VILLAGER The
Issue 136 - March 2020
and Town
Life
LOCAL NEWS • LOCAL PEOPLE • LOCAL SERVICES • LOCAL CHARITIES • LOCAL PRODUCTS
In this issue Easy Veg Growing Win tickets to see
Mark Thomas 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...
Trends we will be wearing this spring/summer
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How the Computer Began.....................................................4 Britain’s Strangest Museums.................................................8 Win Tickets to see Mark Thomas.............................12 Nick Coffer’s Weekend Recipe..............................................17 Dining: Royal Lancaster Style..............................................19 To a Special Mum................................................................20 Introducing a New Baby to the Family.................................22 The Trends we will be wearing this Spring/Summer............24 March into Spring................................................................27 Get Motivated. Get Fit.........................................................30 Top Tips for Verruca Treatment............................................32 EAAA Update.......................................................................34 Baldock Library...................................................................36
Stepping Stone Investing....................................................39 Easy Veg Growing................................................................43 Solutions4Gardens..............................................................44 An Annual Fiesta.................................................................47 Fire Blessing Bhutan...........................................................50 Brexit and animal Welfare...................................................52 R.A.T.S. Rehoming Appeal...................................................54 Puzzle Page.........................................................................60 What’s On............................................................................64 Respite at Home Volunteers................................................66 Join the BDCPS Team...........................................................70 Fun Quiz..............................................................................70 Prize Crossword....................................................74 Book Review.......................................................................77 Useful Numbers..................................................................79
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Solutions4Gardens
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, Kate McLelland, Nick Coffer, Trevor Langley, Kate Duggan, Jennie Billings, Robert Grant, Dr Daisy Mae, Pippa Greenwood, Rachael Leverton, Solange Hando and RSPCA.
Advertising Sales/Local Editorial Nigel Frost • Tel 01767 261122 nigel@villagermag.com Front Cover Photography - Barbara Neveu Design and Artwork - Design 9 Tel 07762 969460 • www.design9marketing.co.uk
Publishers Villager Publications Ltd 24 Market Square, Potton, Bedfordshire SG19 2NP Tel: 01767 261122 nigel@villagermag.com www.villagermag.com
Disclaimer - All adverts and editorial are printed in good faith, however, Villager Publications Ltd can not take any responsibility for the content of the adverts, the services provided by the advertisers or any statements given in the editorial. No part of this publication may be reproduced or stored without the express permission of the publisher.
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History
By Catherine Rose
How the Computer Began Believe it or not, the seeds for the earliest computers were sown at the beginning of the nineteenth century. In 1801 French weaver Joseph Jacquard invented a loom that used punched wooden cards to automatically produce fabric designs – a concept that featured in the first computer systems. However, it is Charles Babbage who is usually credited with the invention of the computer. Born in 1791, he conceived a steam-driven programmable engine able to work out mathematical problems. Sadly, Babbage never lived to see his computer built, but amongst his many drawings and plans he left behind such a
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Charles Babbage’s Difference Engine No 1.
detailed technical design for ‘Difference Engine No. 2’ that the Science Museum’s curator decided to undertake the project in the 1980s. Finished in 2002, it works accurately, produces printouts and weighs five tons. Babbage’s computer was never used in anger. However, during the late 1880s, population growth in the United States meant that the government was struggling to calculate its census figures, so in 1890 Herman Hollerith designed a punch card system to automate the task. He saved the government $5 million and in the process
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established the company that went on to become IBM. Alan Turing is often described as the father of modern computers. In 1936 he invented the concept of the ‘Turing Machine’ that was capable of universal calculation, a computer description now referred to as ‘Turing complete’. Theoretically, the machine had limitless memory, could read data, write results, and store a program of instructions just like a modern computer. Although it was never built, Turing’s subsequent contribution to cracking the Enigma Code during World War II is well-documented. Turing also foresaw the use of artificial intelligence (AI), devising a test he called the ‘Imitation Game’ to measure computer intelligence. In 1941 German engineer Konrad Zuse attempted to actualise the ‘Turing complete’ concept with the first binary programmable electro-mechanical computer – the Z1 – which read instructions from 35mm punched film. Between 1943 and 1944, two American professors, John Mauchly and J. Presper Eckert, constructed the Electronic Numerical Integrator and Calculator, known as ENIAC. Considered to be the first electronic computer, it was 1,000 times faster than its predecessors, measured 800 square feet and had 18,000 vacuum tubes. From this came UNIVAC, the first commercial computer which was launched in 1946. COBOL was the first computer language, invented by Grace Hopper in 1953. This was closely followed by FORTRAN (FORmula TRANslation), developed by a team of programmers at IBM. Coupled with this, in 1958 Nobel prize-winner Jack Kilby and Robert Noyce manufactured the first computer chip: an integrated electronic circuit. Towards the end of the 1960s, design engineers at Bell Labs came up with a computer operating system known as UNIX. Written in a programming language they called C, UNIX was useable across multiple platforms. It subsequently became the standard for mainframe computers. Up until then, computers had not been suitable for use in homes, but in 1964 Douglas Engelbart produced a single user-friendly prototype including the now ubiquitous mouse and a graphical user interface. The famous floppy disk was invented by Alan Shugart of IBM in 1971. For the first time, it easily enabled software to be plugged in and shared between
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computers. As a result, personal computers (PCs) started to become available and Computer Science became the official subject for ‘geeks’ in the school curriculum. 1975 saw the foundation of Microsoft by two such self-confessed geeks: Paul Allen and Bill Gates. Two years later the two Steves – Jobs and Wozniak – founded Apple Computers. Surprisingly, the first IBM PC wasn’t launched until 1981. It used MS-DOS and included an Intel chip, two floppy disk drives and the option of a colour monitor. Meanwhile, Apple was busy developing its longstanding rival, the Mackintosh. The 1980s saw further leaps in computer development. Computer software programs for both home and business use exploded. Word processing revolutionised the typing pool with programs like Wordstar, later replaced by Word. It was also the era that Microsoft launched their groundbreaking Windows operating system and the first one hundred dot coms were registered for the newly created ‘worldwide web’ after physicist Tim Berners-Lee developed HTML (HyperText Markup Language) on which it was based. In the last twenty years, computer technology has smashed through the glass ceiling with its evermore fast-paced development, from computers that once filled a whole room to those we now carry in our pockets. Even the relatively new Internet has seen huge changes with dial-up modems being replaced by Wi-Fi, and connectivity speeds increasing thanks to broadband (well, for a lot of areas at least). Computer games no longer require an old-fashioned floppy disk, or even a DVD, as everything increasingly moves into virtual reality. Could Charles Babbage have foreseen the difference his Difference Machine would make when he was giving demonstrations to his academic friends in London all those years ago? I wonder…
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Quirky Britain
By Kate McLelland
Britain’s Strangest Museums
‘Dippy’ the diplodocus – the replica plaster cast skeleton of a long-necked, long-tailed dinosaur – is currently touring the UK, having given up his traditional place as the centrepiece of the great hall at London’s Natural History Museum. We visit museums to view those rare treasures that we could not expect to see anywhere else and Dippy is typical of the sort of highprofile exhibit the public will queue for hours to see. But not all museums can boast exhibits with Dippy’s ‘star quality’: some have built their reputation on being quirky, different and … well, perhaps even a little eccentric. Here are some British museums that are proud to offer a rather different experience to visitors. Derwent Pencil Museum, Keswick (derwentart.com) Yes, that’s right … it’s a museum dedicated to the humble pencil. There’s a good reason for the museum’s location, as Keswick was the first area in Britain where graphite was mined to make pencils. Visitors to the museum can enjoy a wide range of pencil-related exhibits, from a secret pencil collection dating from the Second World War to a giant eight metre long crayon which has entered the Guinness Book of Records as the longest colouring pencil in the world. Cuckooland, Knutsford (cuckoolandmuseum.com) No, it’s not a museum full of stuffed cuckoos. The birds in question are the wooden kind, that always appear on the hour. This impressive collection of 600 cuckoo clocks was put together by brothers Roman and Maz Piekarski, who began training as clock makers in Manchester at the age of fifteen and developed a lifelong interest in the cuckoo clock. Since that time they have bought and renovated rare and notable examples from the Black Forest area of Germany, amassing a world-class collection. Lawnmower World, Southport (lawnmowerworld.co.uk) Ah, the smell of freshly-cut grass! Except you’re probably more likely to detect the aroma of engine oil and polish in this quirky museum dedicated to the lawnmower. At Lawnmower World you’ll find over 250 lawnmowers on show, ranging from the very first examples ever made to a high-tech, robot lawnmower. In a unique twist on celebrity spotting, you can get close to several VIP lawnmowers, including one given to Prince Charles and Princess Diana as a wedding present. The Museum of Witchcraft & Magic, Boscastle (museumofwitchcraftandmagic.co.uk) This year this famous museum, dedicated to everything occult and supernatural, celebrates the sixtieth birthday of its premises in the sleepy Cornish village of Boscastle. Out of the 3,000 objects the museum holds, you will find the usual crystal balls, Ouija boards and broomsticks plus a wealth of unexpected items, such as amulets carried into battle by soldiers in World War One, a Hitler pincushion (promoted by Readers’ Digest magazine as a way of ‘hexing Hitler’) and even a charm for riches, made by placing three bees inside a bottle. They may not feature the likes of Tutankhamun’s golden funerary mask or Shakespeare’s signet ring, but what these little museums lack in high-status exhibits they certainly make up for in terms of enthusiasm and engagement. Let’s hope they continue to amuse, entertain and inform us for many decades to come.
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advertorial
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Photo: Steve Ullathorne
WIN a PAIR of TICKETS to see MARK THOMAS at CAMBRIDGE JUNCTION, on 30th MARCH 2020 In his new show 50 Things About Us, Mark Thomas combines his trademark mix of storytelling, stand-up, mischief and really, really well researched material to examine how we have come to inhabit this divided wasteland that some of us call the United Kingdom. Mark picks through the myths, facts and figures of our national identities to ask how we have so much feeling for such a hollow land. Who do we think we are? It is a show about money, history, songs, gongs, wigs, unicorns, guns, bungs, sods of soil and rich people* in the vein of The Manifesto-meets-sweary history channel. An unstoppable force both on and off-stage, Mark has stopped arms deals, created a manifesto and brought the winning policy to parliament, walked the entire length of the Israeli wall in the West Bank, set up a comedy club in Jenin, had six series on Channel 4 alongside several television documentaries and radio series, written some books, grabbed a Guinness World Record, toured sell-out tours, won numerous awards, nabbed himself a Medal of Honour and succeeded in changing some laws along the way. 50 Things About Us is also a podcast. *(not the adjective Mark has chosen) We have a pair of tickets to give away for Mark’s Cambridge Junction tour date on Monday 30th March. All you have to do is send in the answer to the below question!
MARK THOMAS COMPETITION ENTRY
How many Channel 4 series did Mark have?

For a chance to win tickets simply answer the question and complete the form below and send to: Mark Thomas Competition, Villager Publications Ltd, 24 Market Square, Potton, Bedfordshire SG19 2NP. Deadline: 16th March 2020
Name: Tel: Email: Address:
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IF YOU’RE LOOKING FOR A HIGH-QUALITY KITCHEN MAKEOVER FOR UP TO 50% LESS THAN A NEW FULLY FITTED KITCHEN, WHY NOT PAY A VISIT TO DREAM DOORS EAST HERTS SHOWROOM IN WARE Highly-experienced owners Carly and Tom promise you a warm welcome. More importantly they will help you design and create your ideal kitchen using our impressive range of highquality products and can typically reface your kitchen in as little as two to three days. Dream Doors is the UK’s #1 kitchen makeover specialist and we take the hassle out of your kitchen revamp from the very beginning. Once we’ve arranged a free, no obligation visit to your home - at a time that’s convenient for you we will measure up your kitchen. Our experienced kitchen designers can then talk you through our extensive range of products and help you narrow down your selection. No matter if your style is traditional, contemporary, exclusive, modern or classic we have a range of doors and worktops that will suit you and your style.
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Food & Drink
Vegan BBQ pulled jackfruit kebab with spicy slaw and vegan tzatziki Over recent years on my Weekend Kitchen show, it’s been really interesting to watch the way our perceptions of vegan food have developed. Initially met with a lot of scepticism, vegan food on my show would usually have been met with “that’s better than I expected” or “you wouldn’t know it’s vegan”. Now we no longer need to make excuses – vegan food is just food, which happens to be vegan. This wonderful vegan kebab stands on its own as a brilliant meal. It was created by a vibrant and clever chef, Paul Nicholls (@ chefpaulnicholls on Insta), who runs the kitchen at Woburn Golf Course and his own catering company, Olive and Basil, named after his grandparents. Packed with flavour, fun and texture, it’s absolutely delicious, and so easy to make too. Ingredients 1 tin jackfruit 1 tsp smoked paprika 4 tbsp BBQ sauce 1 large carrot, grated 1 small red onion, finely sliced 1 handful shredded cabbage 1 handful grated celeriac 1 tsp harissa paste 2 limes, zested and juiced 4 tbsp vegan cream cheese 1/2 cucumber grated 1 clove garlic, finely chopped 4 mint leaves, finely chopped 4 large pita breads
1. Firstly make the zesty slaw. Mix the cabbage, carrots, onion and celeriac in a bowl. Season with salt and pepper, then add a little lime zest and juice and finish with the harissa. 2. In a separate bowl, mix the vegan cheese with the garlic, mint, cucumber and a little lime juice to taste. 3. Fully drain the jackfruit from the tin and fry it, with the paprika, in a little oil in a pan. You want it to start to pull apart and caramelise a little. Finish by mixing in the BBQ sauce. 4. Warm up your pittas and fill them with the pulled jackfruit and the coleslaw and drizzle over some of the tzatziki. Serve immediately.
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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Food and Drink
Dining: Royal Lancaster Style London holds much allure, for many. The different areas – be it East End, West End, North or South Bank of the River Thames and whether ancient, historical, pageantry or more modern is of interest, there is something for all ages. Culture, entertainment and sports are further attractions of the capital, which inspires all year through.
Always good, is a break in the time, if a day visit is planned. If a short trip (maybe romantic) is envisaged, a recommended restaurant could be welcoming. The area around Lancaster Gate, a mid-19th century development, has Kensington Palace and Gardens, plus Hyde Park. Also, Mayfair and Knightsbridge are in the vicinity, so thoughts of some ‘retail therapy’ may arise! I found the 5 star Royal Lancaster London Hotel, with its restaurants and bars, opened during 1967, to be a venue that has great attraction. This multi million pound renovated, 411 bedroom hotel, has views of Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens, plus the immediate area. Different, outstanding restaurants, are located within the hotel and, depending on cuisine preferences and requirements, each is equally inviting. The Afternoon Tea can be an ‘invitation’, too. The Island Grill Restaurant is very popular and offers dishes for all tastes. From the menu, starters include Crab Salad (Endive, seaweed crisp, oyster mayonnaise) and Wild Mushroom options. Royal Lancaster Smoked Salmon (Horseradish cream, beetroot, sourdough) has excellent presentation and, with complementing accompaniments, is very flavoursome, making a superb commencement to the dining occasion. Main courses have an array of meats, plus fish choices and more. All beef is organic, British and aged for 35 days. Grilled Free-Range Chicken (seasoned with English mustard and tarragon) is perfect with French fries and choice of sauces. With grilled tenderstembrocolli, suggested to accompany, this warrants, ‘Compliments to Chef’ – absolutely! Desserts impress too and Dark Chocolate Fondant (Salted caramel ice cream) does not disappoint, oozing chocolate, with great flavour. High-quality wines/drinks, from worldwide origins have something to satisfy all palates, including some fabulous pairings with cuisine. Gift vouchers are available. Island Grill Restaurant and Bar Royal Lancaster London, Lancaster Terrace, Bayswater, London W2 2TY Tel: 44 (0) 207 551 6000 Tel: Island Grill: 44 (0) 207 551 6070 Email: info@royallancaster.com www.royallancaster.com
As always, Enjoy!
ey Trevor Langl
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Mothers Day
To a Special Mum
Remembering mums of kids with additional needs on Mothers’ Day On Mothers’ Day my Facebook and Instagram feeds fill with photos. The captions declare, ‘Beautiful bouquet from my son!’ #mothersday or ‘My daughters took me to see Les Mis’ #mothersday. In spite of the fact that I have a much-loved son he will never send me flowers or take me to the theatre. Tom has Down Syndrome and is also autistic, non-verbal and has a myriad of complex health problems. I love him and I know he loves me, but I will be his carer long after my friends’ kids have left home and started their own families. This is my shout-out to other mums whose Mothers’ Day celebrations will be bittersweet. You are not alone - There are more of us than you think. Our children may all have different problems, but we understand each other’s sense of being on the outside, at the celebrations ‘normal’ families take for granted: Christmas, birthday parties, family get-togethers and Mothers’ Days. You are AWESOME - You are a full-blown superhero my friend. Your superpower is the ability to deal with situations other parents could not conceive in their worst nightmares. You might acquire knowledge and skills beyond those required by most doctors, memorising medication regimens, side effects, and how to inject or infuse the drugs. You deal calmly with your hysterical child during horrendous medical procedures. You deal with melt-downs in public toilets over hand-dryers! You encourage your child to do the things doctors assured you they would never do. You crash, you burn, and you get up and do it all again the next day anyway. You celebrate your kids’ achievements on their terms - Other parents crow about their child’s GCSE results or a grade 4 piano exam passed with distinction or a star-of-the-week award for neat handwriting. Our celebrations look different though they are no less important. We celebrated Tom signing ‘Mum’, ‘Dad’ and ‘love’ for the first time, and we definitely celebrated him taking a
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bath without screaming, drowning us or flooding the house! You have the best black sense of humour - ‘nuff said. We know that we laugh at things parents of typical kids would not find the least bit funny, like the weird people you meet during all-nighters in A&E departments, discovering excrement smeared over your freshly-painted walls, or an aquarium full of dead fish because your child wanted to feed them and the only box he could reach was the small one posted through the door containing a sample of washing powder! RIP Tom’s fish! You accept, and don’t compare - You become the mum other mothers confide in because their child doesn’t walk, talk, read, or ride a bike as well as their peers. Never mind that your child is 10, nonverbal and rides a large trike because of balance issues! You accept (mostly) other parents’ rights to brag or worry about their kids even though you often feel that sense of ‘otherness’. You are special. To mothers of additional needs kids everywhere. Happy Mothers’ Day Love from, Loraine
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Parenting
By Kate Duggan - www.kateduggan.co.uk
Introducing a new baby to the family Getting ready to welcome a new arrival and wondering how to prepare your children? These tips should help. Before the birth You might want to wait until after the first (or even second) scan to tell your children about the pregnancy. It won’t be long before they spot your growing bump or overhear a conversation and want to know more. There are some excellent picture books available to help prepare young children for the arrival of a sibling. My daughter’s favourites included ‘Too Small for Honey Cake’ by Gillian Lobel and Sebastien Braun, and ‘There’s a House Inside my Mummy’ by Giles Andreae and Vanessa Cabban. Be prepared to answer endless questions, and try to help your children understand what changes they can expect. As the due date gets closer, you might want to talk about where the baby will be born, where the baby will sleep, why you might be too tired to play, and so on. After the birth As you already know, the first few days of having a newborn can be emotionally and physically exhausting. Toddlers tend to be naturally quite demanding and haven’t exactly mastered empathy. They may well struggle with sharing your time. Try to focus on quality time, rather than quantity. Fifteen minutes spent playing a game together will often earn you half an hour of peace while they play on their own. Snuggling on the
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sofa to watch a film as a family with popcorn and hot chocolate can feel like a real treat (and they hopefully won’t mind if you doze off for a bit). Double buggies are usually incredibly cumbersome, so a baby carrier is a good investment. It’ll make getting out to the park, shops, library and so on a lot easier. Look for one that offers good support to your baby and your back, and is easy to get on and off. The Izmi baby carrier (£80) ticks all the boxes. It’s a buckle carrier but as comfortable as a fabric sling, suitable for newborns through to walking, and (crucially) machine-washable. It’s worth having a few small presents on hand for your children when friends and family arrive with gifts for the baby. “Ooh look, the baby got a present – that means you get a go in our lucky dip” will help to stop jealous tantrums in their tracks. Maybe pick up a few picture books (ten for £10 from The Book People), novelty pencils and a few small teddies from the charity shop. Young children often like to feel that they’re helping out, so try to involve them where you can. There will be times you just want to get on and do a task quickly, but other times children could ‘help’ to make the bed or sort the washing. Even a simple “This milk feels the right temperature to me, what do you think?” will help cement the ‘we’re all in this together’ feeling. Just don’t ask too much of your children or blame the baby every time you can’t do something. No point encouraging sibling rivalry before the baby can at least answer back.
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House of Colour
The trends we will be wearing this Spring/Summer 1. Minimal Futurist is a clear trend for the season with clean lines, block colours, minimal details, fluid movement and drape. Think layering simple blazers and sheath dresses with wide and slim leg trousers, finish the look with architectural accessories. 2. Elegance as Staple – Classic wardrobe staples have added feminine elegance for a balance between fluidity and structure. Tailored suits are worn with soft bow blouses, city shorts, and feminine dresses in simple and elegant shapes. 3. Modern Utility – Safari, shirt dresses, utility jackets, and trousers with utility style pockets and details continue to update modern silhouettes especially with waist definition. 4. Paradise Island – Perfect for your holiday wardrobe, blend exotic prints and textures with your safari colours and utility details. Alternatively choose voluminous maxi dresses, crochet details, palm prints and handcrafted accessories. 5. Neo Victoriana’s fanciful ruffles and volume are underpinned by decadent florals. Puff and bishop sleeves on dresses and blouses, peplum jackets, refined ruffles and Victorian style accessories give a nod to historical influences. On trend styles to keep in mind on shopping trips: • Short suits – for a contemporary look consider high waisted and longer length shorts teamed with a blazer. • Texture is increasingly important. From soft buttery leather to light chiffons and crochet, layering is key. Satin continues as a must have fabric, reworked for SS20 in blazers and summer dresses in pastel shades. • Environmental influence - Focus on investment pieces and trans-seasonal dressing for wardrobe staples so you can wear again and again appealing to those who want to buy less and wear more. Especially important when considering overcoats, blazers, classic shirts and trench coats. • Versatile enough to be worn casually with sports shoes or dressed up with heels, the patterned midi remains the go-to dress shape. Puff sleeves, deep V and corset necklines or off the shoulder designs offer something different. • Romantic puff sleeves and elasticated balloon shapes are still very in vogue as simple strings
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and long sweeping ties replace buttons as fastenings for a more natural feel. • Layering midi dresses and longline shirts over trousers taps into the mood for seasonal dressing so you can wear your favourite dresses earlier in the season. • Cardigans become a fashion favourite with matching cardigan and knitwear top sets in tight fitting to oversized options. • Consumers still want comfort and style in their clothes but SS20 is the season of the blazer as the key item perfect for a smart/casual look. A wardrobe staple item that can be layered and worn between seasons. Adapt to suit your personality from simple tailoring to exaggerated shoulders or peplum details, there is a blazer for everyone. • The Pantone Colour Institute has announced their colour of 2020 is the beautiful ‘Classic Blue’ so expect to see it all over the shops. Here are some other key colour trends: Soft green – from autumn light sage to moss green Bold red – the vibrant reds for all season Yellow – yellow ochre, canary yellow and corn yellow, saffron and tangerine. Pastel shades – the summer pinks, purples and greens White – across all seasons from cream to bright white Aqua Lilac 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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Call FootPro Podiatry today
Routine Podiatry & Chiropody Ingrowing Toenails Fungal Toenails Verrucae Treatments Gait Analysis & Biomechanics Orthotic Treatments Diabetes Management Childrens Clinic
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Suite 2 The Old Stables, Station Road, Arlesey, SG15 6RG
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By Kate Duggan
March into Spring
Beauty
From sustainable beauty to the softest make-up brushes and home-made bath bombs, there’s plenty to tempt you this month…
I recently had to request some new make-up brushes as my eight year old son broke mine applying (as he puts it) Goth makeup. It turned out to be a blessing in disguise as it meant I upgraded my old, rather worn brushes for a sparkling new set from Lily England. The Face Make-Up Brush Set contains five of the softest, most luxurious feeling brushes I’ve ever tried. The set includes a foundation brush, bronzer brush and eyeshadow brush. They’re vegan, look a lot more expensive than they actually are and come in a rather nice white cosmetic bag. In other words, they’d make a great Mother’s Day gift. I’m not letting my son anywhere near these ones. They’re £24.99 from Boots or www.lilyengland.com. Planning to make a gift this Mother’s Day, or looking for an activity to do with the kids? How about a set of home-made bath bombs? The key ingredients are citric acid, baking soda/ bicarbonate of soda and essential oil. You’ll also need something to use as a mould. Special moulds for creating bath bombs are available, but chocolate moulds are fine for creating smaller bath fizzes and they’re available in a range of shapes. (You can also use them to make aromatherapy wax melts.)
Mix one cup of bicarb with one cup of citric acid, and add around thirty drops of essential oil (lavender works well). You can add extra ingredients if you like, such as a tablespoon of almond or olive oil, dried flower petals and food colouring. Then add a splash of water, a few drops at a time, and keep mixing. You want to end up with a mixture that holds its shape when you squeeze it. Push the mixture into the moulds firmly and leave them to dry somewhere warm, like an airing cupboard for a few hours. Then gently push the bath bombs out of the moulds and wrap them in tissue paper. I’m a fan of BYBI for so many reasons. For a start, it’s one of the most sustainable brands on the market. Bottles can be returned to be washed and refilled. Products only contain sustainable ingredients, including seeds that would have been thrown away. And BYBI makes sure that the people who grow or harvest those ingredients are treated fairly. That’s all well and good, but if beauty products don’t work, there’s little point in them being ethical. Thankfully, these do. I particularly love the BYBI Swipe Clean Cleanser (£26). It’s a 100% natural oil-based cleanser that removes make up easily and leaves skin feeling noticeably pampered. When I’m trying a new cleanser, I skip moisturiser for a few days to really put it to the test. This one left my skin feeling ultra-soft, even several hours later. I also like the BYBI Mega Mist (£26) – a hyaluronic acid spritz that leaves skin feeling more hydrated and ‘glowy’. It’s available from Boots or www.bybi.com.
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Local News
Let’s Fight Fatigue & Pain! If you or someone you know has exhaustion and chronic pain, come along to a free drop-in event on Saturday 21st March. Between 12pm and 2pm anyone is welcome to find out more about Fighting Fatigue & Pain, a project run by Letchworth charity Herts MS Therapy Centre. Extreme fatigue and chronic pain can result from many conditions, including Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and ME – and many others. The Herts MS Therapy Centre in Letchworth helps anyone with a long term condition, not just Multiple Sclerosis. It offers Physiotherapy, Oxygen Therapy, APS Pain Reduction Therapy and specialist exercise sessions to help people improve their quality of life. Oxygen Therapy helps some people recover faster after injury, surgery and cancer treatments. It’s also great for increasing energy. Some people find it reduces pain, especially people with Fibromyalgia and CFS. On 21st March, free test sessions of Oxygen Therapy are available. Rachel B says: “Without my Oxygen Treatment in Letchworth I would still be in agony from Fibromyalgia and probably jobless and depressed.
I can’t even begin to explain what a difference it has made for me.” Nicki H has MS. She adds: “Also, it’s great to meet other people who have an idea of what you’re going through. It’s nice to have a chat with other people at the Centre.” Mark Boscher, the Chief Executive of Herts MS Therapy Centre added: “If you, or someone you know, lives with long term pain or fatigue – from any condition - maybe we can help them to gain more energy and feel less pain. Please come on Saturday 21st March.” To book your free test session, call Claire on 01462 684214 or email openday@hmstc.net
01462 684 214
Fighting Fatigue & Pain: Free Event Saturday 21st March 2020, 12pm – 2pm Visit to find out about:
• Oxygen Therapy
(may accelerate healing, boost energy, reduce pain)
• APS Pain Reduction Therapy • Specialist physio and group exercise sessions (tailored to people with medical conditions)
Free test sessions available – book your place now!
Fighting Fatigue & Pain
We’re at Herts MS Therapy Centre, 30 Campus Five, Letchworth, SG6 2JF. Just turn up! For more details call Claire on 01462 684 214.
www.hertsmstherapy.org.uk
Hertfordshire Multiple Sclerosis Therapy Centre is Charity 299524 and Company 2215165 Registered Office 30 Campus Five, Letchworth, Herts SG6 2JF
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Fitness
By Robert Grant
Get Motivated. Get Fit Reinvigorate your fitness routine It’s several weeks since my New Year resolution to lose weight and get fit. It’s cold and damp outside. The gym is miles away, and there’s a TV program on about a knitting group in Nicaragua that looks interesting, and this sofa is ever so comfortable. My self-motivation tank is empty! Does your determination and energy to get fit after New Year’s Day seems to run out sooner each year? Do you need to get fit? Do you need to lose weight? Do you know you’ll feel better if you do? It’s so much easier to fall back into old habits than to actively make a difference to our health isn’t it? So how do we stay motivated? Motivation is all in the mind. There is no physical difference between those who get fit and those who get fat. The fit people are just those who manage to leave the house and move their bodies. We need to help our mind overcome the inertia currently preventing us moving from the couch. Get up, get dressed, get out. It sounds simple but getting out of the door is the biggest hurdle. If you can force yourself to go through the motions of getting into your exercise kit, walking to the door and out of the house you’re 90% of the way towards actually exercising. If you’re standing outside dressed for exercise it’s harder to change your mind and sneak back inside for another slice of cake. Set an alarm to tell you when it’s time for your exercise class, run, etc. Make sure you’ve got workout gear that makes you feel good. Something stylish, comfortable, colourful, or high-
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tech; it doesn’t matter, use whatever works for you. Make the getting dressed part something to look forward to. Baggy, stained, holey jogging bottoms will put you off the idea of stepping outside. Then just grab your keys, open the door and step outside. Start slowly. It’s important to pace yourself. Just because your neighbour can sprint 5 km in 20 minutes doesn’t mean that you have to. Whatever exercise you are doing find a pace that is comfortable while still pushing you. As you exercise more you will gradually increase your exertion. Push yourself too hard at the beginning and exercise will seem exhausting, painful and make it harder to get going the next time. Once you begin to see your performance improving, you’ll get excited about beating your personal best and want to prove to yourself just how good you are. Set a short-term goal. The ultimate goal might be to fit into a size 10 dress, or have a perfect six pack with matching biceps, but realistically that’s probably more than a few months away. Pick a goal that you can achieve within the next two months. Dropping one dress size, being able to run non-stop for 1 km, being able to do a proper pull-up. Achieving goals is as important as setting them when trying to keep your motivation high. Small successful steps build one on the other until all of a sudden, your ultimate goal is just within reach. Keep on keeping on. Don’t over-think it, just do it.
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Get the smile you always wanted...
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Health
By Dr Daisy Mae
Top Tips for Verruca Treatment Gruesome, miserable, nasty, painful – common words used when people describe their verruca. A verruca is a wart which is growing on your foot – officially termed a ‘plantar wart’ – and it’s caused by the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV). The HPV virus lives happily for long periods on damp floors, such as those around swimming pools or communal showers. The virus enters the skin and then travels into the deeper layers. It causes keratinisation – keratin is the hard protein in hair, skin and nails – which is why warts feel hard to the touch. Although 80% of verrucas regress spontaneously over two years, they can be persistent and resist treatment. The virus is adept at escaping detection by your body’s immune system. Diagnosis A verruca is a single, slightly raised patch anywhere on the sole of the foot. The skin may be pale, yellowy/skin-coloured or have a cobblestoned appearance, sometimes with some central black dots. Verrucas are sometimes painful when pressure is applied, for example when you walk or if you squeeze them between finger and thumb. Management without treatment The first step is to take good care of your foot/feet so that you minimise pain and avoid spreading the virus, both on your own feet and to others. The British Association of Dermatologists has a useful guide available at tiny.cc/foot-care. If you’re generally healthy and not in pain, it’s worth doing nothing as most veruccas will disappear spontaneously. However, you should seek medical help if you have diabetes or a weakened immune system e.g. HIV infection, chemotherapy, radiotherapy etc. Active treatments If you decide that your verucca can’t just be left to recover by itself, there are forty-one recognised wart treatments. First Choice Treatment: Salicylic Acid (SA) SA kills off the outer skin layers, causing them to
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peel away. It also helps the immune system detect the virus. SA has proven to be more effective for veruccas than a placebo (dummy) treatment (Cochrane Review 2012) e.g. in one study, 49% of verrucas had disappeared after treatment with SA compared to 23% using a placebo. Second Choice Treatments These are not routinely offered on the NHS. • Cryotherapy: a liquid nitrogen spray freezes and destroys infected skin cells. Clearance rates of around 65% are reported. It’s sometimes painful, and there’s also a 30% chance of recurrence. The Cochrane 2012 review concluded that cryotherapy was no better than SA at treating verrucas, was painful, and caused blistering and scarring. • Other local options: many other agents have been used such as silver nitrate, Cantharidin, phenol, glycolic acid, pyruvic acid and trichloroacetic acid (TCA). • Surgical removal: surgery is not usually advised because verrucas often recur afterwards. • SWIFT is a new microwave treatment for the verruca. It’s quick, relatively painless and seems to be effective on stubborn verrucas. See www. treatwithswift.com. • Laser therapy aims to destroy the blood vessels supplying the verruca, plus the heat causes local tissue damage. 80% clearance rates have been reported. • Immunotherapy: various treatments claim to stimulate the antibody response to speed up viral destruction. Where to Obtain Verruca Treatments From 1st April 2019, the NHS listed verrucas as one of the seventeen treatments it will no longer provide, so these are options other than your GP. • Visit your local Community Pharmacy • Find a Podiatrist: cop.org.uk/find-a-podiatrist • Find a Chiropodist: iocp.org.uk • Private Consultant Dermatologist: www.bupa. co.uk/health/payg/dermatology
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Local News
Help to save lives by donating your time to East Anglian Air Ambulance (EAAA) It’s just not donations that keep the East Anglian Air Ambulance flying and saving lives, the charity also rely on an army of helpful and passionate volunteers too, who can give us much or as little time as they like. From volunteering to be an EAAA ambassador in your area to an occasional volunteer at one-off events, there is a lot you can do to help raise funds and awareness for this lifesaving charity. From giving talks to local groups, representing the charity at cheque presentations, monitoring collection tins in local pubs and centres and banking the monies, there are lots of different ways you can help to save lives on a regular basis, and this can be completely flexible to you and your schedule. EAAA are currently looking for a volunteer collection tin coordinator in Biggleswade, could you help? Or, if you’d like to help out but not so often, EAAA has several fundraising events throughout the year where occasional volunteers are needed to lend a hand on the day and help with things like car parking, marshalling, cheering on participants at the finish line, handing out refreshments or helping to pack goody bags ahead of an event, there are so many different ways to help! There are also periodic events, such as National Air Ambulance Week in September, when EAAA try to organise as many different bucket collections across the region as possible, and this is a time when volunteers really do make all the difference. If you’d like to learn more about the charity and join a friendly, fun loving team of people that take pride in knowing they make a difference by volunteering their time to EAAA, contact Debbie Howland in the Volunteering team for an informal chat about how you might be able to help. Call Debbie on 07703 684 599 or email debbie.howland@eaaa.org.uk
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A FREE WILL for Homeowners Protect your home and legacy for your children • • • • • •
Keep your hard-earned wealth within the family Stop your home from being sold to pay for long term Care Fees. Prevent the courts from making your financial and healthcare decisions. If you already have a Will … Is it up to date? Several thousand outdated wills are legally challenged every year. Ensure your parents’ home and property is also protected.
DON’T PUT IT OFF – Don’t let your home and money disappear, make sure your estate goes to your family… leaving “what you want” to “who you want”. CALL 01767 660250 for more information or to book a free meeting with one of our Will and Estate Planners either in your own home or at our offices. Baystrait Ltd t/a Will & Estate Planning, Baystrait House, Station Road, Biggleswade, SG18 8AL
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Local News
Baldock Library - not just books anymore Libraries are not just books anymore. We hold weekly and monthly session for the whole family. Plus one off events. Not sure what to do during the week? Why not pop along to Baldock library. Every other week on Thursday’s at 10.30am our new board game club meet up. Game On!. Come and join in with the select of games like Monopoly, chess, draughts and many more. Or how about a game of cards or have a go at the jigsaw. Not the competitive type then we have our Monday meetup on the first Monday of the month with guess speakers and a chat over a cupper. For the little ones on Wednesday’s we have Baby Rhyme Time starting at 10.30am. Babies love being bounced and tickled, and rhymes are a great way of entertaining them. On Thursday’s at 2.15pm we hold Toddler Tales a perfect step on from Baby Rhyme Time, with a mix of lively stories and rhymes for you and your child to join in with. The stories chosen are aimed at toddlers and pre-school children but babies are welcome too. Both sessions are a fun half hour of songs and rhymes. Sharing stories and rhymes with your child helps to develop their listening skills, language and imagination. All sessions are a great way to meet new friends. There is no need to book in advance plus it’s free, but donations are always welcome. For further details 0300 123 4049 www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/libraries
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h TecT ip
Phone Photo Tricks
Are your smartphone photos just not good enough? Simple tricks can make a huge difference – for example, if something’s too far away, don’t use your camera app’s digital zoom but get closer for sharper pictures.
An important factor in getting a good photo is lighting. That changes throughout the day: on a bright day, noon is usually the worst time to take pictures because there’s not much shadow, and if the sun’s in front of you your subjects will appear much darker and more indistinct than when the sun’s behind you. If you’re shooting in the evening, get as much light as you can onto your subject: if things are really dark you’ll often end up with noisy, poorly detailed pictures, or you’ll have to use the flash and end up with unnatural results.
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TEMPLARS CROSS LODGE www.templarscrosslodge.co.uk Close to Baldock town centre in spacious surroundings this motel style Bed & Breakfast offers off road parking. • • • • • • • •
CONTINENTAL BREAKFAST LARGE LUXURY EN-SUITE ROOMS FREE WIFI INTERNET ACCESS DIGITAL /SATELLITE TV WITH SPORT & FILMS FRIDGE IN ROOM PRIVATE LOCATION CLOSE TO TRAIN STATION MAJOR CREDIT CARDS TAKEN
Tel: 07970 162753
Neville Funerals Advert August 2019.pdf 1 16/10/2019 13:47:00
Email: ami@amcofm.co.uk or sally@amcofm.co.uk North Road, Baldock, Hertfordshire SG7 5DN
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Finance
Stepping stone investing and other ways to get more from your money If you don’t have much money left for saving or investing once your essential bills have been paid, it’s important to make sure you get the most out of your money and make good use of compound interest. The stepping stone method can bring huge rewards even if you only have small amounts to invest each month, but there’s a whole range of other financial products and strategies you could also use to seriously improve your financial situation over time. Saving and investing using the stepping stone method The stepping stone method involves increasing the amount you save or invest by 10% each year. Whether you start off with £100 or £10, exponentially you could achieve a considerable increase in your return with minimal effect on your monthly finances. If you’re reluctant to invest, finding a good savings account or current account that pays credit interest can reap serious rewards, even for smaller amounts. This is what makes the stepping stone method so accessible, and one of the best ways to get the most from your money. If you do decide to invest, be aware that investments can go down as well as up and past performance is no guarantee of future growth, so you’d need to take professional advice before going ahead. Current accounts for credit interest If you pay a regular sum into your current account, such as your wages, you may be entitled to credit interest on your balance. Some current
accounts offer higher rates of interest than savings accounts, but you’ll need to meet each bank’s eligibility criteria. Consider locking in a fixed rate If you’re sure you won’t need access to the funds, you can get more from your money by locking in a fixed rate. Fixed rate savings accounts and ISAs are typically available from one to five years, and the longer your money is tied up the higher the rate you’ll get. Move your money around It doesn’t pay to be loyal to companies these days as the best deals are typically offered to new customers. From the banks’ perspective, a higher interest rate does attract new business but, again, these offers are often time-limited. Tracker accounts Tracker accounts track the Bank of England base rate and offer a specific percentage figure above this rate for a defined period of time. They help to ensure you benefit from any interest rate rises, as some financial institutions are slow to pass these on to their customers. What about a monthly saver? Regular savings accounts can be a good way to maximise your savings. You gain access to a higher interest rate for a fixed timescale, but there are limits on how much you can put away each month. Finding the right financial products takes a little time and effort but the rewards can be high as compound interest takes effect. Whether you try the stepping stone method or take advantage of specific deals, making the most of your money offers financial stability and peace of mind for the future.
By Ann Haldon
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Gardening
Easy Veg Growing By Pippa Greenwood
Growing your own vegetables is easier than you might think, and this is the perfect time to start. Salads, herbs and classic main meal vegetables can all be planted to be picked fresh from your garden in the coming year. Some vegetables are best grown from seed – the classics are carrots, so plant a row or two as soon as the soil is not too wet. Consider coloured varieties such as ‘Purple Haze’ or ‘Purple Dragon’ to ring the changes. Sow some salad leaves and within a few weeks they’ll be growing strongly enough to harvest. Small sowings made every two weeks or so will give supply of salad throughout the summer and well into autumn. Grow tomatoes in a warm, sunny spot in your garden, or better still in a greenhouse or frame. It’s often better value (and a lot easier) to buy some small garden-ready plants. Greenhouse and outdoor varieties are available so check catalogues or labels to make sure you choose correctly. Cucumbers are best grown from plants, and in the garden ‘ridge’ cucumbers are best as they perform better outside. If time is short then vegetable plants are a great choice for most crops. Send off for them now and avoid time-consuming potting on and pricking out. Why not share with friends and save cash if the packs come in quantities too large for the available space? Choose garden-ready mail order plants so you can plant them out straight away, or only have to grow them on in pots for a couple of weeks. Unwrap as soon as they arrive and if you can’t
plant them immediately, water the compost if necessary and pot each root ball into some compost. At this time of year the soil is often really wet, so try covering it with a polythene sheet or a polythene covered pull-out tunnel for a couple of weeks before your plants are due to arrive or you are due to plant out vegetables sown from seed, removing it just before planting out. This keeps off excessive rain and allows the soil to warm up a little beforehand. Small plants may still be tender, so make sure frosts are past before planting out and give them a chance to gradually acclimatise to their new surroundings by covering them with cloches or fleece for a few days. I’ve also got a great solution: ‘Grow Your Own with Pippa Greenwood’, perfect if you need a bit of help and advice. Visit my website www. pippagreenwood.com for great quality, UK-grown garden-ready vegetable plants. Once delivered you’ll get weekly emails explaining how best to prepare the ground, plant out and look after your growing vegetables. To save you time, the emails are only for the plants you’ve bought and include timely reminders, hints and tips to make it easier to get a tasty crop. At Pippa’s website (www.pippagreenwood.com) you’ll find stylish cloches, practical and pretty plant supports, the fantastic SpeedHoe, gardening tools, Grower Frames, signed books and the ‘Grow Your Own with Pippa’ system. Or book Pippa for a talk at your gardening club.
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SOLUTIONS4GARDENS For the past few years, Solutions4Gardens has cemented its local reputation as a design and landscape company that specialises in top quality work and products. Now fully accredited by Marshalls and Trex, helmsman Mark Woodman examines 2020 trends in garden design and explains why the strong relationship they have with their suppliers is so important to their success. Happy to tackle any sized landscaping job, Solutions4Gardens loves nothing better than the challenge of large scale, high end garden projects that encompass decking, pathways and patios. “It’s where we have been moving in terms of the type of product and services we offer” explains Mark. Those products include paving and stone manufactured by Marshalls who has recently
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awarded them with professional accreditation meaning their work has been inspected and found to be of the highest standard. “Our new connection with Marshalls was a natural move for us” Mark says. “The range of products they offer allows us to meet the diverse needs of our customers, whether we are asked to build a contemporary garden or simply create a traditional path in a cottage garden. “In addition, their products and service have the quality that matches our ideals and standards. It is a commitment we share because Marshalls inspects their accredited landscapers to ensure our quality meets their standards too.” Solutions4Gardens understands that when looking for someone to design and build your garden space, trust is a vital factor in the selection of a contractor. “Personal recommendation is a big part of where our commissions come from, but we also wanted to find a way for new clients to be able to have trust in our capabilities. “There are lots of ways to be accredited but we decided to go with industry-led experts rather than just relying on general trade review companies” says Mark. “Being accredited by Marshalls now allows us to guarantee our work. We are inspected at least twice yearly to maintain standards. We also benefit from Marshalls’ technical support and help with more challenging projects.” The Marshalls Register is a national network of
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Accredited Landscape Contractors and Driveway Installers” explains Danny Laino, Installer Development Manager for Marshalls plc. “For a homeowner, it’s important to source the right installer as you will rely on their advice, product knowledge and workmanship to achieve the desired end result. That’s where the Marshalls Register comes in. Although Solutions4Gardens is not employed by Marshalls, they have been vetted for their levels of competence and performance when installing our products and are an installer you can trust.” Thanks to the accreditation, Solutions4Gardens can offer a 5-year labour and 10-year product guarantee. The mandate for quality and reliability extends to all aspects of any project the company undertakes. As such, Solutions4Gardens only works with top class suppliers too; consequently, they obtain their Marshalls products from local stalwart Henlow Building Supplies. “We rely on reputable and reliable suppliers for the kind of projects we do” says Mark. “HBS not only offers us guaranteed delivery but we never have to worry about product quality. It is vital in our type of projectmanaged business that deliveries arrive on time, as expected and when needed. Having the support of suppliers like HBS helps us achieve that.” Although Solutions4Gardens still undertakes traditional landscaping projects, they are seeing a growing trend towards more contemporary design. Porcelain tiles are now becoming popular for outdoor landscaping and despite the traditional belief that porcelain is fragile, these state-of-the-art tiles are very durable with the bonus of being nonslip and algae resistant. “Porcelain is really taking off” Mark says. “As with anything, it is important to use a quality product and install it correctly, but if that is done, porcelain
is extremely hard wearing and easy to look after. There are so many different colours and styles that it can be used in virtually any kind of garden. You can achieve some stunning results mixing these newer materials with natural stone. “People often want a Mediterranean feel to their garden in keeping with it being more of a social space these days” he adds. Mark is also designing gardens with more geometric lines and sculptural touches, for example, walling made with sawn sandstone. Porcelain fits with the modern requirement of low maintenance, but there has been a recent move towards quality artificial turf as a component of a full garden design. Although Mark thinks a natural lawn is hard to beat, he considers Marshalls’ artificial grass to be by far the best. “I was genuinely surprised at how good the Marshalls lawn products are” says Mark. “The depth and quality of the pile, along with the colour, was by far the best I have ever seen. It was the real surprise product of 2019 for me.” As well as being accredited, Solutions4Gardens has earned numerous commendations with Marshalls for its expertise. These include recognition for customer service, horticultural qualifications and specialisms such as walling, paving, installing artificial lawns and water features. “We had a really super 2019 with some amazing projects for some great customers” Mark says. “We’re looking forward to an even more exciting 2020.”
Solutions4Gardens‘ spotlight on DECKING will appear next month.
Tel: 01767 348 028 Email: info@solutions4gardens.com Web: www.solutions4gardens.com To advertise in The Villager and Town Life please call 01767 261122
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THE GARDEN ROBIN
• • • • • •
Driveways For a free quotation or advice Paving call Robin on Patios 01462 815968 07785 530558 Fencing Decking Garden Design & Build
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Garden View
By Rachael Leverton
An Annual Fiesta I’ve always loved an annual. From Bunty to The Blue Peter Annual, they were crammed full of interest and fun. As I grew older my taste in annuals has become more horticultural. One little pack of seeds is now my gardening equivalent of the Beano - a brief shelf-life and packed with colour. Hardy annuals are the most obliging. They don’t need a propagator or a greenhouse, or even a windowsill; all they need is a sunny spot and some well-drained soil. Just sprinkle the seeds in the ground and you can look forward to a fiesta of summer colour for very little work. The choice of plants and hue is wide. If blue is your thing try a soft shade of love-in-a-mist, or a vivid blue cornflower, or the most gorgeous tiny phacelia. For pinks try a fluffy clarkia or delicate godetia. Nasturtiums span the colour wheel from cream through yellow and orange to deep red. Annual doesn’t mean small either. Both larkspurs and amaranthus are tall and elegant, and cleomes which also provide height probably only need to be planted once as they are prolific self-seeders! Look around your garden for gaps in beds and borders which are in a sunny spot and welldrained. Don’t plant when it’s cold or the soil is wet
and sticky. Wait until the weather is mild and soil is damp and crumbly, then fork it lightly to break it up. Use a rake to create shallow furrows, sprinkle the seeds over and rake them gently in, raking across the furrows to cover them. Bigger seeds like nasturtiums can be pushed into the soil a couple of centimetres deep and 10-15cm apart. Label the area so you know what should come up. The biggest enemy of the newly-planted hardy annual seed is the domestic cat! They love a patch of freshly raked soil, and will happily do their business in your handiwork and then kick up all your seeds without a second thought. Thwart the moggies by laying twiggy pea sticks over the area (and particularly twiggy and thorny prunings will do!). Remove them with the shoots are big enough or stand them up and use them to support the taller annuals. Thin them out a little to one plant per 10cm and water them if the weather is very dry. You don’t need to feed them, they flower best when the soil is not rich. Food and manure will favour leaf production whereas we’re after flowers and lots of them!
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Happy Gardening! 47
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Travel
Fire Blessing Bhutan Tucked away in the Himalaya, this small kingdom has boldly stepped into the twenty-first century, but cultural values remain at the heart of everyday life to ensure the ‘gross national happiness’ promised in the constitution. It’s a strong Buddhist culture punctuated by myriad festivals, but most dramatic perhaps is Thangbi Mani, the ‘fire blessing’ held in Bumthang, the country’s spiritual heartlands. Soon after dawn on this special autumn day, townsfolk and farmers come from all directions, beautifully dressed in hand-woven gowns shimmering like rainbows. There are women with babies on their back, old people leaning on bamboo staffs, men in knee-length chequered gho and sweeping white cuffs, and garlands of children whose dark eyes sparkle with excitement. They walk up the valley or tumble down the pinescented slopes to cross the footbridge, like one long line of ants suspended high above the river. Meanwhile in the temple, monks offer fresh water to the gods and butter lamps flicker all around. Now tingling in anticipation, the faithful pour into the monastery for the welcome dance, as village girls in their best finery shuffle on the flagstones to the rhythm of long horns and drums. There is much chanting and praying then suddenly something passes through the air and everyone rushes out into the nearby field, led by dignitaries and red-robed monks. Just feet apart, two ominous haystacks are waiting and as more blessings rise under the deep blue
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By Solange Hando
sky an eerie silence falls upon the crowds, a human chain ready to break loose at the first spark. All is set for the purification rite and highlight of the year. Watched by thousands of eyes, the hay is set alight, smoke and ash filling the air, and in one massive surge young and old run through the flames to cleanse their sins and ensure good luck for the coming year. Friends drag each other through, toddlers hold on to their mothers and men pull up their collars to protect their hair. Three times round then they come out, bubbling all over, ready for a fresh start. The flames die down as quickly as they started and great clouds of smoke drift downstream, bearing witness to a faith stronger than pain. Prayer wheels tinkle along the banks, Buddhist flags flutter in the breeze and now, in the valley sprinkled with apple trees and nodding buckwheat, the harvest will be good and the children healthy. Back in the temple there are traditional jesters and masked dancers twirling barefoot on sun-baked stones, in a flurry of multi-coloured brocade and ‘thunderbolt steps’. Hoisted on the wall for a better view toddlers munch sunflower seeds, monks shelter from the midday heat under makeshift awnings and families gather around home-made offerings of marigolds and lucky chapattis to share with friends, as if nothing unusual had happened at all. The haystacks have vanished leaving just a patch of singed grass, and now in this bucolic land the river tumbles crystal clear as cymbals and gongs echo across the hills.
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Pets
Brexit and Animal Welfare It has always been our vision to live in a world where all animals are respected and treated with compassion. Every day, with the help of our people and our generous supporters, we take steps to achieve our mission. From rescuing a stranded deer to changing the law, we’ve already achieved so much and come so far. Animal welfare has been in the news a lot recently with regards Brexit, and has become a hot topic of debate. We’re campaigning to ensure animal welfare isn’t compromised when we leave the EU on 31 January, and that our high standards are protected. We’d like to see the process of leaving the EU as an opportunity to improve animal welfare. Our Concerns Around 80 percent of current animal welfare legislation comes from EU law (with over 40 animal welfare laws) EU animal welfare laws cover four key areas - there are 17 laws relevant to farm animals, 11 laws for wildlife, eight laws covering animals used in research, and four laws about companion animals Current EU law, known as the Lisbon Treaty (a binding agreement between EU member countries), recognises animals as sentient beings, this means they’re understood as having the capacity to feel pain and suffering. Depending on which trade framework is agreed post-Brexit, there’s a possibility that new trade agreements will be made with countries which have lower animal welfare standards. For example, the USA gives growth hormones to their cows, still uses conventional battery cages (in most states), don’t have species specific slaughter regulations and still uses sow stalls in most pig production.
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The UK farming industry currently receives over €3 billion in EU subsidies and the UK Government will now be exploring a new support system for farms. Our Recommendations In the lead up to Brexit, the UK government will decide which EU laws we’ll keep and carry out all trade negotiations, then the devolved governments will implement across the UK. During this process, we’d like to ensure the following is maintained or improved upon. • All current animal welfare laws, at the very least, to be kept to the same standard • All animals to still be recognised as sentient beings • A new system of farm subsidies - rewarding the farming industry for higher welfare standards • Free trade agreements that prohibit products being imported with lower welfare standards • Improvement in key areas of animal welfare, such as long distance transport, food labelling, trade of endangered species and puppy imports. Interesting documents There are a number of key reports and documents regarding Brexit and animal welfare that can be found on our website. You can find a more detailed summary of animal welfare laws in the UK before and after Brexit in a report entitled ‘Brexit - Getting The Best For Animals.’ A second document ‘Into The Fold; Targeted Financial Support To Improve Farm Animal Welfare’, another very worthwhile read.
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Hot Tubs & Swimming Pools
Inground & above ground pools servicing & maintenance Pool toys & chemicals | Hot tubs & Spas Steam showers & gazebos
Visit our showroom: Unit 1C, St Francis Way, Shefford Ind Estate, Beds SG17 5DZ Tel: 01462 819003 | www.crystalleisurepools.com
Part of The Orange Property Improvement Group
Comes & see our
Show Area
at Storage Bedfordshire, Elm Farm, Great North Rd, Biggleswade, Beds SG18 9BE
Contact us Tel: 01767 315800 Mob: 07747736210
Email: admin@orangescape.co.uk
The Orange Property Improvements Group @Orangepropertyimprovementsgroup
Orange Property Improvements @OrangePropertyImprovements
Website: www.orangepropertyimprovements.co.uk To advertise in The Villager and Town Life please call 01767 261122
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Pets
Rehoming Appeal Butter and Scotch
Butter and Scotch are a pair of beautiful Lop cross rabbits. They are 3 years old and very friendly. They were handed in to our vet as strays and have now been vaccinated, wormed and neutered. Since they have been in our care, Scotch has been diagnosed with Pasturella (Snuffles) so they will have to be the only rabbits in the home. Could you be the family to give this lovely pair the special home they will need? If Scotch needs any treatment in the future for his (Snuffles) Rats will cover the cost. For more information please contact Zoe on 01234 342150 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. You can also see photographs and details of the animals in our care in our charity shop in Hitchin Street, Biggleswade SG18 8AX. Open Monday to Saturday from 10.00 am until 4.00 pm.
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0800 046 1080 hello@thehomeimprovementproject.co.uk www.thehomeimprovementproject.co.uk 54
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Local News
Thank You
This is a short message of thanks to those who live in and around the village of Pirton (plus also those in Shillington, Lower Stondon, Holwell, Ickleford, Arlesey and Hitchin). Thank you to the car drivers, the cyclists, the walkers (with prams and/or dogs) and the joggers. Thank you for avoiding me (especially on the narrow lanes); for your cheery “Hello’s”, “Good Morning’s” and “Good Evening’s”. And I apologise for not always replying. Who am I? I am the guy dressed up like a traffic cone in running kit. Why am I out and about at all times of the day and night? I am in training for the 26th April Virgin Money London Marathon. Why (at the age of 58) am I doing this? Because I am raising money for the Alzheimer’s Society, and it has also become a key part of my weight-loss programme having now lost 75lbs since last May (with added support from Weight-Watchers). So if you see me over the next few months please continue to avoid me but feel free to beep, wave, cheer me on or whatever as it is all helpful and motivating. If you would like to do more, then please feel free to use the link below to see my story and donate. All funds raised go straight to the Alzheimer’s Society who are working hard to make the horrible disease of dementia become a thing of the past. Your support is my biggest motivation to succeed. Thank you https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/vmlmballotplace-iandouglas
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Tel: 01438 311699 Mob: 07788 446635 Email: info@acs-aggregates.com Shangri-La Farm, Todds Green, Stevenage, Herts, SG1 2JE To advertise in The Villager and Town Life please call 01767 261122
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Alan George Painter & Decorator Interior and Exterior Work Wallpapering and Coving Reliable and Local Specialist City & Guilds trained with 30 years experience Sole trader No VAT Free estimates Call Alan on 01582 454604 Mob:07760198256 or E-Mail: george-a6@sky.com
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WORDWHEEL
Using only the letters in the Wordwheel, you have ten minutes to find as many words as possible, none of which may be plurals, foreign words or proper nouns. Each word must be of three letters or more, all must contain the central letter and letters can only be used once in every word. There is at least one word that uses all of the letters in the wheel.
TARGET Excellent: 23 or more words Good: 19 words Fair: 16 words
E P I
S
D
T U
DISPUTE
HERTS OVEN CLEAN Herts Oven Clean is a domestic oven cleaning specialist in Hertfordshire. Non-caustic, fume-free solution individually prepared for each customer. Ovens, Hobs, Grills, Extractors, Agas, Microwaves and Gas Barbeques. Call Richard on 01438 813492 Bring a sparkle to your kitchen today. To advertise in The Villager and Town Life please call 01767 261122
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Codeword 1
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ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
Easy Suduko
Hard Suduko
Fill in the grid so that each row, column and 3x3 box, contains the digits 1 through to 9 with no repetition. Use your logic to solve the puzzles. 60
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CARPET SALE
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Quality Workmanship Papering, Coving etc. Interior and Exterior Work Free Quotations Call W Firkins & Partners Ltd 01462 814117 or 07939 267083 Est 1981 20 Clifton Road, Shefford, Beds
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0800 046 1080 hello@thehomeimprovementproject.co.uk www.thehomeimprovementproject.co.uk 62
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Electrician
www.hertsandbedselectrical.co.uk
Do you find it difficult to get someone to come and do a small job? Fault finding/repairs Extra lights and sockets New fuse boards Electrical testing and certificates Qualified electrician Fully insured Reliable service Tidy work Free quote Satisfaction guaranteed
Call Nigel on: 01462 506076 / 07941295883 Email: nigelrooney@hotmail.co.uk
Visit our beautiful
Bathroom Showroom ...With more than 50 displays of bathrooms, furniture & fittings Free in-house 3D design service Quality products from leading manufacturers Experienced staff offering impartial advice Free delivery within a 20 mile radius of our showroom
01438 725309
bathrooms@stevenageplumbing.co.uk www.stevenageplumbing.co.uk
Caxton House, Caxton Way, Stevenage, Herts. SG1 2XS To advertise in The Villager and Town Life please call 01767 261122
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n O s ’ t Wha In March
Deadline for What’s On entries is the 12th of the previous month. What’s on entries to whatson@villagermag.com
2 March Monday Meet Up 10.30am-12 noon Baldock Library Drop in for a chat; make new friends over tea, biscuits and various activities. No need to book. 2, 9, 16, 23 & 30 March Moo Music Sandy, Biggleswade & Shefford 10-10.40am Shefford Baptist Church Music and movement classes for 0-5 year olds. Original moosic, lots of moovement, dancing, sensory and role play. Tel: 07981 825654 Email: Heather sandymoo@moo-music.co.uk Web: www.moo-music.co.uk/sbs
2, 9, 16, 23 & 30 March Baby Rhyme Time 10.30-11am Letchworth Library Free event – voluntary contribution of £1 per family Baby Rhyme Times are a fun half hour session of songs and rhymes suitable for toddlers of all ages. 2, 9, 16, 23 & 30 March Café Connect 1-4pm Arlesey Resource Centre, High Street, Arlesey An exciting new community project in 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 2, 9, 16, 23 & 30 March Weston Bridge Group 2.45-5.30pm Reading Room, Weston Village Hall Meets every Monday. The emphasis of play is informal, friendly and social Bridge. Mid-session hot drink and biscuit for £2.50. All levels welcome. No partners required. We change partners every four games. Table numbers are drawn at the start of play. Free car park. Tel: Bob Findlay 01462 790211 2, 9, 16, 23 & 30 March Stevenage Choral Society 7.45-9.45pm Stevenage Music Centre, Nobel School, Stevenage The society meets every Monday during term time. Free the friendly choir with a free session. No audition necessary. Meet like-minded people of all ages and abilities. Try out a wide range of music, from the classics to show songs and be part of a friendly and supportive team, putting on excellent performances whilst having fun. Tel: 01438 365769 Email: info@stevenagechoral.org.uk Web: www.stevenagechoral.org.uk
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2, 9, 16, 23 & 30 March Staplers Country Dance Club 8-10pm St John’s Community Hall, Hitchin It’s easy to start as all the dances are walked through first and you don’t need to come with a partner. Car parking is available next to the hall. Meets every Monday apart from bank holidays and some school holiday dates. Tel. 01462 624144 Web: www.staplers.org.uk
2, 9, 16, 23 & 30 March 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, day and weekend trips and holidays. Tel: Lorna 01438 233657 Web: www.branch-out.org.uk 3 March Langford Gardening Club 7.30pm St Andrew’s Church Hall ‘Making the most of a small garden’ with Margaret Nimmo-Smith. www.langford-gardening-club.co.uk 3, 10, 17, 24 & 31 March Willian Bowls Club 2pm Lower Green, Norton Common, Icknield Way, Letchworth Come and have a bowl with us one Tuesday. Tel: David on 01462 642790 Web: www.willianbowlsclub.org 3, 10, 17, 24 & 31 March 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. 3, 10, 17, 24 & 31 March 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: Andy Ward 01438 353846 4 March North Herts Association of National Trust 7.30pm Christchurch, Bedford Road, Hitchin Visitors £2. ‘Southwell Workhouse” by Stephen Marshall. Some background on the poor laws and social conditions in the early 1800s will set in context why it was built and how it operated. It was in social use until as recently as the 1980s though in a different format. Visitors welcome. Tel: Secretary Mrs Colette House 01462 815585 Email: colettehouse@gmail.com
4, 11, 18 & 25 March Baby Rhyme Time 10.30-11am Baldock Library Free event – voluntary contribution of £1 per family Baby Rhyme times are a fun half hour session of songs and rhymes suitable and toddlers of all age. 4, 11, 18 & 25 March Toddler Tales 2.15-2.45pm Letchworth Library Free event – voluntary contribution of £1 per family Toddler Tales is a mix of lively stories and rhymes. The stories chosen are aimed at preschool children. 4, 11, 18 & 25 March Vivace Choir 7.30-9.30pm Edgeworth House, 121 High Street, Arlesey We are looking for keen singers to join our fun and friendly choir. Web: www.vivacechoir.co.uk 5 March The Arts Society North Herts 11am-12.15pm Broadway Cinema and Theatre, Eastcheap, Letchworth Visitors £7 on the door. ‘Grinling Gibbons - Carver to the Crown’. Visitors welcome. Lift access. Web: theartssocietynorthherts.org.uk 5, 12, 19 & 26 March Letchworth Corner Bridge Club 1.15pm The Cloisters Masonic Lodge, Letchworth Play duplicate Bridge every Thursday afternoon. We usually play 27 boards which takes just over 3 hours. Refreshments are available every week. Tel: John Biggs 01462 433393 5, 12, 19 & 26 March Toddler Tales 2.15-2.45pm Baldock Library Free event – voluntary contribution of £1 per family Toddler Tales is a mix of lively stories and rhymes. The stories chosen are aimed at preschool children. 5, 12, 19 & 26 March Baldock Community Orchestra 7.15pm Knights Templar School (Room CS1), Baldock £7 per week or 10 week term £50. A friendly group of musicians. Come and give us a try, first session free! Tel: Rachel Dawson 07818 480332 5, 12, 19 & 26 March Roundabouters Country Dance Club 8-10pm Friends Meeting House, Cuttys Lane, Stevenage £3, annual membership £5. Friendly club for English country dancing – enjoyable, easy to learn and very sociable. We welcome new members, both beginners and experienced, couples and individuals. 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
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n O s ’ t Wha In March
This is a small selection of the What’s On for the full listing please go to our website www.villagermag.com
5, 12, 19 & 26 March Stevenage Plus Social Group 8.15 for 8.30pm Holiday Inn Express (opposite Matalan), Stevenage £2 - first night free. A fun and friendly social group with members in their 30s and 40s from Stevenage, North Herts and surrounding areas. New members always welcome. Tel: 01438 231550. E: welcome@stevenage.plus Web: www.stevenageplus.co.uk
5, 12, 19 & 26 March Sapphire Social Club 8.30pm The Orange Tree, Hitchin A small and friendly group for single people generally aged 50 and above, offering 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 6 March RSPB Hitchin & Letchworth Local Group 7.30pm ‘The Settlement’, Nevells Road, Letchworth Garden City Local group members free, Visitors £3 ‘Amphibians and Reptiles’ with Helen Muir-Howie. Helen will show us how to identify all the British reptiles and amphibians and will inform us about their biology and habitat requirements. Tel: 01763 249459 E: martinrjspc@hotmail.com 6, 13, 20 & 27 March 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 6, 13, 20 & 27 March 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 6, 13, 20 & 27 March Rainmakers International Folk Dance Club 8-10pm The Parish Hall, Broadway, Letchworth We enjoy folk dances of all styles from many countries around the world. Roger 01438 812766 Web: www.rainmakers.org.uk 7 March Ashwell’s Famous Flea Market 9.30am-1pm St Mary’s Church, Ashwell Free entry. Many weird and wonderful items for sale at rock bottom prices. All proceeds go to the church restoration fund. Refreshments available.
7 March Mid Beds Cancer Support Group 11am-1pm Village Hall, Walnut Tree Way, Meppershall Informal cancer group for patients, families, friends and carers. Tel: 01462 813943 or 07961 377526 Email: daksha.trivedi@btconnect.com 7 March Shannon Express Chorus 7.30pm St Andrews Church, Langford Tickets £10 inc. interval refreshments. Supported by Footlights Ladies Quartet. Raising money to modernise St Andrews Parish Church. Tel: Sheila Vidler 01462 701750 Email: vidlersheila@gmail.com
10 March Transition Tuesday: The Proposed Transport Strategy for North Central Hertfordshire 7.30-9.15pm Mrs Howard Memorial Hall, Norton Way South, Letchworth Hertfordshire County Council representatives present their proposed strategy for tackling transport issues in the North Central region. All welcome, admission free, but a £2 donation to help cover room hire and refreshments is welcome. 11 March Over 60s Lunch Club 12.45 for 1pm lunch Garden City Court, Whiteway, off Radburn Way, Letchworth Garden City £5. Second Wednesday of every month. Two-course hot lunch with soft drink. Call on Monday to book your place and advise of any dietary requirements. Tel: 01462 473100 E: garden@quantumcare.co.uk 12 March Baldock & Clothall WI 7.30pm United Reformed Church, Whitehorse Street, Baldock Visitors £3. Tel: Lucy 01462 742609 for more info Email: Baldockclothallwi@hotmail.co.uk Facebook: www.facebook.com/baldockclothallwi 14 March Weston Music Society Concert 7.30pm Weston Parish Church, SG4 7DJ Tickets £16 all three concerts £40 inc. programme & interval drink, 19-25 years £5, under 19s free Sean Shibe, guitar, returns to entertain us. Tel: 01462 790573 Email: felicitylowe@yahoo.co.uk Web: www.westonmusicsociety.org.uk 14 March The Ultimate Decades Disco Doors open 7.30pm, 8-11.30pm Shefford Town Memorial Association Hall, 10 Hitchin Road, Shefford Tickets £5. Hosted by The Meppershall Players. Featuring the hits of the 60s, 70s & 80s. Fashions of
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the decades optional. Prizes for best dressed. Tickets available online or by phone. Tel: 01462 816336 Web: ticketsource.co.uk/themeppershallplayers 15 March Locrian Chamber Choir St Hugh of Lincoln Church, Letchworth Tickets £12, under 18s free Classical concert with string orchestra. Gloria: Vivaldi and Stabat Mater: Pergolesi. Tickets available from Cameron’s Newsagents, Market Square, Potton or by telephone. Tel: 01767 261431 16 March Hungary 1944-56 2-3pm The Settlement, Letchworth £8. Retired haematologist Mihaly Saary left his native Hungary as the Soviets moved in to occupy the country. Having made a dramatic escape he arrived in England as a 17 year old where he and his family had to make a new life. In this talk he will trace the development of Hungary from the end of WW2 to that dramatic time. Tickets are available by phone or online. Tel: 01462 682828 Web: www.letchworthsettlement.org.uk for info/ booking 17 March Stevenage RSPB Local Group 7.30pm The Friends Meeting House, Cutty’s Lane, Stevenage RSPB Members £3, Non-members £4, Under 18s 50p Colin Kirtland is widely travelled and this evening he presents a talk entitled ‘Israel from the Mediterranean to the Red Sea’. Tel: 01438 226014 Web: www.rspb.org/groups/Stevenage 26 March Stevenage RSPB Local Group car trip to RSPB Sandy 9.30am Morning walk through woodland, quarry and heath around the beautiful Bedfordshire Reserve. Meet in the car park at 9.30am. Leader Trevor Storey. Grid Ref 153/TL192486. Postcode SG19 2DL. Tel: 01438 226014. Web: ww2.rspb.org.uk/groups/stevenage 26 March Stevenage Locomotive Society 7.30pm Community Arts Centre, Roaring Meg Retail Park Members free, Visitors £3 on the door ‘That Was The Year That Was – 1970’ with Geoff Plumb. Refreshment break included. Web: www.stevenagelocosociety.co.uk
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Local News
Fancy using your super hero powers to help others? Respite at Home Volunteers are a charity which have been coming to the rescue of hundreds of families across Central Bedfordshire over the last 20 years. The charity provides a befriending service to families living with life limiting illnesses. We are calling for new Super Hero Friends everywhere to join our lively team. If you enjoy spending time chatting and listening, have a sense of humour, and enjoy the occasional trip out to a local garden centre, then this could be a real life changing opportunity for you. No capes required, but full training and support are given and no prior experience needed, just your extra special powers of warmth and empathy to help others. You really could help to change someone’s world for the better and make a family’s life a little bit easier by giving them some of your super free time each week. For more information about our Super Friends service or to make a referral then call 01234 743063 or email: respiteathomevolunteers@aol.co.uk Respite at Home Volunteers West Mid Beds and Ivel Valley is a registered charity in England and Wales. Charity Number 1161178
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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. Covering Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Essex.
01438 211302 info@eastanglianloftladders.co.uk eastanglianloftladders.co.uk
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Call now for a free, no obligation quotation
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ROGERSONS
REMOVALS IAN SIMPSON Carpentry and Joinery All aspects of carpentry work undertaken
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
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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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Astrology Local News
BDCPS are looking for people to join the team BDCPS are looking for people to join our award winning organisation and dynamic team, for an exciting, fun and life changing experience you will never forget! We are a small, local charity who provide holiday schemes and clubs for young people with cerebral palsy and other disabilities. At BDCPS we ensure that we have a 1:1 support for our young people, ensuring that all of their care needs are met, meaning that we rely heavily on bank staff and volunteers to be able to offer out the services to our families. Genevieve, now 18 and a paid member of staff, was just 14 when she began volunteering with BDCPS. “Working with BDCPS is the thing I am most proud of. My confidence has improved, I have met so many amazing people and I always leave with a smile on my face. You are making a difference, no matter how big or small, in someone’s life. Worth every moment’. What we offer: •Excellent training and induction • Reward Scheme • Room for progression • DBS check You will gain: • Valuable life skills • Experience for future careers • A new perspective on life • New friendships Location: Bedford. Scheme weeks: 22nd July - 16th August (including training) Hourly rate (inc. holiday pay) starts from £6.61- £9.90 (depending on age and experience) Find out more information and apply today by calling 01234 351759, emailing cp.enquiries@bdcps.org.uk or visiting our website www.bdcps.org.uk to download an application pack.
Islands 1. Which group of 12 large islands and numerous small islands has a name that literally means “twelve islands”? 2. Who sings the first line of the 1983 hit single Islands In The Stream?... Kenny Rogers or Dolly Parton? 3. Which American state was named after the largest of the Channel Islands? 4. In the book Gulliver’s Travels, there are two islands in which the inhabitants are about onetwelfth of the height of a normal human. One of these is called Blefuscu. What is the other island called? 5. On each episode of the radio show Desert Island Discs, how many recordings is a guest allowed to choose when deciding what they would take if they were to be cast away on a desert island?
6. Found in a number of Indonesian islands, including the island it is named after, what is the world’s largest living species of lizard? 7. Behind Great Britain and Ireland, what is name of the third largest island in the British Isles? 8. True or False… the official International Bartenders Association recipe for a Long Island Iced Tea cocktail contains tea? 9. A villa on which island was used as the setting for the TV show Love Island when the show was revived in 2015? 10. What term, that was first created by Sir Thomas More to refer to a fictional island society off the coast of Australia, is now used as a general term for an imagined place or state of things in which everything is perfect?
1. The Dodecanese . Kenny Rogers 3. New Jersey 4. Lilliput 5. Eight 6. The Komodo dragon 7. Lewis and Harris 8. False 9. Majorca 10. Utopia
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T J Lee
Chimney Builders (Hitchin) Tel: 01462 234717 Mob: 07966 404469 Email: terryjleebuilding@gmail.com T J Lee Chimney Builders
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
INSULATING SPRAYFOAM • BBA APPROVED SPRAYFOAM • CAN GREATLY REDUCE ENERGY BILLS • UPGRADE YOUR PROPERTIES ‘U’ VALUE • ELIMINATES DRAFTS OR ‘DRAW’ FROM THE ROOF SPACE • MESS & HASSLE FREE • QUALIFIES AS AN ESM • FIRE SAFE • SUITABLE FOR MOBILE HOMES
0800 046 1080 30% OFF ORDERS PLACED IN MARCH hello@thehomeimprovementproject.co.uk www.thehomeimprovementproject.co.uk To advertise in The Villager and Town Life please call 01767 261122
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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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February’s Puzzle Solutions and Winners Last Month’s Crossword Winner Donald Brightley from Hitchin Bluesky Competition Winner Peter Jennison (Hitchin), Adam Brookman (Sandy), Cheryl Jeffrey (Shefford), Carol Clapham (St Neots), Suzanne Kay (Stevenage) and Yvonne Sowerby (Bedford)
Easy
Hard
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The Villager Prize Crossword
Prize
ÂŁ25
Across 1. Bewitched (7) 5. Trimmed (5) 8. Loosens (5) 9. Evil (7) 10. Vertical (13) 11. Without trouble (6) 12. Teeth (6) 15. Display (13) 18. Detonate (7) 19. Business transactions (5) 20. Stairs (5) 21. Destroys hearing (7)
Complete the crossword, fill in your details below, cut out this page and send to the address below before
16th March 2020 Prize Crossword, Villager Publications Ltd 24 Market Square, Potton, Beds SG19 2NP
Down 1. Crawl (5) 2. Soaks up (7) 3. Sundry items (13) 4. Split (6) 5. Book of facts (13) 6. Guttural noise (5) 7. Arid regions (7) 11. Perpetual (7) 13. Shake briskly (7) 14. To be present at (6) 16. Type of syrup (5) 17. Facial features (5)
Name: Tel:

Address:
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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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Books
Book Review By Kate Duggan
Accountants
The Binding by Bridget Collins
In Emmett Farmer’s world, it’s possible to forget the pain of your past. All you have to do is tell your story to a binder, who’ll lock it away in a book. But as apprentice-binder Emmett soon discovers, not all stories are meant to be forgotten. A highly original book that deftly combines fantasy, historical fiction and romance into one captivating tale.
Grandmothers by Salley Vickers
Three different women find their paths crossing. Wealthy Blanche has developed a compulsion for shoplifting after being banned from seeing her grandchildren. Poet Nan is planning her funeral and isn’t afraid to speak her mind, but she has a blind spot when it comes to her grandson. And then finally there’s shy Minna, who’s in danger of losing the only person she really cares about. A beautiful, quiet book that looks at family life in all its complexities.
Our Planet: The One Place We Call Home by Matt Whyman and Richard Jones
This children’s companion to last year’s Netflix hit is sure to prove popular with young nature buffs. Stunning photography and illustrations accompany short, easily digestible paragraphs of text. Our Planet educates and inspires in equal measure. As Sir David Attenborough says, ‘You will be among the next characters who can, if they wish, tell the most extraordinary story of all – how human beings in the twenty-first century came to their senses and started to protect Planet Earth.’
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
Domestic Appliance Repairs
Domestic Appliance Repairs Guaranteed Repairs To:
Washing Machines • Tumble Dryers Electric Ovens/Cookers • Dishwashers No Call Out Charge!
JB Domestic
Tel: 01767 680621 or Mob: 07778 891490 To advertise in The Villager and Town Life please call 01767 261122
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Classifieds Property Maintenance
Locksmith Services
R. CHAPMAN
Home & Garden Services
Patio’s Driveways Fencing Brickwork Painting & Decorating Tiling 20 Years Experience - No Job Too Small!
01462 850575 or 07950 311881
Property Maintenance
Plastering Services
James Geekie Plastering All types of plastering - big or small Interior/Exterior Work Undertaken Re-skim Rooms, Walls, Artex & Ceilings Dry Lining and Screeding Tel: 07792 415356 or 01462 490598 Email: james.geekie@hotmail.co.uk
Plumbing
Plastering, Decorating & Refurbishment
Free Estimates Given
07722 128189
Email: David.mortby@live.co.uk
Removals
Gary’s Plumbing Over 40 years experience No job too small! Please call Gary on
07530 728091 Plumbing and Heating
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Dave Mortby
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
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VILLAGER The
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