VILLAGER The
and Town
July 2018
Life
LOCAL NEWS • LOCAL PEOPLE • LOCAL SERVICES • LOCAL CHARITIES • LOCAL PRODUCTS
In this issue Win tickets to
Meraki Festival The Invention of
Photography Win £25 in our Prize Crossword
Bringing Local Business to Local People in the Stevenage Area every month
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Inside this issue... Mauritius: Natural World................................................22 Should you Buy an Automatic Car?.................................24 Feeling Fruity.................................................................26 Animal Know-How.........................................................28 Nick Coffer’s Weekend Recipe.........................................31 Stretch Benefits..............................................................32 Puzzle Page....................................................................36 What’s On.......................................................................38 Prize Crossword..............................................................42 Useful Numbers.............................................................47
Win Tools to make Gardening Easier
12
Steps to a Healthier Heart
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The Invention of Photography..........................................4 Wines: More Gems of Austria...........................................8 Win Tickets to Meraki Festival........................................10 Win Tools to make Gardening Easier...............................12 Summer Fun on a Budget..............................................15 Piercing Problems..........................................................16 Steps to a Healthier Heart..............................................21
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, Trevor Langley, Kate Duggan, Tracey Anderson, Louise Addison, Solange Hando, Tom Wiltshire, Rachael Leverton, RSPCA, Nick Coffer and Sarah Davey
Advertising Sales/Local Editorial Nigel Frost • Tel 01767 261122 nigel@villagermag.com Photography - Helen Hotson Design and Artwork Design 9 • Tel 07762 969460 • www.design9marketing.co.uk
Publishers Villager Publications Ltd 24 Market Square, Potton, Bedfordshire SG19 2NP Tel: 01767 261122 Email: nigel@villagermag.com www.villagermag.com
Disclaimer - All adverts and editorial are printed in good faith, however, Villager Publications Ltd can not take any responsibility for the content of the adverts, the services provided by the advertisers or any statements given in the editorial. No part of this publication may be reproduced or stored without the express permission of the publisher.
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3
History
By Catherine Rose
Light Drawing The Invention of Photography With summer finally here, many of us will be going on our annual holidays. Growing up, a camera was always on our family packing list to capture those happy holiday moments and the scenery of foreign shores. Nowadays, cameras in smart phones are so advanced that most of us already carry around the means to record our lives in our pocket. But how did photography come out of the darkroom? Before a way to permanently capture an image was invented, the forerunner to photography was the camera obscura, Latin for ‘dark room’. Discovered in 1600 (or probably earlier), an upside down, back-to-front image of the outside world can be projected onto a wall in a darkened room through a pinhole aperture. During the Renaissance, it was found that the effect could be replicated by using a box – the first ‘pinhole camera’ – with mirrors employed to reflect the image so that it was the right way round.
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The first physical photograph, based on the camera obscura, was taken in 1825 by Frenchman Joseph Nicéphore Niépce. The result, ‘View from a Window at Le Gras’, is very grainy and took around eight hours to develop. Niépce did it by coating a pewter plate with bitumen of Judea, which hardens when exposed to light. He then placed it in a camera obscura. When the unhardened parts of the bitumen were washed away, it left a negative image on the plate from which a print could be made. He called the process heliography (sun drawing). But it was in 1839 that photography is said to have truly been born with the invention of the daguerreotype process by Louis Daguerre, a scenery artist and friend of Niépce who had inherited his notes on the latter’s death in 1833. Using a glass plate coated with light-reactive silver iodide, the image was developed with the aid of mercury vapour. Unlike heliography, the daguerreotype required
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only minutes of exposure rather than hours. The image was later fixed onto the plate with a hot salt solution. Although still a negative, because it was silver on glass, it appeared as a positive image when viewed from the right angle. Photography, Greek for ‘drawing with light’, was unveiled to the world that same year and the daguerreotype became the first commercially viable process. There are numerous portraits taken at this time, some astonishingly clear, such as the self-portrait by Robert Cornelius, often claimed to be the “first portrait photograph ever taken”, and John Draper’s wonderful study of his sister Dorothy wearing an early 19th century decorated bonnet. At around the same time in England, Henry Fox Talbot had already created photographic negatives on paper using silver chloride but, much like Niepce’s heliography, the images took several hours to expose. Talbot began to develop it further, culminating in his invention of the calotype process (Greek for ‘beautiful picture’). Unlike the daguerreotype which formed a single image on a glass plate, one calotype negative could be used to produce unlimited prints. Talbot’s ‘silver halide’ was the foundation for wet film technology that has endured until the present day. In 1851, the wet collodian process was introduced by Frederick Archer, which used glass negatives printed onto albumen paper. This process could capture sharp images faster than ever before, with the advantage that one lightsensitised plate could fit up to eight prints. It soon became the universal method for producing carte-de-visites (photographic calling cards), tintypes (small inexpensive portraits printed onto thin sheets of black enamelled iron) and ambrotypes (like daguerreotypes in that they were printed onto glass). Renowned Victorian photographers like Lewis Carroll and Julia Margaret Cameron used this process to produce their remarkable studies. Its drawbacks were that plates had to be prepared and used immediately, and it remained difficult to capture movement without the image being blurred. 1871 saw the beginning of modern photography with the advent of the
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dry plate. Coated with silver salts suspended in gelatin rather than collodian solution, it was sixty times more sensitive and meant that handheld cameras could be used without the need for a stabilising tripod. In 1888, George Eastman made the first commercial camera available to the general public – the Kodak. Under the slogan: ‘You press the button, we do the rest’, the camera came with a roll of flexible film – initially paper and later transparent nitrocellulose – which, following exposure, could be sent to one of Kodak’s printing facilities. Although there had been early experiments with colour photography, most notably James Maxwell’s tartan ribbon of 1855, photographs remained black and white, with colour only achieved by hand-tinting. The first colour photography appeared when the Lumiere brothers invented their Autochrome process in 1907, which used panchromatic emulsion. Although it didn’t become a commercial success, some of the images it achieved are stunning, such as the 1913 ‘Portraits of Christina’ by Mervyn O’Gorman (The Royal Photographic Society) – a series of colour photos of a young girl identified only recently as 16-year-old Christina Bevan. The invention of Kodachrome colour film in 1935 meant that colour photographs were well and truly on their way. But just as some artists falsely believed the advent of photography meant an end to painting, so black and white photographs, with an artistic and often edgy interpretation of their subject, have remained popular even in the new era of digital photography.
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Food and Drink
Wines:
More Gems of Austria I continued my quest, searching for Austrian wines that have been recognised and acknowledged with awards, for their qualities, plus wines that, in my opinion, deserve to be.
Weingut Forstreiter is located in Krems-Hollenburg, a traditional wine growing village of the Kremstal region. The Forstreiter family has been producing wine since 1868. Forstreiter Grüner Veltliner Ried Kremser Kogl and Grüner Veltliner Tabor Kremstal Reserve are both extremely popular, classic productions. These splendid white wines have most pleasant bouquets. Both possess a good balance, with tropical fruit flavours, very acceptable mouthfeel and lengthy palate sensations. Forstreiter Riesling Schotter is balanced and refreshing. This great, dry, white wine, is chosen regularly for many dining occasions and is excellent for the mouth’s pleasures and on to the palate. These wines are wonderful accompaniments to a lot of cuisine, including fish, seafood, plus white meats and are just a selection of the Forstreiter white wines. Their ranges include outstanding reds, too. www.forstreiter.at Anton Bauer produces superb white and red wines. As the company says, “The wines are with soul”, every year. For my ‘wines of choice’ I selected the powerful Zweigelt and the Wagram Reserve Zweigelt Alte Reben productions. Dark fruits are very much displayed for the bouquets and lead, enticingly, to the mouthfeel and splendid palate sensations. Wonderful with red meats, etc. For a sweeter choice I found Kracher, that produces a fantastic range of wines. Burgenland Beerenauslese Cuvée ‘hit the spot’, for me. Absolutely divine, when a sweet wine is called for. The bouquet brings delight, plus the mouthfeel and palate will not be disappointed with this production, having luscious fruits in abundance. For all details of the full ranges www.antonbauer.at and www.kracher.at The Top Selection Company sources high-quality wines, spirits, plus drinks, from global origins and offers an exceptional portfolio. Their wines and other beverages can be located in top hotels and restaurants, plus many retailers. Top Selection also offers a complete service, including advice about cuisine pairings and winery visits, etc. www. topselection.co.uk
As always, Enjoy! 8
ey Trevor Langl
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GARDEN WALK & TALK
The cost of your tour includes a hot beverage, scone, cream and jam for just £12.50
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All Saints
Pixie Lott
Judge Jules
Win 2 Tickets to Meraki Festival Meraki is back! We’re announcing our 2018 music lineup in the lead up to the festival and it’s already obvious that we’ve kicked things up a notch! We have two festival music stages filled with incredible artists, from global superstars like All Saints, Pixie Lott, Nik Kershaw and 10cc, to national and local favourites like Boogie Storm, Simon McBride and Annabel Williams. We also have an assortment of amazing activities which you can pack into your days at Meraki - these include: Europe’s largest outdoor waterslide, swimming pools, roller disco, caving, free massage, face painting, kids comedy & theatre and much, much more. Our All-Inclusive Tickets mean that once you’re through the gates, you don’t have to pay for any of our festival activities - you can enjoy all of your favourite parts of the festival and not pay a penny more – just focus on having a great time and creating magical summer memories! And for those of you who like to hear your tunes blasting off a set of decks, The House of Neon dance tent will be pumping out party classics each night with a stellar lineup of DJs that includes legends like Judge Jules, Danny Rampling, Tall Paul, and Seb Fontaine. Whether you come and camp for a long weekend, join us an amazing day or grab an evening ticket and party with us for one night only - we look forward to seeing you in August for an incredible festival filled with Meraki summer fun! To be in with a chance to win 2 tickets to Meraki Festival simply send your entry by 16th July 2018 to: Meraki Festival, Villager Publications Ltd, 24 Market Square, Potton, Beds SG19 2NP The winner will be drawn randomly.
MERAKI FESTIVAL COMPETITION ENTRY
For a chance to win 2 tickets to Meraki Festival simply complete your details below and post your response by 16th July 2018 to: Meraki Festival Competition, Villager Publications Ltd, 24 Market Square, Potton, Beds SG19 2NP. Name:
Don’t want to leave it to chance? For the full line-up and to book tickets go to merakifestival.com
Address:
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advertorial
Has Your Double Glazing Steamed Up? Established for over a decade Cloudy2Clear windows have become a leading company for glass replacement. Issues with double glazing can often be gradual and may only be noticed during a clear sunny day or during the winter. A failed glass unit may no longer provide you with the protection you need or be energy efficient. Why not spend a few minutes checking your home to see if you have any failed double glazing? If you act now you can avoid these problems. Now, you may think you need to replace the whole window including
the frames and all the hardware, however Cloudy2Clear have come up with a simple and cost saving solution‌ Just replace the glass!! If you see condensation in your windows just visit our website or give us a call on 0800 61 21 118. We will send out our highly experienced engineers for a free no obligation quote. A Cloudy2Clear quote takes on average no longer than 20 minutes. Once the quote is completed, we will sit down with you and explain the problem and tell you how we can fix it.
With years of experience Cloudy2Clear have a wealth of knowledge and are recognised as a Which Trusted Trader, plus our work is backed by an industry leading 25 year guarantee. Cloudy2Clear also replace faulty locks handles and hinges on all windows and doors. Your friendly local Cloudy2Clear specialist is Tom Bliss and he services the Luton, Stevenage, Letchworth, Dunstable & surrounding areas. So, if your windows are steamed up, broken or damaged give Tom a call for a free quotation on 0800 61 21 118.
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Win Tools to Make
Gardening Easier Win top quality carbon steel garden tools plus a gift voucher, together worth over £100.
At Bickerdikes you’ll find a huge selection of best quality plants: flowers, vegetables, trees, shrubs and turf. If you are new to gardening the Bickerdike team’s friendly, welcoming, professional and practical advice will ensure you plant the right plant in the right place. What’s more, hardy plants are guaranteed for two years providing they are planted and cared for correctly. For well over 80 years the Bickerdike family have been in the horticultural industry. Following the family tradition Mark and Debbie Bickerdike opened Bickerdikes Garden Centre in 1999, applying the same principles as previous generations of the family: quality, choice, value for money and above all personal service. The Bickerdikes service extends to their carry to car assistance and free delivery for larger items if you spend £15 or more. Plus the Bickerdikes Reward Card scheme means that every time you make a purchase you’ll earn points towards future purchases. Once you’ve browsed all the plants, containers and pots, tools and equipment, plant feeds and fertilisers, garden furniture, huge range of gifts and gift food you’ll be ready to visit Norton’s Café. Pop in for coffee or a light snack or maybe lunch. There’s a full menu all day starting with breakfast and there’s waitress service too.
Competition
BICKERDIKES COMPETITION ENTRY Name: Tel:
QUESTION...
How much do you need to spend to get free delivery for larger items?
Answer the question below to be in with a chance to win a compete set of seven Wilkinson Sword carbon steel garden tools, all with a five-year guarantee: (hand fork and trowel, garden rake and lawn rake, digging spade, digging fork and Dutch hoe) plus a £20 voucher to spend at Bickerdikes. (Please note the wheelbarrow is not part of the prize.) To enter, complete the form below and send to: Bickerdikes Competition, Villager Publications Ltd, 24 Market Square, Potton, Bedfordshire SG19 2NP. The winner will be picked at random. Deadline: 16th July 2018
Email: Address: 12
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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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Parenting
Summer Fun on a Budget Want to make your pennies stretch a bit further this summer? Keep reading… Free local events Install the Eventbrite app on your phone (or check www.eventbrite. co.uk) for family-friendly events near you, from food and drink festivals to pop-up art exhibitions. Most are free and tickets can be booked using the app. If you can bear to brave the crowds, shopping malls often have free family activities on over the summer, including kids’ entertainers and competitions. Gone are the days when libraries were silent places reserved for studying. Now they regularly play host to all manner of familyfriendly events, including treasure hunts and storytelling. Many events are free, while others incur a small charge. Sign up to your local library’s social media pages or newsletter to be the first to hear what’s coming up. Cut-price shows Several of the larger cinema chains offer cut-price kids clubs. Vue and Odeon’s kids clubs, for example, are at 10am on Saturday
and Sundays at most cinemas, and every morning during the summer, with tickets priced from £2.50. The offer is usually only valid for one particular film. Heading to London? The Audience Club offers free tickets to a host of live shows. Membership costs £5 and there’s a £3 (plus VAT) admin charge for each ticket, meaning you could easily save £100 per show. Most tickets are offered last minute and you can only get two per member. See www. theaudienceclub.com. My Box Office (www.myboxoffice. biz) also runs a similar scheme for an annual fee of £15, which gets you discounted tickets to a range of shows across the UK. Again, tickets are usually offered last minute, and there are only ever a limited number available, so you need to be quick! TV companies offer free audience tickets for many of their programmes, from Dancing on Ice to The Voice. Most of them can be requested through www. sroaudiences.com. There don’t tend to be many children’s
programmes, but the website is well worth a look if you have older children. Discount vouchers Wowcher, Groupon and other voucher sites do have some great deals, but they usually involve signing up to a daily alert. Bownty (www.bownty.co.uk) gathers all the offers together in one place, and you don’t have to sign up for newsletters. You can search by location and activity, and when we checked there were cut-price deals on soft play and kids craft sessions. Kids Pass gives you discounts for a wide range of activities and venues, including cinemas, aquariums, zoos and more. You also get free kids’ meals (with a paying adult) at restaurants such as Giraffe, Prezzo and Bella Italia. The card usually costs £39.99 for a year but there are often offers available, including £1 for a 30 day trial (you’ll need to make sure you cancel within the trial period). The website is www.kidspass.co.uk, but search online for special offers before buying.
By Kate Duggan www.kateduggan.co.uk
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Health
Piercing Problems
I’m quite a relaxed parent (compared with many of my friends) so when my teenage daughter Tash decided she wanted her tongue pierced I was more curious than horrified. It was all set to go ahead until we went for a routine family visit to the dentist. I casually mentioned the imminent tongue-piercing and the dentist’s reaction made us both reconsider on the spot! In turns out that dentists are not fans of oral piercing due to the many issues they cause. “Gums are very thin and easily traumatised. Even brushing too hard can cause gum recession and loose teeth,” she said. The oral and dental complications associated with tongue piercings can be categorised as acute or chronic. Acute complications occur a short time after piercing and include: infection, pain, swelling of the tongue, changes to speech, swallowing and chewing, and allergy to the metal used. There have even been reports of galvanic current between barbell and metallic dental restorations. Chronic (longer term) complications include chipping, tooth fracture, gum trauma and recession. One U.S. study found that 41% of people with pierced lips had receding gums, compared with only 7% who had no oral piercing. Finally there is a risk of overgrowth of surrounding tissue leading to the ornament becoming embedded. Tash decided on the spot that she wasn’t going to go ahead, and I decided that perhaps I needed to be a little less liberal in the future…which is why I said a firm no to her By Tracey Anderson request for a tattoo less than a week later!
BLADES BARBERS REDUCED WAITING TIMES NOW With seven team members at BLADES BARBERS Price List -
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Unit 1, St Francis House, Whitehorse Lane, Great Ashby Neighbourhood Centre, Stevenage, SG1 6NH
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Showcasing the very latest technology Direct connectivity to ANY mobile phone and your television Enjoy the freedom of being able to easily connect with any Bluetooth® phone*, regardless of the brand. Answer calls with a touch of your hearing aids and use them as a wireless headset to talk hands free. Audéo™ B-Direct
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Stevenage airport taxiS
Stevenage Airport Taxis offer the most reliable and professional airport transfer service in and around the Stevenage area. We have several licensed vehicles that can cater for up to 8 passengers. We also provide a transport service for weddings, long distance journeys and any occasion day or night leisure trips. Please visit our website for any bookings or quotations
www.stevenageairporttaxis.co.uk or call
01438 420420 Online Bookings • Credit Cards Accepted
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Health By Louise Addison
Steps to a
Healthier Heart Cardiovascular disease causes 26% of all deaths in the UK; that’s over 150,000 deaths each year – an average of 420 people each day or one death every three minutes. Those are the scary statistics but what can you do to improve the health of your heart? Below are the top tips according to leading cardiologists. Walk 30 minutes every day, no matter what! – A half hour walk every day decreases an individual’s chances of a heart attack by 30%. If you think you’ll skip days find a walking buddy and hold each other accountable. Find out your blood pressure and take steps to bring it down – Your blood pressure may be a more important factor than your cholesterol! If the doctor prescribes medication take it, but you can also take steps to lower it yourself and maybe reduce the need for medication. The best ways are to exercise and lose some belly fat. Individuals with high levels of fat in the abdominal cavity (belly fat) and around their abdominal organs are more likely to develop high blood pressure because this fat interferes with the function of the kidneys, which regulate the blood pressure. Know what your HDL number is and then do what you can to raise it to 1.3 mmol/l - In women especially it seems that a higher HDL (good cholesterol) number is more important than a low LDL (bad cholesterol) number. Eat about 25g of raw, fresh, unsalted nuts per day – especially walnuts, pecans, hazelnuts, pistachios and almonds. Nuts are packed with omega 3 oils, raise levels of HDL good
cholesterol, decrease inflammation and have a good effect on the heart. Healthy fats such as olive or rapeseed oil have a positive effect too, and the really good news is that an alcoholic drink per day also works in your favour! Eat a good quality tomato pasta sauce! Simple tomato pasta sauce is loaded with potassium which aids lowering of blood pressure. Floss! – Most people don’t know that your oral health has an effect on arterial health so make sure those pearly whites stay clean and flossed. Limit saturated fat and avoid trans fats – Try to keep saturated fat below 20g per day. Both saturated fat and trans fats (found in many processed foods) lead to inflammation of the arteries. Read labels and avoid foods which list sugar as one of the first five ingredients – In particular don’t be fooled by foods which claim to be ‘low fat’ because often they contain extra sugar instead. Healthy fats such as olive oil are better than empty sugar calories. Drink wine – But not too much! It’s a slightly bizarre (but consistent scientific truth) that teetotal folk have a higher risk of heart disease than those who drink in moderation. But a glass of red wine occasionally is very different to binge drinking once a week so be careful with this tip. Eat a rainbow of fruit and veg – Five to nine servings a day will help to keep your heart in tip-top condition. It may sound a lot but if you add chopped veg to pie fillings and casseroles and eat fruit at breakfast and salad stuff for snacks it all adds up.
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Travel
By Solange Hando
Mauritius: Natural World In the southern reaches of the Indian Ocean, Mauritius is blessed with idyllic beaches, but a few steps inland another kind of paradise waits to be discovered, stunning and lush, as the island endeavours to protect its wildlife and dwindling forest. Great swathes were lost to timber and plantations. The remainder covers about 18% of the land, only 2% of it native trees, but nestling in gorges or climbing to mountain tops it still harbours 670 species of plants. Meanwhile, imported casuarinas sway along the shore, banyans thrive and Chinese guava bushes spread unhindered. There are fan-shaped traveller’s palms and unusual trees protected in botanical gardens, including the hyophorbe amaricaulis palm in Curepipe and the rare talipot in Pamplemousse, which takes up to 60 years to flower and then dies. As for the wildlife, boars and Javanese deer live alongside the long-tailed macaques, the ornate rainbow-coloured geckos and thousands of fruit bats, or ‘flying foxes’, the only native mammals, with wings up to a metre across. Although the dodo is extinct, other native birds may fare better, such as the pink pigeons and Mauritius kestrels breeding once again in protected areas. Down in the south west, beyond the tea plantations of Darling Wood, the road climbs through scented pines towards the Grand Bassin sacred lake and Hindu shrine. Nearby, the Native Garden of Petrin displays the lovely red ‘earring’, or national flower, and an array of medicinal
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plants. But most enticing of all in the area is the Black River Gorges National Park, covering over 6,000 hectares of forest laced with scenic trails. Echo parakeets flash emerald green along the Macchabee ridge, white tropicbirds flit through the air with the grace of ballet dancers. On the very edge of the gorge the Black River viewpoint can be easily accessed, a breathtaking place where, below the jagged peaks, the thicklywooded slopes tumble down to the sea More views can be enjoyed along the road down to the coast, most dramatic the precipitous peak on Le Morne peninsula where runaway slaves jumped to their death. Chamarel is a must-see, starting with the island’s highest waterfall leaping down 83 metres. But the top attraction is the legendary waves of ‘Coloured Earth’ spread across a slope, red, purple, pink, silver and gold. Now protected by walkways, this unique phenomenon was caused by the uneven cooling of lava, and you can buy a sample in a bottle. Shake as you will, the colours will separate again within a day. On the central plateau, the Deer’s Hole caldera is equally impressive. Its slopes are cloaked with vegetation, its floor is choked with silt but as you stand on the rim between heaven and earth, you look across an island bristling with eerie peaks, the Rampart, the Guard, the unmistakable silhouette of the Thumb or Pieter Both, resembling a human figure, named after a drowned admiral. Legend has it that if this pinnacle falls, disaster will strike. So far, fortunately, Pieter Both has kept his head and as kestrels soar above the rustling slopes, you can enjoy the natural world of a truly stunning island.
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Motoring
Should you buy an automatic car? Pros and cons explained
By Tom Wiltshire an infinitely changeable single ratio theoretically ensures correct gearing for maximum power or economy, depending on conditions. Around since the 1950s, the CVT ‘box can be incredibly economical when driven carefully. However, they can provide a somewhat disconnected feel to the car – and attempts at rapid acceleration are usually met by spiralling engine revs and lots of noise. Their smoothness and variable nature makes them ideal in a hybrid car. Automated manual transmission Cheap, easy to install and lightweight, these gearboxes leave existing clutch and gearbox operations in place, but simply robotise the action. Automated manuals are often despised, can be horrifically jerky, and dawdle under hard acceleration. In fact, automated manual transmissions have ruined a fair few cars, so are probably best avoided. Electric vehicle Electric cars don’t technically have a transmission, but are worth looking at if you’re considering an automatic car. They act almost identically in most conditions, with two pedals and no gears to shift, but also have a totally smooth and silent powertrain and zero tailpipe emissions. EV’s aren’t ideal for everyone – you’ll need somewhere to charge, and if you regularly do longer trips you’ll definitely need some form of combustion engine. However, if your circumstances suit, you could be a convert to the electric lifestyle.
British motorists traditionally favoured manual gearboxes, but automatics are increasingly popular. Tom Wiltshire explains everything you need to know. Though early automatic gearboxes tended to dent performance, fuel economy and driving pleasure, times have moved on, and the modern automatic can sometimes be a better choice than the manual gearbox. Some performance automatics can actually beat the manuals off the line, while the cash-conscious may enjoy lower CO2 emissions and higher fuel economy. A good automatic transmission also makes for a relaxing drive, giving your left leg a rest and letting the car do the work. Always test drive a car, however, as there are still awful automatic gearboxes out there. Automatics tend to be more expensive to buy, and much more expensive to repair if they go wrong. Here’s our guide to the different types of automatic gearbox available today. Torque converter/traditional auto Though now much refined and improved, these automatics have
been available since the 1940s, and use a fluid-filled coupling in place of a traditional clutch. Torque converter automatics tend to offer very smooth shifts, making for a comfortable ride. They can be slow to pick up, though. However, modern units – such as the ZF ‘box fitted to dozens of high performance cars – offer no discernible penalty to performance or economy. Dual-clutch gearbox The dual-clutch gearbox uses a pair of robotised clutches working together to provide lightning-fast shifts, making them ideal for sports cars. There’s no real penalty in performance or economy, but at low speeds in stop-start traffic dual-clutch boxes can be jerky and unpleasant. Early units can be unreliable and costly to repair. Manufacturers have different names for them – the Volkswagen group use DSG, Porsche PDK, Renault EDC, Hyundai and Kia DCT – but fundamentally they all work the same way. CVT Standing for ‘continuously variable transmission’, CVTs do not have standard ‘gears’. Instead,
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Garden View
Feeling Fruity Have you ever wished you could grow fresh fruit in your garden but worry the space is too small, or it won’t look pretty, or it’s too difficult? What if I was to tell you that even a beginner can successfully grow a wide variety of fruit from apples and pears to plums, cherries, blueberries and raspberries, and possibly even figs or nectarines? The first thing you need to know is that the sweeter the fruit is meant to be the more sun it will require. Sun boosts sugar levels. If you have a sunny wall it’s an ideal place to train a sun-loving fruit tree like a peach or an apricot. Plant the tree at the base of the wall but not too close (about 30cm is about right) in soil enriched with fertiliser and good quality compost. As it grows splay the branches evenly and attach them to the wall. As the plant grows gradually cut out old straggly branches and tie in new healthy branches. The idea of splaying or ‘fanning’ is that as much sun as possible gets to the fruit, so it can ripen beautifully and maximise your crop. It also has the benefit of being a great space saver. Choose a variety that won’t grow too large. In slightly shadier spots you can grow gooseberries
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or raspberries, or my favourite morello cherries. Most of these come in compact varieties and can also be fan-trained against a wall if space is an issue. I have a tiny orchard of minarettes - space-saving apple, pear and plum trees bought as single vertical stems which I grow in pots. They grow to a maximum of 6 feet / 2m high and no wider than 45cm. My children love them! Simply cut back the side stems to about 10cm at this time of year and you’re good to go. Just remember that pot-grown plants rely totally on you for their food and water. Thick glazed / non-porous pots are best because they retain water and act as insulation in extreme cold. Use the correct compost and food for the plant but most will do well with a regular high potash liquid feed from early spring to late summer. As a gardener I was quite late to fruit-growing, but I realised quickly that it becomes an addictive hobby. And as a complete bonus I’ve noticed a definite increase in my bee population over the past few years. Free food, and good for the environment too. What could be better?
By Rachael Leverton
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Pets
Animal Know-How
Is a rabbit your perfect pet? Rabbits are a popular choice for many families with an estimated 1.5 million rabbits kept as pets in the UK. And it’s no surprise, as rabbits are highly intelligent, inquisitive animals. They come in a variety of breeds, shapes and sizes and each bunny has their own unique personality.Typically, they’ll live for 8 -12 years, but some may live for longer. Here is some advice to find out if a rabbit is the best pet for you. Home sweet home – they need: • A large shelter where they can rest together and apart from each other. • A large, secure exercise area permanently attached to their shelter, where they can hop, jump, run, dig and search (forage) for food. • Places to hide when they feel afraid or want to spend time alone. • Lots of space so they have room to exercise. • To be able to stand up fully without their ears touching the roof. • Protection from hazards, bad weather, high and low temperatures and predators. Food and drink – they need: • Fresh, clean drinking water – available 24/7. • Lots of good quality hay and/or grass – available 24/7 (growing or freshly picked grass is fine but NEVER feed lawnmower clippings). • An adult-sized handful of safe, washed leafy greens (e.g. cabbage, broccoli, kale and mint). They’d also enjoy a daily portion of high quality pellets/nuggets – about two egg cups full are enough for a medium-sized adult rabbit! • Only feed carrots and apples in small amounts as occasional treats. Don’t feed any other types of treats as these may harm rabbits! To be able to act naturally – they need: • To be able to exercise, graze on growing grass, forage, hide and dig every day!
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• To be able to play with their friendly, neutered rabbit companion(s) every day. • Lots of safe toys to play with and chew. • To be able to play with people who will be quiet and gentle around them, and who won’t punish or shout at them. To stay healthy – they need: • To be checked for signs of pain, illness, injury or changes in behaviour every day. Talk to your vet if you suspect any problems. • To be taken for an annual vet health check and regular vaccinations. • For owners to check their bottom and tail area every day to make sure they are clean. You should also check the length of their nails and teeth every week to make sure they’re not too long. • Rabbits need to be neutered so they don’t have unwanted babies. This also keeps them healthy and reduces the risk of them fighting with each other. A pet rabbit for a child may seem like a good idea, but you may have realised after reading this article, that rabbits are not low-maintenance pets! So, although they can make wonderful pets, the primary caregiver should always be an adult. Think carefully if you can give a pet rabbit everything they need and a forever home with your family. If you still think rabbits are your perfect pet, please contact the RSPCA to see if you can give one of the unwanted rabbits in our care, a home.
ANIMAL KNOW-HOW is one of a series of articles brought to you by the RSPCA Bedfordshire North Branch www.rspca-bedfordshirenorth.org.uk
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Three Counties Radio
KOREAN POPCORN CHICKEN Put simply, this recipe is one of the tastiest things I have enjoyed on the Weekend Kitchen. It should carry a health warning as it is insanely moreish. Once you take one bitesized piece of deliciousness, you really just cannot stop. The recipe was created by Kumud Ghandi, who runs the excellent Cooking Academy cookery school in Rickmansworth. Her story is an interesting one he family have always been in the spice trade, and her dishes always burst with flavour. I have also made a vegetarian version of these at home, using a vegetarian ‘chicken’ replacement. For the chicken: 500g chicken thigh (skinless and bones) cut into bite size pieces 50g cashew nuts 1 tbsp rice wine 2 tsp ginger powder 1⁄2 tsp fine sea salt 1⁄4 tsp ground black pepper 190g corn starch Oil for frying For the sauce: 5 tbsp tomato sauce/ketchup 1 1⁄2 tbsp Korean chilli paste (or any chilli paste) 2 tbsp honey 2 tbsp dark brown sugar 1 tbsp soy sauce 2 tsp sesame oil 1⁄2 tsp chopped garlic For the garnish: Sesame seeds Finely chopped spring onion Finely sliced red chilli (optional)
1. Place the chicken pieces into a large mixing bowl. Add the rice wine, ginger powder, salt, and ground black pepper and mix them well. Cover the bowl with cling film and marinate the chicken for 30 minutes in the fridge. 2. Coat each chicken piece with the corn starch powder thoroughly. It’s best doing this in 4 to 5 batches so that they are well covered with the starch powder. 3. Pour some cooking oil into a deep wok and bring it to a temperature of around 175C. 4. Fry the chicken pieces in batches until golden and cooked through (this will be around 2-3 minutes). 5. Take them out and set aside onto kitchen paper to absorb any excess oil. Repeat this with the remaining chicken. 6. Don’t put too much chicken in one go as it can lower the oil temperature too much. To make the chicken pieces extra crunchy, fry them all twice. This is actually worth the effort! Set aside. 7. Pour all the ingredients for the sauce into a heated pan, boil on a medium heat until the sauce thickens a little bit (approximately 1-2 minutes), stirring constantly. 8. Add the cashew nuts and fried chicken and coat with the sauce quickly. 9. Serve by garnishing with spring onion and sesame seeds and the optional red chilli. Eat your portion before anyone else makes it into the kitchen…
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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Health & Fitness
Stretch Benefits In an attempt to prevent injury, most of us stretch before exercise and some (though not as many) stretch afterwards. But if we’re doing fairly steady activities (jogging, cycling or walking) then while stretching will improve our flexibility there is not much evidence it will prevent muscle injury. In these cases the advice is to warm up with five minutes of light, gradual exercise instead. The reason for this is that it’s important to increase the blood flow to the muscles and heart steadily, sudden changes will cause muscles to fatigue more quickly. Stretching is more effective if you’re doing the type of exercise where you land constantly and forcefully on your feet, or stop and start quickly (sprinting, tennis, weight-lifting, or competitive team sports like football). The more flexible the muscles are the more impact they’ll be able to sustain. But everyone benefits from stretching after a workout. During exercise lactic acid builds up
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in your muscles. This can lead to soreness and fatigue. Stretching after a workout helps to eliminate the lactic acid and restore the muscle to its relaxed state, preventing the fatigue.
By Sarah Davey
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Easy Suduko
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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. 36
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n O s ’ t Wha 2 July North Herts Association of the National Trust Coach Outing Pickup points in Hitchin & Letchworth Visit to the Swiss Garden, Shuttleworth. Tel: Adam Kuzminski 01462 620317 Email: adam@kuzminski.co.uk 2, 9, 16, 23 & 30 July Moo Music Sandy, Biggleswade & Shefford 10-10.40am Shefford Baptist Church Moosical fun for your little one! Music & movement classes for 0-5 year olds in Sandy & Sutton. New sessions in Shefford! Come and join in the fun with your little moover. First session free. Email: Heather sandymoo@moo-music.co.uk Web: www.moo-music.co.uk/sbs Facebook: www.facebook.com/moomusicsandy 2, 9, 16, 23, & 30 July Branch Out Social Club for Single People 8.30-11pm Cromwell Bar, The Sun Hotel, Hitchin Branch Out meets every Monday night and is a medium-sized Social Club for single people. It was formed in 1995 to bring together single, divorced, widowed and separated people, aged 40 upwards, from the Herts, Beds and Bucks area, to socialise and enjoy one another’s company. The club organises regular events, such as dinners, discos, meals, parties, Sunday walks, theatre and concert visits, day and weekend trips and holidays. Tel: Lorna 01438 233657 Web: www.branch-out.org.uk 3, 5, 10, 12, 17, 19, 24, 26 & 31 July “Come and Try Bowls” Days Tues 2pm, Thurs 6pm Willian Bowls Club, Lower Green, Norton Common, Letchworth Every Tuesday and Thursday. New for our 2018 Outdoor season. Free tuition and all equipment provided. Any new bowler wanting to join after a session, will be offered free 2018 Membership. Tel: 01462 642790 Web: www.willianbowlsclub.org 3, 10, 17, 24 & 31 July Stevenage Bridge Club 7.30pm Priory Nursery, Stanmore Road, Old Stevenage To play Duplicate Bridge. A host system is run to find partners, if required. A wide level of ability play at the club. Tel: Phil Cooper 07957 813434
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4, 11, 18 & 25 July Baby Rhyme Time 10.30-11am Baldock Library Free event – voluntary contribution of £1 per family welcomed. Baby Rhyme Times are a fun half hour session of songs and rhymes suitable for babies and toddlers of all ages. All parents, carers and their babies are welcome to join in and there is no need to book in advance. 4, 11, 18 & 25 July Toddler Tales 2.15-2.45pm Letchworth Library Free event – voluntary contribution of £1 per family welcomed Toddler Tales is a mix of lively stories and rhymes for you and your child to join in with. The stories chosen are aimed at toddlers and pre-school children but babies are welcome too. 4, 11 & 18 July Vivace Choir 7.30-9.30pm Edgeworth House, 121 High Street, Arlesey We are looking for keen singers to join our fun and friendly choir. Find out more about the choir and its concerts online. Web: www.vivacechoir.co.uk 5 July Arts Society North Herts Talk 11am & 2pm Spirella Ballroom Letchworth £7 on the door A talk on Lawrence of Arabia by Dr Neil Faulkner. Neil will analyse the invention and re-invention of the Lawrence of Arabia legend through memoirs, photos, films and paintings. All visitors welcome. 5 July Arts Society North Herts 7pm for 7.30pm Spirella Ballroom, Bridge Road, Letchworth £1 inc. welcome drink Talk on Big Ben - The inside story by Tim Redmond. Come and hear the inside story of this iconic landmark; full of amusing anecdotes and amazing facts about the 13 ton bell in the Elizabeth Tower of the Houses of Parliament. All welcome Web: www.theartssocietynorthherts.org.uk
Deadline for What’s On entries is the 12th of the previous month. What’s on entries to whatson@villagermag.com
In July
5, 12 & 19 July Baldock Community Orchestra 7.15pm Knights Templar School (Room CS1), Baldock £7 per week or 10 week term £50 A friendly group of musicians... Come and give us a try, first session free! Tel: Rachel Dawson 07818 480332 5, 12, 19 & 26 July Roundabouters Country Dance Club 8-10pm Friends Meeting House, Cuttys Lane, Stevenage £3 per week inc. refreshments, Annual subscription £5. Friendly club for English country dancing. We welcome new members, both beginners and experienced. All dances walked through; club and guest callers ensure a varied programme. First week free. Tel. 01438 727239 Email: roundabouters@live.co.uk Web: www.roundabouters.org.uk 5, 12, 19 & 26 July Sapphire Social Club 8.30pm The Orange Tree, Hitchin We are a small and friendly group for single people generally aged 50 and above. We offer a variety of social events during the month and the opportunity to meet and make new friends. Potential new members are warmly welcome to come along and meet us with no joining fee for the first two months. Tel: Joyce 07952 678021 or Ian 07900 890583 for info Web: www.sapphiresocialsinglesclub.co.uk 6, 13, 20 & 27 July Springfield House Friday Bridge Club 1.30pm Springfield House (the home of the Old Stevenage Community Centre) To play cut-in Chicago Bridge. Play is informal and friendly. Tel: Richard Bean 01438 221517 7 July The Signals Museum Open Day 10am-4pm The Signals Museum at RAF Henlow is open to the public. Entry is free but official photo ID such as a driving licence, passport or over 60s Bus Pass is required to get an entry ticket from the Guardroom. See website for full information. Web: www.rafsignalsmuseum.org.uk
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n O s ’ t Wha 7 July Langford Family Fête 12-4.30pm Langford Playing Fields, High Street, Langford, Free admission Lots of entertainment, food, stalls and activities. The fête follows the Langford Raft Race which starts at 11am at the river by Langford Garden Centre. Parking on the field if dry. 7 July Locrian Chamber Choir and East Beds Chamber Choir Concert 7.30pm St Marys Church, Ashwell Tickets £14, Under 16s free With children from Sutton School. Carmina Burana by Carl Orff and Brahams Liebeslieder Walzes. Tickets from Camerons, Potton Market Square or by telephone. Tel: 01767 260304 8 July Open Garden 1-5pm Garden House Hospice Care, Gillison Close, Letchworth Garden City Supporters and friends are welcomed into the garden for an afternoon of musical delights, creative crafts, cake and plant stalls, children’s activities, Pimm’s and much, much more. The Commemorative Hospice Ceramic flowers for those who want to consider purchasing something special to remember their loved ones will also be launched. A few of the uniquely designed flowers will be on show for people to reserve ahead of a special blessing service later in the year. Web: www.ghhospicecare.org.uk 8 July The Adventures of Dr Dolittle by Illyria Entry from 5pm, Show 6pm RSPB, The Lodge, Potton Road, Sandy Adults £15, Children (4-16) £8, Family (2+2) £42 Outdoor theatre show by Illyria held on the lawns of The Lodge gardens. A funny, much-loved and exciting adventure, with a strong message about responsibility towards animals and the environment. Suitable for cheeky monkeys aged 4+. Assistance dogs only at the performance. Tickets available online (+ 5% fee) or from the ticket yurt before the performance. Web: https://illyria.cloudvenue.co.uk/theadventur esofdoctordolittleatrspbthelodgenaturereserve
11 July Henlow Branch R N A 7.30pm Community Centre, The Gardens, Henlow The Henlow Branch of The Royal Naval Association meets on the second Wednesday of each month. Tel: Jack Stafford 01462 850618 for further info 12 July Baldock & Clothall WI 7.30pm United Reformed Church, Whitehorse Street, Baldock Visitors £3 including refreshment and raffle ticket Facebook: www.facebook.com/baldockclothallwi 12 July Stevenage Floral Art Society 7.45pm High Street Methodist Hall Visitors very welcome. 14 July Meppershall Academy Summer Event 12-5pm Meppershall Church of England Academy, 107 High Street, Meppershall Free admission A fun day for all the family. Stalls, bar, BBQ, Bouncy castle, live music, tea room and much much more. Email: meppershallpta@gmail.com 14 & 15 July Cider & Cheese Festival Sat noon-11pm, Sun noon-9pm Canary Club, Fishponds Road, Hitchin Admission £4 inc. festival glass Hitchin Town FC in association with IDNet. Featuring 40 ciders from around the country including Apple Cottage Cider from Baldock. Cheese provided by Wobbly Bottom Farm. Musical entertainment including Sandy Ukulele Group performing Saturday evening. Web: https://hitchintownfc.ktckts.com 15 July Stevenage RSPB 9.30am Fowlmere & Ashwell Quarry. An all-day outing meeting first at RSPB Fowlmere at 9.30am. Ref 154/TL406461. Postcode SG8 6EZ. After a picnic lunch we will move on to Ashwell Quarry, meeting there at 2pm. Ref: 153/TL253395. Postcode SG7 5HX. Tea and cakes available at Ashwell Parish Room after our walk. Leader Paul Collis. Booking essential. Tel: 01438 861547 Web: ww2.rspb.org.uk/groups/stevenage
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In July
15 July North Herts Association of the National Trust Summer Lunch 1pm Gurneys, Holwell £12.50 for 2-course lunch This popular annual event is held in the picturesque setting of Gurneys in Holwell. The owners kindly allow NHANT full use of facilities during the day, which includes buffet lunch in a converted barn and the lovely extensive gardens to explore. Bar available to purchase wine, beer and soft drinks. Tel: Mrs Colette House (Secretary) 01462 815585 Email: colettehouse@gmail.com 15 July ‘Love Songs in the Afternoon’ 4pm Tilehouse Street Baptist Church, Hitchin Tickets £12, Concessions £10 inc. afternoon tea For the Hitchin Festival, Vivace choir presents ‘Love Songs in the Afternoon’. A mix of English folk songs, Broadway classics and some wonderful pieces from around the world. Tickets available on the door. Tel: 01462 735642 Email: tickets@vivacechoir.co.uk 19 July Letchworth District Gardeners Association 7.45pm Central Methodist Church, 109 Pixmore Way, Letchworth Garden City LDGA & LALG Members £2, Visitors £3 inc. refreshments. A talk by Gwenda Kyd on ‘Plants – Molecules, Medicines & Mischief’. Gwenda, scientist and complementary medicine practitioner with an interest in plants and how we use them, tells us about the uses and misuses of a selection of wellknown and less well-known examples. Tel: 01462 621691 Web: http://ldga.org.uk 29 July Guided Walk - Edible Plants 12-2pm Clophill Eco Lodges, Clophill £3 per person. Part of a series of guided walks around the beautiful countryside surrounding the village of Clophill. Dogs are welcome, please wear appropriate footwear for walking through woods, fields and uneven surfaces. Book online. Tel: 07935 911207 Email: info@ClophillHeritage.org Web: https://clophillecolodges.org.uk Hitchin & Surrounding Areas - Fun & Social Stuff A Social Group based in Hitchin. The groups arranges drinks, socials, going to Live Music events, charity events, Pub Quizzes, etc.. The aim is to enable a variety of people who are over 18 years old to get to know each other in a social and friendly setting whilst also enjoying a variety of events & activities. Web: www.meetup.com/meetup-group-HVrvZZiQ
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June’s Puzzle Solutions and Winners Last Month’s Crossword Winner Mrs C Daily from Huntingdon Winner of the Beadlow Manor Competition Mr Kevin Lockie from Stotfold
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The Villager Prize Crossword
Prize
ÂŁ25
Across 1 One of the seasons (6) 4 Heaviness (6) 9 Massive (7) 10 Beside (5) 11 Surrounded by (5) 12 Tenth month (7) 13 Powerful optical instruments (11) 18 Anguish (7) 20 Complete (5) 22 Lively dance (5) 23 Disorder (7) 24 Female sibling (6) 25 Lively (6)
Complete the crossword, fill in your details below, cut out this page and send to the address below before

16th July 2018 Prize Crossword, Villager Publications Ltd 24 Market Square, Potton, Beds SG19 2NP
Down 1 A horse for example (6) 2 Rhythm (5) 3 Person in charge (5) 6 Farewell (4-3) 7 Big cats (6) 8 Protest (11) 14 Rude remarks (7) 15 External (7) 16 Modifies (6) 17 Tired (6) 19 Astound (5) 21 Brass instruments (5)
Name: Tel: Address:
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Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts 20/02/2017 16:40
Premier Painters and Decorators
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.
For a free quotation please contact Gary on Tel: 01438 353793 Mob: 07733 227961 Email: info@premierpd.co.uk
www.premierpd.co.uk
To advertise in The Villager and Town Life please call 01767 261122
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Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts
USEFUL NUMBERS
VILLAGER The
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Bringing Local Business to Local People Your local full colour A5 monthly magazine delivered free of charge to 1000s of homes and businesses in your local area. The Villager and Town Life is dedicated to promoting local businesses, charities, community groups and everything else in your local area.
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For more information or to reserve your space please contact Nigel on:
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To advertise in The Villager and Town Life please call 01767 261122
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