Henlow November 2019 by Villager Mag

VILLAGER The

Issue 132 - November 2019

and Town

Life

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

In this issue The History of

Thanksgiving Win ice skating tickets to

The North Pole 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... Win Ice Skating Tickets to the North Pole

The History of Thanksgiving.......................................................4 The Fall of the Berlin wall: 30 years on.......................................8 Britain’s Oddest Laws...............................................................10 Win Ice Skating Tickets to the North Pole, Cambridge..............12 Roman Site in Morocco.............................................................14 A Taste of France......................................................................17 Can you bag a bargain on Black Friday?....................................18 Heaven Scent...........................................................................20 ‘Grey Pound’ Movies: Are they moving us on?...........................23 Nick Coffer’s Weekend Recipe...................................................24 Presents and Parties.................................................................26 Be a Super-Saver......................................................................31 Tips to Beat Anxiety.................................................................33 Wordsearch..............................................................................33 Who do you call to help a struggling child?..............................34 Gifted Inspiration for 0 to 8s.....................................................36

Too late to save for retirement?................................................39 Winter Hanging Baskets...........................................................43 Pots of Cabbage!......................................................................44 R.A.T.S. Re-homing Appeal......................................................46 The Geek Shall Inherit the Earth!..............................................49 Keeping your pets calm on Bonfire Night.................................51 Animal Know-How...................................................................52 Children’s Page.........................................................................54 Simple ways to reduce your plastic footprint............................58 Puzzle Page..............................................................................60 What’s On.................................................................................64 Bedfordshire Steam and Country Fayre....................................69 Air Ambulance’s muddy obstacle run is back............................71 Prize Crossword........................................................................74 Book Review............................................................................77 Useful Numbers.......................................................................79

Bedfordshire Steam and Country Fayre

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, Nadia Houston, Kate McLelland, Solange Hando, Trevor Langley, Sarah Davey, Kate Duggan, Kath McLean, Tracey Anderson, Ann Haldon, Pippa Greenwood, Rachael Leverton, Robert Grant and RSPCA

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History

The History of Thanksgiving

By Catherine Rose

On the fourth Thursday of November, Americans abroad and in the UK will celebrate Thanksgiving. Similar to Christmas, there is a traditional meal of turkey, but what were the origins of this national holiday? Thanksgiving is believed to have born with The Mayflower – the ship that sailed for America carrying the Pilgrim Fathers to a new life after persecution in Europe. The American and Canadian celebration is said to have originated with the Pilgrims’ first harvest and is known in American history as ‘The First Thanksgiving’. This harvest festival lasted for three days in October 1621 when 53 Pilgrims sat down with 90 Native American Indians and their chief, Massasoit, from the Wampanoag tribe – indigenous people who had lived in the region for centuries. The shared feast was said to have been prepared by four Pilgrim women – Eleanor Billington, Elizabeth Hopkins, Mary Brewster and Susanna

White, along with their daughters and servants. It took place as the result of an agreement made between the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag in March 1621 to work together for mutual protection and food. The agreement came after the Plymouth settlers had suffered a harsh winter for which they were unprepared when half of them died, while the Native Americans had already lost many of their tribe to disease. Sadly, this was one of the rare occasions where white Europeans and Native American Indians forged such a collaborative bond. As well as fish and venison, the feast included turkey. In his account of that time, Pilgrim Father William Bradford wrote: “…as winter approached… there was great store of wild turkeys, of which they took many…” And Pilgrim Edward Winslow’s account of the First

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Thanksgiving says: “…Our harvest being gotten in, our governor sent four men on fowling, that so we might…rejoice together after we had gathered the fruits of our labor. They four in one day killed as much fowl as...served the company almost a week….many of the Indians coming amongst us…. whom for three days we entertained and feasted…” Thanksgiving celebrations later became commonplace across New England but these were based on religious fasting rather than feasting. Following George Washington’s official declaration in 1789 that a day of thanksgiving should be celebrated by every American to mark independence, in 1817 New York became the first of several states to officially adopt an annual Thanksgiving holiday. In 1863, after more than 30 years of pressure on the government by writer and journalist Sarah Josepha Hale (most famous for the nursery rhyme ‘Mary had a Little Lamb’), President Lincoln declared Thanksgiving to be a federal holiday to take place on the fourth Thursday of November. It was intended to help boost morale and “heal the wounds of the nation” due to the Civil War as well as give thanks to “our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the heavens”. Today, Thanksgiving is regarded not as a harvest celebration or one of fasting but the commencement of the winter holidays that include Christmas and the New Year. Over the long Thanksgiving weekend, families come together to eat traditional Thanksgiving dinner which consists of turkey, cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes, gravy, stuffing, candied yams (sweet potato) and squash, corn on the cob and Brussel sprouts, which it is custom to precede

with a Thanksgiving prayer. Other traditional fare includes green bean casserole, fruit plates and pumpkin pie. Forty-six million turkeys are eaten in the US over Thanksgiving. Traditional Thanksgiving parades take place in many cities such as New York, Detroit and Philadelphia, the earliest having begun in 1920. Some of these parades also feature Santa Claus linking into Christmas festivities, and cities are usually decorated in lights from this time. American football games feature highly in the celebrations both by amateur groups, known as ‘Turkey Bowl’ games, and professional leagues. For these reasons, Thanksgiving is sometimes said to be about the three F’s: Food, Family and Football and as a non-religious celebration, Thanksgiving is important as it includes all American (and Canadian) citizens. Since 1947, the National Turkey Federation has given the US President one live and two dressed turkeys for Thanksgiving. After President John F Kennedy stated that he would not eat the live bird, it has since become customary to grant a ‘turkey pardon’. This official ceremony was made a permanent presidential tradition in 1989 by George W. Bush. The pardoned turkeys are usually sent to petting zoos – although that doesn’t guarantee they won’t be eaten the following year! Although it leads into Christmas, Thanksgiving is the more important winter celebration in the US and Canada, even though presents are not exchanged. The day after Thanksgiving has become known as Black Friday, when stores sell goods at a massive discount in the run up to Christmas and gift-giving.

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Special Report

By Nadia Houston

The Fall of the Berlin Wall:

30 Years On 9th November 2019 marks thirty years since Berlin became reunified, with the fall of the Berlin Wall which had kept the city divided for almost the same amount of time. Today Berlin is a bustling city, home to over three million people offering city breaks to Europeans, an innovative art scene, museums and a vibrant night life. But it hasn’t always been this way. At the end of WWII, Germany was divided in to East and West zones. Whilst Berlin sat entirely within the Soviet part of the country, it too was divided into Allied and Soviet territories. For the first several years, freedom of movement was permitted, with many citizens living and working in different areas of Berlin. As time progressed, repressive laws and regulations, a deteriorating economic climate and poor living conditions were all motivating factors that encouraged people to leave East Berlin, with almost 3000 leaving in a single day at its peak. In a desperate attempt to stop this flow of migrants and ‘brain drain’ to the West, the Communist government of East Germany began to build a wall between the two areas in August 1961. During the night of 13th August, soldiers and workers set about tearing up the streets that led to West Berlin in an attempt to stop anyone fleeing the area. Concrete posts and barbed wire were put up to further restrict movement as a temporary measure. In just two weeks, the army, police force

and a swathe of construction workers had erected the temporary barrier. Once built, the wall was kept under heavy surveillance by guards, who were authorised to shoot anyone who attempted to cross it. Travel was officially permitted through one of three checkpoints – Checkpoints Alpha, Bravo and Charlie. Over time the permanent wall was put in place: 12 feet tall and 4 feet wide, topped with a smooth pipe to ensure scaling it was almost impossible. In all, more than 100 people died trying to cross into West Berlin over the thirty years the wall stood, a stark symbol of the Cold War and Iron Curtain that separated the Soviet Bloc and the democratic West. By 1989, after years of resistance to westernised reforms by the East German leader Erich Honecker, the East German government was overrun by the democratisation that was sweeping the rest of Eastern Europe. Demonstrations were already taking place across much of Europe until eventually, on 9th November 1989, it was announced that travel restrictions would be eased in Berlin. Crowds began to gather at checkpoints on both sides of the wall in anticipation of the return of freedom of movement. Passport checks were eventually abandoned, as people climbed on top of the wall, celebrating with their east and west counterparts, graffitiing and chipping at the wall in the process. In one of the greatest demonstrations of ‘people power’ the world had ever seen, Berlin was informally reunified.

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Quirky Britain

By Kate McLelland

Britain’s oddest laws Since 1215, when King John put his signature to the Magna Carta, all sorts of laws have crept onto our statute books. We may be keen on creating new laws, but it appears we’re not quite as good at getting rid of old ones that are no longer fit for purpose. Some of these laws are so obscure that you could be committing an offence without even realising, but if you did happen to break one, it’s very unlikely that you would ever be prosecuted. Don’t walk the plank Congestion zone charges and 20 mph speed limits are making life more difficult for the capital’s drivers, so if you live in London it would be understandable if you decided to walk, rather than drive, to your local DIY store. But here’s the problem: as you stroll home holding your newly bought plank or ladder, you are actually breaking the law. According to the Metropolitan Police Act 1839 it is an offence to “roll or carry any cask, tub, hoop, or wheel, or any ladder, plank, pole … upon any footway, except for the purpose of loading or unloading any cart or carriage, or of crossing the footway”. Suspicious salmon Section 32 of the Salmon Act 1986 warns that you can be prosecuted for “handling salmon in suspicious circumstances”, although the Act doesn’t fully explain what those circumstances might be.

We’ve heard some fishy tales in our time but can’t really imagine Sherlock Holmes on the lookout for dodgy-looking salmon handlers. Low al-cow-hol beer, please The Licensing Act 1872 not only outlawed drunkenness in pubs, it also made it an offence to put salt in beer (something crafty landlords did to make their customers extra thirsty, thus increasing sales). Another unusual clause in the same act made it illegal to be drunk in charge of a cow or a steam engine on a highway or other public place. Parliamentary protection? These days it seems there are always battles raging in parliament, so it’s probably just as well that a law from 1313 forbids people from entering the Houses of Parliament wearing a suit of armour. The PM and Chancellor can also relax: numbers 10 and 11 Downing Street are protected by section 55 of the Metropolitan Police Act 1839, which makes it illegal to fire a cannon within 300 yards of a dwelling house. The British legal system has been built up over centuries of law creation, amendment and repeal, so a ‘spring clean’ is probably long overdue. For the moment, however, we can go on enjoying the comedy value of these archaic pieces of legislature, safe in the knowledge that the long arm of the law is very unlikely to reach out and grab us.

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THE NORTH POLE

CAMBRIDGE IS BACK!

The Villager Magazine is offering two lucky readers the chance to be part of the festive fun with a prize draw competition to win FREE ice skating tickets for a family of four worth £40! This November, Parker’s Piece Park will be transformed into an enchanting winter wonderland for The North Pole Cambridge. Families, couples and groups will be able to take to the rink under the sun, moon and stars in the centre of Cambridge this winter, getting outdoors for some festive fun on the ice, before extending the seasonal spirit with a visit to the Alpine pop-up food and drink stalls, plus a funfair for some traditional family entertainment. Open from 16 November 2019 to 5 January 2020, visit thenorthpolecambridge.co.uk for more details and to pre-book your tickets and skate aids now. Terms: There are two prizes of one family ticket for a 45-minute ice skating session at The North Pole Cambridge. Each prize is worth £40 and includes entry to the rink for one ice skating session for four people. Prize does not include skate aids or entry or access to other attractions within The North Pole Cambridge which are run independently to the ice rink. The promoter will not accept responsibility for any technical, or other reason that affects entry being made or the winner being notified or drawn within the specified time period. Promoter: Arena UK & Europe, Needingworth Industrial Estate, St Ives, Cambridgeshire, PE27 4NB. For a chance to win a family ticket simply complete the form below and send to: The North Pole Competition, Villager Publications Ltd, 24 Market Square, Potton, Bedfordshire SG19 2NP. Deadline: 16th November 2019. Winners will be notified via email and advised how to redeem their prize.

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Travel

By Solange Hando

Roman Site in Morocco Rising above the fertile plain near Meknes, Volubilis scatters its ruins on a lonely hilltop with superb views all around. There are oleanders morning glory and olive groves, and beyond the gently rolling land you can see Mount Zerhoun and the holy town of Moulay Idriss. But Volubilis stands in a class of its own, listed by UNESCO for “its outstanding importance at the frontier of the Roman Empire”. First settled by local tribes, the ancient capital of Mauretania flourished from the third century BC, trading with Carthage until the Romans annexed it in AD 40. The Berbers took it back around 285 and in the late eighth century, Volubilis became the capital of Idriss the First, founder of the Moroccan State. Yet by the end of the fourteenth century it was abandoned and later destroyed by the Lisbon earthquake. The 1920s excavations revealed a 42-hectare site once enclosed by a massive wall dotted with bastions and gates. Much remains to be unearthed but as soon as you reach the entrance, the House of Orpheus takes your breath away with its hammam – hot, warm and cold rooms – and its fabulous mosaics of dolphins and local fauna charmed by Orpheus playing the lute. Then beyond the Thermal Baths and their communal toilets – a most sociable place for the Romans – you are in the heart of town, gazing at the paved square of the Forum once decorated with statues, the Capitol dedicated to three gods and the

impressive remains of the Basilica where justice was delivered and, today, storks build their nests on top of the columns. Then a Triumphal Arch honours Emperor Caracalla near the House of the Acrobat and that of the Dog, best known for the giant rock phallus that identified the brothel. Other attractions include the North Baths and olive press and more houses famous for mosaics such as the Labours of Hercules, Dionysus and the Four Seasons, Nymphs Bathing and Wild Beasts. But best of all perhaps is the romantic House of Venus with erotic designs sure to entertain its royal resident Juba II, a King of Mauretania loyal to Rome. These luxurious dwellings were in the northern district crossed by the main ‘highway’, the Decumanus Maximus as straight as an arrow, lined with columns and so well-preserved it sends shivers down your spine. Few visitors venture this far in the blazing sun but it’s the most inspiring place to reflect and feel the past almost within reach. Best time to visit is in the spring when the grass is lush and green and poppies splash colour among daisies and asphodels. All you can hear are storks rattling their beaks or the occasional bleating of sheep in the meadows. Meanwhile, down in the valley, be sure to enjoy the ‘golden apples’ so loved by the Romans – we call them oranges – and when you sip a glass of wine, remember they planted the first vineyards almost 2,000 years ago.

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TRAVEL FROM STEVENAGE/BALDOCK Letchworth/Hitchin on some dates DAY TRIPS 10

Nov Duxford Imperial War Museum

£12.00

Nov Ely Cathedral Christmas Fair

£26.00

Nov Birmingham Frankfurt Xmas Mrkt £26.00

Nov Melton Mowbray (optnl ChocFest) £22.50

Nov Bury St Edmunds Christmas Fayre £19.50

Nov Bruges Christmas Market

£53.00

Nov Boundary Mills Shopping

£24.50

Nov Hyde Park Winter Wonderland

£24.00

Dec St Albans Christmas Market

Dec Stratford-upon-Avon Xmas Market £25.00

Dec *Thursford Matinee – incl Meal

£77.00

Dec Lincoln Christmas Market

£26.00

Dec Rochester Dickensian Xmas Mrkt

£22.50

Dec London Christmas Lunch Cruise

£57.50

Dec Wisley Gardens Glow

£28.00

Dec Hyde Park Winter Wonderland

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Dec Christmas at Kew Gardens

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Dec Thursford Matinee

£58.00

Dec Thursford Matinee - incl. Meal

£77.00

£19.50

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THEATRE SHOWS AND EVENTS 14

Dec * Christmas Cracker – Matinee

£65.00

Dec *Olympia Horseshow – Evening

£68.00

Feb *Cirque Du Soleil – RAH – Matinee £82.00

Mar *Mary Poppins – Matinee

£85.00

Mar *Mary Poppins – Evening

£85.00

* Baldock only

COACH TOURS 18

Nov Sidmouth Festive Break

Nov Thursford Overnight Break 2 Days

£190

Dec Eastbourne Turkey & Tinsel 5 Days

£375

Dec Warners Cricket St Thomas 5 Days

£360

Feb Warners Holme Lacy

£380

Feb Sidmouth & South Devon

5 Days

£395

Mar Cornwall Spring Tour

6 Days

£440

Mar Welsh Spring Break

5 Days

£395

Mar Warners Bembridge IOW

5 Days

£395

Apr Winchester Easter Break

4 Days

£395

Apr Torquay

5 Days

£375

5 Days

£385

Price per person sharing a twin/double

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Santa’s Grotto and Festivities 7, 8, 14 and 15 December 2019 Watch Santa fly in* to The Collection’s aerodrome, then follow a festive trail around The Swiss Garden to find Santa in his grotto. With lots of activities running all day there’s something for everyone at Shuttleworth this Christmas. For more details and prices please visit: www.shuttleworth.org/santas-grotto or call 01767 627933.

Other Festivities Include: Traditional Funfair Rides, Wreath Making Workshops, Face Painting, Mulled Wine and Kids Hot Chocolate, Festive Pony Rides, Steam Engine with Living Wagon, Roasted Chestnuts, Kids Craft’s and Activities! Old Warden Aerodrome, Biggleswade, SG18 9EP

enquiries@shuttleworth.org

*Flying subject to aircraft serviceability and weather on the day (Saturdays only).

16Villager - Santa Fly In FP Nov 19.indd

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A Taste of....

France

Food and Drink

France is renowned, globally, for many aspects. From history and architecture, through arts, literature, music, fashions and so much more, there is something to interest all. French wines need little introduction and the cuisine of France is now available around the world.

Le Garrick Restaurant is recognised as an ‘institution’. Very popular with theatrical actors and actresses, Le Garrick offers all-day dining, in a venue that has a lot of history. This ‘little piece of France’, in the West End of London, is known for its excellent, regional French food, service and atmosphere. Having a ground floor, with window tables, plus a downstairs restaurant area, with intimate candlelight alcoves, Le Garrick offers character, exceptional dining and splendid cuisine. Being in close proximity to many theatres, pre and post-theatre dining is very popular. The menu is undoubtedly French. Les Entrées has selections that include Scallops and an Assiette de Charcuterie, for example. Boeuf Bourguignon (slow-cooked beef marinated in red wine and served with new potatoes, vegetables and lardons) is extremely popular for a main course – compliments to chef! Other mains have ‘devotees’ for their succulent Honey-glazed Duck and Fish dishes. Tender Steaks have ‘followers’, too and are served with a choice of sauces, plus French fries. The team of chefs ensure all cuisine is cooked and/or presented to perfection. The complementing flavours of the dishes are outstanding and impress, constantly. Desserts have something for all tastes and Tarte au Citron or a Chocolate creation will certainly not disappoint. Champagne, plus high-quality wines/drinks, that are elegant, light, rich and powerful, have something for all palates. Having a good number of theatres within easy distance, this is most certainly a restaurant to consider prior to or after a theatre visit, as well as a venue to return to, when in the area and to make a destination, too. All dietary requirements can be catered for and gift vouchers are available, also. Le Garrick has regular clientele – always a good sign. Booking is advisable, particularly during popular times. Le Garrick Restaurant 10-12 Garrick Street, Covent Garden, London WC2E 9BH Tel: 44 (0) 20 7240 7649 Email: info@legarrick.co.uk www.legarrick.co.uk

As always, Enjoy!

ey Trevor Langl

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Technology

Can you bag a bargain on Black Friday? November is the month of big deals. Are some too good to be true?

Black Friday is the annual sales event that crossed the Atlantic to become huge in the UK too. But does that mean you’ll get a good deal? Black Friday is actually two big days of deals: Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Black Friday is the start of the Christmas shopping season in the US, because it’s when retailers traditionally ran ‘door-buster’ sales on the day after the Thanksgiving holiday. The following Monday has been dubbed Cyber Monday because apparently everybody goes back to work, panics about Christmas presents and hits the online shops on the same day. Black Friday gets bigger every year. A long weekend became a week of deals, until now Black Friday runs for two weeks or more, with all kinds of deals announced well in advance as well as flash ‘lightning deals’ on Black Friday and Cyber Monday. It’s become the most important part of the retail calendar not just for technology but for many retailers selling fashion,

homeware and jewellery too. It’s a good time to buy smart home technology, which attracts massive discounts at this time of year. Can you really get good deals? The answer is a qualified yes. There are plenty of deals to be had, but some of them are illusory: common tactics include listing RRPs that no sensible person would pay – you’ll see this a lot with TVs, which promise massive discounts on recommended retail prices nobody paid – or gently increasing prices in the run-up to Black Friday so they can be lowered in time for the big event and labelled with a big ‘Sale!’ sticker. And like any sale, often the deals are on products that are being phased out to make room for new products or because they’re no longer being made. End-of-line products aren’t necessarily bad buys, but research anything before you decide whether or not to spend. Before you hit the ‘Buy Now’ button on a bargain, search for it in Pricespy.

co.uk. That shows you what other retailers are selling the product for, and tells you whether you’re really getting a good deal. It works on everything from DVDs to dishwashers and it also tells you whether products are in stock: a deal isn’t much use if you can’t actually order the product. If you’re looking at a deal on Amazon, have a look at uk.camelCamelCamel.com. Simply copy and paste the address of the Amazon product listing or the exact product name and it’ll show you the price history – so for example if we search for the cult favourite Instant Pot pressure cooker we can see that while its price varies from £70 to £130, it’s usually sold for around £90. One of the simplest tricks to Black Friday and Cyber Monday is to make sure you only buy things you actually need. This time last year we bought some fancy headphones on Black Friday; this week we’re selling them on eBay, still in the original sealed packaging. A bargain isn’t a bargain if you don’t use it.

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Home Fragrance

Heaven Scent What’s the first thing a guest notices when they walk into your home? Your antique coat stand? The ornate mirror? The pristine hardwood flooring? No, it’s actually the smell. Smell is our most powerful sense and will override the other four senses if something foul wafts our way. So, if your house smells like musty wet dog, stinky shoes, or last night’s fish supper, none of the other details will matter. How your home smells leaves an impression on visitors so it’s nice to make that impression a good one, and of course it’s nicer for you too; after all you live there! There’s a whole industry devoted to home fragrance, so you have lots of choice. But the secret to a nosefriendly atmosphere isn’t synthetic scents. Aside from being overly perfumed, they often contain chemicals that can irritate some sensitive people, particularly asthma and migraine sufferers. Let the outside in - The simplest most effective way to freshen up your home is to open doors and windows yet very few of us do it on a daily basis. Stale air is a health hazard and a mood zapper. I’m not suggesting that you leave the windows open all day in November, but just five minutes will give you an instant, and totally free, air refresh. Grow an indoor herb garden - Fresh herbs such as basil and mint give off a lovely aroma. If you’re feeling ambitious try planting a herb box overflowing with marjoram, lemon balm and rosemary. Sweep your hand across them to agitate the foliage and spread the fragrance around.

Chop up a few lemons and limes - For a quick and easy fresh smell, you can’t beat citrus. Slice a few lemons, limes and oranges into thin wheels and bake them at a very low temperature for several hours until they are dry to the touch. You can pretty much forget about them while they are in the oven except for the fact your house will smell incredible. When they are done you can make potpourri. Thread some on a string with a cinnamon stick and some star anise and hang in your kitchen or pop them in a pretty glass bowl. Bonus tips Make citrus salt - Grind the citrus wheels to a powder in a spice grinder and mix with flaked sea salt. Make citrus sugar - As above but mix with sugar. Make sweets - Dip them in dark chocolate and sprinkle with flaky sea salt. Buy quality scented candles - Organic beeswax scented candles are very different to synthetic chemically fragranced varieties. Try them and you won’t look back. If you are wondering which scents to try, fresh citrus scents have universal appeal; incense and patchouli are lovely at this time of year. Vanilla has long been named as the most popular choice among air-freshener companies and in candle form it takes on an even warmer, more mellow quality. Make your own air freshener - For a quick-fix, all-natural air freshener, fill a pan with water, add fresh rosemary or lavender and bring to the boil, then simmer for an hour and let the vapours drift around the house, scenting the air. Later, you can let the mixture cool and decant the liquid into a spray bottle. Store in the fridge and spritz a little as needed.

By Sarah Davey

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By Kate McLelland

Life Begins...

‘Grey pound’ movies: are they moving us on? In recent years the ‘grey pound’ – that’s the term coined to describe the purchasing power of senior citizens – has created new marketing opportunities for everything from holidays to household gadgets. It is even starting to affect the films we watch on TV and in the cinema, as movie studios begin to understand the earning potential of shows pitched at an older audience. Over the past decade films such as Quartet and The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel have been partly responsible for breaking the mould. The tide began to turn in 2003, when a groundbreaking film based on a true story was released in the UK. Calendar Girls told the story of a group of Yorkshire women who, under the auspices of the Women’s Institutes, produced a nude calendar for Cancer Research following the death of a WI member’s husband. Focusing on middle-aged women not just as wives, mothers or aunts, but as people in their own right, Calendar Girls was a rare film for its time. It was also the surprising hit of 2003, winning Best Comedy Film at the British Comedy Awards

and eventually grossing almost £80 million pounds in box office revenue worldwide, but UK cinema audiences had to wait a further eight years before they were able to watch another British film that put older people at the heart of the story. That film was The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, which opened to great acclaim in 2011. It told the story of seven British pensioners who decide to move to a retirement hotel in India. Soon after, in 2012, the films Quartet and A Song for Marion – coincidentally both about singing pensioners – hit our screens and a sequel to the Best Exotic Marigold Hotel was released in 2015. So do these movies provide a more positive view of aging? Those in favour believe that placing a stronger focus on older people’s lives has helped to eliminate the lazy stereotypes previously used by film-makers: the sweet, undemanding grandmother or eccentric, obsessive older woman; the grouchy old man in the street or the pathetic, aging father suffering from memory loss. Less sympathetic reviewers

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have accused ‘grey pound’ filmmakers of opting for “light laughs over deeper insights” while condemning them for their “condescending” and “simplistic” approach to story lines and characters. The suspicion is that film studios are simply aiming at a lucrative audience sector rather than attempting a longoverdue transformation of the way older lives are represented on screen. Actor and director Emma Thompson is one of a number of critics who dislike films aimed at a particular segment of the cinema audience. “The film industry has tried to separate us into groups, and it’s a mistake culturally, artistically and economically,” she told the BBC in 2014. Opinions over the quality and content of ‘grey pound’ films might be divided, but at least these movies have made senior citizens more visible on our screens. No longer limited to playing benign grannies or grouchy old men, older actors now have the opportunity to portray characters who, despite – or maybe because of – their age, lead vibrant lives every bit as interesting as those of their younger counterparts.

Food & Drink

Crab cakes, pickled kohlrabi

and mooli, chilli and tarragon mayonnaise

This is such a lovely recipe. Full of colour, flavour, texture, crunch and a sweet and sour hit. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the creation of local chef Tom Brittain, who spent years honing his trade before rather romantically going back to his home village and working at the Lytton Restaurant at Chalfont Dene in Chalfont St Peter. The thing I like about recipes like this is the fact that all the elements are interchangeable and can be incorporated into other dishes. Plus, the vegetables and vibrant mayonnaise would go just as well with breaded chicken or a large breaded mushroom. For the crab cakes 400g handpicked white crab meat (or tinned crab) 400g mashed potato 100g coriander 100g fresh chilli 100g spring onion 250g panko breadcrumbs 1 egg For the pickled mooli and kohlrabi 1 mooli 2 heads kohlrabi 1 habanero chilli 1 litre white wine vinegar 1 litre water For the chilli and tarragon mayonnaise 150g fresh chilli 1 bunch tarragon Half a litre good quality mayonnaise Salt and pepper 1 tsp lemon juice

Extra leaves for serving 1. For the crab cakes, combine all ingredients into a bowl. Use your hands to shape into balls and season to taste. 2. Peel and dice the kohlrabi into fine strips. Using a potato peeler shave strips off the

5. 6.

mooli. Bring the water and vinegar to a boil and leave to cool. Once the water and vinegar has cooled, combine with the kohlrabi and mooli in a kilner jar and leave in the fridge. The longer you leave it the better it will be in truth. Make the mayonnaise. Finely dice the chilli and tarragon together, fold into the mayonnaise, add lemon juice and salt and pepper to finish. The mayonnaise will keep and can be used in other dishes, as can any excess pickled vegetables too. Cook the crab cakes in a deep fat fryer at 180C for 3 minutes. You can pan fry them if you prefer. Make a bed of the pickles, place the crab cakes on top and add some leaves for colour and flavour too. Drizzle with a little of the pickling juice and serve.

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Beauty

By Kate Duggan

Presents and Parties New beauty releases to see you through the Christmas season The perfect party make-up starts with the right base. Urban Decay’s new Stay Naked Weightless Liquid Foundation (£29.50) is waterproof, long-lasting and available in a staggering 50 shades. The light texture is similar to a tinted moisturiser and you can build it up for the coverage that’s right for you, whether that’s barely there or airbrushed perfection. Head to an Urban Decay counter for help choosing the right shade. Don’t fancy battling through the Christmas shoppers? Try the online colourchoosing tool. For a flawless finish, follow up with the Stay Naked Correcting Concealer (£20), which is semi-matte, designed to last all day (and night) and available in 25 shades. See www.urbandecay.co.uk Give someone the gift of painfree hair styling. The Alfa Italia Liscio detangling brush (from www. alfaitaliapro.com) is suitable for wet or dry hair and makes detangling a breeze. The bristles make short work of tangles but are gentle enough not to snag or break hair. The brush is also an ideal stocking filler, being priced at under £10 and just the right size to fit in the toe of a large stocking. With their glittery design and baby soft fibres, StylPro brushes are perfect for Christmas. They don’t use animal hair, so they’re suitable for vegans. Treat someone to the set, or split them up to use as stocking fillers. The set of eight is priced at £39.99 from Argos, so each brush works out at around £5. See www.styltom. co.uk

A brand new make-up palette reminds me of untouched snow – almost too pristine to disturb. If you fancy treating someone to a new palette, without breaking the bank, take a look at W7’s Socialite Eyeshadow Palette – an absolute bargain at £11.95. The palette contains 18 eyeshadows, ranging from daytime nudes to glitter-infused golds and shimmery pinks. Unlike some of the more high-end brands, this palette even includes a brush and mirror. The eye shadows are easy to apply, and blend well. Whether it lasts until Christmas Eve, or somehow finds its way into your own make-up bag, is up to you. See www.w7 makeup.co.uk. Know a unicorn-loving beauty addict? The bestselling Yes To range has recently released two new products in its Yes to Grapefruit range. The Vitamin C GlowBoosting Mud Mask contains kaolin clay to exfoliate and detox skin, aloe vera to hydrate and grapefruit extract to give skin a dose of antioxidants. Together, they help to tighten pores, reduce shine and leave skin looking brighter and healthier. Central heating can leave skin feeling dry, tight and parched, so the Vitamin C GlowBoosting Unicorn Brightening Mist should prove a welcome relief. Planning to vamp it up for your Christmas party? Try PÜR Cosmetics’ Velvet Matte Liquid Lipstick (£16). It goes on like a gloss, but has a matte, non-sticky finish. Agave extract and Vitamin E help to make it less drying than some other lipsticks. Try Addiction for full red-wine vamp, or Ever After for an easier to wear pink, from www.feelunique.com.

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Local News

Exclusive ‘Black Friday’ Offer for Villager Readers The Herts MS Therapy Centre is offering a special November discount for ‘Black Friday’. The Letchworth charity welcomes people with any challenging health condition. They’re offering a special offer exclusively to readers of The Villager… that’s you! Try Oxygen Therapy – First Time Free! Extreme fatigue and chronic pain can result from many conditions, including Cancer, Stroke, Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, ME, Multiple Sclerosis – and more. Oxygen Therapy gives lots of people: • Faster healing • Energy boosts • Reduced pain • Decreased swelling and inflammation How does it work? Pure oxygen is breathed through a mask under pressure in a specially constructed chamber. It’s very safe with almost no side effects, unlike much medication. “I was struggling to cope with my fatigue and it was weighing me down mentally. The treatment was a ray of hope that resulted in new friends and a better quality of life.” Charlotte D Would this therapy help you? Try Oxygen Therapy for free! Call 01462 684 214 to book your session. Exclusive Offer Worth Up To £40 To celebrate Black Friday, Villager readers can enjoy a 10% discount, worth up to £40. Simply try Oxygen Therapy for free by 30 November 2019. Then – if you choose to book a block of further sessions - enjoy a 10% discount. You just need to pay for your sessions by 31 December 2019. You could save up to £40. For more details or to book your free session call 01462 684 214. Remember to say that you’re a Villager reader!

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Finance

Be a Super-Saver By Kath McLean

Most of us know we should be saving but most of us also find it difficult. Try these tips. Pay Yourself First - Put an allotted amount into a designated savings account before you pay anything else, rather than trying to save leftover funds at the end of the month. Make it a habit - It doesn’t matter how little you are able to save every month; the important thing is to make the commitment so that monthly saving becomes a habit. Budget - Include savings as part of your spending plan. Make it a priority above spending for anything else. Make it automatic - Use your online banking resources to set up an automatic deduction from your current account to your savings account just after your alary goes in. Save extra money - When you reduce or eliminate an expense, put all or part of that money into additional savings. Put any tax refund, salary raise or bonus you receive into savings rather than spending it. Emergency Fund - Open a separate bank or savings account and name it “emergency fund”; even better if it earns interest. As with your other savings, deposit money into the account every month before you pay other bills. Make this savings part of your spending plan too so you aren’t tempted to spend it on something else. If you have a true emergency in the future, such as a car repair or a washing machine breakdown tap into your fund. Otherwise, let the money grow and continue to contribute to the fund each month. An emergency fund should ideally be about 6 months’ salary, but studies show that even a moderate amount of £500 in a saving account increases your sense of financial well-being.

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Well-Being

Tips to Beat Anxiety Breathe – Don’t fight the racing heart or sweaty palms, breathe into it. Place the palm of your hand on your stomach and breathe slowly and deeply. The aim is to train your mind to get used to coping with panic, which takes the fear of fear away. Face your fears - Avoiding fears makes them seem scarier. By facing them you should start to make them fade. Don’t try to be perfect – We’re surrounded by images of perfection on Facebook and Instagram. It can make us feel very anxious if we perceive our own lives as not measuring up. Real life is full of stresses; bad days and setbacks happen, and it’s important to remember that life is messy. Visualise a happy place – Practice closing your eyes and imagine a place of safety and calm. It might be a beach you love, or a forest, or snuggled up in bed with your puppy. Let the positive feelings soothe you until you feel more relaxed. Talk - Sharing fears takes away a lot of their scariness. Talk to a partner, a friend or a family member, or if you don’t feel you can talk to someone you know call a helpline such as Samaritans. If your anxiety is not getting better, please talk to your GP. Call The Samaritans free on their 24 hour help line 116 123

By Tracey Anderson

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Parenting

Help! I Need Somebody…

Who do you call to help a struggling child? If your child is struggling in school the chances are that you are struggling to figure out how to find the most effective help for them. There are many reasons why a child might fall behind. Some children find that despite a lot of effort, they are frustrated by learning disorders. Some fall behind because they have a hard time focusing on learning or making an organized effort to get homework done. Some children will get the support they need to succeed from specialists in their school, in the classroom or in sessions outside of class. But every year many parents feel that their child is not receiving adequate assistance and end up sourcing their own help. This is where things can get confusing. What sort of help might be best for your child? Think carefully about your child’s needs. Subject support – Sometimes a child falls behind in a particular subject for an obvious reason: they were off sick for a while, or they’ve had a succession of supply teachers, or disrupted lessons. If your youngster is failing in one particular subject, a specialist tutor might be the way to go. It’s easy to understand what a tutor is and does: They are knowledgeable in a particular subject area and can bolster a child’s success by filling in background information your child might have missed and offering deeper explanation and practice to help the student acquire the necessary skills. These people are specialists so expect to pay between £20-40 per session depending on subject and area.

Homework support - If your child’s challenge isn’t a particular subject, but trouble settling down to tackle the work itself, a homework helper might be what you need. A homework helper provides structure and support. Many parents find themselves filling that role for their kids, being present and providing back-up when kids get confused or unfocused. But for some children who are really struggling with focus and organisation (many kids with ADHD and autism fall into this category) homework becomes a major area of conflict, so having a professional homework helper on the case can be a big relief for both parents and kids. Helping a child succeed at homework without involving parents can remove a lot of stress from the whole family’s evening. The person does not have to be a specialist teacher, they do have to be good at helping a child to organise their thoughts and their time. Learning support - For a child with serious learning issues, an educational therapist can work with them to strengthen the skills they need to be able to keep up. Educational therapists come to the task with a range of professional skills, from special education to speech and language therapy to psychology. What they have in common is that they will work with an individual child’s learning style, and then help him develop skills and strategies that will enable him to build on strengths and compensate for weaknesses. Children with dyslexia particularly benefit from this approach.

By Tracey Anderson

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A FREE WILL for Homeowners Protect your home and legacy for your children • • • • • •

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Parenting

By Kate Duggan - www.kateduggan.co.uk

Gifted Inspiration for 0 to 8s

Are you planning to welcome a mischievous elf to your home this year? How about this crocheted version from Best Years? It’s handmade, Fairtrade and rather cuter than the plastic mass-produced versions. It’s £18.99 from www.bestyears. co.uk. Ewan the Dream Sheep (£39.99) is sure to prove popular with newborns and new parents alike. This award-winning modern classic has been helping babies (and parents) to get some shuteye for 10 years now. It mimics the environment a baby has grown comfortable with in the womb, by glowing softly and playing soothing sounds. Rather than jangling nursery rhymes (which parents will

grow to hate rather quickly), Ewan’s main sound is a recording of a heartbeat, which is then combined with other gentle sounds, such as white noise or rainfall. The deluxe version even turns on automatically when a baby cries. Anything that babies and toddlers come into contact with is likely to get grubby rather quickly, particularly when they’re as soft and cuddly as Ewan. Luckily, you can take the electronic pod out to give him a good wash. Looking for a new Christmas duvet for your child?

We love the Christmas Jumper Bedding Set from George at Home. And the cuddly Yeti Stocking from Sainsbury’s (£4) is sure to be loved long past Boxing Day. New, uber-soft PJs are a must for Christmas, but ones bedecked with snowmen and snowflakes can feel out of place by New Year. We like these organic, Fairtrade pyjamas by OceanBluu. They’re kind to skin, kind to the people who make them, and kind to the planet. The brand is plastic-free and donates a pair of PJs and underwear to a child in need for every purchase. They’re £25 from www.oceanbluu.com. Ice cream and lollies may not be the most appealing of treats to adults in winter, but kids love them all year around. And GLTC’s wooden Lolly and Scoop Ice

Cream Shop (£65, www.gltc.co.uk) will last a lot longer than the edible variety. There are ice lollies, cones, wafers, tubs and ice cream balls ready to scoop up and serve. Perfect for imaginative play. The White Stuff Christmas Veg Box Set is a bargain at £9.95. Why not split the decorations up to use as stocking fillers? See www. whitestuff.com. Speaking of stocking fillers, the chunky woodland creature range from National Trust is perfect for toddlers. Each one is priced at £2.75, www.nationaltrust.org.uk. Planning to really push the boat out this Christmas? The Flexa Play Work Bench (£161) is made from birch wood and comes with a vice. Add the Toolset (£21) and ToolBox (£30) to keep your child entertained for hours. See www. nubie.co.uk.

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DO YOU NEED TO MAKE OR UPDATE YOUR WILL? We offer a FREE initial appointment to discuss your circumstances, offering advice on Wills including ring-fencing your home from care and guidance regarding Inheritance Tax Nil Rate Bands. HOME VISITS are available at NO EXTRA CHARGE within a 20-mile Radius of Royston. SATURDAY MORNING appointments available on the following dates:* 9th and 23rd NOVEMBER 2019 FREE WILL SERVICE for the over 55â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s through the Cancer Research Free Will Scheme. For more information please contact:Fish Hill Chambers, 2-3 Fish Hill, Royston, Herts. SG8 9JY Tel: 01763 241 121 t.pilcher@walkerspartnership.co.uk Wills | Probate | Lasting Powers of Attorney | Conveyancing | Commercial Property *Home visit appointments are subject to availability. Saturdays by appointment only.

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Finance

By Ann Haldon

Too late to save for retirement? We’re often told by financial experts that it’s never too late to start saving for retirement, and that even in our 50s building a substantial retirement pot is possible. Clearly this depends on individual circumstances and it’s always going to be better to start saving early, but it’s heartening to know you may still be able to fund a decent retirement lifestyle. Workplace pensions If you’re in employment, a workplace pension can often be the best way to save for your retirement. Your contributions are matched by your employer; they’re typically deducted from your gross pay automatically and attract tax relief. Pension auto-enrolment, a government initiative intended to help people save for their retirement, means that if you’re aged over 22 and earn more than £10,000 per year you should automatically be enrolled in a workplace pension scheme. If you’re close to retiring and also in debt, however, it might be better to prioritise paying off your debts rather than contributing to a pension, but you need to speak to an authorised financial adviser who can assess your individual situation.

Personal pensions If you’re self-employed or not working you can benefit from tax relief on pension contributions by paying into a personal pension. Unlike a workplace pension scheme, a personal pension is an individual contract between yourself and the pension provider, which is often an insurance company. The pension provider invests your contributions, but in the same way as a workplace pension you’re not able to access your money until you’re 55 years of age under current legislation. What about the state pension? Under current legislation the full new state pension is £168.60 per week.¹ If you’re eligible, the amount you’ll receive depends on the number of ‘qualifying years’ of National Insurance contributions you’ve built up. Currently, you need 35 qualifying years to receive the full payment of £168.60 per week, but state pension regulations may change again over the coming years – when new governments are elected, for example. Stocks and shares ISAs Investment ISAs are another way to build up retirement savings, and the current maximum limit for saving into a stocks and shares ISA is £20,000 (2019/20 tax year). You need to make sure your money is growing above the inflation rate, however, otherwise you’re effectively losing money. Stocks and shares ISAs offer more flexibility than pensions as you can access your money more readily, whereas workplace and private pensions aren’t usually accessible until you reach the age of 55. Investment ISA providers typically allow you to pay in a lump sum, ‘drip-feed’ in a monthly amount, or both. Some people choose to save into an investment ISA as well as a pension scheme, so they spread the investment risk and don’t tie up all of their money up in one place. As with most important financial matters, it’s important to seek guidance from an authorised adviser who can analyse your financial situation and present the best options. 1

www.gov.uk/new-state-pension/what-youll-get

www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk/en/articles/ automatic-enrolment-into-a-workplace-pension www.gov.uk/personal-pensions-your-rights

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Gardening

By Pippa Greenwood

Winter Hanging Baskets Hanging baskets are a great way to create a miniature gardening space with your choice of colours. Once established they make even the gloomiest back yard look more cheerful, or the prettiest patio look even more gorgeous. Making a hanging basket is not difficult and although traditionally a summer planting feature, they work just as well for the winter months. Plenty of plants make for a colourful basket and your local garden centre or nursery should have a good selection, including winter-flowering pansies (I am fond of the purple and yellow varieties) and heathers, Gaultheria with its waxy red berries, dianthus for late autumn into early winter and assorted miniature shrubs, including variegated Pieris, Choisya ternata ‘Sundance’ and variegated euonymus, to help give structure and colour. The shrubs will look great in a container for a year or two, before being planted in the garden. A thicker, almost felt-like liner provides insulation in cold weather as well as keeping the compost and plants in place. I suggest a 35cm (14”) diameter basket as it can take more plants and, because it is larger, resists cold better. You’ll also need compost. Stand the basket in a large flowerpot before you start to prevent it rolling about. Once the liner is in place, remove the chain at one anchor point to stop it getting in the way. The liner will protrude above the basket edge at this stage but this helps to keep the compost in place. Use good quality multi-purpose compost, firming it gently, and fill

the basket about half full. Mesh baskets allow for easy side planting. Cut holes in the liner then insert small plants such as pansies at regular intervals around the sides of the basket, inserting them from the outside inwards to reduce damage. Nestle the roots into the compost and make sure that the liner is back in position after the last plant is in place. Add more compost to cover the roots of the side plantings and firm again gently. Next get the central plant in place and add three more upright plants such as miniature shrubs, equally spaced around the edges. For extra colour, add more winter bedding plants around the very outermost edge of the basket. Pinch out any faded flowers and add more compost, carefully filling in any gaps before watering thoroughly. Your hanging basket will soon fill out but stand it in a sheltered spot for a week or two to allow the roots to establish before hanging it in position, watering if necessary. Regular deadheading and removal of faded flowers plus a feed with a high potash fertiliser after about a month will keep it looking great, well into the spring. At Pippa’s website (www.pippagreenwood.com) you’ll find l natural pest controls, stylish cloches, practical and pretty plant supports, the fantastic SpeedHoe, gardening tools, planters, raised bed kits, Grower Frames, and the Grow Your Own with Pippa vegetable growing system! Or book Pippa for a talk at your gardening club

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Garden View

Pots of Cabbage!

November can be a bit of a grey, miserable month. My kids would call it ‘meh’. I like to inject some colour with winter bedding plants. A cheerful pot by the front door can make you smile on the gloomiest morning. Obviously, the choice of plants for winter is not as large as during the summer months but there are enough varieties around to make very attractive combinations for pots. My favourite plant for winter pots has to be the ornamental cabbage. These robust beauties come in wonderful colours including cream, pink and purple – with either attractive frilly or very spiky leaves. They pair beautifully with winter-flowering pansies and hardy cyclamen. Try planting three pots of different sizes using a colour scheme which co-ordinates with the cabbages. Plant a 50cm / 20inch pot with four large ornamental frilly cabbages surrounding a central spiky one, to give some height to the display. Then choose a smaller pot (38cm / 15inches) and plant one frilly ornamental cabbage surrounded by pink and purple winterflowering pansies. Finally plant a small pot (25cm / 10inches) with a mixture of hardy cyclamen and white pansies. The resulting display will give you pleasure through November, December and January. Tips Select a frostproof container because these pots need to withstand wintery conditions. The most

By Rachael Leverton

dependable pots are made of fibreglass, lead, iron, heavy plastic, or stone. Most terracotta will crack in cold temperatures, but some glazed varieties are frost-proof. Use a good general-purpose compost. There are mixes specifically made for use in containers, which provide the essential drainage that plants living in pots need. Make sure you place plenty of drainage material in the bottom of the pots. A good compost will contain enough slow release fertiliser to maintain the plants for several weeks during autumn and winter. If they still going strong as winter turns to you can give them a bit of a feed, but by February or March you will want to think about replanting your pots with spring bedding. Think about gravel – I like to use a layer of gravel over the soil of my winter pots for several reasons. It gives the planted pots an attractive finish, keeps rain from splashing back on to the plants, provides some insulation for the soil and reflects light and warmth in any winter sun thus creating a little microclimate in which the plants will be happier. Water them! The plants will need moisture around their roots so water as needed unless the soil in the container is frozen. Do not water frozen pots because the plants are unable to absorb the water.

Happy Gardening

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Pets

Rehoming Appeal Lola Lola is a pure white short-haired cat and she is two years old. She can be a little shy when she first meets new people, but she soon makes friends. She has a very gentle nature and will make a lovely companion. She is neutered, microchipped and her vaccinations are up to date. She has had a very unsettled time so far during her life and we would like to find her a quiet home with no small children or other pets and with someone who is at home most of the day so that she can gain her confidence back. If you would like to find out more about this pretty cat, please contact Liz on 01767 681157. 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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Technology

The Geek Shall Inherit the Earth!

Get started in coding for a brighter future Technology runs the world. Almost everything we touch these days has a computer inside. From the obvious things like our laptops and smartphones all the way down to our televisions, cars, fridges, and even toasters. Many of these are now also connected to the Internet and large software systems collect and analyse our information 24 hours a day. As our demand for technology increases every year society is in desperate need of more people who can build and program these devices and software. Our school system has finally caught on to this idea and started to bring computer science into the classroom but there is a nationwide shortage of specialist teachers. But outside of schools there is a fantastic eco-system of passionate companies and individuals who want to develop the next generation of software and electronics developers. You just need to know where to look and where to start. The biggest hurdle in exciting your child about technology is to capture their imagination. Almost every kid plays computer games, so these are one of the best places to start. Learning how to code computer programs can be tedious, especially using the traditional textbook teaching methods. But put the coding exercises into a gaming environment and suddenly the subject comes to life. Programming your own spaceship to move around the screen and fire bullets opens up a whole world of gaming possibilities.

But where do you start? Technology again comes to our rescue, this time in the form of YouTube, probably the best home learning tool there is. You’ll find a whole range of tutorials and exercises all based around learning to code by writing your own games programs. But the sheer amount and variety of these videos can be overwhelming. Which one will work for your child? Is the tutorial at the right level? What happens if your child gets stuck? To cut through the confusion I’ve been developing games programming courses for 10’s and over to take them from absolutely zero experience through to A-level programming standards and beyond. I’ve been through the process with my own 10-yearold. I’ve seen his frustration when things are hard to set up, don’t work first time or simply left him stranded with no idea what to do. My course uses software that installs in under a minute and lets you get your first game up and running in less than half an hour, all using “proper typed in code” as my son calls it. From there they can take one of the full programming courses and learn all the software techniques needed to write your own programs. Everything, including all the software is absolutely free. So why not have a look at bytesnbits.co.uk and get your child on the road to becoming the next Bill Gates or Steve Jobs.

By Robert Grant

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Pets

Keeping Your Pets Calm on Bonfire Night The noise and flashes of light on Bonfire Night are startling for any animal, and it’s understandable if your pet feels anxious and stressed. So is there anything you can do to help them stay calm, both beforehand and on Bonfire Night itself? On Bonfire Night • Close windows and curtains before it gets dark. • Switch on the television or radio to mask the sounds. • Speak to your vet about pheromone diffusers or calming medication. • Provide a ‘safe’ place in the house – maybe a den under a table, for instance, with their favourite comfort blanket, some toys, or an item of your clothing to cuddle. • Bring outdoor hutches into the house, shed, or garage, and add some extra straw or hay for soundproofing and an extra feeling of security. Before Bonfire Night Noises CDs Noises CDs are sometimes used as therapy for pets that become upset or anxious by loud noises. If

you play them fairly softly during the weeks before Bonfire Night, they may become more used to the sounds of fireworks and be able to stay calmer. Collars and name tags Hopefully your pet won’t need to go outside during the evening but if they do, you need to make sure they’re wearing their collar and name tag. If you have a dog you’ll be able to take them out on a lead, but cats may become startled once they’re outside and run away to hide. pets.webmd.com/features/pet-pheromoneproducts-for-behavior-problems#1 www.bluecross.org.uk/pet-advice/fireworksand-pets www.pdsa.org.uk/taking-care-of-your-pet/ looking-after-your-pet/all-pets/pets-andfireworks

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By Ann Haldon

Pets

Animal

Know-How

Winter Watch

Winter Nights Now that the nights are drawing in and the weather has become much colder, we need to consider the welfare of our pets and wildlife. So with a little thought and careful planning our little or large, furry or feathery friends can stay healthy, warm and safe.

If you are taking your pet outside for exercise or if they live outdoors in a field, consider whether they need and extra layer or two – just like humans do. Your dog, for example, may need a special jumper or coat for those wintery walks. There is now a large choice of clothing for pets in the shops. Or why not try making your own. An additional consideration if you are walking your dog in areas that may have been gritted by rock salt, please ensure you wash their paws when you have returned home. Anti-freeze and rock salt can be poisonous to dogs. Reflective wear like leads, collars and coats are highly recommended for animals that will be out in the dark eg: dogs and horses. Bedding for all animals needs to be checked regularly so that it remains dry, warm and free from draughts. Much of our wildlife is reliant upon the food and water we provide during

the winter. Ensure water baths have not frozen over and snow has been cleared from any feeders. Keep them topped up, and even put out extra fat balls and treats. Christmas Guide Make sure everyone has a merry Christmas with this quick guide: • Alcohol: often left lying around or spilled, even more dangerous to pets than people. • Leftover food: any fatty, spicy or ‘unusual’ foods can cause gastroenteritis. • Stuffing/gravy: the ones containing onions are particularly poisonous to animals. • Christmas pudding: sultanas, currents and raisins are toxic. • Cakes: artificial sweeteners (especially Xylitol) are poisonous. • Cooked bones: can get stuck in teeth or intestines. • Chocolate: safe for humans, poison for animals. • Nuts: all nuts can be dangerous, macadamias particularly so. • Cheese: all can cause gastroenteritis; blue cheese is toxic. Even these things require consideration when you have puppies or inquisitive pets: • Christmas Trees: sharp pine needles can damage mouths and perforate intestines. • Christmas Ornaments: if eaten tinsel can cause a blockage. • Toys: to a dog a toy soldier or a Lego piece is a tempting morsel. • Wrapping Paper/String: dogs play with and eat paper. Cats do the same with string. • Silica Gel Packs: often packed with presents, if eaten can cause intestinal blockage. • Batteries: just as dangerous to you pets as to babies. • Wreaths/Christmas plants: Lilies, mistletoe and poinsettia are all highly toxic if eaten. • Pot pourri: the aromatic oils that make this smell nice are toxic for days if eaten.

Brought to you by the RSPCA Bedfordshire North Branch www.rspca-bedfordshirenorth.org.uk 52

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Environment

By Kath McLean

Simple Ways to Reduce Your Plastic Footprint

Stop straws - If a straw is a must, instead of a plastic one purchase a reusable stainless-steel straw and carry it with you. Invest in reusable produce bags - A single plastic bag can take 1,000 years to degrade. Purchase or make your own reusable produce bag but be sure to wash them often. Give up the gum – Chewing gum is made of a synthetic rubber which is actually plastic! Buy boxes over bottles - If your laundry detergent comes in a box it will be more easily recycled than a plastic bottle. Buy from bulk bins - If possible, purchase food, like cereal, pasta, and rice from bulk bins using your own container or bag. Not only will you save on packaging you’ll also save money. Take your own cup to coffee shops - Some establishments offer a reduction in price for this! Ditch the disposables - Disposable nappies are a huge source of landfill. Modern cloth nappies are nothing like the monstrosities of yesteryear. Check them out, reduce your baby’s carbon footprint and save money in the process. Squeeze your own - Make your own fresh squeezed juice or eat fruit instead of buying juice in plastic bottles. It’s healthier and better for the environment. Lead with your lunch - Pack your own lunch in reusable containers and bags. Use a real razor - with replaceable blades instead of a plastic disposable razor. These are all simple steps but if more of us follow them they have the potential to make a big impact on our joint plastic footprint.

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n O s ’ t Wha In November

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

1 November Hitchin & Letchworth Local Group 7.30pm ‘The Settlement’, Nevells Road, Letchworth Garden City Local group members free, Visitors £3 ‘Trials and tribulations of grassland waders’ by Dr Jen Smart. Find out about the predation issues faced by waders, solutions to reduce predator impacts and how this is put into practice with Project Godwit. Tel: 01763 249459 Email: martinrjspc@hotmail.com

2 November The Signals Museum Open Day 10am-4pm The Signals Museum at RAF Henlow is open to the public. Entry is free but official photo ID is required to get an entry ticket from the Guardroom. Web: www.rafsignalsmuseum.org.uk

7 November The Arts Society North Herts 11am & 2pm Spirella Ballroom Letchworth Visitors £7 on the door. Talk by Gail Turner Mooney entitled ‘Goya’s Painting the 3rd. of May 1808’. All visitors are welcome. Web: theartssocietynorthherts.org.uk 7 November Baldock Floral Society 7.15pm Community Centre, Baldock £6 payable on the door. An evening of flower arrangement demonstrations with Fiona Harrison with the theme ‘Flower of Scotland’. Everyone welcome and no advance booking required.

2 November Saturday Stories 10.30-11am Baldock Library Free event – voluntary contribution of £1 per family welcomed. Stories chosen are aimed at toddlers and preschool children.

7, 14, 21 & 28 November Letchworth Corner Bridge Club 1.15pm The Cloisters Masonic Lodge, Letchworth Letchworth Corner Bridge Club plays duplicate Bridge every Thursday afternoon. We usually play 27 boards which takes just over 3 hours. Refreshments, including fresh homemade cakes, are available every week. The club warmly invites visits from prospective new members - please call John for more info. Tel: John Biggs 01462 433393

2 November Mid Beds Cancer Support Group 11am-1pm Village Hall, Walnut Tree Way, Meppershall Meppershall and all surrounding areas. Informal cancer group for patients, families, friends and carers who wish to meet others for support and information. Come along to our meetings - we’d love to talk you! Tel: 01462 813943 or 07961 377526 Email: daksha.trivedi@btconnect.com

7, 14, 21 & 28 November Roundabouters Country Dance Club 8-10pm Friends Meeting House, Cuttys Lane, Stevenage Friendly club for English country dancing. We welcome new members, both beginners and experienced. All dances walked through; club and guest callers ensure a varied programme. Tel: 01438 727239 Email: roundabouters@live.co.uk Web: www.roundabouters.org.uk

3 November Messy Church 10.30am Shefford Baptist Church All-age Messy Church ‘God’s Armour of Light’. The session lasts about 1.5 hours and includes crafts, music and a time of exploring the theme from the Bible. This is not just for children - many adults attend and have fun participating in all the activities. Finishes a shared light lunch provided by the church.

7, 14, 21 & 28 November Stevenage Plus Social Group 8.15pm for 8.30pm Holiday Inn Express (opposite Matalan), Stevenage £2 - first night free. Stevenage Plus Social Group is a fun and friendly social group with members in their 30s and 40s from Stevenage, North Herts and surrounding areas. We have a varied programme of events on Thursday and Saturday evenings as well as day trips and weekends away. New members always welcome. Tel: 01438 231550. Email: welcome@stevenage.plus Web: www.stevenageplus.co.uk

3 November Fun Charity Quiz 8pm The Five Bells, Henlow Village £2 per person In aid of the Poppy Appeal. Teams of up to 8 members. Cash prize for the winning team and booby prize too. Raffle and some spot prizes (no knowledge required!). Tel: John 07511 631045 Email: quizzesforcharity@outlook.com 4 November Drop-In Session 10.30am-12 noon Baldock Library Nothing to do on a Monday morning? Come and join us in the library for a monthly drop-in session. Make new friends. Jigsaws. Colouring for calming. Tea/coffee/biscuits. No need to book.

7, 14, 21 & 28 November 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 and the opportunity to meet and make new friends. Potential new members are warmly welcome to come along with no joining fee for the first two months. Tel: Joyce 07952 678021 or Ian 07900 890583 for info Web: www.sapphiresocialsinglesclub.co.uk

8 November Unicorn Ceilidh Doors open 7.30pm St Mary’s Church Hall, Church Street, Baldock Adults £11, Concessions available With The Hosepipe Band and Adam Hughes. Ceilidh dances are great fun, easy to learn - and addictive! Clear instructions from the caller before and during each dance allow anyone to join in and enjoy the dancing. Tel: Alan Creamer 07946 439095 Web: www.unicornceilidhs.org.uk 8 November Fun Charity Quiz 7.30pm Arlesey Football Club £5 per person. In aid of Asthma UK. Fun quiz in memory Carl Couzens who succumbed to Asthma. Teams of up to 8 members. Licensed bar, bring your own picnic welcome. Prizes for winners and last place! Raffle and spot prizes (no knowledge needed!). Tel: John 07511 631045 for more info/to book a table Email: quizzesforcharity@outlook.com 8-23 November Letchworth Art Society Annual Autumn Exhibition 10am-4.45pm (not open Sundays) 30a Leys Avenue Free admission. All work by local artists. 9 November Pirton Craft Fair 9.30am-4pm Pirton Village Hall Admission £1, accompanied under 16s free Wide variety of stalls selling high quality homemade crafts including jewellery; scarves; cards; wooden toys; bags; fused glass; Christmas decorations and gifts. Refreshments served throughout the day including hot and cold lunches and homemade cakes. Email: pirtoncraftfair@gmail.com 12 November Transition Tuesday: Edible Cities 7.30-9.15pm Mrs Howard Memorial Hall, Norton Way South, Letchworth Letchworth Heritage Foundation is a partner in the European Research Funded EdiCitNet Project. The project will provide Letchworth with funding, expertise and learning from other participating cities. In return Letchworth is expected to test ideas for increasing the amount of food grown in our urban environment. Join us for an interactive evening both learning about EdiCitNet and discussing how to make the most of this opportunity. All welcome, admission free, but a £2 donation to help cover room hire and refreshments is welcome. 12 & 26 November Hitchin & District Probus Club 12 noon for 1pm Priory Hotel, Hitchin Social club for retired and semi-retired professional and business men which meets on the second and fourth Tuesday of the month for lunch. Organised visits and events throughout the year. New members welcome. Tel: Roger Burt 01438 351891 Email: roger@mazda20.plus.com

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n O s ’ t Wha In November

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

13 November Over 60s Lunch Club 12.45pm for 1pm lunch Garden City Court, Whiteway, off Radburn Way, Letchworth Garden City £5. Second Wednesday of every month. Come with friends or make new friends. Afternoon quiz. Two-course hot lunch with soft drink. Everyone welcome. First lunch free. Call on Monday to book your place and advise of any dietary requirements when booking. Tel: 01462 473100 Email: garden@quantumcare.co.uk 13 November Letchworth Chamber Music Concert 7.45 pm Howgills Friends Meeting House, 42 South View Tickets £15, Under 18s & students £7.50 Local pianist Adrian Oldland will play an exciting programme of works by Chopin, Schumann, List and Brahms. Tickets available on the door. Web: www.letchworthmusicclub.co.uk

16 November Requiem 4pm Church of St Andrew and St George, Stevenage Advance adults £13, on the door £15, Under 16 £6 Stevenage Choral Society with conductor Robin Osterley with Mid Herts Orchestra with conductor Liang Lee. Wine will be available for sale during the interval. Tickets available online or via email. Email: info@stevenagechoral.org.uk Web: wegottickets.com/StevenageChoral 16 November Weston Music Society Concert 7.30pm Weston Parish Church, SG4 7DJ Tickets £16 inc. programme & drink, 19-25 years £5, Under 19s free Kosmos Ensemble with Harriet Mackenzie, violin; Meg-Rosaleen Hamilton, viola; Milos Milivojevic, classical accordion. Classical and World Music. Call or email to reserve tickets. Tel: 01462 790573 Email: felicitylowe@yahoo.co.uk Web: www.westonmusicsociety.org.uk or https:// www.wegottickets.com

14 November Baldock & Clothall WI 7.30pm United Reformed Church, Whitehorse Street, Baldock Visitors £3 Speaker is Keith Baldwin, a voiceover artist. Visitors always welcome. Tel: Lucy 01462 742609 for more info Email: Baldockclothallwi@hotmail.co.uk Facebook: www.facebook.com/baldockclothallwi

17 November RSPB Hitchin & Letchworth Local Group Coach Trip Coach fare Adult £16, Under 18s £8 Blashford Lakes H & IOWWT. Joint trip with RSPB Stevenage LG. This attractive reserve on the edge of the New Forest hosts a large variety of water and woodland birds. Donation (£3). Coach departs Hitchin 7.30am, Letchworth 7.45am and Stevenage: 8am. Leader Helen Lumley. Tel: 01763 249459 Email: martinrjspc@hotmail.com

16 November Harriet Kelsall Bespoke Jewellery Xmas Event 9.45am-5pm North Barn, Fairclough Hall Farm, Halls Green, Hertfordshire, SG4 7DP Kick off the festive season with mulled wine, mince pies and beautiful jewellery including the limited edition 2019 Christmas collection. Free clean for your favourite piece of jewellery. See the goldsmiths at work. Personalise your own disc pendant for £35 which includes £10 donation to Garden House Hospice. Free parking and disabled entrance. Tel: 01462 790565 Web: www.hkjewellery.co.uk/events

17 November Carol Workshop 2-4.30pm Letchworth Guide Hall, 247a Icknield Way, Letchworth Garden City £8 incl. music and refreshments Chiltern West Gallery Quire. A chance to learn and sing some local carols from the 18thand 19th centuries. Easy free parking on Icknield Way and Bowls Club car park. Tel: Bookings Jenny Ellis 01462 629539 / 07505 131880 Email: jenifer.ellis47@hotmail.com Web: www.cwgq.co.uk

16 November Village Market 1-5pm Shillington Village Hall Free admission. Back by popular demand, Shillington WI host the Village Market. Crafts, food, plants, adult and children’s Tombola and local business will occupy 30 tables. The WI will offer tea and homemade cakes. Something for all the family.

19 November Stevenage RSPB Local Group 7.30pm The Friends Meeting House, Cutty’s Lane, Stevenage RSPB Members £3, Non-members £4, Under 18s 50p Bill Coster, acclaimed wildlife photographer, presents his talk on the Shetland Islands. Bringand-buy cake stall. Tel: 01438 226014 Web: www.rspb.org/groups/Stevenage

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23 November Oratorio to Aria 7.30pm St Mary’s Church, Ashwell Tickets £20. Five members of the Royal Opera House Chorus, Covent Garden, will be performing a selection of works from Oratorio to Aria. One of the chorus members is Ashwell born Emily Rowley Jones. They are performing in aid of ‘Ashwell’s Fight Against Cancer’ (AFAC) to raise money for research into and clinical care of Bowel Cancer at Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge. Tickets available from Rhubarb and Mustard, High Street, Ashwell. Email: christinescholfield123@hotmail.com Web: ticketsource.co.uk/AshwellFAC 24 November Annual Exhibition of photographs of Shillington through the years. 2.30-6pm Shillington Village Hall, High Road, Shillington Admission £3.00 per person Over 500 mounted pictures which have all been provided by local residents over the years with images currently covering the period c.1900 to the late 1980’s. Come along if you are working on your family tree - permission has been given to provide mounted reprints for this purpose. The 2020 ‘Shillington Through The Years’ village calendar will be available. Light refreshments available. Tel: Janet and Peter Watts 01462 712080 Email: info@pinpointprints.co.uk 27 November Stevenage RSPB Local Group trip to Fowlmere 10am Morning visit to this Cambridgeshire reserve with its reedbeds and wooded areas. Meet in the car park 10. Walk leader Graham Beevor 01438 232055. OS map ref: 154/TL 408458. Postcode SG8 7SH. 28 November Stevenage Locomotive Society 7.30pm Community Arts Centre, Roaring Meg Retail Park Members free, Visitors £2 Pete Berry ‘The Robert Whitfield Collection 19481958’. Light refreshment break mid-way through evening. Web: www.stevenagelocosociety.co.uk 29 & 30 November Cinderella Fri 7.45pm, Sat 2pm STMA Shefford The Meppershall Players present their annual panto of Cinderella! Join them for “Oh no its not, oh yes it is” in a fun filled, family friendly panto. Web: ticketsource.co.uk/themeppershallplayers Hitchin & Surrounding Areas Fun & Social Stuff A welcoming social group based in Hitchin, but, also includes the surrounding areas. We arrange monthly socials, drinks socials, live music, pub quizzes, cinema, etc.. The group is a variety of people over 18 getting to know others in a social and friendly setting whilst also enjoying themselves. Email: meetup3@outlook.com Web: https://www.meetup.com/meetup-groupHVrvZZiQ

Alan George Painter & Decorator Interior and Exterior Work Wallpapering and Coving Reliable and Local Specialist City & Guilds trained with 30 years experience Sole trader No VAT Free estimates Call Alan on 01582 454604 Mob:07760198256 or E-Mail: george-a6@sky.com

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

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Local News

Bedfordshire Steam & Country Fayre The Bedford Steam Engine Preservation Society are pleased to announce that the Bedfordshire Steam & Country Fayre will return on the 18th, 19th & 20th September 2020 at our new venue Turvey House by kind permission of the Hanbury family. Turvey House is a Grade 1 listed Country House, set in established parkland on the River Great Ouse, just 9 miles from Bedford on the A428 Bedford to Northampton road. With good transport links to Bedford, Northampton and Milton Keynes with access by public transport, we are looking forward to holding our 61st annual event at this new location. The Bedford Steam Engine Preservation Society have a long history with Turvey village, being home to our Founder John Crawley for many years. The Bedfordshire Steam & Country Fayre is one of the premier events of its kind in the Country and one of the largest events held within Bedfordshire each year, with plenty to see and do for all ages. Attracting over 20,000 visitors each year and hosting over 800 exhibits, we aim to pull together an insight into life at the turn of the 20th Century. Details for exhibiting and trading at the event will be released shortly via our website www.bseps.org.uk and further details will be posted via our social media channels as they become available. We look forward to welcoming friends old and new and hope you will support us in 2020 and beyond.

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Painting & Decorating Property Maintenance Quality Workmanship Papering, Coving etc. Interior and Exterior Work Free Quotations Call W Firkins & Partners Ltd 01462 814117 or 07939 267083 Est 1981 20 Clifton Road, Shefford, Beds

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Air Ambulance’s muddy

obstacle run is back East Anglia’s mud obstacle run Only The Brave is back in 2020 for its fifth year and early bird tickets are now on sale. The muddy obstacle run in aid of East Anglian Air Ambulance (EAAA) takes place at Thetford Forest and is celebrating its fifth birthday, at the same time the charity celebrates 20 years of saving lives. To mark these historic milestones, the event, which saw nearly 2,000 runners take part last year, will see brand new obstacles including the kit carry bag challenge, 24/7 clock climb and the rotor scramble, as well as a new route through Elveden Estate. The popular race is set to take place on Sunday, March 29, and provides both a six and 10 mile course, with 20 to 35 obstacles, lots of mud, slides, straw bales and challenging hurdles. The event, which this year is sponsored by Mark

Local News Ewin Estate Agents, is in aid of EAAA’s life-saving work, a charity which relies on donations and operates two high-tech helicopters from its Norwich and Cambridge bases every day of the year. In February the charity launched a new campaign to raise an additional £1m annually to help them become a 24/7 service. The charity will be offering an early-bird rate until the November 30. Catrina Miller, events manager at EAAA, said: “This obstacle course is for everyone and hosts competitive runners sprinting for the time, people who want to have a fun team day out with their friends or work colleagues, people who want to set themselves a challenge to people who want to just take part in a fun event and raise money for EAAA. We can’t wait to unveil our brand new obstacles next year and celebrate 20 years of saving lives!” The early-bird rate provides several options ranging from £25 upwards. Every entry will receive an OTB official t-shirt, a medal and a goody bag when they finish the course. To book your early bird tickets or find out more, visit www.onlythebraveraces.co.uk

For more information on East Anglian Air Ambulance, visit www.eaaa.org.uk or call 03450 669 999.

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

Call now for a free, no obligation quotation 71

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 72

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October’s Puzzle Solutions and Winners Last Month’s Crossword Winner Rita Hobson from Brampton We Love Little Mix Competition Winner Karen Bower from Langford

Easy

Hard

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

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

The Villager Prize Crossword

Prize

ÂŁ25

Across 1 A strong effect on (6) 4 Sore (6) 9 Stopping place (7) 10 Narrates (5) 11 Slumber (5) 12 Arrives at (7) 13 Presenting (11) 18 Item (7) 20 Mechanical engine (5) 22 Higher up (5) 23 Dealt with (7) 24 Help (6) 25 Theatre seats (6)

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

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

Down 1 Be certain of (6) 2 Wood smoothing tool (5) 3 Crunchier (7) 5 Additional (5) 6 Popular sea mammal (7) 7 Withstand (6) 8 Components of recipe (11) 14 Countries (7) 15 Remark (7) 16 Yellow fruit (6) 17 Classifications (6) 19 A board game (5) 21 The whole amount (5)

Name: Tel:

ď&#x20AC;˘

Address:

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Visit our beautiful

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

01438 725309

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

Caxton House, Caxton Way, Stevenage, Herts. SG1 2XS 76

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Book Review By Kate Duggan

Classifieds Accountants

The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes

Times are hard in Kentucky at the end of the Great Depression. Five women set out to bring some light back into people’s lives, through books. This isn’t your average mobile library; the librarians have to travel hundreds of miles every week, on horseback. Amongst them is Margery – whose family and unconventional lifestyle mean she’s all but ostracised by ‘polite society’. And Alice – a lonely incomer far from home. A great story, great characters and great writing make The Giver of Stars the perfect gift.

The Hairy Bikers’ One Pot Wonders by Si King and Dave Myers

The Hairy Bikers are back with another cookery book packed with more than 100 recipes. Create delicious dishes with minimum effort and mess. Recipes include Sausage and Bean Tray Bake, and Boozy Syllabub Trifle. Just make sure the recipient of your gift invites you over for dinner soon.

The Secret Series by Pseudonymous Bosch

Young adventure fans are sure to appreciate this series, starting with the first book – The Name of This Book is Secret. (My ten year old daughter devoured all five in quick succession.) Cass and MaxErnest are unlikely friends who find themselves caught up in a quest to uncover a secret. Danger, mystery, friendship, villains and humour abound.

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

From just £35.00 per month plus VAT

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Classifieds Property Maintenance

Locksmith Services

Dave Mortby Plastering, Decorating & Refurbishment

Free Estimates Given

07722 128189

Email: David.mortby@live.co.uk

Plastering Services

Removals

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

MUSCLE & MOTOR

Jumbo van with up to 3 men. Helpful, efficient and friendly service for all your moving, carrying, and domestic disposal needs, including house and garage clearance.

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

Plumbing and Heating

Roofing

Property Maintenance

Wood Suppliers

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 78

FOR SALE

Seasoned Hardwood Logs Any size load Telephone: 01438 355489 Mobile: 07721 508383

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USEFUL NUMBERS

VILLAGER The

and Town

Life

Alcoholics Anonymous...................... 0845 769 7555 Al-Anon Family Groups..................... 0800 008 6811 Anglian Water................................... 08457 145 145 Bedford Hospital................................01234 355122 Lister Hospital....................................01438 314333 Addenbrooks Hospital........................01223 245151 Benefits for people with Disabilities.... 0800 882 200 Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue.............01234 351081 Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue............01438 729041 Carers Line........................................ 0808 808 7777 ChildLine..................................................0800 1111 Citizens Advice.................................. 0344 245 1292

Bringing Local Business to Local People Your local full colour A5 monthly magazine delivered free of charge to 1000s of homes and businesses in your local area. The Villager and Town Life is dedicated to promoting local businesses, charities, community groups and everything else in your local area.

Cocaine Anonymous................................0800 689 4732 Crimestoppers..................................... 0800 555 111 Cruse Bereavement Care................... 0333 252 9152 Floodline........................................... 0845 988 1188 Frank-Drug Advisory........................... 0800 776 600 National Debt Line............................ 0808 808 4000 Gas Emergency.................................... 0800 111 999 NHS Direct................................................0845 4647 National Rail Enquiries..................... 03457 48 49 50 Non Emergency Police Line.................................101 NSPCC............................................... 0808 800 5000 Relate................................................. 0845 48 49 50 RSPCA Cruelty Line............................ 0300 1234 999 Samaritans...................................................116 123 Tax Credit Helpline............................ 0345 300 3900 Victim Support................................. 0845 30 30 900

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