well.

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Parenting

Paddling Pool Safety With more of us staying at home this summer many of us will be tempted to buy paddling pools and bathing pools (if we’re lucky enough to have a large enough space). Most parents are hypervigilant when near a hotel or campsite pool, but it’s easy to become more complacent when we’re at home in our own ‘safe’ environment.

It’s possible for a young child to drown in just a few inches of water. That’s why it’s important not to overfill your paddling pool: 5-10cm of water is enough for lots of splashy toddler fun.

Just as you’d supervise a child while playing in a hotel pool or on the beach so it’s important to supervise them while they are playing in a paddling pool. If you need to step away for a moment to answer the phone, switch the kettle on or check on dinner – be sure to take the kids out of the pool while you’re away. It might be a bit of a faff but so much better to be safe not sorry.

I’m betting you check that baths are not too hot when you run them. How many of us check our pools are not too cold? Water from outdoor taps tends to be very chilly. Adding a kettle or two of boiling water to the pool to take the chill off before the kids use it is kinder to tiny bodies.

The area around your paddling pool tends to become very slippery very quickly. A couple of old towels for them to stand on as they climb out helps

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By Tracey Anderson

to prevent accidents.

If you’re re-using a pool from previous years make sure you give it a thorough clean to get rid of cobwebs, bird and mouse droppings and general muck before filling it with water. Children ingest a surprising amount of paddling pool water and you really don’t want any nasty tummy bugs. A tablespoon of bleach when cleaning and rinsing it AFTER use will help keep it spotless and safe.

Gardens are full of sharps things, like twigs and stones. To avoid puncturing the pool, or inflicting any nasty cuts and grazes, check it for sharp objects before filling and keep an eye out for new debris whilst the kids are leaping in and out. If you do spot a puncture, tear, or rip, you’ll need to fix it before letting your kids play in it. Once filled with water a damaged pool can collapse or deflate depositing water and bathers all over the lawn!

The bright colours and sparkly water in paddling pools means they are a magnet for insects! You may need to fish a few out of the pool now and then. A small net, or an old sieve is great. It might also be a good idea to apply plenty of insect-repellent to your children to help ward off things that bite and sting!

Sun protection is important. Beachwear with a high SPF is perfect paddling pool attire. And don’t forget to slather on lashings of high SPF waterproof sunscreen and keep reapplying throughout the day.

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Cloudy2Clear, A Local Service With A Smile.

I think we can all agree that the sooner we see the back of 2020 and this dreadful corona virus the better. That said, there are also some heart warming positives that we can take out of this situation. It has often been said that we can only really get to know one another and realise what is truly important in times of crisis. I think few would argue that in this case what has proven to be important is local community spirit.

When talking to the Manager of Cloudy2Clear windows Stephen Moon it became clear that these values have been held dear for a number of years. Since starting the business some years ago Cloudy2Clear have remained true to their core values of

supporting the local community by providing a service that saves the public money.

The Cloudy2Clear service only requires the glass to be replaced and not the whole window once the unit has failed. Stephen commented “Cloudy2Clear were able to assist our community through the last financial crisis in 2008 due to the savings that can be made in using our service. Unfortunately we might be going through something similar again soon and the public can rest assured that we will be there to help again”.

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Food & Drink

Wines Worth Locating The Winebarn Germany utilises Riesling grapes to great advantage and the resulting wines have a range from Trocken (dry), Kabinett (medium-dry), through medium and sweet, to Beerenauslese (very sweet) and Eiswein (even sweeter).

The WineBarn Ltd company specialises in finding, importing and offering German wines of superb quality and elegance. Their MD is Iris Ellmann. Iris is very much acknowledged and respected. One of the UK’s first Fellows (The Riesling Fellowship), Iris is an expert in German wines. The team are extremely proud of having been recognised as The IWC Best German Wine Merchant. Advice includes recommendations for food pairings, any occasions and events. The WineBarn also offers a Rare and Antique Wines Service, sourcing elusive investment wines from hidden German cellars. For this ‘quest’ I searched for dry Riesling wines.

The Allendorf family have a history of over 700 years, living and working in the Rheingau region, which is home to the famed Riesling white wine grape. Their estate is recognised as one of the largest family-owned wineries in the Rheingau. Allendorf Save Water Drink Riesling (dry) has a primary fruity sensation, including apricot and crisp apple, for the nasal senses. Continuing to the mouthfeel and palate’s enjoyment, this is a very popular, refreshing wine. www.thewinebarn.co.uk/collections/allendorf Since the latter part of the 15th century the Aldinger family have worked the land in the town of Fellbach.

Committed and dedicated to their productions, the wines produced have exceptional quality. Aldinger Rebhuhn Riesling Trocken I found to have very acceptable orchard fruits on the bouquet. Certainly crisp and fresh, with a good finish on the palate. Ideal to grace many dining tables, this is another popular production. www. thewinebarn.co.uk/collections/aldinger Riesling wines are great to accompany numerous dishes of cuisine, as well as having the ability to be enjoyed on their own. These and many more excellent wines with a passion - a good number of which are (multi) award-winning - are available from The WineBarn Ltd. Ordering is easy and available online, too. Orders are dealt with quickly and efficiently, dispatching to all types of properties, including hotels, Michelin-starred restaurants, retailers, private clients, homes and offices.

The WineBarn is delivering now.

The WineBarn Ltd, 16 Taylor’s Yard, Sutton Scotney, Winchester, Hampshire, SO21 3XX, England.

Tel: 00 44 (0) 1962 761215 E-mail: wine@thewinebarn.co.uk www.thewinebarn.co.uk

As always, Enjoy!

ey Trevor Langl

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Health

By Kate McLelland

Get Moving for Mental Health During the lockdown, with so little choice of things to do, it may well be that a walk round the block became part of your daily routine. That should have reminded you of the physical and mental benefits of fresh air and moving around.

But as lockdown eases, if you find you have reverted to form and even the very word ‘exercise’ makes you want to retreat to the sofa to binge watch Netflix, we hear you!

It really doesn’t have to be a chore though. Any type of exercise is useful, as long as it suits you and you do enough of it. It should be something you enjoy or it will be hard to find the motivation to do it regularly.

As the saying goes: necessity is the mother of invention and the last couple of months have been amazing for introducing exercise that doesn’t involve being in a gym. From martial arts in the garden, online yoga and cycling to just that brisk walk round the block.

Exercise to boost your mood Aerobic exercises, where your heart rate is elevated, have been shown to help depression. They reduce your levels of cortisol (AKA the ‘stress hormone’).

You could try jogging (using the Couch to 5K app to keep yourself motivated), a virtual exercise class or just dancing in your kitchen.

Exercise to ease anxiety Yoga and pilates can have a direct impact on your nervous system, helping to calm it down and ease anxiety. Some studies have shown that yoga can also be beneficial for tackling depression, alleviating stress and even reducing pain and blood pressure.

Exercise in nature According to a study by the University of Exeter, spending two hours a week in nature is good for both your mental and physical wellbeing. This could mean your local park, a field or even doing an outdoor

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circuits session in your garden.

Virtual exercise classes Joe Wicks runs weekday PE classes at 9am on his YouTube channel and you don’t need to have children to take part. If the family classes are too energetic, try some of his other workouts, such as the ones aimed at seniors.

Don’t fancy PE? You’ll find dance, martial arts and more online. The dance troupe Diversity teaches regular classes on www.20dv.co.uk. And you can take part in Oti Mabuse’s free dance classes on her YouTube channel whenever you want.

Exercising with a health condition If you’re worried that exercise might make an existing health condition worse, do speak to your GP. Finally the NHS offers more than 20 instructor-led workouts at www.nhs.uk/conditions/nhs-fitnessstudio, starting from just 10 minutes long. There’s even a 30 minute workout using your sofa!

Keep motivated Make a note of how you feel before and after your workout. Try rating your anxiety and mood and see whether the workout has had a positive effect.

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House of Colour

Summer dressing to keep cool Whether you love summer clothes or find hot weather dressing frustrating here’s my guide to keeping your cool in the warmer months.

Summer Dressing • We’re very good at wearing very little as soon as it gets hot in this country (often little opportunity I know!) but it’s not always doing us a favour. The more flesh we expose the less authority we hold.

If you’re in a professional setting, and even on a zoom call, keep your shoulders covered. A light weight jacket or even a fine knit cardigan at work is great to have on call.

• In warmer weather we can lose our own style in an effort to keep cool – anything will do! Think a little bit about your lifestyle and have a few items that serve you, give you style and shape, in really warm weather (it does still happen here!). Not all of us can work a linen peasant dress but all of us have some styles that we can use in really hot weather to keep cooler. For example I can’t do the maxi or midi dress (look like a small child lost in a grownup outfit!) but I can do a neat halterneck.

• Quality – buy less buy better. I think as our summer months can be so erratic we splurge when its warm on cheap clothing to get us by.

Investing in a summer wardrobe can seem a waste when our weather is so unreliable. But, our summers have been getting warmer and it looks like that will continue. Look for those quality items that you will wear every year in versatile colours, and the ones you absolutely love. A neutral item on the bottom half will always be more useful that a bright shade. Also, be critical of your clothes. Are they still looking good? Have they seen better days? Remember your clothes are speaking for you.

• Sales – tempting I know to go for the bargain options around but if you wouldn’t have bought it at full price then why are you buying it now?

It won’t be a bargain if it sits clogging up your wardrobe.

• Grooming, grooming, grooming. So this is a challenging one currently but it is really key to looking good in the summer months! It’s tempting to give up on make up too but a light dusting of foundation and some lipstick will help to define your look.

• Invest in good underwear for the summer.

Underwear should not be visible! Generally it needs to be a nude shade and smooth to avoid lines. If you’re stuck or hate underwear shopping

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there is a virtual solution from BraSense. She’s a miracle worker.

• Accessories – again we can forget about our accessories in warmer weather. They’re a quick way to update our look if we aren’t into investing in clothes. More importantly they complete our look, making us look finished and put together.

Think about that cameo area in your online call too, you’ll look the part with your jewellery on.

They aren’t just a piece of fun, they’re important!

• If you’ve had to have a massive clearout recently because you’ve not been wearing most of your wardrobe and are worried you might make the same mistakes again, find your local stylist for free no-obligation chat.

Enjoy your clothes this summer!

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

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Quirky Britain

What do our national animals say about us?

By Kate McLelland

Australia has the barn swallow, Belarus has the European bison, Canada has the beaver and, famously, China has the giant panda. Almost every country in the world has its national bird or beast, and some have more than one.

In most cases, countries select their national animal or bird based on the creature’s characteristics. In order to qualify for ‘national’ status, the animal – whether a living thing or an imaginary beast – must share the same qualities, values and spirit as its home nation.

England: the lion The lion symbolises courage, nobility, royalty, strength, stateliness and valour. Lions were first used as royal emblems by Danish Vikings and later by Saxon leaders. In the late twelfth century Plantagenet kings decided to use three lions on their heraldic shields and the symbol endures to this day, on coins, and, of course, on those iconic English football shirts.

Scotland: the unicorn In Celtic mythology this fabled beast represents innocence and purity. It is also believed to be a symbol of masculinity and power, which is perhaps why it was favoured by Scottish kings. The unicorn first appeared on a Scottish royal coat of arms in the twelfth century reign of King William I, and when King James VI took over the English throne in 1603, he combined the unicorn with the English lion in a royal crest that is still used today.

Wales: the dragon More of a heraldic beast than a living creature, Wales’ national animal is the ‘Red Dragon of Cadwaladr’.

Legend has it that the magician Myrddin (or Merlin) prophesied an epic fight between the red dragon (representing the Welsh people) and a white dragon

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(representing the English).

Northern Ireland: centaur or elk?

Wikipedia lists Northern Ireland’s national animal as a centaur, although there’s no explanation as to why this mythical half-man, half-horse was chosen to represent the six counties of Northern Ireland. A 1924 coat of arms showed a red lion (for the Ulster Scots) standing opposite an Irish elk (representing what officials of the time jarringly referred to as ‘the native element’). Unsurprisingly, this highly controversial badge is no longer used.

Spirited symbol: the bulldog While the bulldog doesn’t carry the same official weight as the lion, unicorn or dragon, it would probably win any poll in which voters were asked which creature best represented the nation’s character. Despite being famously used in WW2 propaganda, the well-known expression ‘British Bulldog Spirit’ actually dates from the eighteenth century, when bulldogs developed a fearsome reputation as fighting dogs in the popular sport of bull-baiting.

The British may be great animal lovers but it’s clear that we don’t let our hearts rule our heads when picking creatures to represent our nation. Those animals are not chosen for their fluffy, endearing qualities but for their strength, endurance and power.

They have stood us in good stead for many hundreds of years and will doubtless continue to represent our nation well into the future.

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Food & Drink

Vietnamese Duck Salad Serves 4 people I used to live in East London and we had some wonderful Vietnamese restaurants there. I fell in love with this cuisine. It’s often light, fragrant, crunchy and healthy. And those four words perfectly describe this duck salad.

The star here is the dressing, which is so versatile. It was made for my show by Anne Harvey, who launched her catering and cookery course company, Taste of Vietnam, in St Albans to showcase all that is great about her country’s food. This is simple food, executed to perfection.

Ingredients 2 duck breasts 1 onion 1/2 red cabbage (shredded) 2 green mangos (peeled and julienned) 2 carrots (peeled and julienned) 15 mint leaves (roughly sliced) 10g piece of ginger 2 shallots For the dressing: 1 tbsp fish sauce 1 tbsp lemon/ lime juice 1/2 tbsp sugar 2 tbsp hot water 1 tsp garlic (finely chopped) 1 tsp chilli (finely chopped) 1 tsp ginger (finely chopped or grated) 1 tbsp crushed roasted peanuts

1. Bruise the ginger with a meat tenderiser or rolling pin. The ginger should remain in one piece.

2. Place the duck breasts in a saucepan and cover it with boiling water.

3. Add the ginger, 2 shallots and a pinch of salt to the pan. Cover with a lid and simmer for 10 minutes on a medium heat.

4. Take the duck out, leave it to rest and thinly slice it just before serving it.

5. While waiting for the duck to be poached, prepare the sauce.

6. In a small bowl, add the fish sauce, lime or lemon juice, sugar and hot water. Mix well until the sugar has dissolved. Add the ginger, garlic and chilli.

7. In a mixing bowl, combine the mango, carrot, red cabbage and mint. Add a tablespoon of dressing and toss well.

8. Transfer to a plate, add the duck breast slices on the top, and garnish with crushed peanuts and more of the dressing.

(NOTE: Duck breast can be replaced here with chicken breast or tiger prawns.)

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

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Deals The Best Online

Are you getting the best prices when you shop online? Even during sales, what might look like a great deal often isn’t.

Sometimes online shops offer supposed savings that are based on recommended prices nobody’s ever paid. The best example of that is with big TVs where you’ll often see apparently massive discounts, but it does apply to all kinds of online items.

A price-checking search engine can help you ensure you’re getting the best price on anything you buy online. We particularly like Pricespy. co.uk, which enables you to see not just who is offering the best price but whether they actually have it in stock. And if you’re looking at an Amazon deal, camelcamelcamel.com enables you to see the item’s price history, so you know whether this is a good time to buy.

We’re recruiting people who care At Care UK, we’re committed to delivering the highest quality care for residents in our care homes, and we’re looking for caring and passionate people to make that happen.

You’ll need to be used to caring for others or you may have looked after someone elderly. What is for certain is that you will have a real desire to help others and lots of energy and enthusiasm.

In return, we’ll offer you a range of benefits, flexible hours and an award-winning training and induction programme that will make you will feel confident and supported from day one. You’ll also have the satisfaction of helping make people’s lives more fulfilling in a role where the work can be hard, but also fun and rewarding.

Search our vacancies and find out more about Care UK at careers.careuk.com or email rcs.recruitment@careuk.com We’re recruiting

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care assistants

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Health

Hearing loss and brain health There are many different causes of hearing loss but in this article we’ll focus on Presbycusis, ‘age-related hearing loss’, as this type of hearing loss has such a significant impact on brain health if left untreated.

When it comes to hearing loss most of us think it’s our ears that aren’t working very well but the problem actually lies deeper than that. Soundwaves are funnelled through our outer ear creating a vibration on the ear drum and middle ear. This vibration moves the fluid in the inner ear which stimulates our hearing nerves and sends signals to the brain where this sound information can be processed and made sense of.

Presbycusis, age-related hearing loss, is caused by damage to the hearing nerves in the inner ear, mainly affecting the nerves that pick up high pitch sounds, or treble, which gives clarity to speech. This is why most people say they can hear something is being said but they can’t understand it clearly as the meaningful information is missing. In most cases this damage happens very slowly over many years and we expect to see some level of loss from the age of 60 onwards. This slow deterioration means that the brain is gradually deprived of sound information for a long period of time and, like a muscle, this brain tissue can waste away from lack of stimulation.

Statistics show that the majority of people wait at least 7 years from the time they begin having hearing difficulties to seeking help with the use of hearing aids. Not only has the brain been deprived of sound information for at least 7 years, but it has also aged during this time, so the natural ageing of the brain is further compounded by lack of hearing.

The consequence of these physical changes in the brain can lead to reduced concentration and

mental fatigue, decreased ability to process complex sentences, memory loss, depression, cognitive impairment, and ultimately, an increased risk of preventable dementia. Even a mild hearing loss can increase the risk of dementia A study published by the Lancet looking at lifestyle and dementia, identified 9 modifiable risk factors linked to a third of dementia cases. Untreated hearing loss accounted for the largest proportion of these risk factors. The other two thirds of dementia risk are due to factors that cannot be controlled.

Treating hearing loss as early as possible with hearing aids is key to slowing down further hearing loss and maintaining healthy processing within the brain. The good news is that studies have proven that restoring hearing has a positive impact on people’s cognitive abilities as well as improved social lives, more productive work lives, and increased well-being.

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Gardening

Silver Splendour

By Pippa Greenwood

Why not add some sensational silvery plants to your garden?

If you are partial to aromatic plants then there are several, such as the cotton lavender and the curry plant, that have both a pungent aroma and striking silvery foliage. They look gorgeous and need not take up much space.

Hostas are herbaceous perennials suited to shady and somewhat damp spots. Their large, showy leaves come in a range of colours including some smart, silvery blues. Pair them with the somewhat silvery and densely hairy Alchemilla mollis for a great ground cover display.

Lavenders are a good ingredient for any garden where silver foliage can play a part. They smell gorgeous and have a naturally relaxing quality for most people. Bees adore the flowers too.

There are several silver-foliaged plants with a naturally trailing or cascading effect, such as Helichrysum petiolare with its long trailing stems edged with small, rounded leaves, each so densely covered with hairs that they are like silver coins. Ideal for hanging baskets, they create a waterfall effect within weeks of planting. For a year-round effect grow a variegated ivy, perhaps Hedera helix ‘Glacier’ with silvery-white edged grey-green leaves.

Many of the small Artemisias have elegant silvery foliage, not least Artemisia ‘Powys Castle’, whose finely divided foliage looks like silver filigree lace.

They are best grown in a fairly sheltered, sunny spot and will provide a fabulous display for many years.

Sometimes that touch of silver comes in the form of seed heads. Those of the lovely purple or white

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flowered alpines called Pulsatilla are a delight, with a wispy silver plume on each seed. Some clematis have fluffy seed heads, with the silvery furry seed heads of the wild clematis aptly called old man’s beard.

For shrubs, take a look at the Cotinus – most have wonderful autumn colour and the seed heads explain its common name of smoke bush!

Many plants appear silvery due to a dense matt of short hairs on the leaves, some of which will become studded with water droplets after rain or a heavy dew.

In a tiny space, for example a small window box, grow some silver with the houseleek Sempervivum arachnoideum with its evergreen, fleshy rosette of red-tipped leaves covered with a web of silvery white hairs.

Many silvery foliaged plants have Mediterranean origins, where their dense hairs and pale colour help them withstand dry or hot conditions, making them ideal for a sunny and dry spot.

Conversely, use a few silvery foliaged plants in a slightly shaded spot, ideally combined with some plants with large, pale-coloured flowers, and see how they make a dull spot look brighter.

Combine silver foliage plants with some with very dark-coloured leaves or rich blue or purple hues for a magical effect, as the rich dark colours are brought to life with the sparkle of the silvery foliage. Plant silver foliage close to, say, Cotinus ‘Royal Purple’ with darkest purple leaves, and you’ll see what I mean.

Visit Pippa’s website (www.pippagreenwood.com) to book Pippa for a gardening talk at your gardening club or as an after-dinner speaker.

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www.acs-aggregates.com

Collection & Delivery of Loose Aggregates Building Sand • Sharp Sand • Ballast • MOT Type 1 • 10 & 20mm shingle Top Soil • Granite Dust • Cements • Drainage • EASYjoint • Sleepers

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Pets

Rehoming Appeal

Buddy and Bailey

Buddy and Bailey are nice little crossbreed boys and both around 9 years old. They have sadly spent their entire lives in shelter. We would therefore love to find them a home together as they are very close friends and devoted to one another and do not do well if separated.

They can be a little nervous on first meeting new people, but soon settle once they get to know them.

They are undemanding dogs who just need a quiet home, preferably an adult only home or with older children. They would make an older person or couple ideal companions.

We will not consider rehoming them separately so please do not apply unless you can offer them both a home.

If you would like to find out more about these lovely boys, please contact Julie on 01763 289827 You can register your interest in any of our animals by phoning the appropriate number or emailing Philippa on info.rats@gmail.com who will be pleased to forward your enquiry on to the team. The enquiries will be dealt with as soon as we are able to do so safely. You can view other dogs, cats and small mammals currently in our care for re-homing on our website: www.rats-animalrescue.co.uk or facebook: www.facebook.com/ratscharity.

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The Happy Gardener Reliable, trustworthy gardener No job too small

Hot Tubs & Swimming Pools

General gardening services Competitive rates and a first class job

Inground & above ground pools servicing & maintenance Pool toys & chemicals | Hot tubs & Spas Steam showers & gazebos

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Pets

The Good Pet Owner’s Guide to Summer The weather over the last few months has on the whole been glorious. May was particularly warm – being the sunniest and driest calendar month on record. 626 hours of bright sunshine were recorded in Spring 2020 for the UK. With this in mind as we approach the Summer, one cannot help but wonder what is in store. If we do have a warm, sunny summer as many are predicting, pet owners need to start making the appropriate preparations.

Use our easy to follow checklist to make sure the animals you love and care for have a safe and enjoyable summer.

• Check the temperature of the pavement before you take your dog out for a walk. If it is too hot to touch with your hand, it will certainly be too hot for your dog’s paws.

• Exercise your animals in the cooler parts of the day.

This may mean that your routines change slightly to accommodate this. But going out in the cooler mornings and evenings will be much better for your dog or horse.

• Think carefully about the environment your pet is in, more specifically the temperature of it. Vehicles, caravans, tents and conservatories can become extremely hot places during warm weather. Never leave pets in these places, as they can easily overheat and die.

• Pet-safe sun cream can now be purchased from a range of shops and online. Consider apply to exposed skin during the warm weather.

• Shade and fresh water are essential for the health and safety of humans during sunny days. Animals are no different. Ensure your pets have access to a shady

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area with plenty of fresh drinking water available.

• Check that any hutches or enclosures you have in your garden are not in any direct sunlight. Also make sure they have good ventilation.

• If you keep rabbits or guinea pigs, it is recommended that they are checked regularly for ‘flystrike’. The RSPCA suggest checking twice a day during the summer months.

• Water can heat up quickly in the summer, so be mindful of any fish you have as pets. Keep fish tanks out of direct sunlight and top up the water levels in ponds.

• Damp towels are perfect for pets to lie on when it is hot. Ice packs can be wrapped in towels if temperatures begin to increase, and the damp towels aren’t enough of a coolant.

• Most dogs treats can be kept in the fridge and will therefore provide your dog with a great way of cooling down. You could always make ice lollies using dog friendly ingredients.

• Adding ice cubes to a pet’s water bowl is a quick and easy way of keeping them cool. Don’t forget Kongs can be put in the freezer • Why not fill a paddling pool or spray a hose for your dog to play in (always supervised) 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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WORDWHEEL

Using only the letters in the Wordwheel, you have ten minutes to find as many words as possible, none of which may be plurals, foreign words or proper nouns. Each word must be of three letters or more, all must contain the central letter and letters can only be used once in every word. There is at least one word that uses all of the letters in the wheel.

TARGET Excellent: 32 or more words Good: 25 words Fair: 22 words

O

U M

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n i t l ham F e o J Plasterers

Female Plasterer specialising in: Plastering, Plasterboarding, Making Good and Painting

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Special Report

Handy Songs for Clean Hands!

As lockdown eases, we should be even more vigilant about handwashing. You can’t catch coronavirus through your skin but if contaminated hands touch your face then all the belated social distancing in the world won’t help you.

I don’t know about you, but I am sick to death of the Happy Birthday song. I will never sing it again when this is over...we were surely due a new celebratory melody after almost 130 years anyway But you still need to scrub with soap for 20 seconds to remove those pathogens and twenty seconds is a long time when you’re standing at a sink, so here are a few alternative 20-second tunes... which will probably give you an earworm for a week.

The chorus to Dolly Parton’s hit single Jolene: Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, I’m begging of you please don’t take my man. Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene. Please don’t take him just because you can.

As a teen I was in love with Morten Harket from A-Ha so I was delighted to find that the chorus of Take On Me is 20 seconds providing you hold the last note properly...and who wouldn’t? Take on me (take on me), Take me on (take on me), I’ll be gone, In a day or two.

One friend also suggested reciting The Lord’s Prayer, which is fine if praying is your thing, or you feel divine intervention is necessary!

My favourite though was overhearing my friend’s unbearably cute curly-headed three-year-old singing, “Twinkle, twinkle little star, look how clean my two hands are. Round my wrists and round my thumbs, link my fingers, almost done. Twinkle, twinkle little star, look how clean my two hands are!”

Stay safe everyone.

By Alison Williams

Visit our beautiful

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Caxton House, Caxton Way, Stevenage, Herts. SG1 2XS To advertise in The Villager and Town Life please call 01767 261122

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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.

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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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WALL COATING

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Fun Activities

Escape to Victory Escape rooms have gone online

Do you like escape rooms? Have you always fancied having a go at one but never got around to it before lockdown started?

Escape rooms became popular over the past couple of years, with families and groups of friends who like a challenge. Kind of like The Crystal Maze (remember that?) in concept where you have to solve puzzles as a team to ‘escape the room’.

As physical escape rooms have had to close, so these businesses have been quick to adapt and take the experience online. You can play as a family or with groups of friends as a social experience.

There are many online; some are free, and some are paid for. the free ones are a good way to try the experience to see if you enjoy it.

Hogwarts Digital Escape Room was created by an American librarian in Pennsylvania. It’s loosely based on Hogwarts and the puzzles are fun. My family enjoyed it but found it quite easy and we were finished very quickly. But we discovered we enjoyed the concept and signed up for others which are more involved.

Trapped In The Web is a game you can play solo or with a team to complete tasks that will take between one to two hours. It’s reasonably priced at around £8 per person.

There are five themed rooms to choose from: Space Race; Cabin Fever; A Night at the Theatre; School’s Out, and Out of Hours. There is a different storyline attached to each one and different clues to collect and puzzles to solve.

These family-friendly escape rooms will get you started, but if you find you’ve got the

By Sarah Davey bug you can find many more complex versions online.

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Special Report

Gail’s Guide to Gin

By Gail Mitchell

I fell in love with gin when I went to a gin tasting event a few years ago. These events are a bit thin on the ground right now for social distancing reasons, so if you are gincurious and wondering where to start I’ll to try to be your guide.

Gin is a flavoured alcohol, with juniper as the predominant botanical. Juniper is a fragrant shrub and its aroma and taste should be the signature note in any gin. Even the name ‘gin’ is derived from either the French genièvre or the Dutch jenever, which both mean juniper.

You can add other botanical ingredients, but juniper should always be the primary one. There is actually a legal EU definition of gin: it must be a juniper-dominated spirit, with an agricultural origin and a 37.5% ABV. This means that as well as the main botanical being juniper, the base alcohol must be made from something natural such as wheat, barley, rye, molasses, potatoes or grapes, and there must be at least 37.5% of pure alcohol in the total volume of liquid.

London Dry Gin This doesn’t have to be made in London, it can be made anywhere in the world but it’s important to know that it’s the highest-quality gin you can produce. It has to be made with all-natural ingredients (no artificial flavourings), highquality alcohol and only contain 0.01g of sugar per litre of alcohol.

Crucially you can’t add any other flavourings after distillation. It’s the purest form of gin and is a good place to start your gin journey. I would say No. 3 London Dry Gin is one of the best places to start your gin journey. It’s won the world’s best gin 4 times and is a beautiful smooth gin which won’t disappoint.

Regular distilled gin This is made in a similar way to London Dry Gin but may have flavourings, essences and sugar added to it after the distillation process.

Craft distillers have been producing more variety and exciting new flavours recently. Broadly there are herbal gins (less sweet), floral gins (light and fragrant), fruity gins (sweeter) and citrussy gins (light and fresh). Look at the list of botanicals to see which appeal.

Geographical gins Just as champagne has to come from a specific region in France so certain gins have to come from a particular geographical area.

Mahón Gin can only come from Menorca, it’s a sweeter style of gin which comes in various flavours, and Vilnius Gin from Lithuania,

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which is quite smooth and has a citrussy / pine flavour. The UK used to have a geographical gin - Plymouth gin - but it lost its protected status in 2014.

Sloe gin - is a gin liqueur. It contains more sugar and its ABV is between 20-25%, which is below the minimum requirement of a spirit.

Old Tom gins An older style of gin. These gins are sweeter because in the 18th Century, when gin was also very popular sugar or honey was added to disguise bad-quality gin they used. Nowadays Old Tom Gins are made to a high standard and are the gin you would use in a Tom Collins cocktail, which should be made with soda water rather than tonic, because tonic would add too much sweetness to an already sweet alcohol.

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Codeword 1

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ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ

Easy Suduko

Hard Suduko

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

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ROGERSONS

REMOVALS

Man with Van

Removals • Clearances • Deliveries Pick-Ups • Items disposed of Flat pack assembly Anything Considered Friendly and reliable at a cost you can afford

Tel: 01462 627074 Mob: 07867 531368

Speak to Matt • No job too big or small

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WINDOW REPAIRS

Serving all of Herts - Based in Stevenage Specialising in replacing misted units

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Puzzle Solutions for The Villager June Edition Easy

Hard

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INSULATING SPRAYFOAM • BBA APPROVED SPRAYFOAM • CAN GREATLY REDUCE ENERGY BILLS • UPGRADE YOUR PROPERTIES ‘U’ VALUE • ELIMINATES DRAFTS OR ‘DRAW’ FROM THE ROOF SPACE • MESS & HASSLE FREE • QUALIFIES AS AN ESM • FIRE SAFE • SUITABLE FOR MOBILE HOMES

0800 046 1080 30% OFF ORDERS PLACED IN JULY hello@thehomeimprovementproject.co.uk www.thehomeimprovementproject.co.uk To advertise in The Villager and Town Life please call 01767 261122

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The Villager Prize Crossword

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

16th July 2020 Prize Crossword, Villager Publications Ltd 24 Market Square, Potton, Beds SG19 2NP

Prize

ÂŁ25

Across 1 Written announcement (6) 4 Film regulator (6) 9 Fan (7) 10 Subject (5) 11 Type of hat (5) 12 Closest to (7) 13 Sound transmitters (11) 18 Ruler (7) 20 Edition (5) 22 Tale (5) 23 Easily seen (7) 24 Lower down (6) 25 Helpful (6) Down 1 Close to (6) 2 Stopwatch (5) 3 Custodian of museum (7) 5 Surplus (5) 6 Most important (7) 7 Repeat aloud (6) 8 Carried along (11) 14 Make better (7) 15 Beginnings (7) 16 Stopped (6) 17 Relating to teeth (6) 19 Type of poem (5) 21 Horizontal board (5))

Name: Tel:



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“Quality is not expensive, it’s priceless”

Extensions, Refurbishments, Loft and Garage Conversions, Landscaping and General Building Internal and external work with many local references View our testimonials at www.hertfordshirebuilders.co.uk

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Books

Books to keep you busy Dream Big! Heroes Who Dared to Be Bold

by Sally Morgan

Dream Big! comprises a hundred bite-size biographies, each accompanied by an illustration.

My ten-year old and I have both enjoyed learning more about some well-known names (e.g. David Attenborough and Maya Angelou) and discovering other inspirational people neither of us had heard of. As well as being a great read, it’s opened up conversations about racism, sexism, LGBTQ+ rights and having the courage to stand up for what’s right.

Highly recommended.

The Sin Eater

By Megan Campisi

14 year old May Owens expects to be sentenced to death for stealing a loaf of bread. But her sentence is much worse. She’s to become a Sin Eater – responsible for taking on the sins of others so that their soul is cleansed. The role means she’s to be forever shunned. So when she discovers someone is trying to blame dead women for sins they didn’t commit, no one will listen. Intriguing setting, believable characters and a great story. Pre-order it now for delivery at the end of July.

The Sleeper and the Spindle

by Neil Gaiman and Chris Riddle

The companion book to the latest series of the popular BBC programme, The Great British Sewing Bee: Sustainable Style invites readers to upcycle and repair existing clothes, and make new ones using sustainable, natural fabrics. There are twenty-seven projects to choose from and plenty of advice for beginners.

Grow Food for Free: The easy, sustainable, zero-cost way to a plentiful harvest

By Huw Richards

Growing your own fruit and vegetables can be expensive once you’ve factored in the costs of plants, compost, pots and so on. However, it is possible to grow vegetables on the cheap. This book has plenty of tips on doing just that, from growing new plants using vegetable scraps to ideas for raised beds and containers. There’s also step-by-step advice on everything from sowing and transplanting to controlling pests.

Vegan(ish)

This beautifully illustrated book takes the story of Sleeping Beauty and adds a dollop of darkness and a few ‘what ifs’. What if the sleeping sickness spread? What if there was a queen with hair as dark as a raven’s wing, lips as red as blood and several dwarves by her side, who could set out on a quest to rescue the princess? Yes, The Sleeper and the Spindle is aimed at young adults and takes under an hour to read, but don’t let that stop you from adding it to your wish list.

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The Great British Sewing Bee: Sustainable Style

By Caroline Akselson and Alexandra Bruce

By Jack Monroe Whether you’re 100% vegan or just want to eat more plantbased meals, Jack Monroe’s latest cook book could well become your go-to resource.

There are a hundred recipes altogether, from simple soups and sandwiches to more complicated dishes such as Beet Wellington and Ultimate Moussaka. As you’d expect from the queen of budget meals, recipes are carefully costed out so they won’t break the bank.

By Kate Duggan

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I D Decorating Painting & Decorating Services Painting – Interior & Exterior Decorating Coving No Job Too Big Or Too Small Fully Insured & Free Estimates Telephone: Ian Dunklin 0790 508 3799

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Call now for a free, no obligation quotation 45

Appliance and Electrical Repairs Appliance and Electrical Repairs All makes of washing machines, dishwashers, cookers, hobs and hoods repaired, serviced and sold.

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