Hitchin july 18 by Villager Mag

VILLAGER The

Issue 4 - July 2018

and Town

Life

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

In this issue Win tickets to

Meraki Festival The Invention of

Photography Win £25

in our Prize Crossword

Bringing Local Business to Local People Your FREE local magazine covering Hitchin, Great and Little Wymondley, St Ippolyts, Charlton and surrounding areas every month To advertise in The Villager and Town Life please call 01767 261122

E E R py

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F co

The Old White Horse • 1 High Street • Biggleswade • SG18 0JE Tel: 01767 314344 www.lolineinteriors.co.uk e: dave@lolineinteriors.co.uk 2

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Inside this issue...

Win Tools to make Gardening Easier

The Invention of Photography....................................................4 Wines: More Gems of Austria.....................................................8 Win Tickets to Meraki Festival..................................................10 Win Tools to make Gardening Easier.........................................12 Garden Tools.............................................................................14 Mauritius - Natural World.........................................................17 Steps to a Healthier Heart........................................................19 Take Control of your Electronic Inbox........................................20 Beauty and the Beach..............................................................22 Tips for a Formal or Black Tie Summer Event............................25

How to Save Money on your Summer Holiday this Year............28 Stretch Benefits........................................................................31 Feeling Fruity...........................................................................35 Plastered..................................................................................37 Essential Scent.........................................................................39 Laparoscopic Spays..................................................................40 Should you Buy an Aitomatic Car?............................................42 Mediation: Marvellous Medicure or New Age Fad?...................44 Nick Coffer’ Weekend Recipe.....................................................47 Puzzle Page..............................................................................48 What’s On.................................................................................50 Fun Quiz...................................................................................53 Dwile Flonking with the Devil and his Tailors...........................54 Prize Crossword........................................................................58 Book Review............................................................................61

Steps to a Healthier Heart

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, Trevor Langley, Tracey Anderson, Solange Hando, Louise Addison, Lisa Calder, Kate Duggan, Jennie Billings, Ann Haldon, Sarah Davey, Rachael Leverton, Pippa Greenwood, Berry House Vets, Tom Wiltshire, Kate McLelland and Nick Coffer

Advertising Sales/Local Editorial Nigel Frost • Tel 01767 261122 nigel@villagermag.com Photography - Kieren Welch Design and Artwork Design 9 • Tel 07762 969460 • www.design9marketing.co.uk

Publishers Villager Publications Ltd 24 Market Square, Potton, Bedfordshire SG19 2NP Tel: 01767 261122 Email: nigel@villagermag.com www.villagermag.com

Disclaimer - All adverts and editorial are printed in good faith, however, Villager Publications Ltd can not take any responsibility for the content of the adverts, the services provided by the advertisers or any statements given in the editorial. No part of this publication may be reproduced or stored without the express permission of the publisher.

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History

By Catherine Rose

Light Drawing The Invention of Photography With summer finally here, many of us will be going on our annual holidays. Growing up, a camera was always on our family packing list to capture those happy holiday moments and the scenery of foreign shores. Nowadays, cameras in smart phones are so advanced that most of us already carry around the means to record our lives in our pocket. But how did photography come out of the darkroom? Before a way to permanently capture an image was invented, the forerunner to photography was the camera obscura, Latin for ‘dark room’. Discovered in 1600 (or probably earlier), an upside down, back-to-front image of the outside world can be projected onto a wall in a darkened room through a pinhole aperture. During the Renaissance, it was found that the effect could be replicated by using a box – the first ‘pinhole camera’ – with mirrors employed to reflect the image so that it was the right way round.

The first physical photograph, based on the camera obscura, was taken in 1825 by Frenchman Joseph Nicéphore Niépce. The result, ‘View from a Window at Le Gras’, is very grainy and took around eight hours to develop. Niépce did it by coating a pewter plate with bitumen of Judea, which hardens when exposed to light. He then placed it in a camera obscura. When the unhardened parts of the bitumen were washed away, it left a negative image on the plate from which a print could be made. He called the process heliography (sun drawing). But it was in 1839 that photography is said to have truly been born with the invention of the daguerreotype process by Louis Daguerre, a scenery artist and friend of Niépce who had inherited his notes on the latter’s death in 1833. Using a glass plate coated with light-reactive silver iodide, the image was developed with the aid of mercury vapour. Unlike heliography, the daguerreotype required

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only minutes of exposure rather than hours. The image was later fixed onto the plate with a hot salt solution. Although still a negative, because it was silver on glass, it appeared as a positive image when viewed from the right angle. Photography, Greek for ‘drawing with light’, was unveiled to the world that same year and the daguerreotype became the first commercially viable process. There are numerous portraits taken at this time, some astonishingly clear, such as the self-portrait by Robert Cornelius, often claimed to be the “first portrait photograph ever taken”, and John Draper’s wonderful study of his sister Dorothy wearing an early 19th century decorated bonnet. At around the same time in England, Henry Fox Talbot had already created photographic negatives on paper using silver chloride but, much like Niepce’s heliography, the images took several hours to expose. Talbot began to develop it further, culminating in his invention of the calotype process (Greek for ‘beautiful picture’). Unlike the daguerreotype which formed a single image on a glass plate, one calotype negative could be used to produce unlimited prints. Talbot’s ‘silver halide’ was the foundation for wet film technology that has endured until the present day. In 1851, the wet collodian process was introduced by Frederick Archer, which used glass negatives printed onto albumen paper. This process could capture sharp images faster than ever before, with the advantage that one lightsensitised plate could fit up to eight prints. It soon became the universal method for producing carte-de-visites (photographic calling cards), tintypes (small inexpensive portraits printed onto thin sheets of black enamelled iron) and ambrotypes (like daguerreotypes in that they were printed onto glass). Renowned Victorian photographers like Lewis Carroll and Julia Margaret Cameron used this process to produce their remarkable studies. Its drawbacks were that plates had to be prepared and used immediately, and it remained difficult to capture movement without the image being blurred. 1871 saw the beginning of modern photography with the advent of the

dry plate. Coated with silver salts suspended in gelatin rather than collodian solution, it was sixty times more sensitive and meant that handheld cameras could be used without the need for a stabilising tripod. In 1888, George Eastman made the first commercial camera available to the general public – the Kodak. Under the slogan: ‘You press the button, we do the rest’, the camera came with a roll of flexible film – initially paper and later transparent nitrocellulose – which, following exposure, could be sent to one of Kodak’s printing facilities. Although there had been early experiments with colour photography, most notably James Maxwell’s tartan ribbon of 1855, photographs remained black and white, with colour only achieved by hand-tinting. The first colour photography appeared when the Lumiere brothers invented their Autochrome process in 1907, which used panchromatic emulsion. Although it didn’t become a commercial success, some of the images it achieved are stunning, such as the 1913 ‘Portraits of Christina’ by Mervyn O’Gorman (The Royal Photographic Society) – a series of colour photos of a young girl identified only recently as 16-year-old Christina Bevan. The invention of Kodachrome colour film in 1935 meant that colour photographs were well and truly on their way. But just as some artists falsely believed the advent of photography meant an end to painting, so black and white photographs, with an artistic and often edgy interpretation of their subject, have remained popular even in the new era of digital photography.

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Food and Drink

Wines:

More Gems of Austria I continued my quest, searching for Austrian wines that have been recognised and acknowledged with awards, for their qualities, plus wines that, in my opinion, deserve to be.

Weingut Forstreiter is located in Krems-Hollenburg, a traditional wine growing village of the Kremstal region. The Forstreiter family has been producing wine since 1868. Forstreiter Grüner Veltliner Ried Kremser Kogl and Grüner Veltliner Tabor Kremstal Reserve are both extremely popular, classic productions. These splendid white wines have most pleasant bouquets. Both possess a good balance, with tropical fruit flavours, very acceptable mouthfeel and lengthy palate sensations. Forstreiter Riesling Schotter is balanced and refreshing. This great, dry, white wine, is chosen regularly for many dining occasions and is excellent for the mouth’s pleasures and on to the palate. These wines are wonderful accompaniments to a lot of cuisine, including fish, seafood, plus white meats and are just a selection of the Forstreiter white wines. Their ranges include outstanding reds, too. www.forstreiter.at Anton Bauer produces superb white and red wines. As the company says, “The wines are with soul”, every year. For my ‘wines of choice’ I selected the powerful Zweigelt and the Wagram Reserve Zweigelt Alte Reben productions. Dark fruits are very much displayed for the bouquets and lead, enticingly, to the mouthfeel and splendid palate sensations. Wonderful with red meats, etc. For a sweeter choice I found Kracher, that produces a fantastic range of wines. Burgenland Beerenauslese Cuvée ‘hit the spot’, for me. Absolutely divine, when a sweet wine is called for. The bouquet brings delight, plus the mouthfeel and palate will not be disappointed with this production, having luscious fruits in abundance. For all details of the full ranges www.antonbauer.at and www.kracher.at The Top Selection Company sources high-quality wines, spirits, plus drinks, from global origins and offers an exceptional portfolio. Their wines and other beverages can be located in top hotels and restaurants, plus many retailers. Top Selection also offers a complete service, including advice about cuisine pairings and winery visits, etc. www. topselection.co.uk

As always, Enjoy!

ey Trevor Langl

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All Saints

Pixie Lott

Judge Jules

Win 2 Tickets to Meraki Festival Meraki is back! We’re announcing our 2018 music lineup in the lead up to the festival and it’s already obvious that we’ve kicked things up a notch! We have two festival music stages filled with incredible artists, from global superstars like All Saints, Pixie Lott, Nik Kershaw and 10cc, to national and local favourites like Boogie Storm, Simon McBride and Annabel Williams. We also have an assortment of amazing activities which you can pack into your days at Meraki - these include: Europe’s largest outdoor waterslide, swimming pools, roller disco, caving, free massage, face painting, kids comedy & theatre and much, much more. Our All-Inclusive Tickets mean that once you’re through the gates, you don’t have to pay for any of our festival activities - you can enjoy all of your favourite parts of the festival and not pay a penny more – just focus on having a great time and creating magical summer memories! And for those of you who like to hear your tunes blasting off a set of decks, The House of Neon dance tent will be pumping out party classics each night with a stellar lineup of DJs that includes legends like Judge Jules, Danny Rampling, Tall Paul, and Seb Fontaine. Whether you come and camp for a long weekend, join us an amazing day or grab an evening ticket and party with us for one night only - we look forward to seeing you in August for an incredible festival filled with Meraki summer fun! To be in with a chance to win 2 tickets to Meraki Festival simply send your entry by 16th July 2018 to: Meraki Festival, Villager Publications Ltd, 24 Market Square, Potton, Beds SG19 2NP The winner will be drawn randomly.

MERAKI FESTIVAL COMPETITION ENTRY

For a chance to win 2 tickets to Meraki Festival simply complete your details below and post your response by 16th July 2018 to: Meraki Festival Competition, Villager Publications Ltd, 24 Market Square, Potton, Beds SG19 2NP. Name:



Don’t want to leave it to chance? For the full line-up and to book tickets go to merakifestival.com

Address:

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A great day out for the whole family! Home to over 200 animals and birds, children’s playground, tractor trailer rides, flying displays, animal meet and greats, crazy golf and more. All included in the admission - Adult £12.50 Senior £11.50 Child (3-15 years) £9.50 Family (2 adults & 2 children) £34.50 and children under 3 years are free. Bedfordshire Food & Garden Festival - 7th & 8th July A great day our for all you foodies plus inspiration for all you gardeners. Adult £6.00 Senior £5.00 Child (3-15 years) £2.50 Includes admission into the activity farm and bird of prey centre. Herrings Green Activity Farm, Wilstead MK45 3DT www.birdsofpreycentre.co.uk Tel: 01234 742362 / 01234 742766 The Family Farm - Open 7 days a week 10.00 - 6.00

GARDEN WALK & TALK

The cost of your tour includes a hot beverage, scone, cream and jam for just £12.50

3RD JULY 2018, 2 - 3.30PM

Come and learn more about our gardens and how you can create the perfect outdoor space

SEE HOW WE GROW CEREALS, FRUITS AND VEGETABLES LEARN MORE ABOUT HOW YOU CAN GROW YOUR VERY OWN VEG OR FLOWER PATCH IDEAS ON HOW YOU CAN SUPPORT WILDLIFE IN YOUR OWN GARDENS

TO BOOK:

Email: dawn.walton@jordansmill.com or online at: www.jordansmill.com/events

WHY NOT FOLLOW US ON: /JORDANSMILL @JORDANSMILL

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WWW.JORDANSMILL.COM

Jordans Mill, Holme Mills, Langford Road Broom, Nr Biggleswade SG18 9JY Call: 01767 603940

Win Tools to Make

Gardening Easier Win top quality carbon steel garden tools plus a gift voucher, together worth over £100.

At Bickerdikes you’ll find a huge selection of best quality plants: flowers, vegetables, trees, shrubs and turf. If you are new to gardening the Bickerdike team’s friendly, welcoming, professional and practical advice will ensure you plant the right plant in the right place. What’s more, hardy plants are guaranteed for two years providing they are planted and cared for correctly. For well over 80 years the Bickerdike family have been in the horticultural industry. Following the family tradition Mark and Debbie Bickerdike opened Bickerdikes Garden Centre in 1999, applying the same principles as previous generations of the family: quality, choice, value for money and above all personal service. The Bickerdikes service extends to their carry to car assistance and free delivery for larger items if you spend £15 or more. Plus the Bickerdikes Reward Card scheme means that every time you make a purchase you’ll earn points towards future purchases. Once you’ve browsed all the plants, containers and pots, tools and equipment, plant feeds and fertilisers, garden furniture, huge range of gifts and gift food you’ll be ready to visit Norton’s Café. Pop in for coffee or a light snack or maybe lunch. There’s a full menu all day starting with breakfast and there’s waitress service too.

Competition

BICKERDIKES COMPETITION ENTRY Name: Tel:

QUESTION...

How much do you need to spend to get free delivery for larger items?



Answer the question below to be in with a chance to win a compete set of seven Wilkinson Sword carbon steel garden tools, all with a five-year guarantee: (hand fork and trowel, garden rake and lawn rake, digging spade, digging fork and Dutch hoe) plus a £20 voucher to spend at Bickerdikes. (Please note the wheelbarrow is not part of the prize.) To enter, complete the form below and send to: Bickerdikes Competition, Villager Publications Ltd, 24 Market Square, Potton, Bedfordshire SG19 2NP. The winner will be picked at random. Deadline: 16th July 2018

Email: Address: 12

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Time of Year

Garden Toys Gardens are a great place for kids to run around and get that all important fresh air and exercise. The addition of a toy or two will mean you can keep them happily occupied for hours. Swings are perennially popular. Make sure the size and style is appropriate to the age of the child. Better still buy one which has changeable seats so you can upgrade as the child grows, or simply ring the changes now and then. Slides come in all sizes. They can be independent structures or attached to climbing frames. You really do get what you pay for in this instance. Do your homework. Is a metal or wooden frame best for your garden. How much use will it get and how many and what ages of children does it need to support? Get the best you can afford and it will serve you for many years. Trampolines are a relative newbie to the UK garden compared with slides and swings but they are rightfully popular. Even adults can’t resist them. You’ll need a flat surface, and a safety net is highly recommended. Most trampolining injuries occur when one child lands on another so buy the biggest your garden will allow. It’s almost impossible to police the ‘one child at a time’ recommendation so bigger is safer as each child has more space.

Kids love dens. Provide a Wendy house or a tepee and let their imagination run wild. If you have the funds you can buy an elaborate fort or tree house. If you don’t have space for a permanent Wendy house, provide poles and old blankets and let them construct their own! If you have space for a sand and water area your children will love it. There are simple small plastic tables designed for the purpose and huge wooden luxury models complete with seats and sunshade. Use specialist play sand to fill it. Make sure you buy one with a cover to protect it from the weather and prevent neighbourhood cats from using it as a toilet. We can’t all have a proper pool in the garden but most of us have room for a paddling pool. Add a couple of supersoaker water pistols and a waterslide made from heavy duty silicon and you’re set for an afternoon of splashy delight. If you have a large space you could invest in some football goals or a badminton set. But for those who love to play games and have a smaller space there’s croquet or outdoor skittles. And there are now outdoor giant versions of family favourites like Connect 4, Jenga and Chess. Time for some outdoor fun.

By Tracey Anderson

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Charles Wilson Carpets & Flooring • Quality flooring and carpets • Modern & traditional designs • Reliable, expert fitting service • 46 years of experience

01462 450780

39 Hermitage Road, Hitchin www.charleswilsoncarpets.co.uk

Could you give a Luton child a forever family? We would love to hear from families who are looking to adopt sibling groups, young babies as well as mixed heritage children. Come to our adoption information event on Saturday 7 July; drop in between 10.30am to 12 noon. The Rufus Centre, Moorﬁeld Room, Steppingley Road, Flitwick, Bedfordshire, MK45 1AH Presentation at 10.45am and the opportunity to speak to an adopter and social workers.

Please call the Adoption Team on 01582 547804 to reserve a place or to learn more about adoption.

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Travel

By Solange Hando

Mauritius: Natural World In the southern reaches of the Indian Ocean, Mauritius is blessed with idyllic beaches, but a few steps inland another kind of paradise waits to be discovered, stunning and lush, as the island endeavours to protect its wildlife and dwindling forest. Great swathes were lost to timber and plantations. The remainder covers about 18% of the land, only 2% of it native trees, but nestling in gorges or climbing to mountain tops it still harbours 670 species of plants. Meanwhile, imported casuarinas sway along the shore, banyans thrive and Chinese guava bushes spread unhindered. There are fan-shaped traveller’s palms and unusual trees protected in botanical gardens, including the hyophorbe amaricaulis palm in Curepipe and the rare talipot in Pamplemousse, which takes up to 60 years to flower and then dies. As for the wildlife, boars and Javanese deer live alongside the long-tailed macaques, the ornate rainbow-coloured geckos and thousands of fruit bats, or ‘flying foxes’, the only native mammals, with wings up to a metre across. Although the dodo is extinct, other native birds may fare better, such as the pink pigeons and Mauritius kestrels breeding once again in protected areas. Down in the south west, beyond the tea plantations of Darling Wood, the road climbs through scented pines towards the Grand Bassin sacred lake and Hindu shrine. Nearby, the Native Garden of Petrin displays the lovely red ‘earring’, or national flower, and an array of medicinal

plants. But most enticing of all in the area is the Black River Gorges National Park, covering over 6,000 hectares of forest laced with scenic trails. Echo parakeets flash emerald green along the Macchabee ridge, white tropicbirds flit through the air with the grace of ballet dancers. On the very edge of the gorge the Black River viewpoint can be easily accessed, a breathtaking place where, below the jagged peaks, the thicklywooded slopes tumble down to the sea More views can be enjoyed along the road down to the coast, most dramatic the precipitous peak on Le Morne peninsula where runaway slaves jumped to their death. Chamarel is a must-see, starting with the island’s highest waterfall leaping down 83 metres. But the top attraction is the legendary waves of ‘Coloured Earth’ spread across a slope, red, purple, pink, silver and gold. Now protected by walkways, this unique phenomenon was caused by the uneven cooling of lava, and you can buy a sample in a bottle. Shake as you will, the colours will separate again within a day. On the central plateau, the Deer’s Hole caldera is equally impressive. Its slopes are cloaked with vegetation, its floor is choked with silt but as you stand on the rim between heaven and earth, you look across an island bristling with eerie peaks, the Rampart, the Guard, the unmistakable silhouette of the Thumb or Pieter Both, resembling a human figure, named after a drowned admiral. Legend has it that if this pinnacle falls, disaster will strike. So far, fortunately, Pieter Both has kept his head and as kestrels soar above the rustling slopes, you can enjoy the natural world of a truly stunning island.

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THE LORD LISTER HOTEL

Est.1992

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21/11/16 15:36:04

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Health By Louise Addison

Steps to a

Healthier Heart Cardiovascular disease causes 26% of all deaths in the UK; that’s over 150,000 deaths each year – an average of 420 people each day or one death every three minutes. Those are the scary statistics but what can you do to improve the health of your heart? Below are the top tips according to leading cardiologists. Walk 30 minutes every day, no matter what! – A half hour walk every day decreases an individual’s chances of a heart attack by 30%. If you think you’ll skip days find a walking buddy and hold each other accountable. Find out your blood pressure and take steps to bring it down – Your blood pressure may be a more important factor than your cholesterol! If the doctor prescribes medication take it, but you can also take steps to lower it yourself and maybe reduce the need for medication. The best ways are to exercise and lose some belly fat. Individuals with high levels of fat in the abdominal cavity (belly fat) and around their abdominal organs are more likely to develop high blood pressure because this fat interferes with the function of the kidneys, which regulate the blood pressure. Know what your HDL number is and then do what you can to raise it to 1.3 mmol/l - In women especially it seems that a higher HDL (good cholesterol) number is more important than a low LDL (bad cholesterol) number. Eat about 25g of raw, fresh, unsalted nuts per day – especially walnuts, pecans, hazelnuts, pistachios and almonds. Nuts are packed with omega 3 oils, raise levels of HDL good

cholesterol, decrease inflammation and have a good effect on the heart. Healthy fats such as olive or rapeseed oil have a positive effect too, and the really good news is that an alcoholic drink per day also works in your favour! Eat a good quality tomato pasta sauce! Simple tomato pasta sauce is loaded with potassium which aids lowering of blood pressure. Floss! – Most people don’t know that your oral health has an effect on arterial health so make sure those pearly whites stay clean and flossed. Limit saturated fat and avoid trans fats – Try to keep saturated fat below 20g per day. Both saturated fat and trans fats (found in many processed foods) lead to inflammation of the arteries. Read labels and avoid foods which list sugar as one of the first five ingredients – In particular don’t be fooled by foods which claim to be ‘low fat’ because often they contain extra sugar instead. Healthy fats such as olive oil are better than empty sugar calories. Drink wine – But not too much! It’s a slightly bizarre (but consistent scientific truth) that teetotal folk have a higher risk of heart disease than those who drink in moderation. But a glass of red wine occasionally is very different to binge drinking once a week so be careful with this tip. Eat a rainbow of fruit and veg – Five to nine servings a day will help to keep your heart in tip-top condition. It may sound a lot but if you add chopped veg to pie fillings and casseroles and eat fruit at breakfast and salad stuff for snacks it all adds up.

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Technology

By Lisa Calder

Take Control Of Your Electronic Inbox!

‘Why do you have 9632 emails in your inbox?’ I looked at my husband, ‘Um...is that a lot? How many are in your inbox?’ ‘About twenty,’ he replied. I looked at my inbox. There were emails I had meant to deal with; emails from clients and the kids’ schools with information I needed; there were time-sensitive offers I’d never got around to investigating; endless updates from the social media platforms I subscribed to, and the rest I’d kept just in case, of what I’m not entirely sure. I wondered idly if there was such a thing as being an email hoarder. I clearly had a problem and I needed to act. I paused my work and began to sift through the backlog. An hour later I’d made little progress. ‘Just delete the lot,’ said my husband. ‘It’ll be like ripping off a plaster. The anticipation is the worst bit.’ Could I do that? It was tempting. But I paused. I couldn’t. I did have a problem! I decided to compromise. I kept the last month’s emails and deleted everything else. EVERYTHING. WOW it felt liberating. I looked at my almostempty inbox. It felt so good I quickly went through the month’s worth of emails I’d kept, and deleted anything I knew I’d never get around to answering. I replied to and actioned emails which required a response, then deleted them too. But while I was working five new emails arrived and in the back

of my mind I knew how easily those five would become fifty...and then five thousand. I needed to futureproof my inbox! I decided I’d set aside fifteen minutes once or possibly twice a day to deal with email. If I needed to save information I would file it in a folder on my laptop. Then once a month I would quickly go through the inbox and delete anything else that I knew would never be actioned. To be honest that’s been the hardest part. I feel genuine anxiety about deleting emails. FOMO (fear of missing out) is a real problem for many people with email issues. So many emails are ‘offers’. What if that amazing offer never comes up again? Believe me, a quick trawl through my pre-deletion inbox, indicates they do...frequently. What’s more, these ‘offers’ are often time-sensitive and so we hang on to them ‘just in case’, then miss the deadline anyway and still don’t delete them. I found it useful to cap my emails at 50 and I use an email system to filter school emails into a separate inbox, so I can see at a glance when ‘Dress like a Roman’ day or ‘Bring an onion to school’ day (yes really) is coming up! Your system might have to be different. The trick is to invent one to suit your own personality and routine. I feel more in control and organised now I’m on top of my inbox. Now to tackle the cupboard under the stairs!

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Health & Beauty

Beauty and the Beach From a £3.75 multi-tasker to a £70 serum, we have plenty of beauty goodies to tempt you with this month. Still hiding your legs away under loose trousers and maxi dresses? Try Neals Yard Remedies’ Seaweed Salt Scrub. It’s superb at getting rid of dry skin and leaves legs feeling much softer and smoother. The salt and kaolin also help to draw out toxins. And, as an added bonus, the essential oils, including ginger, grapefruit and frankincense, smell amazing, so the scrub is a real pleasure to use. It’s £18 from www.nealsyardremedies.com If, like me, you prefer a serum to a heavy moisturiser in the summer, and you’re over 30, you might want to check out Murad’s Rapid Age Spot Correcting Serum. It’s been proven to reduce age spots and other pigmentation, while hydrating, softening and brightening. Results are impressive. Some benefits can be seen instantly, while others take a few weeks. More than 1,000 people took part in the clinical trial, and 100% of them agreed that the serum lightened their dark spots, reduced discolouration and generally improved the appearance of their skin. Personally, I saw a noticeable difference in just over a week. The serum costs £70 from John Lewis, House of Fraser and Debenhams. You can’t beat a multitasker, especially when you’re short on suitcase space and want to cram some more flipflops in. Frances Prescott’s Tri-Balm is my new favourite multi-tasker. It’s a cleanser, exfoliator

and moisturiser in one, and a stick balm, so you just massage it into your skin, rinse off and pat dry. Tri-Balm is formulated with natural oils and waxes, including rice bran oil, wheatgerm oil and beeswax; it’s rich in hyaluronic acid and antioxidants, and super gentle. Skin feels clean, plumped and soft instantly. It costs £46 at www.francesprescott.com Tea-tree oil is another great multi-tasker. Pop a bottle in your beach bag to treat scrapes, insect bites, spots and more. Meghan Markle swears by it, saying “The one thing I cannot live without when I’m traveling is tea-tree oil. If you get a cut, a mosquito bite, a small breakout … it’s my little cure it all.” Thursday Plantation’s tea-tree oil is harvested in Australia and is said to be one of the purest on the market. It’s £5 from Boots, Sainsbury’s and Waitrose. We all know the importance of cleansing, but most of us are guilty of falling into bed without taking our make-up off on at least the odd occasion. I keep a packet of Faith in Nature’s Facial Wipes in my bedside cupboard. They’re free from fragrance and alcohol, and contain aloe vera and chamomile to soothe and hydrate skin. (Plus, unlike some wipes I’ve tried, these actually do remove makeup.) They’re £3.25 from www.faithinnature.co.uk

By Kate Duggan www.kateduggan.co.uk

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House of Colour

Tips for a Formal or Black Tie Summer Event 1. Consider the venue in which the event is being held. Although you should always wear clothes that work well with your skin tone, also make sure you have considered your setting. If the event is being held outside, shoes with heels that don’t sink into the ground are a good plan. 2. Consider the weather that day. Have you ever noticed how much your mood and therefore choice of clothes is affected by the weather? But your mood can be completely uplifted by wearing a wow colour from your palette and if your style benefits from pattern or texture then introduce this into your outfit as well make sure you are feeling your very best despite the damp conditions. 3. If you are wearing predominantly neutral colours, try adding a pop of one of your wow colours to your summer event outfit. It is amazing how a colourful shawl, hat, shoes, necklace or bag can make your whole outfit come alive! To add interest, think about using gorgeous different textures or patterns, depending on your personal style as well. 4. Use accessories to stand out with style. Your skin tone determines whether you should wear cool white metal or warm yellow metal jewellery. Mixing fresh dynamic colours with stunning jewellery designs can redefine an otherwise simple but chic outfit. 5. Wear shoes that you find comfortable and never wear them for the first time to an event where you might be standing around for hours. It is rare that we choose to wear flats to a black tie or formal dress event but make sure you wear a heel that is comfortable and that suits your style personality whether that is wedges, block heels, stilettos, courts or platforms! 6. Choose a bag that not only works with your outfit and your personal scale but is also a size that can hold all your necessities in case you wish to touch up your make up. 7. If you wish to wear a big hat to your event, make sure that it is not too large for your personal style. Hats need to be balanced out with your outfit, personality and body shape. 8. Make sure the outfit you wear displays your best assets and is tailored to your

natural body shape. Trying to hide parts of your body that you do not like by swamping is never a good look, nor are overly tight dresses or trousers. This is an important time to really enjoy looking your very best! ..AND FOR THE MEN 1. Consider the formality of the occasion. Choose something well made, with a definitive, tailored cut that suits you. 2. The quality of the shirt is important as is the colour. Knowing your colour palette will define whether you are best in bright white, cream, or variations on ivory or a beige tone. 3. Pick your trouser style and length carefully! Find out what suits you when it comes to choosing between a skinnier or straight legged trousers, and single, double or no pleats. 4. It’s the little things that count. Make sure that your outfit is perfect down to the last fine detail. Items such as ties, cravats and cufflinks are always noticed and it’s an easy way to show a pop of colour or style creativity.

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By Jennie Billings Style and Colour Consultatnt at House of Colour www.houseofcolour.co.uk/ jenniebillings Jennie.billings@houseofcolour.co.uk 25

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Finance

By Ann Haldon

How to Save Money on Your Summer Holiday This Year

The cost of travelling abroad has increased over the last year or so, mainly due to a fall in the value of sterling, but there are still ways you can save money on your summer holiday. You may secure a better exchange rate by visiting non-Euro countries such as Croatia or Poland, but what else can you do to reduce your costs without taking away the joy of a well-earned break? Before you go Be flexible If you can travel over a range of dates or don’t have a particular destination in mind, you’ll have more chance of finding a bargain. Maybe you just want to relax on a beach in the sun, in which case the destination may not be so important, or you might be looking for a city break with no particular country in mind. Forget the frills Although you can’t carry liquids through the airport, taking your own food on board can save a considerable amount of money, particularly if you’re feeding a family. If you’re travelling with a ‘no frills’ airline, taking hand luggage only can also reduce your costs. Staying overnight at the airport? A deal that combines an overnight stay and parking at the hotel is likely to be cheaper than parking at the airport for the duration of your holiday. You can often save money by booking online, rather than through your travel agent.

Check data roaming charges before you go New legislation introduced in 2017 means that you can now use your mobile phone allowance free in EUmember states. Beware of ‘fair usage’ limits applied by mobile phone providers, however, as a lower limit may be set on your usage abroad. When you’ve reached your destination City sightseeing Many European cities offer free walking tours that are relaxed, informative, and help you get your bearings for the other days you’re there. They offer you a ‘feel’ for the city, with many people giving donations to the guide at the end of the tour, based on their experience. Avoid the tourist traps when eating out Eating away from the main sights, even if it’s only a short walk away, can literally halve your food and drink costs – although meals eaten with an iconic view are certainly memorable, so is the bill when you leave. If out for an evening drink, save money by standing at the bar rather than having your drinks served at a table. If breakfast isn’t part of your package, a local café will be far cheaper than paying hotel prices where a premium tends to be charged if they’re not pre-booked. Make lunch your biggest meal Set lunch menu prices can be considerably cheaper than paying for an extravagant dinner in the evening. Although you may not want to make lunch your main meal every day, doing so for one or two days means you can also enjoy a few lunchtime drinks without breaking the bank. Saving money on holiday needn’t be difficult. A little pre-planning goes a long way, so research your chosen city or resort well, and reap the benefits of making your money go further. www.uswitch.com/mobiles/guides/mobileroaming-charges/ www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/advice/budget-travelsimple-ways-to-save-money-on-your-holiday/

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Health & Fitness

Stretch Benefits In an attempt to prevent injury, most of us stretch before exercise and some (though not as many) stretch afterwards. But if we’re doing fairly steady activities (jogging, cycling or walking) then while stretching will improve our flexibility there is not much evidence it will prevent muscle injury. In these cases the advice is to warm up with five minutes of light, gradual exercise instead. The reason for this is that it’s important to increase the blood flow to the muscles and heart steadily, sudden changes will cause muscles to fatigue more quickly. Stretching is more effective if you’re doing the type of exercise where you land constantly and forcefully on your feet, or stop and start quickly (sprinting, tennis, weight-lifting, or competitive team sports like football). The more flexible the muscles are the more impact they’ll be able to sustain. But everyone benefits from stretching after a workout. During exercise lactic acid builds up

in your muscles. This can lead to soreness and fatigue. Stretching after a workout helps to eliminate the lactic acid and restore the muscle to its relaxed state, preventing the fatigue.

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Garden View

Feeling Fruity Have you ever wished you could grow fresh fruit in your garden but worry the space is too small, or it won’t look pretty, or it’s too difficult? What if I was to tell you that even a beginner can successfully grow a wide variety of fruit from apples and pears to plums, cherries, blueberries and raspberries, and possibly even figs or nectarines? The first thing you need to know is that the sweeter the fruit is meant to be the more sun it will require. Sun boosts sugar levels. If you have a sunny wall it’s an ideal place to train a sun-loving fruit tree like a peach or an apricot. Plant the tree at the base of the wall but not too close (about 30cm is about right) in soil enriched with fertiliser and good quality compost. As it grows splay the branches evenly and attach them to the wall. As the plant grows gradually cut out old straggly branches and tie in new healthy branches. The idea of splaying or ‘fanning’ is that as much sun as possible gets to the fruit, so it can ripen beautifully and maximise your crop. It also has the benefit of being a great space saver. Choose a variety that won’t grow too large. In slightly shadier spots you can grow

gooseberries or raspberries, or my favourite morello cherries. Most of these come in compact varieties and can also be fan-trained against a wall if space is an issue. I have a tiny orchard of minarettes - space-saving apple, pear and plum trees bought as single vertical stems which I grow in pots. They grow to a maximum of 6 feet / 2m high and no wider than 45cm. My children love them! Simply cut back the side stems to about 10cm at this time of year and you’re good to go. Just remember that pot-grown plants rely totally on you for their food and water. Thick glazed / non-porous pots are best because they retain water and act as insulation in extreme cold. Use the correct compost and food for the plant but most will do well with a regular high potash liquid feed from early spring to late summer. As a gardener I was quite late to fruit-growing, but I realised quickly that it becomes an addictive hobby. And as a complete bonus I’ve noticed a definite increase in my bee population over the past few years. Free food, and good for the environment too. What could be better?

By Rachael Leverton

Happy Gardening

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Health

Plastered!

By Louise Addison

Which wound covering should you choose?

The other day I popped into the pharmacy for a box of plasters to be confronted by a ssmorgesboard of choice! There is now a plaster for every occasion. If you’ve ever been confused read on. Faster Healing – Hydrocolloid is a substance which forms a gel when it absorbs water. It maintains a moist environment around a wound that prevents drying of the skin and a hard scab. This substance revolutionised blister healing. Specialist blister plasters form a second skin and prevent rubbing, while wicking away the moisture and encouraging healing. They should be in every hiker’s backpack as well as in the handbag of every girl who loves new shoes! Spray-on – This is great for minor cuts and grazes especially on tricky areas like elbows and knees. A clear flexible film is sprayed over the area to protect it from bacteria.

Pain-killing – Yes really! These temporarily relieve pain by dispensing painkilling ingredients on to the skin. They are best for sports injuries, sprains and backache Blood-stopping – Micro-dispersed oxidised cellulose (m-doc) is a powder which rapidly absorbs blood from wounds. It forms a soft gel layer over the cut to stop the flow. Great for kitchen knife injuries and shaving cuts which won’t stop bleeding. Burn plasters – Like blister plasters these are made with hydrocolloid that stops the plaster sticking to the burn and restores the natural level of moisture to the skin so that it can regenerate with less scarring.

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Garden

Essential Scent No matter how good your garden may look, without scent it is missing a vital ingredient – and you don’t have to sacrifice colour and texture when using perfumed plants, as many heavilyscented flowers are also really good-looking. Perfume plays a role in plant evolution and is often used to attract attention to the flower and thus entice a suitable pollinator. The insect enjoys the flower’s nectar and pollinates it in the process, increasing the chances of it producing a new generation. Many plants produce an alluring perfume during the evening or night-time, and at this time of day moths can be useful pollinators, especially during the summer months. So although a plant like the sweetly-perfumed night-scented stock may not have flamboyant flowers, it will be successfully pollinated. Weather conditions can alter the level of perfume that reaches us, and in a wind-swept spot the perfume can literally be blown away. Unusually low temperatures can also cause scent levels to drop. So bear this in mind when choosing where to put your perfumed plants. Smaller or more subtly-scented plants, such as some of the polyanthus or the miniature iris, should be planted in raised areas or in pots – otherwise their perfume can easily pass you by! A small pergola makes a great home for perfumed climbers, and what could be lovelier than to wander from one part of the garden to another via a tunnel of perfume? Perfumed roses such as the repeat flowering climbers ‘Ena Harkness’ (red) or ‘New Dawn’ (pale, dusky pink) or ‘Zephirine Drouhin’ (brightest pink) have flexible stems and are ideal. Place smaller perfumed plants such as ‘Nemesia Fragrant Cloud’ or lavenders into window boxes or wall baskets, and enjoy their wonderful perfume in your house as it wafts in through windows left ajar.

For sitting out after sundown, plant flowers that are at their best in the evening. For a warm summer’s evening the small creamy-white flowers of night-scented stock take some beating, or try the night-perfumed nicotianas or tobacco plants such as Nicotiana sylvestris. Combine the vibrant colours of bedding plants with some scented stunners in patio pots and other containers. How about some hyacinths or the Heliotrope or cherry pie, with its flowers in white or shades of purple which will produce perfume throughout the summer? Disguise a less-than-attractive house or garage wall with wall shrubs; in a sunny spot the blueflowered Ceaonothus produces a distinctly honey-perfumed scent, or on well-drained soil the pineapple broom Cytissus batanderei looks and smells sensational, with its lovely silvery-coloured foliage, bright yellow flowers and pineapplescented blooms. Create an arbour from a kit or from scratch and clothe it in perfumed climbers such as sweetlyscented roses or, in a shadier spot, spicily-scented honeysuckle. Sitting in the shade of the plants with their flowers’ scents all around is pure heaven! Visit Pippa’s website www.pippagreenwood. com and you’ll find some great gardening items: Nemaslug, green controls for leatherjackets, chafer grubs, ants and greenfly, plus garden plant supports, raised bed kits, Easy-Tunnels, gardening tools, Grower Frames, signed books and more! Or why not book Pippa for a gardening talk?

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Berry House Vets

Laparoscopic Spays

Laparoscopy is a minimally invasive way of performing surgery, often referred to as key-hole surgery and has repeatedly been shown to be over 60% less painful than traditional surgery across a variety of procedures. Benefits of laparoscopic spay: By reducing the size of the wound this significantly reduces the trauma and pain associated with abdominal surgery. Your pet has a faster recovery as they will only have a couple of small wounds. This procedure is ideal for working and active dogs as they are able to return to normal exercise a day later, but can also benefit your family pet as well; just one day after surgery they can be climbing the stairs, jumping on your lap for cuddles and enjoying normal daily walks. You may also find as the wounds are so small they will be less likely to lick and bother them; all of which make it much easier to care for your pet at home. Laparoscopy is available for other surgical procedures â&#x20AC;&#x201C; please ask one of our surgical team for further information.

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Motoring

Should you buy an automatic car? Pros and cons explained

By Tom Wiltshire an infinitely changeable single ratio theoretically ensures correct gearing for maximum power or economy, depending on conditions. Around since the 1950s, the CVT ‘box can be incredibly economical when driven carefully. However, they can provide a somewhat disconnected feel to the car – and attempts at rapid acceleration are usually met by spiralling engine revs and lots of noise. Their smoothness and variable nature makes them ideal in a hybrid car. Automated manual transmission Cheap, easy to install and lightweight, these gearboxes leave existing clutch and gearbox operations in place, but simply robotise the action. Automated manuals are often despised, can be horrifically jerky, and dawdle under hard acceleration. In fact, automated manual transmissions have ruined a fair few cars, so are probably best avoided. Electric vehicle Electric cars don’t technically have a transmission, but are worth looking at if you’re considering an automatic car. They act almost identically in most conditions, with two pedals and no gears to shift, but also have a totally smooth and silent powertrain and zero tailpipe emissions. EV’s aren’t ideal for everyone – you’ll need somewhere to charge, and if you regularly do longer trips you’ll definitely need some form of combustion engine. However, if your circumstances suit, you could be a convert to the electric lifestyle.

British motorists traditionally favoured manual gearboxes, but automatics are increasingly popular. Tom Wiltshire explains everything you need to know. Though early automatic gearboxes tended to dent performance, fuel economy and driving pleasure, times have moved on, and the modern automatic can sometimes be a better choice than the manual gearbox. Some performance automatics can actually beat the manuals off the line, while the cash-conscious may enjoy lower CO2 emissions and higher fuel economy. A good automatic transmission also makes for a relaxing drive, giving your left leg a rest and letting the car do the work. Always test drive a car, however, as there are still awful automatic gearboxes out there. Automatics tend to be more expensive to buy, and much more expensive to repair if they go wrong. Here’s our guide to the different types of automatic gearbox available today. Torque converter/traditional auto Though now much refined and improved, these automatics have

been available since the 1940s, and use a fluid-filled coupling in place of a traditional clutch. Torque converter automatics tend to offer very smooth shifts, making for a comfortable ride. They can be slow to pick up, though. However, modern units – such as the ZF ‘box fitted to dozens of high performance cars – offer no discernible penalty to performance or economy. Dual-clutch gearbox The dual-clutch gearbox uses a pair of robotised clutches working together to provide lightning-fast shifts, making them ideal for sports cars. There’s no real penalty in performance or economy, but at low speeds in stop-start traffic dual-clutch boxes can be jerky and unpleasant. Early units can be unreliable and costly to repair. Manufacturers have different names for them – the Volkswagen group use DSG, Porsche PDK, Renault EDC, Hyundai and Kia DCT – but fundamentally they all work the same way. CVT Standing for ‘continuously variable transmission’, CVTs do not have standard ‘gears’. Instead,

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Life Begins...

By Kate McLelland

Meditation: marvellous medicine or new age fad? were almost unaffected when they focused on the experience, non-meditators’ found their breathing, heart rate and blood pressure increased. However, after just 20 minutes of meditation the non-meditators had a much calmer response to the same thoughts. Reducing stress, inducing sleep In the programme 100 Years Younger in 21 days, Professor Philp suggests that meditation can extend life expectancy by promoting better sleep. A 2015 study of forty nine middleaged and older adults who had difficulty sleeping revealed that mindfulness meditation – which encourages subjects to beat stress by focusing on moment-bymoment experiences, thoughts and emotions – was found to be particularly effective. Like many older adults, Sherrie Hewson believed that meditation wasn’t for her, but once she understood its effects, she experienced something of a revelation. The practice of meditation won’t suit everyone, but as medical science discovers more and more potential health benefits, anyone who experiences stress, sleeplessness or negative emotions on a regular basis would be well advised to give it a try.

“I always say I haven’t slept since 1993,” declared 67-year-old actor Sherrie Hewson on the reality TV programme, 100 Years Younger in 21 Days, which aired earlier this year. Sherrie was taking part in an experiment conducted for ITV television by Professor Ian Philp, an expert who advises the World Health Organisation on age-related health matters. When her sleep patterns were analysed, the data confirmed that she woke at regular intervals throughout the night. Although Sherrie’s participation in the TV show involved weeks of healthy eating and exercise, her sleep pattern changed very little during the course of the experiment. She was only able to enjoy her first good night’s sleep after her first successful attempt at meditation. Sherrie isn’t alone. Twenty two per cent of Britons experience interrupted sleep, often caused by anxiety or depression. In the short term this can negatively affect mood and memory and in the long term it can lead to more serious health problems. Fight or flight So, can meditation help older people to beat stress? Meditation encourages people to take charge of their own emotions, and over time this has been shown

to result in permanent changes to neural pathways in the brain. When the University of Pittsburgh in America carried out research into the effects of meditation, MRI scans revealed that the amygdala – the brain’s ‘fight or flight’ centre, linked to fear and emotion – appeared to shrink over time, while the prefrontal cortex (associated with concentration, awareness and decision-making) became thicker. Improving concentration Meditation aids concentration by encouraging you to turn off unwanted or distracting thoughts. In an observation exercise for meditators and non-meditators designed by Italian neuroscientist Giuseppe Pagnoni, the meditators significantly outperformed in the test results. You can learn to control your thoughts during meditation by taking action when your mind starts to wander. The technique involves simply acknowledging the distraction and turning back to your main focus as soon as possible. Taming your emotions In a recent study published in the journal Consciousness and Cognition, meditators and nonmeditators were asked to think about an experience that made them angry. While meditators

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Three Counties Radio

KOREAN POPCORN CHICKEN Put simply, this recipe is one of the tastiest things I have enjoyed on the Weekend Kitchen. It should carry a health warning as it is insanely moreish. Once you take one bitesized piece of deliciousness, you really just cannot stop. The recipe was created by Kumud Ghandi, who runs the excellent Cooking Academy cookery school in Rickmansworth. Her story is an interesting one he family have always been in the spice trade, and her dishes always burst with flavour. I have also made a vegetarian version of these at home, using a vegetarian ‘chicken’ replacement. For the chicken: 500g chicken thigh (skinless and bones) cut into bite size pieces 50g cashew nuts 1 tbsp rice wine 2 tsp ginger powder 1⁄2 tsp fine sea salt 1⁄4 tsp ground black pepper 190g corn starch Oil for frying For the sauce: 5 tbsp tomato sauce/ketchup 1 1⁄2 tbsp Korean chilli paste (or any chilli paste) 2 tbsp honey 2 tbsp dark brown sugar 1 tbsp soy sauce 2 tsp sesame oil 1⁄2 tsp chopped garlic For the garnish: Sesame seeds Finely chopped spring onion Finely sliced red chilli (optional)

1. Place the chicken pieces into a large mixing bowl. Add the rice wine, ginger powder, salt, and ground black pepper and mix them well. Cover the bowl with cling film and marinate the chicken for 30 minutes in the fridge. 2. Coat each chicken piece with the corn starch powder thoroughly. It’s best doing this in 4 to 5 batches so that they are well covered with the starch powder. 3. Pour some cooking oil into a deep wok and bring it to a temperature of around 175C. 4. Fry the chicken pieces in batches until golden and cooked through (this will be around 2-3 minutes). 5. Take them out and set aside onto kitchen paper to absorb any excess oil. Repeat this with the remaining chicken. 6. Don’t put too much chicken in one go as it can lower the oil temperature too much. To make the chicken pieces extra crunchy, fry them all twice. This is actually worth the effort! Set aside. 7. Pour all the ingredients for the sauce into a heated pan, boil on a medium heat until the sauce thickens a little bit (approximately 1-2 minutes), stirring constantly. 8. Add the cashew nuts and fried chicken and coat with the sauce quickly. 9. Serve by garnishing with spring onion and sesame seeds and the optional red chilli. Eat your portion before anyone else makes it into the kitchen…

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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Codeword 1

ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ

Easy Suduko

Hard Suduko

Fill in the grid so that each row, column and 3x3 box, contains the digits 1 through to 9 with no repetition. Use your logic to solve the puzzles. 48

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n O s ’ t Wha 29 & 30 June, 1 July Flower Festival & Photographic Exhibition Fri & Sat 11am-4pm, Sun morning service 9-11.30am & 12-3pm St Nicholas Church, Rectory Lane, Stevenage Admission by donation Flower festival with the theme of “I am” and photographic exhibition with theme of Creation with individuals and organisation from the local community taking part in the historic setting. Refreshments available on all days. Concert on 30 June. Tel: Chris 07543 734207 for more information 2 July North Herts Association of the National Trust Coach Outing Pickup points in Hitchin & Letchworth Visit to the Swiss Garden, Shuttleworth. Tel: Adam Kuzminski 01462 620317 Email: adam@kuzminski.co.uk 2, 9, 16, 23 & 30 July Staplers Country Dance Club 8-10pm St John’s Community Hall, Hitchin Staplers is your local social folk dance club. It’s easy to start as all the dances are walked through first then called and you don’t need to bring a partner, lots of people go on their own. It is a friendly group and you will be made very welcome. Car parking available next to the hall. Tel. 01462 895567 or 01462 624144 Web: www.staplers.org.uk 2, 9, 16, 23, & 30 July 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

3, 5, 10, 12, 17, 19, 24, 26 & 31 July “Come and Try Bowls” Days Tues 2pm, Thurs 6pm Willian Bowls Club, Lower Green, Norton Common, Letchworth Every Tuesday and Thursday. New for our 2018 Outdoor season. Free tuition and all equipment provided. Any new bowler wanting to join after a session, will be offered free 2018 Membership. Tel: 01462 642790 Web: www.willianbowlsclub.org

3, 10, 17, 24 & 31 July 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

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

In July

5, 12, 19 & 26 July Roundabouters Country Dance Club 8-10pm Friends Meeting House, Cuttys Lane, Stevenage £3 per week inc. refreshments, Annual subscription £5 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. First week free. Tel. 01438 727239 Email: roundabouters@live.co.uk Web: www.roundabouters.org.uk 5, 12, 19 & 26 July 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

5 July Arts Society North Herts Talk 11am & 2pm Spirella Ballroom Letchworth £7 on the door A talk on Lawrence of Arabia by Dr Neil Faulkner. Neil will analyse the invention and re-invention of the Lawrence of Arabia legend through memoirs, photos, films and paintings. 6, 13, 20 & 27 July Springfield House Friday Bridge Club All visitors welcome. 1.30pm Springfield House (the home of the Old 5 July Stevenage Community Centre) Arts Society North Herts To play cut-in Chicago Bridge. Play is informal 7pm for 7.30pm Spirella Ballroom ,Bridge Road, Letchworth and friendly. Tel: Richard Bean 01438 221517 £1 inc. welcome drink Talk on Big Ben - The inside story by Tim 7 July Redmond. Come and hear the inside story The Signals Museum Open Day of this iconic landmark; full of amusing anecdotes and amazing facts about the 13 ton 10am-4pm The Signals Museum at RAF Henlow is open bell in the Elizabeth Tower of the Houses of to the public. Entry is free but official photo Parliament. All welcome ID such as a driving licence, passport or over Web: www.theartssocietynorthherts.org.uk 60s Bus Pass is required to get an entry ticket from the Guardroom. See website for full information. Web: www.rafsignalsmuseum.org.uk

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n O s ’ t Wha

8 July The Adventures of Dr Dolittle by Illyria Entry from 5pm, Show 6pm RSPB, The Lodge, Potton Road, Sandy Adults £15, Children (4-16) £8, Family (2+2) £42 Outdoor theatre show by Illyria held on the lawns of The Lodge gardens. A funny, muchloved and exciting adventure, with a strong message about responsibility towards animals and the environment. Suitable for aged 4+. Assistance dogs only at the performance. Tickets available online (+ 5% fee) or from the ticket yurt before the performance. Web: https://illyria.cloudvenue.co.uk/thead venturesofdoctordolittleatrspbthelodgenat urereserve 14 July Meppershall Academy Summer Event 12-5pm Meppershall Church of England Academy, 107 High Street, Meppershall Free admission. A fun day for all the family. Stalls, bar, BBQ, Bouncy castle, live music, tea room and much much more. Email: meppershallpta@gmail.com 14 & 15 July Cider & Cheese Festival Sat noon-11pm, Sun noon-9pm Canary Club, Fishponds Road, Hitchin Admission £4 inc. festival glass Hitchin Town FC in association with IDNet. Featuring 40 ciders from around the country including Apple Cottage Cider from Baldock. Cheese provided by Wobbly Bottom Farm. Musical entertainment including Sandy Ukulele Group performing Saturday evening. Web: https://hitchintownfc.ktckts.com

15 July Stevenage RSPB 9.30am Fowlmere & Ashwell Quarry. An all-day outing meeting first at RSPB Fowlmere at 9.30am. Ref 154/TL406461. Postcode SG8 6EZ. After a picnic lunch we will move on to Ashwell Quarry, meeting there at 2pm. Ref: 153/TL253395. Postcode SG7 5HX. Tea and cakes available at Ashwell Parish Room after our walk. Leader Paul Collis. Booking essential. Tel: 01438 861547 Web: ww2.rspb.org.uk/groups/stevenage

15 July North Herts Association of the National Trust Summer Lunch 1pm Gurneys, Holwell £12.50 for 2-course lunch This popular annual event is held in the picturesque setting of Gurneys in Holwell. The owners kindly allow NHANT full use of facilities during the day, which includes buffet lunch in a converted barn and the lovely extensive gardens to explore. Bar available to purchase wine, beer and soft drinks. Tel: Mrs Colette House (Secretary) 01462 815585 for further details Email: colettehouse@gmail.com

In July

22 July ELVIS: The Legend on Tour 7.30-9.30pm Hitchin Town Hall, Brand Street Tickets £10 The NEW smash-hit tribute concert show touring the UK and Europe in 2018 starring the world’s leading Elvis impersonator and tribute artist JD King. A musical journey through all eras of the King’s incredible career featuring Elvis’ great and most-memorable songs. Tickets from the Festival Box Office, 1A Churchyard or online (£1 booking fee applies per ticket). Web: www.wegottickets.com

27th July Beer Tasting Foxley Kingham 50th anniversary Foundation 7.30pm The Icon Hotel, 15 Stuart Street, Luton, LU1 2SA A Beer Tasting evening in aid of local charities Tickets are £15 per person Tickets can be purchased through Ticket Tailor www.tickettailor.com/events/foxleykinghama nniversaryfoundation Call 01582 540800 / email anniversaryfoundation@fkca.co.uk or visit www.fkca.co.uk/news-events/50th19 July Letchworth District Gardeners Association anniversary A full list of the charities we are supporting 7.45pm Central Methodist Church, 109 can be found at Pixmore Way, Letchworth Garden City www.fkca.co.uk/company-news/ LDGA & LALG Members £2, Visitors £3 inc. refreshments. A talk by Gwenda Kyd on ‘Plants announcement-charity-partners – Molecules, Medicines & Mischief’. Gwenda, scientist and complementary medicine practitioner with an interest in plants and how we use them, tells us about the uses and This is a small selection of the misuses of a selection of well-known and less What’s On well-known examples. Tel: 01462 621691 Web: http://ldga.org.uk for the full listing please go to 15 July ‘Love Songs in the Afternoon’ 4pm Tilehouse Street Baptist Church, Hitchin Tickets £12, Concessions £10 inc. afternoon tea. For the Hitchin Festival, Vivace choir presents ‘Love Songs in the Afternoon’. A mix of English folk songs, Broadway classics and some wonderful pieces from around the world. Tickets available on the door; from Hitchin Information 1a Churchyard or Vivace Ticket Manager. Tel: 01462 735642 Email: tickets@vivacechoir.co.uk

21 July North Herts Guild of Singers Fiftieth Anniversary Concert 7.30pm St. Mary’s Church, Hitchin Tickets £12. Haydn: Nelson Mass. Works by Parry, Britten, Mozart, Handel, Elgar and Bach. Conductor: Stephen Bullamore, Herts Philharmonia. Tickets from David’s Bookshop, Hitchin Initiative. Web: www.nhgs.org.uk

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Fun Quiz - Cheese and Biscuits 1. First sold in the UK in 1935, what brand of biscuit has become popular as a good luck charm in Japan as its name sounds similar to a Japanese phrase that means “you will surely win”? 2. What type of cheese is rolled down Cooper’s Hill at Brockworth each spring bank holiday for competitors to chase in a famous annual cheeserolling event? 3. What type of cream cheese is traditionally used when making a tiramisu? 4. Which 1970s TV series featured a private investigator called Jim who kept his gun in a biscuit jar? 5. In which English county is the village of Cheddar, where Cheddar cheese originated? 6. What brand of biscuits have been advertised using the slogan “A drink’s too wet without one”? 7. According to a famous scene from the film Pulp Fiction, which McDonald’s product is called a “royale with cheese” in Paris? 8. What biscuit was named after a royal house of French origin, with kings from this house ruling France from 1589 to 1792 and again from 1815 to 1848? 9. Before being left to mature, the cheese Cornish Yarg is wrapped in what to form an edible rind? 10. Why have McVitie’s been keen to ensure that Jaffa Cakes are classed as cakes and not biscuits? 1. Kit Kat 2. Double Gloucester (Cooper’s Hill is in Gloucestershire) 3. Mascarpone 4. The Rockford Files 5. Somerset 6. (McVitie’s) Rich Tea Biscuits 7. A quarter pounder with cheese 8. Bourbon 9. Nettle leaves 10. To avoid paying V.A.T. (which is payable on chocolate-covered biscuits, but not on chocolate-covered cakes)

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Quirky Britain

Dwile Flonking with the Devil and his Tailors Why Britain’s traditional pub games may be poised to make a comeback

Playing games – both indoor and outdoor – has been a feature of British pubs for hundreds, and possibly thousands, of years. Here are just some of the archaic games still played in Britain’s pubs: Devil Among the Tailors This old pub game is a form of table or bar skittles, where nine skittles are arranged in a square, opentopped wooden box usually placed on a table top. A vertical pole rises from one corner of the box from which a small, wooden ball (about the size of a golf ball) is suspended from a chain or string. The aim is to swing the ball in an arc to catch the skittles, rather than aiming directly at them. And the name? Legend has it that in 1805 the game of bar skittles was renamed after the cavalry was called to break up a group of tailors who were rioting. The army’s horsemen were said to have cleared the streets as effectively as a ball ploughing through skittles. Dwile Flonking Honestly, you couldn’t make it up. Dwile Flonking is a game in which two teams of twelve players take turns to hold hands and dance in a circle, at the same time trying to avoid being hit by a beersoaked cloth (the ‘dwile’ in question) wielded by an opposing team member in the middle. Losers get to drink a chamber pot filled with ale, in doublequick time. Dwile Flonking apparently has its origins in an ancient harvest ritual. The word ‘dwile’ is a knitted floor cloth, while ‘flonk’ is probably a corruption of ‘flong’ (used in olden days as the past tense for ‘fling’).

Toad in the Hole No, it’s not a hearty helping of sausage and batter served up by the pub landlord. This is a simple game where contestants toss brass coins onto a lead-topped table with a hole in the middle. Players try to land their coins (known as ‘toads’) either on the flat surface of the table or in the hole, scoring one or two points respectively. The game is a variant of ‘Pitch-penny’ (or ‘Chuck Farthing’), which dates back to the 18th century or possibly even earlier. Ringing the Bull The idea here is to throw a metal ring (hung from the ceiling on a rope) onto a metal hook on the wall. The hook has replaced the original target – a bull’s horn – that gave the game its name. Ringing the Bull was reputedly a game brought back by pilgrims from Jerusalem in medieval times, and the story is given some weight by the fact that the most famous pub to host the game is an ancient Nottingham hostelry called “Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem”. These traditional pub games have an innocent charm that provides a welcome relief from the beeping, flashing, coin-munching fruit machines that have become such a familiar sight in Britain’s drinking establishments. Wouldn’t it be ironic if we entered a pub in ten years’ time and – instead of finding customers hunched over their smartphones and laptops – we discovered a group of players happily engaged in a game of Devil Among the Tailors?

By Kate McLelland

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Electrician

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Juneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Puzzle Solutions and Winners Last Monthâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Crossword Winner Mrs C Daily from Huntingdon Winner of the Beadlow Manor Competition Mr Kevin Lockie from Stotfold

Winner of the Folk By the Oak Competition Debbie Bryant from Potton

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Across 1 One of the seasons (6) 4 Heaviness (6) 9 Massive (7) 10 Beside (5) 11 Surrounded by (5) 12 Tenth month (7) 13 Powerful optical instruments (11) 18 Anguish (7) 20 Complete (5) 22 Lively dance (5) 23 Disorder (7) 24 Female sibling (6) 25 Lively (6)

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16th July 2018 Prize Crossword, Villager Publications Ltd 24 Market Square, Potton, Beds SG19 2NP

Down 1 A horse for example (6) 2 Rhythm (5) 3 Person in charge (5) 6 Farewell (4-3) 7 Big cats (6) 8 Protest (11) 14 Rude remarks (7) 15 External (7) 16 Modifies (6) 17 Tired (6) 19 Astound (5) 21 Brass instruments (5)

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Books

Book Review By Kate Duggan Holiday Reads Sun-lounger worthy reads to keep you occupied this summer…

Salvage the Bones by Jesmyn Ward

With so many new releases each year, it’s all too easy for books to get buried in the sands of time. Salvage the Bones deserves to be unburied. 15-year-old Esch lives with her three brothers, her alcoholic father and the memory of her mother in a crumbling shack in Mississippi. Hurricane Katrina is on the way and the family is woefully unprepared. If you’re a fan of Alice Walker or Harper Lee, and love getting lost in a devastatingly beautiful read, this one is for you.

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I Still Dream

by James Smythe It’s 1997. In between making mix-tapes and arguing with her mum, Laura Bow finds time to create a computer programme. She calls it Organon. At first, Organon is just something to tell her thoughts and feelings to – an online journal that talks back. But as the years pass, it becomes clear that Laura has created an AI with more potential than she could ever have imagined. A gripping read.

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