Henlow july 18 by Villager Mag

VILLAGER The

Issue 116 - July 2018

and Town

Life

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

In this issue Win tickets to

Meraki Festival The Invention of

Photography Win £25 in our Prize Crossword

Bringing Local Business to Local People in

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...

Win Tools to make Gardening Easier

The Invention of Photography................................................................ 4 Garden Toys............................................................................................ 8 Win Tickets to Meraki Festival.............................................................. 10 Win Tools to Make Gardening Easier..................................................... 12 Wines: More Gems of Austria............................................................... 14 Steps to a Healthier Heart.................................................................... 17 Are you Young at Heart?....................................................................... 20 Helping People in Bedfordshire Reduce Risk of Breast Cancer.............. 23 Tips for a Formal or Black Tie Summer Event........................................ 27 Stretch Benefits.................................................................................... 29 Dwile Flonking with the Devil and his Tailors....................................... 31

Piercing Problems................................................................................ 32 Summer Fun on a Budget.................................................................... 35 How to Save Money on your Summer Holiday this Year........................ 36 Wordsearch.......................................................................................... 38 Feeling Fruity....................................................................................... 40 Essential Scent..................................................................................... 43 Out and About - Tech Tools for wherever you may roam....................... 47 Fun Quiz............................................................................................... 49 R.A.T.S. Rehoming Appeal.................................................................... 51 Animal Know-How............................................................................... 53 Children’s Page..................................................................................... 54 Should you Buy an Automatic Car?....................................................... 57 Mauritius: Natural World...................................................................... 59 Puzzle Page.......................................................................................... 60 Nick Coffer’s Weekend Recipe............................................................... 64 What’s On............................................................................................. 68 Prize Crossword.................................................................................... 74

Steps to a Healthier Heart

Get your business off to a flying start this year

Advertise with the Villager Magazine... prices start from just £35.00 +VAT per month

Editorial - Catherine Rose, Tracey Anderson, Trevor Langley, Louise Addison, Jennie Billings, Sarah Davey, Kate McLelland, Kate Duggan, Ann Haldon, Rachael Leverton, Pippa Greenwood, RSPCA, Tom Wiltshire, Solange Hando and Nick Coffer

Advertising Sales/Local Editorial Nigel Frost • Tel 01767 261122 nigel@villagermag.com Photography - Alexandre Zveiger 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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History

By Catherine Rose

Light Drawing The Invention of Photography With summer finally here, many of us will be going on our annual holidays. Growing up, a camera was always on our family packing list to capture those happy holiday moments and the scenery of foreign shores. Nowadays, cameras in smart phones are so advanced that most of us already carry around the means to record our lives in our pocket. But how did photography come out of the darkroom? Before a way to permanently capture an image was invented, the forerunner to photography was the camera obscura, Latin for ‘dark room’. Discovered in 1600 (or probably earlier), an upside down, back-to-front image of the outside world can be projected onto a wall in a darkened room through a pinhole aperture. During the Renaissance, it was found that the effect could be replicated by using a box – the first ‘pinhole camera’ – with mirrors employed to reflect the image so that it was the right way round.

The first physical photograph, based on the camera obscura, was taken in 1825 by Frenchman Joseph Nicéphore Niépce. The result, ‘View from a Window at Le Gras’, is very grainy and took around eight hours to develop. Niépce did it by coating a pewter plate with bitumen of Judea, which hardens when exposed to light. He then placed it in a camera obscura. When the unhardened parts of the bitumen were washed away, it left a negative image on the plate from which a print could be made. He called the process heliography (sun drawing). But it was in 1839 that photography is said to have truly been born with the invention of the daguerreotype process by Louis Daguerre, a scenery artist and friend of Niépce who had inherited his notes on the latter’s death in 1833. Using a glass plate coated with light-reactive silver iodide, the image was developed with the aid of mercury vapour. Unlike heliography, the daguerreotype required

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only minutes of exposure rather than hours. The image was later fixed onto the plate with a hot salt solution. Although still a negative, because it was silver on glass, it appeared as a positive image when viewed from the right angle. Photography, Greek for ‘drawing with light’, was unveiled to the world that same year and the daguerreotype became the first commercially viable process. There are numerous portraits taken at this time, some astonishingly clear, such as the self-portrait by Robert Cornelius, often claimed to be the “first portrait photograph ever taken”, and John Draper’s wonderful study of his sister Dorothy wearing an early 19th century decorated bonnet. At around the same time in England, Henry Fox Talbot had already created photographic negatives on paper using silver chloride but, much like Niepce’s heliography, the images took several hours to expose. Talbot began to develop it further, culminating in his invention of the calotype process (Greek for ‘beautiful picture’). Unlike the daguerreotype which formed a single image on a glass plate, one calotype negative could be used to produce unlimited prints. Talbot’s ‘silver halide’ was the foundation for wet film technology that has endured until the present day. In 1851, the wet collodian process was introduced by Frederick Archer, which used glass negatives printed onto albumen paper. This process could capture sharp images faster than ever before, with the advantage that one lightsensitised plate could fit up to eight prints. It soon became the universal method for producing carte-de-visites (photographic calling cards), tintypes (small inexpensive portraits printed onto thin sheets of black enamelled iron) and ambrotypes (like daguerreotypes in that they were printed onto glass). Renowned Victorian photographers like Lewis Carroll and Julia Margaret Cameron used this process to produce their remarkable studies. Its drawbacks were that plates had to be prepared and used immediately, and it remained difficult to capture movement without the image being blurred. 1871 saw the beginning of modern photography with the advent of the

dry plate. Coated with silver salts suspended in gelatin rather than collodian solution, it was sixty times more sensitive and meant that handheld cameras could be used without the need for a stabilising tripod. In 1888, George Eastman made the first commercial camera available to the general public – the Kodak. Under the slogan: ‘You press the button, we do the rest’, the camera came with a roll of flexible film – initially paper and later transparent nitrocellulose – which, following exposure, could be sent to one of Kodak’s printing facilities. Although there had been early experiments with colour photography, most notably James Maxwell’s tartan ribbon of 1855, photographs remained black and white, with colour only achieved by hand-tinting. The first colour photography appeared when the Lumiere brothers invented their Autochrome process in 1907, which used panchromatic emulsion. Although it didn’t become a commercial success, some of the images it achieved are stunning, such as the 1913 ‘Portraits of Christina’ by Mervyn O’Gorman (The Royal Photographic Society) – a series of colour photos of a young girl identified only recently as 16-year-old Christina Bevan. The invention of Kodachrome colour film in 1935 meant that colour photographs were well and truly on their way. But just as some artists falsely believed the advent of photography meant an end to painting, so black and white photographs, with an artistic and often edgy interpretation of their subject, have remained popular even in the new era of digital photography.

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Time of Year

Garden Toys Gardens are a great place for kids to run around and get that all important fresh air and exercise. The addition of a toy or two will mean you can keep them happily occupied for hours. Swings are perennially popular. Make sure the size and style is appropriate to the age of the child. Better still buy one which has changeable seats so you can upgrade as the child grows, or simply ring the changes now and then. Slides come in all sizes. They can be independent structures or attached to climbing frames. You really do get what you pay for in this instance. Do your homework. Is a metal or wooden frame best for your garden. How much use will it get and how many and what ages of children does it need to support? Get the best you can afford and it will serve you for many years. Trampolines are a relative newbie to the UK garden compared with slides and swings but they are rightfully popular. Even adults can’t resist them. You’ll need a flat surface, and a safety net is highly recommended. Most trampolining injuries occur when one child lands on another so buy the biggest your garden will allow. It’s almost impossible to police the ‘one child at a time’ recommendation so bigger is safer as each child has more space.

Kids love dens. Provide a Wendy house or a tepee and let their imagination run wild. If you have the funds you can buy an elaborate fort or tree house. If you don’t have space for a permanent Wendy house, provide poles and old blankets and let them construct their own! If you have space for a sand and water area your children will love it. There are simple small plastic tables designed for the purpose and huge wooden luxury models complete with seats and sunshade. Use specialist play sand to fill it. Make sure you buy one with a cover to protect it from the weather and prevent neighbourhood cats from using it as a toilet. We can’t all have a proper pool in the garden but most of us have room for a paddling pool. Add a couple of supersoaker water pistols and a waterslide made from heavy duty silicon and you’re set for an afternoon of splashy delight. If you have a large space you could invest in some football goals or a badminton set. But for those who love to play games and have a smaller space there’s croquet or outdoor skittles. And there are now outdoor giant versions of family favourites like Connect 4, Jenga and Chess. Time for some outdoor fun.

By Tracey Anderson

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All Saints

Pixie Lott

Judge Jules

Win 2 Tickets to Meraki Festival Meraki is back! We’re announcing our 2018 music lineup in the lead up to the festival and it’s already obvious that we’ve kicked things up a notch! We have two festival music stages filled with incredible artists, from global superstars like All Saints, Pixie Lott, Nik Kershaw and 10cc, to national and local favourites like Boogie Storm, Simon McBride and Annabel Williams. We also have an assortment of amazing activities which you can pack into your days at Meraki - these include: Europe’s largest outdoor waterslide, swimming pools, roller disco, caving, free massage, face painting, kids comedy & theatre and much, much more. Our All-Inclusive Tickets mean that once you’re through the gates, you don’t have to pay for any of our festival activities - you can enjoy all of your favourite parts of the festival and not pay a penny more – just focus on having a great time and creating magical summer memories! And for those of you who like to hear your tunes blasting off a set of decks, The House of Neon dance tent will be pumping out party classics each night with a stellar lineup of DJs that includes legends like Judge Jules, Danny Rampling, Tall Paul, and Seb Fontaine. Whether you come and camp for a long weekend, join us an amazing day or grab an evening ticket and party with us for one night only - we look forward to seeing you in August for an incredible festival filled with Meraki summer fun! To be in with a chance to win 2 tickets to Meraki Festival simply send your entry by 16th July 2018 to: Meraki Festival, Villager Publications Ltd, 24 Market Square, Potton, Beds SG19 2NP The winner will be drawn randomly.

MERAKI FESTIVAL COMPETITION ENTRY

For a chance to win 2 tickets to Meraki Festival simply complete your details below and post your response by 16th July 2018 to: Meraki Festival Competition, Villager Publications Ltd, 24 Market Square, Potton, Beds SG19 2NP. Name:



Don’t want to leave it to chance? For the full line-up and to book tickets go to merakifestival.com

Address:

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advertorial

Has Your Double Glazing Steamed Up? Established for over a decade Cloudy2Clear windows have become a leading company for glass replacement. Issues with double glazing can often be gradual and may only be noticed during a clear sunny day or during the winter. A failed glass unit may no longer provide you with the protection you need or be energy efficient. Why not spend a few minutes checking your home to see if you have any failed double glazing? If you act now you can avoid these problems. Now, you may think you need to replace the whole window including

the frames and all the hardware, however Cloudy2Clear have come up with a simple and cost saving solutionâ&#x20AC;Ś 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.

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Win Tools to Make

Gardening Easier Win top quality carbon steel garden tools plus a gift voucher, together worth over £100.

At Bickerdikes you’ll find a huge selection of best quality plants: flowers, vegetables, trees, shrubs and turf. If you are new to gardening the Bickerdike team’s friendly, welcoming, professional and practical advice will ensure you plant the right plant in the right place. What’s more, hardy plants are guaranteed for two years providing they are planted and cared for correctly. For well over 80 years the Bickerdike family have been in the horticultural industry. Following the family tradition Mark and Debbie Bickerdike opened Bickerdikes Garden Centre in 1999, applying the same principles as previous generations of the family: quality, choice, value for money and above all personal service. The Bickerdikes service extends to their carry to car assistance and free delivery for larger items if you spend £15 or more. Plus the Bickerdikes Reward Card scheme means that every time you make a purchase you’ll earn points towards future purchases. Once you’ve browsed all the plants, containers and pots, tools and equipment, plant feeds and fertilisers, garden furniture, huge range of gifts and gift food you’ll be ready to visit Norton’s Café. Pop in for coffee or a light snack or maybe lunch. There’s a full menu all day starting with breakfast and there’s waitress service too.

Competition

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Food and Drink

Wines:

More Gems of Austria I continued my quest, searching for Austrian wines that have been recognised and acknowledged with awards, for their qualities, plus wines that, in my opinion, deserve to be.

Weingut Forstreiter is located in Krems-Hollenburg, a traditional wine growing village of the Kremstal region. The Forstreiter family has been producing wine since 1868. Forstreiter Grüner Veltliner Ried Kremser Kogl and Grüner Veltliner Tabor Kremstal Reserve are both extremely popular, classic productions. These splendid white wines have most pleasant bouquets. Both possess a good balance, with tropical fruit flavours, very acceptable mouthfeel and lengthy palate sensations. Forstreiter Riesling Schotter is balanced and refreshing. This great, dry, white wine, is chosen regularly for many dining occasions and is excellent for the mouth’s pleasures and on to the palate. These wines are wonderful accompaniments to a lot of cuisine, including fish, seafood, plus white meats and are just a selection of the Forstreiter white wines. Their ranges include outstanding reds, too. www.forstreiter.at Anton Bauer produces superb white and red wines. As the company says, “The wines are with soul”, every year. For my ‘wines of choice’ I selected the powerful Zweigelt and the Wagram Reserve Zweigelt Alte Reben productions. Dark fruits are very much displayed for the bouquets and lead, enticingly, to the mouthfeel and splendid palate sensations. Wonderful with red meats, etc. For a sweeter choice I found Kracher, that produces a fantastic range of wines. Burgenland Beerenauslese Cuvée ‘hit the spot’, for me. Absolutely divine, when a sweet wine is called for. The bouquet brings delight, plus the mouthfeel and palate will not be disappointed with this production, having luscious fruits in abundance. For all details of the full ranges www.antonbauer.at and www.kracher.at The Top Selection Company sources high-quality wines, spirits, plus drinks, from global origins and offers an exceptional portfolio. Their wines and other beverages can be located in top hotels and restaurants, plus many retailers. Top Selection also offers a complete service, including advice about cuisine pairings and winery visits, etc. www. topselection.co.uk

As always, Enjoy!

ey Trevor Langl

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01767 260221

the

SUMMER HAS OFFICIALLY STARTED HERE AT THE COACH

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A great day out for the whole family! Home to over 200 animals and birds, children’s playground, tractor trailer rides, flying displays, animal meet and greats, crazy golf and more. All included in the admission - Adult £12.50 Senior £11.50 Child (3-15 years) £9.50 Family (2 adults & 2 children) £34.50 and children under 3 years are free. Bedfordshire Food & Garden Festival - 7th & 8th July A great day our for all you foodies plus inspiration for all you gardeners. Adult £6.00 Senior £5.00 Child (3-15 years) £2.50 Includes admission into the activity farm and bird of prey centre. Herrings Green Activity Farm, Wilstead MK45 3DT www.birdsofpreycentre.co.uk Tel: 01234 742362 / 01234 742766 The Family Farm - Open 7 days a week 10.00 - 6.00

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GARDEN WALK & TALK

The cost of your tour includes a hot beverage, scone, cream and jam for just £12.50

3RD JULY 2018, 2 - 3.30PM

Come and learn more about our gardens and how you can create the perfect outdoor space

SEE HOW WE GROW CEREALS, FRUITS AND VEGETABLES LEARN MORE ABOUT HOW YOU CAN GROW YOUR VERY OWN VEG OR FLOWER PATCH IDEAS ON HOW YOU CAN SUPPORT WILDLIFE IN YOUR OWN GARDENS

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Jordans Mill, Holme Mills, Langford Road Broom, Nr Biggleswade SG18 9JY Call: 01767 603940

Algarve Apartment

2 Bedroom, 2 Bathroom Ground Floor Apartment with Garden overlooking the outdoor Pool. Indoor Pool with Jacuzzi, Tennis Courts and Children’s Play Area. 10 Minutes Drive to Beach, Alvor, Prayer Da Rocha and Portimao. Restaurant and Bar on Complex open until late.

Dates available for 2018 Sorry we had no access to previous email advertised, please either re-email to new email address susanlesley8@hotmail.com or telephone us on 07966 628352 16

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Health By Louise Addison

Steps to a

Healthier Heart Cardiovascular disease causes 26% of all deaths in the UK; that’s over 150,000 deaths each year – an average of 420 people each day or one death every three minutes. Those are the scary statistics but what can you do to improve the health of your heart? Below are the top tips according to leading cardiologists. Walk 30 minutes every day, no matter what! – A half hour walk every day decreases an individual’s chances of a heart attack by 30%. If you think you’ll skip days find a walking buddy and hold each other accountable. Find out your blood pressure and take steps to bring it down – Your blood pressure may be a more important factor than your cholesterol! If the doctor prescribes medication take it, but you can also take steps to lower it yourself and maybe reduce the need for medication. The best ways are to exercise and lose some belly fat. Individuals with high levels of fat in the abdominal cavity (belly fat) and around their abdominal organs are more likely to develop high blood pressure because this fat interferes with the function of the kidneys, which regulate the blood pressure. Know what your HDL number is and then do what you can to raise it to 1.3 mmol/l - In women especially it seems that a higher HDL (good cholesterol) number is more important than a low LDL (bad cholesterol) number. Eat about 25g of raw, fresh, unsalted nuts per day – especially walnuts, pecans, hazelnuts, pistachios and almonds. Nuts are packed with omega 3 oils, raise levels of HDL good

cholesterol, decrease inflammation and have a good effect on the heart. Healthy fats such as olive or rapeseed oil have a positive effect too, and the really good news is that an alcoholic drink per day also works in your favour! Eat a good quality tomato pasta sauce! Simple tomato pasta sauce is loaded with potassium which aids lowering of blood pressure. Floss! – Most people don’t know that your oral health has an effect on arterial health so make sure those pearly whites stay clean and flossed. Limit saturated fat and avoid trans fats – Try to keep saturated fat below 20g per day. Both saturated fat and trans fats (found in many processed foods) lead to inflammation of the arteries. Read labels and avoid foods which list sugar as one of the first five ingredients – In particular don’t be fooled by foods which claim to be ‘low fat’ because often they contain extra sugar instead. Healthy fats such as olive oil are better than empty sugar calories. Drink wine – But not too much! It’s a slightly bizarre (but consistent scientific truth) that teetotal folk have a higher risk of heart disease than those who drink in moderation. But a glass of red wine occasionally is very different to binge drinking once a week so be careful with this tip. Eat a rainbow of fruit and veg – Five to nine servings a day will help to keep your heart in tip-top condition. It may sound a lot but if you add chopped veg to pie fillings and casseroles and eat fruit at breakfast and salad stuff for snacks it all adds up.

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Local News

Are You Young at Heart? YES? then please keep reading… We would like to tell you about our club, formally known as the Baldock Senior club it has been recently re-named as the Young at Heart club. It’s a club for anyone who is young at heart and wants to meet up with like minded individuals for some fun & company. The club has been running for over 10 years. It was a weekly club until a year ago when it changed to monthly, mainly due to a smaller number of members, volunteers and funds. We are aiming to turn this around. At present we meet at Baldock Community Centre on the 2nd Wednesday of each month at 2pm until 4pm. We provide entertainment or activities which will differ each month. In the past we have had some wonderful singers, musicians, our Play your Cards Right host, a medium as well as bingo, bocca, flower arranging, quiz’s and suchlike. We frequently hold a raffle. Christmas is an especially lovely time with a lunch provided (usually on a separate date to the club meeting) and this year we hope to have a small choir entertaining us. We usually also have some wonderful children from Knights Templar School come on the club meeting in December and provide an afternoon tea and entertainment. We have approximately 20 members who live in Baldock and Stotfold but would love to include anyone from surrounding towns & villages. We currently have 4 volunteers so would be very grateful if there are any folks out there, who have a couple of hours to spare once a month who could come along and help. The administrative aspects are already covered so we need people who can make & hand out the tea/coffee/biscuits! And chat of course to our lovely members. However we are always open to new ideas and advice! With more members and volunteers we can really make this a vibrant,

community based club. We ask for an £8 annual subscription fee and then £2 each month per meeting. We are happy for non members to join us as and when and usually charge a slightly larger amount especially if we have paid for entertainment that month. Come along and give it a try before having to commit to an annual subscription. We also try to arrange some additional days in the summer months – in the past a pub lunch, a trip to a garden centre, a mystery tour, an afternoon tea – to name a few. If you aren’t sure this is something for you then please contact us and have a chat first, or we can put you in touch with other members who can give you their opinions. We have to point out that as none of our volunteers are qualified carers, we can only include people who are mobile & able to look after themselves. It helps if you are able to get yourself to and from the club independently, however there may be space on the community centre bus if needed. This currently costs £1.50 each way. This is usually arranged direct with the Baldock Community Centre and they can be contacted on 01462 894109. . We have included some pics of our members having fun and games at previous meetings and we have a full and interesting events list for the coming year. These include Play Your Cards Right and Alan Aldridge (back by popular demand!), a magician, music from members of St Marys Church, bingo etc. PLEASE COME ALONG AND JOIN US – AT LEAST ONCE! – NEXT MEETING 11th JULY, A Taste of America. Then 8th AUGUST, Music from St Mary’s Church. For further information please call Susan on 07506422946 or Karen on 07814516436

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Health

Helping people in the Bedfordshire

area reduce their risk of breast cancer Breast Cancer UK Ambassador, Caron Brooks, offers free ‘Let’s Prevent Breast Cancer’ talks to local groups and businesses in Bedfordshire. Breast cancer incidence rates continue to rise year on year. Today 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer during their lifetime – that’s over 55,000 people every year. 1 in 5 will be under the age of 50. It is alarming that so many younger women are being diagnosed with breast cancer and it is not a trend we can put down to screening and awareness alone. Breast Cancer UK is a national charity dedicated to addressing the key risk factors for breast cancer and launched its Ambassador Programme in 2016 with funding from The Big Lottery. Caron Brooks is one of 46 volunteers, who have been trained by the charity to go out into their communities and talk to people about prevention not just diagnosis and cure. The Ambassadors encourage people to become more aware of the risk factors for breast cancer and share simple ways to lead a healthier life presented in a positive, upbeat style. “Having been through treatment for breast

cancer myself I wanted to do something to raise awareness of the risks for this awful disease.” explains Ampthill-based Caron. “I know we can’t totally eliminate our risk of breast cancer but I also know there is a lot we can do to reduce that risk. And as an Ambassador for Breast Cancer UK I’m able to go out to talk to people about this and hopefully encourage some to make even small changes to their lifestyle which may help to reduce those risks.”. A ‘Let’s Prevent Breast Cancer’ talk lasts about an hour and covers the following areas • How breast cancer develops • Risk factors for breast cancer • Why oestrogen is significant for breast cancer • Simple ways to reduce your risk and lead a healthier life All attendees are provided with literature to take away afterwards and encouraged to make one change in their lives to #ReduceYourRisk. Anyone wishing to find out more about hosting and booking a ‘Let’s Prevent Breast Cancer’ talk, should go to http://www.breastcanceruk.org. uk/book-a-talk or call 0845 680 1322.

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Local News

Fight Fatigue & Pain – Free Event

People who are experiencing exhaustion and chronic pain are invited to a free drop-in event on Saturday 28th July. Between 12pm and 2pm anyone is welcome to find out more about Fighting Fatigue & Pain, a project run by Letchworth charity Herts MS Therapy Centre. Extreme fatigue and chronic pain can result from many conditions, including Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and ME – and many others. The Herts MS Therapy Centre in Letchworth helps anyone with a long term condition, not just Multiple Sclerosis. It offers Physiotherapy, Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy, APS Pain Reduction Therapy and specialist exercise sessions to help people improve their quality of life. Oxygen Therapy helps some people recover faster after injury, surgery and cancer treatments. It’s also great for increasing energy. Some people find it reduces pain, especially people with Fibromyalgia and CFS. On 28th July, free test sessions are available. Rachel B says: “Without my Oxygen Treatment in Letchworth I would still be in agony from Fibromyalgia and probably jobless and depressed. I can’t even begin to explain what a difference it has made for me.” Nicki H has MS. She adds: “Also, it’s great to meet other people who have an idea of what you’re going through. It’s nice to have a chat with other people at the Centre.” Mark Boscher, the Chief Executive of Herts MS Therapy Centre added: “If you, or someone you know, lives with long term pain or fatigue – from any condition - maybe we can help them to gain more energy and feel less pain. Please come on Saturday 28th July.” To book your free test session, call Claire on 01462 684214 or email openday@hmstc.net.

Fighting Fatigue & Pain: Free Event Saturday 28th July 2018, 12pm – 2pm Visit to find out about:

• Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy

(may accelerate healing, boost energy, reduce pain)

• APS Pain Reduction Therapy • Specialist physio and group exercise sessions (tailored to people with medical conditions)

Free test sessions available – book your place now!

Fighting Fatigue & Pain

We’re at Herts MS Therapy Centre, 30 Campus Five, Letchworth, SG6 2JF. Just turn up! For more details call Claire on 01462 684 214.

www.hertsmstherapy.org.uk

Hertfordshire Multiple Sclerosis Therapy Centre is Charity 299524 and Company 2215165 Registered Office 30 Campus Five, Letchworth, Herts SG6 2JF

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House of Colour

Tips for a Formal or Black Tie Summer Event 1. Consider the venue in which the event is being held. Although you should always wear clothes that work well with your skin tone, also make sure you have considered your setting. If the event is being held outside, shoes with heels that don’t sink into the ground are a good plan. 2. Consider the weather that day. Have you ever noticed how much your mood and therefore choice of clothes is affected by the weather? But your mood can be completely uplifted by wearing a wow colour from your palette and if your style benefits from pattern or texture then introduce this into your outfit as well make sure you are feeling your very best despite the damp conditions. 3. If you are wearing predominantly neutral colours, try adding a pop of one of your wow colours to your summer event outfit. It is amazing how a colourful shawl, hat, shoes, necklace or bag can make your whole outfit come alive! To add interest, think about using gorgeous different textures or patterns, depending on your personal style as well. 4. Use accessories to stand out with style. Your skin tone determines whether you should wear cool white metal or warm yellow metal jewellery. Mixing fresh dynamic colours with stunning jewellery designs can redefine an otherwise simple but chic outfit. 5. Wear shoes that you find comfortable and never wear them for the first time to an event where you might be standing around for hours. It is rare that we choose to wear flats to a black tie or formal dress event but make sure you wear a heel that is comfortable and that suits your style personality whether that is wedges, block heels, stilettos, courts or platforms! 6. Choose a bag that not only works with your outfit and your personal scale but is also a size that can hold all your necessities in case you wish to touch up your make up. 7. If you wish to wear a big hat to your event, make sure that it is not too large for your personal style. Hats need to be balanced out with your outfit, personality and body shape. 8. Make sure the outfit you wear displays your best assets and is tailored to your

natural body shape. Trying to hide parts of your body that you do not like by swamping is never a good look, nor are overly tight dresses or trousers. This is an important time to really enjoy looking your very best! ..AND FOR THE MEN 1. Consider the formality of the occasion. Choose something well made, with a definitive, tailored cut that suits you. 2. The quality of the shirt is important as is the colour. Knowing your colour palette will define whether you are best in bright white, cream, or variations on ivory or a beige tone. 3. Pick your trouser style and length carefully! Find out what suits you when it comes to choosing between a skinnier or straight legged trousers, and single, double or no pleats. 4. It’s the little things that count. Make sure that your outfit is perfect down to the last fine detail. Items such as ties, cravats and cufflinks are always noticed and it’s an easy way to show a pop of colour or style creativity.

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By Jennie Billings Style and Colour Consultatnt at House of Colour www.houseofcolour.co.uk/ jenniebillings Jennie.billings@houseofcolour.co.uk 27

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Health & Fitness

Stretch Benefits In an attempt to prevent injury, most of us stretch before exercise and some (though not as many) stretch afterwards. But if we’re doing fairly steady activities (jogging, cycling or walking) then while stretching will improve our flexibility there is not much evidence it will prevent muscle injury. In these cases the advice is to warm up with five minutes of light, gradual exercise instead. The reason for this is that it’s important to increase the blood flow to the muscles and heart steadily, sudden changes will cause muscles to fatigue more quickly. Stretching is more effective if you’re doing the type of exercise where you land constantly and forcefully on your feet, or stop and start quickly (sprinting, tennis, weight-lifting, or competitive team sports like football). The more flexible the muscles are the more impact they’ll be able to sustain. But everyone benefits from stretching after a workout. During exercise lactic acid builds up

in your muscles. This can lead to soreness and fatigue. Stretching after a workout helps to eliminate the lactic acid and restore the muscle to its relaxed state, preventing the fatigue.

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By Sarah Davey

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Quirky Britain

Dwile Flonking with the Devil and his Tailors Why Britain’s traditional pub games may be poised to make a comeback

Playing games – both indoor and outdoor – has been a feature of British pubs for hundreds, and possibly thousands, of years. Here are just some of the archaic games still played in Britain’s pubs: Devil Among the Tailors This old pub game is a form of table or bar skittles, where nine skittles are arranged in a square, opentopped wooden box usually placed on a table top. A vertical pole rises from one corner of the box from which a small, wooden ball (about the size of a golf ball) is suspended from a chain or string. The aim is to swing the ball in an arc to catch the skittles, rather than aiming directly at them. And the name? Legend has it that in 1805 the game of bar skittles was renamed after the cavalry was called to break up a group of tailors who were rioting. The army’s horsemen were said to have cleared the streets as effectively as a ball ploughing through skittles. Dwile Flonking Honestly, you couldn’t make it up. Dwile Flonking is a game in which two teams of twelve players take turns to hold hands and dance in a circle, at the same time trying to avoid being hit by a beersoaked cloth (the ‘dwile’ in question) wielded by an opposing team member in the middle. Losers get to drink a chamber pot filled with ale, in doublequick time. Dwile Flonking apparently has its origins in an ancient harvest ritual. The word ‘dwile’ is a knitted floor cloth, while ‘flonk’ is probably a corruption of ‘flong’ (used in olden days as the past tense for ‘fling’).

Toad in the Hole No, it’s not a hearty helping of sausage and batter served up by the pub landlord. This is a simple game where contestants toss brass coins onto a lead-topped table with a hole in the middle. Players try to land their coins (known as ‘toads’) either on the flat surface of the table or in the hole, scoring one or two points respectively. The game is a variant of ‘Pitch-penny’ (or ‘Chuck Farthing’), which dates back to the 18th century or possibly even earlier. Ringing the Bull The idea here is to throw a metal ring (hung from the ceiling on a rope) onto a metal hook on the wall. The hook has replaced the original target – a bull’s horn – that gave the game its name. Ringing the Bull was reputedly a game brought back by pilgrims from Jerusalem in medieval times, and the story is given some weight by the fact that the most famous pub to host the game is an ancient Nottingham hostelry called “Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem”. These traditional pub games have an innocent charm that provides a welcome relief from the beeping, flashing, coin-munching fruit machines that have become such a familiar sight in Britain’s drinking establishments. Wouldn’t it be ironic if we entered a pub in ten years’ time and – instead of finding customers hunched over their smartphones and laptops – we discovered a group of players happily engaged in a game of Devil Among the Tailors?

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By Kate McLelland 31

Health

Piercing Problems

I’m quite a relaxed parent (compared with many of my friends) so when my teenage daughter Tash decided she wanted her tongue pierced I was more curious than horrified. It was all set to go ahead until we went for a routine family visit to the dentist. I casually mentioned the imminent tongue-piercing and the dentist’s reaction made us both reconsider on the spot! In turns out that dentists are not fans of oral piercing due to the many issues they cause. “Gums are very thin and easily traumatised. Even brushing too hard can cause gum recession and loose teeth,” she said. The oral and dental complications associated with tongue piercings can be categorised as acute or chronic. Acute complications occur a short time after piercing and include: infection, pain, swelling of the tongue, changes to speech, swallowing and chewing, and allergy to the metal used. There have even been reports of galvanic current between barbell and metallic dental restorations. Chronic (longer term) complications include chipping, tooth fracture, gum trauma and recession. One U.S. study found that 41% of people with pierced lips had receding gums, compared with only 7% who had no oral piercing. Finally there is a risk of overgrowth of surrounding tissue leading to the ornament becoming embedded. Tash decided on the spot that she wasn’t going to go ahead, and I decided that perhaps I needed to be a little less liberal in the future…which is why I said a firm no to her By Tracey Anderson request for a tattoo less than a week later!

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Parenting

Summer Fun on a Budget Want to make your pennies stretch a bit further this summer? Keep reading… Free local events Install the Eventbrite app on your phone (or check www.eventbrite. co.uk) for family-friendly events near you, from food and drink festivals to pop-up art exhibitions. Most are free and tickets can be booked using the app. If you can bear to brave the crowds, shopping malls often have free family activities on over the summer, including kids’ entertainers and competitions. Gone are the days when libraries were silent places reserved for studying. Now they regularly play host to all manner of familyfriendly events, including treasure hunts and storytelling. Many events are free, while others incur a small charge. Sign up to your local library’s social media pages or newsletter to be the first to hear what’s coming up. Cut-price shows Several of the larger cinema chains offer cut-price kids clubs. Vue and Odeon’s kids clubs, for example, are at 10am on Saturday

and Sundays at most cinemas, and every morning during the summer, with tickets priced from £2.50. The offer is usually only valid for one particular film. Heading to London? The Audience Club offers free tickets to a host of live shows. Membership costs £5 and there’s a £3 (plus VAT) admin charge for each ticket, meaning you could easily save £100 per show. Most tickets are offered last minute and you can only get two per member. See www. theaudienceclub.com. My Box Office (www.myboxoffice. biz) also runs a similar scheme for an annual fee of £15, which gets you discounted tickets to a range of shows across the UK. Again, tickets are usually offered last minute, and there are only ever a limited number available, so you need to be quick! TV companies offer free audience tickets for many of their programmes, from Dancing on Ice to The Voice. Most of them can be requested through www. sroaudiences.com. There don’t tend to be many children’s

programmes, but the website is well worth a look if you have older children. Discount vouchers Wowcher, Groupon and other voucher sites do have some great deals, but they usually involve signing up to a daily alert. Bownty (www.bownty.co.uk) gathers all the offers together in one place, and you don’t have to sign up for newsletters. You can search by location and activity, and when we checked there were cut-price deals on soft play and kids craft sessions. Kids Pass gives you discounts for a wide range of activities and venues, including cinemas, aquariums, zoos and more. You also get free kids’ meals (with a paying adult) at restaurants such as Giraffe, Prezzo and Bella Italia. The card usually costs £39.99 for a year but there are often offers available, including £1 for a 30 day trial (you’ll need to make sure you cancel within the trial period). The website is www.kidspass.co.uk, but search online for special offers before buying.

By Kate Duggan www.kateduggan.co.uk

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Finance

By Ann Haldon

How to Save Money on Your Summer Holiday This Year

The cost of travelling abroad has increased over the last year or so, mainly due to a fall in the value of sterling, but there are still ways you can save money on your summer holiday. You may secure a better exchange rate by visiting non-Euro countries such as Croatia or Poland, but what else can you do to reduce your costs without taking away the joy of a well-earned break? Before you go Be flexible If you can travel over a range of dates or don’t have a particular destination in mind, you’ll have more chance of finding a bargain. Maybe you just want to relax on a beach in the sun, in which case the destination may not be so important, or you might be looking for a city break with no particular country in mind. Forget the frills Although you can’t carry liquids through the airport, taking your own food on board can save a considerable amount of money, particularly if you’re feeding a family. If you’re travelling with a ‘no frills’ airline, taking hand luggage only can also reduce your costs. Staying overnight at the airport? A deal that combines an overnight stay and parking at the hotel is likely to be cheaper than parking at the airport for the duration of your holiday. You can often save money by booking online, rather than through your travel agent.

Check data roaming charges before you go New legislation introduced in 2017 means that you can now use your mobile phone allowance free in EUmember states. Beware of ‘fair usage’ limits applied by mobile phone providers, however, as a lower limit may be set on your usage abroad. When you’ve reached your destination City sightseeing Many European cities offer free walking tours that are relaxed, informative, and help you get your bearings for the other days you’re there. They offer you a ‘feel’ for the city, with many people giving donations to the guide at the end of the tour, based on their experience. Avoid the tourist traps when eating out Eating away from the main sights, even if it’s only a short walk away, can literally halve your food and drink costs – although meals eaten with an iconic view are certainly memorable, so is the bill when you leave. If out for an evening drink, save money by standing at the bar rather than having your drinks served at a table. If breakfast isn’t part of your package, a local café will be far cheaper than paying hotel prices where a premium tends to be charged if they’re not pre-booked. Make lunch your biggest meal Set lunch menu prices can be considerably cheaper than paying for an extravagant dinner in the evening. Although you may not want to make lunch your main meal every day, doing so for one or two days means you can also enjoy a few lunchtime drinks without breaking the bank. Saving money on holiday needn’t be difficult. A little pre-planning goes a long way, so research your chosen city or resort well, and reap the benefits of making your money go further. www.uswitch.com/mobiles/guides/mobileroaming-charges/ www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/advice/budget-travelsimple-ways-to-save-money-on-your-holiday/

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Garden View

Feeling Fruity Have you ever wished you could grow fresh fruit in your garden but worry the space is too small, or it won’t look pretty, or it’s too difficult? What if I was to tell you that even a beginner can successfully grow a wide variety of fruit from apples and pears to plums, cherries, blueberries and raspberries, and possibly even figs or nectarines? The first thing you need to know is that the sweeter the fruit is meant to be the more sun it will require. Sun boosts sugar levels. If you have a sunny wall it’s an ideal place to train a sun-loving fruit tree like a peach or an apricot. Plant the tree at the base of the wall but not too close (about 30cm is about right) in soil enriched with fertiliser and good quality compost. As it grows splay the branches evenly and attach them to the wall. As the plant grows gradually cut out old straggly branches and tie in new healthy branches. The idea of splaying or ‘fanning’ is that as much sun as possible gets to the fruit, so it can ripen beautifully and maximise your crop. It also has the benefit of being a great space saver. Choose a variety that won’t grow too large. In slightly shadier spots you can grow

gooseberries or raspberries, or my favourite morello cherries. Most of these come in compact varieties and can also be fan-trained against a wall if space is an issue. I have a tiny orchard of minarettes - space-saving apple, pear and plum trees bought as single vertical stems which I grow in pots. They grow to a maximum of 6 feet / 2m high and no wider than 45cm. My children love them! Simply cut back the side stems to about 10cm at this time of year and you’re good to go. Just remember that pot-grown plants rely totally on you for their food and water. Thick glazed / non-porous pots are best because they retain water and act as insulation in extreme cold. Use the correct compost and food for the plant but most will do well with a regular high potash liquid feed from early spring to late summer. As a gardener I was quite late to fruit-growing, but I realised quickly that it becomes an addictive hobby. And as a complete bonus I’ve noticed a definite increase in my bee population over the past few years. Free food, and good for the environment too. What could be better?

By Rachael Leverton

Happy Gardening

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Garden

Essential Scent No matter how good your garden may look, without scent it is missing a vital ingredient – and you don’t have to sacrifice colour and texture when using perfumed plants, as many heavilyscented flowers are also really good-looking. Perfume plays a role in plant evolution and is often used to attract attention to the flower and thus entice a suitable pollinator. The insect enjoys the flower’s nectar and pollinates it in the process, increasing the chances of it producing a new generation. Many plants produce an alluring perfume during the evening or night-time, and at this time of day moths can be useful pollinators, especially during the summer months. So although a plant like the sweetly-perfumed night-scented stock may not have flamboyant flowers, it will be successfully pollinated. Weather conditions can alter the level of perfume that reaches us, and in a wind-swept spot the perfume can literally be blown away. Unusually low temperatures can also cause scent levels to drop. So bear this in mind when choosing where to put your perfumed plants. Smaller or more subtly-scented plants, such as some of the polyanthus or the miniature iris, should be planted in raised areas or in pots – otherwise their perfume can easily pass you by! A small pergola makes a great home for perfumed climbers, and what could be lovelier than to wander from one part of the garden to another via a tunnel of perfume? Perfumed roses such as the repeat flowering climbers ‘Ena Harkness’ (red) or ‘New Dawn’ (pale, dusky pink) or ‘Zephirine Drouhin’ (brightest pink) have flexible stems and are ideal. Place smaller perfumed plants such as ‘Nemesia Fragrant Cloud’ or lavenders into window boxes or wall baskets, and enjoy their wonderful perfume in your house as it wafts in through windows left ajar.

For sitting out after sundown, plant flowers that are at their best in the evening. For a warm summer’s evening the small creamy-white flowers of night-scented stock take some beating, or try the night-perfumed nicotianas or tobacco plants such as Nicotiana sylvestris. Combine the vibrant colours of bedding plants with some scented stunners in patio pots and other containers. How about some hyacinths or the Heliotrope or cherry pie, with its flowers in white or shades of purple which will produce perfume throughout the summer? Disguise a less-than-attractive house or garage wall with wall shrubs; in a sunny spot the blueflowered Ceaonothus produces a distinctly honey-perfumed scent, or on well-drained soil the pineapple broom Cytissus batanderei looks and smells sensational, with its lovely silvery-coloured foliage, bright yellow flowers and pineapplescented blooms. Create an arbour from a kit or from scratch and clothe it in perfumed climbers such as sweetlyscented roses or, in a shadier spot, spicily-scented honeysuckle. Sitting in the shade of the plants with their flowers’ scents all around is pure heaven! Visit Pippa’s website www.pippagreenwood. com and you’ll find some great gardening items: Nemaslug, green controls for leatherjackets, chafer grubs, ants and greenfly, plus garden plant supports, raised bed kits, Easy-Tunnels, gardening tools, Grower Frames, signed books and more! Or why not book Pippa for a gardening talk?

By Pippa Greenwood www.pippagreenwood.com

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Out and About

Technology

Tech tools for wherever you may roam

Whether it’s a long walk or an epic adventure, technology can make travelling much easier. It’s amazing how much can be crammed into a small space: for example the Clippa Lady Mini Multi-Tool Hair Clip (£8) combines a bottle opener, scraper, ruler, small screwdriver and a nail file in a simple pink hair clip. If you fancy something that’s more practical than pretty, the evergreen Leatherman multitool and its many imitators crams an astonishing number of tools into something barely larger than a pair of pliers, and while you can’t generally fly with them in your carry-on luggage – many multi-tools have various cutting bits that make them potential weapons – they’re very useful things to pack, or to have on a hike or in a caravan. It pays to shop around, though: the top Leatherman models can be ruinously expensive but they’re often heavily discounted, so for example the £149.95 Wave is currently available from several retailers for nearer £100. Much cheaper options are available too.

Wearable technology is becoming a big deal in the great outdoors too. Apple’s Series 3 Apple Watch has built-in GPS and is available with its own 4G data connection, albeit only on EE, which enables you to track your route and get directions without having to take your phone out or even bring it with you. And there are now tons of focused GPS watches for sports and for hiking, such as TomTom’s Adventurer GPS watch (£199) or if you’re feeling really flush, Garmin’s Fenix 5 Multisports (£439). Where Apple’s device is a smartwatch that can do GPS, rival devices were designed with GPS as their main priority and are often better bets for serious sports people. TomTom and Garmin are the big names in this market but there are plenty of cheaper options from less established firms too. If you’ll be travelling for a while and think your phone battery won’t last, there are several options for topping up its charge. Some phones enable you to swap the batteries (although the most expensive

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phones, such as iPhones and the latest Android flagships, don’t), but most big name devices can accept power pack cases that combine a protective case and extra battery in one item. That means much more life between charges, but it does add quite a lot of bulk and weight. Expect to pay around £60 for an established brand such as Mophie’s Juice Pack for the iPhone, and steer clear of no-name products on eBay – dodgy batteries can go on fire with horrific consequences, so it’s wise to stick to recognised brands from reputable sellers. Another option is a portable charger. Solar ones aren’t much cop in the UK except on the sunniest days, but precharged devices such as Aukey’s excellent Power Bank can be used to charge tablets, phones, handheld games consoles and other small items such as Kindles. Again, they’re often discounted and £20 is the sweet spot for a decent one. You can expect to get more than four full charges for a smartphone or one and a half for a big tablet.

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Fun Quiz - Cheese and Biscuits 1. First sold in the UK in 1935, what brand of biscuit has become popular as a good luck charm in Japan as its name sounds similar to a Japanese phrase that means “you will surely win”? 2. What type of cheese is rolled down Cooper’s Hill at Brockworth each spring bank holiday for competitors to chase in a famous annual cheeserolling event? 3. What type of cream cheese is traditionally used when making a tiramisu? 4. Which 1970s TV series featured a private investigator called Jim who kept his gun in a biscuit jar? 5. In which English county is the village of Cheddar, where Cheddar cheese originated? 6. What brand of biscuits have been advertised using the slogan “A drink’s too wet without one”? 7. According to a famous scene from the film Pulp Fiction, which McDonald’s product is called a “royale with cheese” in Paris? 8. What biscuit was named after a royal house of French origin, with kings from this house ruling France from 1589 to 1792 and again from 1815 to 1848? 9. Before being left to mature, the cheese Cornish Yarg is wrapped in what to form an edible rind? 10. Why have McVitie’s been keen to ensure that Jaffa Cakes are classed as cakes and not biscuits? 1. Kit Kat 2. Double Gloucester (Cooper’s Hill is in Gloucestershire) 3. Mascarpone 4. The Rockford Files 5. Somerset 6. (McVitie’s) Rich Tea Biscuits 7. A quarter pounder with cheese 8. Bourbon 9. Nettle leaves 10. To avoid paying V.A.T. (which is payable on chocolate-covered biscuits, but not on chocolate-covered cakes)

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Rehoming Appeal

Pets

Luis

Luis is a 4 year old cheeky Yorkshire terrier who had been very neglected. His teeth were in a terrible state before he went to the vets for a full dental clean. Luis is a very friendly dog who loves people and is very affectionate. He is not bothered about other dogs coming near him if they approach him in a calm way. Luis can be very protective of his food especially around other dogs, so we think it is best he is an only dog in the home. He can be very dominant, wanting his own way. An adopter will need to work with this behaviour until he learns that he is not the boss. Because of this we will not let Luis go to a family with children but he would make a newly retired person a great companion. Luis is housetrained but a new owner will need to be patient with him as he can make a few mistakes and be very unsure in a new home. Once he begins to feel secure, his house training should then return to normal. If you can offer this lovely boy a home, please contact Julie on 01763 289827 Alternatively, please email Philippa at info.rats@gmail.com who will be pleased to forward your enquiry onto the team.

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Pets

Animal Know-How Is a rabbit your perfect pet? Rabbits are a popular choice for many families with an estimated 1.5 million rabbits kept as pets in the UK. And it’s no surprise, as rabbits are highly intelligent, inquisitive animals. They come in a variety of breeds, shapes and sizes and each bunny has their own unique personality.Typically, they’ll live for 8 -12 years, but some may live for longer. Here is some advice to find out if a rabbit is the best pet for you. Home sweet home – they need: • A large shelter where they can rest together and apart from each other. • A large, secure exercise area permanently attached to their shelter, where they can hop, jump, run, dig and search (forage) for food. • Places to hide when they feel afraid or want to spend time alone. • Lots of space so they have room to exercise. • To be able to stand up fully without their ears touching the roof. • Protection from hazards, bad weather, high and low temperatures and predators. Food and drink – they need: • Fresh, clean drinking water – available 24/7. • Lots of good quality hay and/or grass – available 24/7 (growing or freshly picked grass is fine but NEVER feed lawnmower clippings). • An adult-sized handful of safe, washed leafy greens (e.g. cabbage, broccoli, kale and mint). They’d also enjoy a daily portion of high quality pellets/nuggets – about two egg cups full are enough for a medium-sized adult rabbit! • Only feed carrots and apples in small amounts as occasional treats. Don’t feed any other types of treats as these may harm rabbits! To be able to act naturally – they need: • To be able to exercise, graze on growing grass, forage, hide and dig every day!

• To be able to play with their friendly, neutered rabbit companion(s) every day. • Lots of safe toys to play with and chew. • To be able to play with people who will be quiet and gentle around them, and who won’t punish or shout at them. To stay healthy – they need: • To be checked for signs of pain, illness, injury or changes in behaviour every day. Talk to your vet if you suspect any problems. • To be taken for an annual vet health check and regular vaccinations. • For owners to check their bottom and tail area every day to make sure they are clean. You should also check the length of their nails and teeth every week to make sure they’re not too long. • Rabbits need to be neutered so they don’t have unwanted babies. This also keeps them healthy and reduces the risk of them fighting with each other. A pet rabbit for a child may seem like a good idea, but you may have realised after reading this article, that rabbits are not low-maintenance pets! So, although they can make wonderful pets, the primary caregiver should always be an adult. Think carefully if you can give a pet rabbit everything they need and a forever home with your family. If you still think rabbits are your perfect pet, please contact the RSPCA to see if you can give one of the unwanted rabbits in our care, a home.

ANIMAL KNOW-HOW is one of a series of articles brought to you by the RSPCA Bedfordshire North Branch www.rspca-bedfordshirenorth.org.uk

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Motoring

Should you buy an automatic car? Pros and cons explained

British motorists traditionally favoured manual gearboxes, but automatics are increasingly popular. Tom Wiltshire explains everything you need to know. Though early automatic gearboxes tended to dent performance, fuel economy and driving pleasure, times have moved on, and the modern automatic can sometimes be a better choice than the manual gearbox. Some performance automatics can actually beat the manuals off the line, while the cash-conscious may enjoy lower CO2 emissions and higher fuel economy. A good automatic transmission also makes for a relaxing drive, giving your left leg a rest and letting the car do the work. Always test drive a car, however, as there are still awful automatic gearboxes out there. Automatics tend to be more expensive to buy, and much more expensive to repair if they go wrong. Here’s our guide to the different types of automatic gearbox available today. Torque converter/traditional auto Though now much refined and improved, these automatics have

been available since the 1940s, and use a fluid-filled coupling in place of a traditional clutch. Torque converter automatics tend to offer very smooth shifts, making for a comfortable ride. They can be slow to pick up, though. However, modern units – such as the ZF ‘box fitted to dozens of high performance cars – offer no discernible penalty to performance or economy. Dual-clutch gearbox The dual-clutch gearbox uses a pair of robotised clutches working together to provide lightning-fast shifts, making them ideal for sports cars. There’s no real penalty in performance or economy, but at low speeds in stop-start traffic dual-clutch boxes can be jerky and unpleasant. Early units can be unreliable and costly to repair. Manufacturers have different names for them – the Volkswagen group use DSG, Porsche PDK, Renault EDC, Hyundai and Kia DCT – but fundamentally they all work the same way. CVT Standing for ‘continuously variable transmission’, CVTs do not have standard ‘gears’. Instead,

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By Tom Wiltshire an infinitely changeable single ratio theoretically ensures correct gearing for maximum power or economy, depending on conditions. Around since the 1950s, the CVT ‘box can be incredibly economical when driven carefully. However, they can provide a somewhat disconnected feel to the car – and attempts at rapid acceleration are usually met by spiralling engine revs and lots of noise. Their smoothness and variable nature makes them ideal in a hybrid car. Automated manual transmission Cheap, easy to install and lightweight, these gearboxes leave existing clutch and gearbox operations in place, but simply robotise the action. Automated manuals are often despised, can be horrifically jerky, and dawdle under hard acceleration. In fact, automated manual transmissions have ruined a fair few cars, so are probably best avoided. Electric vehicle Electric cars don’t technically have a transmission, but are worth looking at if you’re considering an automatic car. They act almost identically in most conditions, with two pedals and no gears to shift, but also have a totally smooth and silent powertrain and zero tailpipe emissions. EV’s aren’t ideal for everyone – you’ll need somewhere to charge, and if you regularly do longer trips you’ll definitely need some form of combustion engine. However, if your circumstances suit, you could be a convert to the electric lifestyle.

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Travel

By Solange Hando

Mauritius: Natural World In the southern reaches of the Indian Ocean, Mauritius is blessed with idyllic beaches, but a few steps inland another kind of paradise waits to be discovered, stunning and lush, as the island endeavours to protect its wildlife and dwindling forest. Great swathes were lost to timber and plantations. The remainder covers about 18% of the land, only 2% of it native trees, but nestling in gorges or climbing to mountain tops it still harbours 670 species of plants. Meanwhile, imported casuarinas sway along the shore, banyans thrive and Chinese guava bushes spread unhindered. There are fan-shaped traveller’s palms and unusual trees protected in botanical gardens, including the hyophorbe amaricaulis palm in Curepipe and the rare talipot in Pamplemousse, which takes up to 60 years to flower and then dies. As for the wildlife, boars and Javanese deer live alongside the long-tailed macaques, the ornate rainbow-coloured geckos and thousands of fruit bats, or ‘flying foxes’, the only native mammals, with wings up to a metre across. Although the dodo is extinct, other native birds may fare better, such as the pink pigeons and Mauritius kestrels breeding once again in protected areas. Down in the south west, beyond the tea plantations of Darling Wood, the road climbs through scented pines towards the Grand Bassin sacred lake and Hindu shrine. Nearby, the Native Garden of Petrin displays the lovely red ‘earring’, or national flower, and an array of medicinal

plants. But most enticing of all in the area is the Black River Gorges National Park, covering over 6,000 hectares of forest laced with scenic trails. Echo parakeets flash emerald green along the Macchabee ridge, white tropicbirds flit through the air with the grace of ballet dancers. On the very edge of the gorge the Black River viewpoint can be easily accessed, a breathtaking place where, below the jagged peaks, the thicklywooded slopes tumble down to the sea More views can be enjoyed along the road down to the coast, most dramatic the precipitous peak on Le Morne peninsula where runaway slaves jumped to their death. Chamarel is a must-see, starting with the island’s highest waterfall leaping down 83 metres. But the top attraction is the legendary waves of ‘Coloured Earth’ spread across a slope, red, purple, pink, silver and gold. Now protected by walkways, this unique phenomenon was caused by the uneven cooling of lava, and you can buy a sample in a bottle. Shake as you will, the colours will separate again within a day. On the central plateau, the Deer’s Hole caldera is equally impressive. Its slopes are cloaked with vegetation, its floor is choked with silt but as you stand on the rim between heaven and earth, you look across an island bristling with eerie peaks, the Rampart, the Guard, the unmistakable silhouette of the Thumb or Pieter Both, resembling a human figure, named after a drowned admiral. Legend has it that if this pinnacle falls, disaster will strike. So far, fortunately, Pieter Both has kept his head and as kestrels soar above the rustling slopes, you can enjoy the natural world of a truly stunning island.

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Painting & Decorating Property Maintenance 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

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 To advertise in The Villager and Town Life please call 01767 261122

Three Counties Radio

KOREAN POPCORN CHICKEN Put simply, this recipe is one of the tastiest things I have enjoyed on the Weekend Kitchen. It should carry a health warning as it is insanely moreish. Once you take one bitesized piece of deliciousness, you really just cannot stop. The recipe was created by Kumud Ghandi, who runs the excellent Cooking Academy cookery school in Rickmansworth. Her story is an interesting one he family have always been in the spice trade, and her dishes always burst with flavour. I have also made a vegetarian version of these at home, using a vegetarian ‘chicken’ replacement. For the chicken: 500g chicken thigh (skinless and bones) cut into bite size pieces 50g cashew nuts 1 tbsp rice wine 2 tsp ginger powder 1⁄2 tsp fine sea salt 1⁄4 tsp ground black pepper 190g corn starch Oil for frying For the sauce: 5 tbsp tomato sauce/ketchup 1 1⁄2 tbsp Korean chilli paste (or any chilli paste) 2 tbsp honey 2 tbsp dark brown sugar 1 tbsp soy sauce 2 tsp sesame oil 1⁄2 tsp chopped garlic For the garnish: Sesame seeds Finely chopped spring onion Finely sliced red chilli (optional)

1. Place the chicken pieces into a large mixing bowl. Add the rice wine, ginger powder, salt, and ground black pepper and mix them well. Cover the bowl with cling film and marinate the chicken for 30 minutes in the fridge. 2. Coat each chicken piece with the corn starch powder thoroughly. It’s best doing this in 4 to 5 batches so that they are well covered with the starch powder. 3. Pour some cooking oil into a deep wok and bring it to a temperature of around 175C. 4. Fry the chicken pieces in batches until golden and cooked through (this will be around 2-3 minutes). 5. Take them out and set aside onto kitchen paper to absorb any excess oil. Repeat this with the remaining chicken. 6. Don’t put too much chicken in one go as it can lower the oil temperature too much. To make the chicken pieces extra crunchy, fry them all twice. This is actually worth the effort! Set aside. 7. Pour all the ingredients for the sauce into a heated pan, boil on a medium heat until the sauce thickens a little bit (approximately 1-2 minutes), stirring constantly. 8. Add the cashew nuts and fried chicken and coat with the sauce quickly. 9. Serve by garnishing with spring onion and sesame seeds and the optional red chilli. Eat your portion before anyone else makes it into the kitchen…

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

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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. To advertise in The Villager and Town Life please call 01767 261122

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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 Sole trader No VAT Free estimates Call Alan on 01582 454604 Mob:07760198256 or E-Mail: george-a6@sky.com

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n O s ’ t Wha 2 July North Herts Association of the National Trust Coach Outing Pickup points in Hitchin & Letchworth Visit to the Swiss Garden, Shuttleworth. Tel: Adam Kuzminski 01462 620317 Email: adam@kuzminski.co.uk 2, 9, 16, 23 & 30 July Moo Music Sandy, Biggleswade & Shefford 10-10.40am Shefford Baptist Church Moosical fun for your little one! Music & movement classes for 0-5 year olds in Sandy & Sutton. New sessions in Shefford! Come and join in the fun with your little moover. First session free. Email: Heather sandymoo@moo-music.co.uk Web: www.moo-music.co.uk/sbs Facebook: www.facebook.com/moomusicsandy 2, 9, 16, 23, & 30 July Branch Out Social Club for Single People 8.30-11pm Cromwell Bar, The Sun Hotel, Hitchin Branch Out meets every Monday night and is a medium-sized Social Club for single people. It was formed in 1995 to bring together single, divorced, widowed and separated people, aged 40 upwards, from the Herts, Beds and Bucks area, to socialise and enjoy one another’s company. The club organises regular events, such as dinners, discos, meals, parties, Sunday walks, theatre and concert visits, day and weekend trips and holidays. Tel: Lorna 01438 233657 Web: www.branch-out.org.uk 3, 5, 10, 12, 17, 19, 24, 26 & 31 July “Come and Try Bowls” Days Tues 2pm, Thurs 6pm Willian Bowls Club, Lower Green, Norton Common, Letchworth Every Tuesday and Thursday. New for our 2018 Outdoor season. Free tuition and all equipment provided. Any new bowler wanting to join after a session, will be offered free 2018 Membership. Tel: 01462 642790 Web: www.willianbowlsclub.org 3, 10, 17, 24 & 31 July Stevenage Bridge Club 7.30pm Priory Nursery, Stanmore Road, Old Stevenage To play Duplicate Bridge. A host system is run to find partners, if required. A wide level of ability play at the club. Tel: Phil Cooper 07957 813434

4, 11, 18 & 25 July Baby Rhyme Time 10.30-11am Baldock Library Free event – voluntary contribution of £1 per family welcomed. Baby Rhyme Times are a fun half hour session of songs and rhymes suitable for babies and toddlers of all ages. All parents, carers and their babies are welcome to join in and there is no need to book in advance. 4, 11, 18 & 25 July Toddler Tales 2.15-2.45pm Letchworth Library Free event – voluntary contribution of £1 per family welcomed Toddler Tales is a mix of lively stories and rhymes for you and your child to join in with. The stories chosen are aimed at toddlers and pre-school children but babies are welcome too. 4, 11 & 18 July Vivace Choir 7.30-9.30pm Edgeworth House, 121 High Street, Arlesey We are looking for keen singers to join our fun and friendly choir. Find out more about the choir and its concerts online. Web: www.vivacechoir.co.uk 5 July Arts Society North Herts Talk 11am & 2pm Spirella Ballroom Letchworth £7 on the door A talk on Lawrence of Arabia by Dr Neil Faulkner. Neil will analyse the invention and re-invention of the Lawrence of Arabia legend through memoirs, photos, films and paintings. All visitors welcome. 5 July Arts Society North Herts 7pm for 7.30pm Spirella Ballroom, Bridge Road, Letchworth £1 inc. welcome drink Talk on Big Ben - The inside story by Tim Redmond. Come and hear the inside story of this iconic landmark; full of amusing anecdotes and amazing facts about the 13 ton bell in the Elizabeth Tower of the Houses of Parliament. All welcome Web: www.theartssocietynorthherts.org.uk

Deadline for What’s On entries is the 12th of the previous month. What’s on entries to whatson@villagermag.com

In July

5, 12 & 19 July Baldock Community Orchestra 7.15pm Knights Templar School (Room CS1), Baldock £7 per week or 10 week term £50 A friendly group of musicians... Come and give us a try, first session free! Tel: Rachel Dawson 07818 480332 5, 12, 19 & 26 July Roundabouters Country Dance Club 8-10pm Friends Meeting House, Cuttys Lane, Stevenage £3 per week inc. refreshments, Annual subscription £5. Friendly club for English country dancing. We welcome new members, both beginners and experienced. All dances walked through; club and guest callers ensure a varied programme. First week free. Tel. 01438 727239 Email: roundabouters@live.co.uk Web: www.roundabouters.org.uk 5, 12, 19 & 26 July Sapphire Social Club 8.30pm The Orange Tree, Hitchin We are a small and friendly group for single people generally aged 50 and above. We offer a variety of social events during the month and the opportunity to meet and make new friends. Potential new members are warmly welcome to come along and meet us with no joining fee for the first two months. Tel: Joyce 07952 678021 or Ian 07900 890583 for info Web: www.sapphiresocialsinglesclub.co.uk 6, 13, 20 & 27 July Springfield House Friday Bridge Club 1.30pm Springfield House (the home of the Old Stevenage Community Centre) To play cut-in Chicago Bridge. Play is informal and friendly. Tel: Richard Bean 01438 221517 7 July The Signals Museum Open Day 10am-4pm The Signals Museum at RAF Henlow is open to the public. Entry is free but official photo ID such as a driving licence, passport or over 60s Bus Pass is required to get an entry ticket from the Guardroom. See website for full information. Web: www.rafsignalsmuseum.org.uk

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n O s ’ t Wha 7 July Langford Family Fête 12-4.30pm Langford Playing Fields, High Street, Langford, Free admission Lots of entertainment, food, stalls and activities. The fête follows the Langford Raft Race which starts at 11am at the river by Langford Garden Centre. Parking on the field if dry. 7 July Locrian Chamber Choir and East Beds Chamber Choir Concert 7.30pm St Marys Church, Ashwell Tickets £14, Under 16s free With children from Sutton School. Carmina Burana by Carl Orff and Brahams Liebeslieder Walzes. Tickets from Camerons, Potton Market Square or by telephone. Tel: 01767 260304 8 July Open Garden 1-5pm Garden House Hospice Care, Gillison Close, Letchworth Garden City Supporters and friends are welcomed into the garden for an afternoon of musical delights, creative crafts, cake and plant stalls, children’s activities, Pimm’s and much, much more. The Commemorative Hospice Ceramic flowers for those who want to consider purchasing something special to remember their loved ones will also be launched. A few of the uniquely designed flowers will be on show for people to reserve ahead of a special blessing service later in the year. Web: www.ghhospicecare.org.uk 8 July The Adventures of Dr Dolittle by Illyria Entry from 5pm, Show 6pm RSPB, The Lodge, Potton Road, Sandy Adults £15, Children (4-16) £8, Family (2+2) £42 Outdoor theatre show by Illyria held on the lawns of The Lodge gardens. A funny, much-loved and exciting adventure, with a strong message about responsibility towards animals and the environment. Suitable for cheeky monkeys aged 4+. Assistance dogs only at the performance. Tickets available online (+ 5% fee) or from the ticket yurt before the performance. Web: https://illyria.cloudvenue.co.uk/theadventur esofdoctordolittleatrspbthelodgenaturereserve

11 July Henlow Branch R N A 7.30pm Community Centre, The Gardens, Henlow The Henlow Branch of The Royal Naval Association meets on the second Wednesday of each month. Tel: Jack Stafford 01462 850618 for further info 12 July Baldock & Clothall WI 7.30pm United Reformed Church, Whitehorse Street, Baldock Visitors £3 including refreshment and raffle ticket Facebook: www.facebook.com/baldockclothallwi 12 July Stevenage Floral Art Society 7.45pm High Street Methodist Hall Visitors very welcome. 14 July Meppershall Academy Summer Event 12-5pm Meppershall Church of England Academy, 107 High Street, Meppershall Free admission A fun day for all the family. Stalls, bar, BBQ, Bouncy castle, live music, tea room and much much more. Email: meppershallpta@gmail.com 14 & 15 July Cider & Cheese Festival Sat noon-11pm, Sun noon-9pm Canary Club, Fishponds Road, Hitchin Admission £4 inc. festival glass Hitchin Town FC in association with IDNet. Featuring 40 ciders from around the country including Apple Cottage Cider from Baldock. Cheese provided by Wobbly Bottom Farm. Musical entertainment including Sandy Ukulele Group performing Saturday evening. Web: https://hitchintownfc.ktckts.com 15 July Stevenage RSPB 9.30am Fowlmere & Ashwell Quarry. An all-day outing meeting first at RSPB Fowlmere at 9.30am. Ref 154/TL406461. Postcode SG8 6EZ. After a picnic lunch we will move on to Ashwell Quarry, meeting there at 2pm. Ref: 153/TL253395. Postcode SG7 5HX. Tea and cakes available at Ashwell Parish Room after our walk. Leader Paul Collis. Booking essential. Tel: 01438 861547 Web: ww2.rspb.org.uk/groups/stevenage

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

In July

15 July North Herts Association of the National Trust Summer Lunch 1pm Gurneys, Holwell £12.50 for 2-course lunch This popular annual event is held in the picturesque setting of Gurneys in Holwell. The owners kindly allow NHANT full use of facilities during the day, which includes buffet lunch in a converted barn and the lovely extensive gardens to explore. Bar available to purchase wine, beer and soft drinks. Tel: Mrs Colette House (Secretary) 01462 815585 Email: colettehouse@gmail.com 15 July ‘Love Songs in the Afternoon’ 4pm Tilehouse Street Baptist Church, Hitchin Tickets £12, Concessions £10 inc. afternoon tea For the Hitchin Festival, Vivace choir presents ‘Love Songs in the Afternoon’. A mix of English folk songs, Broadway classics and some wonderful pieces from around the world. Tickets available on the door. Tel: 01462 735642 Email: tickets@vivacechoir.co.uk 19 July Letchworth District Gardeners Association 7.45pm Central Methodist Church, 109 Pixmore Way, Letchworth Garden City LDGA & LALG Members £2, Visitors £3 inc. refreshments. A talk by Gwenda Kyd on ‘Plants – Molecules, Medicines & Mischief’. Gwenda, scientist and complementary medicine practitioner with an interest in plants and how we use them, tells us about the uses and misuses of a selection of wellknown and less well-known examples. Tel: 01462 621691 Web: http://ldga.org.uk 29 July Guided Walk - Edible Plants 12-2pm Clophill Eco Lodges, Clophill £3 per person. Part of a series of guided walks around the beautiful countryside surrounding the village of Clophill. Dogs are welcome, please wear appropriate footwear for walking through woods, fields and uneven surfaces. Book online. Tel: 07935 911207 Email: info@ClophillHeritage.org Web: https://clophillecolodges.org.uk Hitchin & Surrounding Areas - Fun & Social Stuff A Social Group based in Hitchin. The groups arranges drinks, socials, going to Live Music events, charity events, Pub Quizzes, etc.. The aim is to enable a variety of people who are over 18 years old to get to know each other in a social and friendly setting whilst also enjoying a variety of events & activities. Web: www.meetup.com/meetup-group-HVrvZZiQ

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With our all inclusive priced deals. Ranges and prices on Facebook Ken Seaby Carpets

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

FURNITURE MOVED, OLD CARPETS REMOVED IF REQUIRED

Qualified electrician  Fully insured Reliable service  Tidy work Free quote  Satisfaction guaranteed

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

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

FREE ESTIMATES 01462 733203 / 07748 532632 CARPET CLEANING SPECIAL OFFER 2 rooms cleaned for £40 Small carpet re-fitting work undertaken

WHY HIRE A SKIP? RUBBISH CLEARANCE HERTFORDSHIRE 24 HOURS

7 DAYS FULLY INSURED & LICENCED DOMESTIC & COMMERCIAL SERVICE

GARAGE - LOFT - OFFICE - HOUSE - GARDEN WASTE - APPLIANCES PROBATE CLEARANCE | DE CLUTTERING SERVICE

BEFORE

AFTER

BEFORE

AFTER

BEFORE

AFTER

01438 215 018 | www.rubbishclearanceherts.co.uk | 07960 98 32 98 72 HRC half page.indd

Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts 20/02/2017 16:40

Juneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Puzzle Solutions and Winners Last Monthâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Crossword Winner Mrs C Daily from Huntingdon Winner of the Beadlow Manor Competition Mr Kevin Lockie from Stotfold

Winner of the Folk By the Oak Competition Debbie Bryant from Potton

Easy

Hard

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The Villager Prize Crossword

Prize

ÂŁ25

Across 1 One of the seasons (6) 4 Heaviness (6) 9 Massive (7) 10 Beside (5) 11 Surrounded by (5) 12 Tenth month (7) 13 Powerful optical instruments (11) 18 Anguish (7) 20 Complete (5) 22 Lively dance (5) 23 Disorder (7) 24 Female sibling (6) 25 Lively (6)

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

ď&#x20AC;˘

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

Down 1 A horse for example (6) 2 Rhythm (5) 3 Person in charge (5) 6 Farewell (4-3) 7 Big cats (6) 8 Protest (11) 14 Rude remarks (7) 15 External (7) 16 Modifies (6) 17 Tired (6) 19 Astound (5) 21 Brass instruments (5)

Name: Tel: Address:

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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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James Cullip

Painting & Decorating

• interior/exterior - all aspects • wallpaper hanging • coving • general household maintenance

T.R.U.S.T. Recycling Unit

2 Shops, 2 Warehouses (Near Post Office) Full of Furniture Open Monday - Thursday only 10am to 6pm

• 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

We can professionally clean... Carpets Upholstery Fascias Soffits Gutters Conservatories Patios Driveways 01767 222 822 07812 335 860 www.pkcleaningservicesltd.co.uk Find us on

67-69 Station Road Letchworth SG6 3BJ

07910 458662 01462 686375 (Answer Phone)

Proceeds to Charity Registered Charity 1119991

Vaughan’s

Construction Ltd Building and Construction

Flooring, Kitchens, Painting & Decorating, Carpets, Tiling, Refurbishment and more.

Landscaping

Decking, Fencing, Patios, Turfing, Sheds, Artificial Grass and more.

Free quotations with no obligation

Tel: 07818 509322

Email: vaughans.constructionuk@gmail.com 76

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Classifieds Accountants

Furniture Repairs FURNITURE REPAIRS

Wobbly legs on chairs and tables remedied Jammed and broken doors fixed Tired and marked surfaces brightened up Rejuvenate your wooden furniture both antique and modern Call Jamie Robinson on 01462 835619/07940 400742

Carpentry and Joinery

Tim Jordon

Guitar Tuition

Jamie Robinson Classified.indd 1

08/11/2017 09:0

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

Decorators Simon & Neil Johnston PAINTING & DECORATING

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

n.bush744@btinternet.com

To advertise in The Villager and Town Life please call 01767 261122

Classifieds Property Maintenance

Mobility

R. CHAPMAN

Home & Garden Services

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

01462 850575 or 07950 311881

Removals

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

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

Plumbing and Heating

Roofing

Property Maintenance

Wheelie Bin Cleaning Scrubbish ad Feb 2018.pdf

lutetinoannces o S e m DIY Ho perty main General

pro

All jobs undertaken Call Darren on 01462 850786 or 07710 462544

23/02/2018

16:31

Prices from £3.99 per bin, cleaned every 4 weeks To book visit our website

www.scrubbish.co.uk or call our office on

01462 416565

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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

To advertise in The Villager and Town Life please call 01767 261122