Hitchin Jan 2019

VILLAGER The

Issue 10 - January 2019

and Town

Life

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

In this issue Corsica Discover the Alta Rocca

Win

4 x Classical Pilates Sessions at The Pilates Pod

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in our Prize Crossword

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Inside this issue...

Make the most of the January Sales

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The History of Coco.....................................................................4 Corsica - Discover the Alta Rocca................................................8 Win 4 x Classical Pilates Sessions at the Pilates Pod..........10 Win £100 to spend on ‘Real Deals For You’......................12 Dining - South Bank Style........................................................14 Make the most of the January sales.........................................17 The Best of the Best.................................................................18 Upping your Style Game in 2019..............................................20 Learn a Language.....................................................................23 Do you need a Social Detox?.....................................................25 Grab your knitting and take to the streets................................27 Tech for the New You................................................................29 Spot the Pension Scammers.....................................................30 Winter Colour...........................................................................35

Great Gardening Books............................................................36 Encyclopedia Britannica Turns 250...........................................39 Once Upon a Time....................................................................40 Berry House Vets - Pet Care Tips for Chilly Weather...................42 Nick Coffer’s Weekend Recipe...................................................44 How to get the best deal on your car insurance........................47 Puzzle Page..............................................................................48 Be SMART in 2019....................................................................50 Wordsearch..............................................................................50 What’s On.................................................................................52 How to keep you pets warm this winter...................................54 Fun Quiz...................................................................................57 £25 Prize Crossword.................................................. 58 Are Aging Lines a Good Thing?.................................................60 Book Review............................................................................62

Spot the Pension Scammers

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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, Solange Hando, Trevor Langley, Sarah Davey, Kate Duggan, Helen Venables, Tracey Anderson, Louise Addison, Kate McLelland, Ann Haldon, Pippa Greenwood, Rachael Leverton, Lesley Wade, Berry House Vets, Nick Coffer, James Baggott, Tom Hancock, and Kate Duggan

Advertising Sales/Local Editorial Nigel Frost • Tel 01767 261122 nigel@villagermag.com Photography - Melinda Nagy 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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3

History

The History of Coco

By Catherine Rose

Chanel is one of the most iconic names in haute couture and its founder, Coco, was a legend in her own lifetime. Said to be responsible for making the tan fashionable, she is equally famous for her sayings that included “A woman can never be too rich or too thin”. This month we look back at the inventor of the LBD and Chanel No. 5.

Coco Chanel’s story is a classic rags-to-riches tale. Born in 1883 at a charity hospital to unmarried parents Eugénie Devolle (Jeanne) and peddlar Albert Chanel, Gabrielle Bonheur Chanel rose above her humble start to become

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one of the most influential people of the 20th century – not only for her fashion design, dressmaking and millinery skills but also for the way in which she revolutionised how women dressed.

Chanel grew up with two brothers and three sisters in a one-room lodging house until her mother died of TB when she was 12. She was then sent to an orphanage in Aubazine. It was here that she learned to sew.

Her early aspirations were to be a performer, however, and after she left the orphanage, Gabrielle got a job singing between acts at

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La Rotonde, a popular cabaret venue. It was here she earned the nickname Coco. Her voice, however, was not good enough to propel her onto the main stage.

At the age of 23, she met the rich textile heir Etienne Balsan at La Rotonde and became his mistress, moving into his chateau near Compiègne. Balsan showed her a life of luxury and she started designing hats. Two years later she attracted the attention of a friend of Balsan’s, an Englishman called Arthur ‘Boy’ Capel.

After she became a licensed milliner in 1910, it was Capel who installed her in Paris and set her up with her first shop – Chanel Modes.

She quickly earned the patronage of actress Gabrielle Dorziat and her hats became sought after.

In 1913, Capel helped finance her second shop – a clothing boutique in Deauville which sold casual outfits for leisure and sport in fabrics like jersey and tricot, which had previously only ever been used to make men’s underwear. She conceived her popular sailor blouse here and was helped by her sister Antoinette and her Aunt Adrienne, who would model and promote her designs.

In 1915, with World War One underway, Coco opened another shop, this time in Biarritz where many wealthy Spaniards had been exiled. The shop was so successful that Coco was able to pay back all the money that Capel had given her.

Capel’s elegance and taste in clothing influenced Coco greatly and although she loved him, he went on to marry an English aristocrat, Lady Diana Wyndham, in 1918. It was a terrible blow to Coco when he was killed in a car crash a year later and she never truly recovered from it.

By now a qualified couturière, she set up her own fashion house in the prestigious Rue Cambon in Paris, selling hats, clothing and her Chanel No. 5 perfume. Women adored her boyish look and modern easy-to-wear style. Her eponymous little black dress was nicknamed Le Garçonne (the boy) and was revolutionary for using a colour previously only worn for mourning. Her famous straight-lined Chanel suit, which was released in 1925, bore many hallmarks of men’s tailoring and didn’t

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require a corset. She would say: “Luxury must be comfortable, otherwise it is not luxury.”

The business grew and in 1920 Coco was helping to both finance and design dance costumes for the famous Ballet Russes, inviting the exiled Russian composer Igor Stravinksy and his family to share her home Bel Respiro.

Theophile Bader, the founder of Galleries Lafayette, was keen to sell Chanel No. 5 with its signature square bottle (said to have been modelled on Capel’s aftershave), and persuaded Coco to part with all but a 10% share in ‘Parfums Chanel’ that he set up with the Wertheimer brothers, owners of the perfume and jewellery firm Bourjois. Coco was to regret her decision for the next twenty years and after the war, took the men to court and had the terms re-negotiated with back payments that made her a millionaire.

Known for her cutting wit, Chanel moved in the most fashionable circles in Paris and was friends and lovers with the talented, famous and elite, including Pablo Picasso and the Prince of Wales. The Duke of Westminster, a long-time lover, gave her the land on which she built her villa La Pausa and even proposed to her, but she never married, saying: “I never wanted to weigh more heavily on a man than a bird”.

During the 1930s, popularity with her clothes waned and she decided to shut her Maison de Chanel at the start of the war – 4,000 people lost their jobs. Her anti-Semitic views and subsequent affair with a German soldier caused scandal and following the war, Coco went into hiding in Switzerland.

In the 1950s, Coco Chanel re-emerged on the fashion scene to become as popular as she ever was. She was 70. Marilyn Monroe famously said that Chanel No. 5 was the only thing she wore in bed.

Coco spent her last 30 years in the Paris Ritz and died there in January 1971. Designer Karl Lagerfield took over her mantle in 1983 and still works out of her original premises.

Today her famous Chanel brand, with the interlocking C logo she designed, is owned by the Wertheimer family and generates millions.

As Coco once said: “Fashion fades but style remains.”

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7

Travel

Corsica

With 40% of the land protected by a Regional Nature Park, Corsica is often called the ‘Isle of Beauty’, a worthy epithet as beyond the fabulous coastline, the hinterland has its own spectacular scenery. Down in the south, just inland from the popular resorts, the Alta Rocca is one of these lovely mountain regions laced in walking trails with only a couple of minor roads winding their way across the land. Up there time seems to stand still.

Forests rich in oak and chestnut trees, lofty Laricio pines, pastures, tumbling streams and dramatic rocks, this is a paradise for all nature lovers. Red kites soar in the thermals and there are peregrine falcons, golden eagles and bearded vultures with a mighty wingspan. Nuthatches splash colour in the trees, lizards and salamanders scamper along the tracks, wild cats and boars forage here and there. Meanwhile deer graze in the shade but the mouflons with long horns like to perch on the most inaccessible rocks, basking in the bright Mediterranean sun. Flowers and plants vary with the altitude but favourites include myrtle and thyme, the delicate blue ancoli peeping out of rocky crags and the wild sweet-scented immortelle.

The Alta Rocca starts in Ospedale, the first mountain village at 900 metres, then stretches north towards the Bavella pass where at 1,218 metres one enjoys superb views of the pink rocky ‘needles’ by the same name. This is on the old transhumance route and the nearby trails invite

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By Solange Hando

Discover the Alta Rocca you to explore further. It’s an awesome spot protected by the statue of Our Lady of the Snows, installed with great difficulty by local monks.

It may feel like the roof of the world but besides its natural wonders, the Alta Rocca is a land of hilltop villages where traditions survive on the ‘heritage trail’. On the western edge, Sainte Lucie de Tallano is a lively little place, all granite houses and cobbled lanes with convent and church, old bread ovens, oil mill and nearby thermal springs in their natural settings. Then there’s Levie and its Alta Rocca museum and the ‘coutellerie’ where traditional Corsican knives are still made in various shapes and sizes. Yet this pretty village has other claims to fame for if you feel like a walk, a trail can lead you to the archaeological site of Cucuruzzu dating back to the Bronze Age. It’s quiet and atmospheric, dotted with remnants of walls, tower and storing areas. According to historians however, the Alta Rocca has 9,000 years of history, making it one of the oldest inhabited districts in Corsica.

At just over 300 metres, the village of Sartène can vouch for that, with a museum of prehistory, nearby dolmens and menhirs and gateway to the highlands, once known as the Land of the Lords.

Enjoy the local wine then, as you wander through stepped alleyways and narrow lanes framed by granite hills, you may well agree that as the locals say, Sartène is ‘the most Corsican of all Corsican villages’.

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Win 4 Classical Pilates Sessions at The Pilates Pod Founded in 2011, The Pilates Pod is a multi award winning company and are the only Classically certificated Pilates studio in Hertfordshire.

Owned by Michelle Smith, teacher of the Pilates method for over 15 years and trainer to many professional sports players, stars of stage, screen and music, and broadcasters. Michelle and her team of highly skilled teachers welcomes you and every BODY to come and experience what Classical Pilates has to offer.

At The Pilates Pod, they believe that one size doesn’t fit all! They’re passionate about giving you a truly authentic Pilates experience to ensure you get the most out of your training.

Working and following the principles created by Joseph Pilates, you can dramatically transform the way your body looks, feels and performs.

His exercises take you through all ranges of movement and, as you develop, you are continually challenged with new exercises, new apparatus and new experiences. You will develop both in mind and body; making the Pilates benefits far reaching and available to everybody.

Offering both a range of classes and 1:1 Personal Training, the Pilates Pod has something for everyone.

To give you a taste of Classical Pilates and experience what The Pilates Pod has to offer, we’re offering ONE lucky reader the chance to win: 1 x 55min private 1:1 session with a Pilates Pod instructor, * 1 x 55min Tower class * 1 x 55min Mat based class and * 1 x 55min studio work class *Pilates sessions must be used within four weeks of your private 1:1 session

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13

Food and Drink

Dining South Bank Style

London’s South Bank has a lot to offer all ages. World-class attractions provide interest and fascination for the whole family. The London Eye, Royal Festival Hall, London Dungeon, Sea Life London Aquarium and much, much more are all extremely popular. Restaurants on the South Bank offer everything from a light snack, through brasserie-style grills, to full, top restaurant experiences.

The London Marriott Hotel County Hall boasts Gillray’s Steakhouse and Bar. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, to both residents and non-residents, this restaurant has fine views of the River Thames, Houses of Parliament, Big Ben, the London Eye and surrounding area. The Library serves awardwinning Afternoon Teas, plus Dinners. An exceptional range of wines/drinks and handcrafted cocktails, including a magnificent selection of over 100 gins and more than 50 whiskies are available.

Starters, in Gillray’s restaurant, can include Cornish Oysters, champagne dressing, spring onion, chilli and Pan-Fried Scallops, black pudding purée, apple salad, hazelnut dressing. Beetroot-Cured Salmon and Hand-Chopped Steak Tartare, all with accompaniments, are further very popular options. Main courses have a splendid range of 35 Day Dry-Aged Aberdeen Angus hand-selected Steaks (choose your preferred design and style of steak knife, from the boxed selections that are offered), all served with bone marrow and confit vine cherry tomatoes. Whether ‘bone-in’ or ‘bone-out’ is favoured, sizes include 150g Fillet, through 500g Prime Rib, to Gillray’s Bulls Head 1kg Bone-In Rib-Eye and their outstanding ‘Meat Feast’ (Compliments to Chef ). Other dishes include Spatchcock Chicken, Fish and more, which are further often-selected choices.

The very talented brigade of chefs and kitchen personnel ensure all cuisine is cooked and presented, perfectly. The tender succulent steaks have regular ‘devotees’. Sunday roast is always popular, too. The complementing flavours of the dishes of cuisine are superb. Desserts include Chocolate & Hazelnut Bar and Adult Ice Cream with gin, brandy and rum – another popular selection.

All dietary requirements can be catered for, plus parties, events and occasions accommodated easily. Many thanks to Yara and Alexandra for impeccable service, throughout.

Gillray’s Steakhouse & Bar London County Hall, Westminster Bridge Road, London SE1 7PB Tel: 44(0) 20 7902 8000 Email: enquiry@gillrays.com www.gillrays.com www.marriottcountyhall.com

As always, Enjoy!

ey Trevor Langl

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Time of Year

By Sarah Davey

Make the most of the January Sales We all love a bargain, and sales save us so much money, right? Yes...but you need to shop smart to take proper advantage of the discounts, and to avoid buying things you don’t need.

So here is our one-stop shopping guide to the January Sales.

Do your research - Many retailers market their sales beforehand and some even let you fill your shopping cart before sales officially open. This means you can think and plan, and make sure that your purchases are relevant to your needs.

Goodbye post-sales regrets!

Shop your wardrobe first - Take stock of what you already own. This is important when you’re sales shopping. It’s easy to get caught up in the frenzy of snapping up a great deal only to find that you already own three almost identical items to the bargain you just bought. If you go sales shopping armed with the knowledge that you DON’T need brown boots, or another leather jacket, you are more likely to make wise buying choices. Also, if you already know what you do own you can think about what each item you purchase will co-ordinate with, and just like that, you’re adding cool-headed calm to the salesshopping mix!

Don’t forget postage costs - If you’re shopping online, extra costs like postage, customs and shipping aren’t usually included in discounts.

Factor this in and keep checking your cart before you hit the ‘Pay’ button.

Force yourself to try things on - If it’s worth

queueing for the changing room, and you still love it when it’s on, it’s probably a good find! If you can’t be bothered to queue then put it back, you don’t love it that much.

Set a budget - If you don’t start with a limit you’re almost guaranteed to blow your budget. Because... new clothes! Also treat your budget as a limit not a target!

Beware of returns policies - Most retailers won’t let you return sale items just because you don’t like them once you get them home but...

Know your rights - If a sale item is faulty then your rights as a consumer are exactly the same as if the item was full price.

Plan your route - Planning will keep you focused and avoid you being lured into shops you’re better off avoiding.

Take a friend - Make sure they are the rational, honest type of friend who will tell you if something doesn’t suit you or doesn’t fit you. to keep you from blowing your budget on things you shouldn’t.

Wear clothes that are easy to get in and out of - you don’t want to have to spend half an hour in the changing room taking off boots with fiddly catches and tops with twenty buttons multiple times. ‘Nuff said!

Eat something first - Food is cheaper and healthier at home. Plus, it’s scientific fact that clothes shopping on an empty stomach causes us to make impulse buys to satisfy hunger cravings!

The human brain is quirky like that.

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17

Health & Beauty

The Best of the Best

By Kate Duggan www.kateduggan.co.uk

The best thing about being a beauty writer is that I get to try a lot of products for free. Over the years I’ve tried hundreds of them, from high-tech gadgets to budget buys. I’m a sucker for shiny new things, so a product has to be very, very good for me to buy a replacement once it runs out. Without further ado, here’s my ‘best-of-the-best’ – the goodies I come back to time and time again.

A lot of beauty writers seem to spend hours on their daily skincare routines. I am not one of those people. I’m lucky to have five minutes to myself of a morning, so I really love a multitasker. Frances Prescott’s Tri-Balm is a cleanser, exfoliator and moisturiser in one. I have to admit, I do still use an extra moisturiser most days, but if I don’t have time then at least I know my skin will still feel soft and nourished. Now £46 seems pretty steep for a cleanser I know, but I use mine pretty much every day and it lasts for months. See www. francesprescott. com I love lighting a candle when I’m in the bath and Janjira’s Grapefruit and Tangerine Massage Candle is one of my favourites. And this is no ordinary candle – it slowly melts to give you a small pool of natural oils to massage into your skin. Heaven. The scent is subtle but gorgeous. £32, from www.janjira.co.uk.

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If, like me, you sometimes struggle to get to sleep, try Neal’s Yard Remedies Goodnight Pillow Mist. I spray it liberally onto my pillow and it really does seem to help. It’s a blend of organic essential oils known for their ability to calm the senses and promote rest – such as lavender, vetiver and mandarin. The result is a gentle, comforting scent. It’s £15 from www.nealsyardremedies.com.

I find a lot of lipsticks too drying and dislike the stickiness of lip gloss. Bobbi Brown’s Extra Lip Tint is my go-to alternative.

It’s like a moisturising lip balm but flushes your lips for a hint of colour and adds shine.

The effect lasts about as long as a lip gloss. I’m currently on my second Bare Pink and am planning to treat myself to the Bare Melon and Bare Popsicle shades soon. £25.50, from www.bobbibrown. co.uk.

While I like to have a few perfumes on the shelf, I tend to have a favourite for a few years at a time, while the rest sit gathering dust. My current favourite is Connock London’s Kukui. There’s a dash of fresh flowers, including gardenia rose and white jasmine, warmed by sandalwood, vetiver and white amber. Cashmere and vanilla add the comfort factor. The result is a grown-up fragrance that’s sensual, subtle and (in my opinion) totally addictive. It’s priced from £35 at www. connocklondon.co.uk, but do Google for offers.

At the time of writing I have my eye on a giftset that includes three 30ml Connock London fragrances for £42.49 (RRP £84.99) at www.psyche.co.uk.

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19

House of Colour

Upping Your Style Game in 2019

A cold and gloomy January is the perfect time to gain style kudos by balancing warmth and comfort with sumptuous fabrics to create an altogether chic look.

Even wearing the right winter wrap can mean you ooze layered style, especially if it is in one of your wow colours; whilst wearing the right or wrong type of boots for your body shape could make or break your outfit. Here’s how to up your style game in the colder months of 2019.

1. The new year is often a time for self-reinvention. Do you know what you like and like what you know?

Why not dare to try something a little different?

Quite often we rule out wearing a different colour or style because we find its easy and safe to wear the same type of things. Find your fashion groove by mixing different neutrals and wow colours from your colour palette or choose an on-trend pattern you haven’t tried before.

2. Now is the time to declutter. Evaluate whether you love each item of clothing in your wardrobe or whether its just ok. You don’t need a jam-packed wardrobe to look good, but you should love everything in it. Keep your loved clothes and give away anything that doesn’t suit you, giving you space to start afresh and organise your style. It also makes getting dressed in the morning a lot easier.

Cleared wardrobe, clear mind.

3. On the back of the growing drive towards more ecological dressing, this new year choose carefully from shops you know support your ethics and only buy the items you love and will be able to wear again and again. Think carefully but don’t be afraid to spend if it is an investment and a much-needed piece. Quality speaks!

4. The new year is often a time for us to focus on giving our health a boost. Have you considered that what you wear when you exercise can really affect how you feel about taking part? If you look and feel good in your leggings, swimsuit or running shorts, then you are more likely to drag yourself out of bed to the gym. Invest in some quality sports gear to give yourself the oomph you might need to get out of bed.

5. Try some new accessories. We all have our daily favourites but try wearing a necklace or earrings

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that makes a statement that’s all about you. You will be amazed how many compliments you get when you wear jewellery that’s perfect for your style personality and colour palette.

6. Don’t turn yourself into a walking rainbow but try mixing up to three colours in your colour palette including the neutrals that suit your season.

Everyone gets a form of white in their season, Autumn colour palettes suit rich, warm earthy colours such as oyster, whilst Springs suit a warm beige or cream. Winters look gorgeous in a cool bright white and stone. Summers suit cool, subtle neutrals such as soft white and pink beige. Add a pop of colour to your neutrals with a vibrant bag, hat/ scarf and gloves set, or a pair of red boots as seen in all the shops this winter.

7. Love your body and shape. Cinch in your waist or elongate your mid-section, draw attention to your best parts and wear the right length hemline, trouser length and sleeves. Style is the detail.

8. If you are planning to hit the sales just make sure that you choose items not because they are a great bargain but because they are perfect for you. A great rule of thumb is never to buy something you wouldn’t be happy to pay full price for. It is all about quality over quantity.

9. Winter is an amazing time to wear gorgeous prints whether it’s this season’s hot checks, gorgeous floral or animal prints. Winter is also a great time to try different materials that suit your body type whether that be leather, tweed, velvet or silk just to name a few. Try pairing a chunky knit sweater with a leather skirt for a smart casual look if you love a bit of drama. Alternatively, a neutral colour wool dress worn under a tweed jacket will create a sophisticated yet chic vibe for anyone who loves a classic look.

10. Not everyone suits high necks but if they look good on you then pair a high neck with long boots to create an elongated silhouette or opt for a high neck worn underneath a circle neck jumper or tunic dress for a layered and more casual look.

By Helen Venables, MD at House of Colour www.houseofcolour.co.uk

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Learning

By Tracey Anderson

Learn a Language Want to learn a new language in 2019? It’s not as hard as you think! I learned Spanish alongside my son to encourage him while he was studying for his GCSE. It started as a joke, but I quickly became hooked. Here’s what I learned about language learning.

New words? - You may not need to learn as many as you think! In English just 300 words make up 65% of all written material! We use some words a lot, and luckily that’s the case in every other language too.

You can buy or make decks of flash cards of these words. There is even a flash card app called Anki which presents words at precisely the right intervals to maximise memorisation.

Cognates - These are words which are spelled almost the same in English and which have the same meaning. In French, lots of ‘ion’ words are spelled the same even though they are pronounced differently: action, nation, communication etc. In Spanish the same words end in ‘ción’ and in Italian ‘zione’. Simple right?

There are also words such as hélicoptère (French) or aeropuerto (Spanish) which are similar enough to the English word that you will recognise them immediately. You can google ‘Cognates’ for the language you are learning.

Interaction - You need to hear and speak the language consistently. Look up Radio stations, YouTube channels, news websites, and blogs in the language you want to learn. Advertise for someone to practice conversation with. Ask

friends on Facebook or in the school playground whether they know a native speaker who would converse with you for half an hour in exchange for coffee and cake! There are groups dedicated to language exchange on Facebook too. By forcing yourself to converse you will improve very quickly.

Free Resources – I have passable Spanish thanks to the Duo Lingo app. The BBC has introductory courses to around 40 different languages.

Omniglot.com is a great open-source resource to all manner of languages, and I found fluentu.com brilliant for Spanish.

Embrace mistakes – We learn by making mistakes.

As children we speak, we’re corrected, and we adapt.

Even at aged fifty I still come across new English words and phrases. You can’t ever completely learn a language. Just use everything you know with the emphasis on communication rather than perfection.

Native speakers will not be offended by your slips... they will most likely be charmed and fall over themselves to help correct you.

Use SMART goals - SMART means Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant and Timed. A good example is, ‘By the end of January I will be able to hold a simple conversation with a waiter, book a table, order food, and ask for the bill. Or you might aim to complete three lessons per day on Duo Lingo for the whole of a month. You might even set yourself the task of passing an online test, a GCSE. The point is, you have a time frame, and the achievements you make are measurable, so you can see how far you’ve come.

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EBAY COLLECTIONS

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Local & Reliable

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Time of Year

Do you need a Social Detox?

By Louise Addison

January is the traditional time for a detox after the excesses of the festive period, so how about a social detox?

Do I need one? If there is someone in your life who drains your emotional energy, then that person is likely to be toxic and you are better off without them.

Fortunately, our seven-step plan will free you from social toxicity in 2019 Identify – Toxic people are manipulative and selfish.

They are impossible to work with. They rarely apologise for or own their mistakes. If you dread spending time with a person, they are probably toxic and it’s time to move on. If it’s a colleague or a boss start looking for another job.

Be determined - The person might be part of your social circle, or your immediate superior, or they might recognise that you are distancing yourself and try to claw back the friendship. You need to be clear in your own mind and create a mental separation, even if you can’t create a physical one right now.

Set boundaries – Don’t respond to texts, block their number if you can. If it’s a work colleague, only respond to work-related matters and keep the relationship strictly professional. Social media is trickier. Blocking or unfriending can make life awkward if you share mutual friends or work together. I would suggest you unfollow rather than unfriend, and don’t interact with them. The algorithms of most social media sites tend to flag up people you interact with regularly, so by not commenting or responding to them they will gradually disappear from your online world. Stick to your boundaries because toxic people exploit weakness.

Be less ‘nice’ - Not to everyone, just to toxic people.

Toxic people take advantage of kind people.

They thrive by draining your good energy. There is no need to be nasty, simply stop being overly accommodating.

Accept you can’t save them - Toxic people show up when they need something: attention, money; a shoulder to cry on. They want a way back into your life. Be determined and maintain your boundaries. If they are in real straits direct them to resources that specialise in the help they currently require. Solving their problem is not your responsibility.

Family matters - Toxic family members are particularly difficult to deal with as a clean break is often impossible. But you can still establish clear boundaries, even if they are in your head. Limit interactions, perhaps only phone a toxic parent once a month for 20 minutes, or restrict visits to three times per year, whatever works for you. The point is, take control, visualise your boundaries clearly then stick to them.

Treat it like a relationship break-up - Be kind to yourself. We are primed as humans to need relationships, but we don’t need unhealthy relationships. The more time you spend away from toxic people, with positive, loving people who bring joy to your life, the more uplifted you will feel. Make time for people who bring you happiness and let go of those who bring you anything less.

IMPORTANT - Please note that there is a difference between people who are truly toxic and people who have a negative outlook because they struggle with depression. Most of us can tell the difference between toxicity and depression. If your friend or family member suffers from clinical depression let them know that you love and support them. Don’t cut them out of your life.

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Quirky Britain

By Kate McLelland

Grab your knitting and take to the streets Fluffy and lovable, ‘yarn bombing’ could be described as graffiti in sheep’s clothing. It combines the ‘matronly’ crafts of knitting and crochet with the maternal gesture of wrapping something cold in a warm blanket, with the objective of transforming the concrete and steel objects usually found in an urban streetscape. Lamp-posts, parking meters, bicycles, cars — even objects as large as buses and bridges — have all been ‘bombed’ in recent years.

Yarn bombing (aka guerilla knitting or guerilla crochet) has become a way for artists to reclaim and personalise public spaces that might otherwise be considered unwelcoming. The trend began in 2005 in Houston, Texas, when textile artist Magda Sayeg decided to cover the door handle of her shop with a knitted wrapping.

Magda admits that at the time she had no idea of where her actions might lead: “All I wanted to see was something warm, fuzzy and humanlike on the cold, steel grey facade I looked at every day.”

British artist Lauren O’Farrell learned to knit while recovering

from cancer treatment in her twenties, and subsequently formed a knitting club with her friend. As her skills developed she decided to direct her energies towards becoming – in her words – a “squishy Banksy”.

Lauren isn’t afraid of making big statements with her work. One of her early projects involved covering a phone box (displayed in Parliament Square as part of the BT ‘Art Box’ charity project) with a giant ‘cosy’. She didn’t seek permission to cover the box and admits she didn’t worry until the police asked her what she was doing. “We told them it was a craft project and we wanted to take a photo, and they let us,” Lauren explained to theartsdesk.com.

“The fact that they did opened the floodgates. I thought, I could now do this anywhere.”

These days people of all ages are inspired to take to the streets with knitting needles and crochet hooks. A few years ago 104-yearold grandmother Grace Brett came to public attention as possibly the oldest street artist in the world.

As part of a band of ‘yarnstormers’

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known as the Souter Stormers, she helped to decorate various landmarks in Selkirk, Scotland, during the YES Arts Festival, where yarn-bombed items included public benches, phone boxes and trees. Grace, who became a focus for media attention during the festival, told interviewers she thought the town looked lovely, adding: “I’m not bragging, but I’m quite pleased with what I’ve done.”

Yarn bombing has now become an integral part of many community events and festivals across Britain and its gentle, non-confrontational approach has also led to an association with a number of projects linked to mental health. In Cornwall “We are enough: the creative yarn bomb of love” is a project created to raise awareness of people who suffer with social anxiety. This year-long community arts initiative will conclude in May 2019 during Mental Health Awareness Week and the project reflects the views of many communities who see yarn bombing as the perfect way to convey a message of hope, positivity and kindness.

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Technology

Tech for the New You

If human beings were any good at keeping New Year’s resolutions, the gyms would be full to bursting and the streets full of joggers all year round, not just for the first few weeks.

Tech can’t transform you from couch potato to body beautiful, but it can keep you focused on the goal. The good news is that you might already have most of what you need in your smartphone.

Many modern smartphones contain the sensors to track all kinds of exercise apart from (obviously) swimming. If your device has GPS it can track your running or cycling, but even if it doesn’t it can usually track your steps and distance. In some cases they can also track your elevation and tell you how many flights of stairs you’ve climbed.

Both Apple and Google have their own fitness tracking apps in the form of Activity and Google Fit respectively, but some of the best fitness tracking apps are

by third parties. Nike Training Club is a great workout app, while Runkeeper and Strava are brilliant.

It’s not just about exercising, of course. Healthy eating can make a big difference to your energy levels and your body shape. MyFitnessPal enables you to track what your food intake to get an insight into your personal nutrition. The app is free, although some of its more advanced features require a monthly subscription. That’s something to check with health and fitness apps generally: apps that appear to be free are often very limited in what they can do, and some subscription plans are frighteningly expensive.

If you do decide to get some hardware, even that needn’t cost a fortune. Yes, the latest Apple Watch is pretty expensive at £399-plus, but you can get a perfectly good runner’s watch like the TomTom Runner 3 or Garmin Forerunner 35 for about

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£99; if all you want to track is your heart rate, you can get a heart rate monitoring watch from Decathlon for £15.99. Even GPS watches are much more affordable: the Kalenji Onmove 220 GPS Watch is currently £69.99.

Don’t forget the second-hand market, either. At the time of writing you could get an Apple Watch Series 3 GPS Nike+ watch, a great smartwatch, for £229.99 on eBay. That’s a pretty good discount on the usual RRP of £359.

If you do have a smartwatch, there are some excellent fitness apps for those too. The Apple Watch is particularly blessed with endless activity trackers. We like Carrot Fit, which is available for iPhone as well as Apple Watch.

Unusually where other apps offer positive reinforcement, Carrot is bad-tempered, judgmental and deliberately offensive. If you have a dark sense of humour though it’s a lot of fun.

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Finance

By Ann Haldon

Spot the Pension Scammers

Since new regulations were introduced in 2015 allowing greater pension freedoms, criminals have been targeting retirees, and those approaching retirement, in an attempt to fraudulently exploit the system.

Figures published by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) show that victims of pension scams lost £91,000 each on average in 2017, with more than 30% of pension holders aged 45-65 being unaware of how to check that they’re dealing with a legitimate pension adviser.¹ So how do you know if you’re being targeted by pension scammers?

Unexpected contact Unsolicited contact by someone offering advice on your pension is likely to be a scam. They may claim to be backed by the government, but no legitimate pension-related organisation or adviser would cold-call you. This type of contact could also be made by email, text, post or in person.

Free pension review A common tactic used by scammers, and one that gives them access to a considerable amount of personal and financial information, is offering a free pension review. If you’re under 55 they may try to persuade you to take your pension early; otherwise

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it could be with a view to transferring your pension into a fraudulent or unregulated scheme.

Releasing pension monies early If you’re under the age of 55, pension scammers may tell you it’s possible to access your pension early. This isn’t the case unless you meet certain, very limited, criteria regarding your health.

Withdrawing your pension below the age of 55 will trigger a tax liability of 55% of the amount withdrawn. You may also lose your pension entirely if the proposed new scheme/investment plan is fraudulent or unregulated, and still face this tax charge.

Higher/guaranteed returns One of the fundamental aspects of investing is that there are no firm guarantees. Scammers may tell you guaranteed returns at a certain percentage are available, or perhaps that you’ll receive higher returns from the investment product they’re offering, but this is not the case. They may also say their investment strategy is low risk, but a low-risk strategy is not associated with high returns.

Time-limited offers Scammers sometimes pressurise their victims into signing quickly, saying it’s a time-limited offer.

They may even arrange for a courier to deliver their documents and then wait until you sign them. This gives you little time to go through the documents properly, and to carefully consider what you’re doing.

Tax loopholes Pension fraudsters might say they know of tax loopholes, or ways in which you could make extra savings on tax. There are no tax loopholes with legitimate pension arrangements.

Withholding contact details If they don’t want you to call them back, have limited contact information available, only a mobile phone number or a PO Box address, for example, you should cease communications with them straight away.

Hopefully, being aware of the common tactics used by pension scammers, and when they’re likely to be used, will offer some protection, and help you avoid becoming one of the unfortunate and startling statistics. ¹www.fca.org.uk/news/press-releases/regulatorswarn-public-pension-scammer-tactics-victimsreport-losing-average-91000-2017

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Garden

Winter Colour

By Pippa Greenwood www.pippagreenwood.com

Happy New Year to you! Despite the winter weather, with planning and strategic planting your garden can still look gorgeous, with colourful plants to add interest to your plot.

Dogwoods or Cornus are great winter stem-colour plants. Planted in a moist sunny spot, the crimsonred stems are stunning during winter, plus in autumn you’ll get red and purple foliage. To keep these colourful stems coming, cut them back to ground level in late spring every alternate year.

Winter classic good looks come from hollies, either green-leaved or in variegated form, such as ‘Argentea Marginata’ with silvery leaf edges, ‘Golden Queen’ with golden-yellow leaf edges, or ‘Ferrox Argentea’ with silver-edged leaves covered with prickles!

Some willows can be kept quite small, and have stunning coloured winter stems. For egg-yolk yellow stems go for Salix alba ‘Vitellina’, for scarletorange stems there is ‘Britzensis’, or Salix acutifolia ‘Blue Streak’ has purple stems with a slivery-grey bloom and grey buds. These stems also need to be cut back to ground level every two years.

The ghost bramble, Rubus cockburnianus, a relative of the standard bramble, has arching white stems that look great in winter sunshine. In summer it produces sprays of small purple flowers.

Christmas Roses or hellebores, including Helleborus argutiflorus, have cup-shaped green flowers with prominent stamens, are tough and perform well. The classic Christmas rose proper is white-flowered (developing a pink tinge as they age), and look stunning against the central cluster of golden-yellow stamens. The variety ‘Potters

Wheel’ has flowers up to 10cm in diameter.

Snowdrops in single and double forms look great planted in drifts or naturalised on a grassy bank.

Buy ready-to-flower snowdrops in pots now, plant them out, and then plant them ‘in the green’ in a month or two’s time, when you can get the bulbs, complete with leaves, ready for planting by mail order.

Winter aconites have bright yellow, shiny petals and flowers like golden stars, and produce a superb display when planted close to and amongst snowdrops. Plenty of moisture without waterlogging is key.

Winter flowering pansies make a splash of colour in any garden, with just about every conceivable colour available. Even when struck by frost, the flowers soon perk up again.

Clematis cirrhosa is a winter-flowering climber with yellow to white bell-shaped flowers and a delicate lemony perfume. The inner surface of the petals is delicately freckled, with variety ‘Freckles’ having the best dark spotting. The flowers last from early winter until the start of spring.

Winter-flowering jasmine can be loosely trained against a wall for a great winter display of bright yellow starry flowers, and will remind you that spring is coming!

At www.pippagreenwood.com you can join ‘Grow Your Own with Pippa Greenwood’ for great vegetable plants and weekly advice, practical and pretty plant supports, the fantastic SpeedHoe, gardening tools, signed books and more! Or why not book Pippa for a talk at your gardening club?

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35

Garden View

By Rachael Leverton

Great Gardening Books

If you didn’t get what you wanted for Christmas now is the perfect time to curl up in front of the fire with a gardening book you’ve brought for yourself. We have a few to recommend.

RHS Great British Village Show by Matthew Biggs and Thane Prince - The village show is a quintessential British tradition, and for many gardeners it represents the pinnacle of their sowing and growing year. This charming and informative book takes you behind the scenes of this very British institution, offering insights into the worlds of judges and contestants. It’s beautifully illustrated with photographs, and offers wonderful gems of insider information, including how to stage your produce, and what the judges are really looking for. There are even recipes for prize-worthy jams and preserves. If you’ve never attended a village show this book will make you yearn for a summer of tents and teas; you might even be tempted to become a competitor.

One Magic Square by Lolo Hubein – Following on from the previous book, have you ever wanted to have a go at growing your own vegetables and fruit but feel completely clueless? We’re always hearing that the best and cheapest food is the food you grow in your own garden, but it all seems rather complicated to a total novice. In One Magic Square, Lolo Hubein shows how you can start your own productive food garden in ten minutes a day on a single square metre. She provides simple plot designs starting with salads, and gradually expanding to include beans, tomatoes, corn, roots and much more. She also stresses the benefits of companion planting and provides ideas. The bite-sized designs (pun totally intended!) allow you to extend by one square metre each season, or to pick your favourites. The magic of square-metre gardening is in allowing your project to grow in a manageable way, from simple to more complex. There are even designs catering for different tastes and specific diets.

RSPB Gardening for Wildlife by Adrian Thomas - If you long to have butterflies and bees in your flowerbeds, birds singing in your trees, and hedgehogs bustling about under your bushes then look no further than this wonderful guide to wildlife gardening Adrian Thomas explains the intricacies of attracting wildlife to your garden whether you have a small plot or more than an acre. His style is accessible, but rich in detail. He draws on the latest wildlife research to explain the ecological principles, and to dispel some of the myths which have traditionally prevented gardeners from pursuing a wildlife-friendly approach. There are practical projects to help you create entire habitats, and long lists of suitable plants and trees, and it’s packed to brim with helpful photographs. If you love wildlife and want to encourage more to visit your garden, this inspirational book will help you sow the seeds and reap the rewards.

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Special Report

By Solange Hando

Encyclopaedia Britannica Turns 250

The Encyclopaedia Britannica, which turns 250 this month, is the oldest and longest continuallypublished English-language general print encyclopaedia. It was first published by Colin Macfarquhar, a bookseller and printer, and Andrew Bell, an engraver, both from Edinburgh. The title page of the first edition, published in parts between 1768 and 1771, read: ‘Encyclopaedia Britannica; OR, A DICTIONARY OF ARTS and SCIENCES, COMPILED UPON A NEW PLAN.’ This ‘new plan’ meant Britannica offered something different to its contemporaries. Long ‘treatises’ and shorter articles on the arts and sciences, all alphabetically ordered and cross-referenced, meant it served serious students and those just wanting quick reference material. Letters indicate that William Smellie, writer of the fresh content in Britannica and later superintendent of the Edinburgh Museum of Natural History, devised this ‘new plan’.

The second edition was the first to contain biographies and the third was the first to carry articles from outside contributors. This 1797 edition is famous for its fawning dedication to King George III and its controversial article on ‘motion’, which rejected Isaac Newton’s theory of gravity and suggested it was caused by the classical element of fire instead! It also spawned a pirate American version.

The fourth, fifth and six editions featured articles by the foremost scholars of the day. Sir Walter Scott wrote on chivalry and Thomas Young’s groundbreaking efforts to decode the Rosetta Stone were included. An index appeared in the seventh edition and the eighth carried the first American

contributions and articles on new subjects, including photography, communism and the telegraph.

The ‘scholar’s edition’ (the ninth), published in 1875– 89, was the first to appear officially in the US, where it sold more than in Britain. It reflected the scientific discoveries and new critical methods transforming the world. T.H. Huxley wrote on evolution and Peter Kropotkin on anarchism. Years later, a young Neil Gaiman leafed through this edition and picked his favourite article: lycanthropy. “Yes, I had a favourite 1890s Britannica article when I was ten. I am now aware this is not entirely usual,” he says.

A separate atlas accompanied the tenth edition and the eleventh had a dual dedication to King George V and William Taft, US President, reflecting Britannica’s new ownership by Americans. In the twelfth edition, Marie Curie wrote on radium, Albert Einstein on space-time, Sigmund Freud on psychoanalysis and Harry Houdini on conjuring.

The editors of the thirteenth edition, hoping but struggling to cover WWI objectively, instead gave space in the end to contributors from all sides. The fourteenth edition included John F Kennedy and Alfred Hitchcock among its famous contributors and the fifteenth saw a radical restructuring of content into the Micropaedia: Ready Reference and Index; the Macropaedia: Knowledge in Depth; and the Propaedia: Outline of Knowledge.

However, even mighty Britannica couldn’t resist the internet age. Although 1990 was its best year, with 120,000 printed sets sold, just six years later sales were down to 40,000. In 2012, the company announced there would be no more print editions, redirecting their readers inevitably to Britannica online – and signalling the end of an era.

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39

Time of Year

By Lesley Wade

Once Upon a Time

National Storytelling week runs from January 26th – February 2nd When did you last tell a story? Probably more recently than you think because as humans we tend to think in images and narrative.

Think about your favourite anecdote; the one you’re called upon to recount at every family gathering and which gets embellished a little more each time it’s told. That’s story telling in action and it’s the oldest art form in the world.

Since man first developed the power of speech, stories have been the traditional medium of communication between generations, used to educate and entertain.

There is evidence of storytelling in languages as diverse as Sanskrit, Old German, Latin, Chinese, Greek, Icelandic and Old Slavonic.

One of the earliest surviving records is from Egyptian culture. The sons of Cheops (the pyramid builder) are pictured in hieroglyphics on ancient papyrus entertaining him with stories.

Specialist storytellers evolved, known as bards. They were also poets and musicians and their job was to entertain by creating and performing poetic oral narrations. These generally chronicled the events of a war or praised the daring deeds and achievements of leaders and their forebears.

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Bards were also known as minstrels and jongleurs and often enjoyed a high status within their community.

The bardic community preserved many tales from different cultures which are still enjoyed today, including: • The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood (English) • The Iliad and The Odyssey (Greek) • The Tain (Irish) • The Ramayana (Indian) Religious leaders also made use of storytelling to guide and teach their followers. This practice is still used, particularly in Hinduism and Buddhism Ordinary folk also told stories, particularly at festival time and many such folk tales were collected and recorded by writers such as The Brothers Grimm.

The Society for Storytelling organises the National Storytelling Week each year to promote the art, value and practice of storytelling.

Storytelling events will be taking place in schools, libraries, museums, art galleries and residential homes. Check out what’s in your area.

Web Address - The Society for Story Telling www.sfs.org.uk

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

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0800 046 1080 UP TO 40% OFF IN JANUARY hello@thehomeimprovementproject.co.uk www.thehomeimprovementproject.co.uk

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41

Berry House Vets

Pet Care Tips for Chilly Weather With winter swiftly moving in, our pets may need a little extra help and care.

When taking your dog out during the winter, there are a number of ways their paws can be harmed.

Exposure to cold air, chilly rain, sleet, icy roads, chemicals and salt. The pavement and snow can cause paws to become raw and sore. Always bathe their feet with warm water and pat dry with a towel to prevent them from licking. Massaging petroleum jelly into your dog’s paws before going out can both moisturise and protect them from the ice and salt. Dog booties can also be used. Keeping your dog’s nails trimmed can prevent them from slipping on ice. Contact with Rock Salt can cause mouth burns, dehydration and organ failure.

Cats can become unwell when exposed to extreme weather, they can be at risk from frostbite and hypothermia if they spend prolonged periods outside if the temperature drops below 0*C. Older arthritic cats that normally go outside may need a litter tray set up indoors Always keep any antifreeze away from your pets as this can be deadly to them. Signs of poisoning are loss of balance, vomiting and lethargy, contact your veterinary surgery immediately.

Ensure outdoor caged animals have extra bedding and are moved to a sheltered area if they cannot be moved undercover. Check them and their water bottles/bowls regularly to ensure they do not freeze and remember they are likely to need more food to help them keep warm.

Some pets love to play in the snow, always check their paws for frozen lumps of ice when they come back indoors.

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GARDEN DESIGNERS

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Puppy and Dog Training Classes various locations around Hertfordshire www.dogstrustdogschool.org.uk 07774 374 686 hertsdogschool@dogstrust.org.uk @dogschoolhertfordshire

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Three Counties Radio

Chocolate Custard, Chocolate Crumble, Salted Caramel Sauce Having made this dish myself, you have my word that it’s wonderful. It should come with a health warning though, as the dusty chocolate crumble is utterly addictive. I found myself eating it off the spoon, and that was before I’d made the set custard! This dish is the creation of chef Steve Barringer, a former Masterchef The Professionals runner up. He’s just taken the leap and opened his own relaxed fine dining restaurant, Eileen’s, in the beautiful market town of Ampthill. This dessert enables you to serve food at home which looks like fine dining, but with a method which is very much open to all levels of cooking confidence.

Set custard 375ml double cream 60ml egg yolk 113g sugar 190g milk chocolate 1.5 leaves gelatine (soaked in water) Caramel Sauce 200g sugar 200ml double cream Chocolate crumble 100g sugar 125g ground almonds 75g plain flour 50g cocoa powder 3g salt 65g melted butter Whole hazelnuts, coarsely chopped to serve Chocolate Custard Whisk the egg yolk and sugar, bring the cream to the boil. Pour this on to the egg and sugar mix, place it all back into the pan and cook on a low heat until the mixture coats the back of a spoon.

Whisk in the soaked gelatine.

Pop the chocolate into a bowl, pour the mixture on to the chocolate and mix until the chocolate has melted.

Place into container and leave to set for around 2 hours, or until set. You can also just pour it into individual ramekins.

Caramel sauce Place the sugar into cold plan and put on the heat.

Cook it until it has reached a light caramel stage, add the cream and then whisk until the sugar has disappeared. Add salt and place into container to cool.

Chocolate crumble Mix all the dry ingredients in a bowl, melt the butter, add it to the dry ingredients, stir with a wooden spoon and then place it on a tray.

Bake at 180C/ Gas Mark 4 for around 10 minutes, stirring a few times. It’ll come out dusty and powdery.

Pipe the custard into your serving bowls, top with the caramel and finish with the crumble and hazelnuts.

Hear wonderful recipes on Nick Coffer’s Weekend Kitchen every Sunday morning on BBC Three Counties radio at 11am. You can also join Nick every weekday afternoon at midday for brilliant local guests with great stories to tell and all the music you want for your early afternoon.

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Motoring

By James Baggott

How to get the best deal on your car insurance Nobody likes to pay more than they have to with car insurance. We take a look at how you can save money on your premiums.

Increase your excess Keeping your excess low to minimise the upfront cost can result in much higher premiums, so experiment with different excesses when shopping around. Your policy price could tumble by simply adding £50 more to your excess, but make sure you can afford to pay it in the event of a claim.

Consider your annual mileage The more miles you tell your insurer you’re doing, the more of a risk you are, hence the price is higher. So if you’re covering a few thousand miles less each year than your insurance allows, cut them out of your policy.

Keep the number of named drivers down Adding multiple users to a policy will increase costs, so drop anyone who uses the car very infrequently and use a temporary cover service when needed instead.

Add an alarm system Although most new cars have excellent security equipment, some older models lack decent anti-theft protection.

Investing in an aftermarket alarm system with an immobiliser will result in long-term savings by way of cheaper insurance premiums – especially if you fit a Thatchamapproved system.

Opt for a black box policy For younger drivers in particular, a black box policy can drastically reduce insurance costs. Insurers fit a data recorder to your car and monitor your driving habits, mileage covered and where you’ve been. As they can track exactly how you’re driving, your initial cost is reduced and good road habits can lead to renewal discounts.

Are the extras necessary?

Options like breakdown and courtesy car cover sound worthwhile, but can often be found cheaper elsewhere, while extras like cover while driving abroad may be unnecessary.

Garage your car Securely parking your car in a garage makes it less likely to be stolen and it won’t get damaged while parked, meaning cheaper premiums. The same applies if you can park in a secure area at work.

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Pay annually – if you can afford to The total annual insurance price when paying monthly is often higher than paying one lump sum, so you’ll save in the long run if you can afford to do this – but don’t take out bank loans or use a credit card, as this will cost more than a monthly direct debit.

Take a Pass Plus course Pass Plus courses are great for any motorist – new or old – and insurers recognise the course benefits and offer discounts for those who have taken them. You’re a safer and more experienced driver in their eyes, thus less of a risk.

Don’t be afraid to shop around As convenient as it may be to pick the cheapest insurance deal from a price comparison site, it won’t save much money.

Use that as a starting point, and then pick up the phone. Tell one insurer of another’s prices and see if they’ll offer a better deal – and if they do, go back to the first and let them know. You could knock hundreds of pounds off your premium with a few calls.

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Codeword 1

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ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ

Easy Suduko

Hard Suduko

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

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

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49

Time of Year

Be SMART in 2019 Most resolutions fail because they are too vague.

Make your 2019 resoultions SMART. Specific - Rather than, ‘I will lose weight,’ say, ‘I will lose 7lbs by the end of January by cutting out deserts, and walking a mile a day.’

Measurable - What does your success look like? Is it a 15lb weight-loss by the end of March? Is it fitting into a size 12 dresss? An effective goal is easy to visualise.

Attainable - By all means be ambitious; aiming to save £2500 during 2019 for your dream holiday in 2020 is fine, but make sure you can break down the goal into attainable steps which can be achieved in a shorter time frame. Can you save £200 per month from your current income? If not can you pick up some bar work or sell some possessions on eBay. Maybe you could save £100 per month over two years and take your dream holiday in 2021. Now your target is attainable.

Realistic - If your goal is to win X Factor but you couldn’t hold a tune in a bucket it’s time for a reality check. If you are 100lbs over your ideal weight, you are never going to be a size ten for your beach

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By Tom Hancock

holiday in July. But realistic doesn’t just mean ‘able to atttain’, it means ‘willing to attain.’ If you want to retrain as a nurse, will you put in the hours of study and take a pay cut while you’re doing that?

Time-limited - Set a goal. Research shows that three months is good as it’s short enough to see the end-point, and long enough for significant change.

Whether it’s passing your driving test, or shedding a stone or two before your wedding day; three months is a good time-frame.

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franklins Property Maintenance General Handyman Services Electrical, Plumbing, Decorating Carpentry, Flat pack furniture etc..

Covering Hitchin and the surrounding area Contact Mick Franklin on

07860 550988 or email

mick.franklin@yahoo.co.uk

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51

n O s ’ t Wha In January

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

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 3, 10, 17, 24 & 31 January 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 3, 10, 17, 24 & 31 January Roundabouters Country Dance Club 8-10pm Friends Meeting House, Cuttys Lane, Stevenage Friendly club for English country dancing. We welcome new members, both beginners and experienced. All dances walked through; club and guest callers ensure a varied programme.

Tel: 01438 727239 Email: roundabouters@live.co.uk Web: www.roundabouters.org.uk 3, 10, 17, 24 & 31 January Stevenage Plus Social Group 8.15pm for 8.30pm Holiday Inn Express (opposite Matalan), Stevenage £2 - first night free Stevenage Plus Social Group is a fun and friendly social group with members in their 30s and 40s from Stevenage, North Herts and surrounding areas. We have a varied programme of events on Thursday and Saturday evenings as well as day trips and weekends away. New members are always welcome. Tel: 01438 231550.

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

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3, 10, 17, 24 & 31 January 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 4 January RSPB Hitchin & Letchworth Local Group 7.30pm ‘The Settlement’, Nevells Road, Letchworth Garden City Local group members free, Visitors £3 ‘Hen Harriers, the Inglorious 12th’ with Dr Mark Avery. Mark will update us on his campaign to ban driven grouse shooting and the ecological and economic effects it brings to the countryside.

Tel: 01763 249459 Email: martinrjspc@hotmail.com 4, 11, 18 & 25 January 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 7, 14, 21 & 28 January 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

7, 14, 21 & 28 January 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 8, 15, 22 & 29 January 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 8 & 22 January Hitchin & District Probus Club 12 noon for 1pm Priory Hotel, Hitchin Social club for retired and semi-retired professional and business-men which meets on the second and fourth Tuesday of the month for lunch. Organised visits and events throughout the year. New members welcome.

Tel: Roger Burt 01438 351891 Email: roger@mazda20.plus.com 9 January Letchworth Chamber Music Concert 7.45 pm Howgills Friends Meeting House, 42 South View Tickets £15, Students & Under 18s £7 Concert by The English Piano Trio - Jane Faulkner (violin), Pal Banda (cello) and Timothy Ravenscroft (piano) - playing works by Haydn (Trio in E flat minor Hob. XV 31), Beethoven (Trio in E flat op.70 no.2) and Scxhumann (Trio in F major op.80). Tickets available on the door.

Web: www.letchworthmusicclub.co.uk

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

What’s on entries to whatson@villagermag.com Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts

n O s ’ t Wha In January 15 January Stevenage RSPB Local Group 7.30pm The Friends Meeting House, Cutty’s Lane, Stevenage RSPB Members £3, Non-members £3.50, Juniors 50p. Ian Nightingale will give a talk about his holiday to The Cevenne - Butterflies, plants and landscapes.

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

20 January Hitchin & Letchworth Local Group RSPB Trip Coach fares Adults £15.50 Under 18s £7.75 Breckland and the Thetford Forest area, along the border between Norfolk and Suffolk. We visit two Breckland reserves, with the Lackford Suffolk Wildlife Trust reserve providing (amongst other things) a good variety of water birds and Lynford hosting woodland birds including (hopefully) hawfinch. Coach Pick-up points Hitchin 7.45am; Letchworth 8.00am and Royston 8.20am.

Recommended donation of £2.00 at Lackford.

Tel: 01763 249459 Email: martinrjspc@hotmail.com Web: rspb.org.uk/groups/hitchinandletchworth

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20 January Stevenage RSPB Local Group trip to Woburn Park 9.30am Meet in the Park Street car park opposite St. Mary’s Church MK17 9PG. Map ref: 153/SP 951332 for a morning walk round the parklands, woodlands and lakes that surround Woburn Abbey. Possible sightings of Mandarin duck, Goosander, Hawfinch and woodland birds, plus plenty of deer.

Tel: Leader Graham Beevor 01438 232055 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

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Pets

How to keep your pets warm this winter As winter deepens and the weather starts to bite, it’s important to make sure our pets are warm and comfortable to avoid illness and distress.

Even those animals with thick, furry coats are susceptible to the cold, so what can we do to help our dogs, cats, and rabbits stay warm this winter?

Keeping your dog warm and cosy A warm dog coat offers protection from the winter cold, and as temperatures drop, even dogs with the thickest fur will benefit from the extra insulation when exercising or playing outside. A fleece-lined inner layer with a waterproof outer is a good choice, particularly if the two layers can be detached and used individually as the weather dictates.

By Ann Haldon

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Making sure your cat is warm this winter It’s more difficult to ensure your cat is warm in the winter given their independent nature, but they have a natural inclination to find warm places. That’s why it’s advisable to provide a cosy shelter in your garden, to reduce the likelihood of them sitting underneath cars or in other warm but dangerous places.

Protecting your rabbit from the worst of the winter weather If your rabbit is spending the winter in an outdoor hutch, you’ll need to provide additional protection from the elements. Siting their hutch away from the cold winds and driving rain, providing extra bedding, covering the hutch with a blanket and their run/outdoor area with tarpaulin, will all help to keep them healthy and safe.

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Electrician

www.hertsandbedselectrical.co.uk

T J Lee

Chimney Builders (Hitchin)

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

Fault finding/repairs Extra lights and sockets New fuse boards Electrical testing and certificates

Tel: 01462 234717 Mob: 07966 404469 Email: terryjleebuilding@gmail.com T J Lee Chimney Builders

Qualified electrician  Fully insured Reliable service  Tidy work Free quote  Satisfaction guaranteed

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

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55

WINDOW REPAIRS

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December’s Puzzle Solutions and Winners Last Month’s Crossword Winner Mr John Morley from Letchworth Christmas Competition Winner Sue Sandford from St Neots Easy

Hard

Fun Quiz - Review of the Year 1. When he was born in April, what position did Prince Louis of Cambridge take in the line of succession to the British throne?

2. Ingvar Kamprad, who died in January at the age of 91, is best remembered for founding which business in 1943?

3. Which country hosted the 2018 Winter Olympics?

4. After over two decades on the BBC, what was broadcast on ITV for the first time in April as part of an advert break during an episode of Britain’s Got Talent?

5. In January, the results of Donald Trump’s first medical since becoming US President revealed that he was taking a drug called finasteride to try to prevent what?

6. In June, which country officially lifted a ban meaning that there were no longer any countries in the world where women were forbidden to drive motor vehicles?

7. Which song did Theresa May briefly dance to as she stepped onto stage for her keynote speech at the 2018 Conservative party conference?

8. Following their wedding in May, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle became the Duke and Duchess of where?

9. In June, the Prime Minister of New Zealand, Jacinda Ardern, became only the second ever elected head of government to do what while in office?

10. In July, which song dropped from number one to number 97 to set a record for the fastest ever fall from the top of the UK singles charts in a single week?

1. Fifth 2. Ikea 3. South Korea 4. The National Lottery results 5. Hair loss 6. Saudi Arabia 7. Dancing Queen 8. Sussex 9. Give birth 10. Three Lions

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57

The Villager Prize Crossword

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

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

Prize

£25

Across 1. Small town (7) 5. Hot chocolate (5) 8. Pant leg (7) 9. Estate, farm (5) 10. Defeated side (5) 11. Computer software (7) 12. Basement (6) 14. Removed skin (6) 17. Anglophone (7) 19. Vagrant (5) 22. Ran (5) 23. Changing (7) 24. Ease off, put feet up (5) 25. Snakes and ____, game (7) Down 1. Absolutely necessary (5) 2. Appears, seems (5) 3. Mozart’s home (7) 4. Our continent (6) 5. Ship’s freight (5) 6. Manage, direct (7) 7. Repentant (7) 12. More obvious (7) 13. Well reasoned (7) 15. Went into (7) 16. Large spade (6) 18. List of words at back of book (5) 20. Similar (5) 21. Sheets (5)

Name: Tel:



Address:

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59

Life Begins...

Are Aging Lines a Good Thing?

By Kate McLelland

Walk into certain Superdrug stores nowadays and you might come away with more than toothpaste, deodorant and bubble bath. Once you’ve filled your basket with all the usual health and beauty products, you can slip into a private room for a BOTOX® injection.

BOTOX® has been around as a cosmetic treatment since the early Nineties, when it was hailed as a miracle anti-aging procedure.

The procedure eases out ‘dynamic’ facial wrinkles (created by muscle contractions) by paralysing the muscle underlying the wrinkle, resulting in a smooth and more youthful appearance that can last up to four months.

By public demand?

Superdrug’s new ‘Skin Renew’ initiative, which brings anti-aging treatments to the high street, is part of a wider beauty marketing trend designed to persuade us that non-surgical cosmetic treatments such as BOTOX®, dermal fillers and chemical peels should be considered as part of a normal beauty routine. Caris Newson, Head of Superdrug’s Health and Wellbeing Services, insists that the firm is only “listening to what people are telling us they would like” following feedback from

10,000 customers, but the initiative has been criticised by the British Association of Aesthetic and Plastic Surgeons, who say that customers could suffer from skin infections or even permanent muscle paralysis if treatments are not administered correctly.

Preventative measures Controversially, Superdrug’s ‘Skin Renew’ service is available to customers over twenty-five, and this has led to accusations that the company is encouraging younger people to seek unnecessary treatment. Cost may be another factor that encourages consumers, old and young alike, to experiment with anti-aging treatments.

Customers who would previously have expected to pay around £300 for BOTOX® injections at a beauty clinic can now book a Superdrug appointment from just £99.

While this may make non-surgical cosmetic treatments available to all (rather than just the rich and famous), it seems ironic that this high street roll-out has come at a time when many celebrities are resisting the pressure to stay young-looking for as long as possible.

Celebrities speak out Last year Marie Claire magazine

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asked a number of high-profile stars for their opinion about cosmetic treatments, and the results were surprising. Out of those in favour of BOTOX®, forty-five-year-old Broadchurch actor Olivia Colman admitted “I LOVED it” after having a course of injections, while plain-speaking film star Scarlett Johansson bluntly declared: “I don’t want to be an old hag!”

But a greater number of celebrities seemed to be against anti-aging treatments. Julia Roberts (star of movies such as ‘Pretty Woman’ and ‘Notting Hill’) has been a vocal opponent of cosmetic surgery in recent years. She says: “Your face tells a story… and it shouldn’t be a story about your drive to the doctor’s office.”

Whether you love the fact that BOTOX®, chemical peels and fillers are becoming more affordable and easier to obtain, or you support Julia Roberts’ views on aging naturally, as our population steadily ages (we’ll see 8.6 million extra people aged 65 years and over in 50 years’ time) it’s likely that we’ll see more and more of our high street outlets promising to iron out our wrinkles and restore the glow of youth for less than £100.

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0800 046 1080 UP TO 40% OFF IN JANUARY hello@thehomeimprovementproject.co.uk www.thehomeimprovementproject.co.uk To advertise in The Villager and Town Life please call 01767 261122

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Books

Book Review

By Kate Duggan Reasons to Stay Alive

By Matt Haig

An estimated 10% of people will suffer from depression at some point in their lives. If you’re waging your own battle against this debilitating illness, Reasons to Stay Alive may help. Matt Haig chronicles his own fight against depression and shares what worked for him. It’s an honest, warm, humorous and very relatable read. You may also find Haig’s Notes on a Nervous Planet of interest if you suffer from anxiety or panic attacks.

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

Roofing

Slow

by Gizzi Erskine

Comfort eating doesn’t have to mean chocolate, shop-bought pies and a vat of ice cream. It can mean taking the time to show yourself some self-care by preparing delicious, wholesome, hearty dishes.

Slow has plenty of recipes to help you do just that, from warming winter stews to slow-roasted meats and decadent desserts. They’re all written in Gizzi’s usual easy, unaffected style. Salt Beef Brisket anyone? Or Lemon Sherbet Meringue Pie? Yum.

Why Mummy Drinks

by Gill Sims

Frazzled parents everywhere will find something to relate to in Why Mummy Drinks. Humorous reflections on parenting in the modern world precede spaces to jot down your own thoughts each day. If you like journals (and laughing), and have ever wondered whether you should just record yourself shouting ‘Teeth! Hair! Shoes! Hurry up!’ to save having to speak in the morning, this book is for you.

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USEFUL NUMBERS

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