Hitchin March 2020

VILLAGER The

Issue 24 - March 2020

and Town

Life

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

In this issue Easy Veg Growing Win tickets to see

Mark Thomas 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

FRco1 p

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Inside this issue...

Trends we will be wearing this spring/summer

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Don’t be Water Wasteful......................................................36 RSPCA Hertfordshire East News...........................................39 More Fool Us.......................................................................40 An Annual Fiesta.................................................................42 Baldock Library...................................................................46 Wordsearch.........................................................................46 Puzzle Page.........................................................................48 What’s On............................................................................52 To a Special Mum................................................................54 Prize Crossword....................................................58 Book Review.......................................................................61 Useful Numbers..................................................................63

How the Computer Began.....................................................4 Fire Blessing Bhutan.............................................................8 Win Tickets to see Mark Thomas.............................12 Dining: Royal Lancaster Style..............................................17 30 Years On: Poll Tax Riots Revisited....................................20 Nick Coffer’s Weekend Recipe..............................................23 Trends we will be wearing this Spring/Summer..................24 March into Spring................................................................26 Get Motivated. Get Fit.........................................................28 Stepping Stone Investing....................................................30 Easy Veg Growing................................................................35

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Stepping Stone Investing

Get your business off to a flying start this year

Advertise with the Villager Magazine... prices start from just £25.00 +VAT per month Editorial - Catherine Rose, Solange Hando, Trevor Langley, Nadia Houston, Nick Coffer, Jennie Billings, Kate Duggan, Robert Grant, Ann Haldon, Pippa Greenwood, RSPCA, Sarah Davey and Rachael Leverton.

Advertising Sales/Local Editorial Nigel Frost • Tel 01767 261122 nigel@villagermag.com Photography - Alexander Raths 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

How the Computer Began Believe it or not, the seeds for the earliest computers were sown at the beginning of the nineteenth century.

In 1801 French weaver Joseph Jacquard invented a loom that used punched wooden cards to automatically produce fabric designs – a concept that featured in the first computer systems.

However, it is Charles Babbage who is usually credited with the invention of the computer.

Born in 1791, he conceived a steam-driven programmable engine able to work out mathematical problems. Sadly, Babbage never lived to see his computer built, but amongst his many drawings and plans he left behind such a

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Charles Babbage’s Difference Engine No 1.

detailed technical design for ‘Difference Engine No. 2’ that the Science Museum’s curator decided to undertake the project in the 1980s. Finished in 2002, it works accurately, produces printouts and weighs five tons.

Babbage’s computer was never used in anger.

However, during the late 1880s, population growth in the United States meant that the government was struggling to calculate its census figures, so in 1890 Herman Hollerith designed a punch card system to automate the task. He saved the government $5 million and in the process

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established the company that went on to become IBM. Alan Turing is often described as the father of modern computers. In 1936 he invented the concept of the ‘Turing Machine’ that was capable of universal calculation, a computer description now referred to as ‘Turing complete’. Theoretically, the machine had limitless memory, could read data, write results, and store a program of instructions just like a modern computer.

Although it was never built, Turing’s subsequent contribution to cracking the Enigma Code during World War II is well-documented. Turing also foresaw the use of artificial intelligence (AI), devising a test he called the ‘Imitation Game’ to measure computer intelligence.

In 1941 German engineer Konrad Zuse attempted to actualise the ‘Turing complete’ concept with the first binary programmable electro-mechanical computer – the Z1 – which read instructions from 35mm punched film.

Between 1943 and 1944, two American professors, John Mauchly and J. Presper Eckert, constructed the Electronic Numerical Integrator and Calculator, known as ENIAC. Considered to be the first electronic computer, it was 1,000 times faster than its predecessors, measured 800 square feet and had 18,000 vacuum tubes. From this came UNIVAC, the first commercial computer which was launched in 1946.

COBOL was the first computer language, invented

by Grace Hopper in 1953. This was closely followed

by FORTRAN (FORmula TRANslation), developed by a team of programmers at IBM. Coupled with this, in 1958 Nobel prize-winner Jack Kilby and Robert Noyce manufactured the first computer chip: an integrated electronic circuit.

Towards the end of the 1960s, design engineers at Bell Labs came up with a computer operating system known as UNIX. Written in a programming language they called C, UNIX was useable across multiple platforms. It subsequently became the standard for mainframe computers.

Up until then, computers had not been suitable for use in homes, but in 1964 Douglas Engelbart produced a single user-friendly prototype including the now ubiquitous mouse and a graphical user interface. The famous floppy disk was invented by Alan Shugart of IBM in 1971. For the first time, it easily enabled software to be plugged in and shared between

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computers. As a result, personal computers (PCs) started to become available and Computer Science became the official subject for ‘geeks’ in the school curriculum.

1975 saw the foundation of Microsoft by two such self-confessed geeks: Paul Allen and Bill Gates.

Two years later the two Steves – Jobs and Wozniak – founded Apple Computers. Surprisingly, the first IBM PC wasn’t launched until 1981. It used MS-DOS and included an Intel chip, two floppy disk drives and the option of a colour monitor.

Meanwhile, Apple was busy developing its longstanding rival, the Mackintosh.

The 1980s saw further leaps in computer development. Computer software programs for both home and business use exploded. Word processing revolutionised the typing pool with programs like Wordstar, later replaced by Word.

It was also the era that Microsoft launched their groundbreaking Windows operating system and the first one hundred dot coms were registered for the newly created ‘worldwide web’ after physicist Tim Berners-Lee developed HTML (HyperText Markup Language) on which it was based.

In the last twenty years, computer technology has smashed through the glass ceiling with its evermore fast-paced development, from computers that once filled a whole room to those we now carry in our pockets. Even the relatively new Internet has seen huge changes with dial-up modems being replaced by Wi-Fi, and connectivity speeds increasing thanks to broadband (well, for a lot of areas at least). Computer games no longer require an old-fashioned floppy disk, or even a DVD, as everything increasingly moves into virtual reality.

Could Charles Babbage have foreseen the difference his Difference Machine would make when he was giving demonstrations to his academic friends in London all those years ago? I wonder…

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Travel

Fire Blessing Bhutan

By Solange Hando

Tucked away in the Himalaya, this small kingdom has boldly stepped into the twenty-first century, but cultural values remain at the heart of everyday life to ensure the ‘gross national happiness’ promised in the constitution. It’s a strong Buddhist culture punctuated by myriad festivals, but most dramatic perhaps is Thangbi Mani, the ‘fire blessing’ held in Bumthang, the country’s spiritual heartlands.

Soon after dawn on this special autumn day, townsfolk and farmers come from all directions, beautifully dressed in hand-woven gowns shimmering like rainbows. There are women with babies on their back, old people leaning on bamboo staffs, men in knee-length chequered gho and sweeping white cuffs, and garlands of children whose dark eyes sparkle with excitement.

They walk up the valley or tumble down the pinescented slopes to cross the footbridge, like one long line of ants suspended high above the river.

Meanwhile in the temple, monks offer fresh water to the gods and butter lamps flicker all around.

Now tingling in anticipation, the faithful pour into the monastery for the welcome dance, as village girls in their best finery shuffle on the flagstones to the rhythm of long horns and drums. There is much chanting and praying then suddenly something passes through the air and everyone rushes out into the nearby field, led by dignitaries and red-robed monks.

Just feet apart, two ominous haystacks are waiting and as more blessings rise under the deep blue

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sky an eerie silence falls upon the crowds, a human chain ready to break loose at the first spark. All is set for the purification rite and highlight of the year. Watched by thousands of eyes, the hay is set alight, smoke and ash filling the air, and in one massive surge young and old run through the flames to cleanse their sins and ensure good luck for the coming year. Friends drag each other through, toddlers hold on to their mothers and men pull up their collars to protect their hair.

Three times round then they come out, bubbling all over, ready for a fresh start. The flames die down as quickly as they started and great clouds of smoke drift downstream, bearing witness to a faith stronger than pain. Prayer wheels tinkle along the banks, Buddhist flags flutter in the breeze and now, in the valley sprinkled with apple trees and nodding buckwheat, the harvest will be good and the children healthy.

Back in the temple there are traditional jesters and masked dancers twirling barefoot on sun-baked stones, in a flurry of multi-coloured brocade and ‘thunderbolt steps’. Hoisted on the wall for a better view toddlers munch sunflower seeds, monks shelter from the midday heat under makeshift awnings and families gather around home-made offerings of marigolds and lucky chapattis to share with friends, as if nothing unusual had happened at all. The haystacks have vanished leaving just a patch of singed grass, and now in this bucolic land the river tumbles crystal clear as cymbals and gongs echo across the hills.

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advertorial

Has Your Double Glazing Steamed Up? Established for over a decade Cloudy2Clear windows have become a leading company for glass replacement.

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Photo: Steve Ullathorne

WIN a PAIR of TICKETS to see MARK THOMAS at CAMBRIDGE JUNCTION, on 30th MARCH 2020 In his new show 50 Things About Us, Mark Thomas combines his trademark mix of storytelling, stand-up, mischief and really, really well researched material to examine how we have come to inhabit this divided wasteland that some of us call the United Kingdom.

Mark picks through the myths, facts and figures of our national identities to ask how we have so much feeling for such a hollow land. Who do we think we are? It is a show about money, history, songs, gongs, wigs, unicorns, guns, bungs, sods of soil and rich people* in the vein of The Manifesto-meets-sweary history channel.

An unstoppable force both on and off-stage, Mark has stopped arms deals, created a manifesto and brought the winning policy to parliament, walked the entire length of the Israeli wall in the West Bank, set up a comedy club in Jenin, had six series on Channel 4 alongside several television documentaries and radio series, written some books, grabbed a Guinness World Record, toured sell-out tours, won numerous awards, nabbed himself a Medal of Honour and succeeded in changing some laws along the way.

50 Things About Us is also a podcast. *(not the adjective Mark has chosen) We have a pair of tickets to give away for Mark’s Cambridge Junction tour date on Monday 30th March. All you have to do is send in the answer to the below question!

MARK THOMAS COMPETITION ENTRY

How many Channel 4 series did Mark have?

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For a chance to win tickets simply answer the question and complete the form below and send to: Mark Thomas Competition, Villager Publications Ltd, 24 Market Square, Potton, Bedfordshire SG19 2NP. Deadline: 16th March 2020

Name: Tel: Email: Address:

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For full terms and conditions please go to www.villagermag.com

WHAT’S ON AT THE MILL 14th & 15th March THE BIG BREAKFAST WEEKEND

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Registered Charity No 307534

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Food and Drink

Dining: Royal Lancaster Style London holds much allure, for many. The different areas – be it East End, West End, North or South Bank of the River Thames and whether ancient, historical, pageantry or more modern is of interest, there is something for all ages. Culture, entertainment and sports are further attractions of the capital, which inspires all year through.

Always good, is a break in the time, if a day visit is planned. If a short trip (maybe romantic) is envisaged, a recommended restaurant could be welcoming. The area around Lancaster Gate, a mid-19th century development, has Kensington Palace and Gardens, plus Hyde Park. Also, Mayfair and Knightsbridge are in the vicinity, so thoughts of some ‘retail therapy’ may arise! I found the 5 star Royal Lancaster London Hotel, with its restaurants and bars, opened during 1967, to be a venue that has great attraction. This multi million pound renovated, 411 bedroom hotel, has views of Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens, plus the immediate area.

Different, outstanding restaurants, are located within the hotel and, depending on cuisine preferences and requirements, each is equally inviting. The Afternoon Tea can be an ‘invitation’, too.

The Island Grill Restaurant is very popular and offers dishes for all tastes. From the menu, starters include Crab Salad (Endive, seaweed crisp, oyster mayonnaise) and Wild Mushroom options. Royal Lancaster Smoked Salmon (Horseradish cream, beetroot, sourdough) has excellent presentation and, with complementing accompaniments, is very flavoursome, making a superb commencement to the dining occasion. Main courses have an array of meats, plus fish choices and more. All beef is organic, British and aged for 35 days. Grilled Free-Range Chicken (seasoned with English mustard and tarragon) is perfect with French fries and choice of sauces. With grilled tenderstembrocolli, suggested to accompany, this warrants, ‘Compliments to Chef’ – absolutely!

Desserts impress too and Dark Chocolate Fondant (Salted caramel ice cream) does not disappoint, oozing chocolate, with great flavour.

High-quality wines/drinks, from worldwide origins have something to satisfy all palates, including some fabulous pairings with cuisine. Gift vouchers are available.

Island Grill Restaurant and Bar Royal Lancaster London, Lancaster Terrace, Bayswater, London W2 2TY Tel: 44 (0) 207 551 6000 Tel: Island Grill: 44 (0) 207 551 6070 Email: info@royallancaster.com www.royallancaster.com

As always, Enjoy!

ey Trevor Langl

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Local News

Thank You

This is a short message of thanks to those who live in and around the village of Pirton (plus also those in Shillington, Lower Stondon, Holwell, Ickleford, Arlesey and Hitchin).

Thank you to the car drivers, the cyclists, the walkers (with prams and/or dogs) and the joggers.

Thank you for avoiding me (especially on the narrow lanes); for your cheery “Hello’s”, “Good Morning’s” and “Good Evening’s”. And I apologise for not always replying.

Who am I? I am the guy dressed up like a traffic cone in running kit. Why am I out and about at all times of the day and night? I am in training for the 26th April Virgin Money London Marathon. Why (at the age of 58) am I doing this? Because I am raising money for the Alzheimer’s Society, and it has also become a key part of my weight-loss programme having now lost 75lbs since last May (with added support from Weight-Watchers).

So if you see me over the next few months please continue to avoid me but feel free to beep, wave, cheer me on or whatever as it is all helpful and motivating.

If you would like to do more, then please feel free to use the link below to see my story and donate. All funds raised go straight to the Alzheimer’s Society who are working hard to make the horrible disease of dementia become a thing of the past.

Your support is my biggest motivation to succeed.

Thank you https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/vmlmballotplace-iandouglas

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Special Report

By Nadia Houston

30 Years On: Poll Tax Riots Revisited Thirty years ago, in March 1990, the ‘poll tax riots’ marked the beginning of the end of Margaret Thatcher’s tenure as Prime Minister.

The premise behind the ‘Community Charge’, otherwise known as poll tax, was that it was a flat fee regardless of income. Each person paid a fixed amount set by their local authority, with the idea being that it would replace previously used domestic rates which were levied according to a property’s value. However, this unfairly penalised those worse off in society and very obviously benefited wealthier property owners.

The Community Charge was defended on the principle of marginality: that all voters should have to cover the costs of additional council spending, and that those who benefitted from this expenditure should also pay their fair contribution.

Despite protest, some from MPs themselves, the poll tax was introduced in Scotland in 1989 and was announced to come into effect in England and Wales in April 1990.

This was a deeply unpopular policy which resulted in riots and protests breaking out across the UK. The largest demonstration was attended by 200,000 people who came together on 31st March 1990 in central London.

Although mainstream media and politicians condemned these activities, there was widespread support from the public for the protestors.

Beginning in Kennington Park, thousands of people headed for Trafalgar Square where they were met with police who tried to prevent them from reaching Downing Street.

Mounted riot police were also brought in to clear the protesters from Whitehall, resulting in the majority of the group becoming completely stationary around the area. According to reports, officers then advanced at the crowds at speed, moving protestors back into Trafalgar Square.

Contradictory reports exist regarding the nature of the events during the afternoon; some claimed that the mounted police intentionally antagonised protestors and that police riot vans were driven into the crowd, which further escalated the riots.

As a consequence, underground stations in the area were closed which also made it harder for people to disperse.

The rioting left more than a hundred people hurt and resulted in more than four hundred being arrested. Damage to property was extensive

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Poll Tax Protestors, Picture credit: James Bourne

throughout key areas of central London, including Oxford Street, Piccadilly Circus and Covent Garden.

During the day, protestors had thrown debris at police, set fire to a builders’ cabin and climbed scaffolding. By night this had escalated to looting and setting of fires in cafes and wine bars in Covent Garden, with events continuing into the early hours of the next morning.

The unpopularity of the Community Charge undoubtedly contributed to Margaret Thatcher’s downfall. When the tax was introduced, 17 million refused to pay. In opinion polls, 78% were opposed to it. For the first time, Thatcher’s popularity as Prime Minister was seriously questioned.

As a consequence, Michael Heseltine, who had always been an outspoken critic of the poll tax, triggered a leadership contest in November 1990 from which John Major emerged the winner.

Major appointed Heseltine as environment secretary, increased VAT to generate extra cash for councils, announced the abolition of the community charge and introduced its replacement – council tax – in March 1991.

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Food & Drink

Vegan BBQ pulled jackfruit kebab with spicy slaw and vegan tzatziki Over recent years on my Weekend Kitchen show, it’s been really interesting to watch the way our perceptions of vegan food have developed. Initially met with a lot of scepticism, vegan food on my show would usually have been met with “that’s better than I expected” or “you wouldn’t know it’s vegan”. Now we no longer need to make excuses – vegan food is just food, which happens to be vegan. This wonderful vegan kebab stands on its own as a brilliant meal. It was created by a vibrant and clever chef, Paul Nicholls (@ chefpaulnicholls on Insta), who runs the kitchen at Woburn Golf Course and his own catering company, Olive and Basil, named after his grandparents. Packed with flavour, fun and texture, it’s absolutely delicious, and so easy to make too.

Ingredients 1 tin jackfruit 1 tsp smoked paprika 4 tbsp BBQ sauce 1 large carrot, grated 1 small red onion, finely sliced 1 handful shredded cabbage 1 handful grated celeriac 1 tsp harissa paste 2 limes, zested and juiced 4 tbsp vegan cream cheese 1/2 cucumber grated 1 clove garlic, finely chopped 4 mint leaves, finely chopped 4 large pita breads

1. Firstly make the zesty slaw. Mix the cabbage, carrots, onion and celeriac in a bowl. Season with salt and pepper, then add a little lime zest and juice and finish with the harissa.

2. In a separate bowl, mix the vegan cheese with the garlic, mint, cucumber and a little lime juice to taste.

3. Fully drain the jackfruit from the tin and fry it, with the paprika, in a little oil in a pan. You want it to start to pull apart and caramelise a little.

Finish by mixing in the BBQ sauce.

4. Warm up your pittas and fill them with the pulled jackfruit and the coleslaw and drizzle over some of the tzatziki. Serve immediately.

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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House of Colour

The trends we will be wearing this Spring/Summer 1. Minimal Futurist is a clear trend for the season with clean lines, block colours, minimal details, fluid movement and drape. Think layering simple blazers and sheath dresses with wide and slim leg trousers, finish the look with architectural accessories.

2. Elegance as Staple – Classic wardrobe staples have added feminine elegance for a balance between fluidity and structure. Tailored suits are worn with soft bow blouses, city shorts, and feminine dresses in simple and elegant shapes.

3. Modern Utility – Safari, shirt dresses, utility jackets, and trousers with utility style pockets and details continue to update modern silhouettes especially with waist definition.

4. Paradise Island – Perfect for your holiday wardrobe, blend exotic prints and textures with your safari colours and utility details.

Alternatively choose voluminous maxi dresses, crochet details, palm prints and handcrafted accessories.

5. Neo Victoriana’s fanciful ruffles and volume are underpinned by decadent florals. Puff and bishop sleeves on dresses and blouses, peplum jackets, refined ruffles and Victorian style accessories give a nod to historical influences.

On trend styles to keep in mind on shopping trips: • Short suits – for a contemporary look consider high waisted and longer length shorts teamed with a blazer.

• Texture is increasingly important. From soft buttery leather to light chiffons and crochet, layering is key. Satin continues as a must have fabric, reworked for SS20 in blazers and summer dresses in pastel shades.

• Environmental influence - Focus on investment pieces and trans-seasonal dressing for wardrobe staples so you can wear again and again appealing to those who want to buy less and wear more. Especially important when considering overcoats, blazers, classic shirts and trench coats.

• Versatile enough to be worn casually with sports shoes or dressed up with heels, the patterned midi remains the go-to dress shape. Puff sleeves, deep V and corset necklines or off the shoulder designs offer something different.

• Romantic puff sleeves and elasticated balloon shapes are still very in vogue as simple strings

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and long sweeping ties replace buttons as fastenings for a more natural feel.

• Layering midi dresses and longline shirts over trousers taps into the mood for seasonal dressing so you can wear your favourite dresses earlier in the season.

• Cardigans become a fashion favourite with matching cardigan and knitwear top sets in tight fitting to oversized options.

• Consumers still want comfort and style in their clothes but SS20 is the season of the blazer as the key item perfect for a smart/casual look. A wardrobe staple item that can be layered and worn between seasons. Adapt to suit your personality from simple tailoring to exaggerated shoulders or peplum details, there is a blazer for everyone.

• The Pantone Colour Institute has announced their colour of 2020 is the beautiful ‘Classic Blue’ so expect to see it all over the shops. Here are some other key colour trends:  Soft green – from autumn light sage to moss green  Bold red – the vibrant reds for all season  Yellow – yellow ochre, canary yellow and corn yellow, saffron and tangerine.  Pastel shades – the summer pinks, purples and greens  White – across all seasons from cream to bright white  Aqua  Lilac

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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Beauty

By Kate Duggan

March into Spring

From sustainable beauty to the softest make-up brushes and home-made bath bombs, there’s plenty to tempt you this month…

I recently had to request some new make-up brushes as my eight year old son broke mine applying (as he puts it) Goth makeup. It turned out to be a blessing in disguise as it meant I upgraded my old, rather worn brushes for a sparkling new set from Lily England. The Face Make-Up Brush Set contains five of the softest, most luxurious feeling brushes I’ve ever tried. The set includes a foundation brush, bronzer brush and eyeshadow brush. They’re vegan, look a lot more expensive than they actually are and come in a rather nice white cosmetic bag. In other words, they’d make a great Mother’s Day gift. I’m not letting my son anywhere near these ones. They’re £24.99 from Boots or www.lilyengland.com.

Planning to make a gift this Mother’s Day, or looking for an activity to do with the kids? How about a set of home-made bath bombs? The key ingredients are citric acid, baking soda/ bicarbonate of soda and essential oil. You’ll also need something to use as a mould. Special moulds for creating bath bombs are available, but chocolate moulds are fine for creating smaller bath fizzes and they’re available in a range of shapes.

(You can also use them to make aromatherapy wax melts.)

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Mix one cup of bicarb with one cup of citric acid, and add around thirty drops of essential oil (lavender works well). You can add extra ingredients if you like, such as a tablespoon of almond or olive oil, dried flower petals and food colouring. Then add a splash of water, a few drops at a time, and keep mixing. You want to end up with a mixture that holds its shape when you squeeze it. Push the mixture into the moulds firmly and leave them to dry somewhere warm, like an airing cupboard for a few hours.

Then gently push the bath bombs out of the moulds and wrap them in tissue paper.

I’m a fan of BYBI for so many reasons. For a start, it’s one of the most sustainable brands on the market. Bottles can be returned to be washed and refilled. Products only contain sustainable ingredients, including seeds that would have been thrown away. And BYBI makes sure that the people who grow or harvest those ingredients are treated fairly.

That’s all well and good, but if beauty products don’t work, there’s little point in them being ethical. Thankfully, these do.

I particularly love the BYBI Swipe Clean Cleanser (£26).

It’s a 100% natural oil-based cleanser that removes make up easily and leaves skin feeling noticeably pampered. When I’m trying a new cleanser, I skip moisturiser for a few days to really put it to the test.

This one left my skin feeling ultra-soft, even several hours later. I also like the BYBI Mega Mist (£26) – a hyaluronic acid spritz that leaves skin feeling more hydrated and ‘glowy’. It’s available from Boots or www.bybi.com.

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27

Fitness

By Robert Grant

Get Motivated. Get Fit Reinvigorate your fitness routine It’s several weeks since my New Year resolution to lose weight and get fit. It’s cold and damp outside.

The gym is miles away, and there’s a TV program on about a knitting group in Nicaragua that looks interesting, and this sofa is ever so comfortable.

My self-motivation tank is empty!

Does your determination and energy to get fit after New Year’s Day seems to run out sooner each year? Do you need to get fit? Do you need to lose weight? Do you know you’ll feel better if you do?

It’s so much easier to fall back into old habits than to actively make a difference to our health isn’t it?

So how do we stay motivated?

Motivation is all in the mind. There is no physical difference between those who get fit and those who get fat. The fit people are just those who manage to leave the house and move their bodies.

We need to help our mind overcome the inertia currently preventing us moving from the couch.

Get up, get dressed, get out.

It sounds simple but getting out of the door is the biggest hurdle. If you can force yourself to go through the motions of getting into your exercise kit, walking to the door and out of the house you’re 90% of the way towards actually exercising.

If you’re standing outside dressed for exercise it’s harder to change your mind and sneak back inside for another slice of cake.

Set an alarm to tell you when it’s time for your exercise class, run, etc. Make sure you’ve got workout gear that makes you feel good.

Something stylish, comfortable, colourful, or high-

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tech; it doesn’t matter, use whatever works for you.

Make the getting dressed part something to look forward to. Baggy, stained, holey jogging bottoms will put you off the idea of stepping outside.

Then just grab your keys, open the door and step outside.

Start slowly.

It’s important to pace yourself. Just because your neighbour can sprint 5 km in 20 minutes doesn’t mean that you have to. Whatever exercise you are doing find a pace that is comfortable while still pushing you. As you exercise more you will gradually increase your exertion. Push yourself too hard at the beginning and exercise will seem exhausting, painful and make it harder to get going the next time. Once you begin to see your performance improving, you’ll get excited about beating your personal best and want to prove to yourself just how good you are.

Set a short-term goal.

The ultimate goal might be to fit into a size 10 dress, or have a perfect six pack with matching biceps, but realistically that’s probably more than a few months away. Pick a goal that you can achieve within the next two months. Dropping one dress size, being able to run non-stop for 1 km, being able to do a proper pull-up. Achieving goals is as important as setting them when trying to keep your motivation high. Small successful steps build one on the other until all of a sudden, your ultimate goal is just within reach.

Keep on keeping on. Don’t over-think it, just do it.

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Finance

Stepping stone investing and other ways to get more from your money If you don’t have much money left for saving or investing once your essential bills have been paid, it’s important to make sure you get the most out of your money and make good use of compound interest.

The stepping stone method can bring huge rewards even if you only have small amounts to invest each month, but there’s a whole range of other financial products and strategies you could also use to seriously improve your financial situation over time.

Saving and investing using the stepping stone method The stepping stone method involves increasing the amount you save or invest by 10% each year. Whether you start off with £100 or £10, exponentially you could achieve a considerable increase in your return with minimal effect on your monthly finances.

If you’re reluctant to invest, finding a good savings account or current account that pays credit interest can reap serious rewards, even for smaller amounts. This is what makes the stepping stone method so accessible, and one of the best ways to get the most from your money.

If you do decide to invest, be aware that investments can go down as well as up and past performance is no guarantee of future growth, so you’d need to take professional advice before going ahead.

Current accounts for credit interest If you pay a regular sum into your current account, such as your wages, you may be entitled to credit interest on your balance. Some current

accounts offer higher rates of interest than savings accounts, but you’ll need to meet each bank’s eligibility criteria.

Consider locking in a fixed rate If you’re sure you won’t need access to the funds, you can get more from your money by locking in a fixed rate. Fixed rate savings accounts and ISAs are typically available from one to five years, and the longer your money is tied up the higher the rate you’ll get.

Move your money around It doesn’t pay to be loyal to companies these days as the best deals are typically offered to new customers. From the banks’ perspective, a higher interest rate does attract new business but, again, these offers are often time-limited.

Tracker accounts Tracker accounts track the Bank of England base rate and offer a specific percentage figure above this rate for a defined period of time. They help to ensure you benefit from any interest rate rises, as some financial institutions are slow to pass these on to their customers.

What about a monthly saver?

Regular savings accounts can be a good way to maximise your savings. You gain access to a higher interest rate for a fixed timescale, but there are limits on how much you can put away each month.

Finding the right financial products takes a little time and effort but the rewards can be high as compound interest takes effect. Whether you try the stepping stone method or take advantage of specific deals, making the most of your money offers financial stability and peace of mind for the future.

By Ann Haldon

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Gardening

Easy Veg Growing

By Pippa Greenwood

Growing your own vegetables is easier than you might think, and this is the perfect time to start.

Salads, herbs and classic main meal vegetables can all be planted to be picked fresh from your garden in the coming year.

Some vegetables are best grown from seed – the classics are carrots, so plant a row or two as soon as the soil is not too wet. Consider coloured varieties such as ‘Purple Haze’ or ‘Purple Dragon’ to ring the changes.

Sow some salad leaves and within a few weeks they’ll be growing strongly enough to harvest.

Small sowings made every two weeks or so will give supply of salad throughout the summer and well into autumn.

Grow tomatoes in a warm, sunny spot in your garden, or better still in a greenhouse or frame.

It’s often better value (and a lot easier) to buy some small garden-ready plants. Greenhouse and outdoor varieties are available so check catalogues or labels to make sure you choose correctly.

Cucumbers are best grown from plants, and in the garden ‘ridge’ cucumbers are best as they perform better outside.

If time is short then vegetable plants are a great choice for most crops. Send off for them now and avoid time-consuming potting on and pricking out. Why not share with friends and save cash if the packs come in quantities too large for the available space?

Choose garden-ready mail order plants so you can plant them out straight away, or only have to grow them on in pots for a couple of weeks.

Unwrap as soon as they arrive and if you can’t

plant them immediately, water the compost if necessary and pot each root ball into some compost.

At this time of year the soil is often really wet, so try covering it with a polythene sheet or a polythene covered pull-out tunnel for a couple of weeks before your plants are due to arrive or you are due to plant out vegetables sown from seed, removing it just before planting out. This keeps off excessive rain and allows the soil to warm up a little beforehand.

Small plants may still be tender, so make sure frosts are past before planting out and give them a chance to gradually acclimatise to their new surroundings by covering them with cloches or fleece for a few days.

I’ve also got a great solution: ‘Grow Your Own with Pippa Greenwood’, perfect if you need a bit of help and advice. Visit my website www. pippagreenwood.com for great quality, UK-grown garden-ready vegetable plants. Once delivered you’ll get weekly emails explaining how best to prepare the ground, plant out and look after your growing vegetables. To save you time, the emails are only for the plants you’ve bought and include timely reminders, hints and tips to make it easier to get a tasty crop.

At Pippa’s website (www.pippagreenwood.com) you’ll find stylish cloches, practical and pretty plant supports, the fantastic SpeedHoe, gardening tools, Grower Frames, signed books and the ‘Grow Your Own with Pippa’ system. Or book Pippa for a talk at your gardening club.

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35

Environment

Don’t be Water Wasteful

When you’ve been through a British winter, it’s sometimes difficult to appreciate the need to save water. However, cutting your consumption will bring both environmental and financial benefits.

PLASTIC IS NOT FANTASTIC Let’s be realistic about this. Not everywhere has pleasanttasting tap water and saying it tastes the same as bottled water simply isn’t true. But those plastic bottles have to go.

A water filter jug goes a long way to achieving a bottled water taste. A company called Phox have recently released what they claim is ‘The World’s Most Eco-Friendly Water Filter’, which uses refillable filters.

A sparkling water maker such as a Sodastream, whilst not eco-neutral, is still better and cheaper over time than all those plastic shrink-wrapped fizzy water multipacks.

CONSERVATION IS WORTH IT Water has to be processed before it arrives at your house and cutting back on energy is something we all know we should do. Besides, most of us have water meters these days so you are paying for every last drop.

Surprisingly a dishwasher is better than washing by hand provided you don’t put it on until it’s full. But don’t pre-wash your dishes – it’s not necessary.

Don’t run a tap unless you are actually using it at that moment – this includes shaving and brushing your teeth. Even with a shower, give it the shortest time possible to warm up before jumping in. And if your taps or cisterns are dripping, you are literally throwing money down the drain.

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Pets

RSPCA Hertfordshire East News Benny

Benny and Danny came into our care, as sadly their owner’s circumstances changed. Benny is white and black and Danny is a black short-haired cat. These young boys are brothers and they have always lived indoors. They are very friendly cats and have settled in quickly at the cattery. They enjoy having a lot of fuss and attention and will need to be rehomed together as they have a very strong bond. They do everything together - play, eat, sleep and cuddle up together. We are looking for an indoor home for Benny and Danny. They have never lived with a dog, but could live with older children. If you are interested in giving Benny and Danny their forever home, please note a home visit is required and adoption fee will apply. Please call 01462 672278 or email info@rspcahertseast.org.uk for more information.

Improving your cat’s health Cats have similar pain thresholds as people and are vulnerable to a range of infectious diseases or illnesses. Check your cat for signs of injury or illness daily, and provide a vet health check at least once a year. Help your cat live a calm and relaxed life because it could decrease the risk of illness.

Stressed cats can become unwell. To protect against pregnancy, female cats should be spayed before they are four moths old. Male cat neutering protects him against injuries and catching nasty diseases from fighting over mates, and also stop him spraying in the house. Road accidents are the most common

cause of injury or early death. Micro-chipped cats are more likely to be reunited with owners and receive prompt veterinary care if injured.

Healthy diet for cats Without drinking water, your car could become seriously illness within hours. Note: Cow’s milk is not a substitute for water. Cats need a well-balanced, meat-based diet to stay fit and healthy – they cannot be vegetarian. Most typical human food does not meet the nutritional needs of cats, and some human food can be poisonous to cats, e.g. onions. Cats naturally eat several small meals per day, so try to split their daily intake into several small meals. If a cat eats more food than they need they will become overweight and suffer as a consequence. Make sure their litter tray is positioned away from their food and water. Cats will not eat or drink if their food and water is placed too close to their toilet site. If your cat suffers with diarrhoea, feed it white fish such as Pollock until the condition improves and consult your vet if necessary.

Danny

In the event of an emergency or cruelty, please call 0300 1234 999 Branch Office: 01462 672278 Why not follow us on Facebook:www.facebook.com/hertfordshireeastbranch or on our website:www.rspca-hertfordshireeast.org.uk

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Time of Year

More Fool Us

With April Fools’ Day looming it’s always fun, trying to spot the fake story. Some would say that in the current political climate it’s now almost impossible to separate

By Sarah Davey fact from fiction. But back in the good old days when regular news stories didn’t sound as though they’d been dreamed up by the team who wrote Twin Peaks or Walking Dead newspapers and TV channels vied to see who could pull off the best prank.

The most famous is definitely the BBC’s 1957 Panorama report on the bumper spaghetti crop. Huge numbers of British viewers were fooled by the footage of Swiss peasants gathering long strands of pasta from the trees!

In 1962, Swedish television viewers were duped into thinking that they could magically transform their black-and-white TV sets into colour by stretching a nylon stocking over the screen!

Australians were confused in 1975 when they were told they were converting to metric time, with 100 seconds to the minute, 100 minutes to the hour and 20-hour days.

In 2002 Tesco got in on the act and published an advert for genetically modified carrots. The advert said it each vegetable had air holes in the side which let them whistle when fully cooked!

Finally, in 2008 people were amazed to see a BBC film of Adélie penguins flying across the Antarctic on their way to spend the winter in the rainforests of South America. This became one of the most viewed videos on the internet. Totally fake.

With the boundaries between ridiculous and reality becoming ever more blurred, I suspect that spotting the fake story this year might prove more challenging than ever!

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THE GARDEN ROBIN

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41

Garden View

By Rachael Leverton

An Annual Fiesta I’ve always loved an annual. From Bunty to The Blue Peter Annual, they were crammed full of interest and fun. As I grew older my taste in annuals has become more horticultural. One little pack of seeds is now my gardening equivalent of the Beano - a brief shelf-life and packed with colour.

Hardy annuals are the most obliging. They don’t need a propagator or a greenhouse, or even a windowsill; all they need is a sunny spot and some well-drained soil. Just sprinkle the seeds in the ground and you can look forward to a fiesta of summer colour for very little work.

The choice of plants and hue is wide. If blue is your thing try a soft shade of love-in-a-mist, or a vivid blue cornflower, or the most gorgeous tiny phacelia. For pinks try a fluffy clarkia or delicate godetia. Nasturtiums span the colour wheel from cream through yellow and orange to deep red.

Annual doesn’t mean small either. Both larkspurs and amaranthus are tall and elegant, and cleomes which also provide height probably only need to be planted once as they are prolific self-seeders!

Look around your garden for gaps in beds and borders which are in a sunny spot and welldrained. Don’t plant when it’s cold or the soil is wet

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and sticky. Wait until the weather is mild and soil is damp and crumbly, then fork it lightly to break it up. Use a rake to create shallow furrows, sprinkle the seeds over and rake them gently in, raking across the furrows to cover them. Bigger seeds like nasturtiums can be pushed into the soil a couple of centimetres deep and 10-15cm apart. Label the area so you know what should come up.

The biggest enemy of the newly-planted hardy annual seed is the domestic cat! They love a patch of freshly raked soil, and will happily do their business in your handiwork and then kick up all your seeds without a second thought. Thwart the moggies by laying twiggy pea sticks over the area (and particularly twiggy and thorny prunings will do!). Remove them with the shoots are big enough or stand them up and use them to support the taller annuals.

Thin them out a little to one plant per 10cm and water them if the weather is very dry. You don’t need to feed them, they flower best when the soil is not rich. Food and manure will favour leaf production whereas we’re after flowers and lots of them!

Happy Gardening!

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Part of The Orange Property Improvement Group

Comes & see our

Show Area

at Storage Bedfordshire, Elm Farm, Great North Rd, Biggleswade, Beds SG18 9BE

Contact us Tel: 01767 315800 Mob: 07747736210

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07/06/2015

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Electrician

WORDWHEEL

www.hertsandbedselectrical.co.uk

Using only the letters in the Wordwheel, you have ten minutes to find as many words as possible, none of which may be plurals, foreign words or proper nouns. Each word must be of three letters or more, all must contain the central letter and letters can only be used once in every word. There is at least one word that uses all of the letters in the wheel.

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

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Abacus

Painting & Decorating Property Maintenance & Repairs • All interior and exterior work undertaken including residential, commercial and industrial • All aspects of property maintenance • Over 25 years experience • Fully insured • Friendly, clean and reliable

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45

Local News

Baldock Library - not just books anymore Libraries are not just books anymore. We hold weekly and monthly session for the whole family. Plus one off events.

Not sure what to do during the week? Why not pop along to Baldock library. Every other week on Thursday’s at 10.30am our new board game club meet up. Game On!. Come and join in with the select of games like Monopoly, chess, draughts and many more.

Or how about a game of cards or have a go at the jigsaw. Not the competitive type then we have our Monday meetup on the first Monday of the month with guess speakers and a chat over a cupper.

For the little ones on Wednesday’s we have Baby Rhyme Time starting at 10.30am. Babies love being bounced and tickled, and rhymes are a great way of entertaining them. On Thursday’s at 2.15pm we hold Toddler Tales a perfect step on from Baby Rhyme Time, with a mix of lively stories and rhymes for you and your child to join in with. The stories chosen are aimed at toddlers and pre-school children but babies are welcome too. Both sessions are a fun half hour of songs and rhymes. Sharing stories and rhymes with your child helps to develop their listening skills, language and imagination.

All sessions are a great way to meet new friends. There is no need to book in advance plus it’s free, but donations are always welcome.

For further details 0300 123 4049 www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/libraries

City

Accra Amsterdam Ankara Athens Beirut Belgrade Berlin Bern Bogota Cairo Hanoi Kabul Lima Macau

Moscow Muscat Nicosia Oslo Ottawa Paris Riyadh Rome Seoul Tehran Tokyo Tunis Victoria Warsaw

Find the names of cities in the grid and the remaining letters will spell out a related phrase

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T J Lee

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

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Codeword 1

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ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ

Easy Suduko

Hard Suduko

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

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n O 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, 8, 15, 22 & 29 March Hare & Hounds Hash House Harriers 11am H5 are a social running and walking club for mixed abilities, meeting every week in the Bedfordshire area. The trail is set by our hare from a local pub and typically lasts 1 hour covering between 3 and 4 miles. Family and dog friendly. Full details of the trails can be found online or via email.

Email: info@h5hashers.org.uk Web: www.H5hashers.org.uk

2, 9, 16, 23 & 30 March Stevenage New Pathways 1-4pm Friends Meeting House Cuttys Lane, Stevenage £2 inc. hot drink & biscuits A friendly place to meet and talk over issues in a positive way. Maybe go for walks, bring in speakers, form a craft group. E: katiewilsonmind@gmail.com 2, 9, 16, 23 & 30 March Stevenage Choral Society 7.45-9.45pm Stevenage Music Centre, Nobel School, Stevenage The society meets every Monday during term time.

Free the friendly choir with a free session. No audition necessary. Meet like-minded people of all ages and abilities. Try out a wide range of music, from the classics to show songs and be part of a friendly and supportive team, putting on excellent performances whilst having fun. Tel: 01438 365769 Email: info@stevenagechoral.org.uk Web: www.stevenagechoral.org.uk 2, 9, 16, 23 & 30 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. Meets every Monday apart from bank holidays and some school holiday dates. Tel. 01462 624144 or 01462 680995 Web: www.staplers.org.uk 2, 9, 16, 23 & 30 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. 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

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3 March The British Schools Museum Talk 7pm The British Schools Museum, 41/42 Queen Street, Hitchin Entry £8. ‘The Secret World of Charles Dickens:, a ‘magical’ talk’ by Ian Keable. Charles Dickens was an amateur conjurer for about seven years. The first half is an illustrated talk on how Dickens became a conjurer, which magicians inspired him and how his magic sheds light both on his character and his writings. The second half will be a performance of tricks from Dickens’ repertoire and tricks of contemporary magicians whom Dickens saw. Book online. Tel: 01462 420144 Website: www.britishschoolsmuseum.org.uk

4 March North Herts Association of National Trust 7.30pm Christchurch, Bedford Road, Hitchin Visitors £2. ‘Southwell Workhouse” by Stephen Marshall. Some background on the poor laws and social conditions in the early 1800s will set in context why it was built and how it operated. It was in social use until as recently as the 1980s though in a different format. Visitors welcome. Membership of National Trust not necessary. Second hand books and homemade preserves on sale.

Tel: Secretary Mrs Colette House 01462 815585 Email: colettehouse@gmail.com 5 March The Arts Society North Herts 11am-12.15pm Broadway Cinema and Theatre, Eastcheap, Letchworth Visitors £7 on the door. ‘Grinling Gibbons - Carver to the Crown’. Visitors welcome. Lift access.

Web: theartssocietynorthherts.org.uk 5, 12, 19 & 26 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. The group is very easy going in its attitude to art - only doing your own thing. Still Life and raffle every month. No qualifications required - just come along with your drawing gear and you’ll receive a very warm welcome. Tel: Pauline 01767 315553 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

5, 12, 19 & 26 March Roundabouters Country Dance Club 8-10pm Friends Meeting House, Cuttys Lane, Stevenage £3, annual membership £5. Friendly club for English country dancing – enjoyable, easy to learn and very sociable. We welcome new members, both beginners and experienced, couples and individuals.

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 5, 12, 19 & 26 March Stevenage Plus Social Group 8.15pm for 8.30pm Holiday Inn Express (opposite Matalan), Stevenage £2 - first night free. Stevenage Plus Social Group is a fun and friendly social group with members in their 30s and 40s from Stevenage, North Herts and surrounding areas. We have a varied programme of events on Thursday and Saturday evenings as well as day trips and weekends away. New members always welcome. Tel: 01438 231550.

Email: welcome@stevenage.plus Web: www.stevenageplus.co.uk 5, 12, 19 & 26 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 meet and make new friends. Potential new members are warmly welcome to come along with no joining fee for the first two months.

Tel: Joyce 07952 678021 or Ian 07900 890583 for info Web: www.sapphiresocialsinglesclub.co.uk 6 March LGBT Meet up and Support Group 7-10pm The Radcliffe Arms, Hitchin Meets first Friday of each month.

Email: katiewilsonmind@gmail.com Find us on Facebook Hitchin LGBT 6 March RSPB Hitchin & Letchworth Local Group 7.30pm ‘The Settlement’, Nevells Road, Letchworth Garden City Local group members free, Visitors £3 ‘Amphibians and Reptiles’ with Helen Muir-Howie.

Helen will show us how to identify all the British reptiles and amphibians and will inform us about their biology and habitat requirements.

Tel: 01763 249459 Email: martinrjspc@hotmail.com

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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

6, 13, 20 & 27 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 7 March The Signals Museum Open Day 10am-4pm The Signals Museum at RAF Henlow is open to the public. Entry is free but official photo ID is required to get an entry ticket from the Guardroom. Web: www.rafsignalsmuseum.org.uk 10 & 24 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 14 March Weston Music Society Concert 7.30pm Weston Parish Church, SG4 7DJ Tickets £16 all three concerts £40 inc. programme & interval drink, 19-25 years £5, under 19s free Sean Shibe, guitar, returns to entertain us with a great programme including a selection of Scottish lute manuscripts and works by Bach, Gubaidulina, and Fennessy. Call or email to reserve tickets.

Tel: 01462 790573 Email: felicitylowe@yahoo.co.uk Web: www.westonmusicsociety.org.uk

15 March RSPB Hitchin & Letchworth Local Group Trip Coach trip to Attenborough GP NWT (joint trip with RSPB Stevenage LG). GP NWT (Joint trip with RSPB Stevenage LG). We will stroll along the banks of the River Trent and the adjacent gravel pits and woodland looking for early summer visitors and late departing winter visitors. Pick-ups Stevenage 7.35am, Hitchin 7.45am and Letchworth 8.00am.

Leader: Martin Johnson. Tel: 01763 249459 Email: martinrjspc@hotmail.com 17 March Stevenage RSPB Local Group 7.30pm The Friends Meeting House, Cutty’s Lane, Stevenage RSPB Members £3, Non-members £4, Under 18s 50p. Colin Kirtland is widely travelled and this evening he presents a talk entitled ‘Israel from the Mediterranean to the Red Sea’.

Tel: 01438 226014 Web: www.rspb.org/groups/Stevenage

18 March Hitchin Flower Club 7 for 7.30pm Church House, Church Yard, Hitchin Visitors £6.50. Tel: Michelle 01462 637874 Facebook: Hitchin Flower Club-NAFAS 21 March Join the Dots Forest School Great Wymondley Village, near Hitchin For children 2+ years, with additional dates in school holidays. Come and join our fun filled sessions involving games, den building, flora and fauna identification and much more. 2-5 years, 10.30am-12.30pm £12, siblings £10. 6-9 years, 1.15-4pm £20, siblings £18. Everyone welcome.

Email: alison@jointhedotsforestschool.co.uk Website: www.jointhedotsforestschool.co.uk

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26 March Stevenage RSPB Local Group car trip to RSPB Sandy 9.30am Morning walk through woodland, quarry and heath.

Meet in the car park at 9.30am. Leader Trevor Storey.

Grid Ref 153/TL192486. Postcode SG19 2DL. Tel: 01438 226014.

Web: ww2.rspb.org.uk/groups/stevenage 27 March Hitchin Book Club 5.30pm The Orange Tree, Hitchin £2.50. A friendly group who meets the last Friday of each month. No pressure to read books just turn up. www.meetup.com/Hitchin-Book-Club/ The British Schools Museum 41/42 Queen Street, Hitchin Adults £5.50, Children 5-17 £3, Under 5s free The British Schools Museum open for public visits. Check website for opening hours, 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 enjoy a Victorian lesson at no extra charge. Lessons start at 2.30 and 3.30pm - don’t be late! Advance booking is recommended. Tel: 01462 420144 Website: www.britishschoolsmuseum.org.uk Hitchin Bridge Club Hitchin Bridge Club plays duplicate bridge several times each week. All levels of experience welcomed, hosts are available at some sessions for players without a partner. Workshops each month on topics for improving players. Beginners courses are run every year starting in October. For further information please contact Margaret or visit the website Tel: Margaret 01462 623447 Email: mee.hitchin@ntlworld.com Web: hitchinbridgeclub.org.uk

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Mothers Day

To a Special Mum

Remembering mums of kids with additional needs on Mothers’ Day On Mothers’ Day my Facebook and Instagram feeds fill with photos. The captions declare, ‘Beautiful bouquet from my son!’ #mothersday or ‘My daughters took me to see Les Mis’ #mothersday. In spite of the fact that I have a much-loved son he will never send me flowers or take me to the theatre. Tom has Down Syndrome and is also autistic, non-verbal and has a myriad of complex health problems. I love him and I know he loves me, but I will be his carer long after my friends’ kids have left home and started their own families.

This is my shout-out to other mums whose Mothers’ Day celebrations will be bittersweet.

You are not alone - There are more of us than you think. Our children may all have different problems, but we understand each other’s sense of being on the outside, at the celebrations ‘normal’ families take for granted: Christmas, birthday parties, family get-togethers and Mothers’ Days.

You are AWESOME - You are a full-blown superhero my friend. Your superpower is the ability to deal with situations other parents could not conceive in their worst nightmares. You might acquire knowledge and skills beyond those required by most doctors, memorising medication regimens, side effects, and how to inject or infuse the drugs.

You deal calmly with your hysterical child during horrendous medical procedures. You deal with melt-downs in public toilets over hand-dryers!

You encourage your child to do the things doctors assured you they would never do. You crash, you burn, and you get up and do it all again the next day anyway.

You celebrate your kids’ achievements on their terms - Other parents crow about their child’s GCSE results or a grade 4 piano exam passed with distinction or a star-of-the-week award for neat handwriting. Our celebrations look different though they are no less important. We celebrated Tom signing ‘Mum’, ‘Dad’ and ‘love’ for the first time, and we definitely celebrated him taking a

54

bath without screaming, drowning us or flooding the house!

You have the best black sense of humour - ‘nuff said. We know that we laugh at things parents of typical kids would not find the least bit funny, like the weird people you meet during all-nighters in A&E departments, discovering excrement smeared over your freshly-painted walls, or an aquarium full of dead fish because your child wanted to feed them and the only box he could reach was the small one posted through the door containing a sample of washing powder! RIP Tom’s fish!

You accept, and don’t compare - You become the mum other mothers confide in because their child doesn’t walk, talk, read, or ride a bike as well as their peers. Never mind that your child is 10, nonverbal and rides a large trike because of balance issues! You accept (mostly) other parents’ rights to brag or worry about their kids even though you often feel that sense of ‘otherness’.

You are special.

To mothers of additional needs kids everywhere.

Happy Mothers’ Day Love from, Loraine

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

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Crossword Solution for The Villager February Edition Last Month’s Crossword Winner - Donald Brightley from Hitchin Bluesky Competition Winner - Peter Jennison (Hitchin), Adam Brookman (Sandy), Cheryl Jeffrey (Shefford), Carol Clapham (St Neots), Suzanne Kay (Stevenage) and Yvonne Sowerby (Bedford)

February’s Codeword and Suduko Solutions

Easy

Hard

Advertising in The Villager is easy.

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The Villager Prize Crossword

Prize

ÂŁ25

Across 1. Bewitched (7) 5. Trimmed (5) 8. Loosens (5) 9. Evil (7) 10. Vertical (13) 11. Without trouble (6) 12. Teeth (6) 15. Display (13) 18. Detonate (7) 19. Business transactions (5) 20. Stairs (5) 21. Destroys hearing (7)

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

16th March 2020 Prize Crossword, Villager Publications Ltd 24 Market Square, Potton, Beds SG19 2NP

Down 1. Crawl (5) 2. Soaks up (7) 3. Sundry items (13) 4. Split (6) 5. Book of facts (13) 6. Guttural noise (5) 7. Arid regions (7) 11. Perpetual (7) 13. Shake briskly (7) 14. To be present at (6) 16. Type of syrup (5) 17. Facial features (5)

Name: Tel:



Address:

58

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ROGERSONS

REMOVALS

Man with Van

Removals • Clearances • Deliveries Pick-Ups • Items disposed of Flat pack assembly Anything Considered Friendly and reliable at a cost you can afford

Tel: 01462 627074 Mob: 07867 531368

Speak to Matt • No job too big or small

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Book Review The Binding

by Bridget Collins

In Emmett Farmer’s world, it’s possible to forget the pain of your past. All you have to do is tell your story to a binder, who’ll lock it away in a book.

But as apprentice-binder Emmett soon discovers, not all stories are meant to be forgotten.

A highly original book that deftly combines fantasy, historical fiction and romance into one captivating tale.

Grandmothers

by Salley Vickers

Three different women find their paths crossing. Wealthy Blanche has developed a compulsion for shoplifting after being banned from seeing her grandchildren. Poet Nan is planning her funeral and isn’t afraid to speak her mind, but she has a blind spot when it comes to her grandson. And then finally there’s shy Minna, who’s in danger of losing the only person she really cares about. A beautiful, quiet book that looks at family life in all its complexities.

Our Planet: The One Place We Call Home

by Matt Whyman and Richard Jones

This children’s companion to last year’s Netflix hit is sure to prove popular with young nature buffs. Stunning photography and illustrations accompany short, easily digestible paragraphs of text. Our Planet educates and inspires in equal measure. As Sir David Attenborough says, ‘You will be among the next characters who can, if they wish, tell the most extraordinary story of all – how human beings in the twenty-first century came to their senses and started to protect Planet Earth.’

Books

By Kate Duggan

The Green Roasting Tin: Vegan and Vegetarian One Dish Dinners

by Rukmini Iyer

If you’ve been inspired to eat more meat-free meals, but don’t want to spend hours in the kitchen, this is a useful reference book to have on hand. It’s gained numerous positive reviews in the last two years, and for good reason. Each of the seventy-five recipes is designed to make cooking healthy, tasty meals as easy as possible. In most cases, each dish takes just ten minutes to prepare. Recipes include ‘Miso Aubergines with Tofu, Sesame & Chilli’ and ‘Squash & Gorgonzola Tart with Figs & Pecans’.

The Book of Echoes

by Rosanna Amaka

A young black man struggles to come to terms with a devastating tragedy in 1980s England. Meanwhile, a girl in Nigeria tries to build a better life for herself against the odds. As the pair resist following the paths laid out for them, they’re watched over by the ghost of a murdered woman. A gripping, thought-provoking debut novel.

Big Sister, Little Sister, Red Sister

By Jung Chang

While it’s a bit heavy going in parts, Big Sister, Little Sister, Red Sister is a fascinating insight into three of the most powerful women in Chinese history. Ching-ling, wife of Sun Yatsen, became Mao’s vice-chair. It placed her in direct opposition to her two sisters – May-ling (Madame Chiang Kai-shek), who was the first lady of Nationalist China, and Ei-ling, Chiang’s unofficial main adviser and one of China’s wealthiest citizens.

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61

Classifieds Appliance & Electrical Repairs

Roofing

Appliance and Electrical Repairs All makes of washing machines, dishwashers, cookers, hobs and hoods repaired, serviced and sold.

No call out charges on accepted quotes Member of DASA 30 years 35 years local work experience Used as expert on BBC Watchdog

01525 753547 or 07836 242122 G.J. WATKINSON

Plumbing

Rubbish Clearance

Gary’s Plumbing Over 40 years experience No job too small!

Please call Gary on

07530 728091 Property Improvement

Helping to keep Hertfordshire Cleaner and Greener Waste carrier no. CBDU172513 We have Public Liability Insurance

H&M Rubbish Clearance

Est. 10 years in Hitchin. Support local business Call us for a free no obligation quote House and Garden Clearance

01462 431284 07557 527416 07368 374811 H & M Clearance @clearance_h

Window Cleaning

Dave Mortby Plastering, Decorating & Refurbishment

Free Estimates Given

07722 128189

Email: David.mortby@live.co.uk

Removals

High Reach Pole & Traditional Service

www.makethemsparkle.com

Call Gary on 07971 995502

Woodworking

MUSCLE & MOTOR Jumbo van with up to 3 men.

Helpful, efficient and friendly service for all your moving, carrying, and domestic disposal needs, including house and garage clearance.

Call Richard on: 01767 317387 or 07968 787496 Email: muscleandmotor@gmail.com www.muscleandmotor.co.uk

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Domestic & Commercial

Woodworking Experience?

No pay. No responsibility. Use of Hitchin workshop in return for help with ongoing projects.

Previous workshop experience preferred.

Partnership opportunity.

Contact afmpotts@hotmail.com

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USEFUL NUMBERS

VILLAGER The

and Town

Life

Alcoholics Anonymous....................... 0845 769 7555 Al-Anon family Groups....................... 0800 008 6811 Anglian Water.................................... 08457 145 145 Bedford Hospital................................. 01234 355122 Lister Hospital..................................... 01438 314333 Benefits for people with Disabilities..... 0800 882 200 Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue............. 01438 729041 Carers Line......................................... 0808 808 7777 ChildLine................................................... 0800 1111 Citizens Advice................................... 0344 245 1292 Cocaine Anonymous..................................0800 689 4732 Crimestoppers...................................... 0800 555 111

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The Villager and Town Life is dedicated to promoting local businesses, charities, community groups and everything else in your local area.

Cruse Bereavement Care.................... 0333 252 9152 Floodline............................................ 0845 988 1188 Frank-Drug Advisory............................ 0800 776 600 National Debt Line............................. 0808 808 4000 Gas Emergency..................................... 0800 111 999 NHS Direct................................................. 0845 4647 National Rail Enquiries.......................03457 48 49 50 Non Emergency Police Line..................................101 NSPCC................................................ 0808 800 5000 Relate...................................................0845 48 49 50 RSPCA Cruelty Line............................. 0300 1234 999 Samaritans.................................................... 116 123 Tax Credit Helpline............................. 0345 300 3900 Victim Support.....................................845 30 30 900

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