Henlow July 2019

VILLAGER The

Issue 128 - July 2019

and Town

Life

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

In this issue Your chance to win some

Gardening Tools The History of the

Package Holiday Win £25 in our Prize Crossword

Bringing Local Business to Local People Every Month in

Langford, Henlow, Shefford, Stanford, Hinxworth, Clifton, Radwell, Fairfield Park, Shillington, Pirton, Upper and Lower Stondon, Gravenhurst, ur Holwell, Meppershall, Baldock, Stotfold, Arlesey & Letchworth Yo EE

FRco1py

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Inside this issue...

Junior Try Golf John O’Gaunt Golf Club

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The History of the Package Holiday............................................4 The Lindos Acropolis - Rhodes....................................................8 Win Tools to Make Gardening Easier........................... 12 A Taste of..... Malaysia and Singapore.......................................17 Pool Power...............................................................................18 Wi-Fi Woes...............................................................................20 Budget Friendly Family Fun......................................................22 Junior Try Golf - John O’Gaunt Golf Club...................................25 Willian Bowls Club - Centenary Year.........................................26 Colour and Style Tips Every Man Should Know.........................31 Making your Home a Screen-Free Zone....................................33 Hunting Pigs and Talking Dogs.................................................34 The Appeal of the Summer Fete...............................................36 New Graduate? Manage your Finances Like a Pro.....................39 Black-Eyed Susan.....................................................................40

Prolific Pests.............................................................................43 Ready, Steady, Mow!................................................................46 I Miss my Home Comforts.........................................................48 The Roaming Empire................................................................51 R.A.T.S. Rehoming Appeal........................................................53 Animal Stories..........................................................................54 Nick Coffer’s Weekend Recipe...................................................59 Puzzle Page..............................................................................60 What’s On.................................................................................64 Fun Quiz...................................................................................68 Colourful Classrooms................................................................70 Prize Crossword........................................................ 74 Book Review............................................................................77 Useful Numbers.......................................................................79

Budget Friendly Family Fun

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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, Solange Hando, Trevor Langley, Sarah Davey, Mark O’Keefe, Kate Duggan, Jennie Billings, Kate McLelland, Karen Campbell, Ann Haldon, Rachael Leverton, Pippa Greenwood, Tom Hancock, Iain Betson, RSPCA & Nick Coffer

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

The History of the

Package Holiday

Today, we take the ease of global travel for granted but it was the birth and rise of the package holiday that paved the way for world citizenship and changed the concept of the travel we now take for granted.

During the first half of the 19th century only the wealthy could afford to travel, and beach holidays were unheard of. People would usually go abroad for their health or to learn about foreign culture.

Travel wasn’t easy, but with the coming of the railway it became affordable.

In 1841, a man named Thomas Cook organised a train excursion from Leicester to Loughborough and in 1855 he began to offer rail tours of the continent. He eventually launched his first roundthe-world tour in 1872, covering the USA, Japan, China, Singapore and India. It was a 25,000-mile journey that cost £210 and the start of a company that would become a major player in the package holiday industry.

Commercial travel largely stopped during the First World War but, with the advent of passenger planes, Thomas Cook launched holidays by air in the 1930s although they were very expensive and out of the reach of most people.

Following the Second World War, a demand for travelling abroad increased. Ex-serviceman wanted to re-visit places they had been stationed at and the general public wished to escape the aftermath of war and its ongoing rationing. Such was the demand that, in a bid to make holidays more affordable, Thomas Cook was nationalised as part of British Rail in 1948.

A year or so later, a Russian immigrant named Vladimir Raitz set up a travel company called Horizon Holidays that chartered weekly flights to a beach resort in Corsica. As a result, many consider him to be the inventor of the modern package holiday.

Possibly as a result of Horizon, in 1954 amendments were made to the Convention on International Civil Aviation that allowed for an increase in charter planes. However, there were still restrictions on pricing, making it hard for companies to be either cheap or competitive.

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There was also a shortage of hotels.

That all changed in 1957 when British European Airways (BEA) launched a route to Valencia in Spain, coining the marketing phrase ‘Costa Blanca’. With the creation of beach resorts came a surge in hotel construction, particularly in Italy and Spain where small fishing villages were turned into large resorts dominated by hotels and bars. At the same time, larger and faster aircraft that cut flight times were becoming available and there were fewer restrictions on taking foreign currency abroad.

Travel was easier, opening the door to a host of tour operators. Big corporations began to see the financial benefits of diversifying into the travel industry.

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Thomson Organisation was a Canadian mediabased corporation that in 1965 bought out several of the UK’s tour operators and airlines, including Universal Sky Tours’ charter airline, Britannia. Thomson – now branded as TUI – remains a market leader today.

The 1970s and 1980s were boom decades for the package holiday. In 1970, the Boeing 737 was launched. The very latest in air travel, the plane could carry more than 400 passengers and revolutionised commercial flight.

In those days package holidays weren’t without risk, however. There was little protection for the consumer if their travel company went bust while they were abroad, often leaving holidaymakers stranded, and frequent strikes by airport staff meant misery for many passengers – something I remember well!

The first Thomas Cook holiday was in 1841 The package holiday has become synonymous with sun, sea and sangria but there were other choices available. City breaks were rising in popularity and ski holiday destinations expanded. Adventure and long-distance tour operators like Kuoni began to market travel to exotic locations, appealing to those who wanted to indulge in their adventurous side while staying within the safety of an organised tour.

Advances in aviation made faraway places increasingly accessible and holidays anywhere in the world affordable. With the abolition of price regulations, travel companies could compete for the cheapest discounts. New technology also made reservations easier and travel agents began to pop up on every high street.

By 1994, more than half of the holidays booked by the British public were package holidays, around 27 million; compare this with the one million holidays that were taken by Brits during the entire 1950s.

Thanks to price deregulation, the 1990s heralded the arrival of small budget airlines that began offering package holiday routes with the added ease of online booking. In 2005 Ryanair carried more than 31 million passengers, an explosion from its two million of 1995.

Today the package holiday is having to work hard to hold its place in the market. With online booking easier than ever, people are either finding the best deals direct for themselves or having a bespoke tour put together by a personal travel consultant. Baby boomers with more time and money to spend are also favouring the more leisurely pace of luxury cruises.

Thanks to the humble package holiday, our world is more accessible than ever before but the future isn’t all bright. Studies suggest that with global warming, by 2030 many of our favourite holiday destinations will simply be too hot to enjoy.

By Catherine Rose

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Travel

By Solange Hando

The Lindos Acropolis - Rhodes According to legend, the Acropolis was founded by Lindos, the grandson of Helios the Sun god, and up on its rocky headland above the Aegean Sea, it just takes your breath away. Climb up the hill, on a donkey or up 300 steps, and the past lingers all around, glowing in the luminous light as the scent of wild flowers and herbs drifts along the steep winding path. The panorama is superb from the village, a sprinkling of white houses along the base of the rock, to the meandering coast, the blue sea and mountains beyond.

But up on the top the medieval fortress bars the way with its long crenelated wall silhouetted against the sky.

It was built in the early fourteenth century by the Knights of St John, a safe haven inaccessible from the sea and equally challenging from the land, enclosed by ramparts and towers. It isn’t much easier today but when you finally reach the tiny gate, you are greeted by a lonely olive tree and a jumble

of stones and rocks hiding a few inscriptions from ancient Greece. The next level leads up to the Knights’ headquarters with remains of the governor’s palace, including a coat of arms, and the Byzantine church of St John from the thirteenth century.

But Lindos existed long before the Knights arrived. Tools from the New Stone Age were discovered at this spot and it was Homer who first mentioned the city, built by the Dorians in the twelfth century BC. Perched on an invincible rock guarding two beautifully sheltered harbours, Lindos reached its golden age in the sixth century BC under Cleovoulos, one of the seven sages of Ancient Greece.

Trade flourished, great buildings enhanced the city, and on a former sacred site a new temple was dedicated to the goddess Athena. It still dominates the Acropolis, 116 metres above the sea, the highest point, and as you stand on the very edge of the rock, gazing at the sturdy remaining columns, you can

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imagine ancient worshippers struggling up the hill, laden with bountiful offerings as, filled with awe, they approached a divine presence between heaven and earth.

Equally stunning is the Hellenistic stoa (200 BC), a passageway, originally covered, 87 metres long and 9 metres wide. Shaped like the Greek letter π, said to symbolise energy rising to the sky, it has retained 20 of its 42 Doric columns. It’s a great favourite for photographs with its lofty golden colonnade framed by blue sky and sea.

There are also vestiges of a Roman stoa and temple, ancient stairways and several semicircular platforms, one with the prow of a ship hewn into the rock, where offerings were laid.

Three thousand years of history are no mean achievement, and with the wonderful views all around you feel on top of the world. I mused for a while among these amazing ruins, hardly noticing the first drops of rain – but within minutes the Sun god was back in all his glory.

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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?

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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 the 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.

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Answer the question below to be in with a chance to win a compete set of seven Wilkinson Sword carbon steel garden tools, all with a five-year guarantee: (hand fork and trowel, garden rake and lawn rake, digging spade, digging fork and Dutch hoe) plus a £20 voucher to spend at Bickerdikes.

(Please note the wheelbarrow is not part of the prize.)

To enter, complete the form below and send to: Bickerdikes Competition, Villager Publications Ltd, 24 Market Square, Potton, Bedfordshire SG19 2NP. The winner will be picked at random. Deadline: 16th July 2019

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DAY TRIPS 14 Jul Southend-on -Sea £18.00 15 Jul London Thames Lunch Cruise £46.50 21 Jul Wells Next The Sea £18.00 23 Jul Oxford £25.00 24 Jul Sandringham Flower Show £36.00 26 Jul Great Yarmouth £18.00 27 Jul Aldeburgh £18.00 30 Jul Brighton £20.00 2 Aug Festival of Quilts £37.00 3 Aug Frogmore House & Windsor £35.00 4 Aug Canterbury £26.00 6 Aug Highclere Castle £38.00 7 Aug Denbies & Polesden Lacey NT £43.00 9 Aug Mini Plant Tour - Oxford £45.00 10 Aug Sheringham £18.00 11 Aug Southwold £18.00 16 Aug Westfield and The Orbit £39.50 17 Aug Whitstable £18.00 18 Aug Cromer £18.00 21 Aug Bletchley Park £39.00 22/23 Aug Clacton Air Show £18.00 24 Aug Henley Country Craft Show £27.00 30 Aug Sissinghurst Castle Garden £38.00 THEATRE SHOWS AND EVENTS 31 Jul Joseph - Palladium £70.00 1 Aug Countryfile Live Blenheim Pal £49.00 14 Aug Joseph - Palladium £70.00 29 Aug Evita - Regents Park £79.00 4 Sep Waitress £57.50 4 Sep The Lion King £65.00 31 Oct War Horse - Wembley £75.00 18 Nov Tina The Musical £65.00 24 Nov Classical Spectacular - RAH £74.00 COACH TOURS 11 Aug Lake District 6 Days £595 25 Aug Highgrove Gardens 2 Days £175 9 Sep Lazing along Llangollen 5 Days £495 12 Sep Harrogate Flower Show 3 Days £275 15 Sep Captivating Cornwall 6 Days £595 15 Sep Bournemouth - Hilton 6 Days £545 21 Sep Sidmouth/South Devon 6 Days £595 24 Sep Isle of Man 6 Days £640 14 Oct Warner Bodelwyddan 5 Days £425 21 Oct Autumn Cols Wye Valley 5 Days £425 4 Nov Warners Nidd Hall 5 Days £460 18 Nov Sidmouth 5 Days £385 22 Nov Chatsworth Christmas 3 Days £240 Price per person sharing a twin/double

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Food and Drink

A Taste of… Malaysia and Singapore Malaysia has a rich history and is located in Southeast Asia. The official language is Malaysian, with English being recognised as the country’s second language. Malaysian cuisine has been influenced from cultures including Malay, Chinese and Thai, amongst others. Singapore is an island city-state in Southeast Asia. The languages used most are English, Malay, Mandarin, plus Tamil. The cuisine has influences from Malay, China and India, plus other countries.

Rasa Sayang restaurant, opened 2008, is located in the Chinatown area of London, with casino and theatre entertainment nearby and offers Malaysian and Singaporean food. Several cooking styles are utilised, by the very talented team of chefs, at this restaurant, including Peranakan. This style has Chinese ingredients and Malaysian spices, coming together, to produce aromatic and flavoursome foods. The dishes known as ‘Heat Zone’ offer splendid cuisine for diners, being full-flavoured, with rich and hot results, plus very impressive presentations. All dishes can be adjusted to suit taste requirements.

An array of nibbles, including Roti Canai with chicken curry sauce and/or dahl, commences proceedings, perfectly. Other selections include Achar (pickled pineapple, carrots, cucumber, sesame seeds, peanuts) and Prawn Paste Chicken (fried chicken marinated with prawn paste). Moving on, further options include Deep Fried Sambal Fish (fried whole sea bass, okra, onion rings, dried shrimps, chilli, sambal, lemon, lettuce), which is very popular. Beef and Chicken dishes have regular ‘devotees’, too, along with superb variations of noodle cuisine. Char Kway Teow (thick flat rice noodles, eggs, prawns, squid, beansprouts, chives) is very flavoursome and a regular choice for many diners. Presented perfectly, this merits ‘Compliments to Chef’. Desserts have Kueh Dadar (pandan pancake, desiccated coconut, palm sugar) included in a list that has something for all tastes. Sago Gula Melaka will not disappoint either. Ample different drinks suit all palates and the fantastic teas, coffees, plus chocolate temptations are outstanding. Wines and other drinks are available, too.

Rasa Sayang offers an exceptional, authentic experience of Malaysian and Singaporean cuisine. Takeaways and gift vouchers are also available – now there’s a thought!

Booking is advisable, particularly during popular times.

Many thanks to Edwin, for cuisine advice and impeccable service, throughout.

Rasa Sayang 5 Macclesfield Street, London W1D 6AY Tel: 44(0)20 7734 1382 Email: info@rasasayangfood.com www.rasasayangfood.com

As always, Enjoy!

ey Trevor Langl

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Time of Year

Pool Power!

By Sarah Davey

Stay cool in a pool this summer

Kids love to splash in a pool on a hot summer’s day. If you are thinking of buying one, we have some top tips.

Inflatable pools - These are easily inflated so can be up and filled as soon as the sunshine appears. Smaller inflatable pools are ideal for toddlers and can be inflated by one person with a good set of lungs, but larger pools can accommodate the whole family - you will probably prefer to inflate these with a pump!

Quick up pools - These are super-easy to set up. Spread the pool out and inflate the top ring. The design of the pool means that as you fill it with water the sides of the pool will rise up. These are particularly good if storage space is tight.

Frame pools - Sturdier pools with a bigger bathing area. Frame pools are ideal for larger families and groups of teens. Look for rust-resistant galvanised metal frames; heavy-duty PVC and polyester 3-ply walls; beams and joints that pin or snap together for fast, easy construction. A filter pump to keep the water clean, and a repair patch kit to mend small tears or punctures.

Site your pool on a level surface, with plenty of room to make it easy and safe to get in and out. Remember, toddlers and young children should be supervised at all times.

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Technology

Wi-Fi Woes

By Mark O’Keefe

How to boost the wi-fi signal in your home’s weak spots Recently a friend of mine decided to convert his garage to a games room. The big screen TV was to be the main feature. We all gathered for the big turn on to experience Netflix in full ultra HD. But all we got was a blocky, stuttering, unwatchable excuse for entertainment.

It turned out that his wireless router (the bit that connects to his broadband) was plugged in at the opposite end of the house. The reception at this end of the house had always been poor, but the extra wall of the garage was just too much for the signal to push through. Result? No internet!

What to do? The router had to stay by the phone socket so moving that to the centre of the house wasn’t an option. Running a network cable (a permanent wire) from the router to the TV was a non-starter because it would involve a lot of work.

This meant he had to work out a different way to boost the Wi-Fi signal in the garage.

I’d had a similar problem in my home and had discovered Wi-Fi extenders and repeaters (different companies call them by different names, but they all do the same thing).

There were two options: A Wi-Fi repeater is basically a second router. You

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put it where you receive a good signal and it then creates a new Wi-Fi area that connects to your broadband. He could have sited that in the centre of the house and thus improved the signal in the garage. There would be a bit of setting up to get this working as you have to log on to the repeater with a computer, but it’s not hard if you know what you’re doing. There are YouTube tutorials which can help.

The second option is the simplest, and ultimately the one he settled on – a powerline adaptor. This is a box that plugs into your router and then into a mains socket. It actually uses your house wiring to send your broadband signal around the house. All you need to do is buy a powerline Wi-Fi extender and plug it into the wall in the room where you need it most. It’s like you’re sitting right beside your Wi-Fi point.

After a quick visit to the shops, he plugged in both devices. The set-up was quick and easy (literally pressing two buttons) and he was up and running with full broadband speed. His teens could now get Youtube in the garden as an extra bonus because he put an extra extender in a socket on the wall next to the patio.

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Parenting

Budget Friendly Family Fun

By Kate Duggan www.kateduggan.co.uk Have fun with the kids this summer, without breaking the bank.

Kids Pass Kids Pass gives you 40% off cinema tickets and money off a range of restaurants and days out. You can even get discounts on holidays with Haven, Butlins, Eurocamp and other companies. The pass costs around £40 a year, but a month’s trial costs just £1.

Think small Check whether your local amateur dramatics society is performing any plays suitable for families. Smaller venues are a lot cheaper than well-known theatres and young children really won’t care if an actor is an award-winning thespian or Mark from the corner shop. Older kids could even join the drama youth group. Don’t discount larger theatres altogether, however, as some offer discounts during the summer holidays. Children can attend a host of London shows for free during August’s Kids Week, as long as they’re accompanied by a paying adult – see www. officiallondontheatre.com/kids-week.

Party time Clubbing together with other parents can help to keep costs down. Having a kids’ party at a soft-play centre, theme park, pottery barn or other activity centre often costs less per head than buying the activity and food separately for each child. Use PayPal’s Money Pools to collect the money from everyone.

DIY A trip to a pottery workshop usually costs upwards of £10 a child, but if you buy the paints and pots

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online you can get that down to around £3 or £4 per child. Likewise, a home tie dye kit costs less than £15, which gives you enough dye for around ten children’s T-shirts. Fabric pens are even cheaper (and less messy). Try eBay for kits, T-shirts and other items to dye, such as cotton bags or pillow cases. Bulk buy with other parents to save money.

Cheap days out Keep an eye on social media and www.familiesonline. co.uk for cheap days out. Libraries and councils sometimes organise holiday activities, such as storytelling and crafts. Country fairs often have lots on for kids and entrance is often free for under-16s as long as they’re accompanied by a paying adult.

(Tickets are usually cheaper if they’re bought in advance.) For less than £15 for one adult and four children, you could enjoy a day out with aerobatics displays, ferret racing, motocross displays, puppet shows and more. Just remember to pack a cool bag with a picnic and ice pops, otherwise you’ll spend a small fortune on hotdogs, chips and ice-cream.

Cashback Cashback sites such as Quidco and Topcashback give you money back every time you buy something online from one of their retail partners. They also offer discounts. When we checked, Quidco was advertising a fourteen-day Walt Disney pass for the price of seven days, and money off various flights. If you register your credit and debit cards with Quidco, you can also earn money when you shop on the high street, whether you’re buying kids’ clothes or treating the family to lunch out.

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Junior Try Golf

at John O’Gaunt Golf Club

John O’Gaunt Golf Club, located in Sutton Park, Potton near Sandy has a proud tradition of supporting and encouraging junior golf and has worked hard to build and maintain a strong Junior Section.

Traditionally our junior members were the sons, daughters and grandchildren of club members: In recent years we have accepted youngsters from within the local community from non-golfing backgrounds. The Club is keen to continue this trend and in 2017 the Club launched an initiative by providing coaching opportunities in local schools and by inviting various youth groups to the Club where basic coaching was on offer using the extensive outdoor practice facilities.

More recently the Club staged what turned out to be a very successful Junior, “Try Golf Day” on Good Friday, 19th April. 24 youngsters attended each of the two hour sessions held in the morning and afternoon and to cater for the demand a third

Local News

Try Golf Day at John O’Gaunt Golf Club Good Friday 19 April 2019

session took place on Saturday 18th May. All coaching was with Club Professional Lee Scarbrow and Teaching Professional Tom Bushell and included all aspects of the game, from driving to chipping and putting.

As a result a great deal of interest was created and has borne fruit with several new recruits who have been welcomed into the younger Pee Wee Club and Junior Section. The Club will be holding similar events in the future to promote golf in the local community to continue to grow our already very active Pee Wee Club and Junior sections. If you would like your child to learn to play golf please do not hesitate to contact us.

Details of our Summer Golf Camps for those aged from 5 – 17 years can be found on the club’s website: www.johnogauntgolfclub.co.uk or by email to tom@johnogauntgolfclub.co.uk

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Local News

Willian Bowls Club - Centenary Year

Willian Bowls Club is 100 years old this year and the second oldest in North Herts.

Originally next to the Fox Inn, Willian, but now based on Norton Common, Letchworth.

Throughout the Season Willian will be offering “Come and Try Centenary Bowls” Open Days, to anyone wanting to have a go.

The Club participates in many local initiatives such as the Letchworth Festival and supports local Charities such as Garden House Hospice.

It also receives excellent support from both North Herts District Council and Letchworth Garden City Heritage Foundation.

For many of it’s older members the Club offers not just bowls, but an opportunity to those just retired to stay active.

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Also for those on their own or widowed, they can socialise with others in a similar position.

Finally, for those who used to participate in more active sports when they were younger, an opportunity to still take part in a competitive environment.

The Club plans a “Centenary GALA Day” in July, when Bowlers from local Bowls Clubs will be invited to enter Teams, involving well over 100 Competitors from North Hertfordshire.

Willian Bowls Club has always been known for being very friendly and welcomes anyone wanting to “Come and Try”, plus Tea and Cake of course !

Starting on Tuesdays at 2pm and Thursdays at 6pm.

For more information, ring David on 01462 642790 or www.willianbowlsclub.org

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Foot Pro HP advert_ppl.pdf

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Local News

Do you have chronic pain, extreme fatigue or brain fog?

The Herts MS Therapy Centre is here for everyone.

We welcome people with any challenging health condition. We’ve been helping as many people as we can for over 30 years.

Extreme fatigue and chronic pain can result from many conditions, including Cancer, Stroke, Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and ME – and many others. 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.

How we help…

A range of services is available at our Centre in Letchworth.

Our therapies include: • Physiotherapy – to optimise mobility and independence • Exercise Therapy – specialist support for maximum strength and stamina • Oxygen Therapy – to promote healing, increase energy and reduce pain • APS Pain Clinic – to reduce pain, improve sleep quality and boost energy “I was struggling to cope with my fatigue and it was weighing me down mentally. The treatment was a ray of hope that resulted in new friends and a better quality of life.” Charlotte D We also offer a domiciliary service. A Physiotherapist and/or an Exercise Professional can come to your home to do an assessment or provide a treatment. Please ask us about the areas we cover.

First time free!

You are welcome to try any of our services for free – simply use the voucher below… or give it to someone you know. Call Claire to find out more and book your session: 01462 684 214.

Or email: enquiries123@hmstc.net.

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Vicki Eagles MCFHP, MAFHP Foot Health Professional

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House of Colour

Colour & Style Tips

Every Man Should Know 1. Adding a little of the right colour – Men often veer towards neutrals as their go to, whilst women tend to be more colour adventurous as a collective, but it doesn’t have to be that way.

Understand whether cool or warm colours suit you and if bright or more muted tones are for you. For business dressing try using one brighter colour as an accent with two neutrals and for casual two or three colours (contrasting or complementing).

2. It’s the detail that counts – Whether your style veers towards the more edgy, natural or classic, the power of dressing is all in the detail. Like a breath of fresh air, the best way to update your look is with a quality new accessory. Use scarves or ties to give a pop of colour. The right style sunglasses and watch can help you ooze style..

3. Spend more money on less pieces of clothing – Avoid buying poor quality, excessive items that you don’t need, eliminate mistake purchases and reduce the volume of clothes ending up in landfill. Think about buying fewer, better-quality items that will last longer. It is win win for your wallet and the environment.

4. Think capsule - A capsule wardrobe gives you loads of benefits, like lots of outfits from a smaller number of clothes and gives you confidence that you will always look great. Think of it as a pyramid. At base level, choose everyday clothes in your best neutrals such as denim, winter coats, smart jackets, and expensive boots and bags. The middle level contains patterns and textures that suit your style and colour palette e.g. in shirts, polo shirts and jumpers and other tops. These are probably in your ‘wow’ colours - perhaps a smart chocolate jumper for Springs, or a deep burgundy shirt for winters. The top level are your statement items and accessories which people will notice immediately such as a red tie, some dapper shoes in a brighter colour and wonderful statement rucksack or bag or some serious sunglasses.

5. Liven up your shirt collection – Prints and patterns are having quite the party in the men’s aisles at the moment with assorted patterned shirts making their way onto the high street shelves. Have fun and add zest by taking the

plunge with a floral, striped or perhaps checked shirt, depending on your style, when you go out for an evening, but know whether bold or subtle, large or small patterns suit you. For some, lightweight linen is great for the summer whilst polyester is a sweaty man’s nightmare and is bad for the planet.

6. Shop for a suit in person – Most men have at least one suit, but never buy your suit online because the perfect fit is so important. Consider exact arm and leg length, trouser fit (straight, slim, hem etc) and jacket fit (including single vs double breasted, buttons etc). Take your time to buy the right suit and bear in mind a good tailor can make basic alterations. Always use a suit bag for storage.

7. Glasses - There is a huge choice on the market so know what your best colour palette is and the frame shapes that suit you. Try several colours such as a brown, navy, grey and gold or silver on, depending on what colours suit you, for a fun look why not try a red. Shape and weight are key – consider thin or thick frames, a sporty look, aviator, wrapped or oval lenses. If they look part of you, they are right, if they shout louder than you, they are wrong.

8. Make sure everything fits well. Clothes should skim your body so that they are neither too tight, nor too loose. There is nothing worse than the wrong trouser length, ill-fitting t-shirts and shirts, or a badly fitting suit, particularly when the buttons can’t be done up!

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

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Life Begins...

By Kate McLelland

Making your home a screen-free zone You’ve hidden all your precious ornaments, shifted sharp-cornered items of furniture out of the way and stocked up on nutritious snacks.

Is it an earthquake warning? A tornado alert? No, just a visit from the grandkids.

While it’s likely they will arrive with a full set of gadgets including (but not limited to) tablets, mobiles and computer game consoles, like most grandparents you would probably prefer to encourage a little eye-to-eye contact and discussion, rather than simply watch your grandchildren stare at a screen all day.

A recent survey of 2,000 families carried out by CensusWide found that children currently spend an average of 23 hours per week using smartphones and similar tech gadgets: that’s twice as much time as they spend talking with parents and other family members face-to-face. So here are some great, non-messy, old-school ideas that might encourage them to turn their backs on technology, even if it’s only for an hour or so.

Mess-free masterpieces Many house-proud grandparents will shudder at the thought of letting their grandkids loose with a set of poster paints and a brush. This clever idea involves squeezing large blobs of poster paint onto a card sealed inside a ziplock bag. In this way, children can create a rainbow design, using their fingers to swirl the paint through the clear plastic bag, and without actually touching the wet stuff themselves. Dry the painted card with a hairdryer for speed and send your wannabe Damien Hirst home clutching his or her abstract masterpiece.

Brilliant bathroom games Make Bubble Snakes by cutting the bottom off a plastic bottle, pulling a clean sock onto the cut end and securing it with an elastic band. Create a bubble mix by combining water, food colouring and dishwasher liquid on a saucer and mixing it well. Now dip the sock in the soap mix and get the child to blow into the bottle from the drinking end – it should produce a glorious, snake-like stream of

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bubbles. Alternatively, half-fill the bath and make your own version of the hook-a-duck game by fastening tape loops around the necks of some toy bath ducks and letting the grandkids take turns at catching them (if you can’t find a suitable hook, try a long-handled wooden spoon instead).

Fun on the web (and not the world wide one) Use a door that’s seldom opened (a cupboard door is ideal) to create a spider’s web out of masking tape, keeping the sticky side of the tape facing the room. Now cut up some newspaper into equal sizes (big enough to turn into small balls) and give each child 8 to 10 pieces each.

Ask the children to write their names on the pieces of paper then scrunch them up into tight balls. The winner is the one who gets the most paper balls to stick to the ‘web’.

With a little forward planning and careful supervision, your grandkids will learn that playtime with grandma and grandad can be every bit as exciting as watching the latest cartoons or playing video games.

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Quirky Britain

By Kate McLelland

Hunting Pigs and Talking Dogs

Eccentrics and their animals The British are known as a nation of animal lovers, so it’s not surprising to find that some of history’s most colourful characters were obsessed with their pets. But these eccentric sometimes used their pets as status symbols, kept them as curiosities or subjected them to strange experiments.

Here are a few individuals whose love of animals brought them either fame or infamy: John ‘Mad Jack’ Mytton - Born in 1796, ‘Mad Jack’ Mytton came into a huge family fortune as a young man and dedicated the rest of his life to spending every penny of his inheritance. He was fascinated by animals and once rode a bear into his dining room to terrify his guests.

Jack lived for risk and it was said of him “not only did he not mind accidents, he positively liked them.” In 1826 he won a bet by riding his horse up the stairs of a Leamington Spa hotel and jumping through the window into the street. He also kept over 2,000 dogs, feeding his favourites on steak and champagne.

Barbara Woodhouse - In the 1980s Barbara Woodhouse burst onto our TV screens with her trademark style of dog training, complete with commands such as “Sitttt!” and “Walkies!” which quickly became national catchphrases.

Barbara didn’t suffer fools gladly and she often talked to dog owners in the same brisk tone she would use for misbehaving dogs: “Now, you’re rather fidgety, Mr Chambers: can you calm yourself?”

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Her TV series ‘Training Dogs the Woodhouse Way’ was an instant hit with audiences but some of Barbara’s training methods – such as jerking the dog’s lead and issuing harsh commands – have since been abandoned in favour of positive reinforcement techniques.

Jemmy Hirst - Born in Rawcliffe, Yorkshire in 1738, Jemmy was a true eccentric. As a young boy he taught a tame jackdaw and a pet hedgehog to follow him around at school, but as an adult he decided to train his beloved bull, Jupiter, to behave like a horse, riding it and letting it pull his carriage.

Possibly the most bizarre incident in Jemmy Hirst’s animal training career involved him riding Jupiter to a fox hunt, using pigs instead of hounds to follow the scent. King George III heard of Jemmy’s animal exploits and invited him down to London.

The bull-trainer and the monarch clearly got on well and Jemmy even invited the king to visit his Yorkshire home for a “good brandy”. George politely refused Jemmy’s invitation but reputedly gave him several choice bottles from the royal cellar for the journey back.

Whatever your feelings about these notable animal eccentrics, you can’t deny their obvious affection for their pets. These days, when one in ten pets has its own social media profile and when almost a third of owners admit they buy more Christmas gifts for their pets than for their partners, who is to say we Brits are not all a little animal crackers?

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We take time to listen and find the best way forward Contact us to arrange your free initial 30 minute visit (We are happy to come to you for a small extra charge)

Wills Our staff have successfully drafted Wills for many years; truly we are experts.

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£545 inc. Plus Court fees [unless it is a huge estate] to obtain a Grant of Probate from the Court

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

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

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35

Time of Year

The Appeal of the Summer Fete

By Karen Campbell

Summer surely isn’t summer without a village fete. Part country fair, part a sale of home-grown and locally made produce, part a celebration of community, the English village fete is a social institution, barely changed since the 1920s.

The Village fete is enshrined in our literary history, from The Famous Five, to PG Wodehouse and Agatha Christie, the Village fete has provided the perfect backdrop against which to set a drama or two, and never attend any fete in Midsomer which is also attended by Inspector Barnaby!

If you want a measure of how well a village is thriving in 21st Century Britain, take a look at its summer fete. More of us are looking for a sense of community in a Britain that seems in danger of fragmenting. To that end tenth generation locals will rub shoulders with commuters, second homers and young families, to discuss the merits of Bert’s onions, Sharon’s Victoria Sponge, and whether young Tyler will win the talent competition with his street dance routine.

Let’s face it, where else can you buy a pot of rhubarb and ginger preserve, enter a competition to guess the weight of a cake, bounce on a bouncy castle and throw a wet sponge at the vicar…or scoutmaster…or head teacher, or all three if you’re lucky?

Village fetes are alive and well in Britain, and I for one am very happy about that. I have just moved from the town to a village and intend to enter my scones in the baked goods competition this year. I doubt I’ll win but it’s the taking part that matters. Now I wonder if there will be a murder…

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DO YOU NEED TO MAKE OR UPDATE YOUR WILL? We offer a FREE initial appointment to discuss your circumstances, offering advice on Wills including ring-fencing your home from care and guidance regarding Inheritance Tax Nil Rate Bands.

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SATURDAY MORNING appointments available on the following dates:* SATURDAY 13th JULY 2019 FREE WILL SERVICE for the over 55’s through the Cancer Research Free Will Scheme.

For more information please contact:Fish Hill Chambers, 2-3 Fish Hill, Royston, Herts. SG8 9JY Tel: 01763 241 121 t.pilcher@walkerspartnership.co.uk Wills | Probate | Lasting Powers of Attorney | Conveyancing | Commercial Property *Home visit appointments are subject to availability.

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Finance

New graduate?

Manage your finances like a pro

Obtaining a university degree is a fantastic achievement, and not only in academic terms.

It’s also a huge challenge to deal with money as a student, so if you’ve emerged relatively unscathed financially, again, many congratulations.

Entering the world of work, however, means you’ll now need to change financial focus and think about income tax, pension contributions and student loan repayments.

With this in mind here are a few aspects of graduate finance you might want to consider as you transition into the world of work.

Graduate bank accounts and student overdrafts Graduate bank accounts allow you to pay off your student overdraft over a period of time. Typically, you’ll be offered a 0% interest overdraft facility that reduces each year for up to three years from the date you graduate, although individual offerings may vary.

Additional benefits of graduate bank accounts commonly include: • Cash back on regular bills or general spending.

• Interest on credit balances.

• Cash incentives if you change banks.

Considerations when choosing a graduate bank account Credit rating Your credit rating and general financial position will be checked prior to opening or changing your account. It’s worth knowing that it can be as detrimental to have no credit rating as a bad rating – this is because the bank has no knowledge of any previous financial behaviours.

Overdraft terms It’s important to be aware of the terms and conditions of your overdraft facility. Make sure you understand the rate by which the overdraft amount they offer will reduce each year so you can budget, plan ahead, and avoid having to pay off costly debt.

When the graduate term ends When the two or three year graduate term comes to an end, you’re likely to be switched to a ‘standard’ current account with its associated interest and fees. If you haven’t been able to pay off your student overdraft during this time,

By Ann Haldon the additional monthly interest can significantly impact your finances.

Your work situation If you’ve not yet secured work, a graduate account that offers the longest interest-free period is likely to be the best option. Your personal circumstances will dictate this, however.

Which graduate account?

Here are just a few of the graduate accounts currently available, to give you an idea of what might be on offer: • Barclays Higher Education Account: up to £3,000 interest-free overdraft in the first year following graduation; cash back offers.

• NatWest Graduate Account (existing customers): up to £2,000 interest-free overdraft in the first year after graduation; Tastecard 2 for 1 meal offer.

• HSBC Graduate Account: up to £1,500 interestfree overdraft in the first year following graduation and up to £1,000 in the second year.

Paying off a student overdraft and managing your money well as a university graduate can set you up for life. Whether it feels like a steep learning curve or you’ve already adopted some good financial habits, your future self will definitely thank you.

Barclays Higher Education Account www.barclays.co.uk/current-accounts/highereducation-account NatWest Graduate Account personal.natwest.com/personal/current-accounts/ existing-customers/graduate-account.html HSBC Graduate Account www.hsbc.co.uk/current-accounts/products/ graduate moneyfacts.co.uk/guides/students/just-graduatedwhat-happens-now moneyfacts.co.uk/guides/students/graduate-bankaccounts

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Garden View

Black-eyed Susan

By Rachael Leverton

You might not know its name, but you are probably familiar with the Rudbeckia. A late summer perennial daisy. It’s sometimes called Coneflower or Black-eyed Susan.

It flowers from early August to late September and I find it a valuable addition to the late summer garden. It does particularly well in full sun in rich, well-drained soil. You can sow them as annuals indoors in spring to set out after frost or plant as perennials in spring or autumn. Divide every 3 to 4 years and deadhead to avoid self-seeding, though personally I see self-seeding as a bonus trait in a plant! Mildew can be an issue on the foliage but can be avoided if you don’t overcrowd the plants.

Watch the young foliage because slugs and snails find it tasty. Once the plants are established this isn’t a problem.

Rudbeckia ‘Golden compass’ produces masses of classic bright yellow and black Rudbeckia flowers on a bushy plant. It grows up to 70cm in height and can be grown from seed as a half-hardy annual or a short-lived hardy perennial.

Rudbeckia fulgida is the classic ‘Black-eyed Susan’, with sunflower-yellow flowers and a very black

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central cone. It does better in damper ground than many of the varieties so choose this one if your garden is less well-drained.

I love Rudbeckia ‘Prairie glow’. It is a stunning plant and good for adding height as it grows to 1.5m.

Its huge 6cm diameter flowers have warm orange petals with yellow tips.

Rudbeckia ‘Irish eyes’ is a more unusual variety with a yellowish rather than brown cone, as well as yellow florets. It repeat flowers from July through to October.

If your soil is on the dry side, try Rudbeckia fulgida ‘Deamii’. It produces shining, golden flowers with jet-black cones from early September to late October and into November. It has slightly smaller flowers, but they are lovely, and abundant.

Rudbeckias naturally grow in dry savannahs, grassland prairies and in the glades of rocky upland forests across North America but they have become a much-loved bushy stalwart of the herbaceous border and will delight from late summer right through the autumn.

Happy Gardening

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Prolific Pests

Garden

By Pippa Greenwood www.pippagreenwood.com

Bugs and beasties thrive in warmer weather, so how should these common problems be dealt with?

Aphids - Aphids such as greenfly and blackfly suck sap from plants and can transmit viruses, sometimes with disastrous consequences.

You can use a strong jet of water to blast aphids off plants, but be thorough or they will soon be back!

Alternatively, spray with a suitable insecticide – I prefer a more environmentally friendly soap-based insecticide. Biological controls such as native two-spot ladybirds and their larvae can also be introduced – see www.pippagreenwood.com/ products/protect-your-crops for more information.

Aphids breed rapidly, so regular control is necessary.

Caterpillars - Caterpillars can do a lot of damage to plants and vegetable hearts.

One of the best methods is to pick the pests off and either squash them or place them on the bird table.

Caterpillars are easier to spot at dusk or very early in the morning.

You can buy a mixture of nematodes to spray onto your plants and kill the caterpillars without harming humans or pets.

Some caterpillars produce quantities of fine webbing to bind leaves or other plant parts together to create shelters. It is hard to get a pesticide or nematodes mix to reach them, so handpicking or squashing is often best.

For susceptible vegetables such as calabrese, broccoli and other brassicas, stop the adults laying their eggs with horticultural fleece, netting or very fine Micromesh, either as pull-out tunnels or sheets of material cut to shape and pegged down. These keep a wide range of pests, including caterpillars,

away from the plants.

Woodlice - Woodlice are rarely responsible for causing damage and are rather like vultures, moving in to clear up debris created by other pests.

I say leave them be.

Earwigs - Earwigs cause damage to petals or leaves, particularly on the flowers of plants such as clematis and dahlias. They can be controlled with contact insecticides but many prefer to trap the earwigs.

One of the best ways to do this is with an inverted flowerpot – stuffed loosely with hay, straw or similar material – on top of a bamboo cane, and positioned amongst susceptible plants. The earwigs climb in and the pots can be emptied regularly.

Mildew - Powdery mildew coats plant leaves, stems, buds and petals with a white flowery deposit, and can prevent fruits from swelling normally or cause leaves to distort or fall early. Prompt action is essential and suitable fungicides are available.

Keep the damage to a minimum in the first instance by ensuring that the plants are kept well-watered – plants which are dry around the roots seem particularly prone to mildew attack. In addition, try to ensure a good flow of air around the plants, as stagnant, moist air seems to have a similar effect and can make matters worse very quickly. Careful pruning or weeding often solves the problem.

Visit Pippa’s website www.pippagreenwood. com and you’ll find some great gardening items: Nemaslug, ladybirds and other great natural pest controls, stylish cloches, practical and pretty plant supports, the fantastic SpeedHoe, gardening tools, planters, Grower Frames, signed books and more!

Or why not book Pippa for a gardening talk at your gardening club?

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Time of Year

Ready, Steady, MOW! Choose the right mower for your lawn Regular mowing is the key to an attractive, green and healthy lawn. You’ll need a mower, but which one should you choose?

Small lawns - Many suburban homes have tiny lawns. A manual push lawn mower or rotary mower is powered by you pushing it rather than by electricity. The blades are mounted in a cylinder, which revolves when the mower is pushed. This produces a precise, even mowing result. They tend to be very compact which makes them manoeuvrable and easy to store.

Small or medium-sized lawn - If your lawn is a little bigger or you don’t fancy a manual mower, an electric lawn mower might be for you. They run from a power source and make light work of your lawn. Electric mowers for smaller lawns are usually very easy to manoeuvre around objects.

Most come with a handy container or bag to collect clippings. They are also pretty quiet and are available in energy-efficient versions. Just be aware that even with a small lawn you will probably need an extension cord. It’s wise to invest in a power breaker for safety. Accidents do happen.

Larger lawn - Petrol mowers are good bigger lawns, where an extension cord becomes impractical.

These mowers are powerful, but also heavy as they are often quite sizeable. They are less environmentally friendly because of the exhaust emissions. If you have more than 500 square

metres of grass, you’ll probably be better off with a ride-on petrol mower.

All lawn mowers are available in various mowing widths. Generally speaking, the wider the lawn mower, the quicker you’ll get the job done. But you need to consider that wider mowers are less manoeuvrable.

As a rule of thumb small lawns require a mowing width of around 29-33cm (11-13 inches); mediumsized lawns require a mowing width of around 38cm (15 inches).; large lawns may require widths larger than this, but all choices will depend on whether the lawn is ornamental, with features like ponds and trees, in which case a smaller mower might be better, or whether it’s more of an open grassy space.

Most mowers are height adjustable. In other words, you can increase or decrease the distance between the blades and the ground to cut the grass at just the right height for you or the time of year.

You can now buy mulching mowers. These cut the grass clippings into tiny pieces and blow them evenly into the grass. This method has the advantage of preventing the soil from drying out and gives fungus less chance to develop.

A strimmer is a useful gadget for neatening up along walls, fences and the edge of flowerbeds. You can get more powerful versions which will let you attack weeds too. It’s best to wear safety goggles when using one as they generate a lot of flying debris.

By Tom Hancock

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Motoring

I’d Miss My Home Comforts Summer’s here, meaning more caravans and camper vans are on our roads.

To give the manufacturers their due, I have noticed that each season’s new models get more luxurious, some probably better appointed than their owner’s home. Air conditioning is common, entertainment systems rival the best in homecinema, Wi-Fi and all mod-con kitchens are included. Given an arm twist I could, possibly, ‘rough it’ in a modern caravan. Well, for a night at most.

But the VW T2 Combi-van sub-culture leaves me baffled. This love of a minimalist vintage motor’home’, last made in Europe in 1979, with its push-up roof, twee curtains and no loo, just leaves me completely cold (probably literally if I had the misfortune to spend a night in one).

It’s the vehicular equivalent of a 1960s seaside B & B. You know the type? Run by a dragon of a landlady.

“Boiler goes off at eight. The bathroom’s down the corridor. The front door is locked at ten and no overnight guests either.”

Admittedly, they do have certain cool, hipster charm. Some are beautifully restored, I grant you, and to a higher standard and specification than when it came off the production line. But surely that appeal has to evaporate when you are caught short and trudging to the campsite facilities on a rainy British summer’s night?

I guess the cool-hipster campers will say I am missing something.

I know, I am: air conditioning, Wi-Fi, a mod-con kitchen, a loo…

By Iain Betson

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0800 046 1080 UP TO 30% OFF IN JULY hello@thehomeimprovementproject.co.uk www.thehomeimprovementproject.co.uk 48

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ACE PEST CONTROL Fast, efficient, friendly service with very competitive rates Available - 7 days a week Local company. Established 30 years We specialise in all pest problems especially WASPS 5 Google rating

Phone: 01767 627417 Web: acepestcontrolbeds.co.uk

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Technology

The Roaming Empire Technology for wherever the path may take

One of the great things about technology is that it can help you when you’re far from civilisation.

It can track your hike, provide the tools you need when you’re far from home or just give your phone a boost so you can listen to music while you explore the great outdoors.

Smartwatches aren’t just for runners and cyclists: there are hiking-specific ones too. Look for features such as a barometer (for pressure, to help predict weather changes), altimeter (for altitude) and compass (for directions).

Some even have thermometers you can use to help plan what you’re going to wear.

As with all technology, hikingready smartwatches differ wildly in price: Garmin’s Fenix 5 is packed with features but it’ll also set you back £449.99. If you’re a serious hiker that’s a worthwhile investment, but if you’re more of a weekend stroller a more modest, more affordable watch that uses your phone for GPS might be a better idea. TomTom’s useful Spark 3, which can track your vitals and record your travels, is currently £110.

For extreme outdoor enthusiasts who think nothing of clambering up the odd terrifying tower, an action camera is a must: it’ll record what you do for those allimportant YouTube or Facebook shares later. The GoPro Hero range is the favourite here, but the cameras can be pricey; for example the Hero7 Waterproof model is currently £329. If you’d rather start with something a lot more basic, you can pick up a noname action camera for as little as £25. Of course you get what you pay for, so you won’t get the features, add-ons or ruggedness of a more expensive device, but they’re a cheap and cheerful way to get surprisingly good video when you’re out and about.

Don’t forget about lowertech gadgets too, such as the legendary Victorinox Huntsman Swiss Army Knife (£24); with corkscrew, scissors, saw and bottle opener as well as knife blades it’s a perfect multi-tool for all kinds of travel. If you need even more bits, Leatherman’s range of multi-tools has you covered: the £149 Surge may

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seem expensive but it manages to cram an entire tool chest – screwdrivers, pliers and multiple blades – into an incredibly small space. Simpler and cheaper models are available too.

If you’re using electronic gadgets, sooner or later you’ll encounter the same old problem: battery life. You can’t exactly plug in your phone charger when you’re halfway up a mountain, but what you can do is plug it into a portable battery pack and charge it from that. Battery packs have become much more powerful, portable and affordable in recent years, and it’s possible to get a really good one for very little money. For example, Anker’s PowerCore II Slim can charge a high-end smartphone two or three times from a single charge, and it’s small enough for even the most basic backpack. It’s cheap, too: £25.99. If you need even more power for a longer trip, the 20100 version has double the battery power and currently costs £33 – although it’s a bit heavier at 349g compared to the cheaper unit’s 213g.

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Pets

Rehoming Appeal

Daisy

Daisy is a gentle girl who is looking for a home that will help increase her confidence with other dogs and life in general and to teach her to walk well on the lead.

She is just under 3 years old and will make a great addition to any family. She can be homed with older children/teenagers and would prefer to be the only pet in the house.

If you can offer this gentle girl 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.

View other dogs, cats and small mammals currently in our care for re-homing on our website: www.rats-animalrescue.co.uk or facebook: www.facebook.com/ratscharity.

Our next RATS event is our 35th Anniversary Companion and Novelty Dog Shows on 7th July at G & M Growers, Upper Caldecote from 10.00 a.m. onwards. Please come along to support us.

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Pets

Animal Stories

This month we have two lovely cats both in need of loving new homes. They came into our care back in May and have been advertised for some time, but with not one single enquiry.

Firstly we have our cute little tortie cat, Dolly.

Through absolutely no fault of her own, one year old Dolly had already had two homes before she found herself in our care, so she is now looking for her forever home! Although shy to start with, once Dolly has been given time to settle she is truly a loving, friendly cat who loves a good fuss. She has plenty of energy to play and keep herself amused, would suit most family homes but would prefer to be an only cat.

Also looking for a new home is our very own black beauty, Diamond. Sadly found as a stray with no microchip and nobody to claim him. We believe he had got himself very lost, far away from home, so he took it upon himself to find his own place to live! He simply found a home he liked, moved into the garden and never left. Approximately four years old, this chunky fellow loves nothing more than a fuss and a cat nap, he really would make an excellent lap cat. Diamond would suit most family homes but would also prefer to be an only pet.

These are just two of the cats we have in our care patiently waiting for their forever homes, but we have lots of others too! For more information about Dolly, Diamond or any other cats in our care, contact our Branch by either emailing adopt@ rspcabedsnorth.org.uk or phoning 01234 266965.

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Sadly, strays like Diamond are a fairly regularly occurrence within the RSPCA. Although we always try our hardest to reunite lost cats with their owners, without a microchip it is much more difficult.

Microchipping is when a tiny electronic chip is inserted into the pet animal, usually situated under the skin between the shoulder blades.

Most pets will not feel the implanting of the chip, with vets believing it feels like having a typical vaccination. The microchip contains the owner’s personal information which links the pet back to them, making it much easier to reclaim them if lost or stolen. The microchips can be read by special scanners which will give out the individual chip number, which can then be checked against the chip company’s online database. Most vets, rescue centres and animal charities have these scanners which means if a lost or stolen pet animal is handed in, the owner can be contacted to be reunited their pet. However the microchip will only hold the data it was first registered with, therefore it is vitally important all details are correct and kept up to date so the owner can be easily contacted.

Microchipping is such a quick, easy and small procedure which gives pets a little extra security and owners peace of mind.

Speak to a vet for more information.

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A WARM WELCOME AWAITS… Visit Chandlers Country Stores for all your pet supplies, country clothing, equestrian and small holding products.

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Chicksands, Shefford, Bedfordshire, SG17 5QB.

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James Cullip

Painting & Decorating

• interior/exterior - all aspects • wallpaper hanging • coving • general household maintenance • plastering services available • free estimates • fully insured

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

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Visit our beautiful

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

01438 725309

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

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

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

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

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

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Food & Drink

Courgette, Chorizo and Red Leicester Muffins With three children under the age of 11, savoury muffins have become a staple part of my life in recent years.

They are basically brilliant as they are practical, tasty and easy to vary. Once you have the base mix sorted (it very much resembles a scone dough), you can add whatever extras you want: grated vegetables, strong cheddar, whole cherry tomatoes dropped in at the end – the possibilities are absolutely endless. This lovely variation was made on my show by an old friend of mine, Alec Goodhand, from the Lower Red Lion pub in the heart of St Albans. He’s an excellent chef and loves creating simple family treats for my programme. These muffins may change your (packed lunch) life, mark my words!

Ingredients: 3. Dice up the chorizo and mix it in. Throw in the 230g self-raising flour remaining dry ingredients.

175ml whole milk 4. Pour in the milk and the olive oil and break the eggs 1 courgette into the mix.

130g chorizo 5. Using a wooden spoon, or even a hand whisk, mix 130g red Leicester everything well together. The mix should not be 60ml olive oil runny, nor should it be dry. Add a little extra milk if 2 medium eggs it appears a bit “floury”.

3g salt 6. Line a muffin tin with paper muffin cases (or simply ½ tsp dried thyme grease the muffin tin holes) and dollop a good soup Pinch of black pepper spoonful of the mix into each case/tin.

7. Bake in the oven for around 15-20 minutes. You’ll 1. Pre-heat your oven to 180C/ Gas Mark 4 know they are ready when they have risen into a 2. Grate the courgette and squeeze out any excess nice dome and are golden on top. liquid with your hand. Pop this into a large bowl 8. Leave to cool and serve. These are best eaten on the and grate the cheese into it too. day you make them but they can also be frozen and warmed through at a later date.

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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ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ

Easy Suduko

Hard Suduko

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

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Your Perfect Loft Access and Storage Solution Our services include: Loft Ladders Loft Hatches Insulation Loft Boarding Loft Lighting Balustrades We are a family run business who comply to building regulations, where our fitters are fully insured and all of our work is guaranteed.

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Call now for a free, no obligation quotation 61

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

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Gas Plumbing & Central Heating

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

Free estimates No job to big or small 35 years experience

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WINDOW REPAIRS

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

BEFORE AFTER email: info@jmlwindows.co.uk website: www.jmlwindows.co.uk 07977 911 926 / 01438 906300 • Misted/broken double glazed units • Sticking doors or windows adjusted • Broken/loose handles • Leaded or Georgian units replaced • Hinges for gapping windows • Leaks fixed • All types of locks replaced • Energy saving Planitherm glass • Cat/dog flaps in glass or panels • Door re-alignments Visit our website for over 30 customer reviews To advertise in The Villager and Town Life please call 01767 261122

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n O s ’ t Wha 1, 8, 15, 22 & 29 July Stevenage New Pathways 1-4pm Friends Meeting House Cuttys Lane, Stevenage £2 inc. hot drink & biscuits. A friendly place to meet and talk over issues in a positive way. Maybe go for walks, bring in speakers, form a craft group.

Email: katiewilsonmind@gmail.com

1, 8, 15, 22 & 29 July Café Connect 1-4pm Arlesey Resource Centre, High Street, Arlesey We want to bring the community together with a series of events chosen by YOU. Come along to Meet new people, Share your skills, Explore your interests, Learn something new, Develop your community and all with free tea, coffee and cakes! This project is delivered by Community Action Bedfordshire and NOAH Enterprise, and funded by Central Bedfordshire Council and Public Health.

Tel: Priya 07814 704203 for more info 1, 8, 15, 22 & 29 July Hare & Hounds Hash House Harriers 7.30pm H5 are a social running and walking club for mixed abilities, meeting every week in the Bedfordshire area. The trail is set by our hare from a local pub and typically lasts 1 hour covering between 3 and 4 miles. Family and dog friendly.

Email: info@h5hashers.org.uk Web: www.H5hashers.org.uk 1, 8, 15, 22 & 29 July Stevenage Choral Society 7.45-9.45pm Stevenage Music Centre, Nobel School The society meets every Monday during term time.

Free the friendly choir with a free session. No audition necessary. Try out a wide range of music, and be part of a friendly and supportive team.

Tel: 01438 365769 Email: info@stevenagechoral.org.uk Web: www.stevenagechoral.org.uk 1, 8, 15, 22 & 29 July Staplers Country Dance Club 8-10pm St John’s Community Hall, Hitchin Staplers is a social folk dance club. It’s easy to start as all the dances are walked through first then called and you don’t need to come with a partner; lots of us come on our own. We are a friendly group and you will be made very welcome. Car parking is available next to the hall. We meet every Monday apart from bank holidays and some school holiday dates. Tel. 01462 624144 or 01462 680995 Web: www.staplers.org.uk 1, 8, 15, 22 & 29 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. 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 www.branch-out.org.uk

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2, 4, 9, 11, 16, 18, 23, 25 & 30 July Willian Bowls Club Every Tues 2pm & Thurs 6pm Lower Green, Norton Common, Icknield Way, Letchworth We are 100 years old this year and celebrating with “Come and Try Bowls” events throughout the season. All equipment and tuition is free, as is the first year’s membership to new bowlers. Willian is a friendly and sociable club with a lovely bowls green and clubhouse. Tel: David on 01462 642790 Web: www.willianbowlsclub.org 2, 9, 16, 23 & 30 July Rosehill Community Singing Group 2-3pm Letchworth Centre for Healthy Living, Hitchin Road, Letchworth £4. A new group for the over 50s that meets every Tuesday with refreshments and time to chat after each session! The Monday group is now full. Dropin session, no need to book.

2, 9, 16, 23 & 30 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 3 July Wildlife Trust Visit to Jordans Mill 10am A day spent exploring different aspects of this site.

In the morning a guided walk along the River Ivel; after lunch an opportunity to explore the gardens, wildflower meadow and wood; time to visit the historic mill. Tel: 01234 870321

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

What’s on entries to whatson@villagermag.com

In July

4 July The Arts Society North Herts Talk 11am & 2pm The Spirella Ballroom, Letchworth £7 on the door. Talk by Frank Thrower on Dartington Glass. Frank Thrower was a glass designer who worked with Dartington Glass for almost 20 years.

This lecture will look at the history of the company and the designs that made Frank famous. All welcome. Email: theartssociety.nh@gmail.com Web: www.theartssocietynorthherts.org.uk 4, 11 & 18 July Roundabouters Country Dance Club 8-10pm Friends Meeting House, Cuttys Lane, Stevenage Friendly club for English country dancing. We welcome new members, both beginners and experienced. All dances walked through; club and guest callers ensure a varied programme.

Tel: 01438 727239 Email: roundabouters@live.co.uk Web: www.roundabouters.org.uk 4, 11, 18 & 25 July Letchworth Corner Bridge Club 1.15pm The Cloisters Masonic Lodge, Letchworth Letchworth Corner Bridge Club plays duplicate Bridge every Thursday afternoon. We usually play 27 boards which takes just over 3 hours. Refreshments available every week. The club warmly invites new members Tel: John Biggs 01462 433393 4, 11, 18 & 25 July Toddler Tales 2.15-2.45pm Baldock Library Free event – voluntary contribution of £1 per family welcomed. Toddler Tales is a mix of lively stories and rhymes. The stories chosen are aimed at toddlers and preschool children.

3, 10, 17, 24 & 31 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 age.

4, 11, 18 & 25 July ALF Peer Support ‘PoppIns’ 6-8pm The Third Place, Letchworth Adept Living Foundation (ALF) CIC weekly PoppIn. A gathering place where people come together to experience friendship, support and fun.

Tel: 01767 220129 Email: contact@alfcic.org Web: https://alfcic.org

3, 10, 17, 24 & 31 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. The stories chosen are aimed at toddlers and preschool children.

4, 11, 18 & 25 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

3, 10, 17, 24 & 31 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

4, 11, 18 & 25 July Stevenage Plus Social Group 8.15pm for 8.30pm Holiday Inn Express (opposite Matalan), Stevenage £2 - first night free. Stevenage Plus Social Group is a fun and friendly social group with members in their 30s and 40s from Stevenage, North Herts and surrounding areas. We have a varied programme of events on Thursday and Saturday evenings.

Tel: 01438 231550. Email: welcome@stevenage.plus Web: www.stevenageplus.co.uk

4 July Baldock Floral Society 7.15pm The Community Centre, Baldock Everyone welcome and no booking required.

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n O s ’ t Wha

4, 11, 18 & 25 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. Potential new members are warmly welcome.

Tel: Joyce 07952 678021 or Ian 07900 890583 Web: www.sapphiresocialsinglesclub.co.uk 5, 12, 19 & 26 July Baldock Health Walk 11am Tesco car park, 58 High Street, Baldock Mind in Herts Health Walk every Friday.

Tel: Stephanie Flint 01438 369215 Email: stephanie.flint@mindinherts.org.uk Web: www.mindinherts.org.uk 5, 12, 19 & 26 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 5, 12, 19 & 26 July Rainmakers International Folk Dance Club 8-10pm The Parish Hall, Broadway, Letchworth Rainmakers is a friendly club for all. We enjoy folk dances of all styles from many countries around the world and meet most Fridays. Come on your own or with a friend. Tel: Roger 01438 812766 Web: www.rainmakers.org.uk 5 & 19 July Stevenage Survivors Poetry Group 7.30pm Quaker Friends Meeting House £2 inc. drink & biscuits 6 July Stevenage Therapy Day 10am-4pm Friends Meeting House, Cuttys Lane, Stevenage Free event. Creative writing meditation, art, etc.

Teas , coffees - bring a packed lunch Tel: 07513 913185 6 July Weekend Stories 10.30-11am Baldock Library Free event – voluntary contribution of £1 per family welcomed. Stories chosen are aimed at toddlers and preschool children.

6 July Saturday Stories 11-11.30am Letchworth Library Free event – voluntary contribution of £1 per family welcomed. Stories chosen are aimed at toddlers and preschool children.

6 July Summer Fair 11am-3pm Gothic Mede Academy, High Street, Arlesey

7 July Stevenage RSPB Local Group trip to Heartwood Forest 10.30am Morning walk looking for birds and grassland butterflies. Meet in the car park at 10.30am. Map Ref 166/TL 172109. Postcode AL4 9DQ. Walk leader Jacqueline George.

9 July Transition Tuesday: Community Self-Build 7.30-9.30pm Mrs Howard Memorial Hall, Norton Way South, Letchworth Free admission. Illustrated talk on eco-friendly, self-built community housing, here in the UK and around the world. Admission free but £2 donation is welcome.

10 July Over 60s Lunch Club 12.45pm for 1pm lunch Garden City Court, Whiteway, off Radburn Way, Letchworth Garden City £5. Second Wednesday of every month. Stay for our afternoon quiz. Lunch will be a two course hot lunch with a soft drink. Please advise any dietary requirements when booking. Everyone is welcome.

First lunch is free. Please call on a Monday to book your place for the Wednesday. Tel: 01462 473100 Email: garden@quantumcare.co.uk 11 July Baldock & Clothall WI 7.30pm United Reformed Church, Whitehorse Street, Baldock Visitors £3. Visitors always welcome.

Tel: Lucy 01462 742609 for more info Email: Baldockclothallwi@hotmail.co.uk Facebook: www.facebook.com/baldockclothallwi 11 July The Arts Society North Herts Talk 7.30pm The Queen Mother Theatre, Hitchin £5. ‘Our Great British Parks’ an illustrated talk on the history of our parks, from Royal Parks to Pleasure Gardens and Victorian Public Parks. This is a special evening lecture as part of Hitchin Festival sponsored by The Arts Society North Herts. Tickets available from the Festival Box Office, Hitchin Information Centre, Churchyard Hitchin.

Web: www.theartssocietynorthherts.org.uk 11 July Stevenage Floral Art Society 7.45pm Methodist Church Hall, High Street Members £3, Visitors £7 Floral Demonstration by Rekha Naidoo ‘Travel thro Floral Ages’. Visitors very welcome.

12 July Open Air Cinema 2pm & 7pm Arlesey Recreation Ground, High Street, Arlesey Mary Poppins Returns at 2pm and Bohemian Rhapsody at 7pm.

Web: Tickets www.hiremyled.co.uk/book-tickets Tel: Sam Ward: arleseyeventsgroup@gmail.com

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

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

In July

13 July A Tapestry of Treasured Musical Moments 4pm Woolmer Green Village Hall, Woolmer Green Adults £14 (Advance £12), Under 16s £5 Stevenage Choral Society Concert. Tallis to Taverner.

Pimm’s (alcoholic and non-alcoholic) and nibbles for sale. Tickets available by email, online or on the door.

Email: info@stevenagechoral.org.uk Web: www.wegottickets.com/StevenageChoral 13 July North Herts Guild of Singers Concert 7.30pm Coptic Church Centre, Stevenage Tickets £14, Full-time Students £8 Carl Orff: Carmina Burana, Brahms: Liebeslieder Waltzes. Conductor Harry Bradford; Pianos Colin Spinks & Richard Carr and Percussion Ensemble of London. Tickets online, by telephone or from David’s Bookshop or Hitchin Initiative. Tel: 01438 861185 Web: www.nhgs.org.uk 14 July Jazz on the Lawn 12.30-5.00pm Shillington Manor, Apsley End Road, Shillington Tickets £25 inc. bubbly on arrival & three course lunch. Come and enjoy the Take 3 Jazz Trio who will entertain for the afternoon in the gardens of Shillington Manor with a selection of familiar Jazz standards. Bring your own drinks and glasses.

Tickets by telephone or Shillington Post Office. Free parking on-site. Tel: Tickets 01462 712576 20 July Orpheus Choir of North Herts 50th Anniversary Concert 7pm St George’s Church, Letchworth Adults £7.50, Children £5 A selection of the choir’s favourite music to mark its Golden Jubilee, including Mozart’s Ave Verum Corpus, Lauridsen’s O Magnum Mysterium, Byrd’s Four Part Mass and Bruckner’s Locus Iste.

Tel: Box Office 01462 678133 www.orpheusnorthherts.com/future-concerts.html 20 & 21 July Fuchsia Festival 10.30am-4pm St. Andrews Church, Langford Free entry. Display by Beds and Herts Fuchsia Society.

Refreshments, stalls and plant sale.

20 & 21 July Stotfold Art Group Summer Exhibition 10am-5pm Ivel Room, Stotfold Watermill Free entry. Paintings and cards on display and for sale. Tea room open and mill working on both days.

Parking nearby.

Hitchin & Surrounding Areas Fun & Social Stuff A welcoming social group based in Hitchin, but also includes the surrounding areas. We arrange monthly socials, drinks, live music, pub quizzes, cinema, etc..

The group is a variety of people over 18 . Email: meetup3@outlook.com Web: https://www.meetup.com/meetup-groupHVrvZZiQ

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ROGERSONS

REMOVALS

Man with Van

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

Tel: 01462 627074 Mob: 07867 531368

Speak to Matt • No job too big or small

N O T YO U R AV E R A G E H O M E I M P R OV E M E N T C O M PA N Y

WALL COATING

ALL REPAIRS UNDERTAKEN BREATHABLE COATINGS WEATHER PROOF SMOOTH OR TEXTURED SELF CLEANING PROTECTS YOUR WALLS CLEAN & TIDY INSTALLATION SUITABLE FOR MASONRY OR RENDER • COLOUR MATCH AVAILABLE • 10 YEAR GUARANTEE • • • • • • • •

Before After

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

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Shapes

and Sizes 1. Which of the following paper sizes has an area equal to one square metre?... A0, A1 or A2?

2. What is the common name of both a bone in the hand and a geometrical shape that has four sides, two of which are parallel?

3. What name is given to the format of newspaper that is almost double the size of a tabloid newspaper, with sheets measuring around 75 by 60 centimetres?

4. What is the only standard road sign in the UK that is octagonal in shape?

5. How many feet wide is a mattress for a single bed?

6. Perfecto, torpedo, robusto and toro are all shapes or sizes of what?

7. With viewers being invited to guess which one would be chosen as the camera would zoom in on one for a section of each episode, what were the original three shapes of window on the children’s TV show Play School?

8. After complaints about gender inequality, which size of tissue did Kleenex announce it was phasing out in 2018 and replacing with the new name of “extra large”?

9. The Admiralty Pattern is the most common shape of what type of item?

10. 5 pence, 10 pence and 50 pence coins were all originally larger than they are today. Which of these was reduced in size first?

1. A0 2. Trapezium 3. Broadsheet 4. The stop sign 5. Three 6. Cigars 7. Round, Square and Arched 8. Mansize 9. Anchor 10. 5 pence (1990 v 1992 and 1997)

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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

Electrician

www.hertsandbedselectrical.co.uk

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

Fault finding/repairs Extra lights and sockets New fuse boards Electrical testing and certificates Qualified electrician  Fully insured Reliable service  Tidy work Free quote  Satisfaction guaranteed

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

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Local News

Colourful Classrooms

Last year, Kate Griffiths and Kath Roberts developed Colourful Classrooms, to build young people’s emotional wellbeing, based on the work they have done with organisations as documented in their book, Colourful Boardrooms.

Colour Rocks™ is an eight week programme aimed at young people from age 9 - 21. It builds emotional resilience in children. Kate says: “It’s special because it blends a number of approaches and deals with a serious topic in a fun and engaging manner.”

A key element of the programme shows how the power of intention works using the principles outlined

by Lynne McTaggart in The Power of 8. Her scientific experiments proved that altruism benefits the giver as much as the recipient - making a difference pays.

They aretesting their approach in local schools to see what results they get with both primary and secondary school audiences and are open to receiving enquiries from schools. The aim is to give youngsters tools to help them deal with issues from low selfconfidence and mild anxiety to more extreme conditions such as obsessive thoughts and eating disorders.

The programme costs over £2,000 to run and so they continue to fundraise to support its implementation into schools. They are planning to run a fire walk at the Clophill Centre in Bedfordshire (MK45 4BT) to raise more funds on 20 July. As well as being empowering, you will be supporting a great cause at the same time so do get in touch with them on enquiries@artofleadership.co to find out more and / or book your place.

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CARPET SALE UP TO 50% OFF PLUS FREE FITTING, FREE GRIPPERS When carpet purchased with underlay FURNITURE MOVED, OLD CARPETS REMOVED IF REQUIRED

FREE ESTIMATES WE CALL WITH SAMPLES AND MEASURE CARPETS FITTED IN ABOUT A WEEK

KEN SEABY CARPETS 01462 733203 07748 532632

KEN’S CARPET CARE, CARPET CLEANING, RE-FITS & REPAIRS

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ANDY LEONARD

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

Please contact Andy on

07889 903283 Email: andythepainter5@hotmail.com

AL Painter & Decorators QP.indd 1

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09/02/2018 15:02

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June’s Puzzle Solutions and Winners Last Month’s Crossword Winner Mr S Barker from Sandy Winner of Battle Proms Tickets Paul Calow from Huntingdon

Winner of Folk by the Oak Tickets Miss P Ray from Stotfold

Easy

Hard

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The Villager Prize Crossword

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

16th July 2019 Prize Crossword, Villager Publications Ltd 24 Market Square, Potton, Beds SG19 2NP

Prize

ÂŁ25

Across 1 Unable to hear (4) 3 Previously (8) 9 A lawn game (7) 10 Tease (5) 11 Produced (12) 14 Period of time (3) 16 Stop (5) 17 Feminine pronoun (3) 18 In spite of (12) 21 Shoreline (5) 22 Placing (7) 23 Daily (8) 24 Requests (4) Down 1 Twelfth month (8) 2 Embellish (5) 4 Not in (3) 5 Dimensions (12) 6 Entrants in a race (7) 7 A toy (2-2) 8 Adequately (12) 12 Map or diagram (5) 13 Communications (8) 15 Mean (7) 19 Departs (5) 20 Land measurement (4) 22 Small vegetable (3)

Name: Tel:



Address:

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SIMPLY PRESSED

Ironing Service ◆ Have your ironing done in a clean shop environment ◆ Fully insured ◆ Open Tuesdays to Saturdays ◆ See website for more details or give us a call

Contact Details 276a Hitchin Road, Henlow Camp Bedfordshire SG16 6DP Phone: 01462 812895 Email: info@simplypressed.co.uk www.simplypressed.co.uk

N O T YO U R AV E R A G E H O M E I M P R OV E M E N T C O M PA N Y

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0800 046 1080 UP TO 30% OFF IN JULY hello@thehomeimprovementproject.co.uk www.thehomeimprovementproject.co.uk 76

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Books

Book Review

By Kate Duggan

Accountants

The Library of Lost and Found

by Phaedra Patrick

Librarian Martha Storm finds a book containing a dedication from her grandmother. But the dedication is dated several years after her grandmother supposedly died. The book sets Martha out on a quest that will rock her safe, predictable life and remind her of who she really is. A hugely enjoyable, warm hug of a book.

Stone Mothers

by Erin Kelly

Marianne is back in her home village, and desperate to keep a secret hidden that could destroy the life she’s built over the last 30 years. A secret that ties her to her childhood sweetheart, Jesse, as well as the MP responsible for shutting down the local asylum. This chilling psychological tale is a slow-burner but well worth sticking with.

Internment

By Samira Ahmed

Set ‘15 minutes into the future’, Internment tells the story of 17-year-old Layla, who is sent to a Muslim-American internment camp in the middle of the Californian desert. Similar to the real JapaneseAmerican internment camps of World War II, this camp is a dangerous place to stand out. Layla’s parents want her to keep her head down and not attract the attention of the vicious camp director. But Layla is prepared to risk her life for her freedom. A powerful page-turner about the price of turning a blind eye to bigotry.

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

No call out charges on accepted quotes Member of DASA 30 years 35 years local work experience Used as expert on BBC Watchdog

01525 753547 or 07836 242122 G.J. WATKINSON

Carpentry and Joinery

Tim Jordon

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

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

Tel: 01462 850363 or 07544 790071

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

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Experienced Qualified and Insured All work guaranteed

n.bush744@btinternet.com

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Classifieds Property Maintenance

Locksmith Services

Dave Mortby Plastering, Decorating & Refurbishment

Free Estimates Given

07722 128189

Email: David.mortby@live.co.uk

Plastering Services

Removals

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

Roofing

Plumbing and Heating

Property Maintenance R. CHAPMAN

Home & Garden Services

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

From just £35.00 per month plus VAT

01462 850575 or 07950 311881 78

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USEFUL NUMBERS

VILLAGER The

and Town

Life

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

Bringing Local Business to Local People Your local full colour A5 monthly magazine delivered free of charge to 1000s of homes and businesses in your local area.

The Villager and Town Life is dedicated to promoting local businesses, charities, community groups and everything else in your local area.

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

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