Hitchin May 2019

VILLAGER The

Issue 14 - May 2019

and Town

Life

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

In this issue Win Tickets to a

Ballet Central Performance Exam Stress

How to come out on top

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...

Win Tickets to the Ballet Central Performance

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The History of the Mayflower.....................................................4 Exam Stress - How to come out on top.......................................8 Win Tickets to a Ballet Central Performance.............................12 Loving Liqueurs........................................................................14 Fit at fifty and Beyond..............................................................17 Bank Holiday Bonanza.............................................................18 National Smile Month..............................................................21 How to dress for your figure.....................................................22 Fun Quiz...................................................................................24 National Vegetarian Week........................................................26 Could debt snowballing be the quickest way out of debt?.......29 Choose the Perfect Sunglasses.................................................31 Scaling the Wall - Clematis.......................................................34

Too old to be behind the wheel?..............................................37 Animal Stories..........................................................................38 R.A.T.S. Rehoming Appeal........................................................41 Nick Coffer’s Weekend Recipe...................................................43 Hire a Handyman! Or Handywoman!........................................45 Astana, Kazakhstan in Central Asia..........................................46 Puzzle Page..............................................................................48 What’s On.................................................................................52 Green-Fingered Gadgets..........................................................55 Wordsearch..............................................................................57 Prize Crossword........................................................................58 Book Review............................................................................60 Useful Numbers.......................................................................63

Scaling the Wall Clematis

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Get your business off to a flying start this year

Advertise with the Villager Magazine... prices start from just £25.00 +VAT per month Editorial - Catherine Rose, Trevor Langley, Louise Addison, Sharon Clement, Sarah Davey, Jennie Billings, Ann Haldon, Iain Betson, RSPCA, Nick Coffer, Tom Hancock, Solange Hando and Kate Duggan

Advertising Sales/Local Editorial Nigel Frost • Tel 01767 261122 nigel@villagermag.com Photography - Daniel Timothy Allison 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 “Mayflower in Plymouth Harbor”

by William Halsall, 1882

The History of

the Mayflower

By Catherine Rose

The famous ship that carried the Pilgrim Fathers to the New World is celebrating its 400th anniversary from November this year, with a programme of over 400 events planned along the Mayflower Trail. Most people have heard of the Mayflower, but what was its history?

In England, hawthorn is often referred to as the May flower but the Mayflower or Epigaea Repens (also known as the gravel plant after its ability to survive in dry, sandy soil) is a trailing arbutus native to North America.

Now rare due to the destruction of its habitat, it has white or pale pink star-shaped flowers that are one of the first to bloom in spring.

Since 1919 it has been the official state flower of

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Massachusetts, USA, after its namesake, a ship called the Mayflower, made history by landing there almost exactly 400 years ago on 27th November 1620.

The Mayflower carried a group of passengers who were Puritans, now known as Pilgrims or the Pilgrim Fathers. They had embarked at Plymouth, England to sail to what became Plymouth, New England in America for a new life.

Puritans were a specific sect of English Protestants who were disillusioned with the Church of England. They wanted to ‘purify’ Christianity according to the teachings of John Calvin, a Swiss Protestant reformer.

Many of these Puritans had already left England

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to start a congregation in Holland. After some had been arrested in Amsterdam, the remainder set up a community in Leiden but were alarmed at what they saw as a decadent Dutch society.

Among them was William Bradford who later became a leading figure on the Mayflower.

He collaborated with the English Puritans and together they decided to seek a new life and found a community in the USA – the ‘New Worlde’ – which they saw as the ‘promised land’.

The Mayflower was a 17th century English merchant ship that had seen service in Europe.

With a square rig and a beakhead bow, it was a working ship built to withstand sea storms and is estimated to have been the size of a blue whale.

The ship had a cargo capacity of 180 tons, ideal for all the Pilgrims’ belongings, livestock and the food and drink they needed at sea. It could also hold 180 multi-gallon casks designed for wine trading.

The voyage took more than two months and was beset by severe storms The Mayflower was part-owned and captained by Christopher Jones Jr., believed to have been born in Harwich in around 1570 to a seafaring family.

After Jones agreed to set sail, the Puritan elders William Bradford and William Brewster led the Pilgrims.

The Mayflower’s voyage was delayed, however, after the Speedwell – a ship from Holland originally set to accompany them and filled with Leiden settlers – developed a series of leaks and had to return twice for repairs. There is a theory that the captain of this vessel had reservations about voyaging to the New World and so the crew made the leaks deliberately in an act of sabotage.

Eventually, the Mayflower was forced to abandon the Speedwell and set sail on its own on 16th September 1620, taking some of the Dutch passengers. In total there were 102 passengers on board with a crew of around 30.

The voyage took more than two months and was

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beset by severe storms. The prevailing seasonal westerly winds forced them to land at Cape Cod rather than their original destination of Virginia, where they had been granted a plantation settlement by the Virginia Company.

The delay and the bad weather meant that the ship arrived in the dead of a bitterly cold New England winter, which the passengers weren’t prepared for. In the end, only half survived, the rest dying of malnutrition, exposure and disease.

But despite being forced to steal food from the natives on arrival (which it is said they paid back six months later), they were helped by the local Wampanoag tribe who taught them how to hunt, gather shellfish and grow corn and vegetables.

Eventually, the Pilgrims established a colony at what they named Plymouth in Massachusetts with every member contributing to the community through the Mayflower Compact – a 200-word document that was drafted on their arrival by the elders and described by them as a ‘civil body politick’ with ‘just and equal laws’ that swore allegiance to the King of England. It formed the framework for democratic government in the USA. The granite slab upon which it is said the Pilgrim Fathers first set foot is now protected and commemorated as Plymouth Rock (although it is smaller than it once was due to previous souvenir hunters).

A replica of the Mayflower (Mayflower II) that sailed the same route is now permanently on display in Plymouth Harbour, Massachusetts.

Today, it is believed that 30 million US citizens are descended from the Pilgrim Fathers.

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Time of Year

By Louise Addison

Exam Stress

How to come out on top It used to be thought that being a child meant living through the happiest days of your life. How times change.

Now, with league tables, SATS, and GCSEs, many children are falling victim to stress.

So, if you (or your children, if you’re a parent reading this) are feeling pressured, with no-where to turn, we have some great tips to help you get through exam season relatively unscathed.

First a few words about stress.

Stress is caused by the way our body responds to outside events, not necessarily by the events themselves.

Some stress is good: adaptive stress releases adrenaline and helps us to rise to a challenge. It’s a temporary state and the body returns to normal very quickly. Problem stress occurs when the body stays in a heightened state for a prolonged period of time. It’s this type of stress which is causing problems for today’s children. Unlike when we were young and exams were end-of-term or even end-of year events, today’s child has seemingly relentless pressure to perform all year round with the result that they get very little down-time in which their body can recover from all that adrenaline.

Not everyone suffers in the same way from stress.

Some children seem to cope with it well. Research

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has shown that these children are generally more positive, have a good sense of humour and have parents who themselves deal well with potentially stressful situations.

Finally, it’s useful to understand that while exams are important, they are not worth making yourself ill over. You can always sit them again.

Exam Busting Tips!

Get plenty of rest - sleep is important Take regular breaks - you’ll stay fresher Leave time for some fun - when you’ve reached your revision goal reward yourself with an activity you enjoy Be realistic - Don’t overdo it Eat properly - avoid caffeinated drinks like coffee or coke.

Exercise - It’s a great stress buster and improves your mood Be nice to yourself - Don’t beat yourself up about the things you haven’t done, be positive about all you’ve achieved Relax - When it all gets too much just chill for a while. You’ll feel much better.

Useful Web Addresses www.studentminds.org.uk/examstress.html https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/stress-anxietydepression/coping-with-exam-stress/

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advertorial

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Images by ASH Photography

Win 2 Tickets to the Ballet Central Performance

at The Broadway Theatre, Letchworth on Friday 28th June 2019 Ballet Central brings its exceptional range of dance repertoire to The Broadway Theatre, Letchworth on Friday 28th June and we are delighted to offer you the chance to win two tickets to the performance.

This is a chance to see young dance graduates on the cusp of their professional careers perform a varied programme of classical ballet and contemporary dance theatre. An exciting evening of theatricality, technical excellence and drama choreographed by top dance industry influencers is promised, with stunning costumes enhanced by powerful music. Highlights include Christopher Marney’s Carousel Dances, inspired by the 1945 musical Carousel by Rodgers and Hammerstein, a unique version of the Dying Swan Solo created by Calvin Richardson, and the Company is delighted to present an extract from Frederick Ashton’s acclaimed Valses Nobles et Sentimentales performed to Maurice Ravel’s suite of waltzes.

For more information, visit www.broadway-letchworth.com/theatre/whats-on/ballet-central

Competition

BALLET CENTRAL COMPETITION ENTRY

Who wrote the 1945 musical “Carousel”?



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

Name: Tel: Email: Address: 12

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

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Food and Drink

Loving Liqueurs Liqueurs are widely acknowledged to have been produced by monks, during the 13th century. Derived from the Latin ‘liquifacere’, which means to liquify, liqueurs have evolved, over the centuries, to become very popular alcoholic beverages, today. Liqueurs can be flavoured with fruits, herbs and spices etc. They are usually quite sweet and regularly have a lower alcohol content than spirits, although some liqueurs can have an ABV which is high. Liqueurs are great by themselves, over ice and/or used in cocktails-with fabulous results!

Some liqueurs have recipes which are only known to a small number of people.

Numerous countries, globally, produce liqueurs, a good number of which are award-winning productions and for this quest I searched for a well-established company that has been producing an extremely popular liqueur for many years.

Licor 43 (Cuarenta y Tres) is a true taste of Spain and has a unique blend of 43 ingredients. The Zamora family, some 70 years ago, became the custodians of a secret recipe for this very fine liqueur. Renowned as Spain’s No. 1 liqueur and for exporting too, Licor 43 is recognised globally and the popularity increases yearly. Vanilla, Mediterranean citrus, spice, sugars and alcohol are amongst the ingredients for this yellow, gold-coloured production. The taste, which follows the appearance and enticing bouquet, is unmistakable. Superb on its own, with ice and for making great cocktails.

Licor 43 Orochata is another production from the same company. Light, silky, delicate and with a creamy texture, this is infused with original Licor 43. Tiger nuts, spices and citrus are utilised, to great advantage, for this liqueur. The mouthfeel is complemented by the aroma, bringing together another combination of ingredients to achieve a most splendid liqueur.

Licor 43 Baristo combines the essence of Licor 43 original with rare and exotic coffee from the Canary Islands. The freshly-roasted coffee, mature fruit, plus citrus and vanilla combine to produce this delightful, elegant liqueur, with its complex flavours. I found this Licor 43 Baristo production wonderful for an end of meal experience. A perfect ending to any dining occasion. For more information and details, please visit www.licor43.com Also available online.

As always, Enjoy!

ey Trevor Langl

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Health

By Sharon Clement

Fit at Fifty

And Beyond

Attention over-fifties! When was the last time you visited a gym? You kind of know you should be making an effort, right? But do excuses such as ‘too expensive’; ‘lack of time’, and ‘no motivation’, sound familiar? Or maybe like me you have a pathological fear of lycra?

But assuming you have no major health problems we can tackle this issue in bite-size chunks.

As an over-fifty myself (quite a lot over if I’m honest) I overcame my own gym-phobia and have been reaping the rewards since.

Motivation - This is the key. You need a specific goal. I wanted to achieve a healthier lifestyle with improved cardiovascular fitness.

Time - Look in your diary and you will find a spare hour at least once, or better still, two or three times a week.

Cost - Can be as expensive or affordable as you want. A ladies-only gym with a personal trainer can be expensive, but a mixed gym membership in off-peak hours brings the cost down considerably and you can still get instruction and advice from an on-site trainer. Most gyms now take membership fees on a monthly direct debit basis.

Clothing - Lycra isn’t compulsory, but clothes must be comfortable, and this includes your undergarments. Remember, it’s not a fashion parade and chafed tender bits will put you off exercise forever!

If you’re feeling hesitant repeat to yourself, “I can do this; I want a healthier and fitter me; I have the

time to do this”. This is your Mantra. Say it often enough and you will start to believe it. Don’t be put off by glum folk who say it’s all a waste of time.

Mix with positive people who will encourage you and improve your self-esteem.

Metabolism slows down as you get older and this can lead to weight gain, but exercise helps keep weight on an even keel because you build lean muscle. You also improve your immune system and cardiovascular system; reduce bad cholesterol and boost brain-power. Research shows that only 32% of men and 21% of women aged over 50 in England undertake some form of regular exercise.

In the over-65’s this drops to 17% of men and 12% of women, and in Scotland the figures are even less!

The trainers at your Gym will discuss the best way to get you back into shape. If you haven’t exercised before or for a long while they will advise that you start slowly and build up gradually.

Good instructors are enthusiastic and well-trained and will arrange a set of exercises to suit to you.

Before you know it, you’ll have a routine e.g. 5 minutes bike, 5 minutes treadmill, 5 minutes weights. It will only take a few sessions before you improve and begin to compete with yourself. You’ll notice the benefits of improved posture; glowing skin; improved breathing, zest and vitality almost immediately.

We are all living longer but perhaps we should also be aiming to live more healthily too.

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Time of Year

By Sarah Davey

Bank Holiday Bonanza It’s that time of year when there seems to be a bank holiday bonanza. We’ve just had Easter Monday, and now we have two bank holidays in May. Us Brits certainly like to celebrate the arrival of spring. But as a nation we’re a funny old bunch (and that’s without mentioning Brexit!) and we tend to panic at all this extra time off. What on earth will we do with it?

So here is my Brits guide to Bank Holidays...

We ask everyone else what they’re doing, kind of like Christmas! As a nation we get excited about the prospect of a longer than usual weekend.

We make vague plans about weekends away.

According to my immediate circle of friends The Cotswolds / Paris / Ironbridge / The Lake District (delete as applicable) are all ‘lovely at this time of year...’ But we will always leave it too late, or won’t agree on a destination, or discover every hotel has suddenly doubled its prices, so we never actually go.

At least one friend will remind you in bitter tones that they are a nurse / barperson / taxi driver (delete as applicable) and they will be working while you are relaxing. Sympathise with them, and maybe buy them a bottle of wine. Without these people the country would grind to a halt.

Every teacher friend you possess will make a huge deal about them not actually having a holiday weekend, because they will be marking...again!

Teachers do this every holiday though, because they suspect we secretly think they are all part-timers.

We check the weather forecast repeatedly and

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rejoice equally in headlines which read IT’S GOING TO BE A SCORCHER or IT’S GOING TO BE A WASHOUT...because Brits love weather…all weather!

We buy paint in anticipation of giving a room a facelift. Bank holidays were absolutely designed for repainting the sitting room!

We buy bedding out plants, compost and ‘garden features’, because Bank holidays were absolutely designed for prettying our little plot of land.

We tentatively suggest a barbecue to family and friends because as well as being obsessed by weather we are also eternal optimists about it. And if it rains, we still barbecue because that’s what you do on a bank holiday in May, and well...it gives the guests something to talk about while they sip their beer, ‘Looks like it might brighten up later...’ as the hail slams into the awning.

We plan a film night. When we finally face the reality that there isn’t going to be a heatwave, and the weather is more barmy than balmy we hit Netflix or Sky Movies and dial a pizza with extra pepperoni and a large garlic bread. Because Bank holidays and carbs were made for each other.

Finally, we have the Sunday blues on a Monday night.

Bank holidays are gone in the blink of an eye and all too soon it’s back to work. But cheer up, it’s only four days until the weekend. Unless you’re a teacher... they’ll be marking all weekend...again!

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Time of Year

National Smile Month

By Louise Addison

National Smile Month is the largest and longest-running campaign to promote good oral health. Between 13th May and 13th June 2019, National Smile Month will promote positive messages and to engage people with maintaining a healthy mouth.

For the best oral hygiene: Brush your teeth - At least two minutes twice a day using fluoride toothpaste. Make sure you clean your teeth before bed, as your mouth doesn’t have the same salivary protection during the night as it does during the day.

Floss - Each tooth has five sides; a toothbrush only cleans three sides. The other two sides are where most decay and foul odours originate. To clean between the teeth requires dental floss or tiny inter-dental brushes.

Clean your tongue - This is an important part of oral hygiene and works wonders with stale, smelly breath.

You can use a tongue scraper or a toothbrush Give up smoking - Smoking dries the mouth, depleting the protective saliva. It also exposes your gums, soft palate and tongue to harmful and cancer-causing toxins, and it makes your breath smell.

Use a mouthwash - This freshens breath and coats the teeth with a protective layer, helping to prevent plaque build-up. Avoid those which contain alcohol though.

Cut out sugary foods and drinks - Sugary snacks feeds the bacteria in your mouth which ultimately break down your enamel and cause decay.

Visit your dentist regularly! http://www.nationalsmilemonth.org/

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House of Colour

How to dress for your figure 1. When you are dressing for your individual figure, the most important things to bear in mind are your body architecture and your style personality. For example, if an asymmetric hem doesn’t suit your body shape and style personality then it will always look wrong, no matter how gorgeous the dress or skirt might look on another person.

2. Dressing for your shape is all in the detail. We all suit different hemlines, necklines, trouser lengths, lapels and sleeves, not to mention of course colours, fabrics, structure, patterns and details.

3. If you suit classic, dramatic, sporty or natural clothing, then choose items to fill your capsule wardrobe along those lines. For example, tailoring continues to gain momentum offering the ultimate smart casual look particularly for classic and gamine style personalities. Natural style personalities should choose relaxed skirts with movement. Structured or asymmetric outfits can add edginess for the dramatics amongst us.

4. It may seem obvious but wear clothes that fit you. Overly baggy or clothes that are too tight can really undermine you. Did you know that if your clothes really fit you, you should hardly know you are wearing them?

5. Love your body and shape. Know what your best parts are and draw attention to those areas whether that means cinching in your waist or

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6.

7.

8.

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elongating a shorter mid-section for example., If you carry a bit of weight around your middle, but have shapely legs show them off in both your trouser and skirt choices.

If the widest part of your body is your hips, you can bring balance by focussing detail to your top half. The extra detail could be adding pattern or ruffles or lovely statement jewellery on your top half.

Women with an hourglass figure often try to hide their curves with shapeless styles and forget they have a smaller waist. To compliment your killer curves, avoid bulky and boxy styles, choose cuts of clothes and fabrics which follow your curves, and accentuate your narrower waist.

An athletic figure looks best when they’re drawing attention to their toned physique, with clothes that skim the surface of their silhouette rather than high tailoring or very structured looks.

Don’t sabotage your look by getting your style right but wearing colours that don’t suit you.

The colours that suit us are determined by the pigments in our skin and eye colour. Primary red is the only colour we can all wear.

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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Questions Questions 1. Each edition of the long-running BBC radio show Listen With Mother would begin with which question?

2. In 1994, who did David Dimbleby take over from as host of the TV show Question Time?

3. What is the first question asked in the lyrics of the song Merry Xmas Everybody by Slade?

4. If This Is The Answer, What Is The Question is a regular round on which TV panel show?

5. Prime Minister’s Questions takes place on which day of the week?

6. What three-word question followed the title character’s name to give the full title of the first TV show to feature Scooby Doo?

7. “Is this a dagger which I see before me, the handle toward my hand?” is a question asked by the title character in which William Shakespeare play?

8. What question did Lonnie Donegan ask as the title of his 1959 hit single, with the word “Spearmint” being replaced from its original title as the BBC would not play songs that mentioned trademarks?

9. On the children’s TV show Crackerjack, what were contestants given to hold every time they got a question wrong on the game called Double Or Drop?

10. The title of which 1980s film is a question to which Judge Doom is the answer?

1. Are You Sitting Comfortably? 2. Peter Sissons 3. Are you hanging up your stocking on the wall? 4. Mock The Week 5. Wednesday 6. Where Are You? 7. Macbeth 8. Does Your Chewing Gum Lose Its Flavour On the Bedpost Overnight? 9. A cabbage 10. Who Framed Roger Rabbit?

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Rated ‘Excellent’ on

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Time of Year

National Vegetarian Week May 13th – 19th

This month plays host to National Vegetarian Week.

More of us are turning to vegetarianism thanks to an abundance of scientific research that demonstrates both the health and environmental benefits of a plant-based diet.

An estimated 70 percent of all diseases, including one-third of all cancers, are related to diet. A vegetarian diet reduces the risk for chronic degenerative diseases such as obesity, coronary artery disease, high blood pressure, diabetes and certain types of cancer including colon, breast, prostate, stomach, lung and oesophageal cancer.

A vegetarian diet tends to increase bone strength. When there isn’t enough calcium in the bloodstream, our bodies leach it from existing bone. This results in our skeletons gradually becoming porous and losing strength. Although you can take supplements, it’s better to obtain calcium from your diet because food also supplies other nutrients such as phosphorus, magnesium and vitamin D, that are necessary for the body to be able to absorb and make use of calcium.

Even if you have to avoid dairy, calcium-rich foods include beans, tofu, plant-based milks like soy, oat, rice or almond, and dark green vegetables such as broccoli, and kale.

For those of us going through the menopause many vegetables and fruits are rich in phytoestrogens, the plant-based chemical compounds that mimic the behaviour of oestrogen. Maintaining a balance of these in your

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diet helps ensure a more comfortable passage through menopause. Soy is by far the most abundant natural source of phytoestrogens, but they are also found in apples, beets, cherries, dates, garlic, olives, plums, raspberries, squash and sweet potatoes.

Vegetarians tend to have more energy. Whole grains, legumes, fruits and vegetables are high in complex carbohydrates, so they supply the body with plenty of energizing fuel.

Vegetarians also suffer less with constipation, haemorrhoids and diverticulitis! Eating a lot of vegetables necessarily means consuming more fibre, which absorbs water and bulks up, helping your stools stay soft, so waste can be easily pushed out of the body.

A vegetarian diet is more environmentally friendly.

Much of the grain we grow is fed to animals raised for slaughter. As a rough guide it takes 2,500 gallons of water, 5.5Kg / 12lbs of grain, nearly 16Kg /35lbs of topsoil and the energy equivalent of 4.5L /1 gallon of petrol, to produce one pound of beef!

A vegetarian diet can sustain many more people, so is a more efficient use of resources.

Finally, a vegetarian diet is cheaper. Eating vegetables, grains and fruits in place of beef, chicken and fish would cut individual food bills by an average of £500 per year.

If you are thinking about becoming vegetarian, or even just incorporating more vegetarian meals into your normal diet, there is lots of information and some great recipes on the website www.nationalvegetarianweek.org

By Sarah Davey

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Finance

By Ann Haldon

Could debt snowballing be the quickest way to get out of debt?

Debt snowballing is a term used to describe a particular method of dealing with debt, which in some ways goes against ‘traditional’ thinking.

It’s commonly advised to deal with the most expensive debt first in terms of interest rates and charges, which is a natural and effective approach to paying down debt.

But one issue that isn’t taken into account when repaying debt in this way is the psychology that can sometimes influence a successful outcome.

Here’s how to debt snowball • Make a list of all your debts – the one with the smallest balance at the top.

• Pay off the minimum amount on all your credit cards and other debts, apart from the one with the smallest balance.

• Pay as much as you can off this debt and repeat each month until you’ve paid it off in full.

• Cross it off your list of debts and use the money released towards the next debt.

• Continue in the same way down your list (the second smallest next), making the minimum payment on all other borrowing.

• If you’re able to earn more money, putting it towards the debt you’re currently repaying increases the snowball effect and reduces your overall level of borrowing.

• When the debt you’re focusing on has been paid off, cross it off your list – rinse and repeat until you’re debt-free.

Human psychology when paying off debt Debt snowballing is a system that applies a little human psychology to paying down debt, and

acknowledges that we all lack motivation at times.

The method only works if you have sufficient funds to make the minimum payments on all your debts, however, so if you don’t, you would need to look at alternatives.

The sense of accomplishment when you can cross a debt off your list is invaluable in encouraging you to carry on, and could in fact be one of the main reasons for the success of debt snowballing.

Advantages of debt snowballing • It offers vital motivation.

• It’s a simple and straightforward system that’s easy to maintain.

• You’re forced to focus on one debt at a time, and as long as you keep up the minimum payments on other debts you can forget about them for a while.

• It helps you manage your money for the long term and introduces good money habits.

Are there any downsides to debt snowballing?

The main downside of debt snowballing is the extra interest you pay on your debts when compared with the debt avalanche method, and when considered only from a mathematical point of view it clearly isn’t the most obvious option.

Repaying debt is a little like dieting, however – small wins offer the motivation that many people need to continue and succeed. One important issue is to make sure you dedicate any money released when a debt is repaid to paying off the next one.

Without this, the ‘snowball’ effect of increasing amounts being available to tackle your next debt doesn’t materialise, and the system will stall.

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Time of Year

Choose the Perfect Sunglasses It’s that time of year when we traditionally invest in a new pair of sunglasses for the summer. There’s so much choice though! How do you whittle it down to the perfect pair?

First choose the right colour frame. Warm browns and tortoiseshell suits warmer colouring. Cool greys, blues and blacks suit cool skin colouring or grey hair.

Next pick a pair that flatters your features. There are no hard and fast rules. Look at what your face lacks and use the sunglasses to even out your proportions. Rounder faces often lack definition and benefit from a sunspec with strong lines. Long thin faces might need a softer, rounder style with an upswept edge. Try on as many as you can. Take selfies and compare.

Add length to a short nose with a high bridge or shorten an overly long nose with a low (butterfly shape) bridge. A strong jaw can be balanced with a heavier top bar.

Sunspecs are all about protecting your eyes from UV so make sure that any pair you buy has a CE kite mark, and that sunglasses are marked UV400. Cheap sunspecs not bearing these marks will probably not provide adequate protection from the sun’s harmful UV rays.

Choose larger frames for protection but bear in mind that deeper the frame the shorter your face will look, so if you have a long face shape, go ahead and choose a deep frame. A shorter face needs a frame that’s less deep, while still providing enough coverage for UV protection.

Take your eyebrows into account! If your brows stick out of the top of the frame at an odd angle, you’ll look permanently surprised, or angry!

Choose your sunnies wisely and you’ll be able to add instant glamour to any outfit.

By Sarah Davey

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Garden View

By Rachael Leverton

Scaling the Wall - Clematis What do you think of if I say ‘clematis’? I think most of us would think of the large, purple-flowered, “Jackmanii” or the rampant, bronze-leafed, pinkflowered montana rubens.

They are both terrific plants, but I think they are a little over-used. My husband teases me that I tend to give my ‘clematis lecture’ when visiting friends’ houses and see one scrambling over a trellis. For your benefit I’ve written it down here.

Clematis is known as the ‘Queen of Climbers’. It can be utterly spectacular and should definitely not be relegated to trellis. It can used for covering fences and arbours, old tree stumps, sheds and even in beds and borders. Choose wisely and you can have flowers from early spring until late autumn.

For beds and borders you don’t want anything as vigorous as montana, which will smother everything it touches. Instead choose a daintier one such as a variety of texensis or viticella.

The flowers of the texensis hybrids look like finely cut bells. “Etoile Rose” is a beautiful dark pink edged with paler pink and “Princess of Wales” is a beautiful rosy red. Both of these will scramble through shrubs and flower all summer. They die back in winter so can be tidied up then.

Viticella hybrids produce flowers which look like little pixie hats as they open. “Minuet” has purple and white flowers suspended on fine stems while “Purpurea Plena Elegans” produces double blooms

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which open into little purple rosettes.

One of the most difficult sites to find climbers for is an east or north facing site. My absolute favourite clematis thrives in this situation and flowers in early spring. Clematis alpina “Pink Flamingo” produces nodding, semi-double, creamy flowers veined with deep pink. It has the added bonus of producing beautiful fluffy seed heads after the flowers fade.

Clematis prefers its feet in the shade and its head in the sun. Make sure the plant’s roots are shaded: pieces of broken flagstone are ideal, or an old cracked upside-down terracotta pot with the bottom knocked out. When clematis is happy it will flower prolifically.

Large-flowered clematis tend to produce a second flush in the autumn, but others like tangutica and orientalis wait to flower until then. Both of these are very vigorous and are great for covering unsightly sheds or old trees.

Finally, if you have a sheltered spot against a wall try cirrhosa balearica. This is a beautiful, winterflowering variety with ferny foliage and pale-green flowers spotted with crimson.

So, there it is…my clematis lecture. Hopefully you took notes and are ready to branch out into a whole new world of climbers.

Happy Gardening

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Motoring

Too Old to Be Behind the Wheel?

At what age should you stop driving? The recent accident involving the 97-year-old Duke of Edinburgh brought this question into sharp focus. Royalty or commoner, it must be a wrench to give up your licence, not just because of the loss of independence, but because it’s a sure sign age is catching up on you.

Every time there is an incident involving an elderly driver there are calls for an age cap to be placed on holding a driving licence. Equally, stories are trotted out by those wishing freedom of the road claiming that they have an aged 90+ relative who regularly drives and is safer on the road than many 20-somethings.

What can’t be ignored is that, with age, our reactions slow down, our eyesight and hearing are impaired and we are prone to

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restricted movement. But, as a counterbalance, older drivers take fewer risks, don’t tend to speed and have more experience. So, a one-size-fits-all cap to holding a licence will not be a universally accepted solution.

My stance is that there should not be a statutory age-limit to holding a driving licence, but there should be a system in place that, when you reach 70, requires you to do more than ‘self-certify’ every three years, that you are okay to drive.

Of course, with the imminent arrival of driverless cars on our roads, this debate could well be nulland-void – at least until the annual London-toBrighton vintage car run…

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Pets

Animal Stories At RSPCA Bedfordshire North Branch a large majority of the animals that come into our care are cats, but occasionally we will receive a rabbit or small furry in need of a new home.

This month this beautiful little rabbit, Ratty, arrived in our care after his owner could sadly no longer keep him. He is approximately ten months old and had previously been kept as an indoor bunny.

He is currently in foster care and has settled in very well, but we are now looking to find Ratty his new forever home. Although used to living indoors, since arriving at his foster home he has loved running around the garden, exploring his surroundings and having a good nibble on the grass, so we would love to find him a home where he can carry on enjoying spending some of his time outside. He is a very friendly rabbit, always running up for a fuss and some nose rubs when he sees someone to play with. All rabbit’s need lots of enrichment and Ratty is no exception, he absolutely loves playing with his tunnels and toys which will go with him to his new home.

Rabbits are naturally very social animals and are happiest when they have a companion, the best combination being a neutered male and female pair. When bonded with a suitable rabbit it prevents them from becoming lonely and they can play together, groom each other and look out for one another. With that in mind, we would like to find Ratty a female friend to go and live with.

Another animal we have in our care at the

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moment, with a very similar story to Ratty’s, is a cat called Sixpence. Approximately two years old, Sixpence came into our care after his owner could also no longer keep him. Like Ratty, he was also kept as an indoor pet, but his young and super friendly personality would suit being able to have a good explore outside.

When Sixpence first arrived in our care he was quite shy but soon settled into our cattery. He loves a fuss and likes nothing more than to roly poly around to show off his lovely spotty tummy.

Although friendly, he would prefer to be an only cat in an adult only household as this is what he has been used to.

All animals that are adopted are neutered and fully vaccinated before they go to their new homes.

For more information about Ratty or Sixpence, as well as other animals in our care, please visit our website www.rspca.org.uk/local/bedfordshirenorth-branch.

To enquire about adopting one of these friendly fellows, please email our Branch at adopt@rspcabedsnorth.org.uk, or contact us by phone on 01234 266965.

For all up to date information about the animals in our care, adopted success stories, or what our Branch is up to visit our facebook page www.facebook.com/rspcabedsnorthbranch.

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Local News

Rehoming Appeal Humphrey & Dougal This pair of male guinea pigs are Humphrey (tri-colour) and Dougal (brown). They are a really nice pair of guinea pigs. Dougal is very friendly, Humphrey a little shyer but they will make great pets for any family. They have come to R.A.T.S. as their previous owners no longer had the time for them.

If you can offer these boys a home, please contact Hazel on 01234 357788 Alternatively, please email Philippa at info.rats@gmail.com who will be pleased to forward your enquiry onto 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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Food & Drink

Red Velvet

Cake

I find the science of baking fascinating. What makes the texture of one cake different to the texture of another one? How can seemingly similar ingredients create totally different effects?

With this Red Velvet Cake, it is the addition of the buttermilk and the acids which contribute to a tighter, slightly denser crumb, somewhere between a Victoria Sponge and a brownie. It was made for my Weekend Kitchen show by a very talented young baker called Victoria Chidgey.

Throughout her appearances on my show, I have watched her Little Tring Cake company grow through hard work and creativity. Seeing skilled young people take risks, open businesses and watching them grow is probably one of the biggest pleasures I get from being on the radio…

Ingredients: 125g butter 325g caster sugar 40g cocoa powder 2 eggs 1 tsp red extra colour paste (you will need to buy the proper stuff, not the small bottles of red liquid) 1 tsp vanilla extract 250g buttermilk 325g self-raising flour 15g bicarbonate of soda 30g white wine vinegar 1. Beat the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. Meanwhile add all the dry ingredients to a bowl and set aside.

2. Slowly beat the eggs into the butter and sugar mixture. Add the red colouring and the vanilla too, followed by half of the dry ingredients and half the buttermilk.

3. Repeat until everything has just come together.

4. Pour in the vinegar and beat until throughly mixed. Split between 3 x 6” cake tins or 2 x 8” cake tins. Bake in a pre-heated oven at 160C/ Gas Mark 3 for 27 minutes. The cakes are baked when a skewer comes out clean.

For the icing: 150g butter 150g cream cheese 450g icing sugar 1 tsp vanilla extract 1. Beat the butter, icing sugar and vanilla until it’s very light in colour. Add the cream cheese one spoonful at a time, mixing well each time.

Once all the cream cheese has been added beat on a high speed for 3 minutes.

2. Level off the cakes with a knife and put any off-cuts into a food processor to blitz into a fine powder.

3. Assemble the cake by putting a layer of cream cheese icing between each cake. Cover the rest of the cake with icing, smoothing the top and sides with a pallet knife.

4. Gently push the cake crumbs into the side of the cake to get an even layer.

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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Home Improvement

By Tom Hancock

Hire a Handyman! Or handywoman!

Do you have lots of household DIY tasks mounting up? Are you starting to feel a little overwhelmed?

Hire a handyman!

A good handyman will have right tools, and know-how to get the job done efficiently. Hiring someone who knows what they are doing will eliminate a lot of stress. Also, they will almost certainly save you money, especially if you would have to buy the right tools before you start or make a mistake which has to be put right!

When hiring: Be Specific - Give an idea of the scale and scope of the job or jobs. For example, ‘Rehang garden gate, repaint gate and 17 metres of 2m high garden fence.’ Measurement are important as it gives idea of the scope of the task.

Send photos if you can - In the example above send photos of the gate and the fence. A picture will save a lot of words and help the handyman provide an accurate quotation.

Remember cheapest isn’t necessarily the best.

Check an online price guide. There is lots of

guidance available, but you should definitely bear in mind the total hours required.

The handyman should be insured and have his own tools. Check all insurance documents carefully.

Take your time, be pleasant and ask questions. Get a quote in writing to make sure you know exactly what you’re getting.

Then sit back and relax while someone else takes care of your household jobs!

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Travel

Astana, Kazakhstan

By Solange Hando

in Central Asia

In 1998, barely seven years after independence, a new capital rose in Kazakhstan in the middle of the steppes on the banks of the Ishim River.

Planned by the Japanese architect Kisho Kurokawa, it grew into a futuristic dream, replacing Almaty, the former capital enclosed by mountains with little room for expansion and prone to natural disasters.

Today, with over one million people sharing 100 nationalities, Astana is the northernmost capital in Asia and the second coldest in the world.

Although much of the old town still spreads along the right bank, the new capital across the water dazzles everyone with innovative architecture, wide avenues and open spaces and parks. Day or night, the central Nurzhol Boulevard is a wonderful place for a stroll, a wide traffic-free oasis full of greenery, fountains and flowers

and traditional sculptures, here a shaman, there a dancer or a nomad. Stretching for over two kilometres towards the riverside presidential headquarters, it is dominated by the Bayterek Tower, the top attraction in Astana.

It’s easy to see why: rising to 97 metres, this lofty monument is crowned by a 300 tonne glass ball where colours change according to the natural light.

Bayterek, they say, is a ‘tree of life’, clutching an ‘egg’ between its branches to ensure a peaceful and prosperous future.

It is truly enticing and up on the top, inspired no doubt by the wonderful views, many visitors make a wish, eyes closed as they place their hand in the president’s golden print.

Away from the river, the boulevard opens onto a vast circular space leading to fine

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outdoor restaurants and flower shops and an archway framing the Khan Shatyr centre, an indoor place for souvenir and other stores, as well as family amusements – including a beach covered with sand from the Maldives. But most exciting is the actual building, moulded like a giant steel yurt, gleaming white, slightly topsy-turvy, and one of Norman Foster’s landmarks.

Bold and dynamic, the new Astana also pays tribute to its roots, be it in the museums, the stark blue Palace of Independence or the Central Concert Hall, where the main room is shaped like a dombyra lute, Kazakhstan’s national instrument. Sculptures of Samruk, the mythical bird, pop up here and there to protect the country.

In 1999, UNESCO declared Astana a ‘City of Peace’, a theme upheld in the newly-erected Peace Wall, inscribed with the word ‘peace’ in 51 languages, and the glass pyramid, known as the Palace of Peace and Reconciliation. There a stained glass painting displays 130 doves symbolising cultural and religious tolerance. Islam is the main religion, open and relaxed for most followers, and with its white minarets and domes, the iconic Hazrat Sultan mosque claims the largest complex of its kind in Central Asia. Inaugurated in 2012, it was named after a 12th century poet and mystic, linking past and present in one of the youngest capitals in the world.

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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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ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ

Easy Suduko

Hard Suduko

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

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

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Call now for a free, no obligation quotation 49

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n O s ’ t Wha 1 May North Herts Association of the National Trust 7.30pm Christchurch, Bedford Road, Hitchin Visitors £2 on the door. AGM followed by ‘A Brief History of Tailoring from 1100 to 2018 AD’ by Alan Canon Jones. Alan lives in Hitchin and will share his own journey through the subject of tailoring from an apprentice in the 1960s to his current work as consultant in Fashion Design Technology. The talk includes the history of the Merchant Taylors’ Company and its link to John the Baptist, Saville Row Bespoke Tailoring and finest quality ready to wear tailoring that is manufactured today.

Non-members welcome. Second-hand books and home-made preserves are on sale at every meeting.

Tel: Secretary Mrs Colette House 01462 815585 Email: colettehouse@gmail.com 2 May The Arts Society North Herts Talk 11am & 2pm The Spirella Ballroom, Letchworth £7 on the door. Talk on ‘Churchill – The Artist’ by Claire Walsh. Email: theartssociety.nh@gmail.com Web: www.theartssocietynorthherts.org.uk 2 May Stevenage RSPB Local Group 4pm An afternoon and evening visit by car to Paxton Pits looking for wildfowl and summer migrant birds including Nightingales. Meet in the reserve car park at 4pm, and for those who can’t make it that early, we meet again at 6pm. Postcode PE19 6ET. OS Map Ref: 153/TL195629.

Tel: Leaders Janet & Barry 01438 223789 2, 9, 16, 23 & 30 May 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. Tel: Pauline 01767 315553 2, 9, 16, 23 & 30 May Roundabouters Country Dance Club 8-10pm Friends Meeting House, Cuttys Lane, Stevenage Friendly club for English country dancing. We welcome new members, both beginners and experienced. All dances walked through; club and guest callers ensure a varied programme.

Tel: 01438 727239 Email: roundabouters@live.co.uk Web: www.roundabouters.org.uk

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2, 9, 16, 23 & 30 May 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 2, 9, 16, 23 & 30 May Sapphire Social Club 8.30pm The Orange Tree, Hitchin We are a small and friendly group for single people generally aged 50 and above. We offer a variety of social events during the month and the opportunity to meet and make new friends. Potential new members are warmly welcome to come along and meet us with no joining fee for the first two months.

Tel: Joyce 07952 678021 or Ian 07900 890583 Web: www.sapphiresocialsinglesclub.co.uk 3 May RSPB Hitchin & Letchworth Local Group 7.30pm ‘The Settlement’, Nevells Road, Letchworth Garden City Local group members free, Visitors £3 ‘The Search for the Bengal Tiger’ with Martin Johnson. Martin will be describing how he fulfilled a life-long ambition to visit ‘Jungle Book’ country and see big, stripy cats (and much more) in the wild.

Tel: 01763 249459 Email: martinrjspc@hotmail.com 3, 10, 17, 24 & 31 May 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 3, 17 & 31 May Stevenage Survivors Poetry Group 7.30pm Quaker Friends Meeting House £2 inc. drink & biscuits 4 May 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

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

In May

5 May Victorian Lesson 2.30 & 3.3pm The British Schools Museum, 41/42 Queen Street, Hitchin Bring the whole family for a Victorian Lesson in the Gallery Classroom. Two sessions are included in normal admission price. Monthly Craft Fair. Tel: 01462420144 www.britishschoolsmuseum.org.uk 5 May Flook - ‘Ancora’ Album Release Tour 2019 Doors open 7pm Hitchin Folk Club, The Sun Hotel, Sun Street, Hitchin Members £14(members, Non-members £16 Formed over 20 years ago by four friends, Flook burst onto the international music scene with their debut studio album, ‘Flatfish’. The band had a remarkably successful performing and recording career - the sheer enjoyment of playing together shone through their albums. But it was their live performances that really captured the hearts of those who watched and listened. After a break of 14 years, they return with a 17-date tour to launch. Tel: Box Office 01462 812391 6 May British Schools’ Annual May Festival 10.30am-12.30pm The British Schools Museum, 41/42 Queen Street, Hitchin Free admission. Come and join in dancing round our Maypole and Country Dancing - wet or fine. The Ramrugge Clog Dancers will also be entertaining us. For children over 6 years old with games for younger ones too. Children must be accompanied by a responsible adult). No need to book.

Tel: 01462420144 www.britishschoolsmuseum.org.uk 6, 13 & 20 May 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.

6, 13, 20 & 27 May 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, day and weekend trips and holidays.

Tel: Lorna 01438 233657 Web: www.branch-out.org.uk

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n O s ’ t Wha 7 May Tuesday Talk: Maternity and Motherhood 7pm for 7.30pm The British Schools Museum, 41/42 Queen Street, Hitchin Tickets £5 inc. tea/coffee. Amy Saunders explores how motherhood and maternity affected three C17th Queens: Anne of Denmark, Henrietta Maria and Catherine of Braganza. To book tickets please call the Museum or book online. Tel: 01462420144 Web: www.britishschoolsmuseum.org.uk 7, 14, 21 & 28 May Stevenage Bridge Club 7.30pm Priory Nursery, Stanmore Road, Old Stevenage To play Duplicate Bridge. A host system is run to find partners, if required. A wide level of ability play at the club. Tel: Phil Cooper 07957 813434 8 May Letchworth Chamber Music Concert 7.45 pm Howgills Friends Meeting House, 42 South View Tickets £15, Students & Under 18s £7.50 inc. refreshments. The last concert of the season at the later time of 8 pm follows the AGM at 7.45 pm with a recital by local flautist, Adelaide Starling, accompanied by President of the Club, Simon Marlow. Tickets available on the door.

Web: www.letchworthmusicclub.co.uk 10 May Unicorn Ceilidh 7.30-11pm St Mary’s Church Hall, Church Street, Baldock Adults £10, Concessions and family tickets available. With The Old Chapel Band and Will Hall.

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.

Email: enquiries@unicornceilidhs.org.uk Web: www.unicornceilidhs.org.uk Tickets: www.ticketsource.co.uk/unicorn-ceilidhs 13 & 20 May 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

13 & 20 May 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 some school holiday dates.

Tel. 01462 624144 or 01462 680995 (note new telephone number) Web: www.staplers.org.uk 14 & 28 May 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 19 May Stevenage RSPB Local Group trip to Lackford Lakes 10am An all-day car trip to Suffolk Wildlife Trust Lackford Lakes Reserve near Bury St. Edmunds. Light refreshments are available at the visitors centre.

Meet in the car park at 10am. Postcode IP28 6HX. OS Map Ref:155/TL 799706.

Tel: Leader Graham Beevor 01438 232055 18 May-2 June Chilterns Walking Festival The programme includes over 70 guided walks, events and activities covering the whole of the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) which stretches from Oxfordshire through Buckinghamshire and Bedfordshire into Hertfordshire. Details of all guided walks, events and activities available in the spring programme can be found online. Most are free of charge though some require a small fee which is clearly shown. To assist walk leaders with expected numbers, most events must be pre-booked.

Web: www.visitchilterns.co.uk/walkingfest

To advertise in The Villager and Town Life please call 01767 261122

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

What’s on entries to whatson@villagermag.com

In May

21 May Stevenage RSPB Local Group 7.30pm The Friends Meeting House, Cutty’s Lane, Stevenage RSPB Members £3, Non-members £3.50, Under 16s 50p. Short AGM followed by a members’ slide show. Tel: Trevor Store 01438 226014 Web: www.rspb.org/groups/Stevenage 25 May Celebration of Disability Sports Activities 10am-4pm Riverside Square, Bedford Come and try a different sport with demonstrations, a chance to meet Paralympic athletes, an information desk and live entertainment.

Continuing Bedford’s connection to disability sports brought about by the 2012 Paralympic Games when a training camp was located there. The event seeks to break down some of the barriers that many disabled people perceive make it more difficult for them to take that first important step into sport. Everyone welcome – able bodied people are promised an entertaining day too.

31 May 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/ Hitchin & Surrounding Areas Fun & Social Stuff A welcoming social group based in Hitchin, but, also includes the surrounding areas. We arrange monthly socials, drinks socials, live music, pub quizzes, cinema, etc.. The group is a variety of people over 18 getting to know others in a social and friendly setting whilst also enjoying themselves.

Email: meetup3@outlook.com Web: https://www.meetup.com/meetup-groupHVrvZZiQ 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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WINDOW REPAIRS

Serving all of Herts - Based in Stevenage Specialising in replacing misted units

BEFORE AFTER email: info@jmlwindows.co.uk website: www.jmlwindows.co.uk 07977 911 926 / 01438 906300 • Misted/broken double glazed units • Sticking doors or windows adjusted • Broken/loose handles • Leaded or Georgian units replaced • Hinges for gapping windows • Leaks fixed • All types of locks replaced • Energy saving Planitherm glass • Cat/dog flaps in glass or panels • Door re-alignments Visit our website for over 30 customer reviews 54

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Technology

Green-fingered Gadgets

Technology to help get ready for summer

As your garden begins to bloom once more, it’s time to let technology give Mother Nature a helping hand.

If you’re a keen gardener and you’re going on holiday, an electronic timer can keep your hydrangeas hydrated while you’re away. We like Hozelock’s Automatic Watering System, which is a modular collection of automatic timers, hoses, connectors and even an Apple/ Android-compatible Cloud Controller, which enables you to control the water from your phone or tablet. You can adjust the watering according to the actual weather conditions, ensuring you don’t under- or over-water everything, and you can also create much more complex schedules than you can with a traditional timer.

The original RRP of £160 for the Cloud Controller was a lot of money, but it’s widely available now for less than £90.

Every year we ask ourselves the same question: can we afford

a robot lawnmower yet? Prices continue to fall – robot mowers were over £2,500 a few years back but had fallen to around £550 last year. Prices are starting to level out but you can pick up the Worx Landroid for around £410 on Amazon. That’s nearly a third off the RRP. We wouldn’t recommend a robo-mower for really complicated gardens, but for straightforward ones they’re really useful.

If that’s still a bit too much for a mower, cordless lawnmowers are getting cheaper too, and their batteries are more than up to the job of even fairly large lawns.

Flymo’s Mighti-Mo has dropped from £234 to around £170, and it won’t run out of puff until you’ve cut almost 250 square metres.

Cordless power isn’t just convenient, although not having to run cables to the very corners of the garden is certainly a boon.

It’s also safer, because there’s no danger of accidentally cutting an electric cable. And electric motors have improved to the

To advertise in The Villager and Town Life please call 01767 261122

point where they can be taken just as seriously as petrol ones, so you can get decently powerful electric trimmers, saws, loppers and chainsaws. The higher the voltage, the more power – so a 36V model such as Black and Decker’s Lithium-ion chainsaw, currently £235, is considerably more powerful than the more common and slightly cheaper 18V models. Some of the biggest names in power tools have embraced cordless, so for example you’ll find a range of tools from the likes of Makita, Stihl and DeWalt as well as budget brands such as Worx.

If you’re considering a cordless device, it might be worth investing in a second battery: there are few things as annoying as running out of charge when a job is nine-tenths done. Just make sure you actually charge it in advance, because it’s even more annoying to plug in a spare only to discover that it’s completely flat.

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T J Lee

Chimney Builders

Electrician

www.hertsandbedselectrical.co.uk

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

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

Fault finding/repairs Extra lights and sockets New fuse boards Electrical testing and certificates Qualified electrician  Fully insured Reliable service  Tidy work Free quote  Satisfaction guaranteed

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

Are you fed up with limescale?

We have extensive knowledge of the water softening industry and a large stock of all types and brands of softeners to cater for all homes.

Let us find the best solution for you and rid your life of limescale forever!

The UK’s leading supplier of Water Softeners and Drinking Water Filters Showroom: Telephone: Email: Website: 56

130 Cambridge Road, Hitchin, Herts SG4 0JN 01462 455772 or 07748 788369 Servicng and repair paul@totalsoftwater.com service also available www.totalsoftwater.com Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts

April’s Puzzle Solutions and Winners Last Month’s Crossword Winner Isobel Dunkley from Stotfold Winner of the Classic Ibiza Competition Lisa Pullen from Eynesbury

Winner of the Ragdale Hall Spa Competition Mrs Jean Charter from Biggleswade

Easy

Hard

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57

The Villager Prize Crossword

Prize

£25

Across 7. UK’s continent (6) 8. Waldorf salad nut (6) 9. Utilised (4) 10. Valuable, highly admired (8) 11. Repairs, mends (7) 13. Midriff (5) 15. Publish, issue (5) 17. Freedom (7) 20. Added extra (8) 21. Poisonous metal (4) 22. Cut into pieces (6) 23. More wealthy (6)

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

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

Down 1. Largest country (6) 2. Timber (4) 3. Tribes, nationalities (7) 4. Clean with broom (5) 5. Last, final (8) 6. Lines of people (6) 12. Persuade (8) 14. Meals (7) 16. Puzzle, enigma (6) 18. Bartered (6) 19. Ditzy, light-headed (5) 21. Ornate fabric (4)

Name: Tel:



Address:

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59

Books

Book Review

By Kate Duggan The Familiars

by Stacey Halls

1612 is a dangerous time to be a woman in Northern England, as King James has declared war on witches.

Fleetwood is 17 and pregnant for the fourth time. Her other pregnancies ended in miscarriage. Desperate not to miscarry this child or lose her own life in childbirth, she turns to a local midwife, Alice Grey.

When Alice gets accused of witchcraft, Fleetwood has to decide how far she’ll go to save her friend.

Loosely based on the Pendle witch trials, this is a gripping, atmospheric page-turner.

Louis & Louise

By Julie Cohen

A baby is born in 1970s Maine, USA. In one reality she’s a girl – Louise; in the other, a boy – Louis. Both have the same friends, the same interests and the same ambitions. Both flee from their hometown after one fateful night that changes everything. Thirteen years later, Lou’s mother is dying, so he/she returns to face the past. Original, thought-provoking and highly enjoyable, Louis & Louise is perfect for book clubs.

The Honey Bus

By Meredith May

With a depressed single mother who could barely get out of bed, Meredith relied on her grandfather for love and solace. She also found another avenue for learning life’s lessons – her grandfather’s bees.

Through the hive, Meredith learned about family, loyalty, self-sacrifice and resilience. A thoughtprovoking memoir.

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The Energy Plan

By James Collins

Nutritionist James Collins is a world leader in the field of performance nutrition. He’s guided the eating habits of Olympic athletes and premier sports stars. His first book, The Energy Plan, is not about cutting out food groups, quick fix diets or denial. Instead, it’s about fuelling your body so it performs better and you feel fitter, have more energy and can fight off illnesses. The Energy Plan is well worth a read, whether you’re training for a marathon or just want to avoid the 3pm energy slump.

Voices of Powerful Women

by Zoe Sallis

When Maya Angelou calls something a ‘fascinating collection’, you know you’re in for a treat and Voices of Powerful Women certainly doesn’t disappoint. Zoe Sallis interviewed 40 women for her book, including Judi Dench, Tracey Emin, Benazir Bhutto and Mariane Pearl. Each one gives us a glimpse into what made her who she is today. You’ll learn what inspires these women, what angers them, who they admire and what advice they want to pass on to the next generation.

Micro Living Derek ‘Deek’ Diedricksen

This book takes the concept of downsizing to the extreme.

Many of the 40 homes featured are smaller than 150 square feet.

From a refurbished Airstream to a treehouse, what these homes lack in space, they more than make up for in character. The book includes floorplans, advice and lots of lust-worthy photographs. Whether you’re thinking of building your own tiny home, want some tips to make the most of smaller rooms or just fancy taking a peek into how other people live, Micro Living is for you.

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“Quality is not expensive, it’s priceless”

Extensions, Refurbishments, Loft and Garage Conversions, Landscaping and General Building Internal and external work with many local references View our testimonials at www.hertfordshirebuilders.co.uk

Loft Conversions

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Architect drawings and planning applications catered for Estimates and ideas FREE

www.hertfordshirebuilders.co.uk Call Richard on 07818 061505 To advertise in The Villager and Town Life please call 01767 261122

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Appliance & Electrical Repairs 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

Property Improvement

Removals

MUSCLE & MOTOR

Jumbo van with up to 3 men.

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

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

Roofing

Dave Mortby Plastering, Decorating & Refurbishment

Free Estimates Given

07722 128189

Email: David.mortby@live.co.uk

Wheelie Bin Cleaning Scrubbish ad Feb 2018.pdf

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Prices from ÂŁ3.99 per bin, cleaned every 4 weeks To book visit our website

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From just ÂŁ35.00 per month plus VAT

Call Nigel on 01767 261122 for more information 62

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USEFUL NUMBERS

VILLAGER The

and Town

Life

Alcoholics Anonymous....................... 0845 769 7555 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

Bringing Local Business to Local People Your local full colour A5 monthly magazine delivered free of charge to 1000s of homes and businesses in your local area.

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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