Stevenage June 2021 by Villager Mag

VILLAGER The

June 2021

and Town

Life

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

Inside this issue

No Socks Please Father’s Day Gift Ideas Island Escapes

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Inside this issue...

Cambridge Comedy Festival.....................................................33 Biological Bug Blasting............................................................34 Fun Quiz...................................................................................36 The Garden Goddess.................................................................38 Wordsearch..............................................................................40 RSPCA - Get Involved................................................................43 House Works............................................................................46 Puzzle Page..............................................................................48 How to make sure your car is roadworthy................................52 Live the life you deserve - AHM Installations............................54 Villager Prize Crossword...........................................................58 Celebrity Authors.....................................................................60 Useful Numbers.......................................................................63

House Works

Island Escapes in the UK.............................................................4 Wine with me: England..............................................................8 Dance your way to fitness urban style......................................12 Summer Wine..........................................................................15 St Francis’ Children’s Society.....................................................17 No Socks Please!.......................................................................18 Mission 24/7 is almost a reality................................................20 Nick Coffer’s Weekend Recipe...................................................23 Age UK.....................................................................................25 A More Sustainable Wardrobe..................................................27 Let’s talk about the Perimenopause.........................................28 Understanding Credit Scores....................................................31

Biological Bug Blasting

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: Trevor Langley, Tracey Anderson, Helena Campbell, Kate Duggan, EAAA, Nick Coffer, Jennie Billings, Pippa Greenwood, Rachael Leverton, RSPCA and AHM Installations

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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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Staycation

Isle of Skye

Island escapes in the UK Islands are synonymous with holidays. But did you know that you could get your dream island escape without even needing to leave the UK? It’s time to discover some of our home country’s most beautiful islands. It may surprise you to hear that the UK is home to not hundreds but thousands of islands, big and small. From Scotland’s archipelago of rugged isles to a scattering of sun-soaked islands off the south coast, these hidden gems could be exactly what you need for your next escape. True, you can’t expect guaranteed sunshine and swaying palms. But what you can expect is outstanding scenery, charming seaside towns, beautiful beaches and rare wildlife – all much closer to home. To get you in the holiday mood, here are three island escapes you won’t need your passport for. Isle of Wight The largest island in the UK, the Isle of Wight is one of our country’s most popular holiday destinations – and for good reason. Easily accessible by ferry from Southampton, Lymington and Portsmouth, a mere

two-hour journey from London, there’s no better place for a British bucket-and-spade break. It may be our biggest island, but at just over 22 miles wide, it’s still small enough to explore in a few days. Start in the west with a walk to the iconic Needles, three stacks of chalk and a lighthouse rising impressively out of the ocean. Soak up the views across Tennyson Down before hopping on an open-top bus to Alum Bay, where you can jump on a speedboat to see the Needles up close. Then there’s the magnificent Osbourne House in the north, Queen Victoria’s family home, and arguably the best beaches – Ventnor and Shanklin – in the south. With zoos, dinosaur trails, museums and adventure parks dotted across the island, there’s loads for families too. You could even time your visit around the annual Isle of Wight festival or Cowes Week, one of the UK’s biggest and longest running regattas. Isle of Skye Scotland has no shortage of beautiful islands, but most visitors will agree on which is the most breathtaking: Skye, of course! Spanning 50 miles

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from top to bottom, Skye is adored worldwide for its lush green moors, jagged mountains, sparkling lochs and towering sea cliffs. Unlike the Isle of Wight, the weather up here is not always cheery, but the frequent shrouds of mist only add to the island’s serene, mystical presence. On good days, climb to the iconic Old Man of Storr for one of the island’s best viewpoints, or trek along the Quiraing, drinking in the outstanding scenery. Further south, the famously clear Fairy Pools are not to be missed. These beautiful rock pools are filled with crystal-clear spring water, fed by a series of waterfalls from the Cuillin Mountains. Take a dip, if you can stand the cold! And when the mist closes in, rest up in one of the island’s cosy pubs or take a tour of a castle or two. Come rain or shine, Skye won’t let you down. Getting here is easy, thanks to the Skye Bridge that connects the island to the mainland. In terms of where to stay, your best bets are the pretty towns of Portree, Broadford and Dunvegan. From here, you’ll be well placed to explore some of the island’s finest sights. Isles of Scilly If you’re looking for somewhere a little more off the beaten track, the Isles of Scilly are a peaceful pocket of paradise, just 28 miles off the coast of Land’s End in Cornwall. With white-sand beaches, subtropical gardens and some of Britain’s best weather, you could be forgiven for thinking you’ve left the UK entirely. There are five main islands: St Mary’s is the most populated, followed by Tresco, with very few people living on Bryher, St Martin’s and St Agnes.

Isle of Wight

Visiting the Scillies is like stepping back in time. Don’t come here looking for shops, amusement parks and arcades; this is a place to unwind and drink in your surroundings. Quiet, beautiful and completely unspoilt, you’ll have almost every pristine beach to yourself. The walks are outstanding and the islands are popular with nature-lovers too, thanks to the Atlantic grey seals that breed here, not to mention the flocks of rare seabirds. You can reach the islands by ferry or plane. Planes depart from Land’s End, Newquay and Exeter airports, or you can take the three-hour ferry crossing from Penzance to St Mary’s.

Isles of Scilly

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Food & Drink

Wine with me: England

Wine productions, in England, most certainly have several centuries of knowledge and expertise. The 20th century saw increased developments and the wine industry became a more serious business, with English wines gaining much respect and acknowledgement, receiving numerous awards, at prestigious competitions and events. I searched for a company that produces and makes available, an excellent range of wines – something for all tastes and palates. Denbies Wine Estate is located in Surrey and was established during 1986. Several grape varieties are grown, for their wine productions, many of which are award-winning. BACCHUS (11% vol) is produced only in the best seasons, from 100% Bacchus grapes which are cold-fermented in stainless steel vats, plus a small portion that is barrel-fermented and aged. A wonderful pale-straw colour entices to the nasal appeal. The mouthfeel and palate enjoy the dry and full-bodied effect, perfectly, for this Vineyard Select, white wine production. SURREY GOLD (11.5% vol) I found to possess a bouquet of fragrances, then, following on, to have an excellent mouthfeel and palate. This is a white wine, Classic Collection, production. ROSE HILL (11.5% vol) is in the ‘middle’. Between white and red, this ‘pink’ production certainly does not disappoint. The bouquet of summer fruits extends to a real, bursting mouthfeel. This is a Classic Collection, wine. REDLANDS (12% vol) is to be found amongst the Cellarmaster’s Choice range, which is specifically selected by Denbies’ wine makers. A splendid red wine to accompany red meats and casseroles. WHITEDOWNS BRUT (12% vol) – Cellarmaster’s Choice – I consider a very good sparkling wine. This production is made from a blend of grape varieties grown on the Denbies Estate and then bottle-fermented, providing fruits, with fresh flavour and a perlage which entices to a lengthy appeal. A splendid wine to enjoy pre-dining (or whenever!). GREENFIELDS (12.5% vol), from their Vineyard Select range, is a further example of a superb, bottle-fermented ‘sparkler’. The golden-straw colour complements a most wonderful bouquet. The Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier grapes give the impressive, crisp pleasures for the mouth’s enjoyment, which is extended. For all details and information, including wine tours and tastings, please contact: Denbies Wine Estate Ltd, London Road, Dorking, Surrey, RH5 6AA. Tel: 44 (0) 1306 876 616 and visit: www.denbies.co.uk

As always, Enjoy!

ey Trevor Langl Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts

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Cloudy2Clear, A Local Service With A Smile. I think we can all agree that seeing the back of 2020 was a welcome event for each and every one of us, and we can now hopefully march into 2021 with renewed positivity and optimism. One thing is for sure though, there have also been some heart warming positives that we can take out of last year. 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 once again”.

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Fitness

The Word on the Street Dance your way to fitness urban style! Street Dance is rooted in rap, hip hop, funk, and house. It combines rhythm, poetry, lyricism, energy, and power. It’s also a fabulous way to get fit and can really boost your health and happiness. Here are the top 5 benefits of street dance: It’s mood-enhancing - If you want a great way to express yourself through raw power, street dance is brilliant. Its gritty and primal, which is something great to tap into when life is tough, and you need a lift. It allows you to work hard, lose themselves, and come out the other side It’s a great cardio workout - Street Dance is a fun way to achieve cardiovascular fitness. It beats running on a treadmill or riding a bike up a hill hands down. If you hate cardio work at the gym maybe it’s because you hate being mentally present during torturous forms of exercise, counting the minutes till it’s over. One of the best things about Street Dance is that time flies when you’re in the zone performing the choreography. With continuous practise and training you’ll eventually see a spike in your stamina.

It’s versatile - Do it alone, or dance as part of a crew. Either way, mastering a dance routine is rewarding. You can transfer your new skills to the nightclub or wedding dancefloor. And the next time you hear that same tune on the radio you’ll want to turn up the volume and dance. It encourages self-expression - There are a lot of styles within the genre of Street Dance, from popping and locking to breakdance and house dance, so there’s a lot of room for self-expression, and attitude. It’s a full head-to-toe work out - You’ll strengthen your hands, feet, and joints. You’ll develop flexibility and strength. There are lots more good beginner classes around now. Look for one that provides a solid introduction to core street dance skills and fun high-energy choreography. Start dancing today.

By Tracey Anderson

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Food & Drink

Summer Wine

By Helena Campbell

Which tipple to choose for summer

The summer months require a different approach to wine. We’re more likely to want something refreshing, or to mix it with soda water for a spritzer. Also, even staunch red wine-lovers often drift towards a white or a rose as the temperatures rise. Look for a dry white with high acidity, a light to medium body. If you favour sweetness try to make sure it also has high acidity. Look for fruity notes, particularly apple and citrus, and stay away from fullbodied chardonnays. Try Riesling, Pinot Grigio, and Sauvignon Blanc. A more unusual option is Albariño, a beautiful refreshing Spanish wine. Rosés are fresh-tasting because they are meant to be drunk young. They tend to be fruity and vary from sweeter to dry. Either work nicely for a summer day, and sparkling rosés are particularly pretty and festive for summer celebrations. Try Grenache rosé served cold for a perfect crisp blend of tannins and acidity. Sangiovese rosé is slightly sweeter and fruiter and perfect for warm summer evenings. Some folks just love their reds even in summer. However, avoid heavy, full-bodied varieties unless you want to feel sleepy and dehydrated. Look for lighter reds that are best served chilled, with low tannin and high acidity. Cinsault is probably my favourite summer red on account of its fruitiness. It’s nicely high in acidity too. Frappato is also a good summer choice with low tannins and a fresh taste. Lambrusco can be sneered at in some circles but it’s actually the perfect bubbly sweeter red for summer. Cheers.

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Local News

St. Francis’ Children’s Society Could you adopt siblings, and help keep brothers and sisters together? Latest figures show there are currently 2,030 children waiting to be adopted in England. Of those, approximately 44% are in sibling groups of two or more. Groups of children wait an average of 17 months to be adopted, which is 36% longer (135 days) than individual children. 56% of these children wait more than 18 months for their new family. In response to these figures, Milton Keynes adoption agency St. Francis’ Children’s Society (SFCS) has joined a national campaign which encourages people who are considering adoption to think about adopting brothers and sisters together. In most cases, keeping brothers and sisters together is vitally important when children are adopted. They share their life-stories and have a life-long bond, and have often been the only constants in each other’s lives. Siblings are much stronger together than apart. Natalie and Phil became parents when they adopted two brothers with the help of SFCS. Natalie says, “It’s easy to forget that adoption is just becoming new parents, and life does dramatically change for any new parents. The first few months were a massive culture shock for us and we did find things difficult. We bonded more quickly with the older child than we did with the baby, and we felt so much guilt over this. “We weren’t prepared for feeling quite so tired, to function on little sleep and to need to be ‘switched on’ all day, every day to meet the children’s needs. In hindsight, going from no children to two children overnight was a little crazy, but we wouldn’t have it any other way. We now feel like a normal, happy and complete family.” New research released as part of the campaign reveals that, while there are challenges in adopting more than one child, 88% of parents that adopted brothers and sisters say the positives outweigh

any difficulties. And 61% of these adopters acknowledged that adopting children with their brothers and sisters has been the most beneficial factor in their child’s adoption journey. Owen and Abi adopted three sisters with SFCS in July 2019. The youngest two are twins who are now aged four, and the eldest is now aged 5. Owen says, “The love that we receive from the children and the love that we can give them is something you can’t put into words. They truly have completed our family and, nearly two years down the line, they’re just our kids. The things they do inspire us to be better. It’s a wonderful thing – I’d recommend it.” Brothers and sisters who need to stay together wait longer in care for adoptive families, through no fault of their own. Could you adopt siblings, and help keep brothers & sisters together? St. Francis’ Children’s Society is an independent adoption agency that welcomes all kinds of families for all kinds of children - regardless of age, race, religion, marital status or sexual orientation. Visit www.sfcs.org.uk to find out more.

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Time of Year

No Socks Please…

From pocket money treats to push-the-boat-out presents, we’ve got plenty of ideas for Father’s Day gifts… It’s easy to pick up chocolate from the supermarket, but a personalised bar is so much more special. These luxury handmade chocolates cost £3.50 to £15 from www.cocoas.co.uk. Barbecue fans can take their skills to the next level with a barbecue rub from www.pigandpallet.co.uk. Individual packets are £4 each or splash out on a box of four for £14. If dad is hoping to indulge his travel lust a bit more this year, this T-shirt should whet his appetite. And it’s just £8 from Tu. A handcrafted, refillable pen will last for years. If you’re on a budget, try the Wood Wirkshop, which offers a range of wooden and acrylic styles from just £12. See www.facebook.com/TheWoodWirkshop. Whether your father is an avid runner or needs some encouragement to get off the couch, a Garmin Forerunner 35 might give him extra motivation. It’s £129.99 from www.very.co.uk. How about a hand-sewn notebook made from recycled paper from www.brucebramfield.com and priced from just £3.95? Even better, it can be personalised with your dad’s name or a short message for free. Dad will love a weekend relaxing in a hammock, available for £75 from Habitat. You can’t beat a homemade gift. If you’re stuck for ideas, why not try making a: • Bath fizzer. Wearing gloves, mix 100g of bicarbonate of soda, 50g of citric acid and 25g of cornflour. Keep stirring as you pour in two tablespoons of olive oil and around ten drops of essential oil. Mix in a few drops of water. You only need enough water to hold the dry ingredients together. Press the mixture into silicone moulds or ice cube trays and allow it to dry for at least two hours. • Bird box. This takes a bit more work, but can be achieved with a plank of wood, a hammer, drill and some nails. Search online for templates. • Mini herb garden. If dad loves cooking, you could create a mini herb garden in a pot with plug plants from your local garden centre. • Chocolates. Chop a couple of large bars into chunks and melt them in a large bowl over a pan of simmering water. Spoon the chocolate into silicone moulds, adding chopped nuts or sprinkles first. (The above activities do need an adult to supervise.)

By Kate Duggan

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Local News

Mission 24/7 is almost a reality East Anglian Air Ambulance (EAAA) is online 365 days a year to help local people in the most lifethreatening or life-changing situations and is close to flying 24/7 for the very first time. Mission 24/7 has been a long-term goal of the charity’s and by the end of June, thanks to community support, this goal will be a reality. EAAA has long been passionate about closing the current gap (between 1:30am and 7am) where there is no helicopter coverage available in the region. During this time both of EAAA’s teams are available instead by rapid response vehicle, providing 24/7 emergency care across Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire and Bedfordshire by car. By flying 24/7, EAAA will become the first air ambulance in the East of England to do so and estimate they will be tasked to 400 more patients a year, getting its teams to people in need as quickly as possible, 24 hours a day. This will be an exciting milestone for the air ambulance charity and for the region. Patrick Peal, CEO of EAAA, said: “We’ve dreamt of being able to fly 24/7 for years as we’re fiercely passionate about making sure the same standard of critical care is available, by helicopter, right across East Anglia no matter what time of day or night it is. We know people don’t stop having cardiac arrests, strokes or road traffic collisions when the helicopter goes offline, and we have been working towards this goal for some time. We’re hugely grateful for the

community support which has got us here and are counting down the days to becoming fully 24/7 by helicopter.” Ready, steady, go – Chariots of Fire relay race for EAAA on Sunday 19 September Could you run in a 1.7-mile relay to help save lives? EAAA is the benefiting charity of this year’s Chariots of Fire relay race in Cambridge. Funds raised will help EAAA’s life-saving CPR and defibrillator training work for community groups, schools and workplaces. If you, or someone you know, can support EAAA by putting in a team get signed up while places are available by visiting the EAAA website or www. chariots-of-fire.co.uk. You just need six people (tickets cost £25 each) and to raise a suggested £50 per person towards the life-saving training - and to have fun taking part!

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Food & Drink

Simple Thin Apple Tart I do love a pretty desert - but I’m also a rubbish pastry maker! So I’m all for a desert which has the wow factor, without needing Great British Bake Off level skills. This simplified version of the classic French “Tarte Fine aux Pommes” is not only delicious, it’s also easy to make. Above all, it looks beautiful. You’ll need: 1 roll of store-bought puff pastry (all butter is best) 3-4 (depending on size) sharp flavoured apples like a Braeburn or Granny Smith A knob of butter Caster sugar 1 tbsp apricot jam 1. Hunt around in your kitchen cupboards for two round shapes, one of which needs to be 1cm narrower than the other. The larger round needs to fit on your unrolled puff pastry. I used a dinner plate and the base of a cake tin. 2. Unroll the pastry. Use the larger round shape to cut out a circle, using a sharp knife. Place the smaller round on the pastry and gently score the pastry around it. You just need a slight indentation - don’t cut the pastry. Place on a non-stick baking tray. 3. Carefully peel the apples, trying to keep their round shape. Cut them into quarters and slice out the cores in a curved line. 4. Slice the quarters into thin slices, 2-3mm in thickness. Try to keep them of equal size by always cutting down towards the point of

the quarter where the core was, slightly rotating the quarter as you go. 5. Starting on the outside, arrange the apple slices in a circular fan pattern on the pastry base (see photo). Place them inside the circular border you marked. 6 Once you have completed the outside ring, do the same for the inside. 7. Melt a knob of butter in the microwave and carefully brush it onto the tart. Dust the tart quite generously with sugar. 8. Bake in an oven pre-heated to 220C/ Gas Mark 6 for around 20 minutes, or until the pastry is golden around the edges and the apples caramelised. 9. Take the tart out of the oven. While it is cooling, melt the apricot jam in a saucepan and thin it out with a few drops of water. Glaze the top of the tart with the apricot jam using a pastry brush. Leave to set and serve once the tart is cool. Serve with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. **For a slight variation, you can also make an apple compote base. Cook down a cooking apple with some caster sugar until you have a smooth purée. Cover the base with this compote in a thin layer before placing the apples on top.

BBC Three Counties Radio presenter and cook, Nick Coffer To advertise in The Villager and Town Life please call 01767 261122

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Local News

Could You Remember Age UK Hertfordshire in your Will? Age UK Hertfordshire is committed to being there for older people who need us. But the challenges we face as a society and the demand for the services we provide are only set to increase in future years, due to a projected rise in the number of older people in the UK. There are currently 10.8 million people over the age of 60 living in the UK. By 2031 this number is set to rise pass 20 million. In Hertfordshire the pattern is much the same with the over 65 population set to grow by 23% in the next five years. With the demand for Age UK Hertfordshire’s services rising exponentially and the ever increasing pressure on public funds, there is a risk that we won’t have the resources to ensure every older person can access the support they need in the future. In recent times, gifts in wills from our kind supporters have helped us fund many of our vital services for older people across Hertfordshire. We are very grateful for this generous support and want to ensure that many more generations can benefit from our services.

Mark Hanna, Interim Chief Executive, said: “By leaving a gift to Age UK Hertfordshire you can help make sure that in the future no one in Hertfordshire has to face the challenges of older age alone.” “If you, like many others, have already remembered Age UK Hertfordshire in your will, thank you for your kindness” said Ellie Males, Community Engagement Officer. She continues, “Your legacy gift however small, will mean that we can still be there for people who need the support from Age UK Hertfordshire’s services”. To find out more please contact us on communications@ageukherts.org.uk or visit us online at: https://www.ageuk.org.uk/ hertfordshire/get-involved/legacies/

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House of Colour

A more sustainable wardrobe? An estimated £140m worth of clothing is sent to UK landfill each year – Source WRAP. The average person today buys 60 % more clothing than in 2000 Less than 1 % of used clothing is recycled into new garments Washing clothes releases half a million tonnes of plastic microfibres into the ocean every year, equivalent to more than 50 billion plastic bottles. - Ellen MacArthur Foundation It’s pretty shocking how much we consume and the impact that this has. Many of us are unaware how our buying habits are affecting our environment but what is clear is that we need to make some serious changes if we are going to protect our environment for the future. The fashion chains are making changes and you will see new fibres aimed at being more sustainable, less polluting than many we rely on, including cotton. While they may be making changes we, as consumers will also need to play our part. I cannot claim to be the most sustainable clothes shopper on the planet but, I do follow some basic principles. • I buy clothes that I love – not ‘that’ll do’ which means we get some wear out of them but then they sit there unworn because they actually don’t give us a buzz, and soon become replaced or replaceable. I am fussy about what I get. • I know what suits me which means my clothes get worn regularly. I don’t have clothing sitting in my wardrobe still with tags on. On average we wear 15% of our wardrobe 85% of the time, which goes some way to explaining why so much of our clothing ends up in landfill. • I buy for my lifestyle – beautiful dresses that only get worn to tea at the Ritz are not on my list because they aren’t going to get worn! • I try to buy good quality – because I want my clothes to last. It’s really easy to be tempted by the cheap fix, but it’s often regretted. • When my clothes have reached the end of the line I recycle them. • I have begun to look at the second hand options available beyond charity shops. Beyond Retro and Depop have proved fruitful providing more originality in terms of choice than often found on the current high street. There are so many more second hand options, rental too that this is really worth a look (try @ virtualmarketplace). • I love British made options – we do still produce clothing! There are lots of independent British designer/ makers, many to be found at equestrian events (I’m not particularly into horses but the shopping can be amazing, particularly Burghley Horse Trials) and the larger country shows. Northampton is still home to many British made men’s shoes and you can still buys hats in Luton. There are also an increasing number of brands that have taken sustainable • Alterations – if clothing isn’t fitting, or just needs a tweak to make it more useful I will get it altered. It could even be remodelled into something quite different. It’s really worthwhile particularly when mass produced items don’t all cater for unique shapes! Having repairs professionally done can also breathe new life back into a garment. I think we’re all going to need to reassess how we buy and how much we buy and probably be prepared to spend more for new items into the future. What we can understand though is what really suits us and buy what we love to get the most wear out of our clothes. Article by Jennie Billings – House of Colour House of Colour has a network of stylists to help you update your look Find your nearest at houseofcolour.co.uk/find-a-stylist

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Health

Let’s talk about the Perimenopause I was 39 when I started having menopausal symptoms. By 42, hot flushes were a daily annoyance; I was waking up several times a night with joint pain; and I just felt generally old. In short, the perimenopause was proving a royal pain in the ass. The average age of the menopause is 51, but the perimenopause (the time leading up to the menopause when levels of oestrogen and progesterone are decreasing) can last for years. Symptoms The most common symptoms include: • Irregular periods • Hot flushes/night sweats • Mood changes • Fatigue • Loss of libido • Joint paint • Urinary problems HRT Some types of HRT may slightly increase your risk of breast cancer but HRT could also decrease your risk of other serious illnesses, particularly if you’re going through the menopause early. In my case, my GP felt it was the right choice for me. Since being on HRT, my joints no longer ache, I have more energy and the hot flushes have gone (thank god). Dr Louise Newson is a leading menopause specialist and the founder of the Balance app. She recommends seeking help early: “The perimenopause is when hormone levels start to reduce so this is actually the best time to start taking HRT. When hormone levels reduce, symptoms commonly occur and also health risks start, such as an increased risk of heart disease and osteoporosis.” Supplements Before starting HRT, I took turmeric and evening primrose oil, which did seem to ease my symptoms. However, there is little evidence about how effective supplements are, and some should not be taken if you have certain health conditions. So do your research, speak to your doctor and only buy from a reputable retailer. Dealing with hot flushes I kept a bottle of rose water in the fridge to spritz on my face when the heat hit. An electric fan can help, as can wearing layers that are easy to whip off. The NHS advises reducing alcohol and caffeine. (Neither of which I succeeded at.) If hot flushes are making your life a misery, do talk

to your doctor, as they may be able to prescribe something. Exercise Weight-bearing exercise (such as running) offers you some protection against osteoporosis. Ideally, find an exercise partner to keep you motivated. And if you’re a fan of The Walking Dead, you need to try the ‘Zombies, Run!’ app. If you’re not keen on running, there are thousands of exercise videos on YouTube, from Yoga With Adriene to high-energy dance workouts. Useful info • The Menopause Doctor website has advice on everything from HRT to contraception. www.menopausedoctor.co.uk • The Balance app can help you to keep track of your period and symptoms. www.balance-app.com • www.healthandher.com offers a wealth of advice and relevant products. • If your friends aren’t at the same stage, why not join a forum? ‘Totes Merry Peri’ on Facebook is my personal favourite. (Please note that this article is intended to give a general overview of the subject and is not intended as medical advice.)

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Wellness Coaching is for everyone! We can all learn to live happier and healthier by setting realistic goals. Wellness Coaching can help with:

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

Weight Concerns Eating Habits Poor Sleep Patterns Living with a long term condition or the stress of a busy life Learn to rethink old habits and look better, feel better, think better and live better. For life!

For more information visit www.janecaseywellnesscoaching.com Contact Jane Casey

Registered Nurse, Personal Trainer and Qualified Wellness Coach @janecaseycoach T: 07814 965509 E: janecaseywellness@outlook.com

TRUSTED CARE AND SUPPORT AT HOME

Keeping you and your loved ones safe without the need for residential care

We provide high-quality, personalised care services to enable you to continue living independently in the comfortable surroundings of your own home. Our valued and professional CareGivers are a familiar, friendly face, dedicated to supporting you to live life to the full.

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All of our CareGivers are equipped with the necessary Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) in order to deliver COVID-safe care. For more information on Right at Home’s services, please contact your local ofﬁce:

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Finance

Understanding Credit Scores Credit scores are a confusing and misunderstood part of personal finance, but understanding how they work can increase your chances of getting affordable credit. You don’t actually have a single credit score. Instead, three different credit ratings agencies (Experian, Equifax and TransUnion) each hold a file called a ‘credit report’ about you. It’s made up of a combination of publicly available information and data from lenders and companies that offer credit. These include utility providers who send you a bill rather than charging up front. Each agency also gives you a specific credit score that falls into designated categories, but the scales vary. For example, Experian’s maximum score is 999 and you’ll need 961 to get into the ‘Excellent’ category. Equifax’s maximum score is 700, with 466 needed for the ‘Excellent’ category. TransUnion goes up to 710, with 628 the threshold for ‘Excellent’. Although the scales and calculations vary, over the long term you’ll commonly be in the same category for each agency. If you aren’t, it may be that one agency’s report doesn’t reflect a recent change as quickly as the others. While the score is useful for tracking your progress over time, the specific number doesn’t actually matter that much. Potential lenders rarely, if ever, use the score as the sole or primary way of deciding if you get a loan. They’ll instead look at the individual items on your credit report. So, what’s the use of a credit score to the consumer? Think of it simply as a ‘one glance’ way to summarize

the overall effects of the information on your credit report. As a rule of thumb, the better your score, the more likely you are to get credit at all, to get credit at a lower interest rate, and to get a higher credit limit or larger loan amount. It’s definitely worth trying to boost your credit score, particularly before applying for a mortgage, but it’s more a case of good principles to follow rather than hard and fast rules. The simplest and quickest thing is to check for any mistakes or missing information on your credit report, particularly simple factors such as time at your current address and whether you are on the electoral roll. If you aren’t registered to vote, do so immediately. Because it can take time to correct errors, it’s worth checking your credit report and scores regularly. You’re legally entitled to a free copy of some basic details (a ‘statutory credit report’) from each of the agencies, but this doesn’t actually contain your score. They’ll normally charge for full reports and scores. Instead, rather confusingly, you can monitor your scores and report free of charge through certain third-party services that each cover a particular agency. These include Money Saving Expert’s Credit Club for Experian, ClearScore for Equifax and Credit Karma for TransUnion. Other tips include always making the minimum payment on cards and loans, avoiding too many credit applications in quick succession, and checking how long adverse entries such as bankruptcy or county court judgments will stay on your credit report.

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r1 de

u or yf r t n ee

Once ubiquitous as the RAF’s primary trainer and first mount of many a trembling cadet, the Chippy is 75 this year. We celebrate it with a whisper of Moths to celebrate the 90th birthday of the Tiger Moth.

Fre

2021 sees the return of the award-winning Drive-In Displays from the Shuttleworth Trust There is something to keep the whole family entertained! Find out more and book online at:

www.shuttleworth.org/scurryofchipmunks

Our most popular show, the military show will line up the Collection’s impressive collection from the Sopwith Pup to the Spitfire with current and vintage military visitors.

Shuttleworth air shows are the perfect family day out, expect thrilling air displays from historic aircraft and explore the beautiful Shuttleworth Swiss Garden. Find out more and book online at: www.shuttleworth.org/militaryairshow

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Local News

Cambridge Comedy Festival The Cambridge Comedy Festival returns for its 14th edition presenting a spectacular event featuring superstar household names, the very best circuit acts, left-field fringe performers, live podcast shows plus brilliant family shows and all set in a beautiful countryside open air location. The Festival was launched in 2007 with the aim of recreating a micro version of the world famous Edinburgh Fringe Festival experience in Cambridge. Its unique appeal has been that it presented a host of big name comedians and the finest emerging to the city as they hone their shows for the Edinburgh Fringe and forthcoming UK tours and iron out any rough edges. It’s been venue based each year but in 2016 and 2017 we moved it outdoors to Jesus Green park which proved very popular and due to the current climate this year we’ve decided to once again host it outdoors but expand it into a fully fledged festival experience with camping. The festival will take place on Grange Farm in Abbots Ripton, Huntingdon which is where the Secret Garden Party was held – it’s a fantastic countryside location and its unique and quirky landscaped features lend itself perfectly to a comedy festival.

We have over 150 acts appearing across 4 stages packed with so many amazingly funny comedians including household names from TV and stage such as Rob Beckett, Milton Jones, Dara Ó Briain, Ed Byrne, Gary Delaney, Nina Conti, Tom Allen, Al Murray, Reginald D Hunter and Russell Kane to the very best club circuit acts plus live podcast shows, lots of fantastic kids/family shows and after the comedy shows have finished each evening we’ve even got comedians having a go at DJ’ing their favourite tunes in the Glade bar area and if all of that isn’t enough to tickle your comedy appetite we’ve also got a fresh water swimming lake on site! We have camping right next to the arena and for those that want their creature comforts we’ve got Boutique Camping too. With either full weekend passes or individual day tickets (with or without camping) available we’ve tried to create an event for comedy fans so they get to watch all the very best acts in one place but also an event where they can feel safe and be outdoors. Full festival details can be found at www.cambridgecomedyfestival.com

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Gardening

Biological Bug Blasting

By Pippa Greenwood

Now that warmer weather has arrived, plants in the protected environment of a greenhouse or conservatory are likely to suffer attacks from pests and diseases. Why not tackle some of the more common pests using biological controls? They work well provided you have not used chemicals recently and don’t intend to introduce them. Biological controls may sound high-tech, but you are simply introducing tiny creatures in to control the pests, with no need for chemicals and therefore no chemical residues left on edible crops either. They’re safe for humans, pets and wildlife too! There are great controls for many outdoor pests, including slugs (Nemaslug), chafer grubs and leatherjackets, and one control with a wide range of vegetable-crop pest controllers in it. There is a nematode control for vine weevils that can be watered on to the compost of edible or ornamental plants. Best used in spring and autumn when there are higher levels of the grubs, it is easily applied with a watering can and is not too expensive. In greenhouses, plant-wrecking red spider mite and glasshouse whitefly numbers soon build up as the weather gets warmer. Whitefly also have a nasty habit of producing a very sticky excreta called honeydew and this causes a sugary layer to appear on the plants, often followed by black mould growth known as sooty mould. I’ve used a tiny parasitic wasp, Encarsia, with great results. This extremely small wasp lays her eggs in the young stage of the whitefly (often

called the whitefly scale), killing it in the process, and then new Encarsia wasps hatch out of the parasitised whitefly scales. Provided there are some whitefly in the greenhouse, and as long as temperatures average 10C (50F), it works a treat. Red spider mites (which cause minute but densely packed flecking on the plant foliage, often followed by browning and dieback) are tiny and difficult to spot, and you may only notice the devastation they cause. These pests thrive in the warmer drier conditions likely to prevail a little later in the year, but they can be controlled biologically too with a predatory mite known as Phytoseiulus. This tiny mite has a voracious appetite for all the life stages of the red spider mite and can be introduced as long as average temperatures are about 16C (61F). You can also get biological controls for other common greenhouse and conservatory pests, such as aphids (greenfly and blackfly), scale insects and mealy bugs. It really is a good way to keep pests down and provided you follow the instructions this truly environmentfriendly (and gardener-friendly too!) method takes some beating, so why not turn over a new leaf this year and let biological controls do the work for you? All the controls mentioned above are available from most biological control suppliers. At www.pippagreenwood.com you’ll find a range of pet-and-wildlife-friendly bio-controls, Speedweeders, the fantastic SpeedHoe, signed books and more.

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Thunder and Lightning

1. What is the name of the organisation dedicated to saving human life that was formed by Jeff Tracy and his sons in the TV show Thunderbirds? 2. Derived from a German word meaning “lightning war”, what name was commonly used by the British press to refer to the heavy air raids carried out by Germany against Britain in the Second World War? 3. The term “thunderbox” is used in Australian slang to refer to a what? 4. Which 1968 single features the lyrics “I like smoke and lightning, heavy metal thunder”, which led to the term “heavy metal” being used as a music genre? 5. What type of chocolate-covered, creamfilled pastry item has a name that means “lightning” in French?

6. In the National Lottery’s Thunderball draw, what is the highest number that the “Thunderball” number can be? 7. Which actor provides the voice of Lightning McQueen in the Cars film series? 8. Which play by William Shakespeare opens with the line “When shall we three meet again in thunder, lightning, or in rain”? 9. In the 1980s film and TV series Blue Thunder, what mode of transport is Blue Thunder? 10. In which sport was a competitor owned by the Queen renamed Sandringham Lightning after it won a race in 1990?

1. International Rescue 2. The Blitz 3. Toilet 4. Born To Be Wild (by Steppenwolf) 5. Éclair 6. 14 7. Owen Wilson 8. Macbeth 9. Helicopter 10. Pigeon racing

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Garden View

The Garden Goddess Iris was the goddess of the rainbow in Greek mythology. I have a thing for Greek mythology, and I love Irises. The large, bearded types unfurl at this time of year and they reflect the colours of the spectrum from deepest purple, through dusky orange, egg-yolk yellow and the most delicate of blues, to the brightest of whites. They comprise of standard petals, which are carried aloft over the graceful fall petals, which arch downwards. From the upper bases of the falls grow groups of fuzzy hairs called beards and from this the bearded Iris gets her name. Even the foliage is attractive: large pale green swords that shoot straight upwards from the earth. Bearded Irises love full sun and prefer to have their fleshy rhizomes (the underground stems) near the soil surface so they can take full advantage of the sun’s warmth. They actually prefer a more impoverished soil, so if your soil is a bit thin and dry they may be perfect for your garden. As the clumps become overcrowded the centres die out. Dig them up immediately after flowering and chop them into single healthy rhizomes, each with a fan of leaves. Shorten each fan with scissors by about

half, then replant about 30cm apart in another sunny spot so that the rhizomes are just visible under the surface. Although they like drier conditions make sure they are watered in and looked after for a few weeks until established. But really you don’t need to do much to them. Overly enriched soil is not a friend to the iris, which might decline to flower in such conditions. My best flowering plants are in the driest, most sun-baked part of my plot! But for those who have shadier gardens and boggier conditions try the non-bearded Iris sibirica. I have one in a sun-dappled spot by a water feature. Its leaves are greener and grassier, which complements the water, and it has lovely rich blue flowers which look particularly nice in the shade. I also like Iris ensata, which I plant by my pool at the water’s edge. It’s also a good choice in borders if you garden on richer soil than mine. So, invoke the power of the Goddess Iris in your garden, and enjoy the rainbow of colour.

Happy Gardening

By Rachael Leverton

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QUALITY HOME IMPROVEMENTS

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Get Involved

Volunteering for the RSPCA is just one of the enjoyable ways of helping animal welfare and can be very rewarding. Volunteers make a huge contribution to the work we do to prevent cruelty, promote kindness to and alleviate the suffering of animals. The RSPCA shop located in Bedford town centre would very much welcome some volunteers. Volunteers Needed Our Bedford branch, situated across from the bus station is a very modern, vibrant and well-run shop. The current staff are very welcoming and friendly and would really appreciate some additional volunteers to help run the shop. Volunteering is such a great way to meet likeminded people who share the same enthusiasm for animal welfare. There are many other benefits too, such as: • gaining new skills or developing existing ones • the chance to try out something new • doing something useful and rewarding • gaining a sense of achievement • putting something back into the community • developing your personal skills and confidence Anyone can volunteer. We value diversity and encourage volunteers from all sections of the community. Unfortunately, there are limited opportunities for anyone who is under 16 years of age and some restrictions apply in relation to opportunities for under 18’s.

Pets

An Interview with a Trustee Simon Mason has been a trustee for the RSPCA Bedford North Branch for nearly 3 years. His role within the team is that of the treasurer. Why did you want to become a trustee for the RSPCA? The welfare and wellbeing of animals has always been something that I care about. Naturally, when I heard that the Bedford North branch were recruiting, I was delighted. What do you enjoy about your role? I like being involved in the decision-making process regarding how money is to be saved and spent. I enjoy preparing and presenting the financial reports to the charity. Plus, I like being involved in my local community. Did you have any pets when you were growing up? Yes, we had a lovely Jack Russell. Before that we had three cats. I was brought up in quite a rural area, so we were near a lot of wildlife and farm animals. So, I have always grown up with a high degree of respect and care for animals. Have you always lived in Bedford? No. I moved here from Stratford-Upon-Avon, and before that I lived in Great Yarmouth. I’m originally from Norwich, so I am quite well travelled! What do you think about the new initiatives and campaigns announced in the annual review? Amazing! There are some really inspiring and creative ideas within the review, as well as the heartwarming stories of all the animals that have been rehabilitated and rehomed. 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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104 Ampthill Road, Shefford, Beds SG17 5BB To advertise in The Villager and Town Life please call 01767 261122

Special Report

House Works

a recommendation but whoever you use, ensure you follow due diligence. The quality of the work is important but, amongst other checks you make, you will want to know that your builder is reliable and open to discussing your ideas. Note that is your responsibility to request an itemised schedule of works and have a clear process on how variations from that schedule will be dealt with, including payments. Project Manager Project management is not as simple as ordering materials and engaging the trades yourself. There are many Health & Safety and Construction Design & Management principles that need to be adhered to. Your builder will usually offer to project manage or you can engage a separate person. Keep a record Finally, make sure you have contracts in place as this protects all parties. Remember that as the homeowner you are legally responsible for ensuring that all structural or alteration work complies with building standards and, when you eventually sell your property, your buyer’s solicitor will want to see that paperwork.

If you’ve decided to make home improvements rather than move, remodelling your property could be in your 2021 plans. Whether it’s an extension or knocking down a wall to make a barrier-free space, you’ll likely need more than DIY skills to bring your dreams to life. As a rule, you should plan twice, execute once, and for that you’ll need to call the professionals. Interior Designer An interior designer will help you plan your living space to suit your lifestyle, even coming up with ideas that you’d never considered. This will save you time and money when you engage other professionals as you’ll have a much clearer idea of what you want and why. Architect An architect will focus mostly on the artistry and design of your proposed changes and will bring your ideas to life with architectural drawings. They will know the construction industry’s working methods and standards, and can guide you through the complex procedures of planning, building regulations and contractual arrangements. Architect/Planning Agent The architect will handle the

planning permission process for you, either dealing with it themselves or through a separate agent. Some changes to your property can be done without planning permission (known as ‘Permitted Development’) but for most larger alterations you will need to submit a planning application to your local authority. The architect/planning agent will be your liaison with the council’s planners, and will assist you in preparing the application, providing the council with relevant information, responding to raised concerns and negotiating changes. Structural Engineer An architect focuses more on the artistry and design of the building, while a structural engineer focuses more on the technical and structural side. An engineer makes sure that the building is functional and safe, and particularly if you need bigger modifications, this technical element is essential. Builder All the services involved in preparing for the work will cost, but the actual build itself is likely to use the bulk of your budget. Sometimes the designer or architect will be able to give you

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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

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Codeword 1

ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ

Easy Sudoku

Hard Sudoku

Fill in the grid so that each row, column and 3x3 box, contains the digits 1 through to 9 with no repetition. Use your logic to solve the puzzles. 48

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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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Motoring

How to make sure your car is roadworthy when lockdown restrictions end With the vaccine rollout in full swing and national lockdown measures taking effect, the roadmap to normality appears to be open. However, for many of us who’ve been working from home and keeping journeys local, our cars might not be in the best condition when we want to get back on the road. Here are a few tips and checks to make sure your car is in the best condition when normality resumes. Fluids - Leaving your car for a long time is unlikely to affect the fluids too much, but it’s always worth checking in case they were low when you left the car. Check your oil by pulling out the dipstick (it has a yellow top). Clean it, then dip it back in and check the level. Also check windscreen washer fluid and coolant, as well as topping your fuel tank to the very top. Letting fuel run low can drag built-up dirt through the fuel system. Diesel particulate filter - If you drive a diesel car built since 2007 – and a few before that – you’ll have a diesel particulate filter (DPF). It’s designed to catch soot particles to clean up emissions and burn them off when the exhaust is hot. However, if the system never gets hot enough, soot can build up and block the filter, so take the car on a longer drive to let it get up to temperature. However, if the DPF warning light comes on and doesn’t go away

after a long drive, you might need to visit a garage. Brakes - Over time and without use, corrosion can build on brake discs, which can cause issues if left long-term. If you notice corrosion on the brakes, be careful for a while after you drive away. Don’t go too fast and brake earlier than normal, as braking performance might be worse. After a while the corrosion will be brushed off and the brakes will be back to normal. Tyres - While your car is parked up for long periods, occasionally roll it forwards and backwards to prevent flat spots on the tyres. Look for cuts, bulges and cracking as these indicate oncoming failure. Check your tyre pressures are in line with what the manufacturer recommends. The figures for this are usually in the manual or on the door pillar. Battery - When a car is left stationary for a long time, the battery can drain, so it’s worth checking it has enough charge to get going. Go out to your car and try to turn it on at a time when you don’t need to go somewhere, because if there’s no life in it then you’re not stranded. If it works, go for a fifteen-minute drive to keep the levels topped up – otherwise you’ll need jump leads to get it going. While driving to top up your charge, don’t go too far from home in case it fails. If this happens, you know your battery needs to be replaced.

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Business Profile

Live the life you deserve

Picture the scene, it’s the end of the day. Your body feels tired and your mind is ready for some downtime. You imagine what it would feel like to climb into a warm, soothing bath and let you cares melt away. Then a niggling doubt takes hold. Last time you had a bath you had to call your partner to help you get out. Maybe it won’t happen this time. So, you run a bath anyway thinking this time you’ll be ok. But can you enjoy your bath with those doubts in your mind? And more importantly, should you? We know that going from a ‘normal’ bathroom to one with mobility aids feels like a step in a direction you don’t want to go. But it depends how you look at it. There are far more people aged over 65 in the UK today compared to a generation ago – almost a fifth of the population – and it’s a fact of life that we all need little extra help as we get older. This doesn’t mean you’re not relevant. 71% of 5575 year olds have smartphones now. Retirees are travelling more, using Facebook and a quarter are actively dating. Retirement has become a time to embrace new challenges and fulfil long-awaited experiences. None of that changes just because you have difficulty bathing. It’s very common for people only to seek help with their bathroom as a result of a fall, accident or nearmiss. Should you wait that long, or are there changes you could make now?

Changes to your home don’t need to look unsightly either. Just because you’re adding grab rails or a raised toilet in your bathroom for example, doesn’t mean it will look like a hospital bathroom. You could see it as an opportunity to refresh and update one of the most important rooms of your house. Updating your bathroom with AHM We guide you through the whole process of updating your bathroom, at your pace. If you’re in immediate need of a solution, we do our best to make it happen quickly. If you prefer taking time to think through the options, that’s fine too. We’re a small, family-run firm with a background in caring and mobility, so we’re flexible and we know what it’s like. We visit customers at home, for free, to get a full understanding of their needs and there’s always a real person at the end of the phone. “To be able to speak to the same person when calling the office… was very important to me and you dealt with my queries very efficiently.” Mrs Pearce We don’t employ salesmen. Our experienced surveyors visit you to discuss your needs. We also pride ourselves in employing courteous and trustworthy fitters to install every bathroom. “Not only have they done a great job, but they have been so kind to my mum who is very fragile both physically and emotionally at the moment.” Margot We use specialist bathing products which come with a manufacturer’s warranty, plus our own 12-month installation warranty. In the last 20 years, we’ve never had anyone say they didn’t like their bathroom. In fact, people often send us letters and emails to say how much they love what we’ve done. “I am extremely pleased with my bathroom. It exceeds expectations!” Angela If you’re ready to seek help with your bathroom, call us on 01438 909642.

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COVID-19 - SAFEGUARDING CUSTOMERS & COLLEAGUES

FREE*

Georgia toilet & basin with every bathroom order

Bathing a problem? – we can help • Wet rooms • Walk in showers and baths • Waterproof wall panelling • Slip resistant safety flooring • Grab rails & shower seats • Zero VAT on disabled bathrooms • Discounts for over 60s SSAFA and Ex Service personnel • Disabled Facilities Grants • Charity work and grants Call for friendly advice and free survey and quote

01438 909642

info@ahminstallations.co.uk www.ahminstallations.co.uk Terms and conditions apply, visit our website for more details.

Your one-stop-shop for Affordable Driveway, Path and Patio Cleaning

Village 62 x 93 .indd 4

05/02/2021 09:22

DRIVEWAYS • PATHS • PATIOS • ARTIFICIAL SURFACES

SPRING CLEAN your DRIVEWAYS, PATIOS and PATHWAYS Call today and book your free NO OBLIGATION SURVEY

NO CHEMICALS • NO MESS ALL DEBRIS IS REMOVED FROM SITE Our pressure washing services remove all weeds/moss and grime

Book your free no obligation survey and quotation today Free Advice • Fully insured • Local • Friendly • Covid Aware • Professional

Call Kevin: 0800 79 99 269 or 07729 490 651 www.drycleanyourdrive.co.uk Email: info@drycleanyourdrive.co.uk To advertise in The Villager and Town Life please call 01767 261122

Visit our beautiful

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

01438 725309

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

Caxton House, Caxton Way, Stevenage, Herts. SG1 2XS 56

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Crossword Puzzle Solution from our May Edition Last Month’s Crossword Winner - Lewis Graham, Hitchin

May’s Codeword and Sudoku Solutions

Easy

Hard

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The Villager Prize Crossword Prize

£25

Across 1 Seats (6) 4 Burst (6) 9 Reduce in length (7) 10 Moves rapidly (5) 11 After sunset (5) 12 Before (7) 13 Marvellously (11) 18 Cultivate (7) 20 Hurry (5) 22 Arrogant (5) 23 Terminates (7) 24 Sibling (6) 25 A sign (6)

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

16th June 2021 Prize Crossword, Villager Publications Ltd 24 Market Square, Potton, Beds SG19 2NP The winner will be drawn at random from the correct completed entries.

Down 1 Place for gambling (6) 2 In the midst of (5) 3 Turned (7) 5 Senior (5) 6 Incomplete (7) 7 Large arid area (6) 8 Halted (11) 14 Apparent (7) 15 Sad (7) 16 Adjusts (6) 17 Container (6) 19 Narrow shelf (5) 21 Rub hard (5)

Name:

Address:

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Tel:

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Books

Celebrity Authors Actors and other celebrities often try their hand at fiction writing, with various degrees of success (and often a lot of help from a ghost writer). The authors we’re looking at this month have all managed to prove their writing skills to both readers and critics, in some cases carving out a whole new career for themselves.

By Kate Duggan

Us Three By Ruth Jones

Ruth Jones brings her usual Gavin and Stacey wit and warmth to her second novel. Us Three centres on a trio of women who became best friends at primary school. We follow their lives over the next 40+ years, through love and loss and all of life’s usual ups and downs. Like any relationship, friendship isn’t always easy, and this one is stretched almost to breaking point.

Uncommon Type By Tom Hanks

Uncommon Type is Tom Hanks’ collection of seventeen short stories. Most offer a slice of American life, whether it’s from the viewpoint of a ten-yearold boy or a war veteran. Each one references a typewriter and some characters appear in more than one story. Other than that, the stories are very diverse, ranging from one about a bowling whizz who becomes an unwilling celebrity, to timetravelling sci-fi.

Neil Patrick Harris by The Magic Misfits 1 & 2

The How I Met Your Mother star has written several books, including a choose your own adventure-style autobiography. His children’s series follows a street magician who teams up with other like-minded kids to stop villains in their tracks. Aimed at children aged eight and up, The Magic Misfits series is ideal for fans of Pseudonymous Bosch and Lemony Snicket. It’s very well-written, very different and very funny.

Because of You By Dawn French

While Dawn French’s latest novel contains a dash of humour, it’s also heart wrenching, dealing as it does with stillbirth, abduction and grief. Two women give birth at the same hospital. Only one mother leaves with a baby. As the baby, Minnie, grows into a teenager, she becomes pregnant herself and discovers that everything she thought she knew may well be based on a lie.

A Bright Ray of Darkness By Ethan Hawke

The actor Ethan Hawke has returned to fiction writing after a break of almost two decades. A Bright Ray of Darkness draws on his own experiences and tells the story of a celebrated actor, William, whose personal life is crumbling around him, much to the delight of the press. William turns to the theatre, throwing himself into the world of Henry IV. A fascinating glimpse into the world of acting, privilege and fame.

Troy By Stephen Fry

The third book in Stephen Fry’s series retelling the Greek myths centres on probably the most famous myth of them all – the battle of Troy. Whether you think you know the full story or can just recall something about a queen called Helen and a wooden horse, this book is well worth a read. Fry really brings the tale to life, adding his own wry humour to the mix.

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SHIRON

Domestic Appliances Repairs of

Washing Machines Tumble Dryers Dishwashers Electric Ovens Electric Cookers Electric Hobs VAT Registered Specialist in Hotpoint, Indesit, Ariston, Creda and Whirlpool appliances.

Contact RONNIE Tel: 01438 720 304 Mobile: 07396 579717

Email: rohintoncooper@hotmail.com

HERTS OVEN CLEAN Herts Oven Clean is a domestic oven cleaning specialist in Hertfordshire. Non-caustic, fume-free solution individually prepared for each customer. Ovens, Hobs, Grills, Extractors, Agas, Microwaves and Gas Barbeques. Call Richard on 01438 813492 Bring a sparkle to your kitchen today. 62

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VILLAGER The

and Town

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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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Stevenage June 2021

Articles inside

Celebrity Authors

Villager Prize Crossword

How to make sure your car is roadworthy

RSPCA - Get Involved

Live the life you deserve - AHM Installations

House Works

Cambridge Comedy Festival

The Garden Goddess

Biological Bug Blasting

Understanding Credit Scores

Nick Coffer’s Weekend Recipe

A More Sustainable Wardrobe

Age UK

St Francis’ Children’s Society

Let’s talk about the Perimenopause

Mission 24/7 is almost a reality

Island Escapes in the UK

No Socks Please