Hitchin March 2019 by Villager Mag

VILLAGER The

Issue 12 - March 2019

and Town

Life

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

In this issue The History of

Plastic What are

Ectopic Beats? Win £25 in our Prize Crossword

Bringing Local Business to Local People Every Month in Hitchin, Great and Little Wymondley, St Ippolyts, ur Charlton and surrounding areas Yo EE y

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Inside this issue... Win a Pair of Tickets to Kelmarsh Country Show

The History of Plastic..................................................................4 Wine with me: Austria...............................................................8 Read Right...............................................................................10 Win a Pair of Tickets to Kelmarsh Country Show.......................12 What the Doctor Ordered.........................................................15 Czech Republic.........................................................................16 What are Ectopic Beats.............................................................19 Wedding Party Style................................................................21 Natural Beauty.........................................................................22 Simple Style.............................................................................24 Mother’s Day Musings..............................................................29 Is it still worth investing in a Cash ISA?....................................30 Hardy Annuals..........................................................................34 Growing Green Fingers.............................................................37

We’ve retired and my partner’s driving me crazy!.....................38 Beat the Mad March Hairs........................................................41 Animal Stories..........................................................................43 R.A.T.S. Rehoming Appeal........................................................45 Nick Coffer’s Weekend Recipe...................................................46 Puzzle Page..............................................................................48 Wordsearch..............................................................................51 What’s On.................................................................................52 A Social Event that’s Murder to Attend.....................................55 Prize Crossword........................................................................58 Lisbon......................................................................................60 Book Review............................................................................62 Useful Numbers.......................................................................63

What are Ectopic Beats?

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, Kath McLean, Sarah Davey, Daniela, Louise Addison, Jennie Billings, Kate Duggan, Kate McLelland, Ann Haldon, Rachael Leverton, RSPCA, Nick Coffer and Solange Hando

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History

The History of Plastic It has been around for a relatively short space of time but in less than 200 years it has become our indispensable disposable. Now, with the realisation that it is having a hugely detrimental impact on our environment, are its days numbered? This month we look at the history of plastic. Put simply, plastics are polymer chains which can be carbon or silicon-based and moulded into any shape. Bakelite is usually thought of as our first ever commercial plastic. However, before Bakelite, there were other types of plastic derived from natural and organic sources. Rubber, a plant-based material, was being used as early as the 1820s. Commonly used for rubber bands, shoe soles and tyres, rubber was manufactured from a substance called latex, which is the thick milky sap that is produced by many plants but primarily the rubber tree. Elastic, invented in 1820 by Thomas Hancock who founded the British rubber industry, is also produced from latex. Today, rubber is mainly made artificially. Similarly, in 1839, a German chemist, Eduard Simon, accidentally came across what he

called Styrol (now known as styrene) while experimenting with the distillation of a natural resin of the Turkish sweetgum tree. However, he did not realise the potential of what he had discovered until his work was resurrected in the early 1900s by Hermann Staudinger to become the basis of polystyrene.

The material of a thousand uses Another plant-derived substance, and the first stable man-made material to be considered as the forerunner of the plastics family, was called Parkesine. It was unveiled by Alexander Parkes at Londonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Great International Exhibition in 1862 and used to make objects like buttons and cutlery handles. Derived from cellulose, it could be heated, moulded into whatever shape was needed and then cooled to retain this shape â&#x20AC;&#x201C; much like every other plastic. Cellulose also gave rise to celluloid, most famous for its revolutionary use in photographic film, and the thin sheet plastic, cellophane.

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Bakelite was invented in 1907. It was different as it was the first plastic to be made from a nonplant source. A hard resin formed from formaldehyde and phenol (a chemical that comes from coal tar), its manufacture was perfected by a Belgian inventor Leo Baekeland (although earlier formaldehyde combination plastics had been invented just before 1900). Non-conductive, like plastics in general, Bakelite was initially used as an insulator for electrical wires (hence its use in old plugs and light switches) but went on to be made into all kinds of everyday objects from decorative bowls and cigarette holders to telephones and jewellery. The Bakelite Corporation’s tagline was ‘the material of a thousand uses’, which could equally be applied to all plastic today. Bakelite had its problems, however. It was brittle and colouring it proved difficult (most Bakelite objects are either black or various shades of brown). Its use died out and it was gradually replaced by next-generation plastics which included vinyl and the clear plastics acrylic and Plexiglass. In 1930, Badische Anilin & Soda-Fabrik, better known as recording tape manufacturer BASF, used the work of Simon and Staudinger to start commercially manufacturing polystyrene, which could be injected, extruded or moulded. Later, the Dow Chemical Company produced the first foamed polystyrene (made from beads) which they dubbed Styrofoam – a light, air-filled yet strong insulating plastic that went on to be used in disposable cups, packaging and the building industry. By the 1930s, a range of synthetic plastics was being produced in a variety of colours:

polyester, polyvinylchloride (PVC), polythene, polyurethanes and nylon. This is now seen as the most significant era in the history of plastics. Manufacture was taken over by petrochemical companies who turned crude oil into massproduced plastics for every conceivable commercial and domestic requirement. It was endlessly versatile, very difficult to break and easy to clean – a miracle material. The ubiquitous and now controversial plastic drinks bottle was born after the development of polyethylene in 1941, as it was discovered that this type of plastic can withstand up to two atmospheres of pressure. In 1948, Tupperware was invented. Inexpensive to mass-produce, plastics quickly became an integral part of our disposable society – the basis of toys, clothes, computers, televisions, furniture, cutlery and the bags and packaging surrounding them. By simply tweaking the polymer chains, a plastic suitable for any form or function could be made. Today, the robustness of plastic has also proved to be its downfall. Plastic can be divided into two types: thermoplastic and thermoset. Thermoplastic can be reheated and reshaped but thermoset plastic cannot. It is therefore the most polluting of plastics, as it cannot be recycled and takes thousands of years to degrade. But any plastics that find their way into the sea are also broken down by the environment into microplastics that can invade living organisms, including, ultimately, ourselves. So, as we ingest increasingly more of our miracle invention, is our DNA chain slowly becoming a polymer one?

By Catherine Rose

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Food and Drink

Wine with Me: Austria Austrian cuisine is now available and very much enjoyed, globally. The popularity of wines, produced in Austria, are now recognised and acknowledged, having many which have received awards, at prestigious competitions and events, in Austria and around the world.

Scheiblhofer is a family winery in Andau, Austria. Founder, Johann Scheiblhofer, created and developed the winery. Johann’s son, Erich, has now become much respected on the wine scene too, gaining a lot of recognition for his wine styles. Burgenland Reserve The Chardonnay has good fruits on the nose continuing through to the mouthfeel and palate, for this excellent, dry white wine. Burgenland Reserve The Legends and Burgenland Praittenbrunn have grape varieties of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot utilised, to great advantage, for these powerful, red productions. Aged in new French oak barrels, they have a deep ruby-red colour, with dark fruits extending on to the mouthfeel, which has a splendid body, that is full with a long palate, boasting great structure. Fantastic with red meats and game dishes. For the full range and more information, www.scheiblhofer.at Weingut Hirschmugl is located in Styria, at Domaene am Seggauberg. The non-poisonous adder snake is incorporated in the company’s logo, as they are considered an indicator of a healthy environment. Grape varieties grown include Sauvignon Blanc, Welschriesling, Traminer, Muscaris, Cabernet Blanc and Cabertin. Wines produced are classified as Styrian Drinking Pleasure, Nobilis – utilising grapes from the best locations in the vineyards, Aurum – produced in limited quantities and aged, plus Sparkling wine, which is only produced during exceptional years and Natural wine. Decto Rosso is a wonderful brut wine. This salmon-coloured presentation has fine bubbles and a really pleasant, fruity bouquet. An elegant wine and a great appetiser, too. Cabernet Blanc I found aromatic and with a very good mouthfeel and palate sensation. Their Chardonnay and Chardonnay Nobilis (aged), with intense, full-bodied, long palates, are regular selections, for many. Muscaris has numerous ‘devotees’, also. Dry, aromatic and with a full body, this graces many dining occasions, constantly. RWC is aged and very popular. The deep, red colour, is appreciated and extended, for bouquet, plus great pleasures on the mouth and palate. Other productions include splendid fruit vinegars, grape pit oil, plus grape pit flour and honey. For all details, www. hirschmugl-domaene.at

As always, Enjoy!

ey Trevor Langl

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MOTHERING SUNDAY EVENTS

Swiss Garden Guided Tours - www.shuttleworth.org/mothering-sunday Sunday Roast at The House - www.shuttleworth.org/mothersdayroast

OUR VISITOR ATTRACTION A visit to Shuttleworth makes for a great day out, with lots to offer for all ages. Our Swiss Garden has 13 listed structures, a woodland sculpture walk, resident peacocks and ducks. Explore its historic features and lovely planting schemes. Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s trails run throughout the year, each with a sticker to collect. The Collection is a treasure trove of airworthy vintage aircraft from 1909-1950, agricultural exhibits, and classic cars, motorcycles, bicycles and vintage buses. Flying displays take place May-October. Shuttleworth, Old Warden, Bedfordshire SG18 9EP - 01767 627927

Villager - Mother's DayVillager FP Mar 19.indd 1 To advertise in The and Town Life please call 01767 261122

07/02/2019 10:39:45

Health

By Kath McLean

Read Right! Could your child benefit from a binocular vision exam? When Sarah’s 10-year-old daughter complained of headaches after school, she did what any sensible parent would do and booked an eye test. After a 15-minute exam she was told that Maisie did not need any glasses and that there was nothing wrong with her. After a few months, Maisie’s symptoms hadn’t disappeared, and her grades were suffering. “She didn’t want to read and was falling behind in class.” Sarah took her back to the optician, who this time gave Maisie some glasses. “She wore them for a couple of weeks but gave up after that as they weren’t helping, in fact she said that they made things worse for seeing the whiteboard. Sarah’s friend advised her to take Maisie to see the optometrist who had helped her son when he had struggled with similar issues. “Immediately I could see that this was a different kind of eye exam.” We didn’t feel rushed. The optometrist was really interested the type of difficulties Maisie was experiencing, when they happened, and how she coped with them. She performed a whole battery of tests and explained everything as she was going along. She told us that Maisie was having difficulty co-ordinating her eyes so was having to put in more effort to ‘see’, and as she became more tired with the effort of school and study, it became harder and harder for her to keep up the co-ordination, so she just gave up. It all made sense. She’d come home grouchy, rubbing her eyes and with a headache. It was all too much for her.” Optometrists who specialise in what is known as Behavioural Optometry, or who run specialist

binocular vision clinics understand that an eye examination should be about more than whether a child can read the bottom line of a chart some distance away. In a classroom eyes need work as a team at all distances. They should be able to point accurately at the same point on a page, then be able to refocus quickly and accurately on the whiteboard and back again, hundreds of times per day. They need to be able scan across lines of text without drifting off to another line. If eyes can’t work as a team, children might try for a while but often develop unhelpful coping mechanisms like turning their head, screwing their eyes up, and excessive blinking. Eventually they give up and may become disenfranchised from learning. Some groups of children, like those with dyslexia, or those with underlying health conditions are more susceptible to the binocular vision system malfunctioning. Binocular vision examinations measure the ability of the child’s eyes to work together, and then the optometrist can make helpful suggestions, such as glasses, or exercises (sometimes called vision therapy), or a mixture of both. Occasionally coloured overlays might prove useful too. Unfortunately, these types of examination are not available on the NHS, but Sarah says that her money was well spent. “Maisie had some new glasses and a short course of exercises. Within weeks her grades had picked up and she was coming home more cheerful and with no headaches. I would recommend that all parents should take their child for a specialist eye examination if they feel something is wrong.” Useful websites: babo.co.uk

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We’ve got five pairs of adult passes up for grabs to this April’s Kelmarsh Country Show

Easter Delight as the 2019 Kelmarsh Country Show Returns

The Kelmarsh Country Show arrives this Easter Bank Holiday welcoming a brand new line up of family fun activities, live Main Arena demonstrations, have a go features, sporting championship qualifiers as well as an abundance of shopping opportunities from over 200 trade stands selling lots of country inspired goods. Set in the heart of the Northamptonshire and Leicestershire countryside, there’s plenty to do with the family this April. Bringing a brand new line up to the Realtree Main Arena, visitors can enjoy live performances from the Red Devil Parachute Display Team, stunts with the amazing Squibb Motocross Stunt team, a Strongman competition as well as a fire spectacular show. For 2019, Kelmarsh welcomes its brand new Interactive Arena too, which has plenty in store for families with little ones. From Ridgeside Falconry and Gamegoer Gundogs, families can also catch Little Nippers, K9 Sheepdog and Duck show and a superb Hound Parade. Elsewhere, a dedicated Kids Zone offer the younger ones everything from face painting, balloon modelling, a giant games arena, circus whizz fun, ferret racing, a mini farm and so much more. If it’s food that you’re after, Kelmarsh welcomes a brand new Chefs Demo Area, which will be home to professional chefs, Rachel Green, Pete Gott, Jose Souto and Alan Coxon. With the return of the Folk Roots Festival, a brand new Club Tent offering lots of crafts and rural past times to discover, a Pet Dog Arena, lots of gundogs and a vintage section, there really is so much to experience at the 2019 Kelmarsh Country Show. If you’re on the lookout for something different to entertain the family this year, then why not head over to Kelmarsh this Easter, taking place over 21st and 22nd April. To pre-book your tickets and to save, simply visit the Kelmarsh Country Show website today and discover what’s in store. Fancy making a little bit more of your trip with us this year? Visitors to this year’s show can also become a member and enjoy all the added benefits of the all-new Members Enclosure, visit www.kelmarshcountryshow.co.uk. Countryman Fairs organise five award-winning events across the UK throughout the year, each showcasing the very best in country life. For more information visit the website at www.countrymanfairs.co.uk and join us on Facebook to stay up to date with the latest news and developments as they happen.

Competition

KELMARSH COUNTRY SHOW COMPETITION ENTRY

The Realtree Main Arena plays host to which of the following display acts…? a) The Red Devil Parachutes  b) The Blue Free-fallers  c) The Green Skydivers 



To enter, answer the question and complete the form below and send to: Kelmarsh Country Show Competition, Villager Publications Ltd, 24 Market Square, Potton, Bedfordshire SG19 2NP. Deadline: 16th March 2019.

Name: Tel: Email: Address: 12

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Fashion

What the

Doctor Ordered

The rise and fall and rise of the Dr. Marten boot

When you read the words Dr Martens, what do you think of? Skinheads? Clowns? Workmen? Or high fashion? Because in spite of being associated with all the groups above, Dr Martens have remained one of the most consistently cool items of clothing in the past 50 years. They really were invented by a doctor too, Dr. Klaus Maertens, a German army doctor. He injured his foot while skiing and found standard issue WWll army boots very uncomfortable and not at all conducive to recovery. So, he designed his own shoe, which replaced the leather soul with one which had air-cushioning. Originally the boots were sold as orthopaedic devices and bizarrely the majority of its customers for the first fifteen years were housewives, mainly over forty years old. But then an advert for the boots with the aircushioned sole caught the eye of the Griggs family, who ran a shoe company in Britain, specialising in sturdy work boots, and they bought the patent. They made a few tweaks to the design, including reshaping the heel, and they also anglicised the name. The classic yellow-stitched Dr. Martens AirWair boot was launched on April 1st, 1960. The date gave rise to the name 1460. This footwear was no April Fool joke though. The boots quickly became popular with factory workers, postmen and police officers. But these were not the kind of people known for

inspiring fashion choices so how did Dr. Martens become so cool? It started with youth sub-cultures, like Mods and Skinheads, who adopted the boots as symbols of working-class pride. There was some irony in the fact that when these groups clashed with police BOTH sides were wearing Dr. Martens! Pete Townsend of The Who is generally credited with giving Dr. Martens international exposure, when he chose to wear them on stage at concerts. From about 1966 they began to gain fashion status, generally by groups who associated themselves with ant-establishment values. Punks, Goths, New Wave and Grunge groups all embraced the Dr. Marten, and they gradually became more mainstream with Britpop. But by the new Millennium sales were dropping. The Dr. Marten 1460 was seen as old. Eventually the company moved production to China. In 2004 a new line of footwear was introduced, deliberately designed to appeal to younger buyers. They were softer, easier to break in and had a translucent heel. This paid off and sales began to climb again. In 2012 Dr. Martens had its best year for sales ever. Shortly after they were sold to the investment firm Permira, and have continued to rise in popularity ever since, becoming a mainstream wardrobe staple. I wonder what the original Dr. Maertens would make of all that!

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By Sarah Davey 15

Travel

Czech Republic In 2018, whilst most parts of Europe were commemorating the end of the First World War, the Czech Republic was instead celebrating the hundredth year of its birth. October 1918 saw the birth of the new country of Czechoslovakia, which existed as an independent, sovereign country until 1938, when it was invaded by Nazi Germany. In 1948, Czechoslovakia was then taken over by the Soviets and this occupation lasted until 1989. In 1993, Czechoslovakia was dissolved and two separate countries were formed: the Czech Republic and The Slovak Republic. Both countries joined the European Union in 2004. These momentous events, naturally shaped both past and current generations, and in my opinion, created a rather divided nation in terms of beliefs and principles. There are the pro-Germans; the pro-Russians; the pure nationalists and many others who believe in either capitalism or socialism. No surprise then, that many Czechs are constantly grumpy and wishing for change. Prague is the capital of the Czech Republic. It is a beautiful city of many spires and towers: these belonging to an endless number of churches and other historic buildings. The river Vltava flows through the centre of Prague and there are many beautiful bridges to see – perhaps the most famous being the Charles Bridge, which is adorned by many statues. There are many theatres; of special note is The Black Theatre - a special invention of the Czechs, which

is well worth seeing. There are also many museums and galleries, including The National Museum, which has recently been renovated and allows one to gain a very real understanding of the turbulent history of the republic, through its many exhibits and presentations. Outside Prague, there is a whole host of cities and towns that are begging to be explored. My favourite area lies to the south. The town of town of České Budějovice is recommended, as is the town of Třeboň, a spa town surrounded by woods and many lakes. The spa specialises in peat baths. There is also a highly recommended strong drink called Black Gold, which is made from the famous waters. This area is near to the border with Austria, so many people also speak German. In the Bohemian region, towns such as Kutná Hora (east), Ústi nad Labem (North) and another spa town, Marianské Laznĕ (West) can be visited and admired. Many mountain ranges, woods, caves and nature reserves can also be enjoyed by nature lovers. In Moravia, which is also part of the Czech Republic, towns such as Brno and Olomouc are worthy of a visit. Prague is a very cosmopolitan city with many visitors from all over the world, so it can be hard sometimes to find a native Czech. Unfortunately, with this diversity, the Czech cuisine has been largely replaced by food from outside cultures and it can be quite a challenge to find a traditional Czech meal.

By Daniela

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Health

By Louise Addison

In a Heartbeat What are ectopic beats? Ectopic heartbeats are extra heartbeats that occur just before a regular beat. Ectopic beats are normal ad usually they are not a cause for concern. About 70% of medically normal adults without any symptoms at all have ectopic beats if monitored over 24 hours. They are far less common in children and are more likely to be a result of an underlying heart abnormality in those cases. There are two types of ectopic beat: PAC - Premature atrial contractions, which begin in the upper chambers of the heart. PVC - Premature ventricular contractions, which begin in the lower chambers of the heart. An ectopic beat might be felt as an extra awareness of the heart beating; a feeling of faintness; a sensation of the heart stopping for a second, or a fluttering sensation in the chest. The fact that some people become aware of their ectopic beats doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t automatically mean there is a problem. Most commonly people who become aware of their ectopic beats are also susceptible to anxiety. What tends to happen is that during an episode of anxiety their system is flooded with adrenalin and their heart begins to race. They become aware of their heart racing, and then suddenly they experience a (perfectly normal) ectopic beat, only it feels anything but normal to them because their heart is already racing. They

By Louise Addison

can then become hyper-aware of any perceived differences in rhythm, and this can feed their anxiety. Most GPs can diagnose ectopic heartbeats from symptoms and by listening with a stethoscope. Sometimes they will arrange a precautionary electrocardiogram (ECG). If someone is aware of their ectopic beat only when they are sitting quietly, this is less of a concern than if the ectopics become noticeable after exercise, such as running upstairs. Ectopics are also of more concern if there is a history of a previous heart attack, or a family of heart disease. A GP will want to rule out complications such as ventricular tachycardia and arrhythmia. If further investigation is required the GP might order an echocardiogram (heart ultrasound), or a coronary angiography, an MRI, a CT scan, or exercise testing. In most cases ectopic heartbeats do not require treatment; however, there are certain well-known triggers. It can be helpful to review all medications and their possible interactions, stop smoking, reduce alcohol and caffeine intake, and reduce stress and anxiety as much as possible. Remember, most ectopic heartbeats are not a cause for concern, but if they are persistent, or you are worried, then consult your GP.

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House of Colour

Gemma &Tom Brittle Wedding photographed by Kylee Lee Photography

Wedding Party Style You have chosen your wedding dress and your gorgeous groom is well on his way to sorting his attire, now it is time to turn your attention to the wonderful ladies and gents who are going to be right there by your side celebrating with you and making sure that everything goes perfectly. BRIDESMAIDS STYLE 1. Be Organised – Put together a budget and timescale and have a chat with your bridesmaids about what is really important to them. Do some research about what is available and don’t forget it is not necessary to buy a bridesmaid’s dress from a wedding dress shop. Most high street shops and department stores offer suitable party, occasion or formal attire these days. With a growing emphasis on fashion ecoawareness, you may want to avoid a one-wear mindset so your bridesmaids can re-use their outfit for other occasions. 2. Style Dilemma - Your bridesmaids are unlikely to share the same body type, height and style personality. It is a dilemma, so how can you make sure your best girls feel fabulous in their outfits? If you have a little bit of budget one top tip is have a tailor alter the dress for each bridesmaid in their own chic style. Think different necklines, sleeves or slightly different lengths (although don’t go to wild on this because your tribe can end up looking a little wonky). Ensure each bridesmaids dress is wellfitting and they feel gorgeous and comfortable, but this should still be subject to a few certain guidelines from the bride! 3. Colour - Taking the tailored tip one step further, of course not all colours suit all skin tones and so you may want to choose a colour but have

different tones for different bridesmaids. Teals and blues are good example for how to work this tip - teals for the warmer tones and cornflower or airforce blues for the cooler tones will ensure they all look radiant. Red - all about it - The only colour that suits all skin tones is primary red so choosing accents in this colour to brighten up a more neutral coloured bridesmaid dress can be a beautiful way to go. Full on red bridesmaids’ dresses risk over shadowing the bride so watch out! It is still considered rude for guests to turn up at a wedding wearing red for the same reason. Accessorise – Choosing a classic bridesmaids dress can help keep things simple, but always encourage your bridesmaids to express their individual personalities through their accessories including shoes, hair detailing, bracelets and earrings. Think outside the box – If it suits the style personalities of your bridesmaids and you want them to wear something a little bit more modern, try on-trend smart playsuits, edgy trouser suits or cheongsams. Shawls – A lovely touch is to provide your bridesmaids with a chic shawl for any wedding evenings where the weather may cool. Shawls are often good value, re-usable and can be found in every colour under the sun. Your bridesmaids will definitely appreciate the thought (and you)! By Jennie Billings, Colour and Style consultant, House of Colour www.houseofcolour.co.uk/jenniebillings e:jennie.billings@houseofcolour.co.uk

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Health & Beauty

Natural Beauty By Kate Duggan www.kateduggan.co.uk

Looking for natural skin and haircare products that are as effective as they are gentle? Here’s our pick of some of the best natural brands on the market.

Green People is one of the UK’s best known organic brands. It was born out of a mother’s need for gentle, natural products that wouldn’t irritate her daughter’s sensitive skin. The entire range is free from synthetic chemicals such as sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS), parabens, phthalates, petrochemicals, alcohol (ethanol) and artificial fragrances. It’s also been cruelty-free and suitable for vegetarians from day one. If you have dry or sensitive skin, try the Age Defy + Cleanse & Soothe Balm. It’s made from natural oils and waxes with added essential oils. Used with the muslin cloth provided, it’s very effective at removing makeup and leaves skin feeling soft and pampered. £32 may seem steep for a cleaner, but a little goes a long way so it should last for months. See www.greenpeople.co.uk. Swiss company Weleda (www.weleda.co.uk) has been making natural skincare products for almost 100 years. The brand has always been cruelty-free, and is committed to sustainability and treating people fairly. Their bestselling Skin Food is a multipurpose balm for treating dry skin patches. Weleda has recently introduced a Skin Food Lipbalm, £6.95. Like its big sister, the lip balm is made from natural waxes, blended with essential oils such as rosemary, chamomile and calendula. It’s non-sticky, suitable for vegetarians and gluten-free. Pop one in your bag to guard against chapped lips.

Sodium Lauryl Sulphate (SLS) is a key ingredient in most high street shampoos. It gives you plenty of lather but can leave hair feeling dry and brittle. Faith in Nature sells a wide range of SLS-free shampoos. Recent releases include the Dragon Fruit Shampoo and Conditioner, which are 99% natural, suitable for all hair types and have a rich, tropical fragrance. At £5.50 each, they’re a great price too. Lyonsleaf is a family-run business producing 100% natural skincare products. Most ingredients are grown on the family’s Somerset farm. Lyonsleaf doesn’t use any artificial colours, preservatives or fragrances and recently went plastic-free. Try the Body Butter, £16.99, which is made from shea butter, coconut oil, avocado oil and other natural ingredients. It’s rich in fatty acids and antioxidants, smells divine and leaves skin feeling softer and more hydrated. See www.lovelula.com. Natural skincare and hair products can be difficult to find on the highstreet. Holland and Barratt is worth popping into for brands such as Weleda, Tisserand, Dr Organic and Faith in Nature. If you’re shopping online, head to www. biggreensmile.co.uk, www.lovelula.com or www. naturalcollection.com. All three sites have strict policies about the types of products that they’ll sell. For example, Love Lula has a strict no parabens, no SLS and no animal testing policy. Big Green Smile also lets you filter your search by what’s important to you, so if you only want organic, vegan products, for example, it’ll show you which ones are suitable.

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Interiors

Simple Style

By Kate McLelland

For a fuss-free and timelessly good-looking style, choose plain and simple chic. We all want our homes to be comfortable, practical and good-looking. Just as important as gorgeous colours and appealing accessories are necessities such as easy-to-clean surfaces, effective lighting and durable kitchenware. Which is where simple style â&#x20AC;&#x201C; a combination of form and function that is completely unpretentious and always hard working â&#x20AC;&#x201C; excels. It takes classic designs that have

stood the test of time and combines them with the best of modern furnishings, using tactile materials and pale, neutral colours to achieve a look that is calm and quiet, comfortable and honest, and hugely pleasing to live with. Walls and floors are the starting point. Quick and inexpensive to achieve are walls in plain paint shades. Neutrals are fundamental, with a palette of soft whites ranging from chalk, ivory and bone through to deeper taupes and greys, with stronger accents providing contrast: sage green, midnight blue or earthy brown, for example. More finished surfaces, as appropriate to the room, could include grasscloth wallpaper, bevel-edge tiles or timber panelling. As for floors, the key is to combine the practicality of sturdy materials such as traditional stone flags, brick pavers or wooden floorboards with the softness of plain or minimally patterned carpets or conveniently placed, understated rugs. Furniture should be pared down in style, chosen for its strength, durability and comfort first and foremost, and always clean-lined as opposed to

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over-decorative. Windsor or ladder-back chairs, wooden stools, blanket boxes and traditional dressers are all just right for the simple interior, especially when made from natural wood or painted in a muted shade. Mixing eras works perfectly, too, provided pieces are chosen for their inherent good design and plain style, transcending all fads and fashions. Rather than elaborate window treatments of any type, this style has a less-is-more feel, and where windows can be left bare, then why not? Panelled wooden shutters look elegant and discreet, while Roman blinds and gathered curtains are preferable to anything elaborate. Other soft furnishings might include the plainest of loose covers for chairs and sofas (avoid frilled valances or other flourishes) and cushions with no-nonsense fastenings and the most basic of trims. Linen, cotton and wool are ideal fabrics for this style: unassuming, natural fibres that have been the backbone of classical decorating for centuries. Look for plain colours and stripes, adding a range of textures for interest. In addition to the soft drape of textiles, introduce a range of natural materials, such as woven willow, sisal, slate or timber, to provide an interesting atmosphere even in an apparently minimal room. To ensure a calm and airy feel overall, good storage is vital. Ancillary areas such as utility rooms, laundry rooms, boot rooms and dressing rooms are a great asset, but where space is more limited then well-designed cupboards, shelves and other storage areas are incredibly helpful in terms of clearing away the clutter and confusion of everyday life and making simple rooms feel more spacious and liveable. In kitchens, a freestanding storage piece such as a dresser, plate rack or butcher’s block breaks up the uniformity of fitted cupboards and creates a more timeless appearance. Finally, when it comes to lighting, inset spotlights throw light where needed without drawing the eye, while classic fittings, such as glass pendants, Anglepoise table lamps or slender wall lights with ceramic shades can be added where necessary. As for finishing touches, beware an abundance of accessories (always opt for quality over quantity),

3 and choose essential items such as wooden peg hooks, hand-made soap, thick woollen throws and blankets, blue and white crockery, rustic bread boards and pillar candles, plus loose arrangements of gorgeous cottage-garden flowers. Key ingredients of simple style • Consider wooden panelling, tongue-and-groove boarding, textured wallpaper and classic tiles as options for your walls. • Opt for classic floorboards, stone or slate flags, brick pavers or terracotta tiles for the floor, combined with plain carpets and/or subtle rugs. • Combine soft white shades with a few deeper colours. • Choose natural materials such as wood, slate, wicker, wool and cotton. • Ensure rooms are clear of clutter by making the most of storage space. • Remember that good design applies across all eras, so combining old and new will work if furnishings are chosen carefully for both form and function. • Avoid bold patterns in favour of plains and stripes. • Fit wooden shutters, Roman blinds or softly gathered curtains at the windows, or leave them bare if you dare.

1. Cuddlemuffin modular corner sofa with chaise, £4,645, Loaf. 2. Scala side table, £175, Loaf: 0345 468 0667; www.loaf.com. 3. Impressive Concrete Wood light grey laminate, £27.99 m2, Carpetright: 0330 333 3444; www.carpetright.co.uk. 26

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Time of Year

Mothers’ Day Musings

March 31st is Mothers’ Day and I wonder if I’m the only mum who finds it irritating? I mean, I love flowers and chocolates as much as anyone, but I value them more when they come ‘just because’, rather than because Clinton Cards emailed a prompt. And don’t get me started on Primary schools and their ‘Mothers’ Day mornings. Rearranging my working day so my child won’t be disappointed by my absence is stress I don’t need…I thought Mothers’ Day was supposed to be about me! No, Mothers’ Day feels phoney. My husband is a hands-on dad, who knows how to cook and wield a vacuum cleaner; but if I didn’t remind him about Mothers’ Day he’d forget, and so would the kids, because he wouldn’t remind them. Last year I didn’t remind, they forgot, then they all felt bad, which wasn’t my aim, because I didn’t care. So, we had a chat. I told them I knew they loved me, and Mothers’ Day wasn’t important to me, but perhaps each of them could pick a time when they did something little and nice for me, when I least expected it, and tell me it was for Mothers’ Day. I don’t think I expected much to happen, other than to free them (and me) from social pressure, but a few weeks later my 12-year-old left a dark chocolate Bounty Bar on my desk one evening (food of the Gods and difficult to find!), with a little post-it that read ‘For Mothers’ Day because I know it’s your favourite’; and a few weeks after that my nine-year-old drew me the most beautiful picture of a dragon because he knows I like dragons. Somehow those gifts felt more real than any I’d received before. I’ve not mentioned it again this year. Maybe they’ll remember, maybe they won’t. By Kath McLean Maybe I’ll get another dark chocolate Bounty…I won’t complain.

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Finance

Is it still worthwhile investing in a Cash ISA? As we come to the end of the financial year, you may be wondering if it’s still worthwhile opening a cash ISA, and whether this tax-free savings account offers the significant benefits it once did. Here are a few reasons to give cash ISAs another chance. You may decide to think again about this useful savings product and the possible long-term benefits for yourself and your family. First of all, however, let’s look briefly at the Personal Savings Allowance (PSA) to find out what it is and the impact it’s having on savers in the UK. What is the Personal Savings Allowance? The Personal Savings Allowance was introduced by the government in 2016, and allows you to earn £1,000 of savings interest tax-free. If you’re a higher rate taxpayer the limit is £500, with additional rate taxpayers being ineligible for this tax-free allowance. You’d need a healthy savings pot to breach your PSA limit but of course that’s not impossible. Also, where previously an ISA was the only savings product offering tax-free interest, you can now use a number of different accounts, some of which offer much higher interest rates than an ISA.

Cash ISAs can offer a safe haven for your savings in the long-term But the key here is that if you are likely to go over your PSA, cash ISA interest doesn’t count towards that limit, so you can earn it tax-free and still have your full £1,000 (or £500) PSA allowance. Potential for increased earnings and a change in tax bracket Whether you’re earning an average or relatively low wage at present, the potential exists for you to increase your earnings and change tax brackets in the future. The Personal Savings Allowance is

By Ann Haldon

halved to £500 for higher rate taxpayers, and you may find the threshold isn’t as out of reach in years to come as it currently seems. Saving flexibility Cash ISAs offer considerable flexibility, with some providers allowing you to withdraw money and pay it back during the same tax year without losing any of your ISA allowance. This allowance, currently £20,000 (tax year 2019/20),¹ can also be spread across a cash ISA and a stocks and shares ISA in the same tax year. Potential to leave your ISA savings to your partner on death In April 2015, the government introduced new rules whereby the balance of an ISA on death can be inherited by a spouse or civil partner taxfree. In practice, they would able to use your ISA allowance (to the value of your ISA balance) as well as their own for the tax year in which you die. Consider a cash ISA as part of your savings mix Clearly, saving into an account other than a cash ISA offers benefits, but it’s not a good idea to totally discount them when interest rates are low. Cash ISAs can offer a safe haven for your savings in the long-term, and can be passed down to your family tax-free. It may prove to be an important savings product for the future you, but don’t forget to shop around for the best rates. ¹ www.rsmuk.com/ideas-and-insights/tax-facts ² www.fscs.org.uk/what-we-cover/

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Garden View

Hardy Annuals By Rachael Leverton

Hardy annuals: the name is an oxymoron. Hardy plants are supposed to be able to survive the winter aren’t they, but annuals, by their definition, don’t. In fact, the names hardy, half-hardy and tender, when applied to annuals, refer to the relative cold tolerance of the newly planted seeds. Hardy annual seeds can handle being frozen in the soil so are ideal for planting outside, either in the autumn or now. Productive, adaptable and cheap, they are the ideal credit-crunch plants. They are also easy-togrow, so are brilliant for beginner gardeners. For best results sow them as thinly as possible, cover lightly with sifted soil then firm it down. Protect them from cats and birds with netting until the seedlings are well established then thin them out to the distance recommended on the packet. Good flowers for the annual-novice include poppy, calendula, larkspur, fried- egg plants (limnanthes), love-in-the-mist, clarkia and cornflowers. If I could grow only one it would be Nigella damascena (love-in-the-mist). It’s an old cottagegarden plant and ‘Miss Jekyll’ is a beautiful, soft, pure blue variety with the added bonus of stripy seed pods once the flowers have faded. The king of the hardy annuals though has to be the sunflower. Children particularly love to grow them. Sow them singly in small pots or directly

into the earth. If you sow them directly, plant two seeds into each hole and thin to one once they are established. They may need to be staked as they grow. There are some terrific varieties. A favourite of mine is Prado Red, which as the name suggests, produces deep red flowers. If you pinch them out, they‘ll grow to five feet and produce numerous blooms on each plant. If sunflowers are the kings of the hardy annuals, then sweet peas are surely the fragrant queens. Old-fashioned or antique varieties tend to be best for scent though their flowers are slightly smaller. The great thing about sweet peas is that you have to pick them to prolong flowering so you have a wonderful excuse to have a fragrant home all summer long. Sweet peas should be planted a little deeper than other annuals. They are very thirsty flowers. My granddad used to line his sweet pea trenches with lots of wet newspaper. He won prizes for his blooms, so he obviously knew a thing or two about it. Next time you’re at the garden centre...walk right on by the showy (and expensive) potted plants and head for the seed section. For a very small outlay you can add colour, shape, interest and completely transform your plot ...and if you don’t like it, you can always change it again next year.

Happy Gardening

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Parenting

Growing Green Fingers Helping your child to discover a love of gardening Their own little corner - our child may not have the same taste in plants as you do. So, if you can, give them their own mini-plot to experiment with. Let them choose the plants they want (after discussing soil conditions, shade etc.) and give them the responsibility of watering and weeding. Children arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t known for their patience so try to incorporate some plants that will give instant enjoyment and have a strong fragrance, such as lavenders and geraniums, along with others that are easy to grow and worth the wait, such as sunflowers, sweet peas and marigolds. Grow your own - Fussy eaters can often be persuaded to try new things if theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve had a hand in growing them. If you have the space for a raised bed, you could try courgettes, lettuces, or dwarf runner beans. Limited space? Potatoes, carrots and peas can be grown in pots. Tomatoes thrive against a sunny wall, while pepper

plants and herbs will be fine on a windowsill. Wildlife - Encourage your child to hang bird feeders in the garden and fill a shallow bowl for a bird bath. You could also help them to make a bee hotel by tying sections of bamboo canes together, or fixing the canes into a terracotta pot with some modelling clay. Older children might enjoy identifying different birds, bees and insects using a book or app. Somewhere to play - You may not have room for a football pitch or trampoline, but even small gardens can usually offer some space for play. A few fixed logs can make a fun mini-obstacle course for example, and a swing can provide hours of enjoyment. Why not build a temporary den over a low hanging branch with some old sheets, clothes pegs and cushions? You could also make a mini-sandpit with a trough, large plant pot or small paddling pool. A fairy garden - Create a fairy

garden together by filling a shallow container with soil and adding a few small plants. You could use a small plant pot for a house, create a miniature lake with a ramekin and make a swing with sticks and string. Add some solar-powered twinkly lights and a couple of small wooden or plastic elves and fairies. Safety first - Teach children never to eat anything from the garden without checking with you first. Do head to the RHS website (www. rhs.org.uk) to find out what plants to avoid growing though; some are very poisonous and others can irritate skin and eyes. Keep sharp tools, plant food and weed killer safely out of reach at all times. If you have a pond, cover it with a rigid metal grille. More inspiration The BBC has lots of ideas for encouraging children into gardening, from growing patterns on the lawn to building a wormery. See www.bbc.co.uk/gardening/ gardening_with_children.

By Kate Duggan www.kateduggan.co.uk

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Life Begins...

We’ve retired and my partner’s driving me crazy!

By Kate McLelland

If you’re approaching retirement age and you live with a partner, you’re probably looking forward to having some ‘quality time’ together to explore new horizons and take part in hobbies you both enjoy. While there’s every chance that your future will be just as fulfilling as you imagine, life as a retired couple doesn’t always provide the kind of roses-round-the-door contentment that the clichés suggest. When the Skipton Building Society undertook research with 660 retired couples, around a quarter of the group admitted that retirement had put their relationship under pressure, while 13% confessed that they “irritate each other beyond belief”. Flashpoints included complaints about time spent on the phone, interference in the kitchen and situations where one partner is frustrated with their other’s lack of ‘get up and go’. Arguments about money and lack of personal space were also a source of tension. When Mhairi and Danny Brandreth retired, they moved from a large family home in the suburbs of Birmingham to a cottage in Wales. While the cottage was perfect for the rural lifestyle they had dreamed of,

“Before we retired, both of us worked quite long hours, and when we got home in the evening we would often end up in different rooms: Danny would watch TV while I caught up with friends online,” says Mhairi. “The first thing that struck us when we moved into the cottage was there was nowhere to escape to!” Danny picks up the story: “It wasn’t long before we started getting on each others’ nerves. One day, after an argument about something really trivial, we realised that if we didn’t change things, we could be heading for divorce.” The compromise they reached was that they would spend at least one day a week apart, pursuing different interests. Danny and Mhairi discovered that simply drifting into retirement without discussion about how their new life was going to work led to stresses and strains in their

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neither had considered what effect moving to a smaller property might have on their relationship.

Agreeing to spend more time apart could bring you closer

relationship. The organisation Relate has the following advice to couples planning to retire: • Prepare at least five years ahead for retirement and develop your hobbies and interests before you stop working. • Make a list of the things you’d like to do when you have more time on your hands. • Talk to your partner about mutual interests you could develop together. • Follow the lead of someone you know who has coped with changes in a positive way. • Find time to talk to other people about their experiences of retirement. If you’ve retired and are worried about your relationship, or if you plan to retire and feel anxious about the future with your partner, Relate offers a free Live Chat session with a trained counsellor (visit relate.org.uk). Retirement is a big lifestyle change and the process of adjusting can be stressful, but it’s encouraging to know that out of the 660 people quizzed by Skipton Building Society, nine out of ten said their relationship issues didn’t mean a lack of love or commitment and felt confident that they would eventually enjoy a happy retirement together.

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Technology

Beat the Mad March Hairs

Technology promises to tame your tangles and your tresses, solve split ends and make your hair incredibly curly or fantastically flat. Vacuum cleaner company Dyson’s expertise in moving air around means it makes a very effective (and very expensive) hairdryer that gets your hair dry in a fraction of the usual time without extreme heat. At £299 the Supersonic is a big investment but it might seem a good buy when you consider the cost of your time. If that’s out of reach though, review site ExpertReviews says the best budget model is currently the BaByliss 2100 Salon Light, which delivers great results for a little under £30. If you’re considering a cheaper model, pay attention to both the power and the weight: some hairdryers are uncomfortable to hold if you need to dry longer hair.

One of the best-rated curling tongs is the gHD Soft Curl Tong. It has a large 32mm width barrel and has an automatic cut-out so you don’t need to worry about whether you’ve left it on. The results are spectacular but again it’s pricey at £110. As with hairdryers there are plenty of less high-tech and considerably less expensive models around that do a perfectly good job, such as Remington’s Keratin Protect Curling Wand; at the time of writing it’s £24.50 online. gHD is probably better known for its hair straighteners, and its Platinum + White Styler tops the Cosmopolitan best-buy list despite its £175 price tag. It constantly monitors your hair to ensure it’s delivering the right temperature to the right place at the right time. For men, hair care is more often about removal than styling. According to the tech site T3, the best electric razor for men is the Philips 9000 Series Prestige, a

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wet and dry razor with wireless charging and the ability to cope with days of stubble. The RRP is silly at £450 and it’s widely available for much less, but lesser models do a great job too. Hair removal isn’t just for men, of course. Epilation is a great alternative to waxing, and Braun’s Silk-épil 9 is the best and – according to many reviewers – the least painful model around. Shop around, however; if you don’t want the various scrubbing and shaving attachments you can get it for considerably less. If you’d rather zap hair than pluck it, consider an IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) machine although it’s not as effective on blonde, grey or red hairs or darker skin tones. The best known brand is Philips, whose Lumea range starts at around £150. Just be careful if you’re planning to travel anywhere sunny, as you shouldn’t use these devices on skin that’s just been – or is about to be – exposed to lots of sunlight.

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Pets

Animal Stories Back in October 2017 we had two beautiful British Shorthairs signed over into our care. It was a heartbreaking story in which their owner had made the decision to give them up due to being seriously ill. Twyler and Sirius had been with their owner since they were born, so at four years old they were very wary of arriving in our cattery. Although they were both very friendly, they were quiet and unsure. We were keen to find them the perfect loving home to move into so they could get back to living a cosy family life. Two weeks later we found them their perfect new family home and they took no time in getting settled in! They had already made good use of their new owners’ king-size bed, preferring that to their cat bed; and Sirius also made sure he had done a complete scout of their new home, leaving not one single cupboard he hadn’t investigated. A cat tree was put up for them by the patio windows and it was obvious they were keen to start going outside, as Twyler in particular, spent most of her hours watching the birds. Over a year later and we received a lovely update from their new owners to let us know how they are. It appears Christmas was a particular favourite of both Twyler and Sirius as they spent most of their days over the festive period seeing who could fit into the smallest Amazon delivery box! They have

discovered Sirius has somewhat of a sweet tooth and have learnt to keep Jammie Dodgers out of his reach, whereas Twyler is more interested in stealing their socks! It is so lovely when such an upsetting story like where these two cats have come from turns around into a happily ever after and it is clear Twyler and Sirius have found their perfect match. Some of the cats in our care, a little like this pair, find it hard to get used to life in a cattery whilst we are finding them their new home. It may be because they are used to home comforts, or sometimes they just need much more human interaction. If this is the case it is ideal to move these cats into Foster Care where they can wait for their new owner in a cosy, comfortable home with plenty of company. At the moment we are very short of Foster Carers for cats and kittens, and as it will soon be kitten season, we’ll soon be in urgent need! Fosterers are vital to the rehabilitation of the animals that come into our care and it is so rewarding being a part of giving those animals their second chance. More information about becoming a Foster Carer for cats or kittens can be provided by emailing us at volunteer@rspcabedsnorth.org.uk or calling our office on 01234 266965. Potential Fosterers will need experience with pet animals and have access to a car.

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Rehoming Appeal

Pets

Lulu

Lulu is a year old and a very gentle, medium sized crossbreed girl. She will make a great addition to any family with older children/teenagers. She will need puppy classes and lead training and a secure garden to run around in. She will also need someone who is around most of the day to help her settle into her new home. If you can offer this lovely girl a home, please contact Julie on 01763 289827. Alternatively, please e-mail Philippa at info.rats@ gmail.com who will be pleased to forward your enquiry on to the team. View other dogs, cats and small mammals currently in our care for re-homing on our website: www.rats-animalrescue.co.uk or facebook: www.facebook.com/ratscharity You can also see photographs and details of the animals in our care in our charity shop in Hitchin Street, Biggleswade SG18 8AX. Open Monday to Saturday from 10.00 am until 4.00 pm.

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Three Counties Radio

L‘ ighter’ Coq au Vin Serves 2 Coq au vin is a traditional autumnal dish, slow cooked to get all the flavour out of the meat. That said, it can be a little heavy. This simple version, created by Andrei Lussman (owner of the Lussmans restaurants in Hertfordshire), is a lighter take on the French classic. Andrei is a fascinating and charming character, almost an old-school restaurateur and raconteur from a bygone age. This dish would grace a midweek family supper or a dinner party alike. Ingredients: 2 large free-range chicken legs 150g tomato wedges 400ml beef stock Handful of fresh basil 150ml white wine 80g red onion, sliced 6g fresh red chilli, chopped 25ml oil 10g garlic, peeled and chopped Salt and pepper to season

1. If you do not have an oven-proof dish which can also be used on the hob, do this first part of the recipe in a deep skillet or frying pan and then transfer to an oven-proof dish. 2. Pour the oil into your dish, put it on a medium heat on the hob and and pop your seasoned chicken legs in. 3. When these begin to become nice and golden, add the red onions. 4. Cook until the onions are caramelised, then add the basil, garlic and chilli. 5. Pour over your white wine, stir through and finish with the stock. 6. Cover the dish and place in a pre-heated oven (180°C/ Gas Mark 4) for between one and one and a half hours. The dish is ready when the meat falls off the bone. 7. Season with salt and pepper to taste and serve, preferably with some lovely crusty bread.

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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n O s ’ t Wha In March

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

1 March RSPB Hitchin & Letchworth Local Group 7.30pm ‘The Settlement’, Nevells Road, Letchworth Garden City Local group members free, Visitors £3 ‘RSPB Saving Nature in a Changing World’ with Martin Harper. Martin is the RSPB Conservation Director and leads the charity’s strategy on conservation research, land management, advice and advocacy. Tel: 01763 249459 Email: martinrjspc@hotmail.com 1, 8, 15 & 22 March 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 1, 15 & 29 March Stevenage Survivors Poetry Group 7.30pm Quaker Friends Meeting House £2 inc. drink & biscuits 4, 11, 18 & 25 March Stevenage New Pathways 1-4pm Friends Meeting House Cuttys Lane, Stevenage £2 inc. hot drink & biscuits. Counselling support group. A friendly place to meet and talk over issues in a positive way. Maybe go for walks, bring in speakers, form a craft group. Tel: 07429 831060 4, 11, 18 & 25 March Staplers Country Dance Club 8-10pm St John’s Community Hall, Hitchin Staplers is a 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 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 4, 11, 18 & 25 March Stevenage Choral Society 7.45-9.45pm Stevenage Music Centre, Nobel School, Stevenage The society meets every Monday during term time. No auditions or ability to read music required just a love of singing great music. New members welcome - come and try us out.

4, 11, 18 & 25 March 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 discos, meals, Sunday walks, theatre and concert visits, day and weekend trips. Tel: Lorna 01438 233657 Web: www.branch-out.org.uk 5, 12, 19 & 26 March Stevenage Bridge Club 7.30pm Priory Nursery, Stanmore Road, Old Stevenage To play Duplicate Bridge. A host system is run to find partners, if required. A wide level of ability play at the club. Tel: Phil Cooper 07957 813434 6 March North Herts Association of the National Trust 7.30pm Christchurch, Bedford Road, Hitchin Visitors £2 on the door. Bill Wilson will give a talk titled ‘Pip Squeak Wilfred - Looking for your Family History’. Bill lives in Hitchin and his talk is related to WW1 but is not about the war but about discovering relatives he knew nothing about until 2008. Nonmembers 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 Email: colettehouse@gmail.com 7 March The Arts Society North Herts Talk 11am & 2pm The Spirella Ballroom, Letchworth £7 on the door. Talk on Art Nouveau by Vivian Lawes. The varied incarnations of Art Nouveau in different countries is examined in a lecture that celebrates fluidity and movement. All welcome. Email: theartssociety.nh@gmail.com Web: www.theartscocietynorthhert.org.uk 7, 14, 21 & 28 March 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.. 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

7, 14, 21 & 28 March Roundabouters Country Dance Club 8-10pm Friends Meeting House, Cuttys Lane, Stevenage Friendly club for English country dancing. 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 7, 14, 21 & 28 March Stevenage Plus Social Group 8.15pm for 8.30pm Holiday Inn Express (opposite Matalan), Stevenage £2 - first night free. 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 7, 14, 21 & 28 March Sapphire Social Club 8.30pm The Orange Tree, Hitchin A small and friendly group for single people generally aged 50 and above offering a variety of social events during the month and the opportunity to make new friends. Tel: Joyce 07952 678021 Web: www.sapphiresocialsinglesclub.co.uk 8 March Unicorn Ceilidh 7.30-11pm St Mary’s Church Hall, Church Street, Baldock Adults £10, Concessions and family tickets available With The Pigeon Swing and Andy Rouse. Ceilidh dances are great fun, easy to learn - and addictive! Clear instructions from the caller before and during each dance allow anyone to join in and enjoy the dancing. Our combination of the finest live bands, top callers and a bar serving local Real Ale and Cider plus wine and soft drinks guarantee an excellent, fun-filled evening for all. Tickets are available on the door but advance purchase is recommended. Email: enquiries@unicornceilidhs.org.uk Web: www.unicornceilidhs.org.uk Tickets: www.ticketsource.co.uk/unicorn-ceilidhs 9 March Table Top sale 10am-12 noon St. Mary’s Church Hall, Stotfold Organised by Friends of St. Mary’s Church. Refreshments and Raffle. Proceeds for the restoration of the church. Tables £5. Tel: Chris Webster 01462 834108

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n O s ’ t Wha In March

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

9 March Mad March Hare Day 11am-4pm Artisans Gallery, 44 High Street, Shefford Come and meet the artists with music, tea and cakes and home crafted Mayfly Cider. It will be wear a silly hat day!! ‘Artisans in the Yard’ has evolved from Adrian Goulding’s ‘Projects in Wood’ workshop into a unique gallery inviting visiting artists to show and sell their work. It is situated at the rear of the Shefford Building Supplies, Artisans Gallery is open on Fridays and Saturdays from 1am-4pm - just drop in and have a browse; it’s a cracking place to buy a special gift or for something to enhance your home. Items in wood, pewter, resin, paintings, traditional ironware and ceramics. Facebook: www.facebook.com/ArtisansInTheYard 12 & 26 March 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 13 March Letchworth Chamber Music Concert 7.45 pm Howgills Friends Meeting House, 42 South View Tickets £15, Students & Under 18s £7 Concert by h BBC Young Musician of the Year and Julius Isserlis Scholar, Richard Allen (harp) with a wide-ranging programme. Tickets available on the door. Web: www.letchworthmusicclub.co.uk 16 March Festival Concert 7.30pm Tilehouse Street Baptist Church, Hitchin Tickets £8. Celebrating the 350th Anniversary of the ministry. Arlesey’s Vivace Choir and Strings will be performing a Festival Concert with Conductor Robert Bunting and Accompanist Geoffrey Boult. The evening is the start of a week of festivities and there will be a welcome drink on arrival. Vivace will be performing works by Hubert Parry, Gustav Holst, and movements from ‘Devine Emblems’, a setting of some of Bunyan’s children’s writings, by local composer John Chambers. The evening will also be interspersed with readings from Pilgrims Progress and some American ‘shape note’ hymns. Tel: Tickets 07584 322438 Email: tickets@vivacechoir.co.uk

17 March Stevenage Local Group & Hitchin & Letchworth Local Group RSPB Coach Trip Coach fares Adults £15.50 Under 18s £7.75. Joint coach trip to RSPB Frampton Marsh. Frampton has developed into an excellent all-round reserve with a wide variety of birds. Coach pick up points: Stevenage: 7.50am; Hitchin: 8.00am and Letchworth: 8.15am. Extra fee at RSPB Reserve for non-members. Booking essential. Tel: 01462 451320 Email: martinrjspc@hotmail.com Web: rspb.org.uk/groups/hitchinandletchworth 19 March Stevenage RSPB Local Group 7.30pm The Friends Meeting House, Cutty’s Lane, Stevenage RSPB Members £3, Non-members £3.50, Under 16s 50p. Acclaimed Wildlife photographer Richard Revels FRPS presents an illustrated talk entitled ‘The Fantastic Falklands’. Web: www.rspb.org/groups/Stevenage 20-23 March The Grand Duke 7.30pm The Queen Mother Theatre, Walsworth Road, Hitchin Tickets: Weds £12, Thurs-Sat £14 Putteridge Bury Gilbert & Sullivan Society presents ‘The Grand Duke’ by W S Gilbert and Sir Arthur Sullivan. Web: www.pbgs.org 23 March Weston Music Society Concert 7.30pm Weston Parish Church, SG4 7DJ Tickets £16, Under 19s free, 19-25 years £5 Savitri Grier and Richard Uttley - Violin, Piano. Beethoven: Violin Sonata No 4 in A minor Op 23. Enescu: Impressions from Childhood Op 28. Beethoven: Violin Sonata No 10 in G Op 96. Tel: 01462 790573 Email: felicitylowe@yahoo.co.uk Web: www.westonmusicsociety.org.uk or https:// www.wegottickets.com 23 March An Enchanted Evening of Song 7.30pm Walsworth Road Baptist Church, Hitchin Tickets £10. An Enchanted Evening of Song with Cheryl Aughton Clark (Soprano), Robert Little (Tenor), Margaret Johnson (Piano) and Guest Artistes, Angharad Little (Mezzo Soprano) and Clifton Hughes (Organ). Given by Felici Opera in support of PHASE (Hitchin’s Youth Support Charity). Tel: Tickets 01462 422940 Web: www.feliciopera.com

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28 March Stevenage RSPB Local Group Trip to Lemsford Springs 9.30am A morning visit to this Herts & Middx. reserve near Welwyn. Meet outside the reserve gates at 9.30am. Map Ref: 166/TL222123. Postcode AL8 7TN. Tel: Leader Trevor Storey 01438 226014 29 March Hitchin Book Club 5pm Orange tree, Hitchin Admission £2. A friendly group who meets the last Friday of each month. No pressure to read books just turn up for a drink and chat. Web: https://hitchinbookclub.simdif.com or https:// www.meetup.com/Hitchin-Book-Club/ 30 March Stevenage Choral Society 7.30pm Church of St Andrew and St George, Stevenage Adults £13 (£15 on the door), Under 16s £5 Haydn Paukenmesse Haydn Te Deum & Prokofiev Classical Symphony with the Chameleon Arts Orchestra. Conductor : Robin Osterley Email: info@stevenagechoral.org.uk Web: wegottickets.com/StevenageChoral Until 24 November The British Schools Museum 41/42 Queen Street, Hitchin Adults £5.50, Children 5-17 £3, Under 5s free The British Schools Museum re-opens for public visits. Please check the website for details of temporary changes to regular opening hours and of special activities and extra opening times during school holidays. Discounts available for family groups. It is recommended that allow at least two hours for your visit. On the first Sunday of each month you can enjoy a Victorian lesson at no extra charge. Lessons start at 2.30 and 3.30pm - don’t be late! These sessions are very popular and advance booking is recommended. Tel: 01462 420144 Website: www.britishschoolsmuseum.org.uk 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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Quirky Britain

A social event that’s murder to attend We all love an excuse to get together with likeminded people, have a chat, a nice meal and maybe a few drinks. Sounds like fun, doesn’t it? So what if we added another element to this cosy, social gathering? Let’s say, a bloody murder? How about dividing the partygoers up into victims, suspects and detectives and spending the rest of the evening trying to fathom out the motives and methods that led to the terrible crimes the guests have witnessed? Welcome to the world of Murder Mystery events, where, over the course of an evening, every budding Sherlock Holmes or Jane Marple has the opportunity to solve a grisly murder or two, following a trail of clues carefully laid down by the organisers.

Now everyone could play detective in the comfort of their own homes. ‘After Dark’ is the only murder mystery company in the world officially licensed by Agatha Christie Limited (who manage the literary and media rights for Agatha Christie’s works). Company Manager Tom Fisher says: “We perform around 150 murder mysteries a year, travelling up and down the country.” The company’s most popular format is the ‘criminal cabaret’, a dinner floorshow usually accompanied by a three-course meal. Tom explains: “Guests are invited to watch scenes of evidence in between courses and then, as dinner is served, they can question and interrogate the suspects to

discover who committed the deed!” From ‘Carry On’ film themed scenarios to murder on board the Titanic, After Dark’s varied programme caters for public events and private functions, including birthdays, hen nights and corporate functions, and their work is typical of the many murder mystery companies – both large and small – that operate across the UK. Whodunnit? The inventor of the Murder Mystery In 1981 – almost one hundred years after Sherlock Holmes first appeared in print – Liverpool businesswoman Joy Swift had a brainwave. Joy owned a small chain of hotels and was looking for an idea to entertain her guests in the evenings. The rest, as they say, is history. Hiring local actors to play the main characters, Joy came up with an interactive entertainment that would allow her guests to act as sleuths in a murder mystery scenario. Her plan was so successful that three years later she found herself travelling across the Atlantic to stage her first murder mystery weekend in New York. She has since helped to develop the genre on TV and in different parts of the world. It’s easy to see why a social gathering that involves dressing up, drama, teamwork and a bit of fine dining might be popular. But back in 1981, when Joy Swift had her revolutionary idea to entertain bored hotel guests, she couldn’t possibly have imagined that her simple Murder Mystery game would go on to achieve such long lasting national and international success.

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By Kate McLelland

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Februaryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Puzzle Solutions and Winners Last Monthâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Crossword Winner Mr P Newman from Hitchin Warden Abbey Vineyard Competition Winner Mr Edward Yorke from Sandy Easy

Hard

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Rethink Your Waste

Brookers on Bucklersbury has a great range of eco-friendly products in store Available at: 39 Bucklersbury, Hitchin, SG5 1BQ, 01462 434501 A bamboo drinks mug could help you cut down on single use plastic These are fully reusable and environmentally friendly

We have Brabantia compost bins and recycling sorters. Eco made easy!

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The Villager Prize Crossword

Prize

£25

Across 7. Sea between Europe and Africa (13) 8. Created, designed (8) 9. Perfectly fair or flat (4) 10. Normally, typically (7) 12. Unwanted plants (5) 14. Holding device (5) 16. Copenhagen’s country (7) 19. Astonish (4) 20. Tropical fruits (8) 22. Celebrated, toasted (13)

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

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

Down 1. Green leafy plant (4) 2. Picture house (6) 3. Fabric (7) 4. Wedded woman (5) 5. Dust might cause this! (6) 6. Chart of dates (8) 11. Answer (8) 13. Tomato sauce (7) 15. Organize, oversee (6) 17. First working day (6) 18. Waste material (5) 21. Foot digits (4)

Name: Tel:

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Travel

Lisbon Swept by the Atlantic breeze on the banks of the river Tagus, Lisbon is a lovely city where beyond the tree-lined avenues and elegant squares, the past lingers in myriad nooks and crannies. Old or new, quiet or bustling, the Portuguese capital is full of contrasts and always surprising. At the foot of the ‘seven hills’, Baixa, the lower town, is the main commercial hub, rebuilt in neo-classical style by the Marquis of Pombal after the 1755 earthquake. At the heart of it all is the spacious Rossio Square, beautifully paved in wave-like patterns of limestone and basalt. Fountains, flower sellers, cafés and pastry shops, it’s a place to relax and watch the world go by. Restaurants and boutiques line the popular Augusta Street, while beyond the Triumphal Arch the vast Plaça do Comércio opens out on to the river, spanned by the 25th of April suspension bridge. Inspired by the Golden Gate in San Francisco,

the bridge commemorates the peaceful return to democracy in 1974 when the population muzzled the soldiers’ rifles with carnations.

“a nostalgic place where old-fashioned trams rattle on the cobbles” Stylish façades, blue mosaics glinting in the sunshine, churches, museums and gardens: there’s plenty to explore in the centre, but sooner or later visitors come across the intriguing Santa Justa Elevator, a neo-gothic lift embellished with filigree, wood panels and brass fittings. Built in 1902 by an apprentice of Eiffel, it takes you up to the western heights of Bairro Alto overlooking the low town and river. Sleepy in the day, lively at night, this old district loves bohemian life. On the eastern side of town, the traditional Alfama district clambers up the slopes, just

like the Kasbah set up long ago by Moorish invaders. Tightly packed houses, steep winding lanes, narrow passageways and hidden squares, it’s a nostalgic place where old-fashioned trams rattle on the cobbles and the melancholy sound of Fado guitars drifts in dark tavernas. Up on the top is Castelo de Sao Jorge, the citadel built by the Moors then turned into a royal palace. It’s well worth the climb, for up on the battlements one can enjoy the most magnificent panorama over Lisbon and the river Tagus on its way to Belem, where caravels once set off to explore the world. At the mouth of the river, Belem claims some of the finest buildings financed by the golden Age of Discoveries, including two UNESCO sites, the grand Jeronimos Monastery, with its turrets and archways mirrored in a pond, and – also commissioned by Manuel I – the fortified yet delicate Belem Tower lapped by ocean waves. But most dramatic perhaps is the Monument to the Discoveries, built in 1960 and rising 52 metres above a huge mariner’s compass. Shaped like a caravel about to sail, it is flanked by statues of maritime heroes, among them Vasco de Gama, and led on the prow by the great pioneer Henry the Navigator.

By Solange Hando

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WINDOW REPAIRS

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Books

Book Review By Kate Duggan

Electrician

Books to share. Whether you give them as a gift or only pass them on once you’ve turned the last page, these books were made for sharing with friends and family.

Becoming By Michelle Obama

Michelle Obama’s autobiography became an instant hit when it was published late last year, and it’s easy to see why. Her trademark warmth, humility and intelligence shine from every page. The memoir takes us from Michelle’s early childhood to her time as First Lady, and beyond. Entertaining, thought-provoking and inspiring to boot.

When All is Said by Anne Griffin

Removals

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Widower Maurice sits at a bar in Ireland, raising toasts to the most important people in his life, from the brother who died so many years ago to his late wife. His joys, tragedies and regrets are laid bare. A warm, powerful tale that’s hugely enjoyable to read. You’ll miss Maurice’s humour, straight-talking and honesty when you reach the end.

Roofing

Humans of London by Cathy Teesdale

Cathy Teesdale has taken thousands of photographs across Greater London over the years. This book features more than 250 of her best shots with short quotes from the subjects. Beautiful pictures, interesting stories, a glimpse into other people’s lives – what more could you ask for from a coffee table book?

From just £35.00 per month plus VAT

Call Nigel on 01767 261122 for more information 62

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