Potton Jan 2020 by Villager Mag

VILLAGER The

Issue 161 - January 2020

and Town

Life

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

In this issue Shop Local in 2020

Win tickets to see

Josie Long Win £25 in our Prize Crossword

Bringing Local Business to Local People Every Month in Biggleswade, Sandy, Potton, Gamlingay ur E o Y and all surrounding villages REpy

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Inside this issue... East Anglian Air Ambulance

The History of Dentistry..................................................................... 4 Charleston.......................................................................................... 8 A Taste of Mexico.............................................................................. 10 Win a pair of tickets to see Josie Long................................ 12 East Anglian Air Ambulance............................................................. 17 Dear Diary........................................................................................ 21 Sidings Acapella............................................................................... 23 Shop Local in 2020........................................................................... 24 Nick Coffer’s Weekend Recipe........................................................... 26 New Year’s Resolutions. What’s Yours?.............................................. 29 Our Eccentric Inventors: Are they having the last laugh?.................. 30 Fun Quiz........................................................................................... 31 Style and Colour at your Wedding - Q&A.......................................... 32 Beauty Boosters............................................................................... 37 Your 2020 Vision for 2020................................................................. 39 How I beat Type 2 Diabetes.............................................................. 43 Easy Tips to Improve your Driving..................................................... 44 Five Tasks for an Organised Financial Life in 2020............................. 46

Witch Hazel...................................................................................... 51 New Year, New Home!...................................................................... 52 R.A.T.S. Rehoming Appeal................................................................ 55 RSPCA.............................................................................................. 57 Ask Alan - Potton Vets...................................................................... 58 Children’s Page................................................................................. 61 Making family life that little bit easier............................................. 62 Everything you need to know about hybrids.................................... 64 Cosy up your home........................................................................... 70 What’s On......................................................................................... 74 Start a New Year’s Revolution........................................................... 78 Puzzle Page...................................................................................... 80 Villager Prize Crossword................................................... 86 Wordsearch...................................................................................... 89 Book Review.................................................................................... 90 Classifieds........................................................................................ 91 Useful Numbers............................................................................... 95

Cosy Up Your Home

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, Sarah Davey, Anne McCarthy, Nick Coffer, Tracey Anderson, Kate McLelland, Jennie Billings, Kate Duggan, John Spring, Iain Betson, Ann Haldon, Rachael Leverton, RSPCA, James Baggott and Katherine Sorrell

Advertising Sales/Local Editorial Nigel Frost • Tel 01767 261122 nigel@villagermag.com Photography - pixphoto 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 Dentistry Although most of us hate visiting the dentist, twenty-first century dental practices are a walk in the park compared to what our ancestors endured. Common perception is that our ancestors must have suffered from terrible teeth. In fact, the ancient Egyptians, Greeks and Romans probably had better teeth than we do today due to the lack of refined sugar in their diet. Like us, they cleaned their teeth with abrasive and breath-sweetening concoctions. Made from eggshells, soot, bones, pumice, myrrh or mint, they were usually applied with a cloth or the fingers. The ancient Chinese had invented toothbrushes using pigs’ bristles but although toothpicks and even dental floss were around, they weren’t in common use in Europe until 1780, when William Addis manufactured the first toothbrush. Toothache has long been a human scourge and there have been many outlandish remedies. Scribonius Largus, (his real name, not a Monty Python invention!) was physician to the Roman Emperor Claudius. To treat toothache, he would fumigate the mouth with smoke produced by burning henbane seeds followed by an oral rinse with hot water. This was supposed to evict the

tiny ‘tooth worms’ that for hundreds of years were believed to be the cause of cavities and toothache. False teeth were also around in ancient times, usually made of animal bone, ivory or wood. The Etruscans, a pre-Roman civilization, were apparently particularly skilled at dentures using ox bone fixed in place by gold wire. Traditionally, physicians would treat tooth problems but the medieval era saw the arrival of specialist ‘tooth drawers’, the best being retained by royalty (King Henry VIII was said to have one). Travelling fairs and markets often featured a tooth drawer, usually identified by jester’s clothing and a string of teeth hanging around their neck. Blacksmiths, jewellers and apothecaries would also pull teeth as a sideline using whatever instruments they had at their disposal. In 1540, the Company of Barbers was merged with that of surgeons to create The United BarberSurgeons Company. Subsequently, high-street barbers were able to carry out rudimentary surgery that included dental work (hence the striped ‘blood and bandages’ barbers’ pole). The first English book on dentistry was The Operator for the Teeth by Charles Allen, published

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in 1685. ‘Operators for the teeth’ were in fact the earliest dentists, as they were not only skilled enough to extract teeth but could also replace them with dentures or false teeth made from materials like gold, silver and ivory (from walrus, elephant or hippo). But by far the best material for false teeth was other human teeth! Consequently a market quickly sprang up where teeth were either robbed from corpses or bought by extraction from the mouths of the destitute (as in when young Fantine sells her teeth in Victor Hugo’s Les Miserables). Allen also invented a recipe for whitening toothpaste made from powdered coral, rose water and a tree resin called ‘dragon’s blood’. During the seventeenth century, French physician and dental pioneer Pierre Fauchard was one of the first practitioners to explain how sugar in the mouth forms acids that decay enamel and cause cavities. He also wrote about methods to straighten teeth using orthodontics in his book The Surgeon Dentist, published in 1728. Alongside other French dentists, Fauchard used dental fillings made from mercury heated together with other metals. This was later refined by an English dentist named Bell to produce amalgam. The earliest dentistry lectures were by James Rae in 1764 at The Royal College of Surgeons in Edinburgh. By the nineteenth century, dentistry had become a recognised apprenticeship, so in 1858 The Dental Hospital and National Dental Hospital Schools opened in London. There were still many rogue dentists around so in the 1870s the newly founded Dental Reform Committee decreed that practicing dentists had

to complete a License in Dental Surgery in order to be officially registered. Unfortunately, the licence was only open to men so Lilian Murray, the first official female dentist in the UK, managed to qualify in Scotland where the barrier didn’t exist. Many dental innovations were made during the Victorian era. By 1840 it was possible to have ether as a general anaesthetic and four years later nitrous oxide or laughing gas was introduced, whereas previous painkillers had been whisky or cocaine. The invention of the foot-operated dental drill made filling teeth much easier, although with its slow cord-driven, skull-shaking vibrations, one can only imagine how unpleasant it still was. Following in the footsteps of an American company, in 1896 Colgate mass-produced the first commercially available toothpaste in a collapsible tube in the UK. Despite this, tooth health among the general population was far from ideal. In 1942 the Beveridge Report highlighted the need for regular dental check-ups for everyone, and in 1948 the formation of the NHS gave people free access to dental treatment for the first time. So many opted for dentures that the NHS was forced to charge for them from 1951. These days, dentures have largely been replaced by dental implants, many children now have braces to straighten their teeth and most of us have a healthy smile. But who knows? Our descendants may look back at dentistry today and consider it as crude as a blacksmith yanking out a rotten molar.

By Catherine Rose

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Travel

Charleston By Solange Hando

Down in South Carolina, on the edge of the Low Country, the pretty town of Charleston sits among creeks and waterways at the confluence of three rivers as they join the Atlantic Ocean. Spreading across islands and peninsula it is full of history and charm, an ‘American treasure’ founded in 1670 and named after Charles II of England. Beyond the tree-lined avenues on the peninsula, the Old Town is a delightful network of cobbled lanes and alleyways festooned in traditional buildings, some with weather-boarded façades, all gleaming white, others draped in pastel colours: mint-green, ocean-blue, pink, yellow and more. There are wooden shutters and wrought iron gates, quaint cottages and stylish mansions with colonnaded balconies and fabulous gardens, oleander, magnolia and roses blooming among water features and trees such as the flowering crepe myrtle and palmetto, the local emblem. During the Festival of Houses and Gardens held in early spring some of these private wonders are open to visitors, but at any time of year you can ride a horse-drawn carriage in this most beautiful area. It feels almost like a village, nothing disturbing the peace but the distant chiming of church bells. Meanwhile back in the bustling town, King Street beckons with a wide range of architectural styles and antique and designer boutiques, parallel to Meeting Street where the city’s vibrant market dates back to the 1790s. From the Great Hall to the open air sheds, it’s a vast colourful complex selling anything you ever wanted, including handmade souvenirs such as southern jewellery and sweetgrass baskets produced by the Gullahs,

descendants of the African slaves. To learn all about this troublesome though successful era, visit Middleton Place, a former plantation-cummuseum proud of its restored buildings, gardens and lakes. Slavery, independence, civil war and modern times, Charleston’s harbour played a major role in the country’s history, remembered in the Patriots’ Point Naval Museum on Mount Pleasant and in the sea forts of Sumter and Moultrie. Charleston’s most scenic promenade is in fact the Battery, the fortified sea wall leading to the peninsula’s southernmost tip, named White Point after the bleached oyster shells which covered it long ago. There are also great harbour views from the pier and the waterfront park where a sparkling ‘Pineapple Fountain’ symbolises hospitality, recalling the fruit displayed by travellers to signal their return. It’s a cool place to relax, watching brown pelicans diving for food and all sorts of crafts, from tall ships and cruisers to sailing yachts, fishing vessels, power boats and more. Crossing the river Cooper just upstream, the Ravenel bridge dazzles you with lofty towers and fan-shaped cables, while beyond the harbour the Atlantic coast is strung with lovely beaches and islands. Nearest to town are Folly Beach and Sullivans Island, praised for its window boxes and flower gardens, and the Isle of Palms boasting a marina, protected sea oats and wild dunes resort. Lots to do, lots to see but if time is short, cruising around the harbour is a must, especially at sunset when water and sky are ablaze with amazing colour.

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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.

Key Features

£750

• Landscaped gardens

per week

• Close to the local amenities • Fully refurbished in 2018 • Home cooked food • En-suite bedrooms with large wetrooms

We are very proud of what we do and are always keen to show visitors around. 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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Food and Drink

A Taste of... Mexico Mexican cuisine can be traced back several thousand years. Over the different regions, beef, pork and chicken, plus seafood, are extremely popular and some of the same dishes are often found throughout Mexico. Mexican foods offer ingredients of beans and corn, plus chilli peppers. These are regularly presented with meats, rice and spice. Red snapper, sea bass and prawns are very popular, too.

Coal Drops Yard, King’s Cross, London, is a redeveloped retail area. During the 19th Century this site was London’s coal store and has a very interesting history. www.coaldropsyard.com Today, this area provides popular shopping and dining experiences, that include independent shops, businesses, bars and restaurants. Casa Pastor and Plaza Pastor offer a warm welcome from Alejo and authentic Mexican dining, with dishes that include Tuna Tostadas, plus Tacos filled with marinated pork shoulder or fish, for example and their hugely-popular Ceviches. Starters include various Botanas, then on to Tostadas, that have Cochinita, Chicken Tinga and Tuna presentations. Very flavoursome Tortas (Mexican toasted sandwiches) are available, also. For Tacos the key is the salsa. Made fresh, in-house, these have Morita (Chipotle, tomatillos), Verde Fresca (Serrano chillies, tomatillos, coriander), plus Mexicana and Maya choices and more, through to El Diablo, which is made with some of the very hottest chillies known. Tacos offer Baja Fish (Corona-battered sea bass, shredded cabbage, pico de gallo, coriander) and Choripapa (Chorizo, potato, salsa verde, coriander), which are very popular, amongst an excellent array, with mushroom, prawn and chicken inclusions, plus Al Pastor (Mexico City favourite and inspiration for this restaurant’s name). From the Mexican-style rotisserie, half and whole chickens are often selected, with different marinades and accompaniments. Exceptional, complementing flavours and splendid presentation definitely warrant ‘Compliments to Chef!’ If sharing plates are favoured, then Hake, Short Rib, Steak and more, will most certainly impress and satisfy. Dessert selections include creations of Fresh Pineapple, Corn Cake and Queso Fresco Cheesecake. Desserts pair wonderfully with cocktails and digestivos, too. Thank you to Lily and Maureen, for excellent service throughout. Popular with locals (always a good sign), a recommended restaurant to return to. Casa Pastor and Plaza Pastor Coal Drops Yard, King’s Cross, London N1C 4DQ Tel: 44 (0) 20 7018 3335 Email: info@tacoselpastor.co.uk www.tacoselpastor.co.uk

As always, Enjoy! 10

ey Trevor Langl

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Special Offer Bring in this page between

6th - 30th January and receive

20% OFF

your main meal

Everyone at The Royal Oak would like to wish all The Villager readers a Happy and Healthy New Year! The oldest pub in the historic town of Potton, “The Royal Oak” has had a well deserved refurbishment and is under new management since November 2019. Its warm open fire welcomes you as soon as your walk through the door. Our friendly staff, will serve you with fine ales, good quality wines and spirts. But is doesn’t end there... Our restaurant is cosy and comfortable and serves homemade food Wednesday-Sunday, with weekly specials to complement our menu, our homemade pies and Sunday roasts are not to be forgotten.

In January we will be enhancing our lunchtime menu, and bringing back the popular set menus

2 course = £10 or 3 courses = £15

The Royal Oak, 4 Biggleswade Road, Potton SG19 2LU T: 01767 449326 E: bookings@royaloakpotton.co.uk To advertise in The Villager and Town Life please call 01767 261122

Photo: GILES SMITH

WIN a PAIR of TICKETS to see JOSIE LONG at the JUNCTION, Cambridge on 17th JANUARY 2020 Three-time Edinburgh Comedy Award nominee Josie Long is finally back on the road with a brand-new show about the mind-bending intensity of new motherhood, but it is also about kindness, gentleness and joy. A cult-optimist herself, Josie wants her audiences to feel optimistic about the future, although in this current day and age, that’s a big ask. But at the very least there will be some silly voices. Of course, its Josie Long: society’s biggest issues that we’re facing today, from climate change to Boris Johnson, cannot be ignored, but Tender’s main focus is about bringing new life into this ever-changing world. Having started performing comedy at just 14, Josie went on to win the BBC New Comedy Award, Chortle Best Newcomer, Best Newcomer at the 2006 Edinburgh Comedy Awards and then was nominated for Best Show at the Edinburgh Comedy Awards three years running. She has since sold out West End runs, performed at the most prestigious comedy festivals in the world, written five solo tours and sold out shows in LA and New York. On screen, Josie has been seen on 8 Out of 10 Cats (Channel 4), Never Mind the Buzzcocks (BBC2), You Have Been Watching (Channel 4) and Skins (Channel 4), for which she also wrote. She has presented on BBC 6Music, was nominated for a Radio Academy Award for her adventurous short documentaries Short Cuts on Radio 4 and earned a BAFTA Scotland New Talent Award nomination for her two short feature films, Let’s Go Swimming and Romance and Adventure and her recent feature film, Super November, was nominated for a BIFA Discovery Award. We have a pair of tickets to give away for Josie’s Cambridge Junction tour date on Friday 17th January. All you have to do is send in the answer to the below question!

JOSIE LONG COMPETITION ENTRY

How many times has Josie been nominated for the Edinburgh Comedy Award?



For a chance to win tickets simply answer the question and complete the form below and send to: Josie Long Competition, Villager Publications Ltd, 24 Market Square, Potton, Bedfordshire SG19 2NP. Deadline: 14th January 2020

Name: Tel: Email: Address:

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If you have enjoyed your dining experience with us, then feel free to take advantage of our offers in the New Year.

JANUARY MEAL DEAL

2 FOR 1

ON ANY PASTA OR PIZZA WHEN DINING IN OUR RESTAURANT T&C’s apply. Offer valid on Monday to Thursday only from 2/1/2020 to 31/1/2020 inclusive. This offer cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer. One voucher per table. Cheapest main course is free.

Tel: 01767 448090

Web: www.osarracinopotton.co.uk

5 Sun Street • Potton • Bedfordshire • SG19 2LR

Countrywear

FREE Postage & packing until Christmas

www.lodgeway-countrywear.co.uk 01462 816122 OPEN: MON-FRI 9:30am-5pm SAT 9:30am-4pm

Chicksands, Shefford, Beds SG17 5QB

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Local News

East Anglian Air Ambulance East Anglian Air Ambulance (EAAA) is an incredible community-funded service in Cambridgeshire and here at The Villager, we are proud to announce that we have chosen to support this lifesaving charity as our charity of the year in 2020. We will be bringing you regular features to learn more about the team at EAAA and all the amazing work they do, as well all the different ways that you can get involved and support the air ambulance. You may not be aware, but over the last year (2018 / 2019), between its two bases and two helicopters (Norwich and Cambridge) the East Anglian Air Ambulance was tasked 1,798 times by helicopter, 1,023 times by rapid response vehicle and attended 1,664 patients in total. Of these patients there were 480 cardiac arrests, 355 road traffic collisions, 256 accidental injuries, 340 medical emergencies, 73 intentional self-harm incidents, 70 sporting incidents and 54 assault patients in the region. On top of this, the charity is striving ahead to become the first air ambulance in the East of England to fly 24/7. EAAA is already incredibly well equipped to fly in the hours of darkness, landing at unlit sites, however they currently only fly until 1:30am in the morning, coming back online by helicopter at 7am. This means there is a five and a half hour gap in the region where there is no helicopter coverage if needed. EAAA Strongly believe the time of day should not dictate the type of emergency medical care available to you, and are passionate about raising an additional £1 million a year in order to fund the extra flying hours to

Barbara McGee Fundraising Manager

provide a 24/7 helicopter emergency medical service. Barbara McGee, Fundraising Manager for Cambridgeshire and Bedfordshire, said: “The level of care our medical teams provide is absolutely outstanding and with the helicopter they can reach anywhere in East Anglia in 25 mins, taking the hospital to the patient and getting that patient the care they need as quickly as possible. “We’re passionate about being able to provide this service, by helicopter, 24 hours a day and estimate that by doing so we could help hundreds more patients each year, which would be amazing. But we can only do this by raising more money, so we’re incredibly grateful to all of the support we get from the community – and to Charity of the Year partnerships such as this one – which help us to be there for our patients. So please come to one of our events, play our lottery, play our raffle, volunteer for us - anything at all that you can do to help us will make a huge difference to our work.” Find out more at www.eaaa.org.uk/get-invovled

Sunrise at Cambridge Airport with Anglia Two, taken by Critical Care Paramedic Liam Sagi on a day shift in December

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When the time comes, and you need to look into nursing care for a friend or relative, come and see us at the Park House Nursing Care Centre in Sandy. With our team of dedicated carers and support staff, we provide specialised 24 hour care to adults of all ages in a homely and friendly atmosphere. Some of the people in our community may be living with dementia, whilst others may have complex care needs requiring the intervention of our qualified nurses. And we place a great value on socialising, with a varied programme of activities. Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll find visiting very easy with parking on site and a warm welcome from our staff.

Come and see what we are about. You are welcome any time.

Park House Nursing Care Centre, Mill Lane, Sandy, Bedfordshire SG19 1NL T: 01767 692186 E: office@parkhousesandy.org W: www.parkhousecare.com 18

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Fine Dining at Stratton House Hotel Now open under new management and proud to showcase our new fine dining menu. All private functions catered for.

01767 312442 strattonhouse-hotel.co.uk London Road, Biggleswade SG18 8EB To advertise in The Villager and Town Life please call 01767 261122

AFTERNOON TEA AT THE HOUSE Savour the quintessential English past-time of taking tea in the grand setting of The House, Shuttleworth. ÂŁ30.00 per person Sunday 26 January Sunday 31 May

2020 Dates

Sunday 19 July Sunday 20 September

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

01767 627970

20Villager - Afternoon tea advert FP Jan 20.indd 1 Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding 29/11/2019 to 11:24:20 adverts

Lifestyle

Dear Diary… Did you ever keep a diary when you were younger? I did. I poured my angst-ridden heart out to its blank pages. I look back on those fat notebooks with a mixture of fascination and horrified amusement. They are a funny, embarrassing, touching testament to my teenage turmoil and inner weirdness. I stopped journaling my thoughts at some point, but a few years ago, when I was gifted a rather beautiful notebook one Christmas, I started again. It was a good call. Writing in my diary helps me in many ways. I track my moods, my anxieties, the funny things my kids say, and the daily routine of writing helps me thrash out solutions to some of life’s challenges. There are many benefits to keeping a diary. It organises your thoughts - most of what we think and feel would be incomprehensible to anyone able to look inside our heads. Writing helps to articulate thoughts and make them comprehensible to our conscious mind. It improves your writing - Not everyone aspires to be a journalist or a writer. But many of us have to produce handouts, talks or web content in the course of our jobs. Writing daily in a diary helps us improve our style and fluency. It helps set and achieve goals - A diary is a good place to write down ambitions, aspirations and new year resolutions. Writing them down makes them real. They can then be used as a reminder, and to monitor progress. You can record ideas - It could be ideas for birthday gifts, holiday destinations or the name

of the shop in which you saw the perfect curtains for the bedroom you’re currently decorating. The benefit of a diary is that it can all be recorded in one place, whenever it comes to mind. It’s a stress-reliever - It can be helpful to ‘braindump’ anxieties, frustrations and pains into a diary. Teenage me waxed lyrical about problems with my parents, teachers and how worried I was that no boy would find me attractive while I had braces on my teeth. Adult me expresses concerns in my diary as a good way to free up any tension that prevents me from feeling content in my life today. You can reflect - Life races by at breakneck speed. We get caught up in day-to-day responsibilities and expectations. Journalling our thoughts is a good way to hit the pause button, take a step back and reflect. Whether it’s gratitude for something someone has done for us, or simply what we achieved today, a little daily reflection means can look back at our life after a few months or years and see how we’ve changed. We can note how our priorities have shifted and what we might do to be a better person in the future. It’s a memory prompt – Our brain is more likely to store information that we write down. Teachers know that when you write new knowledge down your brain makes stronger connections with the information which means you’ll be able to recall it more easily in the future. It boosts creativity - Diary-writing a great way to unleash creativity. Everyone has the potential to be creative, but most of us don’t take the time. You can start a novel, jot down ideas for outfits, plan a themed party, doodle or sketch. It’s your diary...have fun with it.

By Sarah Davey

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Local News

Sidings Acapella Thank You for your support Sidings Acapella is a successful eight man acapella singing group, a branch-line from Shannon Express Barbershop Harmony Club. Our style of singing is pure vocal, with no musical instruments to accompany. Our sound is four-part close harmony that gives a unique sound that goes down well with our audiences. Sidings sing a variety of songs, old and new, around the Pubs, Restaurants, Care homes and any charitable organisations that want us in the surrounding area. We sing because we love our hobby, but in the process collect for MacMillan Cancer Care. We have sung in many of the local pubs and restaurants this year and passed the bucket around collecting for MacMillan Cancer Care. The clientele in the establishments have been so generous, and we have just recently handed over a cheque for the sum of £1185 - not bad for doing something we love to do anyway! Sidings would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has so generously supported

us throughout the year. Shannon Express is currently having a recruitment drive by running a free 5 week Acapella Harmony Singing course for men who may enjoy the challenge. Everyone says that they can’t sing, but it’s not true, come along and have a go, you will be surprised at just how infectious it is and what a great hobby to have. We like to give everyone a chance, you do not have to be musical or read music, just enjoy singing and we will help you reach your potential. The course starts 7.30pm on 30 January 2020 at Potton Lower School, SG19 2PB. Phone 07771993896 or email sos@ shannonexpress.org.uk to reserve your place.

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Shopping

By Anne McCarthy

Shop Local in 20201 Why? Personalized Service - A small business owner will go the extra mile to make you happy. Local businesses are owned by your neighbours and friends. They care about you and are invested in your community. Unique Products - A national chain will sell hundreds or thousands of identikit products. Local stores sell unique merchandise in smaller numbers so you will buy something truly individual. It supports the arts - Small local businesses support creativity! Look for art on display created by local artists. These are one-of-akind pieces you won’t find anywhere else. It helps the local economy - The money you spend in a local business stays within your town and community, thus improving its future.

How? Instead of purchasing items from national chains, try to purchase things from a business local to your area. Buy a gift or a gift card at a local business in your area and give to a friend, family member, or co-worker. This will introduce the company to someone new and allow for the “shop local” mantra to spread. Promote their business! If you like a particular shop or independent restaurant share and like their social media accounts. Spread the word. Give them a great review. Send them a thank you. Say why you love them and let them share your testimonial.

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Food & Drink

Portuguese Custard Tarts It’s been said over and again, food takes us back to a place, back to a memory, back to a moment in time. Whenever I smell fresh biscuits baking, I’m right back to my grandma’s kitchen. Whenever I smell a fresh baguette, it takes me back to my time living in France and that unmistakable early morning aroma which fills the villages and towns (often mixed in with the smell of strong coffee too!). So often on my Weekend Kitchen radio show, I am taken back to happy places by the food which my guests make. One such happy place is Portugal, and the Algarve in particular, where I have spent days and days enjoying the perfect weather, wonderful hospitality and amazing fresh food. And nothing personifies Portugal better than their traditional custard tart - moreish, light, and with the signature dark brown top crust, they will brighten any dark day. They’re also surprisingly easy to make - as shown in this brilliant recipe by Victoria Chidgey. She’s a highly talented young cake maker and baker, with her own thriving business called The Tring Cake Company. These tarts will put a smile on your face. Ingredients 1 block of puff pastry Icing sugar for dusting 6 egg yolks 185g caster sugar 50g cornflour 600ml whole milk 10g vanilla extract 1. In a pan, bring together the yolks, sugar, cornflour and vanilla. Slowly stir in the milk. 2. Put the pan onto a moderate heat and stir continuously until big bubbles appear in the middle.

3. Take off the heat, pour the mix into a bowl and cover with clingfilm. 4. Put this bowl in the fridge to chill while you roll your pastry. 5. Roll out the puff pastry using the icing sugar to dust the surface and rolling pin. 6. Cut the pastry in half and place one half of the pastry on top of the other. 7. Roll the pastry again until 5mm thick. 8. Roll the pastry into a tight sausage and cut into 16 discs. 9. Push the pastry into each hole of a cupcake tray, applying pressure around the sides so that they are evenly covered, all the way to the top edge. 10. Dust with icing sugar.

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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IF YOU’RE LOOKING FOR A HIGH-QUALITY KITCHEN MAKEOVER FOR UP TO 50% LESS THAN A NEW FULLY FITTED KITCHEN, WHY NOT PAY A VISIT TO DREAM DOORS EAST HERTS SHOWROOM IN WARE Highly-experienced owners Carly and Tom promise you a warm welcome. More importantly they will help you design and create your ideal kitchen using our impressive range of highquality products and can typically reface your kitchen in as little as two to three days. Dream Doors is the UK’s #1 kitchen makeover specialist and we take the hassle out of your kitchen revamp from the very beginning. Once we’ve arranged a free, no obligation visit to your home - at a time that’s convenient for you we will measure up your kitchen. Our experienced kitchen designers can then talk you through our extensive range of products and help you narrow down your selection. No matter if your style is traditional, contemporary, exclusive, modern or classic we have a range of doors and worktops that will suit you and your style.

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Time of Year

New Year’s Resolutions What’s Yours?

By Tracey Anderson

A New Year’s resolution is a promise for the new year. Regardless of what resolution you commit to, the goal generally is to improve life in the coming year. Resolutions can come in many forms. Some people make a promise to change a bad habit, such as quitting smoking or eating less junk food. Other people make a promise to develop a positive habit, such as starting an exercise program, volunteering in their community, or recycling more. The tradition of New Year’s resolutions dates all the way back to 153 B.C. January is named after Janus, a mythical god of early Rome. Janus had two faces — one looking forward, one looking backward. This allowed him to look back on the past and forward toward the future. On December 31, the Romans imagined Janus looking backward into the old year and forward into the new year. This became a symbolic time for Romans to make resolutions for the new year and forgive enemies for troubles in the past. The Romans also believed Janus could forgive them for their wrongdoings in the previous year. They would give gifts and make promises, believing Janus would see this and bless them in the year ahead. And thus, the New Year’s resolution was born! What is your promise for 2020?

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Quirky Britain

By Kate McLelland

Our eccentric inventors: Are they having the last laugh? They might have been created the best part of a century ago, but William Heath Robinson’s delightfully wacky cartoons have a special resonance for us today, in our technology-obsessed age. Born in 1872, the famous British illustrator became a household name with his tonguein-cheek drawings of imaginary, labour-saving contraptions assembled from old bicycle wheels, bits of wood, lengths of piping and lots and lots of string. Heath Robinson used gentle humour to celebrate the kind of well-intentioned amateur inventor who spends hours tinkering with various odds and ends, dreaming of commercial success. Times may have changed, but thankfully we still have inventors who are happy to keep plodding away in the hope of a big breakthrough – even if some of their ideas are almost as wacky as those in Heath Robinson’s drawings. John Ward and the window cleaners’ friend Eccentric inventor John Ward is known for inventions such as the musical frying pan, the revolving teaspoon and the portable bra warmer. Starting out as a trainee painter and decorator, John tried several occupations before deciding to build a career around his barmy inventions. Like the contraptions in Heath Robinson’s famous cartoons, John uses recycled materials to create many of his inventions. These include a ‘helicopter car’ and the ‘ladder-bicycle’: a bike which can be ridden, but when turned through ninety degrees becomes a handy stepladder for cleaning windows. Although John doesn’t take his work too seriously, he has been invited to showcase his inventions on TV in the UK, America, Australia, Japan, New Zealand and Russia. He has also been involved in all kinds of promotional work, and is often asked to create props, store displays and contraptions to be shown at county shows and exhibitions. Willy Johnson’s bottle top brainwave Willy Johnson is another British inventor who has patented a number of weird and wonderful ideas, including the ‘expanding plant pot’, a pleated plastic container “which can be expanded progressively to accommodate

increased root growth.” He has also invented a floating soap containing a compressed sponge (that only becomes accessible once the soap is used up), and a television that can be turned off by means of a ‘soft missile’ thrown at the screen. Although none of these inventions has yet reached a mass market, one of Willy Johnson’s recent inspirations – providing a further life for the humble bottle top – has attracted considerable media interest. His invention, known as a ‘ToPo®’, has been designed to become a fun educational toy once the bottle is empty. ToPo® bricks can be joined together in various ways, creating all kinds of shapes, and the addition of a single letter on each brick means they can also be used to spell out words. While William Heath Robinson’s work satirises the lengths some inventors will go to in order to develop a winning idea, it’s great to see two British inventors whose slightly off-the-wall approach and quirky creativity has paid off. It shows how far you can go with a few recycled bits and pieces … and a lot of string.

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PFYP_Villager_ad_Sep_15.qxp_Layout 1 01/09/2015 1

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Visit www.painting-for-your-pleasure.co.uk for more information or call 01767 654920 This advert and the Painting for your pleasure website have been produced by thecreativemix. Please visit www.creative-mix.co.uk to see the ‘exciting and inspiring’ communications we can provide for your business or organisation.

Review of the Year 1. In August, Donald Trump cancelled a trip to Denmark after the Danish Prime Minister said that what was not for sale? 2. In August, which team were expelled from the English Football League due to unpaid debts? 3. To celebrate International Women’s Day on March 8th, which TV soap opera aired a special episode featuring an all-female cast? to your Exercise programmes tailored 4. What was the specificpreferred date in 2019location on which needs at your thethe UK was originally due toor leave the European in gym, the park at your home Union? 5. In July, 15-year-old Jaden Ashman from Essex won over one million dollars after coming alongside hisfor Dutch teammate in the Getsecond in touch today your free consultation World Cup finals of which video game?

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6. In January, who wrote to Emma Fairweather, saying “I have since learned you suffered a broken arm. I am deeply sorry about this injury.”? 7. A McDonald’s restaurant in Edinburgh was asked by police to stop selling what in May due to a visit from Nigel Farage? 8. In June, 89-year-old Colin Thackery became the oldest person to win what? 9. In September, what became the first ever British-made TV show to win an Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy Series? 10. After talks with Irish leader Leo Varadkar in February, who said there is a “special place in hell for those who promoted Brexit without even a sketch of a plan of how to carry it out safely”?

1. Greenland 2. Bury 3. Emmerdale 4. March 29th 5. Fornite 6. Prince Philip (after being involved in a car crash) 7. Milkshakes (fearing they would be thrown at him) 8. Britain’s Got Talent 9. Fleabag 10. Donald Tusk

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House of Colour

Style & Colour at your Wedding

Q&A

Q. How do I know what shade of white to choose for my wedding dress? A: Prior to dress shopping, if you can see a colour stylist to establish which colours naturally complements your individual skin tone to make you look radiant and your eyes shine brightly on your big day. For example Winter palettes can wear pure white or silvery finish dresses whilst summers suit soft white and delicate powder pinks. Springs look best in creams or perhaps a dove grey, and Autumns suit oyster or a light sage perhaps. It makes wedding dress searching quicker and even more pleasurable to know exactly what suits you before you even go start wedding dress shopping. Q. My partner feels stuffy in a suit, what are the wedding attire alternatives for him whilst still ensuring he looks smart? A: There are lots of great alternatives for men, both contemporary and traditional. If you are getting married in warmer climes, perhaps he can work a linen shirt and chinos for the beach? Colourful, patterned pocket squares add interest as do unique button holes for more formal looks. Some people ditch the jacket altogether and wear a waistcoat or braces for a fun twist. The key is to for the clothes to fit well and suit his body architecture and for it to be the right style to suit his personality. A great fit means the right sleeve, jacket length, button arrangement, shirt and trousers, but the texture and material are both key too. Q. I want to look gorgeous for my partner when we are on honeymoon, what are your top tips? A: Your partner will already think you gorgeous, but it is lovely to feel confident and chic on honeymoon to keep the wedding dream going! Be organised and pair several gorgeous tops, skirts, trousers, shorts, swimwear and scarves in your wow colours and seasonal neutrals so you can mix and match to create a number of outfits. Don’t forget to pack some great jewellery to lift any look. It is fun to get a new dress for a romantic dinner on your honeymoon to grab your partner’s attention and don’t forget to choose some gorgeous, well-fitting lingerie!

Q. What quick tips do you have for bringing colour to the wedding venue? A: Choose accent colours for your flowers, beautiful satin sashes on the wedding chairs and other decorations but everything doesn’t need to completely match. Choose maybe three colours that complement each other from your own season palette or have a range of similar tones so that there is coordination, but still some individuality. Use wedding menu ribbons, table decorations, wedding favours, flower centre pieces and napkins to add a pop of colour. Of course your own beautiful bouquet can have a stunning colourful impact. Q. I am doing my own wedding make up, what are your top tips? A. Make sure you choose cool make up colours if you are cool toned and warm make up colours if you are warm toned. Wear waterproof eye makeup and a good primer to ensure your make up stays on for most of the day. Add translucent powder in your perfect shade for extra staying power. Consider an illuminator on exposed shoulders, collar bones and cheekbones to bring a subtle but beautiful sheen. Always have access to top-up make up for a tidy up or after happy tears on the day. By Jennie Billings, Colour and Style Consultant, House of Colour www.houseofcolour.co.uk/jenniebillings e:jennie.billings@houseofcolour.co.uk

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Beauty Boosters Whether you’re suffering from dry skin or brassy blonde locks, this month we’re all about solving your beauty dilemmas. Skin feeling less baby soft and more adult rhino? Try a weekly salt scrub. Coffee fans will appreciate Rabot 1745’s Coffee Body Scrub, which is made from Arabica ground coffee, pure salt, cocoa butter and almond oil. The salt helps to remove dry skin and draw out toxins, the coffee works to freshen and tighten skin and the cocoa butter and almond oil soften and hydrate. The aroma of fresh coffee is also a good wake-up call on dark mornings. If you’re thinking that the packaging looks rather like a reusable coffee cup, you’d be right. And if you use that cup at any Hotel Chocolat café, you’ll get 50p off a hot drink. The Coffee Body Scrub costs £16 at Hotel Chocolat and www.rabot1745beauty.com, so will pay for itself in 32 coffees’ time… If it’s your face that’s feeling dry and parched (thanks a bunch central heating and winter winds), Frances Prescott TRI-SPRITZ might help. As well as boosting hydration, the facial mist works to support tissue recovery, calm and reduce inflammation, neutralise free radicals and protect from pollution. As an added bonus, it helps to set your makeup in place. I tend to use TRI-SPRITZ as a quick pick-me-up when my skin feels a bit dehydrated or just generally ‘meh’. It’s £45 from www.francesprescott.com. Blonde hair can start to look dull or brassy between hair appointments. Give it a lift with Philip Kingsley’s Pure Blonde Colour-Correcting Weekly Shampoo (£11.50) and Mask (£15). Whether you’re a natural blonde or have a little help, the shampoo and mask can help to tone down yellow and orange tones while repairing damage and replacing

Beauty By Kate Duggan

moisture. I’ve only tried them a couple of times, but can already see a difference. My hair looks lighter and much closer in colour to when I last had it highlighted. See www. philipkingsley.co.uk. Planning a winter getaway? Whether you’re hitting the slopes or chasing the sun, don’t forget to take your favourite toiletries with you. If you’re only going for a long weekend, it’s worth decanting your toiletries into reusable travel bottles and jars. It’ll mean you pass the 100ml or less rule for liquids and creams in your hand luggage, and saves you lugging extra weight around the airport. You also won’t need to fork out for travel-sized toiletries, which are usually a lot more expensive per ml than their full-sized counterparts. Wilko’s new travel pots (www.wilko. com) start at just 50p and can be used time and time again.

Dry shampoo bars are handy for travelling and an easy switch if you’re trying to reduce your plastic waste. Faith in Nature’s new shampoo bars have a lower PH level than most, making them better for your hair. Choose from Lavender & Geranium (one of the brand’s most popular fragrances) or the extra hydrating Coconut & Shea Butter. Both are 100% natural, packed with nourishing ingredients and fragranced with essential oils. And they’re just £5.79 each from www.faithinnature.co.uk.

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The Biggleswade Podiatry and Chiropody Clinic provides treatments for all conditions of the lower limb. Whether it is a routine foot hygiene appointment, biomechanical assessments for orthotics or minor surgery for ingrowing toe nails. We are fully equipped to help with any problem which is presented in the clinic. We offer professional advice and provide specialist treatment for a wide range of common foot problems such as:

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Time of Year

Your 2020 Vision for 2020 Hindsight is a wonderful thing. We often reflect on the past year and mourn chances we didn’t take or connections we didn’t make. Instead of looking longingly backwards, perhaps 2020 is a good year to develop your vision for the future so that it’s… well…20/20! Review your goals — short and long-term Are your everyday activities helping you to accomplish your short-term goals? Are you working on meaningful projects? Make sure at least some of your daily activities help you to accomplish your short-term goals, and that those short-term goals can build to let you accomplish larger goals and objectives. But don’t be a slave to your goals. It’s okay to change directions and shift deadlines. January is a great time revaluate. Are your long-term goals from six months ago still relevant to you today? It can be helpful to write down your goals using pen and paper, and then hang them in a place where you can see them. This acts as a visual prompt to remind you and inspire you during the day-to-day grind. Nurture relationships Sometimes friendships and family relationships get placed on the backburner when we’re busy. Are there If there friends and relatives in your contacts list who you haven’t spoken with lately?

Use this season to catch-up, reconnect, and nurture the relationships that matter. Request a planning meeting It could be with your boss, or your partner! When you think about the next year — do you see yourself staying at the same job? If so, do you want to be considered for promotion or a transfer? Would you like to plan a big trip with your partner, or start a family? With your boss you might mention projects you’d like to lead, qualifications you’d like to study for. With your partner you might want to talk about joining a gym together, planning a safari, or taking up ballroom dancing. These discussions are useful in both your work and your private life. They can help you understand points of dissatisfaction in your work or relationship and give you the clarity you need to explore a change. Invest in yourself There’s a difference between being comfortable and being complacent. Try stepping out of your comfort zone and take an online course, sign up with the Open University or night classes at college. Try out a yoga class or a massage, or simply go away with a friend or a partner to a spa for a few days. Reflect on lessons learned January is not all about new beginnings. It’s nice to think about all you accomplished during 2019. What did you learn? What did you achieve? A lot probably happened in the past 12 months, but life moves so fast that too often we don’t take time to reflect on all we’ve learned. Take note of your discoveries and think about ways you can apply those lessons with intention as you move into the new year.

By Anne McCarthy

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Local News

Let’s Fight Fatigue & Pain in 2020! Most people with a long term condition can experience exhaustion and chronic pain, affecting their daily lives. Therapies are available at The Herts MS Therapy Centre in Letchworth to help people fight fatigue and pain: 1. Oxygen Therapy Some people find Oxygen Therapy can accelerate healing, increase energy, reduce pain or combat stubborn infections, like leg ulcers. Some find it helpful before or after chemotherapy, radiotherapy or surgery. Rachel B says: “Without my Oxygen Treatment I would still be in agony from Fibromyalgia and probably jobless and depressed. I can’t begin to explain what a difference it has made for me.” 2. Physiotherapy & Exercise 01462 684 214 Physiotherapists and Personal Trainers work together to help people achieve greater mobility and reduce fatigue. Francis R has MS. She says: “I lost my confidence and needed support. The personalised exercises have restored my confidence in leading a more independent lifestyle.” 3. APS Pain Clinic Pain Reduction Therapy is an effective, drug free treatment for less pain, more energy and faster healing. Brian H attended the Pain Clinic. He explains: “I did the six week Pain Reduction Programme. I have had pain free mobility for the first time in nine months, despite moving furniture last week!” First Time Free! Who do you know who would like to have more energy or less pain? Tell them about The Herts MS Therapy Centre! Their first session is free! To find out more, visit www.hertsmstherapy.org.uk or call Claire on 01462 684 214.

Would you like more energy and less pain? • Oxygen Therapy • APS Pain Reduction

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EMERGENCY DENTURE REPAIRS 1 HOUR SERVICE 01767 651439 07973 141862

REPAIR OR A CLEAN AND POLISH ON YOUR DENTURES BY A QUALIFIED TECHNICIAN COLLECTION AND DELIVERY ALSO AVAILABLE

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A FREE WILL for Homeowners Protect your home and legacy for your children • • • • • •

Keep your hard-earned wealth within the family Stop your home from being sold to pay for long term Care Fees. Prevent the courts from making your financial and healthcare decisions. If you already have a Will … Is it up to date? Several thousand outdated wills are legally challenged every year. Ensure your parents’ home and property is also protected.

DON’T PUT IT OFF – Don’t let your home and money disappear, make sure your estate goes to your family… leaving “what you want” to “who you want”. CALL 01767 660250 for more information or to book a free meeting with one of our Will and Estate Planners either in your own home or at our offices. Baystrait Ltd t/a Will & Estate Planning, Baystrait House, Station Road, Biggleswade, SG18 8AL

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Health

By John Spring

How I beat type 2 diabetes When his diabetes doctor suggested he should share how he put his diabetes into remission, John Spring went one better, he wrote a humorous book about it. I’ve now been in remission from type 2 diabetes (T2D) for eight years, so I guess I must be doing something right. Being in remission means that T2D isn’t damaging me anymore. The newly diagnosed will have been made well aware of the longer-term havoc it can do to their bodies. Unless, when they were told, they put their fingers in their ears and started humming, “La, la, la, I’m not listening”. Which is exactly what I did for several years. 5% of the UK’s adult population have been diagnosed with T2D, and another 1.3% don’t know they have it yet. By the year 2035, 10% of us will be type 2 diabetic. That might make the recently diagnosed feel a little better, as there is some safety in numbers, but the NHS isn’t too keen on the prospect. New patients may not be feeling any immediate effects of T2D, so it becomes easy to be complacent. You can liken it to a mild acid flowing around your body, slowly eating away at your nerves, your organs and your eyes. It is the end of this slow production line of diabetic damage that the NHS is now contending with. I’d read about rapid weight loss having a high success rate in putting T2D into remission and the NHS is now trialling liquid-based diets of 800 calories per day. There’s also bariatric surgery, but it isn’t infallible as a patient’s bad eating habits can find ways around it. Likewise, you probably don’t want to survive on liquids for the rest of your life, especially if they don’t contain alcohol. I devised my own practical regime for losing weight fast. The most positive benefit of this

workable approach was that I learned how to avoid temptation by becoming the master of my own food. I also learned how to fit exercise into my busy life. These are the lessons that have kept me in remission. I started by identifying the heavy hitters in my diet. I then developed workarounds to drastically reduce my consumption of those. I also preprepared my own breakfast and lunch, thus avoiding the calorific temptations lurking in coffee shops and lunchtime sandwich bars. My home cooked dinners featured healthier ingredients and I soon realised that there really is no such thing as a low-calorie takeaway. They are all evil. I discovered convenient exercise by walking set routes every day and I built up to being the world’s most unlikely runner. After four months I had lost four stone and my blood sugar came down from 60 mmol to 42mmol (48 mmol is the diabetic threshold). Most importantly I’d also equipped myself with the knowledge of how to maintain that weight loss. The low-calorie liquids or the surgeon’s knife may well kick T2D into remission, but they’re arduous procedures to undertake. Staying in remission is also hard work, but that has been made easier for me by using a new lifestyle to beat this lifestyle related disease. ‘How I Beat Type 2 Diabetes’ by John Spring is available on Amazon. £7.99.

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Motoring

Easy Tips to Improve Your Driving - 1

As we progress in our driving lives, gaining experience whilst doing so, we also pick up some bad habits. The following tips will help improve your driving which will act as a basis to take your driving skill further by being safer and even saving you money through car care and insurance. Don’t ‘Drive’ the Car – Control It By this I mean forcing the vehicle to do something against its ‘will’. Get to know your

car’s inertia, i.e. how quickly it slows down when you lift your right foot. How much do you need to turn the wheel to go around a corner? When’s the point at which the engine starts to labour or over-rev because it’s in the wrong gear? Learning how your car handles means you can set it up well in advance to go smoothly around a bend, for example. Posture Trying to control a car with a one hand holding the wheel at an 11 o’clock position is not only dangerous, it’s bad for your posture too. I see drivers doing ‘gymnastics’ as they negotiate a roundabout, swinging in the seat as they almost wrestle with the wheel. It all leads to untidy car control and leaves us tired after a journey. To improve this, hold the steering wheel with both hands at ‘10 to 2’ and feed it through your hands. Changing gear or a control will still mean you have one hand on the wheel.

By Iain Betson

Potton & District Club Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all New Years Eve Party Night (Tickets from The Club now) Keeping LIVE MUSIC live every week!

New members welcome to apply for membership. Call in for an easy to complete membership form.

JANUARY

Saturday 4th - Rob (Popular solo artist, covers-various) Saturday 11th - Donut (Pop & Rock covers) Saturday 18th - BACK TO THE 80s* Belated NYE PARTY NIGHT! Saturday 25th - The Soulman* (Soul & Disco Classics) Friday 31st - Jason & The Skagonauts* (with their own twist on Ska)

FEBRUARY

Saturday 1st - Rickshaw (Rock & Pop) Saturday 8th - Atari Youth Band (Indie Rock/Mod/ Beatles/Oasis & much more) Saturday 15th - Woo & The Fuel* (Popular party band) Saturday 22nd - Rock Gods (RAWK Rock band) Saturday 29th - Phil Watts 80’s Un-plugged All info is provided in good faith, always check the web page pottonclub.co.uk for changes. When you see this * an ENTRY FEE will apply.

Potton CIU Club, Charities Hall, Station Road, Potton Tel: 01767 261465 (Evenings) Website: www.pottonclub.co.uk 44

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ARCHITECTURAL DRAWINGS AND BUILDING SURVEYING SERVICES VIRTUAL PA / GIRL FRIDAY

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Finance

Five Tasks for an Organised Financial Life in 2020

By Ann Haldon

January is the perfect time to organise your financial life and carry out those onerous or boring tasks you’ve been putting off for so long. Making a will, setting up a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) and checking your credit file are just three important ‘bigger picture’ jobs that can set you up for a secure future, and offer a little protection from life’s uncertainties. So here are the five tasks in more detail – tackle them in any order, and get your financial life organised in 2020. 1. Check your state pension forecast Checking how much state pension you might receive provides a clearer picture of how your financial situation could look in retirement. It also allows you to see if there are any gaps in your National Insurance (NI) record. This is important, as you may be able to pay voluntary National Insurance contributions to fill those gaps and complete your NI record before you retire. At the time of writing you need to make full contributions for 35 years to be eligible for the new full state pension,¹ so it’s definitely worth investigating. 2. Make a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) A Lasting Power of Attorney is an official document whereby you appoint one or more attorneys to help you make financial or healthrelated decisions, or to make them on your behalf if you lose mental capacity in the future. You need to be over the age of 18 to make an LPA, and have the mental capacity at the time to make your own decisions. Drawing up an LPA is often regarded as unnecessary until later life, but it’s well worth considering at any time. 3. Write a will Making a will ensures your assets are passed down according to your wishes when you die, and with today’s complex family structures it can prevent a great deal of stress for those left behind. It’s advisable to seek professional assistance when making a will, particularly if you have a young family or your circumstances aren’t straightforward. 4. Take out ‘life event’ insurance Adverse life events such as chronic illness or

serious accident can derail your plans for the future. You may not be able to work or function in the way you used to, for instance, but if you’ve taken out appropriate insurance it can reduce some of the devastating financial impact for yourself and your family. 5. Check your credit report The state of your credit report affects your ability to borrow and obtain credit, and is a fundamental part of your overall financial situation. Lenders and credit card companies assess your creditworthiness by checking your credit file, and decide whether or not to sanction loans or grant credit based on its contents. If you blitz these jobs in January, you can relax for the rest of 2020 knowing that some of the mundane but very important financial issues that can affect your life so seriously are all under control. www.gov.uk/new-state-pension/your-nationalinsurance-record-and-your-state-pension www.moneywise.co.uk/work/everyday-life/10financial-chores-you-need-tackle-now www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/pensions/article6422421/I-incomplete-years-NI-record-late-fill.html www.moneywise.co.uk/news/2019-0301%E2%80%8C%E2%80%8C/deal-week-get-free-willwritten-you-march

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Parkland Tours 2020

Join us for a walk through time around the parkland of the Shuttleworth Estate. Learn about its historical features and uses as well as its modern day management and preservation. ÂŁ20.00 per person (includes refreshments on arrival). Friday 28 February Book via www.shuttleworth.org/parklandtour-feb Friday 22 May Book via www.shuttleworth.org/parklandtour-may Friday 25 September Book via www.shuttleworth.org/parklandtour-sept The House at Shuttleworth, Old Warden Park, Biggleswade, SG18 9EA

01767 627970

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Seasonal Walks & Lunch with the Head Gardener Enjoy the Swiss Garden through the changing seasons with a series of informative walks, followed by lunch with our senior garden team who will be delighted to share the gardenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s story with you. ÂŁ35.00 per person. Winter Walk on Friday 24 January 2020 Book via: www.shuttleworth.org/winterwalk Spring Walk on Friday 24 April 2020 Book via: www.shuttleworth.org/springwalk Summer Walk on Friday 10 July 2020 Book via: www.shuttleworth.org/summerwalk Autumn Walk on Friday 9 October 2020 Book via: www.shuttleworth.org/autumnwalk The Swiss Garden, Old Warden Park, Biggleswade, SG18 9EP

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Garden View

By Rachael Leverton

Witch Hazel January is a great time to plant deciduous trees and at this time of year a tree with added winter interest is always a welcome sight. Enter the witch hazel. These lovely trees with their citrus-scented spidery flowers are widely sold in garden centres as container-grown plants Look for plants with a number of evenly distributed well-placed branches and avoid those showing signs of stress, damage or disease. Ideally choose an open, sunny position in the garden. They also work well if planted next to pathways and doors where you can enjoy their gorgeous scent on wintery days. Avoid very shady sites though or the plant may become straggly Witch hazels need free-draining soil that doesn’t dry out in summer. A light soil mixed with plenty of organic matter, such as well-rotted manure or compost, is best. They will also grow on heavier clay soils but make sure that as well as digging in plenty of organic matter you ensure good drainage by planting on a slight mound, about

25-30cm (10in-1ft) high and 1m (3½ft) in diameter. The only soil witch hazels won’t tolerate is a shallow chalky soil. And make sure you don’t plant them out if the ground is waterlogged. Witch hazels grow slowly but eventually make large spreading shrubs. They aren’t fond of pruning so make sure you leave enough space around your plant for it can develop naturally. Make sure they are well-watered throughout the first couple of springs and summers as they take a long time to fully establish and lack of moisture can cause flowers to drop. They don’t need regular feeding but applying a top dressing of a general in late winter or early spring will help young plants to grow.

Happy New Year and Happy Gardening!

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Time of Year

New Year, New Home! It’s a sad fact that animal rescue centres are always busier in the period following Christmas. If you’ve been thinking of acquiring a pet, it’s a good time to consider rehoming one. Is my lifestyle suitable for rehoming a cat or dog? What are the practicalities? If you’re at work all day, like to go out for hours and love weekends abroad, your lifestyle may not be suitable to owning a dog. They are pack animals and can become distressed and lonely. A cat, or better still two cats, might be a better choice. I’ve never owned a pet before. There are thousands of successful pet adoptions each year. Animal charities are always happy to advise on which pet is best suited to your circumstances. They have the best interests on the animal at heart and will not let you rehome any animal for which you are entirely unsuited. Will my new cat or dog need to be trained? Every animal is unique: it’s a myth that all rescue pets are aggressive or timid. But equally they will T&G131x93AdvertReady.pdf 07/06/2015 need help to settle into their new life with you.

By Sarah Davey

The charity will advise about training and behaviour considerations for each cat or dog ready to go to its forever home. Do dogs and cats find it difficult to adapt to a new owner? Research has shown that dogs and cats dream about their owners (though quite how the researchers knew this wasn’t specified!). Being rehomed is stressful, but animals learn to love again surprisingly quickly. Dogs and cats are naturally curious creatures so will quickly begin to explore new surroundings and investigate the inhabitants. If you love animals but don’t feel ready to rehome one, why not consider volunteering for a charity instead. You will learn a lot, and make new friends 13:34:43 too, both the human and the furry kind!

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Pets

Rehoming Appeal Hattie

Hattie is a short-haired tabby who is about 8 years old. She moved out of her home as she didn’t get on with the other cats, (which is not so unusual) and she was taken in by a neighbour. Unfortunately, they are unable to keep her permanently. Hattie now deserves to find her forever home where there are no other pets or young children. A family with older children would be fine. She is friendly and likes to be fussed (sometimes it is on her terms). She is neutered, vaccinated and microchipped and would love to find her forever home. If you would like to find out more about Hattie, please call Liz on 01767 681157. Alternatively, please e-mail Philippa at info.rats@gmail.com who will be pleased to forward your enquiry on to the team. View other dogs, cats and small mammals currently in our care for re-homing on our website: www.rats-animalrescue.co.uk or facebook: www.facebook. com/ratscharity. You can also see photographs and details of the animals in our care in our charity shop in Hitchin Street, Biggleswade SG18 8AX. Open Monday to Saturday from 10.00 am until 4.00 pm.

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I Do Solemnly Swear I Am Up To A LOT OF Good! Harry Potter references aside, the beginning of a new year sees an abundance of people making new year’s resolutions. Promises and pledges to make positive changes in their lives. Afterall, the beginning of January is the ideal time to pause and reflect once the Christmas festivities have ceased for another year. If thought out carefully New Year’s resolutions can be very positive and a force for good. Many of you will have already had the conversation with yourself about what your new year’s resolutions will be this year. While others haven’t really given it much thought. So here we have a list. For those of you who enjoy setting yourself goals and wishes, here are a few more suggestions with an RSPCA twist. 1) Have an early Spring clean. Eliminating clutter and unwanted ‘stuff’ from your house can feel very liberating and rewarding. So, this year why not vow to visit the RSPCA shop with all of your unwanted items; clothes, shoes, jewellery, books, DVD’s, CD’s. Don’t forget to fill in our gift aid form when you do. You could even keep a curver box under the stairs for charity items, when its full, bring it in. 2) Volunteering your time All of our shops rely on the dedication of our volunteers, who we could not operate without. They all do an incredible job. I regularly hear from our volunteers how rewarding it is working for the RSPCA, and many love the flexibility of the role. So it you have some regular spare time, why not pop down to your local RSPCA shop to find out how you can help. 3) Recycling Christmas presents Every now and then we receive Christmas presents that we are grateful for but didn’t ask for and will therefore never use. They end up at the bottom of the wardrobe or at the

Pets

back of a drawer collecting dust. We keep these gifts as we do not want to appear ungrateful nor do we want to upset anyone. Sound familiar? Well pop into your local RSPCA shop with any unwanted Christmas gifts and put them to good use. 4) Holding a sponsored event at work Organising and participating in a charity event at work is so uplifting. It raises team spirit and valuable amounts of money are raised in the process. So why not this year, hold an event at work to raise money for the RSPCA. Big or small we are incredibly grateful for all of our donations. You could hold a coffee morning, sponsored walk, golf tournament, an auction, football match, car wash or a bake sale. 5) Be a foster carer The RSPCA are really lucky to have an amazing group of foster carers that provide temporary homes for animals. Fostering an animal is incredibly rewarding and can help the animal to recover from neglect, abuse, illness or injury. Fostering also provides people who would normally be unable to have an animal long term with an alternative. 6) Buying from charity shops more often Finally, one resolution you can make this year is to buy from charity shops more often, and to have them more in the forefront of your mind. So when it is World Book Day and you are being asked to magic a costume out of thin air – go to your local RSPCA shop! If you are after a new coat – check out your local RSPCA shop first. Whatever you decide your new year’s resolutions are going to be this coming year, see if any of them can have a ‘caring for animals’ theme.

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Pets

Ask Alan

When Monty was vaccinated, I was told that he was overweight. He looks ok to me. What is the normal weight for a Labrador? Even within the same breed, there is variation, so the ideal weight is judged by their body condition score, with a 2.5-3 out of 5 being ideal. You should be able to see a waist from the side and above, be able to feel (but not necessarily see) the ribs and not have protruding spine or hips. There is not an ideal weight for a breed, only for the individual, which we can tell you, once we have seen the body score. Most dogs we see are overweight rather than underweight. As in humans, being overweight is not good for your pets. It predisposes to diabetes, heart disease, inflammatory conditions, some tumours and makes the effects of arthritis much worse. Keeping the weight off is easier than losing the weight, but it is possible with diet and exercise (as in humans). Dieting a pet can be difficult as a large part of our pleasure is making them happy, and

food makes them very happy. It is possible to do, without making them miserable with modern weight-loss foods. Our weight loss clinics are there to give you advice and support and make it as pain free as possible for your pet. Most basic hints â&#x20AC;&#x201C; use a good quality, meat-based, lifestage appropriate food; weigh the food to give them the amount they should have for the weight they are supposed to be (not the weight they are), take the calories in treats and dental chews into account when calculating how much to feed and increase exercise. Lean dogs live longer, happier lives. Best wishes,

Alan

If you have any questions you would like answered, please email them to villager@pottonvets.co.uk For more information visit

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Parenting

Making family life that little bit easier Ever feel like you’re trying to juggle too many balls, half of which are on fire? Here are a few ideas that might help… Plan like a pro If you have school-age children, you no doubt find yourself wishing they had their own personal assistant at times. (And a cook, cleaner and driver.) Between them, my two have drama, yoga, maths club, choir, piano, Taekwondo, dance, computer club, youth club and swimming lessons. And that’s before you factor in play dates, homework and school projects. I find the easiest way to remember who needs what, where and on what day, is through a Google calendar that I share with my partner. It means we constantly have notifications pinging at us, but we can remind the kids to grab their piano book or swim stuff in the morning. A wall planner is also handy, particularly a wipeclean weekly planner hung next to the front door or on the fridge. Use it to keep track of clubs, play dates, homework deadlines, whether they’re on school dinners or packed lunches and so on. I bought ours from Amazon for £5. Now I just need to get my kids to remember to check it… Encouraging children to put things away Fed up of the kids dumping their bags and coats on the floor when they walk through the door?

Make it as easy as possible for them to hang things up by installing extra hooks in your hallway. If the hooks are low enough to reach easily, and only for your kids’ coats and bags, it’s more likely they’ll get used. Once you’ve reminded your children to go back and hang their things up a dozen or so times, it becomes habit. Help babies to sleep outside your home When you’re a parenting journalist, you get sent a lot of press releases. The one new product that’s really stood out from the crowd for me recently is the POD Travel Crib. In short, it’s a travel cot that folds up to become a changing bag. The bag can be used to carry nappies, wipes and spare clothes, and the cot mattress doubles up as a changing mat. Genius, right? It takes less than a minute to turn it from bag into cot (and we all know that every second counts when it comes to sleeping babies). And, unlike a lot of baby products, this one looks rather stylish. Think designer laptop bag, but on a larger scale. I ordered one for my sister the day I received the press release, and it now goes with her pretty much everywhere. My niece sleeps better in it than the car seat and it means my sister doesn’t have to lug the pram around. It’s£65 from www.bizzigrowin.com.

By Kate Duggan - www.kateduggan.co.uk

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Motoring

Everything you need to know about hybrids Looking to move into the world of electrification? Here’s all you need to know about hybrids. With all the talk of electrification of cars and everyone looking to reduce their carbon footprint, hybrid models have become more and more popular with buyers. If you’re interested but are not sure what they are and what different types are available, we’ve got you covered. What is a hybrid? As the name suggests, it’s a hybrid of an electric vehicle and an internal combustion engine (usually powered by petrol or diesel). It will have a batterypowered electric motor that will work in conjunction with the combustion engine to power the wheels. Generally, the idea is that the electric motor takes care of the driving at low speeds or while accelerating, because that’s when a combustion engine is at its most inefficient. Then, once up to speed, when the engine can run at low effort to keep things ticking along, it takes over. The result is better fuel economy – always a good thing! Types of hybrid Mild hybrid (MHEV) The mild hybrid takes the hybrid principles but utilises them in the mildest of ways. They typically have a small battery and an electric motor that can take over running the car’s ancillaries, such as the headlights and air conditioning. This means the engine can be turned off to save fuel at times when it is not needed, such as when

decelerating or when stopped. The important distinction is that the wheels cannot be powered by the electric motor. While it tends to mean the engine isn’t being used at times when it’s not being particularly inefficient anyway, the economy gains are fairly small. However, as it’s the batteries that tend to add cost to hybrids, mild hybrids tend to be less expensive to buy than other models. Hybrid When you hear a car referred to as simply a ‘hybrid’ alone, it tends to mean that it has the capability to run on pure electric but the batteries can only be recharged through regenerative braking. This is when motors in the wheels ‘harvest’ energy that would normally be lost when decelerating and braking and uses it to replenish the battery charge. This is where the term ‘self-charging hybrid’ comes from – you never charge the vehicle from an external source, it recharges itself through regeneration. On the positive side, hybrids are much more economical than a mild hybrid, because you can drive on electric only, providing there’s enough charge, and they tend to be less expensive than plug-in models. However, because they rely on deceleration to charge, if you do a lot of motorway miles at a consistent speed you could find the battery is dead once you get to a town where you could use EV mode.

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Plug-in hybrid (PHEV) Plug-in hybrids are the ultimate form of hybrid models, because they can plug into an external source of electricity to charge the batteries. This means you can top the batteries up to full charge overnight and thus maximise the electriconly range. If your daily commute is quite short you might rarely need petrol power, saving you lots of money in the long run. The downside is that the charging technology tends to make PHEVs pricier than other hybrids, and if you have no means to charge the battery yourself, you might as well save that initial cash and go for a normal hybrid. Frequently asked questions What is a self-charging hybrid? In truth, there’s very little to separate a ‘self-charging’ hybrid from a regular hybrid. They still use a single or pair of electric motors to assist the petrol (or, in small numbers, diesel) engine, and they can’t be plugged in to top up the batteries, either. So how do you charge them? Most hybrids come with the option to use some of the engine’s power output to charge the batteries, therefore reserving some electric power for later use. In addition, nearly all hybrids harness the energy generated when braking and coasting, pushing this kinetic energy into the batteries. So really, a ‘self-charging’ hybrid is just a hybrid car that can’t be plugged into the mains. Would a hybrid benefit me? This really depends on your daily journeys. Those who do shorter trips day-to-day are definitely candidates for the swap to a hybrid, as the vehicle can run on all-electric power alone, meaning that emissions are practically zero and overall

consumption of fuel will be as low as possible. In contrast, if you’re travelling further afield more regularly while at higher speeds, then a conventionally powered car may still be better. Hybrids struggle to run on electric power at motorway speeds and for long distances, after which the smaller combustion engine is left to deal with propulsion all by itself, resulting in higher emissions and poor fuel economy. Are hybrid cars reliable? Despite a complex powertrain and the multitude of new technologies incorporated into a hybrid’s setup, they are as reliable as a conventional car. In fact, many older hybrids have achieved high mileages with little to no fuss, and because of the stronger regeneration you get from a hybrid there’s less stress on the brakes too. Do you get a plug-in grant? Sadly, no – in March 2019 the government announced that it was axing the plug-in grant for hybrid vehicles following a surge in their popularity. Only all-electric vehicles now qualify for the grant. Are they eligible for exclusion from low emissions zones? Some hybrids are eligible for an exclusion from London’s low-emissions zone charge, but the rules are far more stringent than previously. Now, only hybrid cars which emit less than 75g/km CO2 and have a minimum zero-emissions (or all-electric) range of 20 miles will be completely exempt from the charge. As a result, older vehicles may not get the discount. Plus, in 2021, London’s Ultra Low Emissions Zone is set to extend to the north and south circular, and no hybrids will get an exemption from the charge.

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Interiors

Cosy up your home

By Katherine Sorrell Spring may still be a while off, but there are many ways to make your interior more inviting, even in the midst of winter. Long, dark nights and chilly mornings can be made more bearable by some clever thinking in your home. To start, make sure your lighting is up to scratch. A well-designed lighting scheme reinforces a sense of security, comfort and vitality, and making dramatic improvements could be as simple as adding a floor lamp in a dark corner or a reading lamp next to a favourite armchair. For the best effect, layer lighting in the same way that an interior designer layers fabrics and textiles, ensuring

that light comes from a variety of sources and directions. For a quick upgrade on a budget, replace main light switches with dimmers, and plug in a selection of table or floor lamps at strategic points. Check that your bulbs give off the correct amount of illumination for the task at hand, and also that, where appropriate, they are a ‘warm’ white in colour rather than ‘cool’. Add the leaping flames of a log burner or a few pretty tea lights or candles (safely positioned, of course) for an atmospheric evening in. Colour can make all the difference to the feel of a room, and a quick paint job – perhaps just on one wall – can be

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transformative. Earthy or spicy colours such as claret, mustard, ochre or chocolate are great choices, while navy or dark grey are more neutral and perhaps easier to live with all year round. Don’t be afraid of trying out darker shades – not only are they very on-trend, but they are really effective at creating a feeling of cocooning comfort. Think about the other main colours and textures in each room. For warmth underfoot, throw down a deep pile rug or two to add extra softness, while at the windows it may be possible to swap sheer, pale, lightweight curtains or blinds for something heavier and in a bolder shade – think wool,

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tweed, velvet, even felt, denim or mohair. In the bedroom, replace pale linens with sheets or a duvet cover in a deeper shade, piling on quilts, eiderdowns, bedcovers, throws and blankets, combining colours, patterns and fabrics for a glorious mixture that feels truly sumptuous. And in the living room, pile up cushions on sofas and armchairs for a sense of cosy luxury, then add some generously sized throws over the back: great for snuggling under. You could use a length of tweed edged with velvet ribbon, chunky knitting or crochet, fake fur or soft fleece. Draw the curtains, light the fire, pull on some fluffy socks, make a mug of hot chocolate and settle down with a good book or a favourite box set – baby it may be cold outside, but inside it’s warm, cosy and welcoming.

How to increase your home’s heat efficiency • Insulate your loft. Use 300mm of quilt insulation, but retain some ventilation so as to avoid condensation. • Deal with draughts. At windows, fit rebated seals, secondary glazing or wellfitting shutters (which can be as effective as double glazing). Or use the old-fashioned method: heavy, floor-to-ceiling curtains with a thermal lining. Venetian blinds can come treated with a special coating to add more insulation, or you can invest in made-to-measure blinds that feature a cellular structure to retain warm air. • Doors will also benefit from seals or a curtain – a rising door curtain rod (aka a portiere rod) will hold the curtain out of the way when the door is opened.

• If the suspended timber floor is draughty, seal any gaps at the bottom of skirting boards with foam strips, silicon mastic or slivers of timber. For gaps between floorboards you could use fillets of wood, pack the gaps with string or cord and finish with wood filler, or try a special gap filler that comes on a roll with its own applicator. • When fitting carpet, look for underlay with the highest possible tog rating. • Bear in mind that woodburning stoves are far more energy-efficient than open fires. • Help prevent heat loss from radiators – especially when fitted on an outside wall – by fitting tin foil (or special radiator reflectors) behind them to reflect the heat back in.

1. Curtains: Kortori fabric in Gilt, from £34 per metre; cushions left to right: Moda fabric in Gilt, from £36 per metre; Kortori fabric in Gilt, from £34 per metre; throws: Asami fabric in Gilt/ Willow, from £42 per metre; all from the Orientalis collection by ILIV: 01772 651199; i-liv.co.uk 2. Venetian Thermostop® blinds in Dove Grey, from £107 for a made-to-measure 400mm x 600mm blind, Style Studio: 0141 814 3500; stylestudio.co.uk 3. Beaumont 8 series wood-burning stove, from £1,800; with the Burlington limestone fire surround, £1,995; both Chesneys: 020 7627 1410; chesneys.co.uk To advertise in The Villager and Town Life please call 01767 261122

n O s ’ t Wha In January

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

2 January Moggerhanger Walkers Held on the 1st Thursday in the month. Weather dependent. Linda and Alan run this walk and email those interested a day or two beforehand with their plan, which of course depends on the weather. Contact Linda if you would like to be on their email list or would like more information. Tel: 01767 640798 Email: lindaheath10@hotmail.com

2, 9, 16, 23 & 30 January Amici Singers 7.30-9.45pm Trinity Methodist Church, Shortmead Street, Biggleswade Membership £15 per term (£45 per year) The Amici Singers, a women’s chorus of 60 voices, meets on Thursday evenings under the Direction of Douglas Coombes MBE. All voices and ages welcome and there aren’t any auditions. If you are interested to join or for more information please contact any choir member or Carole. You will be assured of a warm and friendly welcome. Tel: Carole Lindsay-Douglas 01767 2603661 3 January Sandy Night Owls Women’s Institute 7.30pm Sandy Conservative Club Visitors £4 Usually meets on the first Wednesday of each month (except August). Friendly group where guests will receive a warm welcome and enjoy a varied programme and refreshments. Email: sandynightowlswi@gmail.com 3, 6, 8, 10, 13, 15, 17, 20, 22, 24, 27, 29 & 31 January ‘Open Door’ 10-11.30am Potton Salvation Army, Chapel Street Tea/coffee and chat on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. All welcome. Tel: 01767 261138 for further info 3, 10, 17, 24 & 31 January Get Fit Keep Fit 9.30-10.30am Moggerhanger Village Hall £5 Join Tina or Josh as they take you through a light-hearted sequence with a warm-up, exercises designed to improve muscular fitness, brain coordination, balance and general well-being, then a cool-down. It’s not over-strenuous; it’s fun and makes you feel good. Why not come and join us? Tel: Tony or Judith on 01767 640124 3, 10, 17, 24 & 31 January Lego Club 3.45-5pm Potton Library Love Lego? Come along and get building! Every Friday afternoon.

3, 10, 17, 24 & 31 January Sandy Ukulele Group 7-9pm Baptist Chapel Hall, Bedford Road, Sandy Meets every Friday. Please email for more information on joining the group. Visitors welcome. Email: sandyukulelegroup1@gmail.com Web: www.sandyukulelegroup.com

4, 11, 18 & 25 January Lego & K’Nex Club 1.45-3.30pm Potton Library Love Lego and K’NEX? Come along and get building! 5, 12, 19 & 26 January Hare & Hounds Hash House Harriers 11am H5 are a social running and walking club for mixed abilities, meeting every week in the Bedfordshire area. The trail is set by our hare from a local pub and typically lasts 1 hour covering between 3 and 4 miles. Family and dog friendly. Full details of the trails can be found online or via email. Email: info@h5hashers.org.uk Web: www.H5hashers.org.uk 6, 13, 20 & 27 January Branch Out Social Club for Single People 8.30-11pm Cromwell Bar, The Sun Hotel, Hitchin Branch Out meets every Monday night and is a medium-sized Social Club for single people. The club organises regular events, such as dinners, discos, meals, parties, Sunday walks, theatre and concert visits, day and weekend trips and holidays. Tel: Lorna 01438 233657 Web: www.branch-out.org.uk 7 January Hatley Coffee Morning 10am-1pm Hatley Village Hall Come along for a chat, coffee/tea and a slice of cake. Everyone welcome. Donations on the day. All donations split between Hatley Village Hall and Hatley St George Church. First Tuesday of the every month. 7 January Potton Ladies Club 7.30pm Mill Lane Pavilion, Mill Lane, Potton Visitors £5 inc. light refreshments Bill Hamilton, former BBC journalist, reflects on 50 years as a News Correspondent. Visitors welcome. Tel: Sarah Burgoine 01767 631415 Email: sarahjburgoine@gmail.com

7, 14, 21 & 28 January Biggleswade Board Game Group 7.30-10.30pm George’s Hall, 67 High Street, Biggleswade Meets every Tuesday to play modern board games in a friendly atmosphere. New and experienced players welcome - bring your own games or try something new, there are always plenty available to play. Facebook: Biggleswade Board Game Group 7, 14, 21 & 28 January Phoenix Chorus 7.45-10.15pm Potton Lower School Have you loved the a capella singing shows on TV? Could you be pitch perfect with us? Phoenix A Capella Chorus meets every Tuesday. Visitors always welcome. Tel: Sarah 07842 101799 Email: pro@phoenixladies.co.uk Web: https://phoenixladies.co.uk 7, 14, 21 & 28 January 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 8 January Business Buzz Biggleswade 10am-12 noon George’s Hall, Biggleswade £5. Drop-in session on the second Wednesday of the month for local small businesses from in and around Bedfordshire. No membership, no booking, just pay on the door. 8 January Gamlingay & District Gardening Club 7.30pm The Kier Suite, Eco Hub, Stocks Lane, Gamlingay Visitors £3 inc. refreshments & raffle Ever wanted to improve your garden? Now is the time of the year to start making plans. Come along to our first meeting of the year and be inspired by our wide range of speakers. ‘How we made a garden’ by Neil and Sarah Barton who will be sharing their experiences of developing a garden in East Hatley over the last 10 years. 8, 15, 22 & 29 January Mums and Dads Coffee Morning 9-10am Moggerhanger Church Toys available in the church for pre-school children. Tea/coffee, juice, biscuits £1 with fruit juice for children. A good time to meet friends, have impromptu meetings, plan your next commitments, etc.

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n O s ’ t Wha In January

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

8, 15, 22 & 29 January Moo Music Sandy, Biggleswade & Shefford 10-10.40am Sandy Methodist Church Moosical fun for your little one! 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

14 January Sutton WI 7.30pm Sutton Village Hall The group meets on the second Tuesday of every month. 16 January Sandy Astronomical Society Blunham Playing Field Public viewing (weather permitting) using telescopes. Facebook: www.facebook.com/groups/ SandyAstronomicalSociety

21 January Potton Writer’s Club 7-9pm Potton Community Centre £3 Meets on the third Tuesday of each month. All welcome - please call or email in advance so we know to expect you. Light refreshments. Tel: Tracey 07778 148030 Email: info pottonwriters@gmail.com

23 January Biggleswade and District Flower Arrangement Society 7.30pm 16 January The Weatherley Centre, Biggleswade Biggleswade Poetry Table If you love flowers, we invite you to join us on the 7.45-9pm fourth Thursday of the month for “flowers and The Courtyard Centre, 6 High Street, Biggleswade fellowship” where you will be able to relax with Grab a drink and join us to share poems. We look fellow enthusiasts and our guest demonstrators. No forward to hearing any poem you’d like to bring. need to consider yourself a flower arranger, all you Email: leah@leahkstewart.com need is the sense of joy in the beauty of flowers. Please call Moira for further details about the club. 9 January 19 January Tel: Moira Fuller (Chairman) 01767 316104 Sandy Astronomical Society Biggleswade Antique & Vintage Fair Mama’s Coffee Shop 10am-4pm 23 January General meeting. The Weatherley Centre, Eagle Farm Road, Biggleswade & District Camera Club Facebook: www.facebook.com/groups/ Biggleswade 7.30 for 8pm SandyAstronomicalSociety Entrance £2, Under 16s free if accompanied by Biggleswade Conservative Club, St Andrews an adult Street, Biggleswade SG18 8BA 9 January Diverse range of antiques and collectables so Non-members £3 Biggleswade Evening Women’s Institute whether you are a professional dealer, an avid ‘The Legend will Live On’, a digital presentation by 7.45pm collector or just looking for something special, Dave Smith. The Weatherley Centre, Eagle Farm Road, this monthly fair is the place to visit. Café serving Tel: 01767 316176 Biggleswade breakfast, lunch and afternoon tea. Email: secretary@biggleswadecameraclub.co.uk A new group which meets on the second Thursday of Tel: 01480 382432 or 07906 647346 each month (except August). Guests welcome. Web: www.madisonevents.co.uk 28 January Knit & Natter 9, 16, 23 & 30 January 20 January 10am-12 noon Moo Music Sandy, Biggleswade & Shefford Biggleswade Women’s Institute Moggerhanger Church 10-10.40am 10am Every 4th Tuesday of the month. Open to all – Sutton Village Hall Visitors £4 villagers and neighbours. Newborn babies’ hats, Moosical fun for your little one! Music and The Weatherley Centre, Eagle Farm Road, bonding squares and other useful things are still movement classes for 0-5 year olds so ideal for Biggleswade being made for Bedford Hospital Maternity Unit, or siblings of different ages. Original moosic, lots of Meets on every third Monday of the month except you may prefer to bring your own work. If you have moovement, dancing, sensory and role play. First August. Visitors welcome. any wools, patterns, needles etc. you don’t need, the session free. Email: biggleswadewi@gmail.com group is always happy to receive them. Contact Jane Tel: 07981 825654 for more info or to suggest a project you’d like the Email: Heather sandymoo@moo-music.co.uk 21 January group to work on. Web: www.moo-music.co.uk/sbs Sandy Women’s Institute Tel: Jane 01767 641501 for more info Facebook: www.facebook.com/moomusicsandy 10am Sandy Conservative Club 31 January 11 January Meets on the third Tuesday of each month (except Sandy Historical Society Cambridgeshire and Bedfordshire August). Michael Peachey talks about ‘Fun Oil 7.30pm Hardy Plant Society Painting’ with the opportunity to try your hand. New Stonecroft Hall, St Swithins Way, Sandy 2pm Weatherley Centre, Eagle Farm Road, members welcome. If you would like to give us a try Members & students free, non-members £2.50 Biggleswade before committing to full membership, visitors are ‘What people had in their houses 1600-1700’ by ‘The Chrysanthemum in Art and Culture’ with Twigs welcome (£4). David Short. Way. Twigs is a writer, researcher and speaker on Tel: Valerie Haygarth 01767 691711 for more info Tel: 01767 680171 for further info garden history including landscapes in art and Email: sandywibeds@gmail.com literature. Web: www.hpscambsandbeds.co.uk 8, 15, 22 & 29 January 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: Linda 07704734225 for more information

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B urtenshaw D ecorating S ervices All Domestic Work Undertaken Painting, Decorating, Wallpapering Interior and Exterior Work Over 30 years experience Fully Insured Quality Workmanship City and Guilds Qualified Insurance Work

01767 680762 07972 622305 shadbeam@tiscali.co.uk

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WALL COATING

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Before After

0800 046 1080 hello@thehomeimprovementproject.co.uk www.thehomeimprovementproject.co.uk 76

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T&R Roofing Ltd

Family Business Est. 1985

• Felt Roofing Specialists (10 year & 15 year guarantee on high performance felts) • Tiling, Slating, Guttering • UPVC Facia/Soffits • Chimney Work

All NEW work guaranteed Fully insured for employer & Public Liability

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Call Tony Simpson for a FREE estimate on:

01767 314847 mob. 07831849847

SC Heating Services Oil Boiler Servicing Oil Boiler Installation Oil Tank Installation Heating System Installation Bathroom Installation Pipework & Drainage for Kitchen Appliances General Plumbing Works and Maintenance

Free Quotes Based in Cambourne M: 07972 867 298 H: 01954 718 130 E: scheatingservices@gmail.com To advertise in The Villager and Town Life please call 01767 261122

Technology

Start a New Year’s revolution

High-tech ways to keep your New Year’s resolutions

Ace 2 for children. Garmin has fitness-focused smartwatches at all price points plus the cute and sub-£100 Vivosmart 4 trackers, and firms such as Huawei offer budget bargains such as the £59 Band 3 Pro. Every device is different, of course, but the main difference between a smartwatch and a fitness tracker is apps. Smartwatches generally have them and fitness trackers generally don’t. Not all fitness technology goes on your wrist. Smart scales have become even smarter recently and many of them now connect to the health app on your phone, so you can see changes to your body composition and your weight over time. If you don’t feel like dropping £130-plus on a Nokia / Withings smart scale, the budget technology brand Eufy makes some really nice smart ones for much less: its Bluetooth-connected smart scales are currently £39.99 and work brilliantly.

The decorations are down, the gyms are going to be packed for the next few weeks and many of us have vowed to sort ourselves out. We’re going to get fitter, happier and more productive – and technology can help. One way technology can help is by making fitness more fun. For example, instead of a pricey gym subscription, why not buy yourself an e-bike? While some electric bikes are incredibly expensive, prices are falling fast: for example, Halfords sells a number of electric bikes for less than £600 and one is just £479. By comparison, a year’s membership of a very wellknown gym chain is £672. Whether you’re cycling down the streets, pounding the pavements or hitting the gym, it’s useful to track your progress to help with your motivation. There are tons of apps for everything, from recording the calories you consume to giving you challenging workouts. Some are incredibly focused, such as Seven: it gives you workouts you

can do in just seven minutes. Phones can track your movements through the day but if you really want to track your progress, a fitness tracker or a smartwatch can give you all kinds of information about what your body’s doing. The big daddy of the fitness tracking world is the Apple Watch, which comes in two flavours: the Series 3, which starts at £199, and the Series 5, which starts at £399. The series 4 was discontinued last year. If you have an iPhone, they’re the best smart watches you can buy. If you don’t have an iPhone or just don’t need a £400 Apple Watch, there are plenty of other options. Samsung makes a range of Galaxy Active watches from around £200 up that work really well with Android phones, and it also makes a simple fitness tracker called the Galaxy Fit. That’s currently £89. Fitbit has the £199 Versa 2 smartwatch and a range of fitness trackers including the £119 Charge 3 and the £69

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Codeword 1

ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ

Easy Suduko

Hard Suduko

Fill in the grid so that each row, column and 3x3 box, contains the digits 1 through to 9 with no repetition. Use your logic to solve the puzzles. 80

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Extensions New builds Rewires Smoke alarms Landlord certificates Fault finding and repairs Consumer unit replacements Lighting and power (internal & external) Boiler controls Inspection and testing Free quotations Part P approved All types of electrical work undertaken

Tel: (01767) 641575 Mobile: (07881) 627423 Email: cmfelectrical@hotmail.co.uk

Your Perfect Loft Access and Storage Solution Our services include: Loft Ladders Loft Hatches Insulation Loft Boarding Loft Lighting Balustrades We are a family run business who comply to building regulations, where our fitters are fully insured and all of our work is guaranteed. Covering Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Essex.

01438 211302 info@eastanglianloftladders.co.uk eastanglianloftladders.co.uk To advertise in The Villager and Town Life please call 01767 261122

Call now for a free, no obligation quotation 81

Electrician

www.hertsandbedselectrical.co.uk

Do you find it difficult to get someone to come and do a small job? Fault finding/repairs Extra lights and sockets New fuse boards Electrical testing and certificates Qualified electrician  Fully insured Reliable service  Tidy work Free quote  Satisfaction guaranteed

Call Nigel on: 01767 834024 / 07941295883 Email: nigelrooney@hotmail.co.uk

MELTON

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A RELIABLE, QUALITY SERVICE YOU CAN TRUST - Gas Boiler Servicing and Maintenance - High Efficiency Gas Boiler Replacements - Full System Installations and Updates - Unvented Hot Water Installations - Landlord Gas Safety Certificates - All General Plumbing and Bathrooms - Radiator Flushing Based in St. Neots Covering All Surrounding Areas

FREE QUOTES ALL WORK GUARANTEED FULLY INSURED Tel: 07502 253276 Web: www.meltonheating.co.uk Email: info.meltonheating@gmail.com meltonplumbingandheating

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The original oven cleaning specialists

Oven Clean will transform your oven and put sparkle back into your kitchen Friendly, local, professional and reliable Complete eco friendly cleaning system No fumes, no mess, no bother Removes grease, fats and burnt on carbon

Ovens | Filters | Hobs Grills | Extractors Call John on 07513 439604 www.ovenclean.com

Ovenclean 9-15.indd 1

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Mark Dilley Electrical Part P Registered Company 22386 Extra sockets - Lighting Extensions - Re-wires Security Lighting - Showers Inspections Electric Vehicle Charging Points

No job too small Free estimates All work to BS7671 regulations City and Guilds qualified

Tel: 01767 261008 Mob: 07990 895430

mark.dilley@btinternet.com

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Decemberâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Puzzle Solutions and Winners Last Monthâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Crossword Winner Heather Urquhart from Hitchin Cambridge Gliding Competition Winner Mrs Beverley Sale-James from St Neots Christmas Quiz Competition Winner Mrs P Davies from Biggleswade

Easy

Hard

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W: www.i-glaze.co.uk 85

The Villager Prize Crossword

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

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

Prize

ÂŁ25

Across 1 Demand (6) 4 Swollen (5) 9 Tract of level high ground (7) 10 Examinations (5) 11 Restored to health (5) 12 Exact (7) 13 Arguing (11) 18 Sudden bursts of light (7) 20 Contest (5) 22 Strongly flavoured edible bulb (5) 23 Interconnected system (7) 24 Traffic light (5) 25 Changes to fit purpose (6) Down 1 Collision (6) 2 Step (5) 3 Slim (7) 5 Loosen (5) 6 Popular style (7) 7 Keeping down (11) 8 Pale or colourless (5) 14 Ingredient of nuclear power (7) 15 Restricted (7) 16 Happening, underway (5) 17 Trembles (6) 19 Thus (5) 21 Unit of soldiers (5)

Name: Tel:

ď&#x20AC;˘

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

• Remote Control Door

SANDY • POTTON • All Major Brands

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BIGGLESWADE • Call for a Free AND SURROUNDING AREAS

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• OAP Rates Available

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DRIFTWOOD JOINERY LTD Specialists in Bespoke Joinery

TRADITIONAL SWEEPING SERVICE NESTS REMOVED CAGES, CAPS AND COWLS FITTED SWEEPING CERTIFICATES ISSUED PROFESSIONAL, CLEAN SERVICE FULLY INSURED POLICE CHECKED

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

INSULATING SPRAYFOAM • BBA APPROVED SPRAYFOAM • CAN GREATLY REDUCE ENERGY BILLS • UPGRADE YOUR PROPERTIES ‘U’ VALUE • ELIMINATES DRAFTS OR ‘DRAW’ FROM THE ROOF SPACE • MESS & HASSLE FREE • QUALIFIES AS AN ESM • FIRE SAFE

0800 046 1080 30% OFF ORDERS PLACED IN JANUARY hello@thehomeimprovementproject.co.uk www.thehomeimprovementproject.co.uk To advertise in The Villager and Town Life please call 01767 261122

Book Review By Kate Duggan A Year of Reading Aloud by Georgina Rodgers (editor)

If you love poetry, try this collection of ‘52 poems to learn and love’, where you’ll find well-known names such as Sylvia Plath, E.E Cummings, William Blake and Maya Angelou alongside newer poets. Most of the poems are short enough to learn without too much difficulty, and they’re accompanied by a paragraph about the poet and the reason why the poem has been selected. Take up the challenge of learning one each week, or just dip in and out when you need an extra dose of beauty in your life.

Grow Cook Eat Diary 2020 by Sarah Raven

Window Doctor Repairs to Windows, Doors & Conservatories • • • • • • •

Misty Units New Locks Draughty Windows Dropped Doors Broken Hinges/Handles Extra Security Installation of New Windows, Doors and Conservatories

If you love gardening and cooking this could be the diary for you. Each month has a short list of what to sow, plant and harvest in your garden, along with other garden-related tasks and a simple recipe using in-season produce. Dishes range from Cauliflower and Chickpea Curry to Beef Carpaccio with Fennel Flowers. As you’d expect, there are plenty of stunning flower photographs throughout the diary, with one image for each week.

A Year of Living Thankfully by Lois Blyth

Can being more grateful change your life? According to this book it can, and Lois Blyth is on a mission to show you how. Each week, you’ll work through an activity to help you embrace gratitude and take pleasure in the little things. There’s guidance on turning negative thoughts around, learning to appreciate what you have and not letting others spoil your mood.

30 Years Experience Contact Stewart Gyles on T: 0798 444 1638 or

01767 221 057

E: stewy_133@msn.com 90

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Classifieds Accountants

Domestic Appliance Repairs

Domestic Appliance Repairs Guaranteed Repairs To:

Washing Machines • Tumble Dryers Electric Ovens/Cookers • Dishwashers No Call Out Charge!

JB Domestic

Tel: 01767 680621 or Mob: 07778 891490

Aerials and Satellites AERIALS & SATELLITES T/A Broadband Communications Established 1993

Aerials & Satellites • Digital Aerials Freesat & Satellite Installations Commercial IRS Systems All Work Guaranteed • CAI Approved C.1616 Based in Stotfold www.broadbandcommunications.co.uk

Tel: 01462 732 628 • Mob: 07860 436 217

Domestic Appliance Repairs

Solo Appliances Domestic Appliance Repairs • • • •

Washing machines Tumble Dryers Dishwasher Electric Cookers/Ovens

Established over 30 years All work guaranteed

Tel: 07966 229085/01767 261847

Electricians

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Classifieds Fencing

Handy Man QUO FR TAT EE ION S

Fencing Services, Security Fences, Gates, Garden Fences, Repair & Restoration Call 01767 316901 or 07927 748460 Email: rsfencingservices83@gmail.com Web: www.rsfencingservices.co.uk

Foot Health Practitioner

Locksmith Services

Katie Charles - Foot Health Practitioner - S.A.C. Dip. RFHP Professional footcare in the comfort of your own home Nail Trimming • Corns • Fungal Nail • Athletes Foot Hard Skin/Callus • Verruca Treatment • Thickened Nail Tel: 07841 479120 Email: info@katiefoothealth.co.uk Web: www.katiefoothealth.co.uk

Garden Specialist

Painter & Decorator

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

01767 699252 07901 985123

Garden Specialist

S Classified advert.indd 1

Adam Staniforth

Painter &

Decorator 07870 428357 adamstaniforth35@gmail.com

Painter & Decorator

14/04/2015 21:23

RICHBAW

DECOR LTD Local, honest, professional service

Richard Bawden - City and Guilds Qualified Mobile: 07757 013796 Home: 01767 835008 Email: r666baw@gmail.com Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts

Classifieds Painting Services

Plumbing and Heating

Boiler installations & system upgrades Appliance servicing, breakdowns & repairs Landlord certificates Power flushing

Bathroom installations FREE estimates Over 35 years experience Based in Gamlingay

Contact Kevin Woodfield - Mob: 07860 274303 Tel: 0800 2118399 Email: kevin@alphaplumbingandheating.co.uk Web: www.alphaplumbingandheating.co.uk

Pet Services

Plumbing and Heating

Plastering Services

Property Improvements Property Improvements by

A professional property maintenance service

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

Tel: 01767 651821 Mob: 07773 973420

Plumbing

M. Philmore (Phil) - General Plumber Now semi retired but still available for general plumbing. 57 Green Acres, Gamlingay, Beds. SG19 3LR

Property Improvements

Tel: 01767 650619 Mobile: 07870366414

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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

Classifieds Property Maintenance

CJ Property Maintenance

Tiling

Free Estimates

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 Tel: 01767 680532 Mob: 0774 600 8188 cjpainting@hotmail.co.uk

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

Window Cleaner

Removals

MUSCLE & MOTOR Jumbo van with up to 3 men. Helpful, efficient and friendly service for all your moving, carrying, and domestic disposal needs, including house and garage clearance.

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

Wood Suppliers

Riding School MANOR FARM RIDING SCHOOL Sutton, Beds - SG19 2ND Lessons for all abilities NEW YEAR – NEW HOBBY, LEARN TO RIDE

07875 192662 You can also find us on facebook

Roofing

Wood Suppliers

FOR SALE

Seasoned Hardwood Logs Any size load Telephone: 01438 355489 Mobile: 07721 508383 94

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USEFUL NUMBERS

VILLAGER The

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Alcoholics Anonymous..............................0845 769 7555 Al-Anon Family Groups..............................0800 008 6811 Anglian Water............................................08457 145 145 Bedford Hospital........................................ 01234 355122 Lister Hospital............................................ 01438 314333 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

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.

Cocaine Anonymous..................................0800 689 4732 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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