Potton Feb 2019

VILLAGER The

Issue 150 - February 2019

and Town

Life

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

In this issue The History of

Hysteria

My Gardening

Valentine Win £25

in our Prize Crossword

Bringing Local Business to Local People in

Biggleswade, Sandy, Potton, Gamlingay and all surrounding villages To advertise in The Villager and Town Life please call 01767 261122

ur Yo EE FRco1py

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

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Inside this issue...

Win a Bottle of Bedfordshire Bubbly and Vineyard Tour

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The History of Hysteria........................................................................... 4 Namibia - Etosha National Park.............................................................. 8 That’s the Spirit - Gin............................................................................ 10 Win a Bottle of Bedfordshire Bubbly.....................................12 Hair Today - It’s not ‘Just a Haircut!’....................................................... 16 The Changing Face of Television........................................................... 19 Taking Back Control - Going Freelance.................................................. 21 Winter Saviours.................................................................................... 22 Get That Job......................................................................................... 24 Fancy Dressers - Eccentrics who stood out from the crowd................... 27 How to Effortlessly Wear Living Coral................................................... 28 How did you sleep?.............................................................................. 32 Sing into Spring with Phoenix.............................................................. 35 Do you need a fitness tracker?.............................................................. 36 Displaying Art in your Home................................................................ 42 Spring Clean you Finances for a Richer 2019........................................ 47 P&R Interiors........................................................................................ 48 My Gardening Valentine....................................................................... 50

Rural Ramblings................................................................................... 52 Greensand Country Announces 2019 Festival....................................... 55 R.A.T.S. Rehoming Appeal.................................................................... 57 World Spay Day.................................................................................... 58 Ask Alan - Potton Vets.......................................................................... 61 Children’s Page..................................................................................... 62 Parental Stress - Has it Changed Over 50 Years..................................... 64 Smart Motorways Explained................................................................ 67 Nick Coffer’s Weekend Recipe............................................................... 68 Wordsearch.......................................................................................... 70 2019 Wildlife Photography Competition.............................................. 73 What’s On............................................................................................. 74 Fun Quiz............................................................................................... 78 Puzzle Page.......................................................................................... 80 Does Cupid Love Tech?.......................................................................... 83 Prize Crossword...................................................................86 Book Review........................................................................................ 91

Greensand Country 2019 Festival

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Get your business off to a flying start this year

Advertise with the Villager Magazine... prices start from just £37.50 +VAT per month Editorial - Catherine Rose, Solange Hando, Trevor Langley, Tracey Anderson, Kate Duggan, Kate McLelland, Jennie Billings, Dr. Michelle O’Reilly, Ian Collins, Katherine Sorrell, Ann Haldon, Rachael Leverton, Geoff Wharton, RSPCA, Potton Vets, James Baggott and Kate Duggan

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

The History of Hysteria

By Catherine Rose Everyone knows the modern day meaning of hysteria. The Oxford dictionary defines it as ‘exaggerated or uncontrollable emotion or excitement, especially among a group of people’.

But did you know it was also an old-fashioned term for a female medical condition during the 19th century? The following article contains sensitive material!

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The term hysteria comes from the Ancient Greek word for womb. Physicians believed that many female ailments were caused by a ‘wandering uterus’ that moved around inside the body resulting in blockages that caused all kinds of physical diseases.

During the second century, a Roman physician, surgeon and philosopher named Galen

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hypothesised that the disease of hysteria was caused by sexual deprivation so was most prevalent in nuns, virgins and widows.

During the sexually repressed Victorian era, doctors’ diagnosis of hysteria in female patients became increasingly common. In 1859, a French physician, Dr Pierre Briquet claimed that a quarter of Victorian women suffered from what he called hysteron-neurasthenic disorders.

Physicians believed that many female ailments were caused by a ‘wandering uterus’ It was believed that women were of a more nervous disposition than men and could develop any number of psychological symptoms from the simple fact they possessed a womb. Hysteria would be diagnosed from a range of physical symptoms such as feeling faint, anxiety, insomnia, fluid retention, muscle spasms, breathlessness, loss of appetite, emotional instability and irritability. It was therefore easy for a woman to be misdiagnosed with hysteria when she really had a serious physical condition such as epilepsy.

The cure was simple however. The patient was advised to have regular sexual intercourse.

However, for unmarried women, this simply wasn’t possible, so doctors would carry out pelvic massage to induce what they termed ‘hysterical paroxysm’.

This seems shocking to us today, despite the fact we are far more sexually liberated and educated than these Victorian women were, many of whom led such sheltered lives they didn’t even know what sexual intercourse involved until they married.

Other treatments for hysteria could include bed rest, bland food, isolation and lack of any mental stimulation. In extreme cases a hysterectomy was performed, or the woman was sent to an asylum.

Contrary to what you might expect, physicians considered pelvic massage to be no more than a medical duty. In fact, it was looked upon as a tiresome task that often took time and effort to achieve. As a result, to meet the growing need for the treatment of ‘hysterical’ women, the first vibrator was invented – not the modern sex toy, but a bona fide medical aid.

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Initially, treatment was hydrotherapy-based.

Hydrotherapy had in fact been around since the 1700s at bath houses for general massage and wellbeing (much as in spas today), but it was now specifically redesigned for pelvic massage via a jet of water attached to a special chair.

Then in 1870, a clockwork vibrator became available. Three years later, an electromechanical device was invented and is said to have been tried out at an asylum in France.

Rather frighteningly, an American doctor, George Taylor, came up with a steam-powered vibrator called ‘The Manipulator’ in 1869 that was the size of a dining room table and needed coal regularly shovelled into it to make it work!

By the beginning of the 20th century hand-held portable electrical vibrators such as ‘Dr Harry F Waite’s Tissue Oscillator’ were now available to the general public so that women suffering from hysteria could treat themselves in the privacy of their own home.

The development of psychology and increased understanding of the human mind meant that the idea of hysteria was replaced by more accurate diagnoses of either physical or specific psychological conditions such as personality disorders, anxiety and neuroses.

As for vibrators, they gradually came to be seen not as health aids but as devices for sexual gratification and were appearing in pornographic films as early as the 1930s, long after respectable doctors had disowned them as a form of medical treatment.

The American Psychiatric Society dropped the term ‘hysteria’ in 1952 and today it is no longer recognised as a medical condition.

However, there are still psychological definitions related to the term. Histrionic personality disorder for example is said to affect around two to three percent of the population. People with this disorder tend to be overemotional and exhibit attention-seeking behaviour, amongst other traits. Psychoanalysis now uses the terms ‘conversion’ or ‘somatization’ disorder for people who are suffering from symptoms that are rooted in the mind and have no apparent physical cause, whether patients are women or not.

A film with an all-star cast including Sheridan Smith and Jonathon Pryce about the invention of the vibrator was released in 2011. It was called ‘Hysteria’.

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Rooms from

Potton View Care Home can accommodate up to 31 residents, all on the ground floor. The Home has been completely refurbished in 2018 when it was purchased

by Black Swan. It has high quality lounges, dining room and bathroom facilities as well as a salon.

Outside there is are extensive enclosed gardens as well as internal courtyards. The property is a detached, purpose built care home with a car park at the front.

The Home is situated between the villages of Potton and Gamlingay in easy access of local amenities.

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No appointment is necessary so please feel free to drop in for a guided tour, coffee and cake!

We look forward to meeting you...

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Travel

Namibia

By Solange Hando

Mountains, desert or ocean, Namibia is amazing but did you know it was the first country in the world to include conservation in its constitution?

Today, with its national parks alongside game and nature reserves, over 40% of the land is protected, a haven for the wildlife, so varied and abundant.

The top viewing area is the Etosha National Park created in 1967 on a former game reserve, across the Kalahari basin up in the north-west. The name means the ‘Great White Place’, referring to a salt pan so large it can be seen from space. It’s a desert in the dry season, a land of mirages and sweeping wind, but during the summer rains it all comes alive as huge flocks of flamingos and other migrating birds return to their seasonal lagoon.

Beyond the pan which covers 23% of the park, the savanna ranges from open grasslands to dwarf shrubs, thorn bush and trees, most common the acacias and the lovely Mopane whose leaves are shaped like butterflies.

Etosha National Park

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Wildlife thrives in all areas but some species have favourite habitats – for instance, elephants like to shelter under the trees; lions, on the other hand, find the perfect camouflage in tall golden grass, so the best way to tick names off your list is to trust the local guides.

Mountains, desert or ocean, Namibia is amazing but did you know it was the first country in the world to include conservation in its constitution?

Sightings are guaranteed, they say, within three minutes of entering the park, though during the wet season, so beautifully lush and green, this may be more difficult. However, the dry season, June to October, is always rewarding, as animals wander across the arid land on

their way to the waterholes. Best safari times are early or late in the day – be prepared for the cold – but what matters is not the distance covered but an attitude in tune with nature: slow down, stop and wait, look around, listen and for sure something will happen.

So what might you see in such a pristine place rising like a dream out of this world? 113 species of mammals, 350 of birds, 110 of reptiles, amphibians and even fish. Once endangered species, such as elephants, lions, rhinos and the black-faced impalas, are recovering well, but most common are zebras and gambolling springboks.

Lucky visitors may spot a lonely leopard, a cheetah with her young or a speeding hyena, but the elegant giraffes and the long-horned creatures are there for all to see, be it a red hartebeest zigzagging away to escape a predator, a solitary greater kudu, an eland – the largest African antelope – or an oryx, the national animal. Then there are the little ones: the rock hyrax, the yellow mongoose, the black-backed jackal, the smallest antelope or dick-dick, and of course the birds: hornbills, plump red bishop, yellow masked weaver, lilac-breasted roller and many more. As the sun sets over the savanna, the gently floodlit waterholes are pure magic as animals approach ever so carefully, waiting patiently for their turn to drink under a starlit sky.

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Food and Drink

That’s the Spirit

Gin

Gin’s basic flavour is from juniper berries and gin making can be traced back to the Middle Ages. Today, many gins are widely available. There are different styles of gins, plus flavoured and very aromatic gins, too. Gin cocktails continue to be hugely popular, with many ‘devotees’.

Warner Edwards are creators and distillers of hand-crafted, artisan gins. Their Victoria’s Rhubarb Gin is named because the original rhubarb crop, from which the current rhubarb crops are descended, was grown in the kitchen garden of Buckingham Palace, during Queen Victoria’s reign. The mouthfeel and palate enjoys the tangy sweetness. Also, prosecco makes a great mix with this gin. Other Warner Edwards hand-crafted gins include their splendid Harrington Dry. www.warneredwards.com The Cotswolds Distillery, established 2014, produces an excellent quality, hand-crafted, dry gin, which is unfiltered, so as to retain all the flavour of the botanical extracts and essential oils. This classic production is produced in small batches and is well-balanced, with an ‘inviting’ nose of citrus amongst the bouquet’s appeal. The mouthfeel and palate continue the enjoyment, which is clean and crisp. This exceptional gin is part of their range. www.cotswoldsdistillery.com Gordon’s is a very well-established company. Premium Pink Distilled Gin I found refreshing and aromatic. The inclusion of raspberry, strawberry and redcurrant ‘natural flavourings’, make for a superbly-balanced and often-selected gin production. Another impressive gin, inspired by Gordon’s original pink gin recipe of 1880. A company dedicated and committed to producing and supplying high-quality drinks. www.gordonsgin.com Chase Rhubarb & Bramley Apple is a single-estate production, from the Chase Distillery Company, Chase distils from the field to the bottle and has an excellent range of drinks. This gin is carefully crafted by distilling G B gin with freshly-pressed rhubarb and bramley apple juice, which comes directly from the farm. This impressive production is perfect anytime and great for spritz cocktails. www.chasedistillery.co.uk I located these gins at Waitrose, the food and retail division of John Lewis Partnership. Founded during 1904, Waitrose possesses a royal warrant to supply groceries and offers food and beverages of outstanding quality, many of which are multi award-winning. www.waitrose.com

As always, Enjoy!

ey Trevor Langl

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AFTERNOON TEA AT THE HOUSE Savour the quintessentially English past-time of taking afternoon tea, in the grand setting of The House, Shuttleworth. The House will be open from 09.30 with guests encouraged to explore the rooms and find out about the Shuttleworth Family and Old Warden Park.

Sunday 10th February Sunday 14th April

2019 Dates

Sunday 14th July Sunday 13th October

Pre-book via - www.shuttleworth.org/afternoontea The House at Shuttleworth, Old Warden Park, Beds, SG18 9EA

To Villager advertise in TheteaVillager and19.indd Town1Life please call 01767 261122 - Afternoon advert FP Feb

01767 627970

09/01/2019 11:55:52

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WIN A BOTTLE OF

BEDFORDSHIRE BUBBLY and a Vineyard Tour for two at

Warden Abbey Vineyard Did you know Bedfordshire’s medieval vineyard is now an exciting community project?

Nestled in the rolling Bedfordshire hills, this beautiful five acre field near Old Warden was first planted with vines in medieval times by monks at Warden Abbey - one of the oldest Cistercian settlements in England. Centuries later, the monks’ “Lyttel Vineyard” was re-planted and has produced award-winning wines ever since, with medals at regional, national and international level.

Bedfordshire Rural Communities Charity now lease the vineyard and run it as a “not for profit” community project, offering opportunities for learning, improving physical and mental wellbeing, and reducing isolation. All proceeds from wine sales go to keeping the project going.

Today it’s an army of volunteers who turn out in sun, rain and even snow to tend the vines. They also promote the project, fund-raise, run tours and talks, a donate-a-vine scheme, school visits, as well as social and therapeutic horticulture, wildlife and heritage projects.

Public and group tours are held on a number of dates each year (see website). Also, visitors to the annual Open Day on Sept 8th will be able to discover its history, tour the vineyard, taste wines and relax with local food and craft stalls, children’s activities and BBQ. Tel: 07981 113714 Email: info@wardenvineyard.org.uk Website: www.wardenvineyard.org.uk

Competition

(Entrants must be aged 18 or over)

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

WARDEN ABBEY VINEYARD COMPETITION ENTRY

Which well known Bedfordshire “Pilgrim” is the vineyard’s Nonconformist wine named after?



Tour vouchers will be posted out to the winner, and the bottle of wine will be available for collection during their tour.

Alternatively, the winner may arrange to collect the wine at another time. Please note the prize CANNOT be delivered.

Name: Tel: Email: Address: 12

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Health & Beauty

Hair Today

No, it’s not ‘Just a haircut!’

Have you ever marked a life event by changing your hairstyle? Did you regret it, or did you feel free? Many people, most of them women, use haircuts as a marker for change.

In films the main character often undergoes a makeover as a metaphor for the dramatic changes they undergo in the movie: Sandy in Grease, and Julia Roberts’ character in Pretty Woman are just two of them. Before the makeover things were bad; after the makeover things are good. Simples.

Or is it? In real life hairdressers bear witness to this scenario frequently. We may not tell them directly, but often they will sense we’re on a mission to create a new improved version of ourselves; or a quick way to shed the past and move on.

But dramatic hairstyle changes while in the midst of a life crisis can prove ill-advised. Sometimes we’re not really after a new hairstyle, more a whole new life. And as satisfying as it is to leave a salon with a completely new look, we need to remember that our hair might look different, but our problems will remain the same. We will still feel just as bad about our husband running off with our best friend, we’ll just be doing it with shorter hair! During a divorce, a bereavement or a health crisis we will experience a maelstrom of emotions: and one-minute chopping all our hair

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off will feel like the best decision in the world, but the next minute, when we look in the mirror and see a total stranger staring back at us it might feel terrifying.

Yet hair is an important aspect of how we express who we are and how we would like to be seen.

Changing our hair is one of the easiest ways to send a signal to the world that we have changed.

It can be a great tool to help us shed an outgrown ‘self’. My friend shed her shoulder-length blonde hair for a pixie crop shortly after she gave birth to twins. She felt she needed freedom from her hair care routine, so she could spend more time with her babies. For her it was freeing to be able to wake, shower and be ready to go in minutes. I had my tousled waist-length hair cut to a chic bob when I started my first proper job in journalism.

I felt like I needed to create a bit of distance between ‘student me’ and ‘professional me’. Like the caterpillar shedding the chrysalis I was ready to be someone new and the har salon was my chrysalis of choice.

So, the next time you collapse into the hairdresser’s comfy chair intent on an image overhaul, just pause for a second and ask yourself why, and whether now is the best time.

By Tracey Anderson

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Mind, Body, Soul

& Craft Fair The Days Inn, Sandy, SG19 1NA

Sunday 10th March 10.00am - 4.00pm Entry £3, Under 12s Free

Psychics, Mediums Holistic Therapists Crafters and Traders Speakers/Workshops

I believe in the spirit of inquiry Open Morning Wednesday 6th March, 10am Telephone: 01234 361918 www.bedfordgirlsschool.co.uk Bedford Girls’ School is part of The Harpur Trust

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Special Report

The Changing Face of Television By 1971, TV was so integral to our lives that, according to Joe Moran’s Armchair Nation, “Ten per cent of homes still had no indoor lavatory or bath, 31% had no fridge and 62% had no telephone, but only 9% had no TV.” Yet back then we were watching just 3 channels.

The launch of satellite TV in the UK in 1989 brought Sky One, Sky News, Sky Movies, Eurosport, MTV, Screensport, Lifestyle and The Children’s Channel on air (along with porn channels swiftly banned by Parliament). Suddenly, we were spoilt for choice. As the ‘90s progressed, we began to pay for that extra choice but were offered more channels and access to Premier League matches.

We were enjoying EastEnders, Coronation Street and Only Fools and Horses, alongside US shows destined to become iconic: Friends on Channel 4 and The X-Files and The Simpsons on Sky. Sky brought us Digital in 1999, with 160 channels and innovative interactive services, and soon after, Sky+. We could now pause live TV to make a cuppa – and record it without a VHS or DVD recorder!

Telewest offered a rival digital cable subscription service while Freeview, and later Freesat, boxes offered a range of free channels (including some from Sky).

As satellite TV turns 30 in the UK, how has TV changed in those 30 years?

During the noughties, we watched reality TV like Big Brother, Wife Swap and their back-to-basics

stablemates Ray Mears’ Bushcraft and Castaway 2000; fell in love with BBC’s rebooted Dr Who; and became hooked on hit dramas like Spooks (BBC), Lost (CH4) and 24 (Sky One). The talent and contest show reboot brought us the X Factor, Britain’s Got Talent, Pop Idol and Strictly Come Dancing. By 2008, there were 9 million British Sky subscribers, with 500,000 watching in HD. But the disruptive force of TV streaming was on its way. Netflix launched its UK service in 2012 and has produced original content with the hugely popular series Stranger Things. Having bought Lovefilm in 2011, Amazon morphed it into its new Prime Video streaming service in 2014 and has produced its own hits too, including Outlander and The Man in the High Castle. Both companies have also rescued programmes unpopularly dropped by other channels, such as BBC’s Ripper Street (Amazon) and Fox’s Lucifer (Netflix). Rival streamer Hulu scored its own original hit with The Handmaid’s Tale.

However, ‘normal’ TV can still hold an audience, producing smart thrillers like Sherlock and Broadchurch and the unlikely hit, The Great British Bake Off, on terrestrial TV, while satellite delivers epic sci-fi and fantasy with the phenomenally successful Game of Thrones and The Walking Dead.

TV has brought triumphs and tragedies such as war, the moon landing, terrorist attacks and royal weddings into our homes, as well as entertainment, and today, we don’t even need a TV ‘set’ to watch it. But if you don’t own one, then I have to ask, in the words of Joey from Friends: “What does your furniture point at?”

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A great place to do business The Eco Hub in Gamlingay is a modern, sustainable community building ideal for meetings, conferences and training days. Our Kier Suite is a light and airy self contained business space with easy disabled access and free parking.

Day rate of £28 per person inc. lunch

• Fast, free wi-fi • Breakout space for training activities • Capacity for 2 – 50 delegates • Support staff on site • Easy access to A1/A14/Cambridge/Bedford • Full IT & AV facilities • Fresh buffet lunches available We offer a professional service with a friendly atmosphere.

manager@gamlingayecohub.org.uk | 01767 651226 Stocks Lane, Gamlingay, Sandy, Bedfordshire, SG19 3JR

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Taking back control Going Freelance While more employers are offering flexible working, few jobs give you the freedom of running your own business.

Self-employment doesn’t suit everyone. For a start, there’s no sick pay, no holiday pay and no regular salary. However, if you’re fed up of juggling childcare and missing out on time with your kids, it’s well worth considering.

Flexible hours If you’re a freelancer, you can usually fit your work around the kids. (I’m writing this article in the hairdresser’s while my son gets his hair cut.) If work is quiet and you fancy taking the kids to the beach after school, you can.

On the downside, if you’ve got a lot of work on, you can end up working late into the night, or at weekends.

Attracting customers You’ll need a plan for attracting customers. That plan is likely to include creating and updating a

website, attending networking events, contacting people through social media and searching for opportunities through LinkedIn and other platforms.

If you’re a graphic designer, you could contact local design agencies to let them know you’re available. If you make artisan handbags, you could sell them through Etsy, Not on the High Street or Folksy. You’ll need to factor in the platform’s fees as part of your costs. It also takes time to gain those all important reviews and you’ll be competing against a lot of other small businesses.

If you can, start working on your business part-time, before you leave your job, and build up some savings to see you through lean periods.

Finding your ‘tribe’ It’s worth connecting with other freelancers for ideas, inspiration

Parenting and ‘tea break’ chat. There are hundreds of networking events across the UK but some are little more than money-making schemes, so try a few before you commit to a membership. You might also want to sign up to forums, social media pages and groups in your industry.

You could also team up with other professionals to bid for bigger projects. A plumber, electrician, decorator and builder might work together on house extensions, for example. I’m a member of The Hoxby Collective – a global team of freelancers (from copywriters and designers to accountants) who work together to deliver projects. Hoxby co-founder, Lizzie Penny, explains, “When Alex Hirst and I set up The Hoxby Collective, it was partly because I wanted to spend more time with my family.

Some of the best talent was being excluded from the workforce because of geographical location, parental responsibility or a myriad of other reasons. We believe people should be able to fit their work around their lives and not the other way round.”

By Kate Duggan www.kateduggan.co.uk

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Health & Beauty

Winter Saviours

By Kate Duggan www.kateduggan.co.uk

If your skin is feeling the drying effects of central heating, or you’re just in need of a winter pick-meup, we may have the answer.

When it’s dark and gloomy outside, a bright splash of colour is always welcome. I’m going for Glossworks Nail Polish in Flamingo. This rich coral shade is very easy to wear and seems to suit most skin tones. The polish is not too drippy and it’s also vegan and free from formaldehyde, parabens and the other chemical ‘nasties’. It’s £12 from www.lovelula.com.

I do love something that has an instant effect as well as a long-term benefit. Image Skincare AGELESS Total Pure Hyaluronic Filler delivers on both counts. Hyaluronic acid is a real workhorse. It helps the skin to lock in moisture and has an instant plumping effect, so minimises the appearance of lines and wrinkles.

Long-term, it also stimulates collagen, combats free radicals, improves skin elasticity and more. At £80 for a small bottle it’s not cheap, but you do only need a tiny amount. www.imageskincare.co.uk

In need of a winter pick-me-up?

We may have the answer If you’re in the market for a new moisturiser, try Kimberly Sayer’s Restore Anti-Ageing Cream. It’s designed to moisturise, tighten, firm and soothe skin, while protecting from environmental damage. It’s rich enough for dry and mature skin but absorbs easily and isn’t greasy. £29.50, www.lovelula.com.

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The cold weather can wreak havoc with your skin, but if your hands are feeling dry and sore, there may be another culprit to blame – your hand wash.

Most liquid hand washes contain ingredients that can irritate sensitive skin. Try swapping to a bar of soap instead. Faith in Nature, Bentley Organic and Weleda are good brands to look out for or try your local health food store or farmers’ market for locally made natural soaps.

If your skin does get dry and flaky, you might want to invest in a healing balm. Odylique’s Ultra Rich Balm is very hydrating, 100% natural and suitable for sensitive skin. It’s made from shea butter, olive oil, coconut oil, beeswax and sea buckthorn oil, all of which help to nourish and protect skin. A little goes a long way and you can use the balm all over, including on lips and hair. From £9.50, www.odylique.co.uk.

Looking for a budget-friendly, calorie-free, alcoholfree treat? The Kiss Naturals Eye Palette is just £3 from Wilko and features 12 neutral shades, from light beige to chocolate. £3 for 12 eyeshadows, a mirror and a brush? It seems rude not to.

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23

Employment

Get that Job

By Hilary Bennett

Avoid common cover letter errors

Don’t use the same cover letter for every single job. If you send identical cover letters for every single role, it may save you time, but it won’t get you the job. Generic phrases which offer no specificity about the company, industry, or role you’re applying for indicate lack of interest to most hiring managers. Always refer to the job by its title and description and explain how your skills could benefit the specific role and company, not just the industry as a whole.

Never talk about your personal life, or share irrelevant details in a professional document, it definitely won’t improve your employability. Don’t mention the reasons for leaving your current job or give overly detailed justifications for career breaks. Keep to the point and focus on the job you’re applying for.

Focus on what the employer wants, not what you want. Avoid detailing your hopes and dreams and don’t explain what you’d get out of the job.

A cover letter isn’t about being able to fulfil

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your objectives, it’s about proving to a recruiter than you can fulfil theirs. So, talk about your achievements, skills, and experience only if they relate directly to the role and emphasise what they would get from employing you, not vice versa.

If you lack experience in a certain area don’t focus on that, instead focus on your strong points which are a good fit for the job.

Desperation is different to enthusiasm! Begging for the job isn’t going to add anything to your selling potential. Keep over-the-top adjectives and hyperbole to a minimum because there’s a fine line between showing a genuine interest and trying too hard.

Don’t forget to proofread and check for grammatical errors.

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Quirky Britain

By Kate McLelland

Fancy dressers: eccentrics who stood out from the crowd One of the easiest ways to spot a true eccentric is by the way they dress. Some of our greatest British eccentrics were people who ignored contemporary dress codes, choosing instead to wear outfits that made them stand out from the crowd.

Beau Brummell – the first ‘Dandy’ Although Regency dandy Beau Brummell went to extraordinary and often bizarre lengths to maintain his high profile lifestyle, he was a true innovator when it came to men’s fashion.

When George Bryan Brummell (born 1778) joined the Prince of Wales’ personal regiment as a lowranking officer, he did little to distinguish himself.

Instead, he relied on his charisma (and his growing friendship with the Prince of Wales) to pretty much do as he pleased, ignoring his military duties.

Once he had left the army, and with the Prince’s continuing support, George became a formidable trendsetter. He revolutionised male fashion, rejecting the conspicuously showy outfits of the time in favour of skin-tight trousers (worn minus underwear) combined with a perfectly tailored, dark-coloured coat. His grooming process was so complex and fastidious that each morning a fascinated crowd of onlookers would watch his careful, five hour bathing and dressing routine. The last item to be added was his boots: polished with champagne, naturally.

Beau Brummell revolutionised male fashion, rejecting the showy outfits of the time in favour of skintight trousers Unfortunately George’s relationship with the Prince Regent didn’t last and drink, disease and gambling eventually caused his downfall. It was a sad end for such a celebrated trendsetter, but his legacy – namely our love of bathing and the fashion for dark, tailored mens’ suits – has lasted right through to the present day.

Lady Hester Stanhope – a female Indiana Jones Socialite, adventurer and traveller Lady Hester Stanhope (1776-1839) was made of tough stuff.

After losing everything in a shipwreck, she hitched a lift to Cairo on a British frigate, went shopping in the local bazaar and turned up to meet Egyptian officials wearing an unmistakably male outfit: embroidered

Lady Hester Stanhope

trousers, a waistcoat and a jacket, with a sabre hanging at her waist.

Lady Hester was a fearless and intelligent young woman who excelled as a political hostess for her uncle, British Prime Minster William Pitt the Younger.

In her thirties she developed an urge to travel and embarked on a long sea voyage to the Middle East, where she led several archaeological expeditions.

On a visit to Syria she dressed as a Bedouin and used a caravan of 22 camels to carry her baggage, which earned her the name of ‘Queen Hester’ among locals.

Hester ended her days as a recluse in a remote Lebanese monastery, where she wielded great power and helped many refugees escape religious persecution. Poor Hester would no doubt prefer that we celebrated her for her archaeological achievements and good works, but – perhaps inevitably – it seems she’s best remembered for her exotic dress sense.

When we say someone is ‘eccentric’ it suggests their behaviour is weird and wacky, but the word (derived from Latin) simply means ‘away from the centre’. Both these larger-than life personalities were innovators who broke away from convention and changed people’s perceptions, so let’s hope we can continue to celebrate such gloriously ‘off-centre’ behaviour long into the future.

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27

House of Colour

How To Effortlessly Wear

Living Coral – The Colour of 2019 The Pantone Colour Institute has announced their colour of 2019 is the gorgeous Living Coral (16-1546) but can we all wear this warm and energising colour?

Through their extensive research, The Pantone Institute chose Living Coral ‘partly as an antidote’ to the ‘cold and distant’ digital world and as ‘a shade of connection’.

How to wear it….

1. We associate coral with the fresh, warmth and sun-kissed coral seas of Australia, Indonesia and the Philippines – but the gorgeous warm hue that is Living Coral will not work for all skin tones; particularly those that suit cool colours. Some of us have warm pigment in our skin which is yellow based, while others of us have cool pigment which is blue based. When you wear the right tones for your skin you will look brighter, fresher and younger but when a blue based cool skin undertone is wearing warm colours they appear sallow and slightly blurred. Equally when someone with a warm yellow based skin undertone wears cool colours they will appear washed out, older and tired. Coral is a warm yellow based pink and so will suit those with warm skin tones much better than those with cool.

2. Don’t despair though if you are cool toned ie if you have a Winter or Summer colour palette, blue based equivalents range from Winter’s shocking pink, magenta and ice pink to Summer’s softer rose, powder pink or raspberry. If you are cool toned but still want to wear the oh so modern Living Coral then an alternative is to wear a pattern with a splash and a dash of coral.

3. Springs and Autumns should check their own wardrobes before racing to the shops. You may

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4.

5.

6.

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already have variants of coral - which range from soft peach through to perfect coral and orange reds - which look gorgeous on you and are already within your capsule wardrobe. Shockingly 30% of the clothes in British wardrobes are rarely worn.

If you do want to buy something of sartorial style in Living Coral consider whether you would better suit wearing Living Coral from head to toe in a gorgeous maxi dress or summer suit, but for others it may best work as a blouse or as summer trousers.

As a pop of colour, coral looks gorgeous as a scarf, belt, shoes or handbag, particularly against a backdrop of a warm navy and maybe more in 2019’s spring and summer time which are the times of year when coral naturally finds its way into the shops. Using a pop of coral in these types of accessories will also work well with your neutrals for a memorable business look.

Coral is also fantastic in a lipstick, blusher and on nails for those with warm colour tones. Just make sure you don’t go too orange, which can look exciting on some people but not on everyone.

At a time when looking at how to drastically reduce pollution, plastics, disposal and carbon emissions is of critical importance, Living Coral couldn’t be timelier. Just as coral reefs are a source of sustenance and shelter to sea life, Living Coral reminds us of our precious world and our responsibility to protect it.

By Jennie Billings, Colour and Style Consultant,HOUSE OF COLOUR www.houseofcolour.co.uk/jenniebillings jennie.billings@houseofcolour.co.uk www.pantone.com/color-of-the-year-2019

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29

Local News

Do you have chronic pain,

extreme fatigue or brain fog?

The Herts MS Therapy Centre is here for everyone.

We welcome people with any challenging health condition.

We’ve been helping as many people as we can for over 30 years.

Extreme fatigue and chronic pain can result from many conditions, including Cancer, Stroke, Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and ME – and many others.

If you, or someone you know, lives with long term pain or fatigue – from any condition - maybe we can help them to gain more energy and feel less pain.

How we help…

A range of services is available at our Centre in Letchworth. Our therapies include: • Physiotherapy – to optimise mobility and independence • Exercise Therapy – specialist support for maximum strength and stamina • Oxygen Therapy – to promote healing, increase energy and reduce pain • APS Pain Clinic – to reduce pain, improve sleep quality and boost energy “I was struggling to cope with my fatigue and it was weighing me down mentally. The treatment was a ray of hope that resulted in new friends and a better quality of life.” Charlotte D We also offer a domiciliary service. A Physiotherapist and/or an Exercise Professional can come to your home to do an assessment or provide a treatment. Please ask us about the areas we cover.

First time free!

You are welcome to try any of our services for free – simply use the voucher below… or give it to someone you know.

Call Claire to find out more and book your session: 01462 684 214 or email: enquiries123@hmstc.net

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My exciting range of non-surgical treatments may be just the answer. I offer the very latest dermal fillers and wrinkle removing treatments that will leave you feeling revitalised with a new air of confidence. Simply phone me to arrange a free and no-obligation discreet consultation at my private clinic in the rural Bedfordshire village of Cople to discuss your personal requirements.

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Call me on either or email hello@donnasmall.com or visit my website at www.donnasmall.com where you can see my before and after pictures along with testimonials from very satisfied customers.

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31

Health

How did you sleep?

“There are twelve hours in the day, and above fifty in the night.” (Marie de Rabutin-Chantal) Sorry to be nosey, but did you sleep well last night? The answer to this will have huge implications not just for getting through your day today, but also for your future physical and mental health.

In our caffeinated, over-stimulated, 24-hour day world, only a lucky few of us seem to escape the all-enveloping clutches of disrupted and inadequate sleep. The consequences are simply staggering. An explosion of biological evidence in recent years shows that inadequate sleep ambushes your immune system, even increasing your risk of cancer. While you sleep, your body produces cytokines, which help to fight off infections and illness. Sleep loss also puts the health of our hearts at serious risk; short sleep increases the likelihood of our coronary arteries getting blocked, leading to cardiovascular disease, stroke, and heart failure. Insufficient sleep is also known to increase our risk for weight gain and obesity (short sleep raises the levels of the hormone ghrelin that makes us feel hungry) and diabetes (too little sleep disrupts our blood sugar levels).

Our brains are extremely vulnerable too. Recent neuroscientific evidence shows that getting too little sleep across your lifespan will significantly raise your risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease.

Our mental health is jeopardised; sleep problems contribute to depression, anxiety, even suicidality.

Too little sleep affects our ability to remember, as suggested by studies showing that sleep helps consolidate long-term memory. Neuroimaging studies have established that just one night of sleep deprivation impairs learning and encoding -related activity in the hippocampus, a structure that is associated with memory and is located deep within the middle of the brain.

Other cognitive abilities are also in the line of fire, especially attention i.e. our ability to focus, to ignore distractions, and to multi-task.

Neuroimaging research shows that activity in the frontal parts of our brain during attention tasks is reliably affected by sleep loss. Tragically, these attention deficits are implicated in the huge numbers of traffic accidents and fatalities caused

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by sleep-deprived driving.

Sleep loss triggers changes in how we process our emotions too. Only one night of sleep deprivation resulted in a 60% increase in reactivity of the part of the brain responsible for processing emotion (especially fear and anxiety): the amygdala. This occurred in response to negative images such as spiders, snakes, and mutilations. The reward system of our brain also gets highjacked by a bad night’s sleep. Does reaching for another chocolate when you’re tired sound familiar? The reward network in the brain also shows sensitivity to sleep deprivation; this susceptibility is due to altered function of the dopamine neurotransmitter and leads to changes in risk-taking behaviours, sensation-seeking, and impulsivity.

So what can poor sleepers do about this quite alarming constellation of risks? Thankfully, there are many different ways to improve our sleep. In my next article here next month, I will set out the methods that are backed up by solid scientific evidence for getting a restorative night of sweet, precious sleep.

by Dr. Michelle O’Reilly Ph.D. Neuroscientist, science writer and lifelong insomniac.

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Local News

Sing into Spring with Phoenix!

Looking for something new to try? Do you love to sing in the car, or the shower?

Or maybe you used to sing in a choir, and are looking for a new opportunity?

Sing into Spring with Phoenix!

Starting on 5th March, Phoenix Chorus are running a 4-week course in A Cappella singing. If you’re a fan of the Pitch Perfect movies or Pitch Battle and The Voice on TV, here’s your chance to try it.

Indulge your love of music and singing Experience the unique 4-part a cappella harmony Make time for you at least one night a week for a month, to do something you really enjoy!

We’re a Ladies A Cappella chorus based in Potton, Beds, but our members come from all over, most within a 25 mile radius. As long as you’re at least 16 we’d love you to join us in March so we can all learn a new song together and you can take part in a free ‘Friends and Family’ performance too.

Have a look at our website https://phoenixladies. co.uk or call us on 07845 101799 for further information on how you can……

Sing into Spring! We’d love to meet you!

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35

Health and Fitness

By Ian Collins

Do You Need an Activity Tracker?

Activity trackers have become very popular in recent years. Fitbits are the device that everyone has heard of but there are many others. If you’re thinking of buying one, ask yourself these questions: Do you exercise regularly?

Lots of people buy a Fitbit or its equivalent because they think it will help them to exercise consistently. But these devices are not magic bullets. If you make any and every excuse NOT to exercise then a Fitbit won’t change that, you will simply make excuses to avoid exercise while wearing a gadget!

Would you wear it, and use it?

For a fitness tracker to give you actionable data you need to wear it almost all of the time, even while asleep. Some people can’t wear watches or jewellery while they are at work, others hate the feeling of anything on their wrist, and others have sensitive skin which is irritated by straps. If you don’t wear it then it can’t do its job, so it’s not worth buying one.

Will you use the app?

You’ll need to download the app to your phone and use it if you want to make use of the data your activity tracker collects. Interacting with your device and the app is key to success, so if you can’t commit, don’t buy.

Are you a data nerd?

Some of us love to monitor our sleep, our heart rates, the number of steps we do each day. We find ourselves endlessly fascinating. The basics of losing weight and becoming healthier are simple,

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but the specifics for our own body can vary wildly.

If you don’t care about specifics and are happy with just eating a bit less and exercising a bit more, an activity tracker might be a waste of money for you. If you have a medical condition or are in training for an event, or just enjoy looking at data, then having organized and detailed information at your fingertips is a great resource.

Would my phone do the job instead?

There are hundreds of fitness, pedometer and cycling apps on both Android and iOS. If you’re unsure about whether an activity tracker is the right purchase for you try using one or two of these apps for a month. You might find they give you all the data you need. Also, if you find you can’t be bothered to use the apps, then you are very unlikely to benefit from buying an activity tracker.

Are you competitive?

Some activity trackers (particularly Fitbits) are social. You can add friends, compare step counts and earn milestone badges. You can also create groups and engage in competitions and challenges.

While these are good features, they aren’t for everyone. You might not need such a high-spec activity tracker if you don’t want to engage in the social side of things.

Activity trackers are useful devices and many people enjoy them and benefit from using them, but they won’t turn a reluctant exerciser into a highly motivated one, and if you aren’t actually interested in all the data, they might not justify their price tag.

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Local News

Fresh air, friendly, fun – and free!

Bedfordshire Rural Communities Charity is looking for new volunteers to join up at historic Warden Abbey Vineyard, near Old Warden.

The secateurs are being sharpened as volunteers at Bedfordshire’s community-run vineyard start the major task of pruning some 4000 vines – and new volunteers are very welcome to join in.

Vineyard Manager Jane Markham explained “We start pruning the vines in January and it’s a great way to shake off the cobwebs if you’re feeling a bit jaded after the festive season. It’s also a really good time for new volunteers to join us as you can see how the vineyard develops through the year.

Essentially, the vineyard offers a unique way to enjoy the outdoors, get fit, meet new people and relax from the stresses of life, in a beautiful setting.

We provide all the training and equipment you need so beginners are very welcome.”

The charity has leased the vineyard since 2010 and run it as a “not for profit” community project,

offering opportunities for learning, improving physical and mental wellbeing, and reducing isolation. All proceeds from its award winning wines go to keeping the project going. As well as working on the vines, there are a range of other volunteering opportunities on offer, including organising events and activities, working with school and special needs groups, tour guides and marketing.

If helping at this unique project appeals, please contact Jane to find out more, on 07981 113714 or info@wardenvineyard.org.uk or check out www. wardenvineyard.org.uk/get-involved

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Interiors

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By Katherine Sorrell

Displaying art in your home Make the most of your favourite paintings or photographs by integrating them within your decorating scheme.

More than just a finishing touch, hanging art on your walls is the essential addition to any room, immediately transforming it into a personal space. Some would even argue that a decorating

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scheme should be built around a work of art from the start. It is wise, then, not to treat art as just an afterthought, but to give as much care and attention to choosing and hanging drawings, paintings and photographs as you would to choosing fabrics and furnishings.

Start by identifying the optimal locations for the works. Above the mantelpiece in the sitting room is often a good spot, but any room in which you spend a lot of time is ideal, whether it be the kitchen (away from humidity and splashes, of course), family room or conservatory, so you can enjoy a favourite piece as much as possible. Bear in mind that direct sunlight can damage precious works, so use special protective glass if necessary, or try to find a more suitable spot.

Size is important. Bigger pieces, quite obviously, need an expansive space in which to shine (and enough room to step back and admire them), while smaller works may look odd when hung on their own on a large wall. The solution to the latter is either to find a niche wall on which to hang a smaller work – perhaps above a bedside table or next to a cosy armchair – or to create a larger grouping of pieces that work together, by colour, theme or subject matter. Pairs of complementary

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Discover the true value of your home.

For tips on how to present your home and improvements that may enhance its value, call your local property expert to book your free market appraisal.

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pictures make a nicely symmetrical display and work well in a traditional setting, while informal groups, perhaps with a variety of frames and hung asymmetrically, create a sense of intimacy and individuality. Another option is to group works that are the same size and shape, and framed identically, in closely packed rows, creating a formal design that is particularly well suited to a dining room or a hallway.

While a white wall behind paintings or photographs confers an art-gallery style atmosphere, it is by no means the only choice of backdrop. Depending on the effect you desire, you could pick a colour from the painting in question and replicate it in the colour of your walls, or even hang works against wallpaper (again, using complementary colours). If you do not wish to draw too much attention to the walls, pick a small pattern to use as a backdrop to a sizeable work.

It is always beneficial to light works of art so they can be seen properly after dark – even if it is simply a case of adjusting a table or floor lamp to cast a glow towards them. For a more formal, professional effect, custom lighting is ideal, using either traditional picture lights fitted above the work or a discreet track and spotlight. Experts recommend using LED bulbs because they don’t heat up, use little energy and are very small; it is worth experimenting with the colour ‘temperature’ of the bulb, ensuring that it is neither too ‘cold’ and white or too ‘warm’ and yellow. And if you wish to get into the real detail, choose a bulb that has excellent colour rendition (the ability to show true colours) at 95CRI or above.

How high to hang? This can be tricky, and everyone will have a personal preference. It will also be dictated by the size and shape of the piece, the proportions of the room, including ceiling height, and the surroundings in general.

That said, many people hang works of art higher than necessary – especially when considering that one is often sitting down when looking at them. It may help to consider that museums and galleries typically hang modern works at 1.55m to the centre line of the picture (Old Masters, if

3

you were wondering, go a little higher) – roughly equivalent to the average human eye line. The advent of damage-free hanging strips and hooks has revolutionised the process of picture hanging, in that if you are not happy, you can simply try again. So don’t be afraid to experiment until you get it right, and you can enjoy an impressive and attractive display of art on your walls.

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Finance

By Ann Haldon

Spring Clean Your Finances

for a Richer 2019 Spring is the season when we give our homes a good clean and tidy up, so why not do the same with your finances? There are many ways to take control of your financial life, and the majority of them are so easy it’s worth looking at all the possibilities.

Get organised -Financial decluttering offers a clearer view of your overall financial situation and valuable insight into unhealthy spending habits.

Begin by finding all your relevant paperwork such as mortgage statements, insurance policies, credit agreements and utility bills, and decide which documents you need to keep.

Reduce outgoings and make paying easier - Not only can you save money by cancelling subscriptions that you no longer need, sorting out your paperwork highlights any excessively high payments you’ve been making and allows for tighter financial control. You can sign up to receive paperless bills and bank statements, which helps to declutter your physical living space.

Becoming debt-free is a liberating and important element of a financial spring clean Make a new budget - Whether or not you already operate a budget, making a new one can instil fresh life into your finances. Ensure you factor in all important annual events including birthdays, Christmas and holidays in the budget, so you arrive at an accurate plan for monthly expenditure.

Plan finances ahead - If you’re planning a big purchase in 2019 – say a holiday or a car - in conjunction with your new budget, saving a little each month can help to achieve your goals without going into debt. Maybe you could open a new savings account for each prospective large purchase or use a traditional piggy bank at home and watch your savings grow the old-fashioned way.

Track your spending - With so many personal finance apps and tools now available, you can track your spending wherever you are. You might prefer to use a spreadsheet, or write down your spending in a notebook. Whatever you do, keeping track of your spend helps you stick to your budget and deal confidently with the inevitable financial setbacks we all experience.

Tackle debt - By tackling debt, you free yourself from the threat of serious financial difficulty and provide new opportunities to save. You might choose to use the ‘debt snowball’ method of paying off the smallest debts first or get stuck right in and pay off the largest debt. However you decide to approach it, becoming debt-free is liberating and an important element of a financial spring clean.

Overhauling your finances can make a significant impact on life in general and helps you to make the most of your money. Start your spring clean this month and you’ll be reaping the rewards not only in 2019, but for many years to come. http://tiny.cc/Clearscore-finance http://tiny.cc/Goodhousekeep

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With a spacious working showroom in the heart of Bedford, P & R Interiors is a local family-run firm that provides inspirational modern design and cost-effective solutions for both kitchens and bathrooms.

A stylish bathroom to suit your current needs….

With our ageing population, an increasing number of us are less mobile. P & R Interiors can design, supply and fit an up-to-the-minute bath or shower room which also discretely incorporates function and practicality for the less able.

The best news is that many of these features are currently right on trend - from flush-to-floor shower trays and wet rooms, to walk-in showers with fixed glass screens – and built using the latest materials.

Managing Director Paul Kynoch, who has decades of experience in the trade, explains: “We believe that simplicity and ease of use are key. Less mobile people may need a higher-level toilet or a lower access bath. Our basins and toilets can be hung at a custom height to suit every need. We have baths with a door, or showers with screens that open outwards to help prevent falls.

“There are 54 working bays in our showroom that are constantly being updated. So, you can come in, see

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exactly what you are buying and experience firsthand how it works. We supply, and can fit, your entire bathroom.”

P & R Interior’s own dedicated installation team can work on the supervised installation of your bathroom while adhering to local authority guidelines. Safety is paramount, and designs incorporate safety glass, thermostatically safe showers and non-slip floors.

Such is the design quality of the bathrooms, that accessories for the less able such as a wall-mounted fold-down shower seat, work seamlessly with the installation to be barely noticeable. Fold-down grab bars beside the toilet and sturdy shower rails that double up as supports all help make daily bathing the hassle-free pleasure it should be. It’s worlds away from the disabled bathrooms found in hospitals and care homes.

It is also now possible to install low level lighting under the bath that comes on automatically when you enter the bathroom at night. Hidden behind a two-way mirror that gives the illusion of flooring stretching beneath a ‘floating’ bath, the effect is as stunning as it is practical. This is the beauty of these safety and mobility features - they are so unobtrusively stylish, no one will notice you need that bit of extra help as they will simply be admiring your bathroom!

Materials have moved on apace since the era of acrylic baths in ‘avocado’. Now there are high quality

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resins that produce super thin shower trays and beautiful ‘tapless’ baths. Towel rails can be colour matched to cabinets for as little as £100 extra.

If you’re not a fan of wall tiles (although P & R Interiors carries a vast range), you can have waterproof panels instead. And if you have a smaller bathroom - as many of us do - then you will find P & R Interior’s wide but shallow depth basin units fit perfectly and provide spaciousness.

…and a kitchen to meet your future ones

Following customer demand, the fitted kitchen displays are now an integral part of the business meaning that when you visit P & R Interiors, you are only a step away from having your dream kitchen.

Top quality German and English-style kitchens are available to suit every budget and the company offers a free 3D software design package that Paul describes as ‘photographic’.

Specialising in high-tech German designed kitchens from Pronorm alongside more traditional-style English kitchens from JJO Plc, far from being out of most people’s pockets, P & R Interiors can often match trade prices and will always work to your budget.

“It’s really unusual for us not be able to come up with

a solution for you” says Andrew Groom who has 20 years’ experience under his belt.

Germany is the industry trendsetter in kitchen colours and design - and high street retailers eventually follow suit. Pronorm epitomises the elegance of a true ‘handleless’ kitchen. With its expansive, sleek cupboard fronts and modern electrically-operated doors - including ‘glass climbers’ that magically fold up like Venetian blinds - their kitchens are state-of-the-art. In years to come, we will all have convenient pull-down shelves and smart, hygienic ceramic or glass inserts on our cupboard fronts, but for now, Pronorm sets the bar.

As with bathrooms, kitchen materials are better and more durable than ever. You can have traditional granite in a gloss or leathered finish, quartz or Corian worktops, and now there are other finishes to choose from including Hi-Macs, and Staron. One of the latest worktop materials is Dekton. Described as ‘bomb proof’, it doesn’t stain or mark, is 100% hygienic, and heat resistant. It has been described as the ‘most scratch resistant surface on the market’.

Finish off your design with mood enhancing, colourchanging lights and you really will have a kitchen of the future.

P & R Bathrooms provides design and full installation or supply only. There is a five-year guarantee on all AEG Premier Partner exclusive products and a 10year guarantee on all kitchens. Both trade and retail are welcome.

P & R Interiors, 9 Lurke Street, Bedford MK40 3HZ Monday to Friday 9.00am to 5.00 pm Saturdays 10.00am to 4.00pm Tel: 0845 434 8401 Email: sales@pandrbathrooms.co.uk www.pandrinteriors.co.uk To advertise in The Villager and Town Life please call 01767 261122

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Garden View

My Gardening Valentine

By Rachael Leverton

In the run-up to Valentine’s Day someone always asks me what they should buy for the gardener in their life.

It’s a tricky question to answer. Many people think we must like cut flowers, but actually I’m not keen and most gardeners I know aren’t either. We have gardens full of the things after all, and we tend to prefer our plants living and breathing in their natural environment, rather than imported from abroad and wrapped in cellophane.

Unless you know a bit about gardening, and the tastes of your own particular gardener you’re probably best-off avoiding plants too. The nongreen-fingered venture into dangerous territory when they try to buy plants because there are so many variables. Will it suit the soil? Is it too invasive? Will it poison the gardener’s dog…or children…eek?

It’s a thorny issue (pardon the pun) so here is my go-to gift list guaranteed to make you the Valentine hero of your gardening amour.

Don’t buy a sweatshirt which declares ‘headgardener. They are naff, and most gardeners prefer old, comfy clothes which do the job better.

However, if you present your gardener with a tough tunic or gardening apron, which is thornproof, and which has lots of deep pockets to house secateurs and trowels, they will love you forever.

Then there are wellies. Who knew wellies could be romantic? But gardening folk drool over wellies the way Supermodels drool over Jimmy Choos.

And there’s so much wellie-choice now. We all prefer something with a thick sole but there are bright and colourful wellies and traditional ones.

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For the ultimate in warmth and breathability I can recommend a proper Gore-Tex pair...sheer luxury. Mine remain the favourite Valentine gift my husband ever bought me. He knows how to romance a woman!

A proper long-necked watering can, with a brass rose will also earn you Valentine brownie points.

Bigger isn’t necessarily better though unless your Valentine boasts big biceps! Watering cans are heavy when full. I find 3-4 litres is about the right size.

A bunch of long-stemmed red roses will set you back at least £40 and they might last a few days.

For a similar price you can buy the gardener in your life Felco secateurs (with Valentine red handles) and they’ll last forever. I know which I’d prefer.

Garden trugs are so practical. Most gardeners I know would be delighted to receive one. The trug is a great gift but even better when filled with a few gardening goodies such as packets of seed, water retaining granules, plant food etc. You could add some hand tools too, such as a trowel and a fork. Make sure they are stainless steel and have long handles for ease of use.

And insulated mug or a good flask will always warm the heart of your Valentine because hot drinks don’t remain hot for long outside, even on a warm day.

Finally, don’t forget gardening vouchers. Often us gardeners spot the perfect plant or gardening accessory when we’re strapped for cash, so vouchers are a perfect gift to save for a rainy day... and gardeners love rainy days, Valentine’s or not.

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Gardening & Wildlife

Rural Ramblings The Uninvited

By Geoff Wharton

I love to see the large flocks of winter visitor birds such as redwings, fieldfares and very occasionally, waxwings emerging out of the hedgerows having feasted themselves on the fruits of field and garden. They gorge themselves on any berries or fruits they can find in order for them to survive the cold winter nights, after all, the weather is lot worse where they have travelled from in places such as Scandinavia and Northern Europe.

I find it amazing that they can manage to find the energy to make the journey physically and geographically. Their sense of direction must be quite extraordinary. Recently I managed to just about make out a large flock of geese flying in almost complete darkness. They seemed to know exactly where they were going in their vee – shaped formation.

Of course, all these berried fruits have lots of seeds just waiting to be dispersed by these avian helpers. It is not just the non-native visitors which help with the spreading of seeds as some of our own birds just love a fruity meal.

What goes in and is not digested finds a way out sometimes many miles away from the site of production and come the following spring, when the seeds’ natural dormancy has been broken, up sprout the tiny seedlings often in the most unusual of places and this is where the problem can begin in our gardens. The developing shrubs are of course small and insignificant in the first year or so and therefore tend to be ignored. It is only in consequent years, as they become established, that they become unwelcome either because they are extremely spiky and/ or invasive.

I am thinking about hawthorn, dog rose, holly, mahonia, and pyracantha for example and I almost forgot, bramble. Then there is ivy, not one of the spikys but so difficult to get rid of once it has gained a foothold. All these unwelcome arrivals can appear without warning and can hide in places where it is almost impossible to get at them and even if they are not spiky such as elderberry, can grow into trees and quickly dominate any smaller subjugates.

However not all is doom and gloom and I will give two examples of recent unplanned arrivals

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which have been a wonderful asset rather than a pain.

The first are seedlings from a magnificent cotinus shrub which appeared recently and have the same intense purple foliage and scarlet red foliage as the parent and the second is a clematis which appeared suddenly and was definitely not planted. The great thing about this clematis is that it has the same small yellow flowers as C. tangutica followed by masses of downy seedheads which from a distance resemble an old man’s beard! To be honest, I don’t think any bird was responsible for the arrival of this clematis as the fruits are not juicy, it probably arrived by wind or stuck to the jumper of a passing gardener!!

Geoff Wharton Gardening Services Reliable, experienced, well qualified.

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Full public liability cover.

Geoff Wharton - BSC honours Hort.Science Email:geoffwharton@hotmail.com

Tel: 01767 261727

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Local News

Greensand Country Announces 2019 Festival Following the huge success of the first Greensand Country Festival in 2018, the Greensand Country Landscape Partnership is planning an even BIGGER and BETTER programme of events for 2019, and extending the Festival to run throughout May. The Greensand Country Festival, from 1 – 31 May, will encompass a wide variety of events, provided by our partners, local businesses, special interest groups, clubs and visitor attractions across the landscape, from Leighton Buzzard to Gamlingay.

The Festival is a celebration of Greensand Country, helping to encourage those living within this distinct landscape to get out and explore the beautiful countryside on their doorstep. There are a variety of events already scheduled, including open gardens, churchyard tours, history talks, nature walks, village treasure trails, introductory sessions for bowls, photo and poetry competitions, art workshops, children’s activities and traditional country crafts.

Lindsay Measures, Events and Engagements Officer at the Greensand Country Landscape Partnership

explains: “We were overwhelmed with the fantastic response to our first Greensand Country Festival and have therefore decided to extend the programme this year. With family fun, trail runs, countryside walks, horse-rides, guided trains and nature activities, there really is something for everyone to enjoy.”

The Greensand Country Festival is a great opportunity for local organisations and businesses to promote our shared landscape for the benefit of everyone. If you have an idea for an event or would like to run an activity, please contact lindsay@ greensandcountry.com The Greensand Country Landscape Partnership is led by the Bedfordshire Rural Communities Charity and the Greensand Trust and funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund. It is made possible by National Lottery players. Without them we couldn’t fund the project.

For further information about the Greensand Country Landscape Partnership visit www.greensandcountry.com and for regular updates follow @greensandsocial on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

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Tim Brown 01767 627532 bedford@bartlettuk.com www.bartlett.com

BARTLETT TREE EXPERTS A Very Brown Hedge Indeed Aphids are one of the most common and troublesome of all garden insect pests. They attack a large number of garden plants throughout the country and are recently causing much disfigurement to ornamental conifer hedges. Commonly known as Greenfly and Blackfly, these aphids feed on hedges, sucking the sap of the plant and can spread several viruses, causing severe dieback.

Cypress Aphid is currently troublesome and pre-dominantly affects conifer hedging. Damage inflicted on conifer hedges by the aphid Cinara cupressi is severe and can lead to large brown patches on the hedge. This leads to localised foliage death, reducing the aesthetic look of the hedge. As the aphid is active from May to October it is important to catch this problem early and apply treatments to stop its spread. At the first sign of brown patches call us for a free consultation and professional advice.

Tree & Shrub Pruning l Planting l Tree Removal l Stump Grinding l Hedge Cutting Health & Safety Reports l Disease & Insect Control

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Rehoming Appeal

Pets

Disney

This is Disney, a very loving 3 year old Lurcher who likes people and other dogs. She walks well on the lead and is house trained.

Like most Lurchers, Disney has a high chase instinct, so she would not be suitable to rehome with cats or other small mammals. She will also need to be kept on a lead when not in an enclosed area as she will chase any small creature, including cats. She will need a large garden to run around in, which must have an extra high secure fence as she has no problem in jumping fences of 8 ft. or less.

Disney is becoming depressed in the kennels, so if you can offer this lovely girl a home, please contact Julie on 01763 289827. Any potential home will be vetted by one of our volunteers.

Alternatively, please e-mail Philippa at info.rats@gmail.com who will be pleased to forward your enquiry on to the team.

View other small mammals, dogs and cats 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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Pets

World Spay Day The last Tuesday of February, every year, is World Spay Day. Originally started in 1995 by the Doris Day Animal League in America, it is now recognised and supported by animal charities in 70 countries worldwide, and this year on Tuesday 26th February, it celebrates its 25th anniversary. The purpose of World Spay Day is to raise awareness of the importance of neutering and encourage more owners to snip or spay their cat.

It is estimated that there are between 9.5 and 11.6 million owned cats in the UK, 75% of these cats are acquired as kittens. Although a large majority of these will be neutered, sadly not all are which has lead to the cat population in the UK reaching crisis point. The National RSPCA reported that in October the RSPCA as a whole took in more than 12,000 cats in just four months. Although not a direct solution, owners can help tackle the cat crisis by ensuring their cats and kittens are neutered.

There are many common myths surrounding cat neutering, the most prominent being that cats should be allowed to have a litter of kittens before spaying.

This is not true. Allowing a cat ‘one litter’ gives a very small window to neuter because of the need to wait until her kittens have been weaned; by which time the cat may be pregnant again. The probability of an unneutered cat getting pregnant is over 80% and 85% of these are either unplanned or unwanted litters. A cat or kitten can be neutered from 4 months old or otherwise determined by your vet.

Although the most obvious benefit of neutering a cat

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is to prevent it getting pregnant, there are actually many other positives to getting a cat snipped or spayed; so here are the facts.

• Female cats are spayed, meaning the womb and ovaries are removed • Males are castrated or snipped, meaning the testicles are removed • Spaying prevents females coming into season, where they would ordinarily attract unwanted male attention • Neutering prevents the risk of testicular cancer in males and uterus infections and cancers in females.

• Castration prevents males urine marking and roaming • Neutering will protect cats from the disease FIV • Neutering in some cases can also reduce the risk of a cat being stolen for breeding To promote the importance of cat neutering, most animal charities have schemes in place to support the public and their cats, and our local Branch is no different! RSPCA Bedfordshire North are offering cat neutering vouchers to the public to help with the cost of neutering, and support the cat crisis. The vouchers are for the value of £30 to go towards the cost of a spay or neuter at one of our participating vets and are available to members of the public in receipt of benefits.

If you would like support getting your cat neutered, or have a general enquiry regarding spaying or castrating, please contact the Branch via email info@rspcabedsnorth.org.uk

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Ask Alan

Pets

My dog has an itchy skin but my insurance company won’t pay out as they say he was itchy last year, even though I didn’t claim. I don’t understand why.

There are 3 types of insurance: Lifelong – covers conditions for the life of the pet.

Annual – covers conditions for 1 year and then that condition is no longer covered.

Per condition – covers a condition until the pot of money is exceeded.

There is generally an excess to pay when you first make a claim, and it is payable again when you claim after the policy renews, in lifelong policies. When your pet reaches middle age there may be a percentage of the bill to pay.

If your dog was covered by an annual policy and a diagnosis was made that was suspected when he presented last year, then that condition would be considered to have been existing when the policy renewed, so would not be covered, even if you have never claimed for it. Insurers do not cover pre-existing conditions, so changing insurance company will not help.

As vets, we can diagnose illness earlier and often treat conditions that would have been impossible to treat in the past, but veterinary costs are rising as we can do more and more.

Pet insurance is very important to help cover the, often unexpected, costs when your pet becomes ill or has an accident. We recommend lifelong policies because, as long as your pet is insured with the same company, the conditions will continue to be covered and this type of disappointment is less likely to happen.

Best wishes If you have any questions you would like answered, please email them to villager@pottonvets.co.uk. For more information visit www.pottonvets.co.uk or pop into the clinic in Potton Market Square.

Alan

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63

Life Begins...

By Kate McLelland

Parental Stress

Has it changed over 50 years?

If you’ve recently watched your adult son or daughter – now a parent themselves – searching the internet for the latest advice on nappy rash or teething problems, it probably triggered memories of the new-parent panics you experienced when you were young. At that time it’s likely you picked up the phone to ask your mum, dad or grandparents for advice but nowadays, when the internet is the go-to source on information on everything from breast feeding to building a tree house, it’s rare – if not unheard of – for the older generation to be asked for advice about childcare.

So what else has changed over the past fifty years when it comes to bringing up a child? According to the magazine Psychology Today, “Anxiety has become the hallmark of contemporary parenting”.

Healthcare worries Advances in healthcare have made the process of giving birth much safer for both mothers and babies over the last half century. As soon as a pregnancy begins, everything from the baby’s growth to maternal blood pressure is tested and monitored.

While this high level of care is

No more outdoors?

Many grandparents look back nostalgically to the time when they roamed parks, streets and open spaces, playing with other children without adult supervision, but these days youngsters are lured by the indoor attractions of computer games, TV and the internet.

These days parents are more fearful about the risks of letting their children play outside, citing concerns about road safety, ‘stranger danger’ and bullying by other children. However, Dr Michael Ungar, author of ‘Nurturing Resilience’ believes parents are too fearful of outdoor hazards. “Where the real dangers lie is indoors,” he writes in a blog published by Psychology Today.

“Excessive screen time, often occurring while children snack on unhealthy foods, combined

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reassuring in one way, it can also add to the anxiety experienced by new parents.

Grandparents may feel a pang of nostalgia for those long-lost ‘Motherknows-best’ days

with low levels of activity and few opportunities to learn responsibility or social skills, leave children terribly unhealthy.”

Spare the rod Smacking a child may not have been frowned on in the ‘60s, ‘70s and ‘80s but after 1990, when the UK signed up to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, it also became less socially acceptable. While it’s currently illegal to use discipline that inflicts actual physical harm, UK legislation stops short at hitting or slapping that doesn’t leave a lasting mark on the child.

However there is huge pressure to change the law: this year the Scottish government is leading the way with a new bill to outlaw any form of physical assault on a child.

Looking back over the past five decades, a mixed picture emerges: while parents are probably more anxious than they were back in the ‘60s and ‘70s, children’s health and welfare is considered more important than ever. Thankfully one thing remains the same: most parents just want their children to grow up to lead happy, healthy and productive lives.

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EBAY COLLECTIONS

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Local & Reliable

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Motoring

By James Baggott

Smart Motorways Explained Smart Motorways are being created across the UK. Here’s how to drive on them.

Vast swathes of UK roads are being transformed into ‘Smart Motorways’. They are cited as the solution for congestion, with the hard shoulder being used as a live lane and overhead gantries displaying variable speed limits with cameras enforcing them.

Highways England says the introduction of Smart Motorways has ‘increased journey reliability’ and reduced personal injury accidents. But this new network requires a new way of driving, as well as a better understanding of what the overhead signs mean.

Are there different types of Smart Motorway?

There are, and different types of Smart Motorway are dotted throughout the country.

The first is a controlled motorway, which retains its hard shoulder for emergency use. The remaining lanes are subject to variable speed limits, which are displayed on overhead gantries, and enforced by speed cameras. If no speed limit is displayed, then the national speed limit is in place.

Then there are all-lane-running sections of motorway, where all

lanes are live, and there isn’t a hard shoulder. In the event of an incident, a red ‘X’ is displayed above the closed lane. Any driver who ignores this will receive a £100 fine and three penalty points on their licence. Again, overhead speed limits are enforced by cameras.

Finally, you’ve got a dynamic hard shoulder, which can be opened to live traffic during periods of congestion, with overhead gantry signs showing whether or not it can be used. It shouldn’t be used if the signs above the lane are blank or displaying a red ‘X’. Again, this is enforced by the overhead cameras.

What happens if I break down on a motorway with no hard shoulder?

Look out for an emergency refuge area (ERA), denoted by blue signs with an orange SOS telephone symbol, and dotted at 1.5 mile intervals along the highway.

If you’re unable to get to an ERA, you should attempt to get onto the verge (providing there is no barrier), switch on your hazard lights and exit the vehicle safely via the nearside door. If you can’t get

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to the nearside of the motorway safely, stay in the vehicle with your seatbelt securely fastened.

If you can get out of the car, contact Highways England via one of the phones placed in the ERA. However, if you can’t exit the vehicle, you need to call 999 from your mobile.

Can I get caught for speeding even if a limit isn’t displayed above the road?

Highways England states that: “All mandatory speed limits are enforced by police, as is the national speed limit of 70mph when no speeds are shown. If you break the speed limits you will be caught.” The best advice is simply not to exceed the speed limit.

Do Smart Motorways actually work?

According to Highways England, Smart Motorways are helping to keep roads moving. Published statistics say that journey reliability has improved by 22 per cent and personal injury accidents have been reduced by more than half.

Highways England also says that where accidents did occur, their severity was much lower overall.

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Three Counties Radio

Caramel Drip Cake

As we head into a New Year, this is a show-stopper cake to banish all the blues. What is great about it is how you can make it look so spectacular with relatively easy techniques. It’s the creation of a lovely cake maker, Hayley Pfeifer, from the Dunstable Cake House, who is a regular on my Weekend Kitchen show. She likes her cakes big, bold and glamorous and this caramel drip cake fits the mould perfectly!

For the sponge: 450g caster sugar 450g self-raising flour 450g butter 450g eggs (approx. 8 Large Eggs) A tablespoon of store-bought caramel from a jar A little drizzle of caramel flavouring Buttercream 500g butter 1000g icing sugar Drizzle of caramel Flavouring Extra caramel from the store-bought jar for filling and drip effect Flake chocolate for decorating Pre-heat oven to 160C/ Gas Mark 3

1. Line 3 x 8” tins 2. Mix the butter and caster sugar together until creamy and fluffy. Add the sieved flour gradually, then add the eggs, the caramel and flavouring.

3. Divide the mix between the tins, then put them into the oven.

4. Bake for 25-30 minutes, until a skewer comes out of the sponges clean.

5. Leave the cakes to cool on a wire rack.

6. Mix the butter and icing sugar together for the buttercream filling and add a drizzle of caramel flavouring.

7. Take one cake. Spread caramel on top, then buttercream.Top it with another cake, then repeat the caramel and buttercream filling.Top with the last cake.

8. Add buttercream to the top and sides and create a smooth finish using a side scraper or a pallet knife dipped into some hot water.

9. Pour lots of caramel onto the top centre of the cake and use a pallet knife to ease the caramel towards the edges to create the drips. Be creative - it’ll look different every time.

10. Sprinkle some chocolate flakes on the top and it’s ready to serve.

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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Local News

2019 Wildlife Photography Competition This year’s Wildlife Trust BCN Photography Competition is now open and closes 15 April (much earlier than last year). With generous sponsorship from Fuji, the prizes are significantly more prestigious (eg camera equipment worth £300 for first prize) and Fujifilm will produce large scale prints of the top three winning images in super quality. As with the last two years, a selection of the best images will be chosen to feature in the Trust’s 2020 Wildlife Calendar.

The theme for 2019 is Contrast in Nature, wide open to interpretation with the aim of inspiring interesting juxtapositions. It could mean incorporating a high contrast technique – say crisp contrasted with fuzzy focus, comparing large with small, male with female or capturing something wild in a contrastingly urban background – or anything else that works. The theme is deliberately very broad and designed to evoke a broad range of interpretation; the judges will be looking for unusual, innovative images which stand out from the crowd. This year’s Wildlife Trust BCN Photography Competition is now open and closes 15 April (much earlier than last year). With generous sponsorship from Fuji, the prizes are significantly more

Last year’s stunning winning entry Little Owl, Sharnbrook, Bedfordshire

by Simon Wantling prestigious (eg camera equipment worth £300 for first prize) and Fujifilm will produce large scale prints of the top three winning images in super quality. As with the last two years, a selection of the best images will be chosen to feature in the Trust’s 2020 Wildlife Calendar. All photos must be taken in Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire or Northamptonshire.

For further info, terms and conditions, please visit Wildlifebcn website www.wildlifebcn.org/get-involved/photo-competition

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73

n O s ’ t Wha In February

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

What’s on entries to whatson@villagermag.com

4, 11, 18 & 25 February 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 1, 8, 15 & 22 February the Herts, Beds and Bucks area, to socialise Lego Club 3.45-5.00pm and enjoy one another’s company. The club Potton Library organises regular events, such as dinners, Love Lego? Come along and get building! discos, meals, parties, Sunday walks, theatre Every Friday afternoon. and concert visits, day and weekend trips and holidays.

1, 8, 15 & 22 February Tel: Lorna 01438 233657 Sandy Ukulele Group 7-9pm Baptist Chapel Hall, Bedford Road, Sandy Web: www.branch-out.org.uk Meets every Friday. Visitors welcome.

5 February Email: sandyukulelegroup1@gmail.com Hatley Coffee Morning Web: www.sandyukulelegroup.com 10am-1pm Hatley Village Hall Come along for a chat, coffee/tea and a slice 2 February of cake. Everyone welcome. Donations on Coffee Morning 10-11.30am the day. All donations split between Hatley Potton Salvation Army, Chapel Street Village Hall and Hatley St George Church.

Coffee, tea, bacon butties, homemade First Tuesday of the every month. cakes, cards, Bric-a-Brac, books, jigsaws etc.. Coffee Mornings are held on the first 5 February Saturday of every month except January.

Potton Ladies Club 7.30pm Weekly “Open Door” (tea/coffee, chat Mill Lane Pavilion, Mill Lane, Potton and browse various stalls) on Mondays, Visitors £5 inc. light refreshments Wednesdays and Fridays 10-11.30am.

The speaker will be Gerry Grey with ‘My Everyone welcome.

Experience as a Prison Officer’. Visitors Tel: 01767 261138 for further info always welcome.

Tel: Sarah Burgoine 01767 631415 2 February Email: sarahjburgoine@gmail.com The Signals Museum Open Day 10am-4pm The Signals Museum at RAF Henlow is open 5, 12, 19 & 26 February to the public. Entry is free but official photo Phoenix Chorus 7.45-10.15pm Potton Lower School ID such as a driving licence, passport or over 60s Bus Pass is required to get an entry Have you loved the a capella singing shows on TV? Could you be pitch perfect with ticket from the Guardroom. us? Phoenix A Capella Chorus meets every Web: www.rafsignalsmuseum.org.uk Tuesday. Visitors always welcome.

Tel: Sarah 07842 101799 2, 9, 16 & 23 February Email: pro@phoenixladies.co.uk Lego & K’NEX Club Web: https://phoenixladies.co.uk 1.45-3.30pm Potton Library Love Lego and K’NEX? Come along and get building!

1, 4, 6, 8, 11, 13, 15, 18, 20, 22, 25 & 27 February ‘Open Door’ 10-11.30am Potton Salvation Army, Chapel Street Tea/coffee, chat and browse various stalls on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

Tel: 01767 261138 for further info

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5, 12, 19 & 26 February Biggleswade Ivel Badminton Club 8-10.30pm Biggleswade Recreation Centre (Stratton Leisure Centre) £3 per night Seeking competitive badminton players wishing to play in local leagues. Visitors welcome.

Email: IvelBC@hotmail.com Facebook: Facebook.com/IvelBC 6 February Aircraft Enthusiasts’ Group 1pm Princess Charlotte Room, Shuttleworth Visitors £7 inc. raffle ticket ‘The People’s Mosquito’ with John Lilley. The Group meets on the first Wednesday of every month. Enjoy lunch in the Shuttleworth restaurant before the meeting. Lots of free parking. Email: 99aegr@gmail.com Web: www.a-e-g.org.uk 6 February Gamlingay & District Gardening Club 7.30pm The Kier Suite, Eco Hub, Stocks Lane, Gamlingay Visitors £3 Dr Gwenda Kyd will talk about ‘Plants and People: Molecules, Medicine and Mischief’.

Visitors welcome. Tea, coffee and raffle provided.

6, 13, 20 & 27 February Moo Music Sandy, Biggleswade & Shefford 10-10.40am Sandy Methodist Church Music and movement classes for 0-5 year olds so ideal for siblings of different ages. Original moosic, lots of moovement, dancing, sensory and role play. First session free. Tel: 07981 825654 Email: Heather sandymoo@moo-music. co.uk Web: www.moo-music.co.uk/sbs Facebook: www.facebook.com/ moomusicsandy

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n O s ’ t Wha In February

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

17 February Biggleswade Antique & Vintage Fair 9.30am-4pm The Weatherley Centre, Eagle Farm Road, Biggleswade Entrance £2, Under 16s free if accompanied by an adult. This fair offers a diverse range of antiques and collectables so whether you 9 February are a professional dealer, an avid collector Cambridgeshire and Bedfordshire or just looking for something special, this Hardy Plant Society monthly fair is the place to visit. Café 2pm Weatherley Centre, Eagle Farm serving breakfast, lunch and afternoon tea.

Road, Biggleswade 6, 20 & 27 February New speaker to the group, local beekeeper Tel: 01480 382432 or 07906 647346 Mums and Dads Coffee Morning Doug Brown talks about ‘From Flower to Jar’, Web: www.madisonevents.co.uk 9-10am Moggerhanger Church the magic of the honey bee.

Bring your pre-school children with you.

21 February Web: www.hpscambsandbeds.co.uk Toys available in the church. Tea/coffee, Biggleswade Poetry Table juice, biscuits £1 with fruit juice for your 7.45-9pm The Courtyard Centre, 6 High pre-school children. This can be a good time 9 February Street, Biggleswade to meet friends, have impromptu meetings, Ivelflix Community Cinema: Finding Grab a drink and join us to share poems. We Your Feet plan your next commitments, etc.. look forward to hearing any poem you’d like Doors open 2.30pm, Film starts 3pm to bring. Email: leah@leahkstewart.com Canada Block, Biggleswade Academy, 7, 14, 21 & 28 February Mead End Moo Music Sandy, 21-23 February Admission £4 on the door Biggleswade & Shefford A friendly community activity that is run ‘not Robin Hood The Panto!

10-10.40am Sutton Village Hall for profit’. All welcome. Plenty of easy, free 7.30pm & 2pm on Saturday Moosical fun for your little one! Music Stratton Upper School, Biggleswade parking on site and disabled access. and movement classes for 0-5 year olds so Presented by BATS (Biggleswade Amateur ideal for siblings of different ages. Original Tel: Alan 01767 310163 for more info Theatrical Society). He robs from the rich Web: www.ivelflix.org.uk moosic, lots of moovement, dancing, and gives to the poor! Join in with the Panto sensory and role play. First session free. fun this February. See Robin Hood and 9 February Tel: 07981 825654 his merry men in tights defeat the Sheriff Free Film Afternoon 4pm Email: Heather sandymoo@moo-music. of Nottingham and win the heart of Maid Potton Salvation Army, Chapel Street co.uk Marion. Get them toes tapping as we sing The Greatest Showman. Refreshments Web: www.moo-music.co.uk/sbs and dance through Sherwood Forest in this available. Everyone welcome.

Facebook: www.facebook.com/ heroic show! Thursday 21st is a relaxed Tel: 01767 261138 for further info moomusicsandy performance and will also be BSL translated.

Tickets are available at Howells and 12 February 7, 14, 21 & 28 February Coffeelicious in Biggleswade and online.

Sutton WI Amici Singers 7.30-9.45pm Web: www.ticketsource.co.uk/bats 7.30pm Sutton Village Hall Trinity Methodist Church, Shortmead The group meets on the second Tuesday of Street, Biggleswade every month. Please feel free to come and 22 February Membership £15 per term (£45 per year) Sandy Historical Society join us!

The Amici Singers are a non-auditioning 7.30pm female ensemble with a focus on fun! We do Stonecroft Hall, St Swithins Way, Sandy lots of tours, rehearse once a week and work 14 February Biggleswade Evening Women’s Institute Members & students free, Visitors £2 inc. hard/play hard. No auditions, just come along to a session to hear us, or if you want 7.45pm Weatherley Centre, Biggleswade refreshments ‘The Great North Road’ by Sue Jarret. to join in then your first session is FREE! We A new group which meets on the second Tel: 01767 68017 only ask three things, that you love to sing, Thursday of each month (except August).

Guests welcome. love to make friends (which is what Amici 6, 13, 20 & 27 February Ivel Bereavement Support Centre 10am-12 noon The Community Rooms, Baptist Church, 24 London Road, Biggleswade Has a loved one died? Are you struggling coming to terms with it? Perhaps we can help you at our drop in centre on Wednesdays. Tel: Carole or Jill 07704734225

stands for) and like new opportunities.

Anyone is welcome to come along and listen at any time.

Tel: Carole Lindsay-Douglas 01767 2603661 for further info

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75

DRIFTWOOD JOINERY LTD Specialists in Bespoke Joinery

Conservatories • Doors • Windows Staircases Handmade Kitchens Handmade Bedroom Furniture

Unit 12, Gracious Farm, Southill, Beds SG18 9JB T: 01462 816695 F: 01462 850915 E: info@driftwoodjoinery.com

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COUNTRY STOVES & SWEEPS STOVE/GAS FIRE INSTALLATION • Wood Burning/Multi Fuel Stove & Gas Fire Installation • Chimney Lining • Twin Wall Flue Systems • Free Survey & Quotation

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77

Fun Quiz - Poetry 1. In the poem The Rime Of The Ancient Mariner, what type of bird does the mariner shoot and kill?

2. The novel Tender Is The Night by F. Scott Fitzgerald took its name from a line in which famous poem by John Keats?

3. What type of poem shares its name with the third most populated city in the Republic of Ireland?

4. Well known for the many love poems she wrote for other women, on what island was the ancient Greek poet Sappho born?

5. As well as the title characters, what other two types of animal feature in Edward Lear’s poem The Owl And The Pussycat?

6. Celebrating the life and poetry of Robert Burns, Burns Night occurs on the 25th of which calendar month?

7. The epic poem The Iliad by Homer is set during a ten-year siege of which city?

8. Inspired by the final two lines of a poem by William Ernest Henley, “I am” is the motto of which international sporting event?

9. What is unusual about the entire content of a poem by Demetri Martin called Dammit, I’m Mad? 10. In a famous poem by Rudyard Kipling, complete the last line of the verse that begins “Man’s timid heart is bursting with the things he must not say, for the Woman that God gave him isn’t his to give away, but when hunter meets with husbands, each confirms the other’s tale”...

1. An albatross 2. Ode To A Nightingale 3. Limerick 4. Lesbos (leading to origin of the term “lesbians”) 5. Pig (whose ring in its nose is used as a wedding ring) and Turkey (who marries them) 6. January 7. Troy 8. The Invictus Games 9. It is a palindrome (i.e. it reads the same backwards as it does forwards, as does its title) 10. The female of the species is more deadly than the male

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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.

80

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CJ Property Maintenance Interior and Exterior Painting Gutter Cleaning & Repairs uPVC Fascia Board Cleaning Fencing, Gates and all Repairs Patios and all Garden Work Double Glazing & Repairs Concrete Bases, Paths & Steps Chimney & Wall Pointing Brick Work & Repairs Driveway Cleaning Broken Roof Tiles & Pots

All jobs undertaken

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Technology

Does Cupid love tech?

Techy gifts your significant other will love

It’s that time of year again: the restaurants are packed, florists are working around the clock and garages are eagerly anticipating the last-minute purchasing of flowers by people who forgot Valentine’s Day. But if you don’t want to say it with flowers or chocolate, can you say it with tech instead?

The trick is to find technology that actually delivers something your beloved will want. It’s really expensive, but Dyson’s new hairdryer is a great example: the £299 Supersonic isn’t just a machine for drying hair but a genuine time machine, because it does the job so well its owner can spend less time drying and more time doing fun stuff.

Not all beauty tech is a good present idea – steer clear of anything to do with hair removal or weight loss if you value your life – but luxury products such as high-tech hair dryers, straighteners and stylers are often good.

Luxury technology isn’t just

about making yourself look nice, though. It can be about relaxing too. We’re big fans of noisecancelling headphones, a real boon for people who regularly travel on trains or planes: they analyse the ambient noise and create a pattern to drown it out.

You can spend nearly £300 on high-end phones such as Bose’s QuietComfort 35 and they’re worth every penny, but you can get pretty good sets for a lot less: Bose’s QuietComfort 25 are currently £129, while Sony’s awfully named WH-CH700N are just £79.99 at the time of writing.

Another good option is a Kindle or Kindle Fire tablet, both of which are made by Amazon. The former is a dedicated ebook reader and the latter is a surprisingly good budget tablet that includes the Kindle app but also enables you to watch video and listen to music. The seven-inch model fits in big pockets and average handbags and is constantly on special offer: through November it was £39.99, down from the usual

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£59.99, and Amazon is constantly cutting its price during the rest of the year too.

If a £399 Apple Watch is out of your price range, the Nokiaowned Withings brand makes some very lovely watches that double as activity trackers. Forget the RRP because these watches are very heavily discounted – for example, the really pretty Activité Pop has an RRP of £109 but is widely available for as little as £35 if you go for the blue or pink models.

What if your beloved already has all the tech they want? As the old joke goes, you can buy the person who has everything a box to put it in – or rather, a case.

Whether it’s a Kindle or an iPad, a Galaxy Note 9 or an iPhone XS, there’s a dizzying range of cases including some from well-known designers. Just watch if you’re buying leather cases: many supposedly leather cases are made of bonded leather, a faux leather that doesn’t wear like real leather does.

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January’s Puzzle Solutions and Winners Last Month’s Crossword Winner Mrs D Roberts from St Neots Henlow Building Supplies Competition Winner Rob Lumkin from Shillington Easy

Hard

FREE BIKE SAFETY CHECK* Tuesday to Saturday 10am-4pm 33 High Street Behind the Royal Oak Roxton MK44 3EA 01234 870200 www.spokenwheel.co.uk *The Legal Stuff Present this flyer at our workshop and receive a free bicycle safety check. Parts are not included. Services and repairs are at an additional cost. Subject to availability. One safety check per bicycle. Not to be used in conjunction with any other offers. Copies will not be accepted. This voucher has no cash value. Valid until 30/03/2019

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85

The Villager Prize Crossword

Prize

ÂŁ25

Across 1. Chewing (6) 4. Acquiesced (6) 9. Garbage (7) 10. Religious images (5) 11. Points on a saw (5) 12. Rising (7) 13. Impersonations (11) 18. Evolve, mature (7) 20. First-rate (5) 22. Arm joint (5) 23. To carry out, to perform (7) 24. Robin red-_____ (6) 25. Modifies for purpose (6)

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

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

Down 1. Explodes, pops (6) 2. Item of furniture (5) 3. Not that or this (7) 5. Sorrow, sadness (5) 6. Wearing away (7) 7. Blueprint (6) 8. Deep thinker (11) 14. Mobile, transportable (7) 15. Alternatively (7) 16. Word describing an action (6) 17. Crawls, inches (6) 19. Grassy gardens (5) 21. Rotund (5)

Name: Tel:



Address:

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KEMP GARAGE DOORS SALES • INSTALLATION • REPAIRS • Family Run Business • 25 Years Experience • Up and Over • Sectional and Roller Doors www.kempgaragedoors.co.uk • Security Shutters

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87

T&R Roofing Ltd

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3 Windows 3 Doors 3 Conservatories 3 Orangeries 3 Bi folds 3 Repairs T: 01767 765440

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W: www.i-glaze.co.uk 89

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Books

Book Review

By Kate Duggan

Accountants

This month’s books are perfect for discussing at your book club, dissecting over dinner and chatting about on social media.

The Silence of the Girls

By Pat Barker

The Silence of the Girls is a vivid retelling of Homer’s Iliad. However, this time the focus is on the minor characters, namely the women taken as ‘spoils of war’. Queen Briseis is taken as a sex slave by Achilles when he destroys her city. Through Briseis we hear of the other female slaves in the encampment – women who are forced to serve the men that killed their husbands, fathers, brothers and sons.

Bi Folding Doors

Craft Bi Fold Doors Beautiful Smart Aluminium Bi Folding or Sliding Patio Doors, available in many colours and options.

Supplied and installed within 3 weeks from qualified installers.

We will beat any like for like quote.

Tel: 07850 650400 Web: www.craftbifolddoors.co.uk Email: Craftbifoldoors@gmail.com W.G.Thirkell & Sons 1-4

This is Going to Hurt

by Adam Kay

From 100 hour weeks to moral conundrums and emergency operations, the life of a junior doctor is far from easy. Adam Kay reveals all through six years of diary entries.

Surprisingly, This is Going to Hurt is an incredibly funny book, particularly the numerous footnotes explaining hospital lingo. However, Kay also gives us an insight into the stark reality of life on the frontline of the NHS.

Once Upon a River

by Diane Setterfield

C

M

Y

CM

A man stumbles into The Swan inn carrying the body of what MY appears to be a dead girl in his CY arms. A few hours later, the little girl stirs. But who is she? Part CMY adult fairy tale, part folk tale, Once K Upon a River celebrates the art of storytelling and weaves numerous stories into one rich tapestry.

Thoroughly enjoyable.

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W.G.THIRKELL & SONS LTD Quality Painting, Decorating, General Building Maintenance and Repairs.

Renovations, Alterations, Plastering & Ceramic Tiling.

Established 1948

Fully Insured for all works including Commercial and Listed Buildings.

Free Estimates and advice.

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

Telephone: 01767 682570 07966 389212 (Mobile) Email wgthirkell@aol.com

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Classifieds Builders

Garden Specialist

“YOUNG’S BUILDERS”

Hillier Garden Services

“YOUR LOCAL PROFESSIONAL MASTER BUILDERS” “QUALITY AND VALUE FROM START TO FINISH”

Garage conversions from £5.9K

• Extensions & Sunrooms • Garage & Loft Conversions • Walls, Patios & Decking • General Building Work • Property Maintenance

Extension - Sunrooms

Call 07811 985568 or 01767 261803 www.youngsbuilders.co.uk “Free quotes • Excellent references”

Carpentry

All general garden maintenance jobs undertaken Over 20 years experience For all your gardening needs call Steve

01767 699252 07901 985123

Handy Man

HGS Classified advert.indd 1

14/04/2015 21:23

CARPENTRY & BUILDING REFURBISHMENTS, KITCHENS, BATHROOMS, DECORATING & FLOORING

01767 652102 / 07967 184163 dlewis.carpentry@gmail.com

Domestic Repairs

Locksmith Services JB Domestic Guaranteed Repairs To: Washing Machines Tumble Dryers Electric Ovens/Cookers Dishwashers No Call Out Charge!

Tel: 01767 680621 Mobile: 07778 891490

Electricians

From just £35.00 per month plus VAT

Call Nigel on 01767 261122 for more information 92

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Classifieds Painter & Decorator

Plastering Services

RICHBAW

DECOR LTD Richard Bawden - City and Guilds Qualified Mobile: 07757 013796 Home: 01767 835008 Email: r666baw@gmail.com

Painting Services

Plumbing

M. Philmore (Phil) - General Plumber Now semi retired but still available for general plumbing.

57 Green Acres, Gamlingay, Beds. SG19 3LR Tel: 01767 650619 Mobile: 07870366414

Pet Services

Plumbing and Heating

Pet Services

Private Car Hire

PET/HOUSE SITTER EXPERIENCED ANIMAL LOVER

I will look after your pets in your home or mine.

I have a secure garden and live close to the countryside.

FULLY INSURED Call Fay on 07883 844561 To advertise in The Villager and Town Life please call 01767 261122

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Classifieds Property Improvements

GB

Roofing

GARY BERRIDGE Plasterer & General Maintenance Including UPVC Doors and Windows Tiling, Painting and Decorating Free Quotes

T: 01767 316485 M: 07582 485155 E: garyberridge@ymail.com

Property Improvements A professional property maintenance service

Sleep Practitioner

Property Improvements by

Gary Hare Carpentry • Kitchens • Bedrooms Decorating • Flooring Bathrooms •Tiling • and more...

Web: www.goodnightsolutions.co.uk Tel: 07810 641929 Children’s sleep practitioner covering Cambridgeshire and Bedfordshire Sleep and emotional wellbeing service from pregnancy to school-age children Sleep packages from 6 months

Tel: 01767 651821 Mob: 07773 973420

Removals

Feeding and wellbeing support – birth to 6 months Home visits and phone/email support offered

Tiling

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.

MARK CURRELL CERAMIC TILER

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

Riding School

All tiling undertaken Kitchens, Bathrooms and Conservatories Free Quotations • All Areas Covered Telephone: 01767 680081 / 07952 499002 Email: markcurrelltiling@masjcurrell.co.uk

Will Writers

MANOR FARM RIDING SCHOOL Sutton, Beds - SG19 2ND

Lessons, Hacks - Pony Club Centre Pre-school rides, £12 on weekdays 07875 192662 You can also find us on facebook 94

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and Town

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Alcoholics Anonymous..............................0845 769 7555 Anglian Water............................................08457 145 145 Bedford Hospital........................................ 01234 355122 Lister Hospital............................................ 01438 314333 Addenbrooks Hospital............................... 01223 245151 Benefits for people with Disabilities...........0800 882 200 Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue.................... 01234 351081 Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue................... 01438 729041 Carers Line..................................................0808 808 7777 ChildLine...........................................................0800 1111 Citizens Advice...........................................0344 245 1292 Cocaine Anonymous..................................0800 689 4732

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.

Crimestoppers..............................................0800 555 111 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..........................................0845 30 30 900

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We offer at Friends Five Star Hairdressing & Beauty Latest in all hair colouring and cutting skills & beauty services Amazing award colour and styling products 3 certified colourists • 2 late nights until 9pm • Shiatsu massage chairs Relaxing Beauty Room • 200w Vertical Sunbed • Hair-up Specialists Balayage Specialists • Extensive complimentary refreshments Latest magazines and free Wi-Fi • On-line booking

SPECIAL HAIR OFFER FOR FEBRUARY

To celebrate the launch of Redken New Colour Gels at the end of last year book an all over colour, ph bonder and cut and finish and receive a FREE Redken Magnetics Shampoo and Conditioner

SPECIAL BEAUTY OFFER FOR FEBRUARY

Book any waxing service and get another waxing service FREE (Cheapest service free) Check out our Facebook page www.facebook.com/friendshair for all our special offers on hair and beauty

Call us on 01767 682789 Opening Hours: Monday, Tuesday & Friday 9.30am - 6.00pm Wednesday & Thursday 9.30 - 9.00pm, Saturday 8.30 - 4.00pm www.friendsfivestarhairdressing.com facebook.com/friendshair

Friends Five Star Hairdressing 1 Market Square, Sandy, Beds SG19 1HT