VILLAGER The
Issue 9 - December 2018
and Town
Life
LOCAL NEWS • LOCAL PEOPLE • LOCAL SERVICES • LOCAL CHARITIES • LOCAL PRODUCTS
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In this issue Why we hang
Stockings Ski Wear Style Bringing Local Business to Local People in Hitchin, Great and Little Wymondley, St Ippolyts, Charlton and surrounding areas every month
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Inside this issue... Why We Hang Stockings
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The History of Playing Cards.......................................................4 Why we hang stockings and other odd Christmas Traditions......8 Win a FREE 60 Minute Float for Two............................ 10 £100 Christmas Quiz.................................................. 12 Champagne: Discovering Hidden Gems....................................15 Tokyo: A City of Contrasts.........................................................16 Gifted Inspiration.....................................................................19 Rotary International.................................................................21 Ski Wear Style..........................................................................22 Great Health, Wellbeing and Fitness Gifts................................24 Don’t let Christmas costs ruin your New Year............................29 Rural Retreat or Urban Hub? Where will you retire?.................30 P&R Interiors............................................................................32 Plants for Christmas.................................................................34
Get Fit and Garden...................................................................37 Top Toys for Christmas..............................................................39 Berry House Vets: Keeping Pets Safe at Christmas....................41 Baking: Christmas Mincemeat Slice..........................................42 Create a Comfortable Guest Room............................................45 Wordsearch..............................................................................46 Puzzle Page..............................................................................48 A Calmer Christmas..................................................................51 What’s On.................................................................................52 Twinwoods Adventure..............................................................55 Fun Quiz...................................................................................57 £25 Prize Crossword.................................................. 58 Feeding a Crowd at Christmas..................................................61 Book Review............................................................................62 Useful Numbers.......................................................................63
Twinwoods Adventure
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Get your business off to a flying start this year
Advertise with the Villager Magazine... prices start from just £25.00 +VAT per month Editorial - Catherine Rose, Tracey Anderson, Trevor Langley, Solange Hando, Kate Duggan, Jennie Billings, Alison Runham, Ann Haldon, Kate McLelland, Rachael Leverton, Pippa Greenwood, Alison Foster, Berry House Vets and Katherine Sorrell,
Advertising Sales/Local Editorial Nigel Frost • Tel 01767 261122 nigel@villagermag.com Photography - jeka81 Design and Artwork Design 9 • Tel 07762 969460 • www.design9marketing.co.uk
Publishers Villager Publications Ltd 24 Market Square, Potton, Bedfordshire SG19 2NP Tel: 01767 261122 Email: nigel@villagermag.com www.villagermag.com
Disclaimer - All adverts and editorial are printed in good faith, however, Villager Publications Ltd can not take any responsibility for the content of the adverts, the services provided by the advertisers or any statements given in the editorial. No part of this publication may be reproduced or stored without the express permission of the publisher.
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History
17th Century painting of card players by Theodoor Rombouts
By Catherine Rose
The History of Playing Cards Traditionally, family board and card games are often enjoyed over the Christmas period. There are many variations of board game, both old and new, but the pack of cards, played for pleasure, prediction and profit, is now a global phenomenon that has endured for centuries. It is believed that our modern day playing cards originated in China, where games were played using numerical cards based on strings of coins. Old Chinese coins had a hole in the middle so that they could be strung together, and the four card suits were called coins, strings of coins, myriads of strings and tens of myriads. The forerunner of this game, known as the Game of Leaves, was played as early as the 9th century AD. These Chinese cards can be traced back to at least the 1200s. From there, the concept of playing cards began spreading to India and Persia, and then through Egypt into southern Spain and the rest of Europe by the end of the 14th century.
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In Spain, card playing was known as the Moorish ‘Saracen’s Game’ and cards had a distinctly Islamic design, with motifs consisting of figures and numerals illustrated by the corresponding number of symbols, known as pips. The Islamic influence can still be seen in the tradition of often having richly decorated back patterns on playing cards. Until cards began to be printed and mass-produced, they were handpainted and must have truly been works of art. The Arab deck did not have a queen. Instead, it had the king (malik), prince or viceroy (naib malik) and a servant or deputy (thaim naib). The four original suits were cups, swords, coins and batons (or wands) which link in with the tarot deck. (Although better known for fortune-telling, tarot or ‘tarock’ was also popular for playing games.) One theory is that the apparently random symbols were interpreted from pictorial representations
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of the written Chinese symbols for its coins suits. Known as the Latin deck, these original suits are still used in parts of the world. These four suits were subsequently adapted and changed by other European countries, notably Germany and France. The early German suits consisted of hearts (or sometimes roses), bells, acorns and shields. It is believed that the hearts suit evolved from cups. Bells may have been used in place of swords because they were more culturally significant. At that time, hunting with a hawk was popular amongst German nobility, with the customary small bells being tied onto the birds. As with the Arab or Latin deck, there was no queen. Instead the Germans had a könig (king), obermann (higher man), and untermann (lower man). It was the French who changed the suits to the more well-known and enduring hearts, diamonds, clubs (or clovers) and spades. It is thought that spades may have been derived from swords used in the Latin deck, as the Spanish word for swords is espadas. According to some sources, the French assigned classes to each suit, so that spades represented the nobility, hearts were the clergy, diamonds were the merchant classes and clubs were a symbol of the peasants. And then there is the case of the ace, which appears to have come to prominence as an important card in the deck during the late 18th century. It has been suggested that it was once again the French who elevated the importance and value of the ace, as they made it a symbol to represent the people following the French Revolution between 1789 and 1799. However,
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another theory is that when Britain began to tax playing cards in 1765, the ace was stamped to show the tax had been paid. From then on, the ace was considered a more valuable card, comparable with the king, queen and jack, and its design became increasingly ornate as a result. There have been many variations of playing card over the centuries in terms of: number of cards in a deck; pictorial representation of the courtly figures (known as ‘courtesan’ or ‘face cards’); and the interpretation of suits that have also included throughout their chequered history crowns, leaves, knights on horseback and even dragons, depending on geographical, cultural and social influences. Playing cards were imported into England in around 1480, but 150 years later imports of playing cards were banned and so the country began manufacturing its own. During the 1800s, the traditional French picture cards were re-designed by Charles Goodall & Sons to become the iconic symbols we know so well today. The British also introduced the ‘British Rule’ which renders the queen of a higher value to the king if the reigning monarch is a woman. The jokers or court jesters were two wild or trump cards that were introduced by the Americans in the mid-1800s and, although taken up as an integral part of the modern deck, are rarely used in card games. Playing cards have long been a symbol of decadence, mysticism and magic. A form of currency and conjuring, they can be a harmless pastime or a dangerous addiction that can win and lose fortunes as easily as the rise and fall of a house of cards.
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The Old White Horse • 1 High Street • Biggleswade • SG18 0JE Tel: 01767 314344 www.lolineinteriors.co.uk e: dave@lolineinteriors.co.uk To advertise in The Villager and Town Life please call 01767 261122
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Time of Year
Why we hang Stockings?
By Tracey Anderson
And other odd Christmas traditions… Christmas is all about traditions, but why do we hang stockings, eat chocolate logs and drink eggnog (why would anyone drink eggnog?!) Stockings – Noddy Holder belting out, ‘Are you hanging up your stocking on the wall?’ is a Christmas tradition in itself. There’s no official explanation of why we hang socks up for Santa though. It probably derives from a tradition of leaving out hay-filled shoes on December 5, the eve of St. Nicholas’ feast day. Children would wake to discover that the hay they left for St. Nick’s donkey had been replaced with treats or coins. Snacks for Santa – Whether it’s milk and a chocolate digestive or sherry and mince pie, when we leave goodies for Father Christmas we’re possibly participating in a tradition that some scholars date back to ancient Norse mythology! According to legend, Odin had an eight-legged horse named Sleipnir. Kids would leave treats for Sleipnir, hoping that Odin would favour them with gifts in return. Carolling – You might suppose this is a centuriesold tradition but although the songs go back hundreds of years, visiting neighbours to bid them good luck and good cheer by singing for them didn’t happen until the Victorian era. Evergreen decorations – Before Christianity people decorated their homes with evergreens in the winter as a reminder that spring would return. Christians adopted the tradition and decorated evergreen trees with apples to represent the Garden of Eden. The practice really took off when the public learned that Queen Victoria had a decorated Christmas tree as a nod to her German husband’s heritage. The Yule Log – Yule logs also predate Christianity. As part of winter solstice celebrations, Gaels and Celts burned logs decorated with holly, ivy, and pinecones to cleanse themselves of the past year and welcome the next one. The practice changed over time and eventually edible representations of the log appeared, which is why we eat chocolate logs today! Eggnog – Surely the most revolting of traditions.
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However, historians agree that ‘nog’ was probably inspired by a medieval drink called ‘posset’, a milky drink made with eggs, milk, and sometimes figs or sherry. These were all pricey ingredients, so it was a bit of status symbol to offer it to guests. No-one seems to know for sure why it’s called ‘nog’, but it maybe from the old word ‘noggin’ which was slang for a wooden cup. Mistletoe - This was associated with fertility and vitality by Celtic Druids because it blossomed even during the most frigid winters. Quite how we got from that kissing under the mistletoe is a mystery, but we do know that it began in the 18th Century and started with guests kissing the hand of their host under the mistletoe, then became progressively more personal over the decades that followed! Advent calendars - The modern advent calendar, with its little doors containing sweets or small gifts, began with Gerhard Lang in the early 1900s. His inspiration was a calendar that his mother made for him when he was a child, featuring 24 coloured pictures attached to a piece of cardboard. Christmas Cards – In these days of high postage costs, texts and emails, plus more environmental awareness this tradition may be at risk of dying out. Christmas cards are a surprisingly recent tradition anyway, with the first formal card only hitting shelves in 1843.
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Win a FREE 60 minute float for two Looking for that unique Christmas gift?
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Backed by medical research, floatation therapy has been proved to have long-lasting physical, mental and general well-being benefits. By reducing the external stimuli that your body is normally subject to, the environment created restores your body back to a natural state of tranquillity. The benefits are vast so we invite you to explore how floatation therapy can help you. Floatation therapy can be specifically used to target pain and trauma, successfully relieving symptoms of PTSD, high blood pressure, chronic migraines and also elements of pregnancy, to name a few. The unique environment floatation therapy provides can also improve your sleep and reduce your stress levels.
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For your chance to win £100 in our Christmas Quiz simply answer the questions below and send your entry to: Christmas Quiz, Villager Publications Ltd, 24 Market Square, Potton, Bedfordshire SG19 2NP by 16th December 2018
Win £100 in our Christmas Quiz
1. What did my true love give me on the sixth day of Christmas? 2. The story goes that the German and English soldiers of World War One did what in No Man’s Land on Christmas Day 1914? 3. Who was Ebenezer Scrooge’s business partner in Charles Dicken’s A Christmas Carol? 4. Who sings the solo in Kate Bush’s song Snowflake? 5. On what day of Christmas is the ‘Feast of Stephen’? 6. Which Dr Seuss children’s character hates Christmas? 7. What is the colour of a mistletoe berry? 8. Which country gives the UK the Christmas tree that is put on display in Trafalgar Square, London every year? 9. What was the name of the monster in the 2017 John Lewis Christmas advert? 10. Name three of Santa’s reindeer 11. What does the holly bear in the Christmas carol The Holly and the Ivy? 12. What is traditionally hidden inside a Christmas pudding?
The team at The Villager would like to wish readers and advertisers a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year
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Food and Drink
Champagne
Discovering Hidden Gems
Champagne has been very much recognised as THE sparkling wine for celebrations, special occasions and events, for many, many years. Non-vintage champagne is very popular too, with numerous followers and devotees. Non-vintage is equally enjoyable, wonderful and respected.
The I Love Bubbly company is UK based and was created to discover splendid champagnes, that are not widely known. Founded during 1952, the Charles Collin Champagne Company produces a range, including awardwining champagnes, with grapes being selected carefully and harvested by hand, complying with strict guidelines. Champagne Charles Collin Cuvée Charles Brut (80% Chardonnay 20% Pinot Noir) I found superb, with the bouquet of citrus fruits being much appreciated by the nasal senses. The mouthfeel and palate sensations continue through, for this elegant production. Champagne Charles Collin Cuvée Charles Rosé Brut (80% Chardonnay 20% Pinot Noir) is a further excellent champagne from this company. Light fruits of the forest enhance an impressive bouquet and entice, splendidly, to the experience awaiting the mouth and palate. Again, the elegance is outstanding and the production is well-balanced. A particular pleasure also for al fresco dining, adding colour to the occasion. Champagne Royal Riviera Brut Suprême (70% Pinot Noir 30% Chardonnay) celebrates the Principality of Monaco and the French Riviera, most proudly. The presentation has an attractive turquoise blue label and packaging, which caught my eye. Champagne Royal Riviera Brut Suprême is rich and elegant. The pale gold colour, plus the elegance, throughout the bouquet and tasting, is very impressive, with the pinot noir grapes adding to the expression of this champagne. www.royalriviera.mc www. champagne-charles-collin.com These refreshing champagnes, with wonderful perlages, are ideal as apéritifs and also to be enjoyed with a lot of cuisine. White meats, poultry, cured meats, rich fish, shellfish and many other dishes pair perfectly with these well-balanced productions. I located these champagnes, plus luxury hampers, culinary concepts, one of a kind Wearing Memories jewellery and gifts, within the ranges available from the I Love Bubbly Company. The events section, on the website, has information about their personalised services, including Mobile Champagne Bars and private events arrangements. Tel: 44(0)7539 391 452 Email: info@ilovebubbly.com www.ilovebubbly.com
As always, Enjoy!
ey Trevor Langl
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Travel
By Solange Hando
Tokyo A City of Contrasts Once again in 2018, Tokyo has been ranked among the ‘most liveable cities in the world’ (Monocle), an impressive achievement for the biggest metropolis on the planet. Rebuilt after the war, the capital has few remnants from the past, at least at first sight, but today’s lofty architecture keeps you spellbound, from the elegant skyscrapers to the panoramic Sky Tower or the Rainbow Bridge gracefully stretching across the bay. A million trees have been planted to clean the air along the roads, lawns and flowers beckon in open parkland and Tokyo is safe, efficient and highly colourful with bright posters and lights, museums, theatres and immaculate restaurants with more Michelin stars than any other city. But this 21st century icon has a few surprises in store, especially around the lively Shibuya district where alongside shopping malls and super-sized zebra crossings, animal lovers head for the pet cafés to cuddle rabbits or cats they can’t keep at home, or stroke the auspicious statue of Hachiko, the dog who waited nine years for a master who never returned. Then the nearby Harajuku area is all about fun and creativity, with street art and parades in the most playful costumes you have ever seen. Yet these excited youngsters with quirky clothes and fancy hair may turn up another day, beautifully dressed in kimonos for a traditional tea ceremony or a trip to Senso-ji, the most visited Buddhist temple in town. This is the Tokyo of the
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past with lanterns and prayers, fortune telling and lots of stalls around a bright red shrine and a five-tiered pagoda. According to legend, the temple was first built in the 7th century when two fishermen brothers found in their net a small statue of Kannon, the goddess of mercy. Meanwhile in the Chiyoda ward, visitors look across the moat to the imperial palace, still home to the family and former site of the Edo castle, the seat of the shoguns whose power ended in 1868. Emperor Meiji then moved the capital from Kyoto to Edo which he renamed Tokyo, the ‘Eastern Capital’. Remembered as the ‘enlightened ruler’ who brought the country into the modern world, he is revered in Tokyo’s Meiji-jingu, the atmospheric Shinto shrine where locals come to pray or get wed in traditional style. The Shinto religion is based on respect for nature and is home to thousands of gods, but when the shrine was built in the 1920s the surrounding district had no natural world. So right at the heart of the capital, 100,000 trees were planted in seven years, followed by many more and it is now a botanists’ paradise claiming hundreds of different species. Meiji would be pleased. Looking forward to the 2020 Olympics, his capital is now one of the world’s most dynamic cities but traditions linger and nature is part of the picture. From the nearby mountains to the outlying islands, 36% of the land in the Tokyo prefecture is protected by nature reserves and national parks.
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Health & Beauty
By Kate Duggan www.kateduggan.co.uk
Gifted Inspiration For your best friend Origins’ Best of the Best collection is a celebration of their most popular products. There’s the Mega-Mushroom™ Skin Relief Soothing Treatment Lotion, Ginzing Refreshing Eye Cream, Ginzing EnergyBoosting Gel Moisturizer, Modern Friction™ Nature’s Gentle Dermabrasion, Clear Improvement™ Active Charcoal Mask, Checks and Balances™ Frothy Face Wash and Spot Remover Blemish Treatment Gel. Most are travelsized. You’re getting over £58 worth of products for £32 so it’s fantastic value for money. For fragrance fans If you’re looking to surprise someone with a new fragrance, Angel Muse could be a good choice. It might be Angel’s little sister, but it’s lighter, warmer and a bit more grown-up. The freshness of grapefruit and pink berries is combined with the warmth of hazelnut and the earthiness of patchouli and vetiver. The giftset is priced at £65, which gets you the full 50ml eau de parfum plus a handbag-friendly 9ml bottle. For a Secret Santa gift Clarins Festive Treats crackers are just £10 each. The Eyes & Lips one is particularly good value for money as its contents (a mini Instant Light Natural Lip Perfector and Supra Volume Mascara) are worth a total of £17.33. For stockings Some giftsets are just made for splitting up and adding to stockings. Korres’ The Greatest Mini Shower Collection is a case in point. Six gorgeous smelling 40ml shower gels are just waiting to be popped into individual stockings. Add Kneipp’s Herbal Bath Collection (£9.95) to your basket for another six stocking fillers. Both sets are available from www.biggreensmile.com.
For crackers Planning to swap the plastic fish and silver keyrings for luxe cracker gifts? Bobbi Brown’s Lip Crush Kit (£39.50) might be the answer. There are five mini lipsticks in a range of wearable shades. They’re pretty generously sized so are good value if you consider that one full-size lippy is £24.50. For chocoholics Chocolate lovers will adore Akamuti’s Chocolate Marshmallow Face Mask. Organic cacao, crushed rose petals, gentle marshmallow, warming vanilla and detoxifying pink clay combine to make this mask a real treat for skin and senses. Add a bar of Green & Blacks to the gift and you’ll really make their day. £7.96 from www.akamuti.co.uk. For teachers Teachers often need to wash their hands several times a day, so a soothing hand cream is likely to be gratefully received. Dr. Organic’s Shea Butter Hand & Nail Cream is full of natural ingredients, including shea butter, aloe vera, coconut oil and rose oil. It provides instant relief for sore hands and feels lovely and rich. £7.99 from Holland and Barratt. For you! Green People’s Green Regime Beauty Box contains £125 worth of full-sized and mini goodies for £75. There are two exfoliators, three moisturisers, a lipstick, mascara, eyeshadow duo, shampoo, shower gel, night cream, cleanser, facial oil, reusable cleansing pad and organic cotton bandeau. All products are organic and cruelty-free. Treat yourself or add it to your Christmas wish list.
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Mobile Foot Health Practitioner
Lucy E. Hobbs-Morris BA (hons), MCFHP, MAFHP telephone: 01462 641113 mobile: 07795 030774 email: hobbs_lucy@hotmail.com
Some of the problems I can help you with Toenail Cutting Thick nails Ingrown nails Corns Callous Cracked Heels Fungal Nails Diabetic Footcare Fully registered and insured 12 years experience
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Local News
Rotary International
Rotary International – with strong support from Rotary clubs across the UK and Ireland – is edging towards ultimate victory in its campaign of 32 years to eradicate the dreaded Polio virus from the world. Rotary launched its worldwide campaign in 1985 when there were more than 350,000 cases of polio in 125 countries around the world. Just THREE endemic countries remain to be declared polio free – Pakistan (five cases in 2017), Afghanistan (six cases) and Nigeria (no cases since July, 2016). For recent Purple4Polio campaign - thousands of purple crocuses have been purchased by clubs and planted in town sites around the country. Purple Dye is put on the little finger to show the child has been vaccinated, which is reflected in the form of the purple crocus. Hitchin Priory Rotary Club supported the Global Polio Eradication Initiative and purchased 10000 crocus corms (5000 in 2017 and 5000 in 2018). The corms have been planted on the corner of Cambridge Road and Queenswood Drive in Hitchin.
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House of Colour By Jennie Billings Style and Colour Consultant at House of Colour www.houseofcolour.co.uk/jenniebillings jennie.billings@houseofcolour.co.uk
Ski Wear Style When skiing you want to tick all the boxes: warmth, comfort, visibility and of course, style. Here are a few top tips to help you dress with style on the slopes (without looking like a giant marshmallow). 1. Some of us may choose separate salopettes and a jacket but others suit jumpsuits that bring you in at the waist, giving more shape to your outfit. Whichever you choose ensure it is in a colour from your palette that makes you look energetic and vibrant rather than a colour that doesn’t suit making you look drained and unhealthy. There are a huge range of colours available these days. Metallics are all the rage this season, but it’s not for everyone. 2. If you are unsure about wearing a bold coloured outfit but still want to include your wow colours, choose chic accessories in gorgeous colours whether that be boots, gloves, hats, a scarf or even your helmet! There is always a way to incorporate a pop of colour and team these with an outfit in a neutral from your seasonal palette 3. These days there is no need to sacrifice comfort for style. Try different shapes and don’t be afraid to wear patterns or more than one colour from your palette. Experiment with styles that suit your body shape and personality but do choose quality skiattire since you may wear it for years to come and you don’t want your outfit to unravel on the slopes. As this will be an investment, consider discovering your best colours and style with a professional personal stylist. 4. A soft set of long johns or base layers is essential! The best materials are ones that are breathable and moisture wicking. Choose full-length leggings and long sleeves. Always try them on first because they shouldn’t be restrictive anywhere, but you don’t want empty space between the fabric and your skin
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5.
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making you feel cold. Most base layers are synthetic but merino wool is a great alternative. Choose the colour of your ski goggles carefully rather than just going for the obvious black or white. Mirrored lenses are very fashion-forward but if that feels a little much then choose a colour that works well with your ski jacket and hat. Don’t hide your curves if you have them! Unshaped jackets can make you look bulky so opt for jackets that are brought in at the waist, either with a belt or one that has stretch or different coloured panels at the side. Alternatively, find a jacket with diagonal baffles that compliment your figure as they create less bulk. Baffles ensures the insulation materials in a jacket are evenly distributed rather than gathering in one place. Straight, skinny or slim silhouette salopettes will look better on straighter body shapes, whereas, straight, contouring bootcut or slightly wider leg salopettes will look better on curvy body shapes. Its law in most places to wear a helmet but if you suffer from helmet hair either wear your hair up or use a bandana in one of your best colours to push your hair back with. Braiding is otherwise a great alternative to make you look wind-kissed rather than wind-battered. Après ski is the perfect opportunity to show you know your own style whether that be a touch of animal print and or a little bit of check in your outfit – both very on-trend this season. Cashmere may be too warm for the slopes, but it is perfect for a stylish jumper and a great way to wear one of your wow colours. Pair with a faux fur jacket if that fits with your style personality or a fur hat to keep you warm whilst you sip your vin chaud!
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Mobile foot clinic in the comfort of your own home
Colleen Batchelor DipFH, MCFHP, MAFHP Medical Foothealth Practitioner
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Health
Alison Runham ww.alison.runham.co.uk
Great Health, Wellbeing and Fitness Gifts Festive treats are everywhere long before Christmas and it’s very easy to start the New Year a few pounds heavier and feeling far from fit. But the alternative isn’t avoiding treats altogether: it’s choosing the swaps you can live with. Better Breakfasts Skipping breakfast to ‘leave room’ for Christmas dinner? Bad idea. You’ll have the munchies long before dinner, making snacks and chocolates even more tempting. Have a light, low-fat, lowsugar breakfast to keep hunger at bay. SWAP a full English fried breakfast for the healthy version. Grill mushrooms, a tomato or two and a single slice of bacon, poach an egg or two, and choose low-sugar baked beans and a slice of wholemeal toast rather than hash browns. SWAP sugary cereals for a small portion of healthier cereals and add fresh berries and/or a dollop of low fat yogurt. Start as You Mean to Go On Eating a huge three-course meal is likely to make you feel uncomfortable and/or sleepy, so if you
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do have a starter, keep it small and light. SWAP creamy soups or cheese-laden dishes for: • A small prawn cocktail with fresh lettuce and a little low-fat dressing (if you must add bread, stick to half a slice of wholemeal). • A small fresh fruit cocktail. It’s Christmas, so treat yourself to favourite or special fruits, whether that’s berries or a tropical mix. • A small bowl of cream-free soup with wholemeal croutons. The Main Event For dinner, choose turkey (lower in fat than duck or goose) or a low-fat cut of meat. Remove visible fat (before cooking, where possible) and remember that on a bird, most of the fat is under the skin. Removing the skin and avoiding butter-basting reduces a turkey’s calories by nearly a third and its fat by more than half. If you’ve concerned about it getting dry, baste it with a little oil and cover it. Can’t bear to remove the skin? Then cook your bird on a rack so that escaping fat drains away.
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Be sensible about portion sizes and ensure at least a third of your plate is veg and that carbs – like potatoes, sweet potatoes or Yorkshire puddings – make up no more than a third of your plate. Go easy on sweet or creamy sauces and stop eating just as you start to feel full, as it takes times for the ‘full’ message to reach you brain. SWAP: • Sausage meat for vegetarian sausage mix when making stuffing. • Standard gravy mixes for low-salt versions. • Goose fat, lard or anything equally unhealthy for a low-fat vegetable-based oil or spray oil to roast meat and vegetables. • Some or all of your roast potatoes for crispy jacket potatoes (mashed potato can be just as fatty, if not more fatty, than roast potatoes, once you’ve added milk and butter). • Roasted vegetables for steamed or microwaved ones. Your Just Desserts SWAP high-sugar Christmas puds for healthier options. Some luxury Christmas puddings are lower in calories than classic puds, although higher in sugar, so check the label. 113g (a quarter) of a standard Christmas pud usually has 375-400 calories and 40-50g of sugar, although they are high in fibre and relatively low in fat. Fancy something healthier? Try 113g of: • Morrison’s Very Berry Strudel (287 calories, 13g fat, 18g sugar) • Asda Raspberry Tiramisu (257 calories, 10g fat, 25g sugar) • Sainsbury’s Mixed Berry Trifle Desert (171 calories, 7g fat, 21g sugar) SWAP your sauces too. Say goodbye to • Ambrosia custard (98 calories, 11g sugar, 3g fat per 100g) • Elmlea double cream (351 calories, 4g sugar, 36g fat per 100ml) And hello to • Sainsbury’s low-fat yogurt (62 calories, 7g of sugar, 1g fat per 100g) Time for Tea Christmas tea can do more damage than dinner! SWAP traditional, pastry-heavy mince pies for lattices, filo parcels or open-top versions. SWAP breaded or battered snacks for marinated savouries or home-made herby snacks. SWAP rich, creamy dips for low-fat or tomatobased versions. Consider making your own with low-fat yogurt. SWAP crisps, salted nuts and chocolate for plain
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popcorn, rice cakes, pretzels, unsalted nuts and homemade chocolate-covered fruit (dark chocolate is healthier). Raise Your Glass – Not Your Blood Pressure or Blood Sugar Not only is alcohol usually laden with sugar and calories, but recent research has shown there’s no ‘safe’ consumption limit. The Government has reduced men’s ‘recommended’ limit to 14 units a week (the same as the recommendation for women). If you are going to indulge, think about the size of your glass and your consumption through the day, week and month! Consider swapping some alcoholic drinks for these delicious alternatives. For 175ml glasses: SWAP Bollinger champagne (133 calories) for • Shloer Sparkling White Grape Juice (53 calories) • J2O Spritz watermelon (35 calories) SWAP Dry River Pinot Grigio (158 calories) for: • Kedem Natural Grape Juice (88 calories) • Welch’s White Grape, Pear and Apple Juice (35 calories) SWAP Echo Falls Merlot (125 calories) for: • Asda Grape, Apple and Raspberry Juice (100 calories) Choose your swaps wisely and you could save pounds of both kinds. Merry Christmas!
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Finance
By Ann Haldon
Don’t let Christmas costs ruin your New Year: 3 ways to stay in control of spending this December If you’re wondering how to manage your Christmas spending more effectively, saving, budgeting, and making a list is just the start. Here are three other ways you might not have considered to start the New Year with a healthy bank balance and reduced financial stress. Pre-arranged overdraft facility Intended to be a temporary and controlled use of credit in line with your Christmas budget, an arranged overdraft facility that’s repaid over a few months helps gets you back on track financially. How do overdrafts work? An overdraft that’s pre-arranged with your bank means you can withdraw more money than is in your current account, up to an agreed limit. There is generally a set period of time that the facility is available, and typically a charge for each day you’re overdrawn. Overdraft fees vary between banks, but generally include a charge for setting up the facility, a fee for each day it’s used and a renewal fee if you need to extend it. Some providers offer fee-free amounts, whilst others base their daily charge on the level of your overdrawn balance. Daily deals websites Take advantage of the growing number of daily deals websites and you can save a significant amount at Christmas. Wowcher, Groupon, and Living Social are just a few of the sites where you’ll find great deals on gifts, experiences, fitness products and lots more. It’s straightforward to sign up, and you can receive emails with the latest deals. It’s easy to get carried
away when you have access to so many discounts, but if you do your research and stick to your list, it should save you money overall. How do deals websites work? You simply sign up with your email address and you can get targeted gift ideas, often with a significant discount. Key in the home town of people you’re buying for and you’ll receive ideas that are local to them – meals out, afternoon teas or experience days, tailored to your family and friends. Prepaid debit cards Prepaid debit cards are an alternative to bank debit cards and credit cards. You don’t have access to your entire bank balance, or the credit limit on your credit card – it’s preloaded with a specific sum of cash, and you can only spend up to this amount. How do prepaid debit cards work? You won’t be credit-checked when you apply for a prepaid card, but a number of different fees may apply, including application and transaction fees. Some providers charge monthly fees and top-up fees, whilst a renewal charge may apply as these types of card expire after three years. It’s easy to be swept up in the spirit of giving at Christmas, but it can take months to recover from overspending. Whether arranging an overdraft with your bank, applying for a prepaid card, or taking advantage of a few daily deals works for you, they could all help you take control of your Christmas spending and enjoy a peaceful and financially harmonious New Year.
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Life Begins...
Rural retreat or urban hub: Where will you retire? By Kate McLelland
In recent years an increasing number of Baby Boomers have shunned a conventional ‘roses round the door’ retirement, taking the decision to move to cities like London or Manchester, where they can enjoy a wider range of cultural activities. Good transport links, adequate healthcare provision and enjoyable leisure-time activities are all essential to a successful retirement, so if you’re making a choice between town and countryside, which one offers the best quality of life? Getting around COUNTRY: Rural bus routes have been shrinking for many years and the Campaign for Better Transport has recently claimed that these services are “in crisis”, as older people can no longer rely on them to access healthcare, shops and social activities. If you are able to drive, this shouldn’t be a problem, but before you fall in love with that pretty, isolated cottage, remember that in winter some rural roads can get cut off by snow or floods. TOWN: Urban transport services are generally much better than those in rural areas and, as bus
journeys are free to the over 60s, you may be able to get by without a car. A Senior Rail Card can reduce the cost of rail travel, but if you are planning to take frequent rail trips to visit friends and family, be aware that the costs will mount up. Healthcare COUNTRY: In a recent report the Local Government Association declared that “Overall, health outcomes are more favourable in rural areas than in urban areas” but went on to admit that there were “reductions in resources to care for the older population”. Living an active life is undeniably good for your health, but the downside can be poor public transport (making it harder for you to reach your doctor or local hospital) together with slower emergency response times. TOWN: Make your home in a town and you’ll probably be within reasonable travelling distance of a hospital; you’ll also have better access to specialist doctors. On the flip side you can expect higher air pollution levels, which can increase your chances of stroke, lung cancer, heart disease, respiratory illness and possibly dementia.
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Having fun COUNTRY: Country-dwellers can participate in outdoor pursuits such as Nordic walking, golf, riding or swimming, but trips to theatres, cinemas and shopping destinations will inevitably involve travelling to a town. Prepare to join local societies and clubs, attend church or offer your services as a volunteer if you want to build up a social network. TOWN: As a town-dweller you’ll be able to make the most of the cultural activities available. However, while many museums and art galleries are now free of charge, city life can be expensive in other ways. If you’re counting the pennies, don’t forget to factor in the total cost of a day or evening out in town. Whether you decide on the town or the country, bear in mind that we are all living longer these days, so it may not be the last time you move house. Provided you are in good health and up for adventure, this is a time when you can focus less on the approach of old age and more on enjoying your welldeserved retirement.
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With a spacious working showroom in the heart of Bedford, P & R Interiors is a local family-run firm that provides inspirational modern design and cost-effective solutions for both kitchens and bathrooms.
A stylish bathroom to suit your current needs….
With our ageing population, an increasing number of us are less mobile. P & R Interiors can design, supply and fit an up-to-the-minute bath or shower room which also discretely incorporates function and practicality for the less able. The best news is that many of these features are currently right on trend - from flush-to-floor shower trays and wet rooms, to walk-in showers with fixed glass screens – and built using the latest materials. Managing Director Paul Kynoch, who has decades of experience in the trade, explains: “We believe that simplicity and ease of use are key. Less mobile people may need a higher-level toilet or a lower access bath. Our basins and toilets can be hung at a custom height to suit every need. We have baths with a door, or showers with screens that open outwards to help prevent falls. “There are 54 working bays in our showroom that are constantly being updated. So, you can come in, see
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exactly what you are buying and experience firsthand how it works. We supply, and can fit, your entire bathroom.” P & R Interior’s own dedicated installation team can work on the supervised installation of your bathroom while adhering to local authority guidelines. Safety is paramount, and designs incorporate safety glass, thermostatically safe showers and non-slip floors. Such is the design quality of the bathrooms, that accessories for the less able such as a wall-mounted fold-down shower seat, work seamlessly with the installation to be barely noticeable. Fold-down grab bars beside the toilet and sturdy shower rails that double up as supports all help make daily bathing the hassle-free pleasure it should be. It’s worlds away from the disabled bathrooms found in hospitals and care homes. It is also now possible to install low level lighting under the bath that comes on automatically when you enter the bathroom at night. Hidden behind a two-way mirror that gives the illusion of flooring stretching beneath a ‘floating’ bath, the effect is as stunning as it is practical. This is the beauty of these safety and mobility features - they are so unobtrusively stylish, no one will notice you need that bit of extra help as they will simply be admiring your bathroom! Materials have moved on apace since the era of acrylic baths in ‘avocado’. Now there are high quality
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resins that produce super thin shower trays and beautiful ‘tapless’ baths. Towel rails can be colour matched to cabinets for as little as £100 extra. If you’re not a fan of wall tiles (although P & R Interiors carries a vast range), you can have waterproof panels instead. And if you have a smaller bathroom - as many of us do - then you will find P & R Interior’s wide but shallow depth basin units fit perfectly and provide spaciousness.
…and a kitchen to meet your future ones
Following customer demand, the fitted kitchen displays are now an integral part of the business meaning that when you visit P & R Interiors, you are only a step away from having your dream kitchen. Top quality German and English-style kitchens are available to suit every budget and the company offers a free 3D software design package that Paul describes as ‘photographic’. Specialising in high-tech German designed kitchens from Pronorm alongside more traditional-style English kitchens from JJO Plc, far from being out of most people’s pockets, P & R Interiors can often match trade prices and will always work to your budget. “It’s really unusual for us not be able to come up with
a solution for you” says Andrew Groom who has 20 years’ experience under his belt. Germany is the industry trendsetter in kitchen colours and design - and high street retailers eventually follow suit. Pronorm epitomises the elegance of a true ‘handleless’ kitchen. With its expansive, sleek cupboard fronts and modern electrically-operated doors - including ‘glass climbers’ that magically fold up like Venetian blinds - their kitchens are state-of-the-art. In years to come, we will all have convenient pull-down shelves and smart, hygienic ceramic or glass inserts on our cupboard fronts, but for now, Pronorm sets the bar. As with bathrooms, kitchen materials are better and more durable than ever. You can have traditional granite in a gloss or leathered finish, quartz or Corian worktops, and now there are other finishes to choose from including Hi-Macs, and Staron. One of the latest worktop materials is Dekton. Described as ‘bomb proof’, it doesn’t stain or mark, is 100% hygienic, and heat resistant. It has been described as the ‘most scratch resistant surface on the market’. Finish off your design with mood enhancing, colourchanging lights and you really will have a kitchen of the future. P & R Bathrooms provides design and full installation or supply only. There is a five-year guarantee on all AEG Premier Partner exclusive products and a 10year guarantee on all kitchens. Both trade and retail are welcome.
P & R Interiors, 9 Lurke Street, Bedford MK40 3HZ Monday to Friday 9.00am to 5.00 pm Saturdays 10.00am to 4.00pm Tel: 0845 434 8401 Email: sales@pandrbathrooms.co.uk www.pandrinteriors.co.uk To advertise in The Villager and Town Life please call 01767 261122
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Garden View
By Rachael Leverton
Plants for Christmas With Christmas just around the corner I’m often asked what houseplants plants I recommend as gifts. Here are my top five. Hippeastrum / Amaryllis - is a remarkable bulb, which produces 60cm / 2ft tall, fleshy drainpipe stems and flamboyant trumpet flowers up to 20cm /8in across. ‘Red Lion’ with deep scarlet flowers; ‘Apple Blossom’ with pink-tinged white flowers, and ‘Christmas Gift’ with plain white flowers, are readily available. You can buy them as DIY plant-ityourself kits, or as ready-planted gifts. Citrus bushes make interesting presents. Sold at this time of year with both flowers and developing fruit, they are deliciously scented. Lemon varieties ‘Meyer’ and ‘Four Seasons ‘are lovely but also consider calamondin oranges. The plant should be kept in a light, frost-free spot over the winter with a minimum night temperature of 5C, then in the summer the pot can be moved outside. Cyclamen persicum is wonderfully decorative. The flowers range from white, through pink, to red. This is probably a gift for a more experienced gardener as persuading it to flower again can be a challenge, but it can be done. Keep it in full light in winter, at a steady 13C-16C. Give it a liquid feed fortnightly while it is in flower. Water less as the stems start to bend and collapse, then keep it
completely dry for three months during its dormant period. Gently introduce water again as new leaves appear. Schlumbergera x buckleyi, the Christmas cactus is a perennial favourite. It has protruding stamens at the end of succulent, flattened leaves, and pretty flowers. It likes high humidity while flowering so mist it regularly it with a fine spray of clean water, and feed it monthly with a high-potash feed. When it’s finished flowering put the plant in a light spot and keep the compost just moist. Hyacinthus orientalis ‘Ostara’ is a stunning hyacinth with deep-blue flowers, powerfully scented and particularly nice when planted as a trio in a bowl or basket. Christmas hyacinths are ‘forced’ to flower earlier than they would naturally. They need a cool spot, preferably no more than 13C, so that they do not flop. No-one wants a floppy hyacinth! The bulbs can be planted in the garden afterwards so will continue to provide pleasure in future years. Viburnum x bodnantense ‘Dawn’ is not a houseplant but it makes a fabulous gift. It flowers from November, while the leaves are still on, through the winter. The pink flowers are scented and a few sprigs in a small vase at this time of year are just joyous. Even better it is totally hardy so is great for the non-green-fingered, and can be planted out of a pot at any time, if the ground isn’t frozen. Don’t wrap plants, just tie a big bow around the pot. It’s a thoughtful touch to provide printed or handwritten instructions for aftercare. Make sure any living plant is well watered before you hand it over. They will probably be a bit neglected over the festive period, but a good watering should make sure that they last past New Year.
Happy Garrdening
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Garden
Get Fit And
Garden! By Pippa Greenwood
There’s nothing like some time in the garden to clear your head and get the blood moving. Fresh, cool air will wake you up and get you thinking positively, and your garden will benefit. Removing damp, clogged up leaves from the lawn with a spring-tined rake will prevent patches of faded grass and is good for upper arm muscles! Collect and bag up the leaves and rot them down to make leaf mould, a brilliant and free soil conditioner. If the soil in cleared areas is sufficiently dry, fork it over to help the frosts break up heavier clay soils. Any exposed grubs and other soil pests will feed the birds and minimise pest problems next year. Get some digging done if the soil is not too wet, but limber up first. Keeping your back straight and your knees bent helps to reduce the risk of injury. Winter is a good time to prune apple and pear trees. Use sharp secateurs to remove dead, dying and diseased branches, as well as branches causing the tree’s crown to be too congested. Re-set any loose brick or similar edging around paths, beds or steps, and replace any damaged stones, pavers or bricks. Carefully clear debris, dead foliage and stems from flower beds, but leave some dry foliage and stems over the bases or crowns of plants, especially those of the more tender perennials such as penstemons. Smooth, hard garden surfaces such as patios, paths and steps become dangerously slippery
www.pippagreenwood.com if algae and debris builds up on them over the winter, especially when wet. A stiff brush or yard broom and plenty of elbow grease is the best solution I know. Wet and very windy weather can cause shrubs and trees to become loosened in the soil, so re-firm the soil around the root area and make sure the plant is still in the soil at the right level. You’re bound to feel better after all that air and exercise, so reward yourself with a cuppa and admire your handiwork before heading inside for a nice hot bath! Limber Up! After too much time inside, and in cold weather, take care before you spring into action: • Wear plenty of clothing when you go outside and remove layers gradually as you warm up. • Limber up gently to slowly loosen up your arms, legs and back. • Don’t do any single task for too long – rotate the jobs for perhaps ten minutes at a time, so you don’t put any one area of your body under too much strain. • Give yourself regular, short breaks and don’t forget to drink enough. • Bend your knees when lifting and if in doubt call on a friend, relative or neighbour to give you a hand.
Visit Pippa’s website www.pippagreenwood.com and you’ll find some great gardening items and perfect Christmas gifts for gardeners: a ‘Grow Your Own with Pippa Greenwood’ gift card (great vegetable plants and weekly advice from Pippa), stylish cloches, the fantastic SpeedHoe, raised bed kits, gardening tools, Grower Frames, signed books and more! Or why not book Pippa for a gardening talk at your gardening club?
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Time of Year
Top Toys for Christmas In these days of iPads and online gaming do kids still play with toys? Yes of course they do. Toys have always changed to keep up with trends and technology and 2018 is no exception. Here we have six of the best. Fingerlings Untamed Dinos (under £20) Fingerlings are popular robotic friends which cling to your child’s finger and respond to motion and sound. This year is all about the dinosaurs. There are several different Raptors, and word was out at time of printing that there may be a T-Rex one released just before Christmas LEGO Harry Potter Hogwarts Express (around £75) The Harry Potter books remain perennially popular, and LEGO is always a hit so combine the two and you have a winning Christmas gift. There is a Hogwarts Hall available but its super-expensive, so this is a good compromise with a nice solid train, five minifigures plus Dementors. Elasti Plasti (under £15) So many kids love slime and this stuff is great. It’s superexpandable and you can make giant bubbles with it. As a bonus it’s non-sticky so parents will love it too, or at least not hate it! Monopoly ‘Cheaters ‘edition or Fortnite Edition (£20-£25) Almost everyone has at least one game of Monopoly at Christmas so ring the changes with the Cheaters edition. It encourages players to fake a dice roll, steal money and even skip rent. Ok…maybe it’s not in the spirit of Christmas but it sounds more fun than normal Monopoly. And if you want to prise your youngsters away from the computer this festive season, try tempting them with the Fortnite edition!
Ricky the Trick-Lovin Pet (£134.99) Ok this one is pricey, but real pups are NOT for Christmas as we know, and when you factor in the cost and ongoing responsibility of a real puppy, including vet bills, and food, suddenly Ricky looks very good value indeed for a dog-loving child. He is soft and cuddly and has more than 100 sound and motion combinations. He can balance a biscuit on his nose and even give you a paw-shake! Frankly he makes my terrier look like a bit of a dunce. Ricky is perfect if your child is pestering you for a dog but you’re not sure about the long-term commitment, and as a bonus, he doesn’t shed hair! GraviTrax Starter Set (around £50) I love marble runs, never mind my kids, and GraviTrax is a super-cool marble run for the 21st Century. It encourages the use of imagination in creating tracks and is educational too. It’s great for teaching kids (and adults) about gravity, magnetism, and kinetic energy and it’s so much fun. You can use the tasks and blueprints included to help you to get started but you’ll soon be designing your own tracks. This is trickier than it might appear and is great for encouraging problem-solving skills. There’s even a GraviTrax app to allow you build and test a track before building it in the real word.
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Berry House Vets Christmas is associated with many seasonal treats and decorations but not all of them are safe for our pets, here are some tips on keeping them safe. Chocolate is often around in abundance at Christmas, as a treat, on the tree and wrapped up. It contains a chemical theobromine and makes for a tasty steal so avoid putting it under or within reach on the tree. Symptoms can include vomiting, diarrhoea, tremors and may affect the kidneys and heart. Raisins, currants and sultanas can all be dangerous to dogs so be sure to keep food away from your dog. Even a few can be dangerous. Classic items that include these ingredients include Christmas cake and pudding and mince pies. Signs of toxicity may not be present initially but if your pet consumes any please contact your vet immediately. There are also various Christmas plants that can cause a problem: Poinsettia is a popular seasonal plant containing chemicals that can be toxic to cats and dogs. Symptoms can include vomiting and increased salivation. Holly and mistletoe are considered to have low toxicity but can cause vomiting and diarrhoea. Holly can also cause mouth pain on chewing. Macadamia nuts can cause lethargy, tremors and lameness. Bones and carcasses whilst not toxic can cause serious problems to your pet. They can cause blockages to the digestive tract, symptoms of this include vomiting, diarrhoea, lethargy, dehydration and weight loss. If your pet consumes anything toxic or unusual don’t wait for signs - Call your vet immediately.
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Food and Drink
Baking Christmas Mincemeat Slice
Makes 12-14 slices Ready in 1 hour 15 minutes, plus chilling and cooling This delicious festive slice can be served warm as a pud with custard, thick cream or brandy butter or simply cool completely and serve instead of mince pies. INGREDIENTS 225g plain flour 165g unsalted butter, chilled and diced 1 egg yolk blended with 1 tbsp cold water 75g caster sugar 300g good quality mincemeat 50g ground almonds 2 tbsp flaked almonds 1. Sift the flour into a large bowl and rub in the butter with your fingertips until the mixture resembles very fine breadcrumbs (alternatively pulse in a food processor until fine breadcrumbs). 2. Remove 100g of the breadcrumb mixture and cover and chill in the fridge. Stir 25g of the sugar into the remaining mixture, then stir in the egg and water and mix to a firm dough (adding a little more water if needed). Knead lightly then wrap in cling film and chill for 30 minutes. 3. Preheat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas mark 6. Roll out the dough on a lightly floured surface
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and use to line a 23cm square tart tin. Prick the pastry all over with a fork. Line the pastry case with baking paper and baking beans and bake for 10 minutes. Remove the lining paper and beans and bake for a further 5-7 minutes until the pastry is crisp and pale golden. Cool slightly. Reduce the oven temperature to 180C/160C fan/gas mark 4. 4. Spread the mincemeat in the pastry case. Mix the rest of the sugar and the ground almonds into the reserved pastry crumb mixture and scatter over the mincemeat to cover completely. 5. Return the tin to the oven and bake for a further 25-30 minutes or until the crumble topping is pale golden. Scatter over the flaked almonds and leave to cool before removing from the tin and cutting into 12-14 thin slices.
Tip
Add some finely chopped toasted hazelnuts or walnuts to the crumble topping for an extra nutty flavour.
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Interiors By Katherine Sorrell
Create a comfortable guest room Is your spare room ready for Christmas? Our guide to setting up a cosy and welcoming space will help you ensure your guests feel completely at home. Hosting family or friends during the festive season can be as stressful as it is heart-warming. The best way to make sure everyone is relaxed is to start preparations well in advance. Your first task is to check the spare bedroom. Is it full of the clutter that inevitably accumulates over time? This is a good opportunity to have a clear-out and to sell, give or tidy away as much as possible. Create enough space in wardrobes and drawers for guests to unpack their clothes – or at least store your stuff neatly and leave them a few hangers on a hook on the back of the door. In general, is the room too
hot or too cold? Address issues such as windows that are stuck or radiators that don’t work – if necessary, plug in a small standalone heater, which may be a welcome boost during a cold December evening. Another task, while checking out the room, is to draw the curtains during daylight hours to check whether they will adequately block early-morning light. Given enough planning time, you may even wish to upgrade your spare room window treatments by adding blackout lining for curtains or fitted blackout blinds. While it goes without saying that the room should be sparklingly clean and as clutter-free as possible, there are some key elements that will really enhance your guests’ comfort. First, test out the bed. How is the mattress? If it has seen better days, a topper or enhancer will probably help, at least in the short term. Now is also the time to have duvets and pillows dry cleaned, and to check that you have the necessary bed linen at the ready. Small tables either side of the bed are incredibly useful for guests to store a book, a glass of water, a phone and a pair of glasses. They need not be expensive – a folding tray table, a small chair, a stool or just an upturned wooden crate will all be fine (since this is not a full-time bedroom, a great deal of bedside storage space is not necessary). Though not essential, soft rugs beside the bed and some pretty prints on the walls are a lovely enhancement if you can manage it.
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Some additional pillows and a snuggly blanket or two will always be welcome, as will a hair dryer, a full-length mirror and a waste paper basket. You could hang a spare dressing gown on the back of the door, too – especially useful if the room doesn’t have an en suite bathroom. Older bedrooms are often lacking in plug sockets, so add an extension lead or an adaptor, just in case. After all, everyone needs to charge their phone regularly, and some guests might also bring a tablet, laptop or other device. Speaking of which, another thoughtful touch would be to write out your router’s name and password on a small card and leave it somewhere obvious. Not all of us are fortunate enough to have a spare bedroom, but no problem – a sofa bed, day bed, futon, bed-in-a-box or good quality airbed in the living room will all be fine, provided there is enough space to set them up without colliding with other items of furniture. If your living room is acting as a temporary bedroom, clear away as much as possible so your guests have room to put down their luggage, and place a small lamp near the head of their ‘bed’ and a spare throw or blanket nearby. A box, bag or basket into which they can stow bedding during the day will also help keep things tidy, while a note on the door will make sure
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they are not interrupted before they get up in the morning. Finally, think about the little extras that will make your guests’ stay a five-star experience. You might leave out for them a small alarm clock, a pen and paper, a carafe of water with matching glass, a few books or magazines, a hot water bottle, a sprig of flowers in a bud vase and a scented candle or diffuser. With such care and forethought, your guests are sure to be delighted – and will soon be back to stay again.
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WANTED
Old delivery trolleys and paper delivery bags bought for cash. Please contact Nigel on
01767 261122
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ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
Easy Suduko
Hard Suduko
Fill in the grid so that each row, column and 3x3 box, contains the digits 1 through to 9 with no repetition. Use your logic to solve the puzzles. 48
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WINDOW REPAIRS
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BEFORE AFTER email: info@jmlwindows.co.uk website: www.jmlwindows.co.uk 07977 911 926 / 01438 906300 • Misted/broken double glazed units • Sticking doors or windows adjusted • Broken/loose handles • Leaded or Georgian units replaced • Hinges for gapping windows • Leaks fixed • All types of locks replaced • Energy saving Planitherm glass • Cat/dog flaps in glass or panels • Door re-alignments Visit our website for over 30 customer reviews To advertise in The Villager and Town Life please call 01767 261122
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T J Lee
Chimney Builders (Hitchin) Tel: 01462 234717 Mob: 07966 404469 Email: terryjleebuilding@gmail.com T J Lee Chimney Builders
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A Calmer Christmas The season of goodwill can sometimes feel more like the season of discontent. If you’re hoping to avoid the tantrums, sugar crashes and slamming doors this year (or some of them at least), keep reading… Family time It can be incredibly difficult to fit everything in around Christmas. Kids often seem to demand the most of you when you have the least to give. If you’re time-poor, think quality over quantity. Half an hour spent on a family activity now might well avoid a lengthy meltdown later on. Arts and crafts with the kids can be fun, but you might want to leave the messier aspects until the new year. (Unless you really enjoy cleaning out paint pots, scrubbing slime out of the carpet and hoovering up glitter.) Paper craft is a good alternative. Paper snowflakes are cheap, easy and not too time-consuming. Cut them out at the table so you can sweep most of the scraps straight into the recycling bin. Paper chains are even easier. Or pick up a paper craft book. Christmas Paper Play by Lydia
Crook (£9.99) is packed with things to cut out and make, including decorations, mini crackers and games. Jigsaw puzzles can be a good way to unwind and de-stress. If your children are older and you have the space, buy a Christmas-themed 1,000 piece puzzle and leave it out so family members can do a few pieces of it when they need some quiet time. Charity gifts If Christmas is starting to feel a bit too commercial, how about choosing charitable gifts? Wild animal adoptions tend to prove popular with kids and adults alike. You can adopt King the lion from Born Free for just £3 a month. The adoption pack includes King’s story (he was rescued from a Parisian apartment), a glossy photo, cuddly toy, personalised certificate and window sticker. You’ll also be sent Born Free’s biannual magazine. Other animals to adopt include elephants, polar bears and monkeys. See www.bornfree.org. uk/adopt. Or why not do a good deed as
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Parenting a family, for someone closer to home? You could make a meal together for an elderly neighbour, take a busy friend’s dog for a walk, or donate a gift to a homeless shelter. Setting limits It’s easy to let the usual rules slip at Christmas. While it’s good to have some flexibility, you might want to set some boundaries. Try to agree rules as a family for the Christmas holidays, whether it’s no screentime after 5pm, no more than two sweet treats a day, or a set bedtime. Agreeing a few chores for the kids to do can help to keep them occupied and you from getting too frazzled. Even young children can make a bed, feed the pets or swish a duster around. Forget perfect Above all, try to accept that perfection is impossible. There will be sulks, fallings-out, spills and arguments. When you look back at this Christmas, you won’t remember whether the sprouts were perfectly cooked or your child wrote their thank you cards, but you might remember the time you spent doing a jigsaw together or hunting the Gruffalo through the woods.
By Kate Duggan www.kateduggan.co.uk
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n O s ’ t Wha In December
This is a small selection of the What’s On for the full listing please go to our website www.villagermag.com
1 December The Signals Museum Open Day 10am-4pm The Signals Museum at RAF Henlow is open to the public. Entry is free but official photo ID such as a driving licence, passport or over 60s Bus Pass is required to get an entry ticket from the Guardroom. See website for full information. Web: www.rafsignalsmuseum.org.uk 1 December Chiltern West Gallery Quire 6.30-8.30pm St Mary’s Church, Kings Walden Tickets £10. Performing in period costume, our singers and instrumentalists specialise in researching local music and will be playing tunes heard in and around Welwyn from 1750-1840, along with some of the Militia marches and dance tunes of the era; music that Jane Austen describes in her novels of that period. Tel: 01438 833155 Email: scilla.cullen@dsl.pipex.com 1 & 2 December Nativity Crib Festival 11am-5pm St Ippolyts Church Admission £2.50, Children free. Now firmly established as a parish tradition, our beautiful Nativity Festival marks the start of the festive season in St Ippolyts. We will be filling the church with as many nativity crib sets as we can possibly cram in – last year we managed nearly 200 from all around the world. Each has its own “story” beside it and learning what makes the cribs special to their owners is the magic of the festival. This year you could become part of a “Living Crib”. Use our dressing up clothes to create your own nativity scene with Mary and Joseph, Angels and Wise Men, take a photo and you could create your own unique Christmas cards. Tel: Barbara 01462 421647 Email: Barbara.thomas@live.co.uk 3, 10, 17 & 24 December Staplers Country Dance Club 8-10pm St John’s Community Hall, Hitchin Staplers is a social folk dance club. If you don’t know what that means come along one Monday evening and meet us. It’s easy to start as all the dances are walked through first then called and you don’t need to come with a partner; lots of us come on our own. We are a friendly group and you will be made very welcome. Car parking is available next to the hall. We meet every Monday apart from Bank Holidays and the school summer holidays. Tel. 01462 895567 or 01462 624144 Web: www.staplers.org.uk
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3, 10 & 17 December Branch Out Social Club for Single People 8.30-11pm Cromwell Bar, The Sun Hotel, Hitchin Branch Out meets every Monday night and is a medium-sized Social Club for single people. It was formed in 1995 to bring together single, divorced, widowed and separated people, aged 40 upwards, from the Herts, Beds and Bucks area, to socialise and enjoy one another’s company. The club organises regular events, such as dinners, discos, meals, parties, Sunday walks, theatre and concert visits, day and weekend trips and holidays. Tel: Lorna 01438 233657 Web: www.branch-out.org.uk 4 December Hitchin & District Probus Club 12 noon for 1pm Priory Hotel, Hitchin Christmas Lunch. Social club for retired and semiretired professional and business-men which meets on the second and fourth Tuesday of the month for lunch. Organised visits and events throughout the year. New members welcomed. Tel: Roger Burt 01438 351891 Email: roger@mazda20.plus.com 4, 11 & 18 December Stevenage Bridge Club 7.30pm Priory Nursery, Stanmore Road, Old Stevenage To play Duplicate Bridge. A host system is run to find partners, if required. A wide level of ability play at the club. Tel: Phil Cooper 07957 813434 6 December North Herts Association of the National Trust 7.30pm Christchurch, Bedford Road, Hitchin Members & Visitors £2 on the door inc. mine pie & non-alcoholic punch ‘Travelling Theatre Christmas Readings’ - jolly, sentimental readings by Geoff Hales. Tel: Secretary Mrs Colette House 01462 815585 or 07831 111062 Email: colettehouse@gmail.com 6, 13 & 20 December The Hitchin Thursday Club 9.30am-12 noon St John’s Community Hall, Hitchin A friendly group which meets every Thursday morning for recreational painting, drawing, etc.. The group is very easy going in its attitude to art – only doing your own thing. Still Life and raffle every month. No qualifications required – just come along with your drawing gear and you’ll receive a very warm welcome. Tel: Pauline 01767 315553
6, 13 & 20 December Roundabouters Country Dance Club 8-10pm Friends Meeting House, Cuttys Lane, Stevenage Friendly club for English country dancing. We welcome new members, both beginners and experienced. All dances walked through; club and guest callers ensure a varied programme. Tel: 01438 727239 Email: roundabouters@live.co.uk Web: www.roundabouters.org.uk 6, 13 & 20 December Sapphire Social Club 8.30pm The Orange Tree, Hitchin We are a small and friendly group for single people generally aged 50 and above. We offer a variety of social events during the month and the opportunity to meet and make new friends. Potential new members are warmly welcome to come along and meet us with no joining fee for the first two months. Tel: Joyce 07952 678021 or Ian 07900 890583 for info Web: www.sapphiresocialsinglesclub.co.uk 7 December ‘Gulls, what a Load of Rubbish!’ (Paul Roper) 7.30pm ‘The Settlement’, Nevells Road, Letchworth Garden City RSPB Local Group members free, Visitors £3 Hitchin & Letchworth RSPB Local Group. Gulls are prolific migrants and face fascinating conservation challenges. Paul is an experienced bird ringer both in the UK and abroad and his talk covers the work of the North Thames Gull Group. Tel: 01763249459 Email: martinrjspc@hotmail.com 7, 14 & 21 December Springfield House Friday Bridge Club 1.30pm Springfield House (the home of the Old Stevenage Community Centre) To play cut-in Chicago Bridge. Play is informal and friendly. Tel: Richard Bean 01438 221517 8 December Victorian Christmas Fair 10am-2pm British Schools Museum, 41/42 Queen Street, Hitchin Free admission. Join us for a day of traditional festive cheer at our annual Victorian Christmas Fair. A huge range of stalls, food, fun and Christmas cheer. Perfect timing for all your Christmas gifts and stocking fillers. Tel: 01462 420144 Web: www.britishschoolsmuseum.org.uk
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n O s ’ t Wha In December 8 December Tenors Unlimited Christmas Concert 7.30pm Number one selling operatic trio Tenors Unlimited, the ‘Rat Pack of Opera’, perform a Christmas Concert with local Box of Frogs Theatre Academy (BOFTA) choir as part of their 15th anniversary tour. They are fresh from their recent charttopping success with “Who is He?” in aid of The Salvation Army which went in at number one on the iTunes classical chart. Tenors Unlimited have performed alongside such notables as Sting, Lionel Richie, Beyoncé, Hayley Westenra, Simply Red and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra to name a few. Web: www.tenorsunlimited.com/tour 9 December Santa Scamper 9am Stevenage Town Centre Adults £15, Children £10, Family £40 Festive community fun run for all the family. 2.5km or 5km option. Medals for all finishers. Free Santa hat with registration. Book online or call for more information. In aid of Garden House Hospice Care. Tel: 01462 679540 Web: www.ghhospicecare.org.uk 9 December Hitchin & Letchworth Local Group RSPB Trip 9.30am We will work our way up the Lee Valley visiting RSPB Rye Meads reserve en route and finishing at Amwell, looking in particular for wintering reed bed and wetland birds such as bittern and smew. Meet at Fishers Green car park (O/S 166, TL 375 025) at 9.30am. Tel: 01763249459 Email: martinrjspc@hotmail.com Web: rspb.org.uk/groups/hitchinandletchworth 13 December The Art of Christmas 6.30pm for 7pm British Schools Museum, 41/42 Queen Street, Hitchin Tickets £8. Local artist James Willis returns with a richly-illustrated lecture following interpretations of the Christmas story through centuries of art and sculpture. Botticelli, Rubens and Gaugin are amongst the artists featured in this light-hearted look at the traditional imagery of the Christmas season. Cash bar including seasonal mulled wine. Please telephone or book online. Tel: 01462 420144 Web: www.britishschoolsmuseum.org.uk
14 December Unicorn Ceilidh 7.30-11pm St Mary’s Church Hall, Church Street, Baldock Adults £10, Concessions and family tickets available Ceilidh dances are great fun, easy to learn - and addictive! Clear instructions from the caller before and during each dance allow anyone to join in and enjoy the dancing. Our combination of the finest live bands, top callers and a bar serving local Real Ale and Cider plus wine and soft drinks guarantee an excellent, fun-filled evening for all. Tickets are available on the door but advance purchase is recommended. Email: enquiries@unicornceilidhs.org.uk Web: www.unicornceilidhs.org.uk Tickets: www.ticketsource.co.uk/unicorn-ceilidhs 14 & 15 December Frosty’s Snow Day Adventure Fri 7pm, Sat 11am, 2pm & 5.30pm The Auditorium Theatre, St Christopher School, Letchworth Adults £8, Children £6, Family £24 Imajica Theatre Company creating Theatre for the younger audience. Set in the enchanted Wobbly Wood this heart-warming original pantomime is filled with magical creatures ready for an adventure. As Jack Frost spreads his winter magic creating a wonderful ice-filled blanket throughout the forest a cheeky little rabbit spots the Snowman’s nose and decided to take it home for its tea! Oh what a naughty little bunny she is, but fear-not though as our beautiful Faerie Godmother steps in to save the day. Together they set off in search of a new nose and the adventure begins. This interactive production created with the younger audience in mind if filled with toe tapping parodies of pop songs and easy to follow dance routines. With beautiful sets and costume this adventure soon transports children into a magical word where anything is possible and dreams really do come true. Web: www.ticketsource.co.uk/Imajicatheatre 16 December Stevenage RSPB Local Group visit to Connaught Water 10am A morning car trip to Connaught Water, an attractive site in Epping Forest. Meet in the car park, postcode IG9 5UB, map ref: 177/TQ 404951. Tel: Leader Graham Beevor 01438 232055
18 December Stevenage RSPB Local Group 7.30pm The Friends Meeting House, Cutty’s Lane, Stevenage £1 Join us at our annual Christmas Social evening with a buffet, quizzes and games. 2 January North Herts Association of the National Trust 7.30pm Christchurch, Bedford Road, Hitchin Visitors £2 on the door ‘Realising a Dream - a trip to the Galapagos Islands’ by Stephen Marshall, a committee member of Royston & Saffron Walden NHANT. Non-members welcome. Membership of the National Trust not necessary. Tea and coffee served during the evening. Second-hand books and homemade preserves are on sale at every meeting. Tel: Secretary Mrs Colette House 01462 815585 or 07831 111062 Email: colettehouse@gmail.com 19 January Charity Quiz Night 7.30-10pm Hampson Park Community Centre, Hampson Park, Webb Rise, Stevenage £5 per person Stevenage Plus Social Club 40th Anniversary. Individuals and teams welcome. Over 18s only. Fish, sausage or veggie burger & chips £7 per person bookable in advance. Bring your own drinks. Raffle. All profits to local charity Supported Activities for all. Tel: 01438 231550 Email: welcome@stevenage.plus Hitchin Bridge Club Hitchin Bridge Club plays duplicate bridge several times each week. All levels of experience welcomed, hosts are available at some sessions for players without a partner. Workshops each month on topics for improving players. Beginners courses are run every year starting in October. For further information please contact Margaret or visit the website Tel: Margaret 01462 623447 Email: mee.hitchin@ntlworld.com Web: hitchinbridgeclub.org.uk
Deadline for What’s On entries is the 12th of the previous month. What’s on entries to whatson@villagermag.com
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Local News
Twinwoods Adventure Based in Milton Ernest, Twinwoods Adventure is the home of indoor Adventure, easily accessible from the A6. Now under new management, changes are already under way to improve the facilities and bring new, exciting Adventures to the people of Bedford, all under one roof. We’ve always been known for our incredible Indoor Skydiving and Indoor Surfing, but did you know we offer much, much more? How about our relaxing spa with pool, sauna and steam room, or our adult and family salt caves which can help promote a range of health benefits. Looking for more excitement? Try the climbing wall, archery, our gas gun range, or the ultimate adrenaline rush, jumping 125ft from the top of our wind tunnel! For the really little people, we have the Playhouse, an incredible adventure soft play, which offers regular mini-Adventures, as well as open play sessions. Let them play, while you enjoy a great tasting coffee and generous slice of homemade cake. Whatever the weather, Twinwoods Adventure is the perfect place
to have a great time as a family. Enjoy all the Adventures, fill up in our restaurant, and if you want to make a weekend of it, stay in our comfortable on-site accommodation. We’re extremely proud of our location, our heritage and being a part of the local community, and core to that is charity. If your charity has a story and needs help, we’d love to hear from you to see if there’s a way that we can work with you. We’ll be picking a number of charities over the next year to work with, and support as best we can. To find out more, please email: charity@twinwoods.email To find out more about the Adventures you can have with us, check out our website www. twinwoodsadventure.com or call us on 01234 816350. If you’re on social media, make sure you add us to stay up-to-date with all the latest news and special offers. You can find us at /twinwoodsuk Want to see what we’re about in person? All our activities are free to spectate, though be warned, you’ll want to give it a go once you’ve seen the fun people are having! You can find us at: Twinwoods Adventure, Twinwoods Business
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Park, 36 Thurleigh Road, Milton Ernest, Bedford, MK44 1FD. There’s plenty of free, on-site, parking - just look for the big blue building. Roy Castleman, part of the new ownership team, comments: “It’s great to be a part of this historic site’s next chapter. We’re looking forward to making things even better here, and adding some incredible new Adventures. Charity is really important to us, which is why we’re looking for local charities that we can help support. We would love to hear your story, and we’ll be picking a number of charities to work with.”
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November’s Puzzle Solutions and Winners Last Month’s Crossword Winner Mrs G Trigg from Potton Overtones Competition Pat King from Buckden
Champneys Competition K. Hurren from Stevenage
Easy
Hard
Fun Quiz - Shops 1. The final episode of which TV show was the most-watched TV show in the UK on Christmas Day 2015? 2. In a 1992 Christmas special, who fails to give his girlfriend, Irma Gobb, the engagement ring she wanted when he didn’t realise what she was pointing to, and instead gives her a picture of an engaged couple that was next to it in the shop? 3. Screened on Christmas Day in 2003, Sleepless In Peckham was the final episode of which long-running TV sitcom? 4. On Christmas Day of what year did a Doctor Who episode called The Time Of The Doctor see Peter Capaldi take over from Matt Smith as the Doctor? 5. Which TV series features a robot Santa Claus who, due to a programming error, judges almost everyone to be naughty and every Christmas, goes on a murderous rampage? 6. The title character in which TV show lived at 52 Festive Road? 7. Broadcast on Boxing Day 2015, The Farmer’s Llamas was a Christmas special of which TV show? 8. Which character from EastEnders was murdered on Christmas Day in 2009? 9. Introduced in the first episode of The Simpsons, what breed of dog is Santa’s Little Helper? 10. On the TV show South Park, who brings presents to boys and girls whose diets have been high in fibre? 1. Downton Abbey 2. Mr Bean 3. Only Fools And Horses 4. 2013 5. Futurama 6. Mr Benn 7. Shaun The Sheep 8. Archie Mitchell (accept Archie) 9. Greyhound 10. Mr Hankey the Christmas Poo
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The Villager Prize Crossword
Complete the crossword, fill in your details below, cut out this page and send to the address below before
16th December 2018 Prize Crossword, Villager Publications Ltd 24 Market Square, Potton, Beds SG19 2NP
Prize
ÂŁ25
Across 1. Connect to another (6) 4. Yarn, twine (6) 9. Mature (7) 10. Problem, concern (5) 11. Bend (5) 12. Places of work (7) 13. Differentiate (11) 18. Identical (7) 20. Fang (5) 22. Having had water removed (5) 23. Hammering (7) 24. Leaders, monarchs (6) 25. Business, company (6) Down 1. Diminish (6) 2. Sweetheart, paramour (5) 3. Most statuesque (7) 5. Robber (5) 6. Bugs (7) 7. 1978 musical set in 50s (6) 8. Meeting with doctor (11) 14. First letter (7) 15. Unfastening, removing knots (7) 16. Kill (6) 17. Long-haired, unkempt (6) 19. More advanced in age (5) 21. Pungent vegetable (5)
Name: Tel:

Address:
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Time of Year By Tracey Anderson
Feeding a Crowd at Christmas Whether it’s the gradual increase in food prices over the past year, or your desire to cut back on food waste, there has never been more incentive not to over cater at Christmas. But just how do you work out how much food and drink you need when you’re feeding far more people than usual? We’ve come to the rescue. Turkey - Allow approximately 500g per person. This doesn’t mean that you’ll get 500g of meat each, simply that to get a good portion size you need to allow this much turkey-weight per person. So, if you want to feed 8 adults your turkey should be at least 4Kg, more if you want leftovers. Roast beef or pork - If the joint is off the bone, allow 250g per serving – so 2kg for eight people. Allow 350g per serving for roasts on the bone – so around 3kg for eight. Roasties - Everyone loves roasties! Allow 250g of potatoes per person, so 2kg for eight people. Stuffing - You need to allow 100g of stuffing per person, so that’s at least 800g for eight people! With stuffing it’s better to have more than run-out, and it’s great on turkey sandwiches later! Sprouts - Unless you are a sprout-lover allow 80g per person – or 650g for eight people. If you do
have any leftover they go great in bubble and squeak for boxing day brunch. Carrots and other roast or steamed veg - 80g-100g is about right for any serving of vegetables, so you need 800g combined for eight people. I allow more because lots my family are vegetarian. Gravy - 125ml per person is enough for a normal family, but if your relatives are like mine and treat gravy as a food group then allow double. You can always freeze leftovers for an easy addition to midweek suppers. Cranberry Sauce - At least 50g per person. I’m sure I eat more than that though! Bread Sauce - 75ml seems to suffice because not everyone likes it, but those that do LOVE it. Around 600-700ml is usually enough. Christmas Pudding - A 900g pudding will be plenty to feed eight. Custard - Treat it like gravy. 125ml per person unless your family are the type that can’t stop pouring! Unfortunately, there isn’t one shopping list to suit all families, but this is a good basic guide; adapt it to suit your own catering preferences.
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Books
Book Review By Kate Duggan Stuck for the perfect present this Christmas? Or need some inspiration for your own wish list? Read on…
For Harry Potter Fans
Removals
MUSCLE & MOTOR
Jumbo van with up to 3 men. Helpful, efficient and friendly service for all your moving, carrying, and domestic disposal needs, including house and garage clearance.
Call Richard on: 01767 317387 or 07968 787496 Email: muscleandmotor@gmail.com www.muscleandmotor.co.uk
The Crimes of Grindelwald By J.K. Rowling
Albus Dumbledore enlists Newt Scamander to recapture Gellert Grindelwald, who’s recently escaped and is gathering followers. This is the second in the Fantastic Beasts series. It’s a screenplay of the recently released film, rather than a traditional novel, so it’s quicker to read but no less enjoyable.
Roofing
For Romantic Fiction Fans A Miracle on Hope Street by Emma Heatherington
When she learns that one act of kindness has transformed a man’s life, Ruth decides to put her own loneliness aside and create a Christmas to remember for people in need. A heart-warming tale that’s perfect for fans of JoJo Moyes and Marian Keyes.
Electrician
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For Historical Fiction Fans Washington Black by Esi Edugyan
11-year-old slave Washington Black is taken from the sugar fields and lent to his tyrannical master’s brother, Titch, to work on a ‘cloudcutter’ hot air balloon. The duo form an unlikely friendship that, coupled with Washington’s artistic talent, could provide a way out of slavery.
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