Hitchin December 2022

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Travel

Five places to travel solo

By Solange Hando

While once the prospect of exploring a new country completely alone would terrify most of us, nowadays solo travel carries with it a strange allure, infused with ideas of adventure, storytelling and personal growth.

Solo travel has soared in recent years, with more and more people choosing to challenge the norm by holidaying alone. Films like ‘The Beach’, ‘Eat, Pray, Love’ and ‘Wild’ have paved the way for this growing trend and the travel industry has followed suit. In 2022, the world is more geared towards solo travel than ever before, with many package holidays, hotels and excursions designed specifically with the lone traveller in mind. But what are the benefits? From making new friends and learning more about yourself, to indulging in complete unashamed selfishness, the rewards are countless. First off, there’s no denying that it’s so much easier to meet new and interesting people. Travelling with familiar faces generally means you’re less likely to venture out of your circle to chat with potential friends or travel buddies. When you’re on your own, however, making friends happens so naturally you won’t even need to think about it.

What’s more, if you’re looking for time by yourself, there’s nothing like a spot of solo travel to help you on your journey of self-discovery. ‘Finding yourself’ is a cliché, and while solo travel may not lead to a ‘Eureka’ moment of self-realisation, it could certainly help you discover new passions, hobbies and aspirations.

While you can obviously book a solo trip wherever you choose, when it comes to travelling alone, there are some destinations that come up trumps. Here are five of our top picks.

Ireland

Ireland is the perfect place to start if you’re new to solo travel. With many of the home comforts we’re familiar with in the UK, including the English language, this is a country that’s famous for the welcome it extends to strangers. Pull up a stool in a traditional Irish pub, offer to buy your neighbour a pint and you’ll have a friend for life – or at least for the evening. Stay a while and you might get lucky and catch a Celtic music session. What’s more, Ireland’s stunning breadth of nature – particularly along the Atlantic coast – leaves you plenty of room for self-reflection.

Thailand

Thailand’s tropical beaches are a stalwart of Asia’s traditional backpacking route. With a terrific range of tours, good transport options and international cuisine, it’s one of the best places to start a welltrodden solo adventure around South-East Asia. Whether you choose the Gulf coast to the east or the Andaman coast to the west, you’re bound to find fellow travellers to bond with. Plus, it’s not known as ‘the land of smiles’ for nothing! The people of Thailand are, for the most part, warm and welcoming towards foreign visitors and will often go out of their way to help you out.

Ireland

Thailand

New Zealand

If you’re nervous about the safety aspect of travelling solo, New Zealand will certainly put you at ease. Kiwis will tell you their country is one of the safest in the world, but it’s the dazzling landscapes, buzzing towns and cities and friendly people that truly make New Zealand a mecca for solo travel. Popular with backpackers, nature enthusiasts, and thrill-seekers striking out on their own, the country is a haven for anyone who loves the great outdoors and one of the best places to meet fellow, likeminded travellers.

Indonesia

The setting for one third of Elizabeth Gilbert’s solo travel memoir ‘Eat, Pray, Love’, there’s no denying that Indonesia has a special magic about it. Bali is the archipelago’s most popular island for solo travellers, but its neighbours Lombok and the Gili Islands are close competitors. If a spiritual and artistic awakening is what you seek, Ubud definitely needs to be on your radar. It’s where Elizabeth Gilbert found love and true peace, and it remains a wonderfully laid-back place for solo travellers to relax, reflect and recharge.

Costa Rica

Solo travellers from the US have been heading to Costa Rica for years, and Europeans are finally starting to catch on. As the world’s greenest, most biodiverse country, there’s no better place to reconnect with nature – the country’s pura vida (pure

life) ethos is apparent wherever you go. It also has a reputation for being one of the happiest countries in the world, and it’s easy to see why: from white-water rafting down rivers to zip-lining through gorgeous rainforests, Costa Rica is packed with outdoor activities to please your adventurous spirit.

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New Zealand

Indonesia

New Zealand

Countdown to Christmas The Origins of the Advent Calendar

I loved the arrival of the Advent Calendar when I was growing up. Every year we had a cardboard one from Woolworths, printed with a Christmas scene, each little door opening to reveal a tiny picture such as a teddy, a reindeer or a bauble. My brother and I would take it turns to be ‘odds’ or ‘evens’. I always wanted to be ‘evens’ so I could open the Christmas Eve door which was always slightly larger and had a picture of the Nativity or Santa on the roof of a snow-covered house. When some of the kids at school started boasting about their ‘chocolate’ Advent Calendars we begged my dad for one and eventually he gave in. We were disappointed when we realised that once the chocolate was removed there was no picture, just an empty space where the chocolate had been. The ‘open’ chocolate Advent calendar had all the charm of a mouth with missing teeth. We never asked for another one.

The Advent calendar originates from Germany. It began with German Protestants marking the days of Advent either by burning a candle or marking a wall with chalk. This morphed into the practice of hanging a devotional image every day and ultimately to the creation of the first known wooden Advent calendar in 1851. The first printed calendars appeared just after 1900. Small doors were added in the 1920s. Often short bible verses were hidden behind the doors alongside the picture. During the World War ll cardboard rationing put a stop to advent calendars but when hostilities ceased Richard Sellmar of Stuttgart obtained a permit from the US officials to begin printing and selling them again. He designed a calendar based on a German winter town scene. By the 1950s, they were mass-produced and affordable and exported across the world.

By Kate McCarthy

Chocolate Advent Calendars might seem like the new kids on the block but they have been around longer than you might think. Fry and Son produced the first chocolate Advent calendar as early as 1958 and Cadbury popularised them in the Seventies.

Lego got in on the action in 1998 with a set that contained a Santa Claus minifigure and simple brickmade structures, which could be finally reassembled into a bigger model or scene. They’ve produced at least one every year since. My oldest teen begs me for their Harry Potter one every year.

Over the past decade Advent calendars have gone ‘luxury’ and become a key marketing strategy for many companies. This started around 2010 when Selfridges department store launched a beautythemed Advent calendar with the cosmetics giant L’Oréal. It was filled with product samples from fragrances to body creams. There is now a advent calendar catering for pretty much every taste, most of them marketed at adults rather than children.

There are advent calendars for gin-lovers, tea-lovers, and nail-polish addicts; there is even one for pets, and they are not cheap! Some cost upwards of £150! It’s all a worlds away from Sellmar-Verlag, now run by Richard’s grandchildren, which still produces traditional card Advent calendars to this day. The company’s most popular advent calendar is still Richard’s original design, called Little Town.

A few years ago my husband (knowing my love of traditional Advent Calendars) bought me a wooden one which is reusable and is a beautiful Christmas decoration in its own right...in fact my teens actually argue over which one of them will inherit it when I die (that’s the festive spirit guys!).

However you choose to mark the occasion...Happy Advent!

Wines: A Mixed Selection

White wines or red wines – perhaps, something between the two? Each to their own preferences. White wines tend to accompany fish dishes and white meats particularly well and red wines complement red meats wonderfully. If a rosé is preferred (maybe for when dining al fresco), these productions come in varying shades of pink, adding a most pleasing colour to a dining occasion, be it inside or outside. They are very much enjoyed on their own, too. A good sparkling wine is always a plus point (for me), to commence, creating a ‘friendly atmosphere’ and ‘setting the taste buds in the right direction’. Firstly, Crémant de Loire from France (12% vol). This sparkling brut production is very popular and a great start to any occasion – as well as being splendid by itself and fabulous for events and parties. This pleasantly-coloured pink wine I found to have a most appealing flavour of light red fruits for the mouthfeel. Crisp and with a very good finish on the palate.

For an easy-drinking white wine a favourite is Cotin Jaillet from France (12.5% vol). This dry, white production, has many devotees and graces numerous dining tables, constantly. Great to accompany fish, seafood and a good number of other dishes, adding a complementing flavour – and complementing enjoyment – to dining times.

Going for a still rosé? Certainly, the Vallée du Sud from France (13.5% vol) will not disappoint. I found this production most pleasant, whilst adding colour to the dining table. Excellent to pair with a lot of dishes of cuisine, too. Pink wines are now enjoyed all through the year. Red wines are often chosen by wine lovers and Tuffeau Saumur Cabernet Franc from France (13.5% vol) ‘ticks many boxes’. The deep ruby-red colour entices to the bouquet, where an abundance of ripe, red fruits continue on to the mouthfeel and palate sensation. Excellent with cold meats, red meats and cheeses.

I located these productions at a Lidl store, amongst their most impressive range of wines and drinks that offer very good value indeed. Advice is always available in store, too. For all details and information, please visit www.lidl.co.uk

Stocking fillers Technology

We’re all watching our money this year, and that means when it comes to Christmas presents we’re perhaps being a little more careful with what we’re buying for the people we care about. But you don’t have to splash the cash to get great tech gifts for family, friends or colleagues. There are stacks of great gifts for every kind of person.

If you’re buying for someone who’s mad about music, wireless Bluetooth speakers can be great buys. Amazon’s Echo Dot speaker is a good choice of smart speaker, currently £25.99, and the JBL Go 3 is a fun and very small speaker that’s easy to take anywhere. It’s around £30. We’re also very impressed by the Earfun Air headphones, which are an incredible bargain at £33.95. If you’re buying for kids, Belkin’s Soundform Nano (£29) sounds great, comes in fun colours and has a volume limit to protect their hearing.

Phone and tablet accessories can be great gifts too, whether that’s a genuine leather phone case (typically £30 to £60), a Popsocket phone grip (around £11 for the nicest ones) or an AirTag or Tile tracker (£20 to £35) for someone who’s always misplacing their purse or their keys.

There are lots of clever gifts for outdoor types too, including self-cleaning water bottles with UV light (around £49), multi-tools to cope with every conceivable kind of task (from £20) and solar lanterns (from around £20).

If the person you’re buying for would rather cook in a kitchen than halfway up a mountain, there are some great cooking gadgets for relatively low prices including the Thermapen instant-read thermometer (£39), which has saved many of our meals from over- or under-cooking, and the brilliant Stirr automatic pan stirrer, which you can use to prevent sauces and stews from sticking to the pot while you go and do something more interesting. And for coffee fans there’s the excellent AeroPress coffee maker (£31), which makes delicious coffee incredibly quickly without making it bitter. There’s a mobile version too, so the lucky recipient can get great coffee wherever they may roam.

Stirr Automatic Pot Stirrer

The Stirr is a simple solution to a common problem: some things stick to your pots and pans if you don’t constantly stir them, but stirring is often very time consuming and extremely boring. Stirr sits in the pot and uses cooking-grade nylon legs to do the stirring for you. £20-£40, amazon.co.uk

Apple AirTag Apple’s AirTags and its main rival, Tile trackers, can be attached to keys, put in purses or snuck into schoolbags to make it easy to find them again if they get lost, misplaced or even stolen.

The battery lasts for months. £35, Apple.com

Official Samsung Galaxy S22 leather case

Cases don’t just look good: they help protect your pricey phone so you can get a better trade-in price when you replace it. Official leather cases are often quite expensive but that’s not the case with Samsung.

From £24, amazon.co.uk

Gerber Truss Multi-Tool

You can spend huge sums of money on multitools such as the famous Leatherman, but brands such as Gerber make excellent alternatives that deliver all the key features for considerably less money. Other brands may be even cheaper. £40, amazon.co.uk

JBL Go 3

This little speaker has excellent go-anywhere energy and it’s not so loud that you’ll get complaints from the recipient’s nearest and dearest. It sounds great for its size, it’s really affordable and the battery life is very good. £34, uk.jbl.com

Little gifts that’ll bring big smiles this Christmas

Letchworth Educational Settlement

Letchworth Educational Settlement is a unique centre of learning and creativity which has been serving the people of Letchworth Garden City, Hitchin, Stevenage and nearby villages for over 100 years. We’re located in a beautiful Arts and Crafts building close to Letchworth town centre and train station. It’s a stimulating environment where you can meet with like-minded people, a lifelong learning centre for North Hertfordshire.

Our talented tutors provide an outstanding quality of teaching in a wide range of subjects from arts and crafts to foreign languages and creative writing, humanities and popular culture. In addition to courses we run a series of one-off workshops each term. In December these include weaving tapestry Christmas tree hangings, practical craft skills (such as preparing a canvas for painting) and a song writing day. These weekend workshops also take place after Christmas – sign up to the Settlement newsletter to get regular updates, or visit the Settlement website. Try a workshop, and if you enjoy it then look at the longer courses that we offer. If you’re thinking about

New Year Resolutions then we can help - we have a new term of courses starting in January 2023. What the Settlement excels at is leisure learning, courses that enrich your life and bring pleasure from creativity. Our courses and workshops also make ideal gifts for special friends or relatives – just ask for Settlement gift vouchers. To purchase gift vouchers visit the Settlement office or phone our contact number. Give the gift of creativity this Christmas. When you are in Letchworth please do drop in and visit. You can always be assured of a warm and friendly welcome at Letchworth Settlement.

Find us at: 229 Nevells Road, Letchworth Garden City, Herts SG6 4UB Find us online at: www.letchworthsettlement.org.uk

Find us on social media: follow our facebook, instagram and twitter accounts Contact us: by email at info@letchworthsettlement.org.uk; or by phone during office hours on 01462 682828

House of Colour

How are we doing partywear this season?

Whether we want to add to our evening wardrobe looks of use what we already have to update this year’s party look there are options galore. Those who have long been fans of ‘jeans and a nice top’ will be glad to hear it has come to the fore again and continues to be reworked for the new season.

Texture – those who can take texture in their look (that means any material with fondle finish, suede, raw edges, loosely woven, cable knit) will be in for a treat. The long cardigan in bold print, a shearling jacket or longer shearling coat, Aztec prints are all in and make a great statement in evening wear. You may have a day coat with a fur style collar which will look great with a sequin top (sequins are also moving into daytime!) and some metallic boots. Metallic is a lovely contrast with the texture so now is the time to dig out those accessories and add them in. Even try adding a metallic belt over a jumper to give some waist definition as an informal option. Embellishment – look out for items with additional glam details, crystals, sequins, pearls, which have been in the shops already but will be even more accentuated come December. It has become more and more important to add glamour to more plain pieces. If you’re crafty now is the time to add more to your clothes but even if not, just by adding your jewellery and particularly brooches (and try putting three together) will add some glam detail to any jacket. Try adding a sequin top under suiting (either in a neutral or brighter shade). Top to toe colour or pattern – try using one colour or pattern throughout your outfit to create a striking look. This could be in the form of a suit in one colour or it could be coat and matching trousers. Use one of your best colours for this. Prints and patterns in smaller scale geometrics or florals (if these are good patterns for you) can be put together into one outfit, but ensure they are the same pattern throughout. There are a number of silkier style suits around too that are a softer look for those who ‘don’t do’ suiting and would like a different look that can be dressed up or down and each element worn separately. Jeans – if you love jeans and would wear them anywhere or everywhere there are plenty of choices for you and are the staple accompaniment to the sequin top. Those who love texture can take the patchwork, raw seaming and even ripped, wider leg options. Those who favour a neater and sleeker look can opt for straighter leg jean (time for a change from skinny jeans?) or bootleg and flared if you have the curves and/or height. M&S have a fantastic range of styles and colours. The Christmas Jumper. A final word – if you would like one, consider getting it from a second hand shop. They are possibly the most unsustainable type of clothing as they are rarely worn more than a few times. We want longevity, buy less buy better.

Article by Jennie Billings – House of Colour House of Colour has a network of stylists to help you update your look – find your nearest at houseofcolour.co.uk/find-a-stylist

Jolly Christmas Fun for all the Family!

CHRISTMAS FAIR

Sunday 11th December 12-4.30pm, Letchworth

The Friends of Garden House Hospice Christmas Fair returns on to The Cloisters in Letchworth from midday until 4.30pm. With a wide range of different stalls selling everything from art and plants, to clothing and accessories, children’s toys and wonderful gift ideas.

There will also be a raffle to win fabulous Christmas treats, fairground rides for the little ones and of course a visit from Santa himself!

Hot mulled wine and mince pies will be available throughout the day and, if you fancy a little more, hot food will also be served alongside a bar. Why not pop along for a spot of Christmas shopping or something to treat yourself?

Garden House would be grateful for any donations to the hospice on entry. For more information visit the website: www.ghhospicecare. org.uk/events/christmas-fair

FARMERS ON CHRISTMAS LIGHT TOUR

Saturday 17th December 6-7.30pm through Baldock, Letchworth & Hitchin

A date not to be missed! After its success last year, the Farmers on Christmas Lights Tour is back for 2022, bringing you a huge dose of festive cheer tractor-style a week before Christmas. Over 100 tractors and farm vehicles covered in Christmas lights and decorations will once again be taking part, driving through Baldock, Letchworth and Hitchin in a sight that is sure to put a smile on the faces of everyone young and old. Thousands turned out on the streets to support the farmers last year and we know their return will be extremely popular!

Check the Garden House Hospice website for details of the route: www.ghhospicecare.org.uk/ events/farmers-christmastour-2

How to have a healthier Christmas

Bucks Fizz for breakfast, chocolate boxes passed round before lunch, heaps of deliciously crispy roast potatoes – Christmas is a holiday of complete, unadulterated indulgence. We’re all guilty of it, and this over-indulgence is nothing to feel ashamed about – it’s Christmas, after all! The festive season simply wouldn’t be the same without fantastic food, but if you’re feeling a little more health conscious this year, there are lots of ways in which you can treat yourself without going overboard.

Pack in more veg

Traditionally, Christmas dinners were always packed with a wide variety of vegetables, including carrots, parsnips, Brussels sprouts and cabbage. However, over the years many of our plates have become more and more beige. This Christmas, why not make it your mission to make your plate as colourful as possible? If you’re in charge of the cooking, try steamed or boiled vegetables, and steer clear of cheese sauces and excess amounts of butter.

Take it slowly

A common mistake many of us make at Christmas is not listening to our body. Instead of loading up your plate at lunch, eat a normal-sized portion before taking a twenty-minute break to see if you’re still hungry. This is how long it takes for the brain to register that the stomach is full. If you feel full, you know it’s time to take a break before going back for seconds. You’ll avoid the formidable food coma –plus, you’ll be hungry again in time for dessert!

Enjoy a Christmas walk

On Christmas Day, it can be tempting to laze around on the sofa for the majority of the day. While movie marathons are a tradition for many families, there’s nothing like a Christmas walk to boost your festive spirits – and offer a break between films. the family for a walk around the park and bring along any new outdoor toys and games. You’ll have lots of fun as a family, and you’ll give your body a chance to digest your Christmas lunch!

Go easy on the booze Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without a tipple or two. However, if you want to cut back, check the labels on bottles to see how many units they contain. The guidelines recommend drinking fourteen units a week which, in the lead up to Christmas, it’s easy to exceed. You could also try adding more mixer to any spirits to make them last longer, and refrain from drinking early on in the day. Upgrade your snacks Snacks and nibbles are everywhere come Christmastime. From cheese platters to shortbread biscuits and endless amounts of chocolate, festive temptations are now arriving in our supermarkets as early as September – which makes them hard to ignore!

While it’s fine to indulge in the odd mince pie, there are loads of healthier snack options that you can put together at home. Why not try chocolate protein balls packed with dates and raisins, apple chips spiced with cinnamon or avocado chocolate mousse? ‘Healthier’ by no means has to mean boring!

An eco-friendly festive home

1By Katherine Sorrell

Are you dreaming of a green Christmas? Try these ideas for creating a beautiful seasonal home without the carbon footprint.

Christmas trees

In the UK we buy between eight and ten million ‘real’ Christmas trees each year – only for them to be taken down again just a few weeks later. There are answers, however. Buy local if possible, and look for Forest Stewardship Council certification and Soil Association approval. And always use your local authority’s dedicated collection service if available – it means that trees are shredded and used as mulch instead of rotting in landfill. It’s even more environmentally friendly to buy a tree with a root ball or in a pot, and plant it out for the rest of the year. Another option is to rent a tree, which will be collected and replanted afterwards. Artificial trees are increasingly realistic but, sadly, still plastic, so if you already have one you should reuse it for as many years as possible.

Tree ornaments

If you have a box of treasured Christmas baubles in

the attic, congratulations – you’re already supergreen! Nothing is as sustainable as using what you already have and, let’s face it, nothing is as sentimental in this case, either. If you want to add to or refresh your stock of tree decorations, consider buying vintage ones. You could buy from a local craftsperson or a maker on an online platform such as Etsy or Folksy (ideally someone using sustainable materials), or even take the plunge into the world of handicraft and make some yourself. There is a world of inspiration out there, whether in books or magazines, online or in hobby supply stores.

Front-door wreaths

Hanging a wreath on your front door is a sure sign that you are feeling festive – and making your own wreath using fresh foliage is a wonderful way to adorn your home in a sustainable fashion (and it can go in the compost afterwards). Like Christmas trees, artificial wreaths are only sustainable if brought out year after year, but can easily be refreshed with the addition of a few seasonal embellishments, such as dried, sliced oranges, pine cones or sprigs of holly.

Choosing LED lights for your Christmas tree and other festive decorations is a great way to save energy. Good for your bills, and good for the planet, too. Put lights on a timer, or switch them off when you’re out of the house and overnight.

Gift wrap

The key thing to remember with gift wrap is that anything metallic can’t be recycled, so stick to paper if possible – or even try out the new trend for wrapping gifts in fabric, Japanese-style (it’s called furoshiki). Sticky tape, too, is a single-use plastic, so consider alternatives such as brown-paper tape, twine, ribbons (which can be reused) and pretty washi tape, which is made from renewable sources. Table settings

Christmas tablecloths and napkins add heaps of festive cheer but try to avoid single-use ones in favour of fabric that can be washed again and again (preferably at a low temperature). As for crackers, most are not recyclable, and we all know that the cheap, plastic toys inside usually go straight in the bin after Christmas dinner. It’s estimated that up to 40 million crackers end up in landfill each year. An alternative? Reusable card or fabric crackers that you can fill yourself with thoughtful, personalised gifts year after year, and that will become something cherished rather than thrown away.

Advent calendars

Disposable advent calendars only add to card and plastic waste – but DIY perpetual advent calendars can be brought out every year and have the great advantage that you can fill them with carefully chosen small goodies. There are lots of tutorials

online or, if you don’t fancy making your own, there is a great choice to buy, from tiny knitted stockings on a string to wooden houses with numbered doors. Scent

A festive aroma filling the air instantly introduces the spirit of Christmas, and who doesn’t love the scent of pine, gingerbread or mulled wine wafting through the house? It’s best to avoid cheap candles made from paraffin wax, as it’s a by-product of petroleum. The general rule with scented candles is that you get what you pay for in terms of a gorgeous scent and longer burn time, so it’s worth spending a little more if possible. Look for vegetable wax or beeswax candles, and scents made from essential oils rather than chemicals.

1 Use a simple wreath as a minimal decoration, or add your own embellishments such as twining leaves or tiny fairy lights. Rattan door wreaths, from £30 each, Garden Trading.

2 These ethical, sustainable and recyclable candles are individually hand-crafted in Cornwall. Mulled Wine soy-wax eco candle, £12.99, Earth Candle Co.

3 These made-to-order crackers, with a ready-tofill carton and a small bag of ‘happyfetti’, are fully washable (even the ribbons) and come in an heirloom gift box for storage. Santa’s Stripes reusable linen crackers, £30 each, Happy Crackers.

STOCKISTS

Earth Candle Co: earthcandleco.com

Garden Trading: gardentrading.co.uk

Happy Crackers: happycrackers.co.uk

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Knight: Gardendesignideas.co.uk

Don’t forget the garden

A rewarding and warming task at this time is to add compost on beds to form a mulch, provided the soil is not frozen. Ensure the soil is damp and this will help to keep roots warm and lock in a little moisture ready for potential drought in the future. It will transform the look of your beds and make you feel good too.

Winter pruning

It’s also a perfect time to prune woody species such as acers, figs, vines and deciduous shrubs, before the sap starts rising. Pruning is carried out in order to remove dead, damaged or diseased parts and to control the growth of something that might be a little too large for the space it occupies. It is also the best way to define the shape of a plant, and at the right time of year pruning will help to create flowering and fruiting branches for the next season. Not everything should be pruned at the same time, however. Plum trees and other prunus species, for example, should never be pruned during winter because it increases the risk of silver leaf disease. Spring flowering shrubs should be pruned in late June or early summer just after flowering –otherwise, their flowering shoots will be removed. Many plants will benefit from being pruned around August when their growth has slowed, but evergreen shrubs tend to grow best when they are pruned in spring, just at the beginning of the growing season. In the past, a fresh cut on a tree or shrub would be sealed using pruning paint. We now know that pruning at the correct time of year allows a cut to heal naturally and this is preferable.

A great symbol of Christmas

One of the many symbols of the season that we all love is the fresh Christmas tree - it is never adequately replaced with plastic. The Norway spruce was once the traditional British choice but because it has a tendency to drop its needles, it has been nudged down the popularity chart by ‘non-drop’ varieties. The blue spruce, as it is known, generally holds onto its spiny needles until the end of festivities and beyond. The Douglas fir is also a good choice because it also holds its needles well –although it can be rather expensive. Undoubtedly, the bestselling tree of the ‘non-drop’ variety is the Nordmann fir (Abies nordmanniana). This fast-grower can reach heights of up to 30m in the wild, so it’s perhaps best not to plant it outside the kitchen door once it has done its duty indoors.

Of course, there is no point in planting a tree that has been cut from its rootstock. But containergrown or trees freshly dug from the field can often transplant rather splendidly. Bear this in mind when you are making your choice.

Caroline

Magical Poinsettias

By Rachael Leverton

In the UK, poinsettias have become as entwined with Christmas as holly and mistletoe. Yet poinsettias are actually sub-tropical plants, native to Central America and Mexico, requiring temperatures of between 10 and 21 degrees centigrade to survive. The bright red ‘flowers’ are really bracts, surrounding the real flowers, which are tiny and insignificant. They are notoriously difficult to persuade to flower again so it is with some pride that I tell you my current poinsettia is seven years old, huge, and flowers every year.

If you want to try this, fertilize the plant once a month then cut back the stems in February to promote new growth. In May repot it to a larger container.

From late September to 1st December cover the plant between 6pm and 8am as poinsettias need long periods of darkness in order to persuade the bracts to turn red. Around December 1st you should have a beautiful flowering poinsettia. But if this sounds too much like hard work...well, you can always buy another one!

As it’s the festive season I thought I’d finish with a traditional Christmas story, explaining how the poinsettia came to be associated with this time of year.

If you buy a poinsettia for someone this year it might be nice to tell them the story when you give them the plant:

In Mexico, there once lived a little girl called Pepita who came from a very poor family. Every year, she and her brother Pablo looked forward

to the big Christmas festival in their village. A manger scene would be set up in the church and the days before Christmas were filled with parades and parties. On Christmas Eve the whole village would attend church and all the children would place a gift for the baby Jesus next to the manger. One year Pepita’s family had no money at all to buy such a gift so it was with a sad heart that Pepita walked to the church that Christmas Eve and as they drew closer she began to weep.

“Little Pepita, why do you cry?” asked her older brother Pablo.

“Because I have no gift for the Christ child,” she answered.

“Oh Pepita, even the most humble gift, if given in love, will be accepted by him,” said Pablo, comforting her.

Pepita considered this for a while then gathered a handful of weeds from the roadside verge and fashioned them into a small posy. But as she entered the church her heart felt heavier than before. With her head bowed she approached the altar and knelt to lay her posy before the manger.

Suddenly the tiny bouquet burst into blooms of brilliant red starry flowers and all who saw them were sure they had witnessed a Christmas miracle. The flowers are known as Flores de Noche Buena in Mexico which translates as Flowers of the Holy Night.

Happy Christmas

The Alan Titchmarsh column

He’s a brilliant presenter, accomplished gardener, talented novelist, and all-round horticultural inspiration. This month, Alan Titchmarsh discusses how our gardens can become carbon sinks. We know how effective plants are at drawing CO2 out of the atmosphere. That means that while our gardens are wonderful spaces for our sensual pleasure, they brilliantly counteract global warming and our fight against climate change. In other words, they become ‘carbon sinks’.

The best way to achieve this is by growing native plants. Non-native varieties can really take hold of a space, requiring harmful chemicals to control them, and leading to them being pulled up, exposing soil and releasing carbon.

We can also compost – it’s a great way of stopping carbon getting out in the first place. The same applies to mulching, too. When you consider that over 80% of the carbon in your garden is released from the soil, by adding a layer of wood bark chippings, for instance, you are holding the carbon

in the soil.

Beyond this, we can be more environmentally friendly by using organic fertilisers; and never be afraid to let your outdoor space ‘go wild’. Rustic gardens are the ultimate low-carbon spaces, and that makes sense, because wild areas such as forests, wetlands and mangroves are the very best at protecting against the risks posed by climate change. As ever, our gardens hold within them the power not just to transform our own lives, but the welfare of the planet too, and that is why we love them so much.

What's On WHAT’S ON IN DECEMBER

1 DECEMBER

The Arts Society North Herts Doors open 10.15am, 11am-12.15pm Broadway Cinema and Theatre, Eastcheap, Letchworth ‘Drink thy wine with a merry heart’a pictorial history of drinking glasses by Jane Gardiner. Visitors welcome. theartssocietynorthherts.org.uk

1, 5, 8, 12, 15, 19, 22 & 29 DECEMBER

Retired Persons Table Tennis Club

Mondays 11am-1.30pm, Thursdays 1.304pm Memorial Hall, Stotfold The club plays both doubles and singles. Monthly subscription payable. Vacancies for new members (but not beginners). Email: terrygriffiths50@gmail.com

1, 8, 15, 22 & 29 DECEMBER

Hitchin Thursday Art Club 9.30am-12pm St. John’s Community Centre, St. John’s Road, Hitchin We meet every Thursday for painting and drawing, etc. Tel: Mike 07977 347707

1, 8, 15, 22 & 29 DECEMBER

Baby Rhyme Time 10.15-10.45am & 11.15-11.45am

Hitchin Library

Fun half hour sessions of songs and rhymes are perfect for helping your child to learn language skills. Booking essential. Web: www.hertfordshire.gov.uk

1, 8, 15 & 22 DECEMBER

Sapphire Social Singles Club

8pm The Orange Tree, Hitchin Meet every Thursday. A friendly social group for single people to meet and make new friendsgenerally 50+ age group. Tel/text: Ian 07900 890583 for info sapphiresocialsinglesclub.co.uk

2, 6, 9, 13, 16, 20, 23

Bridge Club

& 30 DECEMBER

1pm Howgills, South View, Letchworth

£3. Tuesdays and Fridays. Play from 1pm. Beginners and improvers welcome – we play Rubber Bridge. Tel: Gill Cheaney 01462 686806 Email: bridgeclub@lalg.org.uk

2, 9, 16, 23 & 30 DECEMBER

Storytime 10.30-11am

Letchworth Library Interactive story sessions, perfect for pre-school children. Web: www.hertfordshire.gov.uk

2, 9, 16, 23 & 30 DECEMBER

Bridge Club 1.30-4.30pm Springfield House, Old Stevenage Community Centre

Play social cut-in Chicago Bridge. Play is informal and friendly. Tel: Richard Bean 01438 221517

3 DECEMBER

The Signals Museum Open Day 10am-4pm RAF Henlow, SG16 6DN The Signals Museum at RAF Henlow is open to the public. Entry is free but official photo ID required to get an entry ticket from the Guardroom Tel: 07778 837263 Web: www.rafsignalsmuseum.org.uk

3 & 10 DECEMBER

Aladdin the Pantomime 3pm & 7.30pm STMA Digswell Hall, 10 Hitchin Road, Shefford Tickets £10 & £5. The Players at STMA Present Aladdin the Pantomime, a fun for all the family show. Doors open 30 minutes before show. Tel: 01462 816336 Web: www.ticketsource.co.uk/ themeppershallpllayers

4 DECEMBER

Fun Charity Quiz

8pm Five Bells, Henlow Village £2.50 per person. Teams of up to 6 members. Prizes for the first two teams and last place. In aid of Williams Syndrome Foundation. Tel: John 07511 631045 quizzesforcharity@outlook.com

5 DECEMBER

Monday Meet Up Social Group

10.30am-12pm Baldock Library Free - donations welcome Meets first Monday of the month with a different theme every month. A talk and Christmas project from Icknield Quilters. for conversation, speakers and refreshments.

5, 12 & 19 DECEMBER

Monday Painting Group

9am-12pm Letchworth Corner Sports Club, Whitethorn Lane Meets every Monday. Each term we choose a selection of subjects to paint. Valerie Williams 01462 624439 Email: mondaypainting@lalg.org.uk

5, 12 & 19 DECEMBER

Baby Rhyme Time

10.30-11am Letchworth Library

Fun half hour sessions of songs and rhymes are perfect for helping your child to learn language skills. Booking essential. Web: www.hertfordshire.gov.uk

5, 12 & 19 DECEMBER

Stevenage Singers 7.30pm for 7.45pm The Music Centre, The Nobel School, Mobbsbury Way, Stevenage Stevenage Singers are ready to welcome new voices! They are so confident that you will enjoy it that they are giving you the first month FREE. Tel: Heather 01438 365769 Email: Info@stevenagesingers.org.uk Web: www.stevenagesingers.org.uk

5, 12 & 19 DECEMBER

Staplers Folk Dance Club

8-10pm St Johns Community Hall, St John’s Road, Hitchin Members £3, guests £4 Meets Monday evenings. Dance a wide variety of styles. Web: www.staplers.org.uk

5, 12 & 19 DECEMBER

Stevenage Choral Society

7.45pm Stevenage Music Centre, Mobbsbury, Stevenage Meets every Monday during term time. Tel: 01438 365769 Email: info@stevenagechoral.org.uk Web: www.stevenagechoral.org.uk

5, 12, 19 & 26 DECEMBER

Branch Out Social Club

8.30-10.30pm Cromwell Bar, The Sun Hotel, Hitchin

For single people aged 50 upwards. Meets every Monday night. Tel: Lorna 01438 233657 Web: www.branch-out.org.uk

WHAT’S ON IN DECEMBER

6 DECEMBER

Hitchin Community Choir Christmas Concert

7.30pm. Westmill Community Centre, John Barker Place, Hitchin Free entry. Retiring collection in support of Garden House Hospice and Westmill Community Centre.

6, 13, 20 & 27 DECEMBER

Craftea

10.30am-12pm Baldock Library A great way to meet new people, get craft advice, chat and relax or just bring your current crafty project. www.hertfordshire.gov.uk

7

DECEMBER

Aircraft Enthusiasts’ Group

1pm Shuttleworth

‘Sextant to Sat Nav. 45 Years in Aviation’ by Peter Griffiths. Meets first Wednesday of every month. Entry to Shuttleworth £19.50 or email to book free entry ticket. Email: 99aegr@gmail.com Web: www.a-e-g.org.uk

7 DECEMBER

North Herts Association of the National Trust 7.30pm Christchurch, Bedford Road, Hitchin Non-members £3 on the door ‘River Lea or Lee from Luton to Leyton’ with Richard Thomas. Tel: Colette House 07831 111062 Email: colettehouse@gmail.com www.facebook.com/nhertsant/

7 DECEMBER

Concert by Tedesca Quartet

8pm. Benslow Music, Benslow Lane, Hitchin Tickets £20, under 27s free The quartet has a reputation for performances of integrity and maturity and is in increasing demand from chamber music societies throughout the country. Pre-concert dining available. Web: https://benslowmusic.org

7 & 14 DECEMBER

Hinxworth Art Society

10am-12pm Hinxworth Village Hall Drawing, painting, coffee and chat. Email: 99aegr@gmail.com

7, 14, 21 & 28 DECEMBER

Baby Rhyme Time

10.30am-11am Baldock Library Free - donations welcome Fun session of songs and rhymes to help your child learn language skills.

7, 14, 21 & 28 DECEMBER

Storytime

10.30-11am Stevenage Library Free - donations welcome Interactive story sessions, perfect for pre-school children. Web: www.hertfordshire.gov.uk

9 DECEMBER

Unicorn Ceilidh Doors open 7.30pm St Mary’s Church Hall, Church Street, Baldock

With The Hosepipe Band and caller Mary Panton. Rockhopper Morris in the interval spot. Book online. Tel: Alan Creamer 07946 439095 Web: www.unicornceilidhs.org.uk

10 DECEMBER

Stevenage Art Society Exhibition 9.30am-3pm Springfield House, High Street, Old Stevenage Free entry. A chance to visit the society where paintings, pottery and glass fusion will be available to view and buy.

11 DECEMBER

Stevenage RSPB Local Group Trip to Abberton Reservoir

Meet 10am

Non-EWT members £2 All-day visit to Abberton Reservoir; a superb Essex Wildlife Trust reserve with excellent all-round winter birding. Meet in the reserve carpark at grid ref 168/TL965179 postcode CO2 0EH. Leader Graham Beevor. Email: trevorstorey54@gmail.com

11 DECEMBER

Not Strictly Jazz 5-7pm. Fairfield House, Fairfield Road, Biggleswade Tickets £20, 10-18 years £10 Live music performed by exceptional musicians. 01767 312176 Email: sarahwiggs@hotmail.co.uk

14 DECEMBER

Hitchin Flower Club

7.30pm. Church House, next to St Mary’s Church Churchyard, Hitchin Visitors £8. Christmas Social Evening.

14 DECEMBER

Letchworth Music Concert

7.45pm Howgills, 42 South View, Letchworth Tickets £15, under 18/students £7.50 Eleanor Turner on harp and Clare O’Connell on cello.

20 DECEMBER

Greensands Writers’ Group 7-9pm Free event. Enjoy writing? Join Greensands Writers’ Group for a monthly online meeting. greensandswriters.wixsite.com/

EVERY WEEKDAY

Clifton Walking Group Meets on weekdays at 8.30am and in the afternoon for an hour. A friendly bunch of people of various ages and abilities. Monthly weekend walk of 6-8 miles.

Tel: Suzanne I’ons 07933 709006 Email: ionssuzanne@gmail.com

LETCHWORTH ARTS & LEISURE GROUP

Annual membership £10 per household. Many groups and activities including wine appreciation, film, gardening, theatre, art design, books, discussions, games, sports, outings, walking and much, much more. New groups are starting all the time. Online talks every month. Nonmembers can try activities before joining. Web: lalg.org.uk

Books to give and receive Books

Demon Copperhead Barbara Kingsolver

Demon Copperhead looks set to cement Barbara Kingsolver’s reputation as one of the best authors of our time. In this modern-day reimaging of Charles Dickens’ David Copperfield, the ‘Demon’ of the title is born to a single, drug-addicted mother in poverty-stricken Virginia. At every turn, the odds are stacked against him, from the broken care system to the lack of job opportunities and his own sense of worth. Raw, angry, starkly beautiful, this book is an absolute masterpiece.

Good Comfort

Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall

Healthy recipes tend to focus on what to leave out – whether the focus is on cutting carbs, ditching meat or reducing fat. With Good Comfort, the focus is on what to add to make a meal or snack more nutritious (and more delicious). Think lamb tagine with apricots and chickpeas, pork ribs with fennel slaw, and hot chocolate with raw cacao powder, oak milk, brown sugar and cardamom pods.

The Paper Palace

Miranda Cowley Heller

Not a new one this, but if you haven’t read it yet, The Paper Palace is definitely worth adding to your wish list. An unexpected passionate liaison with a childhood friend sees Elle looking back over her life and the decisions she made along the way. Tragedy, romance and family dynamics all combine to make this a cracking story. Perfect for curling up with on Boxing Day.

By Kate Duggan

Woman of Light Kali Fajardo-Anstine

In 1930s Denver, Luz and her brother Diego are battling poverty in a city that needs but doesn’t want them. The pair are expected to keep their heads down and comply, while the Ku Klux Klan has free reign to march against them. When Diego is forced to flee the city, Luz’s visions recall the family history that brought them to Denver. Rich, evocative, with characters that leap out of the page, Woman of Light is a short but highly satisfying read.

The Big Christmas Bake Fiona Barker and Pippa Curnick

This sweet little children’s book takes inspiration from the Twelve Days of Christmas song. On each day, animals (from the traditional partridge to dancing hippos) bring one ingredient to make a very special cake. Colourful illustrations and amusing rhymes mean this book could well turn into a new Christmas favourite. Plus, there’s a recipe at the end so families can make their own twelfth night cake.

Queen of Our Times: The Life of Elizabeth II

Robert Hardman

Published before her death, Queen of Our Times provides a fascinating insight into our longest-reigning monarch. Incredibly detailed and impeccably researched, this book is a must for biography fans, history lovers and royalists alike. You’ll read insights from people who knew the Queen well, including former world leaders, and be treated to a range of black and white and colour photographs from throughout the Queen’s life.