Henlow December 2018

VILLAGER The

Issue 121 - December 2018

and Town

Life

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

Win £100 in our Christmas Quiz

In this issue Why we hang

Stockings Ski Wear Style Bringing Local Business to Local People in

Langford, Henlow, Shefford, Stanford, Hinxworth, Caldecote, Radwell, Fairfield Park, Shillington, Pirton, Upper and Lower Stondon, Gravenhurst, ur Holwell, Meppershall, Baldock, Stotfold, Arlesey & Letchworth Yo EE To advertise in The Villager and Town Life please call 01767 261122

FRco1py

The Old White Horse • 1 High Street • Biggleswade • SG18 0JE Tel: 01767 314344 www.lolineinteriors.co.uk e: dave@lolineinteriors.co.uk 2

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Inside this issue...

Why We Hang Stockings

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The History of Playing Cards............................................................... 4 Why we hang stockings and other odd Christmas Traditions.............. 8 Win a FREE 60 Minute Float for Two................................................. 10 £100 Christms Quiz....................................................................... 12 Being a Firefighter........................................................................... 14 Champagne: Discovering Hidden Gems............................................ 17 Feeding a Crowd at Christmas.......................................................... 19 Christmas with Autism..................................................................... 21 Unusual Gifts.................................................................................... 25 Gifted Inspiration............................................................................. 27 Ski Wear Style.................................................................................. 30 Surviving Winter - Donate Now........................................................ 32 Don’t let Christmas costs ruin your New Year.................................... 35

Christmas Postal Dates..................................................................... 37 Xmas Technology Survival Guide...................................................... 39 P&R Interiors.................................................................................... 40 Get Fit and Garden........................................................................... 43 Plants for Christmas......................................................................... 44 Tokyo: A City of Contrasts................................................................. 48 R.A.T.S. Rehoming Appeal................................................................ 50 RSPCA New Charity Shop................................................................. 53 Dogs Trust Dogs School.................................................................... 55 Baking: Christmas Mincemeat Slice.................................................. 57 Pets at Christmas.............................................................................. 58 Puzzle Page...................................................................................... 60 What’s On......................................................................................... 64 The Perfect Cheeseboard.................................................................. 67 Twinwoods Adventure...................................................................... 69 £25 Prize Crossword..................................................................... 74

Twinwoods Adventure

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Get your business off to a flying start this year

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Editorial - Catherine Rose, Tracey Anderson, Trevor Langley, Alison Foster, Louise Addison, Kate Duggan, Jennie Billings, Ann Haldon, Pippa Greenwood, Rachael Leverton, Solange Hando, RSPCA and Tom Hancock

Advertising Sales/Local Editorial Nigel Frost • Tel 01767 261122 nigel@villagermag.com Photography - Ekaterina Iatsenko 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 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

17th Century painting of card players by Theodoor Rombouts

By Catherine Rose

The History of

Playing Cards Traditionally, family board and card games are often enjoyed over the Christmas period. There are many variations of board game, both old and new, but the pack of cards, played for pleasure, prediction and profit, is now a global phenomenon that has endured for centuries.

It is believed that our modern day playing cards originated in China, where games were played using numerical cards based on strings of coins.

Old Chinese coins had a hole in the middle so that they could be strung together, and the four card suits were called coins, strings of coins, myriads of strings and tens of myriads. The forerunner of this game, known as the Game of Leaves, was played as early as the 9th century AD. These Chinese cards can be traced back to at least the 1200s. From there, the concept of playing cards began spreading to India and Persia, and then through Egypt into southern Spain and the rest of Europe by the end of the 14th century.

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In Spain, card playing was known as the Moorish ‘Saracen’s Game’ and cards had a distinctly Islamic design, with motifs consisting of figures and numerals illustrated by the corresponding number of symbols, known as pips.

The Islamic influence can still be seen in the tradition of often having richly decorated back patterns on playing cards. Until cards began to be printed and mass-produced, they were handpainted and must have truly been works of art.

The Arab deck did not have a queen. Instead, it had the king (malik), prince or viceroy (naib malik) and a servant or deputy (thaim naib). The four original suits were cups, swords, coins and batons (or wands) which link in with the tarot deck.

(Although better known for fortune-telling, tarot or ‘tarock’ was also popular for playing games.)

One theory is that the apparently random symbols were interpreted from pictorial representations

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of the written Chinese symbols for its coins suits.

Known as the Latin deck, these original suits are still used in parts of the world.

These four suits were subsequently adapted and changed by other European countries, notably Germany and France.

The early German suits consisted of hearts (or sometimes roses), bells, acorns and shields. It is believed that the hearts suit evolved from cups.

Bells may have been used in place of swords because they were more culturally significant.

At that time, hunting with a hawk was popular amongst German nobility, with the customary small bells being tied onto the birds. As with the Arab or Latin deck, there was no queen. Instead the Germans had a könig (king), obermann (higher man), and untermann (lower man).

It was the French who changed the suits to the more well-known and enduring hearts, diamonds, clubs (or clovers) and spades. It is thought that spades may have been derived from swords used in the Latin deck, as the Spanish word for swords is espadas.

According to some sources, the French assigned classes to each suit, so that spades represented the nobility, hearts were the clergy, diamonds were the merchant classes and clubs were a symbol of the peasants.

And then there is the case of the ace, which appears to have come to prominence as an important card in the deck during the late 18th century. It has been suggested that it was once again the French who elevated the importance and value of the ace, as they made it a symbol to represent the people following the French Revolution between 1789 and 1799. However,

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another theory is that when Britain began to tax playing cards in 1765, the ace was stamped to show the tax had been paid. From then on, the ace was considered a more valuable card, comparable with the king, queen and jack, and its design became increasingly ornate as a result.

There have been many variations of playing card over the centuries in terms of: number of cards in a deck; pictorial representation of the courtly figures (known as ‘courtesan’ or ‘face cards’); and the interpretation of suits that have also included throughout their chequered history crowns, leaves, knights on horseback and even dragons, depending on geographical, cultural and social influences.

Playing cards were imported into England in around 1480, but 150 years later imports of playing cards were banned and so the country began manufacturing its own.

During the 1800s, the traditional French picture cards were re-designed by Charles Goodall & Sons to become the iconic symbols we know so well today. The British also introduced the ‘British Rule’ which renders the queen of a higher value to the king if the reigning monarch is a woman.

The jokers or court jesters were two wild or trump cards that were introduced by the Americans in the mid-1800s and, although taken up as an integral part of the modern deck, are rarely used in card games.

Playing cards have long been a symbol of decadence, mysticism and magic. A form of currency and conjuring, they can be a harmless pastime or a dangerous addiction that can win and lose fortunes as easily as the rise and fall of a house of cards.

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7

Time of Year

Why we hang Stockings?

By Tracey Anderson

And other odd Christmas traditions…

Christmas is all about traditions, but why do we hang stockings, eat chocolate logs and drink eggnog (why would anyone drink eggnog?!)

Stockings – Noddy Holder belting out, ‘Are you hanging up your stocking on the wall?’ is a Christmas tradition in itself. There’s no official explanation of why we hang socks up for Santa though. It probably derives from a tradition of leaving out hay-filled shoes on December 5, the eve of St. Nicholas’ feast day. Children would wake to discover that the hay they left for St. Nick’s donkey had been replaced with treats or coins.

Snacks for Santa – Whether it’s milk and a chocolate digestive or sherry and mince pie, when we leave goodies for Father Christmas we’re possibly participating in a tradition that some scholars date back to ancient Norse mythology! According to legend, Odin had an eight-legged horse named Sleipnir. Kids would leave treats for Sleipnir, hoping that Odin would favour them with gifts in return.

Carolling – You might suppose this is a centuriesold tradition but although the songs go back hundreds of years, visiting neighbours to bid them good luck and good cheer by singing for them didn’t happen until the Victorian era.

Evergreen decorations – Before Christianity people decorated their homes with evergreens in the winter as a reminder that spring would return. Christians adopted the tradition and decorated evergreen trees with apples to represent the Garden of Eden.

The practice really took off when the public learned that Queen Victoria had a decorated Christmas tree as a nod to her German husband’s heritage.

The Yule Log – Yule logs also predate Christianity. As part of winter solstice celebrations, Gaels and Celts burned logs decorated with holly, ivy, and pinecones to cleanse themselves of the past year and welcome the next one. The practice changed over time and eventually edible representations of the log appeared, which is why we eat chocolate logs today!

Eggnog – Surely the most revolting of traditions.

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However, historians agree that ‘nog’ was probably inspired by a medieval drink called ‘posset’, a milky drink made with eggs, milk, and sometimes figs or sherry. These were all pricey ingredients, so it was a bit of status symbol to offer it to guests. No-one seems to know for sure why it’s called ‘nog’, but it maybe from the old word ‘noggin’ which was slang for a wooden cup.

Mistletoe - This was associated with fertility and vitality by Celtic Druids because it blossomed even during the most frigid winters. Quite how we got from that kissing under the mistletoe is a mystery, but we do know that it began in the 18th Century and started with guests kissing the hand of their host under the mistletoe, then became progressively more personal over the decades that followed!

Advent calendars - The modern advent calendar, with its little doors containing sweets or small gifts, began with Gerhard Lang in the early 1900s. His inspiration was a calendar that his mother made for him when he was a child, featuring 24 coloured pictures attached to a piece of cardboard.

Christmas Cards – In these days of high postage costs, texts and emails, plus more environmental awareness this tradition may be at risk of dying out.

Christmas cards are a surprisingly recent tradition anyway, with the first formal card only hitting shelves in 1843.

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Christmas Make it special this

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Win a FREE 60 minute float for two Looking for that unique Christmas gift?

Floatation Therapy is one of the best ways of gaining the deepest sense of relaxation that you can experience whilst floating inside a Floatation Tank, laying in an Epsom salt water solution warmed to body temperature generates the absence of gravity.

What are the benefits of Floatation therapy?

Backed by medical research, floatation therapy has been proved to have long-lasting physical, mental and general well-being benefits.

By reducing the external stimuli that your body is normally subject to, the environment created restores your body back to a natural state of tranquillity. The benefits are vast so we invite you to explore how floatation therapy can help you.

Floatation therapy can be specifically used to target pain and trauma, successfully relieving symptoms of PTSD, high blood pressure, chronic migraines and also elements of pregnancy, to name a few.

The unique environment floatation therapy provides can also improve your sleep and reduce your stress levels.

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Competition: For your chance to win a FREE 60 minute float for you and a friend, or one of three runner up prizes of 50% off a 60 minute float session* answer the question below, complete the form and send to: Floatation Competition, Villager Publications Ltd, 24 Market Square, Potton, Bedfordshire SG19 2NP. Deadline: 16th December 2018.

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For your chance to win £100 in our Christmas Quiz simply answer the questions below and send your entry to: Christmas Quiz, Villager Publications Ltd, 24 Market Square, Potton, Bedfordshire SG19 2NP by 16th December 2018

Win £100 in our Christmas Quiz

1. What did my true love give me on the sixth day of Christmas?

2. The story goes that the German and English soldiers of World War One did what in No Man’s Land on Christmas Day 1914?

3. Who was Ebenezer Scrooge’s business partner in Charles Dicken’s A Christmas Carol?

4. Who sings the solo in Kate Bush’s song Snowflake?

5. On what day of Christmas is the ‘Feast of Stephen’?

6. Which Dr Seuss children’s character hates Christmas?

7. What is the colour of a mistletoe berry?

8. Which country gives the UK the Christmas tree that is put on display in Trafalgar Square, London every year?

9. What was the name of the monster in the 2017 John Lewis Christmas advert?

10. Name three of Santa’s reindeer 11. What does the holly bear in the Christmas carol The Holly and the Ivy? 12. What is traditionally hidden inside a Christmas pudding?

The team at The Villager would like to wish readers and advertisers

a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

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Local News

Being a Firefighter isn’t just about extinguishing fires and attending other emergency incidents.

Firefighters help to educate the community to try and stop fires and other emergencies happening in the first place.

Potton, Sandy, Biggleswade and Shefford are crewed

by On-Call Firefighters. These are men and women who live and/or work within 6 minutes of the Fire Station and respond to incidents via a pager. There is a payment for being available, training and any incident responded to.

Bedford, Kempston, Luton, Dunstable and Stopsley are crewed by Firefighters on the Wholetime duty system. They work a 24hr shift pattern with one day on, three days off, this can provide a good work/ life balance especially for men and women with children of school age.

People think of Firefighting as being dangerous, but careful training, constant preparation and supervision minimises the risks. Only a small percentage of a Wholetime Firefighter’s time is spent at incidents, they also carry out Fire Safety Inspections on businesses, safe and well visits, school visits, practice procedures for high risk buildings, train, and maintain equipment, complete refresher online learning whilst maintaining their fitness.

To be a Firefighter you need to be able to work as part of a team. The strongest teams are made up of highly motivated people from a wide variety of cultures, backgrounds and ethnicities with everyone bringing different strengths to the team. More women are becoming Firefighters as they enjoy the team work, keeping fit, job satisfaction and having a career.

For those with children, it fits in nicely. There are no height restrictions but you need to be at least 18 on appointment and have a good level of fitness, be able

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to swim and hold a full UK driving licence.

The wage for a Wholetime Firefighter starts at £22,908 whilst training going up to £30,533 once competent (approximately 3 years) with a pension provided.

We will be advertising for Wholetime Firefighters in the New Year and we are always looking for Firefighters on the On-call duty system. Why not consider applying?

We are holding a drop in session for anyone who wants to find out more at Potton Fire Station, Bury Hill, SG19 2RS on Tuesday 11th December From 9am–5pm and 7pm–9pm. Either Lorraine, Marion, Joanne or Kate will be on station to answer any questions, why not come along for a coffee and chat and find out more about becoming a Firefighter.

Firefighters from Potton Fire Station with Station Commander Lorraine Moore Left to Right: Lorraine, Colin, Joanne, Carlton, Marion, Neville, Kate, Paul, Jason Lorraine started her career at Potton Fire Station 29 years ago and is a Wholetime Station Commander covering the area when on duty. Colin is an Airport Firefighter, Jo is a Public Protection Officer as well as being a mum. Carlton is a mechanic running his own business. Marion is a Crew Manager and full time mum. Neville is a technician for a small IT business and Kate started at Potton and is now a Wholetime Firefighter still covering On-call. Paul is an Airport Firefighter and Jason is a Horologist.

For more information visit www.bedsfire.gov.uk

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This could be you...

... RECRUITING SOON www.bedsfire.gov.uk/careers

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Live Music from 9,30pm with Lose Yourself To Dance

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Food and Drink

Champagne

Discovering Hidden Gems

Champagne has been very much recognised as THE sparkling wine for celebrations, special occasions and events, for many, many years. Non-vintage champagne is very popular too, with numerous followers and devotees. Non-vintage is equally enjoyable, wonderful and respected.

The I Love Bubbly company is UK based and was created to discover splendid champagnes, that are not widely known.

Founded during 1952, the Charles Collin Champagne Company produces a range, including awardwining champagnes, with grapes being selected carefully and harvested by hand, complying with strict guidelines. Champagne Charles Collin Cuvée Charles Brut (80% Chardonnay 20% Pinot Noir) I found superb, with the bouquet of citrus fruits being much appreciated by the nasal senses. The mouthfeel and palate sensations continue through, for this elegant production. Champagne Charles Collin Cuvée Charles Rosé Brut (80% Chardonnay 20% Pinot Noir) is a further excellent champagne from this company. Light fruits of the forest enhance an impressive bouquet and entice, splendidly, to the experience awaiting the mouth and palate. Again, the elegance is outstanding and the production is well-balanced. A particular pleasure also for al fresco dining, adding colour to the occasion.

Champagne Royal Riviera Brut Suprême (70% Pinot Noir 30% Chardonnay) celebrates the Principality of Monaco and the French Riviera, most proudly. The presentation has an attractive turquoise blue label and packaging, which caught my eye. Champagne Royal Riviera Brut Suprême is rich and elegant.

The pale gold colour, plus the elegance, throughout the bouquet and tasting, is very impressive, with the pinot noir grapes adding to the expression of this champagne. www.royalriviera.mc www. champagne-charles-collin.com These refreshing champagnes, with wonderful perlages, are ideal as apéritifs and also to be enjoyed with a lot of cuisine. White meats, poultry, cured meats, rich fish, shellfish and many other dishes pair perfectly with these well-balanced productions. I located these champagnes, plus luxury hampers, culinary concepts, one of a kind Wearing Memories jewellery and gifts, within the ranges available from the I Love Bubbly Company. The events section, on the website, has information about their personalised services, including Mobile Champagne Bars and private events arrangements.

Tel: 44(0)7539 391 452 Email: info@ilovebubbly.com www.ilovebubbly.com

As always, Enjoy!

ey Trevor Langl

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Time of Year

By Tracey Anderson

Feeding a Crowd at Christmas Whether it’s the gradual increase in food prices over the past year, or your desire to cut back on food waste, there has never been more incentive not to over cater at Christmas. But just how do you work out how much food and drink you need when you’re feeding far more people than usual?

We’ve come to the rescue.

Turkey - Allow approximately 500g per person.

This doesn’t mean that you’ll get 500g of meat each, simply that to get a good portion size you need to allow this much turkey-weight per person.

So, if you want to feed 8 adults your turkey should be at least 4Kg, more if you want leftovers.

Roast beef or pork - If the joint is off the bone, allow 250g per serving – so 2kg for eight people.

Allow 350g per serving for roasts on the bone – so around 3kg for eight.

Roasties - Everyone loves roasties! Allow 250g of potatoes per person, so 2kg for eight people.

Stuffing - You need to allow 100g of stuffing per person, so that’s at least 800g for eight people!

With stuffing it’s better to have more than run-out, and it’s great on turkey sandwiches later!

Sprouts - Unless you are a sprout-lover allow 80g per person – or 650g for eight people. If you do

have any leftover they go great in bubble and squeak for boxing day brunch.

Carrots and other roast or steamed veg - 80g-100g is about right for any serving of vegetables, so you need 800g combined for eight people. I allow more because lots my family are vegetarian.

Gravy - 125ml per person is enough for a normal family, but if your relatives are like mine and treat gravy as a food group then allow double. You can always freeze leftovers for an easy addition to midweek suppers.

Cranberry Sauce - At least 50g per person. I’m sure I eat more than that though!

Bread Sauce - 75ml seems to suffice because not everyone likes it, but those that do LOVE it. Around 600-700ml is usually enough.

Christmas Pudding - A 900g pudding will be plenty to feed eight.

Custard - Treat it like gravy. 125ml per person unless your family are the type that can’t stop pouring!

Unfortunately, there isn’t one shopping list to suit all families, but this is a good basic guide; adapt it to suit your own catering preferences.

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Autism

By Alison Foster

Christmas with Autism

My oldest son has a diagnosis of High Functioning Autism (what used to be called Asperger Syndrome). When he was younger Christmas nearly tipped both of us over the edge. Even without autism Christmas can be a special kind of hell, but if you’re the parent of an autistic child, or a child with sensory issues, Christmas can come with a super-sized side-serving of stress and meltdowns.

Autistic kids often find comfort in routine.

Christmas means change: decorations, Christmas music, crowds, balloons, pop-up markets and parades, disruption to the normal school timetable. There’s a lot of potential for upset.

Identify possible changes and pre-warn your child.

It can be helpful to show them photos or create a social story to help them understand the sequence of events and what will be expected of them. If your autistic child is old enough and / or verbal enough, involve them in planning which events they want to be part of, and which events they’d prefer to skip. For events they can’t avoid, what will help? A fidget toy? Noise-cancelling headphones?

This approach encourages them to develop their own coping strategies as they get older.

A visual method for counting down to Christmas is useful. My son found a chocolate advent calendar too stressful, so we found a fabric one where a Christmas-themed item is added each day with the use of Velcro. Simple but effective.

Many ASD kids don’t like surprises so it might be better to pre-discuss gifts. When our son was

younger he didn’t like wrapped gifts, even ours.

We left his unwrapped, but my husband and I explained that wrapping was part of our Christmas to each other and it was important for us. We felt it was good for him to see that sometimes he needed to compromise too.

Discuss the Christmas Day schedule in advance.

Who will arrive, when and how they should be greeted. Some kids (even those without ASD) hate hugging relatives so prewarn guests if this is an issue. It might be prudent to go through the etiquette for receiving a gift too. We explained to our son that if we don’t like a gift we should still say thank you to show our appreciation of the thought. Be prepared for the odd slip-up! On receiving a scratchy woollen scarf from his Aunty one year he glanced at me and asked, “Do I thank her for the thought even if it was about how to make my neck as itchy as possible?” which left me smiling weakly at my bemused sister-in-law.

Finally, if they don’t want to eat the Christmas food and would rather have a sandwich, or a pizza, let them. It’s a small thing, don’t sweat it. In the grand scheme of things it’s not important. And things change. My fifteen-year-old autistic son now tucks in with the rest of us but for three years between the ages of four and seven he ate cheese on toast for Christmas lunch (because that’s what he ate for lunch every day!). We look back now and smile fondly at the memory.

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Merry Christmas 21

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The original house retains a wealth of period features and the substantial mature 22

gardens are a favourite amongst residents and visitors alike. The highly skilled nurses and carers take the time to get to know all residents and to listen to their individual stories to provide a lifestyle at Guysfield they’ll love that’s designed so they can call it home.

The Home Manager, Pawel Michalewicz and his team have been chosen for their ability to create a home with care and wellbeing as central principles where residents are encouraged to enjoy maximum independence.

Residents can spend time with new friends in the shared lounges and

dining rooms and the Activities Co-ordinator provides a varied programme of events suited to the residents’ wishes and needs, from trips to local sights and shows, to quizzes and entertainment in the lounge.

For further information or to book an appointment to view Guysfield, call Freephone 0808 223 5400 or visit www.caringhomes.org/ guysfield Guysfield, Willian Road, Willian, Letchworth, Hertfordshire, SG6 2AB

Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts

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Unusual Gifts

Time of Year

Perhaps it’s a Secret Santa. Perhaps it’s the uncle you see only once a year, or your brother who has absolutely everything. Or you may be working to a £10 or less budget.

Here are some ideas; unusual, funny and a bit off-the-wall.

Chocolate Covered Bacon on a stick - Yes really. This is a thing and it was hit last year when my teenage son received some from his aunt. We all tried it. So wrong...yet somehow so right! Google for suppliers.

Fiddle Toys - Is your recipient a fiddler? Do they jiggle and fiddle with pens? Are they a nail-biter or finger-picker? A fiddle toy is the perfect gift. Magnetic balls which can be played with and used to sculpt shapes, or fiddle cubes which have a different activity on every face and fit into the average pocket make great gifts.

Crossword Puzzle Mug - Complete the crossword while having a cuppa. Then download a brand-new set of clues from the app and try again.

Unusual clock - Everyone needs to tell the time, right? From projection clocks to lightup colour-change clocks, there’s a funky time piece for almost everyone. My son bought my science-geek husband a clock last year in which every number was replaced by a scientific formula whose answer corresponded to the hour! He loved it.

Gift of Time Voucher - Perhaps money is an issue this year. What skills do you have?

Can you walk a dog? Clean a car or a kitchen? Put together some flat-pack furniture?

Make a cake? Get creative and make a voucher promising to carry out some chore for your recipient. It’s not about the money.

By Louise Addison

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Health & Beauty

By Kate Duggan www.kateduggan.co.uk

Gifted Inspiration For your best friend Origins’ Best of the Best collection is a celebration of their most popular products.

There’s the Mega-Mushroom™ Skin Relief Soothing Treatment Lotion, Ginzing Refreshing Eye Cream, Ginzing EnergyBoosting Gel Moisturizer, Modern Friction™ Nature’s Gentle Dermabrasion, Clear Improvement™ Active Charcoal Mask, Checks and Balances™ Frothy Face Wash and Spot Remover Blemish Treatment Gel. Most are travelsized. You’re getting over £58 worth of products for £32 so it’s fantastic value for money.

For fragrance fans If you’re looking to surprise someone with a new fragrance, Angel Muse could be a good choice. It might be Angel’s little sister, but it’s lighter, warmer and a bit more grown-up.

The freshness of grapefruit and pink berries is combined with the warmth of hazelnut and the earthiness of patchouli and vetiver. The giftset is priced at £65, which gets you the full 50ml eau de parfum plus a handbag-friendly 9ml bottle.

For a Secret Santa gift Clarins Festive Treats crackers are just £10 each.

The Eyes & Lips one is particularly good value for money as its contents (a mini Instant Light Natural Lip Perfector and Supra Volume Mascara) are worth a total of £17.33.

For stockings Some giftsets are just made for splitting up and adding to stockings.

Korres’ The Greatest Mini Shower Collection is a case in point. Six gorgeous smelling 40ml shower gels are just waiting to be popped into individual stockings.

Add Kneipp’s Herbal Bath Collection (£9.95) to your basket for another six stocking fillers. Both sets are available from www.biggreensmile.com.

For crackers Planning to swap the plastic fish and silver keyrings for luxe cracker gifts? Bobbi Brown’s Lip Crush Kit (£39.50) might be the answer.

There are five mini lipsticks in a range of wearable shades. They’re pretty generously sized so are good value if you consider that one full-size lippy is £24.50.

For chocoholics Chocolate lovers will adore Akamuti’s Chocolate Marshmallow Face Mask. Organic cacao, crushed rose petals, gentle marshmallow, warming vanilla and detoxifying pink clay combine to make this mask a real treat for skin and senses. Add a bar of Green & Blacks to the gift and you’ll really make their day. £7.96 from www.akamuti.co.uk.

For teachers Teachers often need to wash their hands several times a day, so a soothing hand cream is likely to be gratefully received.

Dr. Organic’s Shea Butter Hand & Nail Cream is full of natural ingredients, including shea butter, aloe vera, coconut oil and rose oil. It provides instant relief for sore hands and feels lovely and rich. £7.99 from Holland and Barratt.

For you!

Green People’s Green Regime Beauty Box contains £125 worth of full-sized and mini goodies for £75. There are two exfoliators, three moisturisers, a lipstick, mascara, eyeshadow duo, shampoo, shower gel, night cream, cleanser, facial oil, reusable cleansing pad and organic cotton bandeau. All products are organic and cruelty-free.

Treat yourself or add it to your Christmas wish list.

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27

Local News

Are You Feeling Frazzled By The Festive Season?

Would you like an energy boost to power through to 2019?

The season’s festivities can be great fun but tiring too!

Recent stories in the national press have highlighted how Oxygen Therapy can help people to feel more energised – the sessions give them a bit of ‘me time’ too! This can be so important during this hectic time of year.

For many, tiredness and/or an abundance of flashing lights can lead to headaches and migraine. Migraine is so much more than simply a headache and affects more than one in six people in the UK. 190,000 migraine attacks are experienced every day in England alone.

Oxygen Therapy and Migraine In Oxygen Therapy, pure oxygen is breathed through a mask under pressure in a specially constructed hyperbaric chamber. It is very safe with almost no side effects, unlike much medication.

In the treatment of patients with migraine, Oxygen Therapy has been shown to often: • Stop acute attacks of migraine • Reduce intensity of migraine pain • Prevent cluster headache (one-sided pain, usually centred over one eye, one temple or the forehead) (Source: Hyperbaric Oxygen Treatment Trust) To find out more, visit –our website (www.hertsmstherapy.org.uk/oxygen-therapy) and watch our short video about Oxygen Therapy.

Do you suffer with migraines? How would less pain affect your life? Try Oxygen Therapy for free!

Treat yourself – or a friend – to extra energy this Christmas!

You are welcome to visit our Centre and try Oxygen Therapy for free. Simply email oxygen@hmstc.net or call us on 01462 684214.

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Vicki Eagles MCFHP, MAFHP Foot Health Professional

Professional Foot Care

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29

House of Colour

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

Ski Wear Style When skiing you want to tick all the boxes: warmth, comfort, visibility and of course, style. Here are a few top tips to help you dress with style on the slopes (without looking like a giant marshmallow).

1. Some of us may choose separate salopettes and a jacket but others suit jumpsuits that bring you in at the waist, giving more shape to your outfit.

Whichever you choose ensure it is in a colour from your palette that makes you look energetic and vibrant rather than a colour that doesn’t suit making you look drained and unhealthy. There are a huge range of colours available these days. Metallics are all the rage this season, but it’s not for everyone.

2. If you are unsure about wearing a bold coloured outfit but still want to include your wow colours, choose chic accessories in gorgeous colours whether that be boots, gloves, hats, a scarf or even your helmet! There is always a way to incorporate a pop of colour and team these with an outfit in a neutral from your seasonal palette 3. These days there is no need to sacrifice comfort for style. Try different shapes and don’t be afraid to wear patterns or more than one colour from your palette. Experiment with styles that suit your body shape and personality but do choose quality skiattire since you may wear it for years to come and you don’t want your outfit to unravel on the slopes.

As this will be an investment, consider discovering your best colours and style with a professional personal stylist.

4. A soft set of long johns or base layers is essential!

The best materials are ones that are breathable and moisture wicking. Choose full-length leggings and long sleeves. Always try them on first because they shouldn’t be restrictive anywhere, but you don’t want empty space between the fabric and your skin

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5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

making you feel cold. Most base layers are synthetic but merino wool is a great alternative.

Choose the colour of your ski goggles carefully rather than just going for the obvious black or white.

Mirrored lenses are very fashion-forward but if that feels a little much then choose a colour that works well with your ski jacket and hat.

Don’t hide your curves if you have them! Unshaped jackets can make you look bulky so opt for jackets that are brought in at the waist, either with a belt or one that has stretch or different coloured panels at the side. Alternatively, find a jacket with diagonal baffles that compliment your figure as they create less bulk. Baffles ensures the insulation materials in a jacket are evenly distributed rather than gathering in one place.

Straight, skinny or slim silhouette salopettes will look better on straighter body shapes, whereas, straight, contouring bootcut or slightly wider leg salopettes will look better on curvy body shapes.

Its law in most places to wear a helmet but if you suffer from helmet hair either wear your hair up or use a bandana in one of your best colours to push your hair back with. Braiding is otherwise a great alternative to make you look wind-kissed rather than wind-battered.

Après ski is the perfect opportunity to show you know your own style whether that be a touch of animal print and or a little bit of check in your outfit – both very on-trend this season. Cashmere may be too warm for the slopes, but it is perfect for a stylish jumper and a great way to wear one of your wow colours. Pair with a faux fur jacket if that fits with your style personality or a fur hat to keep you warm whilst you sip your vin chaud!

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31

Local News

Fundraising appeal launches to support vulnerable people in Bedfordshire this winter, it shouldn’t be a choice between eating or heating.

Bedfordshire and Luton Community Foundation (BLCF) are an independent registered charity, providing support to local community groups and charities, many of whom are working with some of the county’s most vulnerable and in need.

BLCF are launching their Surviving Winter appeal to support those who may struggle with food or fuel poverty during the winter months by providing essential items such as blankets, food or even helping people pay their energy bills.

Francesca Johnstone, Head of Grantmaking at BLCF says “We are asking the people and businesses of Bedfordshire to come together to support those in need and help them survive the winter months. For many people it can sometimes be a choice between heating or eating, this isn’t just something that affects old people, but also families and others in need. All donations raised will support those most vulnerable in the community, together we can make a difference.”

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Statistics suggest that around 700 older or vulnerable people in Bedfordshire die from illnesses related to or exacerbated by the cold each year.

Older people or those suffering with illnesses such as cancer are at particular risk as they can find it more difficult to keep warm, but for many the rising energy prices means they can’t afford to keep warm.

On average 1 in 6 children in Bedfordshire are living in poverty, which is estimated to affect around 41,753 households. These families, with the additional costs associated with the cold weather can mean many parents having to make a choice between heating and eating.

BLCF have launched their Surviving Winter appeal to raise vital funds within the community which will be used in several ways; including giving small grants to not-for-profit groups working with disadvantaged people, provide winter survival packs to individuals and families living in poverty across Bedfordshire and also help vulnerable people pay their energy bills.

BLCF is partnering with key organisations who work at grassroots level to ensure the support is reaching those most in need, the appeal is running between November and March and aims to raise £20,000 to support individuals and families across the county.

To donate to this appeal, you can go online at blcf.org.uk/winter or, by texting ‘BLCF10’ £10

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BOOK-KEEPING

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Lasting Power of Attorney Arranging for a relative/friend to act on your behalf if you lose mental capacity.

£350 inc. Plus Court fees to draft & register with Public Guardian Office Contact us for some friendly advice: 01462 674767 Abbeyhill 507 Broadway Letchworth SG6 3PT mhprobateservices@gmail.com

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TRY IDNET BROADBAND, FREE FOR ONE MONTH Discover what it’s like to be an IDNet customer. We regularly top national polls for speed, reliability and customer service.

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Finance

By Ann Haldon

Don’t let Christmas costs ruin your New Year: 3 ways to stay in control of spending this December If you’re wondering how to manage your Christmas spending more effectively, saving, budgeting, and making a list is just the start.

Here are three other ways you might not have considered to start the New Year with a healthy bank balance and reduced financial stress.

Pre-arranged overdraft facility Intended to be a temporary and controlled use of credit in line with your Christmas budget, an arranged overdraft facility that’s repaid over a few months helps gets you back on track financially.

How do overdrafts work?

An overdraft that’s pre-arranged with your bank means you can withdraw more money than is in your current account, up to an agreed limit. There is generally a set period of time that the facility is available, and typically a charge for each day you’re overdrawn.

Overdraft fees vary between banks, but generally include a charge for setting up the facility, a fee for each day it’s used and a renewal fee if you need to extend it. Some providers offer fee-free amounts, whilst others base their daily charge on the level of your overdrawn balance.

Daily deals websites Take advantage of the growing number of daily deals websites and you can save a significant amount at Christmas. Wowcher, Groupon, and Living Social are just a few of the sites where you’ll find great deals on gifts, experiences, fitness products and lots more.

It’s straightforward to sign up, and you can receive emails with the latest deals. It’s easy to get carried

away when you have access to so many discounts, but if you do your research and stick to your list, it should save you money overall.

How do deals websites work?

You simply sign up with your email address and you can get targeted gift ideas, often with a significant discount. Key in the home town of people you’re buying for and you’ll receive ideas that are local to them – meals out, afternoon teas or experience days, tailored to your family and friends.

Prepaid debit cards Prepaid debit cards are an alternative to bank debit cards and credit cards. You don’t have access to your entire bank balance, or the credit limit on your credit card – it’s preloaded with a specific sum of cash, and you can only spend up to this amount.

How do prepaid debit cards work?

You won’t be credit-checked when you apply for a prepaid card, but a number of different fees may apply, including application and transaction fees.

Some providers charge monthly fees and top-up fees, whilst a renewal charge may apply as these types of card expire after three years.

It’s easy to be swept up in the spirit of giving at Christmas, but it can take months to recover from overspending. Whether arranging an overdraft with your bank, applying for a prepaid card, or taking advantage of a few daily deals works for you, they could all help you take control of your Christmas spending and enjoy a peaceful and financially harmonious New Year.

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DO YOU NEED TO MAKE OR UPDATE YOUR WILL? MAKE IT YOUR NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTION!!

We offer a FREE initial appointment to discuss your circumstances, offering advice on Wills including ring-fencing your home from care and guidance regarding Inheritance Tax Nil Rate Bands.

HOME VISITS are available at NO EXTRA CHARGE within a 20-mile Radius of Royston.

Saturday morning appointments also available at the office* FREE WILL SERVICE for the over 55’s through the Cancer Research Free Will Scheme.

For more information please contact:Fish Hill Chambers, 2-3 Fish Hill, Royston, Herts. SG8 9JY Tel: 01763 241 121 t.pilcher@walkerspartnership.co.uk Wills | Probate | Lasting Powers of Attorney | Conveyancing | Commercial Property *home visit appointments are subject to availability, Saturdays by appointment only, not available every Saturday

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Local & Reliable

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STATIONERY BUSINESS CARDS LEAFLETS POSTERS BROCHURES Founded 1997 - Based In Stotfold

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Call Rachel on 01462 733333 sales@olivepress.co.uk • www.olivepress.co.uk

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BOOKS & BOOKLETS ORDER BOOKS INVOICE SETS DELIVERY NOTES POST CARDS LABELS CALENDARS INVITES MAIL MERGE DIRECT MAIL AND MUCH MORE!

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TEMPLARS CROSS LODGE www.templarscrosslodge.co.uk Close to Baldock town centre in spacious surroundings this motel style Bed & Breakfast offers off road parking.

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Technology

The Xmas Technology Survival Guide

How to have ho ho ho, not oh no no

It used to be so simple. The only technology you needed to think about at Christmas was a bunch of AA batteries, and setting the video for Die Hard. Now, though, things are a bit more complicated. Even the humblest toys are packing processors, using obscure batteries or demanding an overnight charge before you can use them.

Investing in stacks of AA batteries is still a good idea – go for rechargeable ones; they’ll cost more to begin with but they’ll save you a fortune in the long term and they’re better for the environment too – but we’d also recommend having some smaller AAAs and a square 9V battery to hand too. That latter one’s for the smoke detector that’ll start beeping incessantly on Christmas Eve just after all the shops have shut. It’s worth checking individual gifts before you wrap them to see if they need particular batteries: while AA and AAA are the most common, some require LR44s or CR2032s – easy enough to get from the nearest shop, but

unlikely to be sitting in your second drawer. If they’re gifts, providing the right batteries too will make you very popular.

It’s wise to have a small toolkit handy, or at least a small crosshead screwdriver. Children’s toys, especially big plastic ones, are often screwed to the packaging. Even worse, some use cable ties so you’ll need scissors handy too.

Don’t worry if devices such as Pay As You Go phones or handheld devices don’t come with chargers: most such devices use the same micro-USB chargers as Android tablets, Kindle e-book readers and other common bits of kit, so there’s no need to get more. If Santa’s bringing preowned Apple devices you might need to provide a lightning cable to charge them: not all preowned devices come with the original cables.

One of the biggest technology pains at Christmas is the big download: from new tablets to games consoles, it seems that everything requires a software update before you can do

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anything. That’s a particular pain with Xboxes and PlayStations: games often won’t let you play online without the most recent version of the system software.

Naturally, the worst possible time to download that is on Christmas morning when everybody in your street is doing the same – if you can, it’s a great idea to install the updates in advance so everything’s ready to go on Christmas Day. It’s also a good idea to prepare for the worst: make sure you have a note of and receipts for any expensive tech items that will be in your home over the Christmas period (some insurance policies automatically increase contents cover over Christmas, but not all do), and if younger children are being given anything droppable it’s a very good idea to invest in a protective case. That’s a lesson we’ve learnt the hard way – even a cheap case can protect an expensive iPad. If you thought the speed of light was fast, you haven’t seen how quickly a fouryear-old can accidentally crack an iPad or smartphone screen.

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With a spacious working showroom in the heart of Bedford, P & R Interiors is a local family-run firm that provides inspirational modern design and cost-effective solutions for both kitchens and bathrooms.

A stylish bathroom to suit your current needs….

With our ageing population, an increasing number of us are less mobile. P & R Interiors can design, supply and fit an up-to-the-minute bath or shower room which also discretely incorporates function and practicality for the less able.

The best news is that many of these features are currently right on trend - from flush-to-floor shower trays and wet rooms, to walk-in showers with fixed glass screens – and built using the latest materials.

Managing Director Paul Kynoch, who has decades of experience in the trade, explains: “We believe that simplicity and ease of use are key. Less mobile people may need a higher-level toilet or a lower access bath. Our basins and toilets can be hung at a custom height to suit every need. We have baths with a door, or showers with screens that open outwards to help prevent falls.

“There are 54 working bays in our showroom that are constantly being updated. So, you can come in, see

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exactly what you are buying and experience firsthand how it works. We supply, and can fit, your entire bathroom.”

P & R Interior’s own dedicated installation team can work on the supervised installation of your bathroom while adhering to local authority guidelines. Safety is paramount, and designs incorporate safety glass, thermostatically safe showers and non-slip floors.

Such is the design quality of the bathrooms, that accessories for the less able such as a wall-mounted fold-down shower seat, work seamlessly with the installation to be barely noticeable. Fold-down grab bars beside the toilet and sturdy shower rails that double up as supports all help make daily bathing the hassle-free pleasure it should be. It’s worlds away from the disabled bathrooms found in hospitals and care homes.

It is also now possible to install low level lighting under the bath that comes on automatically when you enter the bathroom at night. Hidden behind a two-way mirror that gives the illusion of flooring stretching beneath a ‘floating’ bath, the effect is as stunning as it is practical. This is the beauty of these safety and mobility features - they are so unobtrusively stylish, no one will notice you need that bit of extra help as they will simply be admiring your bathroom!

Materials have moved on apace since the era of acrylic baths in ‘avocado’. Now there are high quality

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resins that produce super thin shower trays and beautiful ‘tapless’ baths. Towel rails can be colour matched to cabinets for as little as £100 extra.

If you’re not a fan of wall tiles (although P & R Interiors carries a vast range), you can have waterproof panels instead. And if you have a smaller bathroom - as many of us do - then you will find P & R Interior’s wide but shallow depth basin units fit perfectly and provide spaciousness.

…and a kitchen to meet your future ones

Following customer demand, the fitted kitchen displays are now an integral part of the business meaning that when you visit P & R Interiors, you are only a step away from having your dream kitchen.

Top quality German and English-style kitchens are available to suit every budget and the company offers a free 3D software design package that Paul describes as ‘photographic’.

Specialising in high-tech German designed kitchens from Pronorm alongside more traditional-style English kitchens from JJO Plc, far from being out of most people’s pockets, P & R Interiors can often match trade prices and will always work to your budget.

“It’s really unusual for us not be able to come up with

a solution for you” says Andrew Groom who has 20 years’ experience under his belt.

Germany is the industry trendsetter in kitchen colours and design - and high street retailers eventually follow suit. Pronorm epitomises the elegance of a true ‘handleless’ kitchen. With its expansive, sleek cupboard fronts and modern electrically-operated doors - including ‘glass climbers’ that magically fold up like Venetian blinds - their kitchens are state-of-the-art. In years to come, we will all have convenient pull-down shelves and smart, hygienic ceramic or glass inserts on our cupboard fronts, but for now, Pronorm sets the bar.

As with bathrooms, kitchen materials are better and more durable than ever. You can have traditional granite in a gloss or leathered finish, quartz or Corian worktops, and now there are other finishes to choose from including Hi-Macs, and Staron. One of the latest worktop materials is Dekton. Described as ‘bomb proof’, it doesn’t stain or mark, is 100% hygienic, and heat resistant. It has been described as the ‘most scratch resistant surface on the market’.

Finish off your design with mood enhancing, colourchanging lights and you really will have a kitchen of the future.

P & R Bathrooms provides design and full installation or supply only. There is a five-year guarantee on all AEG Premier Partner exclusive products and a 10year guarantee on all kitchens. Both trade and retail are welcome.

P & R Interiors, 9 Lurke Street, Bedford MK40 3HZ Monday to Friday 9.00am to 5.00 pm Saturdays 10.00am to 4.00pm Tel: 0845 434 8401 Email: sales@pandrbathrooms.co.uk www.pandrinteriors.co.uk To advertise in The Villager and Town Life please call 01767 261122

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Garden

Get Fit And

Garden!

By Pippa Greenwood

There’s nothing like some time in the garden to clear your head and get the blood moving. Fresh, cool air will wake you up and get you thinking positively, and your garden will benefit.

Removing damp, clogged up leaves from the lawn with a spring-tined rake will prevent patches of faded grass and is good for upper arm muscles!

Collect and bag up the leaves and rot them down to make leaf mould, a brilliant and free soil conditioner.

If the soil in cleared areas is sufficiently dry, fork it over to help the frosts break up heavier clay soils.

Any exposed grubs and other soil pests will feed the birds and minimise pest problems next year.

Get some digging done if the soil is not too wet, but limber up first. Keeping your back straight and your knees bent helps to reduce the risk of injury.

Winter is a good time to prune apple and pear trees. Use sharp secateurs to remove dead, dying and diseased branches, as well as branches causing the tree’s crown to be too congested.

Re-set any loose brick or similar edging around paths, beds or steps, and replace any damaged stones, pavers or bricks.

Carefully clear debris, dead foliage and stems from flower beds, but leave some dry foliage and stems over the bases or crowns of plants, especially those of the more tender perennials such as penstemons.

Smooth, hard garden surfaces such as patios, paths and steps become dangerously slippery

www.pippagreenwood.com if algae and debris builds up on them over the winter, especially when wet. A stiff brush or yard broom and plenty of elbow grease is the best solution I know.

Wet and very windy weather can cause shrubs and trees to become loosened in the soil, so re-firm the soil around the root area and make sure the plant is still in the soil at the right level.

You’re bound to feel better after all that air and exercise, so reward yourself with a cuppa and admire your handiwork before heading inside for a nice hot bath!

Limber Up! After too much time inside, and in cold weather, take care before you spring into action: • Wear plenty of clothing when you go outside and remove layers gradually as you warm up.

• Limber up gently to slowly loosen up your arms, legs and back.

• Don’t do any single task for too long – rotate the jobs for perhaps ten minutes at a time, so you don’t put any one area of your body under too much strain.

• Give yourself regular, short breaks and don’t forget to drink enough.

• Bend your knees when lifting and if in doubt call on a friend, relative or neighbour to give you a hand.

Visit Pippa’s website www.pippagreenwood.com and you’ll find some great gardening items and perfect Christmas gifts for gardeners: a ‘Grow Your Own with Pippa Greenwood’ gift card (great vegetable plants and weekly advice from Pippa), stylish cloches, the fantastic SpeedHoe, raised bed kits, gardening tools, Grower Frames, signed books and more! Or why not book Pippa for a gardening talk at your gardening club?

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Garden View

By Rachael Leverton

Plants for Christmas With Christmas just around the corner I’m often asked what houseplants plants I recommend as gifts. Here are my top five.

Hippeastrum / Amaryllis - is a remarkable bulb, which produces 60cm / 2ft tall, fleshy drainpipe stems and flamboyant trumpet flowers up to 20cm /8in across. ‘Red Lion’ with deep scarlet flowers; ‘Apple Blossom’ with pink-tinged white flowers, and ‘Christmas Gift’ with plain white flowers, are readily available. You can buy them as DIY plant-ityourself kits, or as ready-planted gifts.

Citrus bushes make interesting presents. Sold at this time of year with both flowers and developing fruit, they are deliciously scented. Lemon varieties ‘Meyer’ and ‘Four Seasons ‘are lovely but also consider calamondin oranges. The plant should be kept in a light, frost-free spot over the winter with a minimum night temperature of 5C, then in the summer the pot can be moved outside.

Cyclamen persicum is wonderfully decorative.

The flowers range from white, through pink, to red. This is probably a gift for a more experienced gardener as persuading it to flower again can be a challenge, but it can be done. Keep it in full light in winter, at a steady 13C-16C. Give it a liquid feed fortnightly while it is in flower. Water less as the stems start to bend and collapse, then keep it

completely dry for three months during its dormant period. Gently introduce water again as new leaves appear.

Schlumbergera x buckleyi, the Christmas cactus is a perennial favourite. It has protruding stamens at the end of succulent, flattened leaves, and pretty flowers. It likes high humidity while flowering so mist it regularly it with a fine spray of clean water, and feed it monthly with a high-potash feed.

When it’s finished flowering put the plant in a light spot and keep the compost just moist.

Hyacinthus orientalis ‘Ostara’ is a stunning hyacinth with deep-blue flowers, powerfully scented and particularly nice when planted as a trio in a bowl or basket. Christmas hyacinths are ‘forced’ to flower earlier than they would naturally.

They need a cool spot, preferably no more than 13C, so that they do not flop. No-one wants a floppy hyacinth! The bulbs can be planted in the garden afterwards so will continue to provide pleasure in future years.

Viburnum x bodnantense ‘Dawn’ is not a houseplant but it makes a fabulous gift. It flowers from November, while the leaves are still on, through the winter. The pink flowers are scented and a few sprigs in a small vase at this time of year are just joyous. Even better it is totally hardy so is great for the non-green-fingered, and can be planted out of a pot at any time, if the ground isn’t frozen.

Don’t wrap plants, just tie a big bow around the pot. It’s a thoughtful touch to provide printed or handwritten instructions for aftercare. Make sure any living plant is well watered before you hand it over.

They will probably be a bit neglected over the festive period, but a good watering should make sure that they last past New Year.

Happy Garrdening

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THE GARDEN ROBIN

• • • • • •

Driveways For a free quotation or advice Paving call Robin on Patios 01462 815968 07785 530558 Fencing Decking Garden Design & Build

Email: robinsandler@yahoo. co. uk Web: w w w. t h e g a rd e n ro b i n . c o. u k

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Travel

By Solange Hando

Tokyo A City of Contrasts Once again in 2018, Tokyo has been ranked among the ‘most liveable cities in the world’ (Monocle), an impressive achievement for the biggest metropolis on the planet.

Rebuilt after the war, the capital has few remnants from the past, at least at first sight, but today’s lofty architecture keeps you spellbound, from the elegant skyscrapers to the panoramic Sky Tower or the Rainbow Bridge gracefully stretching across the bay. A million trees have been planted to clean the air along the roads, lawns and flowers beckon in open parkland and Tokyo is safe, efficient and highly colourful with bright posters and lights, museums, theatres and immaculate restaurants with more Michelin stars than any other city.

But this 21st century icon has a few surprises in store, especially around the lively Shibuya district where alongside shopping malls and super-sized zebra crossings, animal lovers head for the pet cafés to cuddle rabbits or cats they can’t keep at home, or stroke the auspicious statue of Hachiko, the dog who waited nine years for a master who never returned. Then the nearby Harajuku area is all about fun and creativity, with street art and parades in the most playful costumes you have ever seen.

Yet these excited youngsters with quirky clothes and fancy hair may turn up another day, beautifully dressed in kimonos for a traditional tea ceremony or a trip to Senso-ji, the most visited Buddhist temple in town. This is the Tokyo of the

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past with lanterns and prayers, fortune telling and lots of stalls around a bright red shrine and a five-tiered pagoda. According to legend, the temple was first built in the 7th century when two fishermen brothers found in their net a small statue of Kannon, the goddess of mercy.

Meanwhile in the Chiyoda ward, visitors look across the moat to the imperial palace, still home to the family and former site of the Edo castle, the seat of the shoguns whose power ended in 1868. Emperor Meiji then moved the capital from Kyoto to Edo which he renamed Tokyo, the ‘Eastern Capital’. Remembered as the ‘enlightened ruler’ who brought the country into the modern world, he is revered in Tokyo’s Meiji-jingu, the atmospheric Shinto shrine where locals come to pray or get wed in traditional style. The Shinto religion is based on respect for nature and is home to thousands of gods, but when the shrine was built in the 1920s the surrounding district had no natural world. So right at the heart of the capital, 100,000 trees were planted in seven years, followed by many more and it is now a botanists’ paradise claiming hundreds of different species.

Meiji would be pleased. Looking forward to the 2020 Olympics, his capital is now one of the world’s most dynamic cities but traditions linger and nature is part of the picture. From the nearby mountains to the outlying islands, 36% of the land in the Tokyo prefecture is protected by nature reserves and national parks.

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Pets

Rehoming Appeal Sooty

Sooty is 3 years old and an all-black, long-haired male. He is a big boy but quite shy when you first meet him. Once he gets to know you, he is very friendly, loves to be fussed and have his tummy rubbed.

He is neutered, vaccinated and micro-chipped. He will make someone a fantastic pet.

If you would like to find out more about this lovely boy, please contact Liz on 01767 681157.

Alternatively, please e-mail Philippa at info.rats@gmail.com who will be pleased to forward your enquiry on to the team View other cats, dogs and small mammals currently in our care for rehoming on our website: www.rats-animalrescue.co.uk or facebook: www.facebook.com/ ratscharity You can also see photographs and details of the animals in our care in our charity shop in Hitchin Street, Biggleswade SG18 8AX. Open Monday to Saturday from 10.00 am until 4.00 pm.

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Pets

New Charity Shop

Our new charity shop has now been open for two months and we have been incredibly lucky with the amount of donations we have received. Unlike some charity shops, whose shops can request stock from a central warehouse, our shop is stocked purely from what comes through our front door. We are always grateful for all the donations we receive, no matter how big or small and are constantly amazed by the generosity of the public.

Once the donated goods come in, a lot of work goes into them before they appear on the shop floor.

Each item is individually sorted, cleaned or steamed and then priced according to its worth. None of this can be achieved without the fantastic work of our volunteers. Whether they pop in for an hour, half a day or all day every day, our shop couldn’t run without them.

Unfortunately we are desperately short of volunteers, meaning we are struggling to sort out the amazing amount of donations we are receiving, as well as manning the shop. There are many different roles a volunteer can carry out whilst working at the charity shop, and it is guaranteed no day or shift is ever the same! We have positions available in the shop where staff serve on the till, take in donations, rotate and replenish stock, as well as doing window and shop displays.

There are also positions in the stockroom, where all our stock gets sorted, cleaned or steamed and

organised ready to sell in the shop. This is a vital position within the shop that ensures there is a steady flow of new stock, keeping the shop full, meaning we are able to raise as much money as we can which all goes towards the care and rehabilitation of local animals.

One of our longer serving volunteers, Maureen, had this to say about working in our shop…

“I have worked in the RSPCA shop in Bedford for over three years. I work as a volunteer for two mornings a week, sometimes more. I started when I retired from full time work. I love it! I work on the shop floor but there are all sorts of things that need doing. It is very rewarding and it’s lovely to know you are helping animals and keep in touch with people in general. I like sorting out the books and as I used to be a jeweller, I also sort out the jewellery and display cabinet. We all have different interests and knowledge and it is good to be able to put our different skills to good use. Please visit our shop; you never know what you might find!”

If you would like to support our local Branch and help out at our little charity shop, we would love to hear from you. Any help at all is always appreciated and everyone is made to feel part of the team, no matter the skill set there is always something to do. volunteer@rspcabedsnorth.org.uk 01234 930304 Hopefully we will see you soon!

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Puppy and Dog Training Classes various locations around Hertfordshire www.dogstrustdogschool.org.uk 07774 374 686 hertsdogschool@dogstrust.org.uk @dogschoolhertfordshire

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Local News

Dogs Trust Dogs School It’s the most wonderful time of the year for many, but the sights, sounds and smells of Christmas can be a sensory overload for your dog. Want to help make Christmas fun for your whole family – fourlegged friends included? Introducing Dogs Trust Dog School, a national network of experienced trainers providing fun, educational courses for all dog owners based on up-to-date scientific research. Using reward-based training methods, we teach the key skills your dog needs to thrive in everyday situations.

From calmly greeting unexpected visitors, to resisting tasty temptations and coping with a more crowded-than-usual household, our expert knowledge will help Christmas become a walk in the park for you and your dog. Courses are five weeks long, with a free introductory session. To find your nearest dog school visit www.dogstrustdogschool.org.uk and take your first step towards making the most of your relationship with your four-legged friend now.

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HERTS OVEN CLEAN Herts Oven Clean is a domestic oven cleaning specialist in Hertfordshire.

Non-caustic, fume-free solution individually prepared for each customer.

Ovens, Hobs, Grills, Extractors, Agas, Microwaves and Gas Barbeques.

Call Richard on 01438 813492 Bring a sparkle to your kitchen today.

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Food and Drink

Baking Christmas Mincemeat Slice

Makes 12-14 slices Ready in 1 hour 15 minutes, plus chilling and cooling This delicious festive slice can be served warm as a pud with custard, thick cream or brandy butter or simply cool completely and serve instead of mince pies.

INGREDIENTS 225g plain flour 165g unsalted butter, chilled and diced 1 egg yolk blended with 1 tbsp cold water 75g caster sugar 300g good quality mincemeat 50g ground almonds 2 tbsp flaked almonds 1. Sift the flour into a large bowl and rub in the butter with your fingertips until the mixture resembles very fine breadcrumbs (alternatively pulse in a food processor until fine breadcrumbs).

2. Remove 100g of the breadcrumb mixture and cover and chill in the fridge. Stir 25g of the sugar into the remaining mixture, then stir in the egg and water and mix to a firm dough (adding a little more water if needed). Knead lightly then wrap in cling film and chill for 30 minutes.

3. Preheat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas mark 6.

Roll out the dough on a lightly floured surface

and use to line a 23cm square tart tin. Prick the pastry all over with a fork. Line the pastry case with baking paper and baking beans and bake for 10 minutes. Remove the lining paper and beans and bake for a further 5-7 minutes until the pastry is crisp and pale golden. Cool slightly.

Reduce the oven temperature to 180C/160C fan/gas mark 4.

4. Spread the mincemeat in the pastry case. Mix the rest of the sugar and the ground almonds into the reserved pastry crumb mixture and scatter over the mincemeat to cover completely.

5. Return the tin to the oven and bake for a further 25-30 minutes or until the crumble topping is pale golden. Scatter over the flaked almonds and leave to cool before removing from the tin and cutting into 12-14 thin slices.

Tip

Add some finely chopped toasted hazelnuts or walnuts to the crumble topping for an extra nutty flavour.

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Pets

Pets at Christmas Though Christmas is a fun time for humans, even we can feel overwhelmed. For our pets Christmas can be confusing, a bit scary and even dangerous. Here are the top reasons for emergency vet visits over the festive period, and how to avoid them.

Vomiting and diarrhoea – Often a result of Rover helping himself to Christmas goodies; one year my brother’s beagle helped himself to our entire cheeseboard, with predictable gastro-intestinal consequences! But sometimes it’s a result of him being fed too many treats or rich food. Ask visitors to refrain from feeding your pets unless they have permission, and keep all festive food out of reach!

CHOCOLATE – dark chocolate is poisonous to dogs so seek advice immediately if you suspect that’s what he’s eaten.

Lacerations or Bites -When family members or guests bring their pet, bear in mind your dog or cat will see this as an intrusion into their territory, and some animals are very territorial indeed. Don’t leave unfamiliar animals alone together, even if they seem to be tolerating each other. In severe cases enmity separate rooms might be in order. If a guest brings

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By Tom Hancock

a dog and your kids own a treasured hamster or guinea pig keep the small furry being well out of danger; preferably put the cage on a high shelf.

Soft Tissue Trauma – Dogs and cats can be stepped on, have things dropped on them, or be hit by cars while running around on the drive as visitors arrive.

If Grandma trips over your Chihuahua BOTH might end up in casualty so keep an eye on pets at all times.

Foreign body ingestion – The beagle who ate the cheeseboard ate the cheese AND most of the board.

Some pets will eat anything. Christmas baubles, lights tinsel and small toys. Ask guests not to leave things on the floor and keep a watchful eye on Rover. If he’s quietly in a corner chewing something, check it’s not Grandma’s spectacles, or false teeth!

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James Cullip

Painting & Decorating

• interior/exterior - all aspects

Property Maintenance

Painting & Decorating

• wallpaper hanging • coving • general household maintenance • plastering services available • free estimates • fully insured

References available t: 01462 817 122 m: 07899 888 545 e: go_on_james@hotmail.com www.cullippaintinganddecorating.co.uk 10 Mill Lane, Campton, Shefford, Beds

Quality Workmanship Papering, Coving etc.

Interior and Exterior Work Free Quotations Call W Firkins & Partners Ltd 01462 814117 or 07939 267083 Est 1981 20 Clifton Road, Shefford, Beds

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Codeword 1

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ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ

Easy Suduko

Hard Suduko

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

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Electrician

www.hertsandbedselectrical.co.uk

Do you find it difficult to get someone to come and do a small job?

Fault finding/repairs Extra lights and sockets New fuse boards Electrical testing and certificates

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Alan George Painter & Decorator Interior and Exterior Work Wallpapering and Coving Reliable and Local Specialist City & Guilds trained with 30 years experience

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Call Nigel on: 01462 506076 / 07941295883 Email: nigelrooney@hotmail.co.uk

Call Alan on 01582 454604 Mob:07760198256 or E-Mail: george-a6@sky.com

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n O s ’ t Wha In December

Deadline for What’s On entries is the 12th of the previous month.

What’s on entries to whatson@villagermag.com

1 December The Signals Museum Open Day 10am-4pm The Signals Museum at RAF Henlow is open to the public. Entry is free but official photo is required to get an entry ticket from the Guardroom.

Web: www.rafsignalsmuseum.org.uk

1 December Weekend Stories 10.30-11am Baldock Library Free event. Stories chosen are aimed at toddlers and preschool children.

1 December Chiltern West Gallery Quire 6.30-8.30pm St Mary’s Church, Kings Walden Tickets £10. Performing in period costume, our singers and instrumentalists specialise in researching local music and will be playing tunes heard in and around Welwyn from 1750-1840, along with some of the Militia marches and dance tunes of the era; music that Jane Austen describes in her novels of that period. Tel: 01438 833155 Email: scilla.cullen@dsl.pipex.com 1-2 December Stotfold Art Group Winter Exhibition 10am-4pm Roecroft Centre, Church Rd, Stotfold Winter art exhibition and sale of cards and crafts.

In conjunction with the Christmas tree festival in St Mary’s Church.

2 December Lights of Life 2018 - 4pm Letchworth Garden City Eagles Football Ground Garden House Hospice Care. Remember a loved on this Christmas and dedicate a light on our Lights of Life tree. Tel: 01462 679540 Web: www.ghhospicecare.org.uk 3, 10 & 17 December 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 age.

3, 10 & 17 December Baby Rhyme Time 10.30-11am Letchworth Library Free event. Baby Rhyme Times are a fun half hour session of songs and rhymes suitable for babies and toddlers of all ages.

3, 10 & 17 December Café Connect 1-4pm Arlesey Resource Centre, High Street, Arlesey We want to bring the community together with a series of events chosen by YOU. Come along to meet new people, share your skills, explore your interests, learn something new and develop your community.

This project is delivered by Community Action Bedfordshire and NOAH Enterprise, and funded by Central Bedfordshire Council and Public Health.

Tel: Priya 07814 704203 for more info

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3, 10, 17 & 24 December Staplers Country Dance Club 8-10pm St John’s Community Hall, Hitchin Staplers is a social folk dance club. If you don’t know what that means come along one Monday evening and meet us. It’s easy to start as all the dances are walked through first then called and you don’t need to come with a partner; lots of us come on our own.

We are a friendly group and you will be made very welcome. Car parking is available next to the hall.

We meet every Monday apart from Bank Holidays and the school summer holidays.

Tel. 01462 895567 or 01462 624144 Web: www.staplers.org.uk

3, 10 & 17 December 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 4 December Hitchin & District Probus Club 12 noon for 1pm Priory Hotel, Hitchin Christmas Lunch. Social club for retired and semiretired professional and business-men which meets on the second and fourth Tuesday of the month for lunch. Organised visits and events throughout the year. New members welcomed.

Tel: Roger Burt 01438 351891 Email: roger@mazda20.plus.com

5, 12 & 19 December 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. Web: www.vivacechoir.co.uk 6 December Step into the Christmas Card 11am & 2pm Spirella Ballroom, Bridge Road, Letchworth £7 on the door. Hosted by The Arts Society North Herts. ‘Step into the Christmas Card’, a festive talk on the symbolism and the spiritual magic of Christmas Cards by Caroline Holmes. All visitors welcome.

Email: theartssociety.nh@gmail.com Web: www.theartscocietynorthhert.org.uk 6 December North Herts Association of the National Trust 7.30pm Christchurch, Bedford Road, Hitchin Members & Visitors £2 on the door inc. mine pie & non-alcoholic punch. ‘Travelling Theatre Christmas Readings’ - jolly, sentimental readings by Geoff Hales.

Tel: Secretary Mrs Colette House 01462 815585 or 07831 111062 Email: colettehouse@gmail.com 6 December Baldock Floral Society 7.30pm Baldock Community Centre Visitors £8. Christmas Flower Arranging demonstration by Doug Howard entitled ‘Let the Magic Begin’. Raffle of arrangements, interval for seasonal refreshments and a sales table of flower arranging sundries and plants.

6, 13 & 20 December Toddler Tales 2.15-2.45pm Baldock Library Free event. Toddler Tales is a mix of lively stories and rhymes. The stories chosen are aimed at toddlers and preschool children.

4, 11 & 18 December 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

6, 13 & 20 December Baldock Community Orchestra 7.15pm Knights Templar School (Room CS1), Baldock £7 per week or 10 week term £50. friendly group of musicians. Come and give us a try, first session free!

Tel: Rachel Dawson 07818 480332

5 December Carol Concert 6.45pm The Free Church, Norton Way, Letchworth Adults £8, 16 and under £4. Carols by City Chorus Choir. Supported by a school Choir and Mr Speaker (Tom Donovan). Refreshments available. In aid of Garden House Hospice Care. Please telephone or see the website for further information and tickets.

Tel: 01462 679540 Web: www.ghhospicecare.org.uk

6, 13 & 20 December Roundabouters Country Dance Club 8-10pm Friends Meeting House, Cuttys Lane, Stevenage 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.

Tel: 01438 727239 Email: roundabouters@live.co.uk Web: www.roundabouters.org.uk

5, 12 & 19 December Toddler Tales 2.15-2.45pm Letchworth Library Free event. Toddler Tales is a mix of lively stories and rhymes. The stories chosen are aimed at toddlers and preschool children.

7, 14 & 21 December 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

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n O s ’ t Wha In December

This is a small selection of the What’s On for the full listing please go to our website www.villagermag.com

7 December ‘Gulls, what a Load of Rubbish!’ (Paul Roper) 7.30pm ‘The Settlement’, Nevells Road, Letchworth Garden City RSPB Local Group members free, Visitors £3 Hitchin & Letchworth RSPB Local Group. Gulls are prolific migrants and face fascinating conservation challenges. Tel: 01763249459 Email: martinrjspc@hotmail.com 7, 14, 21 & 28 December Baldock Health Walk 11am Tesco car park, 58 High Street, Baldock Mind in Herts Health Walk every Friday.

Tel: Stephanie Flint 01438 369215 Email: stephanie.flint@mindinherts.org.uk Web: www.mindinherts.org.uk 7, 14 & 21 December Rainmakers International Folk Dance Club 8-10pm The Parish Hall, Broadway, Letchworth Rainmakers is a friendly club for all. We enjoy folk dances of all styles from many countries around the world and meet most Fridays.

Tel: Roger 01438 812766 Web: www.rainmakers.org.uk

8 December Victorian Christmas Fair 10am-2pm British Schools Museum, 41/42 Queen Street, Hitchin Free admission. Join us for a day of traditional festive cheer at our annual Victorian Christmas Fair.

A huge range of stalls, food, fun and Christmas cheer. Perfect timing for all your Christmas gifts and stocking fillers. Tel: 01462 420144 Web: www.britishschoolsmuseum.org.uk 8 December Carols by Candlelight 3.30pm St Mary Magdalene’s Church, Caldecote Tickets £10. Seasonal readings, poems and stories interspersed with best-loved Christmas carols in a stunning atmosphere of the 14th century tiny former parish church. Mulled wine, mince pies and sausage rolls will be served. Parking and disabled access available.

Email: gillyannclarke@gmail.com for tickets 8 December Tenors Unlimited Christmas Concert 7.30pm Number one selling operatic trio Tenors Unlimited, the ‘Rat Pack of Opera’, perform a Christmas Concert with local Box of Frogs Theatre Academy (BOFTA) choir as part of their 15th anniversary tour. They are fresh from their recent charttopping success with “Who is He?” in aid of The Salvation Army which went in at number one on the iTunes classical chart. Tenors Unlimited have performed alongside such notables as Sting, Lionel Richie, Beyoncé, Hayley Westenra, Simply Red and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra to name a few.

Web: www.tenorsunlimited.com/tour

9 December Santa Scamper 9am Stevenage Town Centre Adults £15, Children £10, Family £40. Festive community fun run for all the family. 2.5km or 5km option. Medals for all finishers. Free Santa hat with registration. Book online or call for more information. In aid of Garden House Hospice Care.

Tel: 01462 679540 www.ghhospicecare.org.uk

9 December Charity Fun Quiz Night 8pm Five Bells, Henlow Village £2 per person. In aid of Williams Syndrome Foundation. Teams of up to 8 members are invited to take part. Cash prize for the winning team and a suitable prize for last place. Plus some ‘spot prizes’ and raffle. Tel: John 01767 680974 Email: quizzesforcharity@outlook.com 11 December Transition Tuesday: Carbon Conversations Games Night 7.30-9.30pm Upper Hall, Mrs Howard Hall, Norton Way South, SG6 1NX Free admission. Join us for a festive evening where we will play the ‘Carbon Conversations’ games. Will these games, themed on travel, home energy and food, help us find our New Year’s resolution? All welcome. £2 donation is welcome.

12 December Letchworth Chamber Music Concert 7.45pm Howgills Friends Meeting House, 42 South View, Letchworth Tickets £15, under 18 & students £7 Wednesday night winter series of chamber music concerts to be held in the intimate atmosphere of the Meeting House to hear the pianist, Angela Brownridge, whose programme will include works

by Beethoven (Sonata in C major, Opus No. 3), Liszt (Petrach Sonnet 104), Chopin (Studies Nos. 1, 7 and 12) and Debussy (12 Preludes, Book 2). Tickets available at door. www.letchworthmusicclub.co.uk 13 December The Art of Christmas 6.30pm for 7pm British Schools Museum, 41/42 Queen Street, Hitchin Tickets £8. Local artist James Willis returns with a richly-illustrated lecture following interpretations of the Christmas story through centuries of art and sculpture. Botticelli, Rubens and Gaugin are amongst the artists featured in this light-hearted look at the traditional imagery of the Christmas season. Cash bar including seasonal mulled wine.

Tel: 01462 420144 Web: www.britishschoolsmuseum.org.uk 13 December Baldock & Clothall WI 7.30pm United Reformed Church, Whitehorse Street, Baldock Visitors £3 including refreshment and raffle ticket Facebook: www.facebook.com/baldockclothallwi

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14 December Unicorn Ceilidh 7.30-11pm St Mary’s Church Hall, Church Street, Baldock Adults £10, Concessions and family tickets available Ceilidh dances are great fun, easy to learn - and addictive! Clear instructions from the caller before and during each dance allow anyone to join in and enjoy the dancing. Our combination of the finest live bands, top callers and a bar serving local Real Ale and Cider plus wine and soft drinks guarantee an excellent, fun-filled evening for all. Tickets are available on the door but advance purchase is recommended.

Email: enquiries@unicornceilidhs.org.uk Web: www.unicornceilidhs.org.uk Tickets: www.ticketsource.co.uk/unicorn-ceilidhs 14 & 15 December Frosty’s Snow Day Adventure Fri 7pm, Sat 11am, 2pm & 5.30pm The Auditorium Theatre, St Christopher School, Letchworth Adults £8, Children £6, Family £24. Imajica Theatre Company creating Theatre for the younger audience.

Set in the enchanted Wobbly Wood this heartwarming original pantomime is filled with magical creatures ready for an adventure. As Jack Frost spreads his winter magic creating a wonderful icefilled blanket throughout the forest a cheeky little rabbit spots the Snowman’s nose and decided to take it home for its tea! What a naughty little bunny, but fear-not as our beautiful Faerie Godmother steps in to save the day. Together they set off in search of a new nose and the adventure begins. This interactive production created with the younger audience in mind if filled with toe tapping parodies of pop songs and easy to follow dance routines. .

Web: www.ticketsource.co.uk/Imajicatheatre 15 & 16 December Christmas Tree Festival 10am-4pm The Free Church, Norton Way South, Letchworth Free admission. Carols, live music and refreshments.

All proceeds to Garden House Hospice Care.

Tel: 01462 679540 Web: www.ghhospicecare.org.uk 18 December Stevenage RSPB Local Group 7.30pm The Friends Meeting House, Cutty’s Lane, Stevenage RSPB Members & Visitors £1, Under 16s 50p Join us for our Christmas Social evening and enjoy an included buffet supper, games, quizzes and a slide show featuring members photographs.

Hitchin & Surrounding Areas - Fun & Social Stuff A Social Group based in Hitchin, arranges drinks, socials, going to Live Music events, charity events, Pub Quizzes, etc.. The aim of the group is to enable a variety of people who are over 18 years old (with no upper age limit) 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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WINDOW REPAIRS

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

BEFORE AFTER email: info@jmlwindows.co.uk website: www.jmlwindows.co.uk 07977 911 926 / 01438 906300 • Misted/broken double glazed units • Sticking doors or windows adjusted • Broken/loose handles • Leaded or Georgian units replaced • Hinges for gapping windows • Leaks fixed • All types of locks replaced • Energy saving Planitherm glass • Cat/dog flaps in glass or panels • Door re-alignments Visit our website for over 30 customer reviews 66

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Food & Drink

By Tom Hancock

The Perfect Cheeseboard

How much cheese? - Allow about 100g-125g (3½-4oz) cheese per person if your cheeseboard is being served after a meal, or slightly more - 150g (5oz) per person if you’re serving it as a snack/light meal.

Which cheese? - Three or four cheeses is enough – more than that and there’s too much for the palate to enjoy. The cheeses should be different styles, textures and flavours. Cheddar, Stilton and Brie is a classic combination, as it mixes a hard, soft and a blue. Why not go totally British with a traditional West Country Farmhouse Cheddar matched with Cropwell Bishop, a wonderful robust blue, and maybe Bath Soft Cheese, which is gorgeously gooey and mushroomy in flavour. It’s nice to put one wildcard cheese on the board like a citrussy goat’s cheese or meaty smoked cheese like St James.

Crackers - A good oat biscuit, cracker or artisan bread will complement the cheese. Add a chutney - look for unusual brands at farmers’ markets, and some apples or grapes.

Drinks - After a meal a sweet fortified white wine is always good. You could even try a whiskey, or a gin and tonic. If the board is going to serve as a light meal, then beer or cider is a good choice.

A note on storage - Store in a cold room or the bottom of the fridge, wrapped in waxed paper if possible This allows the cheese to breathe. Let the cheese to come up to room temperature for about 20 minutes before serving for maximum flavour.

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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 68

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Local News

Twinwoods Adventure Based in Milton Ernest, Twinwoods Adventure is the home of indoor Adventure, easily accessible from the A6.

Now under new management, changes are already under way to improve the facilities and bring new, exciting Adventures to the people of Bedford, all under one roof.

We’ve always been known for our incredible Indoor Skydiving and Indoor Surfing, but did you know we offer much, much more? How about our relaxing spa with pool, sauna and steam room, or our adult and family salt caves which can help promote a range of health benefits.

Looking for more excitement?

Try the climbing wall, archery, our gas gun range, or the ultimate adrenaline rush, jumping 125ft from the top of our wind tunnel!

For the really little people, we have the Playhouse, an incredible adventure soft play, which offers regular mini-Adventures, as well as open play sessions. Let them play, while you enjoy a great tasting coffee and generous slice of homemade cake.

Whatever the weather, Twinwoods Adventure is the perfect place

to have a great time as a family.

Enjoy all the Adventures, fill up in our restaurant, and if you want to make a weekend of it, stay in our comfortable on-site accommodation.

We’re extremely proud of our location, our heritage and being a part of the local community, and core to that is charity. If your charity has a story and needs help, we’d love to hear from you to see if there’s a way that we can work with you. We’ll be picking a number of charities over the next year to work with, and support as best we can.

To find out more, please email: charity@twinwoods.email To find out more about the Adventures you can have with us, check out our website www. twinwoodsadventure.com or call us on 01234 816350. If you’re on social media, make sure you add us to stay up-to-date with all the latest news and special offers. You can find us at /twinwoodsuk Want to see what we’re about in person? All our activities are free to spectate, though be warned, you’ll want to give it a go once you’ve seen the fun people are having!

You can find us at: Twinwoods Adventure, Twinwoods Business

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Park, 36 Thurleigh Road, Milton Ernest, Bedford, MK44 1FD. There’s plenty of free, on-site, parking - just look for the big blue building.

Roy Castleman, part of the new ownership team, comments: “It’s great to be a part of this historic site’s next chapter. We’re looking forward to making things even better here, and adding some incredible new Adventures. Charity is really important to us, which is why we’re looking for local charities that we can help support.

We would love to hear your story, and we’ll be picking a number of charities to work with.”

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WANTED IAN SIMPSON Carpentry and Joinery All aspects of carpentry work undertaken Kitchens, Bedrooms, Doors, Windows 25 years experience Free estimates Please call 01462 851695 or 07967162448 E-mail ij_simpson@hotmail.com

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Old delivery trolleys and paper delivery bags bought for cash.

Please contact Nigel on

01767 261122

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STEVEN WILDMAN HIGH QUALITY CARPET CLEANING

UPHOLSTERY & LEATHER CLEANING

Carpet Cleaning (including Wool Carpets) Upholstery Cleaning (Leather and Fabric) Stain Removal Carpet Deodorisation Carpet and Upholstery Protectors

Call: 07 769 042523

Email: bedscarpetcleaners@gmail.com Web: www.bedscarpetcleaners.co.uk

ANDY LEONARD

Painter & Decorator Fully insured quality workmanship Interior & Exterior For a free, friendly, no obligation quotation

Please contact Andy on

07889 903283 Email: andythepainter5@hotmail.com

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71

ROY HARE PLUMBING AND HEATING Est. 1972

Gas Safe Registered

40640

Gas Boilers

Installed, serviced and repaired.

Boilers, Water Heaters, Cookers, Fires, Landlords CertiďŹ cates.

Up to 50% Off

Complete Oil Boiler Service

Furniture moved Old carpets removed if required

All Plumbing and Heating Work

FREE ESTIMATES

Installed, Serviced, Repaired and Commissioned.

Showers (Electric & Pumped), Cylinders, Pumps, Radiators, Zone Valves, Programmers, Heating Controls, System Upgrades.

Wiring for heating control systems

FREE ESTIMATES

We call with samples and measure Carpets fitted in about a week

01462 733203 / 07748 532632

Call Roy on

01462 711809 or 07774 645925

51455

Paul Donald

Gas Plumbing & Central Heating

Boiler Changes | Boiler repairs | Boiler servicing Power flushing | Unvented cylinders | Underfloor heating Central heating installations | Bathroom installations Landlords certificates

Free estimates No job to big or small 35 years experience

07973 410957 | 07415 100610 | 01462 815386 72

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November’s Puzzle Solutions and Winners Last Month’s Crossword Winner Mrs G Trigg from Potton Overtones Competition Pat King from Buckden

Champneys Competition K. Hurren from Stevenage

Easy

Hard

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73

The Villager Prize Crossword

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

16th December 2018 Prize Crossword, Villager Publications Ltd 24 Market Square, Potton, Beds SG19 2NP

Prize

ÂŁ25

Across 1. Connect to another (6) 4. Yarn, twine (6) 9. Mature (7) 10. Problem, concern (5) 11. Bend (5) 12. Places of work (7) 13. Differentiate (11) 18. Identical (7) 20. Fang (5) 22. Having had water removed (5) 23. Hammering (7) 24. Leaders, monarchs (6) 25. Business, company (6) Down 1. Diminish (6) 2. Sweetheart, paramour (5) 3. Most statuesque (7) 5. Robber (5) 6. Bugs (7) 7. 1978 musical set in 50s (6) 8. Meeting with doctor (11) 14. First letter (7) 15. Unfastening, removing knots (7) 16. Kill (6) 17. Long-haired, unkempt (6) 19. More advanced in age (5) 21. Pungent vegetable (5)

Name: Tel:



Address:

74

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PLUMBING & HEATING LTD FULLY QUALIFIED — 30 YEARS EXPERIENCE

INSTALLATION Boiler installation with 7 - 10 year warranty Boiler breakdown & power flushing Frozen condense pipe rectified Boiler service and landlord certification

PLUMBING Bathroom installation Wetroom installation Mains pressure upgrade General plumbing work & maintenance

BOILER INSTALLATION Combi and system boiler’s upgrade Underfloor heating Warm air and powermax upgrade Boiler breakdown repair

218627

CALL: 01462 292247 / 07753 817469 Email: info@dhplumbinglimited.co.uk

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75

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 Stephen Moon and he services the Henlow, Stotfold & Langford areas.

So, if your windows are steamed up, broken or damaged give Stephen a call for a free quotation on 0800 61 21 118.

Cloudy2Clear GUARANTEE All Customers That An Average Quote Will Take No Longer Than 20 MINS!!!

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76

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Accountants

Carpentry and Joinery

Tim Jordon

Carpentry and Joinery Made to measure quality timber products supply and fit.

Doors, Windows, Stairs, Gates, Kitchen Worktops, Wood staining, painting and varnishing Station Road, Lower Stondon, Beds.

Tel: 01462 850363 or 07544 790071

WHY HIRE A SKIP? RUBBISH CLEARANCE HERTFORDSHIRE 24 HOURS

7 DAYS FULLY INSURED & LICENCED DOMESTIC & COMMERCIAL SERVICE

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01438 215 018 | www.rubbishclearanceherts.co.uk | 07960 98 32 98 To advertise in The Villager and Town Life please call 01767 261122 HRC half page.indd 1

77 20/02/2017 16:40

Classifieds Decorators

Property Maintenance R. CHAPMAN

Simon & Neil Johnston PAINTING & DECORATING

Home & Garden Services

30 Years Experience Simon 07778 861115 Neil 07879 292411 Email: simon.johnston57@ntlworld.com

Electrical Contractor Electrical Contractor

N A Bush

• Domestic & Commercial • Extra Lights / Sockets • New Circuits • Full or Partial Rewires • Test Inspection Certificates • Consumer Unit Upgrades Neil 07981 310939

Experienced Qualified and Insured All work guaranteed

Patio’s Driveways Fencing Brickwork Painting & Decorating Tiling 20 Years Experience - No Job Too Small!

01462 850575 or 07950 311881

Removals

MUSCLE & MOTOR

Jumbo van with up to 3 men.

Helpful, efficient and friendly service for all your moving, carrying, and domestic disposal needs, including house and garage clearance.

Call Richard on: 01767 317387 or 07968 787496 Email: muscleandmotor@gmail.com www.muscleandmotor.co.uk

n.bush744@btinternet.com

Roofing

Plastering Services

James Geekie Plastering All types of plastering - big or small Interior/Exterior Work Undertaken Re-skim Rooms, Walls, Artex & Ceilings Dry Lining and Screeding Tel: 07792 415356 or 01462 490598 Email: james.geekie@hotmail.co.uk

Plumbing and Heating

From just £35.00 per month plus VAT

Call Nigel on 01767 261122 for more information 78

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USEFUL NUMBERS

VILLAGER The

and Town

Life

Alcoholics Anonymous...................... 0845 769 7555 Anglian Water................................... 08457 145 145 Bedford Hospital................................01234 355122 Lister Hospital....................................01438 314333 Addenbrooks Hospital........................01223 245151 Benefits for people with Disabilities.... 0800 882 200 Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue.............01234 351081 Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue............01438 729041 Carers Line........................................ 0808 808 7777 ChildLine..................................................0800 1111 Citizens Advice.................................. 0344 245 1292 Cocaine Anonymous................................0800 689 4732

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.

Crimestoppers..................................... 0800 555 111 Cruse Bereavement Care................... 0333 252 9152 Floodline........................................... 0845 988 1188 Frank-Drug Advisory........................... 0800 776 600 National Debt Line............................ 0808 808 4000 Gas Emergency.................................... 0800 111 999 NHS Direct................................................0845 4647 National Rail Enquiries..................... 03457 48 49 50 Non Emergency Police Line.................................101 NSPCC............................................... 0808 800 5000 Relate................................................. 0845 48 49 50 RSPCA Cruelty Line............................ 0300 1234 999 Samaritans...................................................116 123 Tax Credit Helpline............................ 0345 300 3900 Victim Support................................. 0845 30 30 900

For more information or to reserve your space please contact Nigel on:

Tel: 01767 261122

Email: nigel@villagermag.com Web: www.villagermag.com

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