Potton July 2020 by Villager Mag

VILLAGER The

Issue 167 - July 2020

and Town

Life

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

In this issue Paddling Pool Safety

Get Moving for

Mental Health Win £25 in our Prize Crossword

Bringing Local Business to Local People Every Month in Biggleswade, Sandy, Potton, Gamlingay and all surrounding villages

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Inside this issue... Solutions4Gardens

The History of the Pandemic......................................................................4 Paddling Pool Safety..................................................................................... 8 Get Moving for Mental Health................................................................10 The Stories behind Potton Churchyard Stones.................................. 12 Wines Worth Locating: The Winebarn..................................................14 What do our national animals say about us?...................................... 17 Light up your dining table..........................................................................18 What’s happened to our love of antiques?......................................... 21 Gail’s Guide to Gin....................................................................................... 23 News from East Anglian Air Ambulance.............................................. 24 Classroom Challenges................................................................................. 27 Nick Coffer’s Weekend Recipe................................................................28 Walking Back to Happiness.......................................................................30 Dining in the Kitchen...................................................................................33 Staycation Treats...........................................................................................37 Summer Dressing to Keep Cool..............................................................40 Biggleswade Community Agent...............................................................43 Back to Nature..............................................................................................44 Lasting Power of Attorney and a Will..................................................46 Solutions 4 Gardens....................................................................................48

Silver Splendour............................................................................................50 Rural Ramblings............................................................................................. 53 Escape to Victory......................................................................................... 55 R.A.T.S. Rehoming Appeal..........................................................................56 The Good Pet Owner’s Guide to Summer..........................................58 Ask Alan - Potton Vets................................................................................61 Children’s Page............................................................................................... 62 Exciting Car Technologies..........................................................................64 Do you pass a Post-Park Check?.............................................................66 Brain Food: Oranges....................................................................................69 Fun Quiz...........................................................................................................69 Handy Songs for Clean Hands.................................................................. 71 Uzbekistan.......................................................................................................72 The Squatter...................................................................................................75 Make your outdoors great........................................................................ 77 Puzzle Page.....................................................................................................80 Not Wired for Sound.................................................................................. 83 Villager Prize Crossword............................................................................86 Avoiding Food Waste..................................................................................88 Wordsearch....................................................................................................88 Book Review...................................................................................................90

The Good Pet Owner’s Guide to Summer

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, Tracey Anderson, Kate McLelland, Peter Ibbett, Trevor Langley, Gail Mitchell, Nick Coffer, Jo Turner, Katherine Sorrell, Kate Duggan, Jennie Billings, Ann Haldon, RSPCA, Pippa Greenwood, Geoff Wharton, Sarah Davey, Iain Betson, Alison Williams, Solange Hando, Potton Vets, Jackie Brewster, Aidan Wilson and EAAA

Advertising Sales/Local Editorial Nigel Frost • Tel 01767 261122 nigel@villagermag.com Front Cover Photography - famveldman Design and Artwork - Design 9 Tel 07762 969460 • www.design9marketing.co.uk

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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. 3

History

By Catherine Rose

The History of the Pandemic Despite our increased global mobility meaning pandemics are potentially more likely, diseases have been crossing country borders for centuries. One of the earliest pandemics, the Justinian plague, began in 500 AD, spreading from Egypt into Palestine, the Byzantine Empire and then Europe. Similar to bubonic plague, it killed twenty-six per cent of the world’s population – around five hundred million – thwarting Roman Emperor Justinian’s plans to revitalise the Roman Empire. 1347 saw the first wave of the Black Death, a pneumonic form of bubonic plague – one of the most devastating pandemics in human history. Originating in Asia, it is likely to have travelled along the Silk Route and then by ship into Europe. It is believed, as with later outbreaks, that it was spread via fleas contaminated with the yersinia pestis bacteria. The disease is estimated to have killed hundreds of millions of people worldwide and up to sixty per cent of the population in Europe. Characterised

by a fever and buboes, the Black Death could kill within hours. Whole villages were wiped out and in cities people were confined to their homes, a cross marking the door to indicate if they had the plague within. Carts were piled high with bodies as people were ordered to ‘bring out their dead’. It wasn’t until the nineteenth century that the bacteria were discovered. At the time, it was believed that the plague was caused by miasma or ‘bad air’. It was even thought that the illness could jump out of a dead man’s eyes and infect a healthy person. Many believed that sinners were being punished. Groups of flagellants took to the streets, whipping themselves to appease an angry God. What a strange sight that would be to us today! The Black Death lasted until 1352 and had huge economic and social repercussions. Instances of bubonic plague returned over the following centuries. In 1665, the Great Plague of London spread from ports along the Thames and

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killed twenty per cent of its population. As has happened more recently in China, it was believed that cats and dogs were spreading the disease and many were slaughtered. The term ‘quarantine’ was coined in Venice referring to a period of forty days – the optimum time necessary for the spread of an epidemic to be contained. Cities that implemented quarantines were found to be less affected by fast-transmitting diseases. The first of several cholera pandemics began in Russia in 1815. Acquired through contaminated water and food, the British Army unwittingly spread this serious bacterial illness across the British Empire. Eventually India, China, Indonesia, Japan, Spain, Italy, Germany and America all succumbed to the pandemic. Millions of people died from the rapidly fatal effects of the disease which causes severe diahorreah and dehydration. Another outbreak occurred during the Crimean War between 1853 and 1856. Nurse Florence Nightingale became famous at this time for her tireless efforts to improve unsanitary conditions. A vaccine was created in 1885. Smallpox, caused by the variola virus, is one of the most devastating diseases. Various outbreaks have occurred over the centuries with the earliest believed to have been as far back as 10,000 BC. During the twentieth century alone, smallpox was responsible for up to five hundred million deaths worldwide. It was finally declared by WHO to be eradicated in 1980. The fact that COVID-19 originated in animals is one of the reasons it has been taken so seriously. However, it is not the first pandemic virus to do so. The Spanish flu, which struck worldwide during

1918/19, is believed to have started in birds. Unlike regular flu, the illness targeted healthy young people more than it struck the old. With this particular strain, it is thought to be due to older people having built up more immunity over the course of their life. Although nicknamed the Spanish flu, it first appeared in Kansas, America in 1918. Due to World War I, many European countries had news blackouts and initial announcements of the disease came from Madrid, which led to people believing it had begun in Spain. Its arrival towards the end of the war meant it spread rapidly in the unsanitary and confined conditions of the trenches. And it came at a devastating time when populations had already been decimated. This particularly deadly flu primarily attacked the lungs, leading to severe bronchial pneumonia. It infected a third of the world’s population and resulted in around fifty to one hundred million deaths. During its year-long reign, public places were closed and people told to wear masks, self-isolate and not shake hands. At the time it was believed to be caused by bacteria; much smaller viruses were only discovered later. India was one of the worst affected countries due to the high number of people living in close proximity there. Tasmania closed its borders early and implemented a strict quarantine period – as a result the pandemic was mildest by comparison. Today, we are better informed about the spread of disease, our lives are more sanitary and scientists can more easily predict outcomes and implement strategies that contain it. Stay safe and well.

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Parenting

Paddling Pool Safety With more of us staying at home this summer many of us will be tempted to buy paddling pools and bathing pools (if we’re lucky enough to have a large enough space). Most parents are hypervigilant when near a hotel or campsite pool, but it’s easy to become more complacent when we’re at home in our own ‘safe’ environment. It’s possible for a young child to drown in just a few inches of water. That’s why it’s important not to overfill your paddling pool: 5-10cm of water is enough for lots of splashy toddler fun. Just as you’d supervise a child while playing in a hotel pool or on the beach so it’s important to supervise them while they are playing in a paddling pool. If you need to step away for a moment to answer the phone, switch the kettle on or check on dinner – be sure to take the kids out of the pool while you’re away. It might be a bit of a faff but so much better to be safe not sorry. I’m betting you check that baths are not too hot when you run them. How many of us check our pools are not too cold? Water from outdoor taps tends to be very chilly. Adding a kettle or two of boiling water to the pool to take the chill off before the kids use it is kinder to tiny bodies. The area around your paddling pool tends to become very slippery very quickly. A couple of old towels for them to stand on as they climb out helps

By Tracey Anderson

to prevent accidents. If you’re re-using a pool from previous years make sure you give it a thorough clean to get rid of cobwebs, bird and mouse droppings and general muck before filling it with water. Children ingest a surprising amount of paddling pool water and you really don’t want any nasty tummy bugs. A tablespoon of bleach when cleaning and rinsing it AFTER use will help keep it spotless and safe. Gardens are full of sharps things, like twigs and stones. To avoid puncturing the pool, or inflicting any nasty cuts and grazes, check it for sharp objects before filling and keep an eye out for new debris whilst the kids are leaping in and out. If you do spot a puncture, tear, or rip, you’ll need to fix it before letting your kids play in it. Once filled with water a damaged pool can collapse or deflate depositing water and bathers all over the lawn! The bright colours and sparkly water in paddling pools means they are a magnet for insects! You may need to fish a few out of the pool now and then. A small net, or an old sieve is great. It might also be a good idea to apply plenty of insect-repellent to your children to help ward off things that bite and sting! Sun protection is important. Beachwear with a high SPF is perfect paddling pool attire. And don’t forget to slather on lashings of high SPF waterproof sunscreen and keep reapplying throughout the day.

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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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Health

By Kate McLelland

Get Moving for Mental Health During the lockdown, with so little choice of things to do, it may well be that a walk round the block became part of your daily routine. That should have reminded you of the physical and mental benefits of fresh air and moving around. But as lockdown eases, if you find you have reverted to form and even the very word ‘exercise’ makes you want to retreat to the sofa to binge watch Netflix, we hear you! It really doesn’t have to be a chore though. Any type of exercise is useful, as long as it suits you and you do enough of it. It should be something you enjoy or it will be hard to find the motivation to do it regularly. As the saying goes: necessity is the mother of invention and the last couple of months have been amazing for introducing exercise that doesn’t involve being in a gym. From martial arts in the garden, online yoga and cycling to just that brisk walk round the block. Exercise to boost your mood Aerobic exercises, where your heart rate is elevated, have been shown to help depression. They reduce your levels of cortisol (AKA the ‘stress hormone’). You could try jogging (using the Couch to 5K app to keep yourself motivated), a virtual exercise class or just dancing in your kitchen. Exercise to ease anxiety Yoga and pilates can have a direct impact on your nervous system, helping to calm it down and ease anxiety. Some studies have shown that yoga can also be beneficial for tackling depression, alleviating stress and even reducing pain and blood pressure. Exercise in nature According to a study by the University of Exeter, spending two hours a week in nature is good for both your mental and physical wellbeing. This could mean your local park, a field or even doing an outdoor

circuits session in your garden. Virtual exercise classes Joe Wicks runs weekday PE classes at 9am on his YouTube channel and you don’t need to have children to take part. If the family classes are too energetic, try some of his other workouts, such as the ones aimed at seniors. Don’t fancy PE? You’ll find dance, martial arts and more online. The dance troupe Diversity teaches regular classes on www.20dv.co.uk. And you can take part in Oti Mabuse’s free dance classes on her YouTube channel whenever you want. Exercising with a health condition If you’re worried that exercise might make an existing health condition worse, do speak to your GP. Finally the NHS offers more than 20 instructor-led workouts at www.nhs.uk/conditions/nhs-fitnessstudio, starting from just 10 minutes long. There’s even a 30 minute workout using your sofa! Keep motivated Make a note of how you feel before and after your workout. Try rating your anxiety and mood and see whether the workout has had a positive effect.

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History

The Stories behind Potton Churchyard Stones

By Peter Ibbett

The Greensand stone church of Potton lies away from the main part of town surrounded by its memorials to some of its past parishioners. The churchyard was enlarged in 1842 by the Rev. Richard Whittingham. The old churchyard was closed for new burials in 1879 and the new churchyard was closed three years later with a new cemetery at the other side of the parish on Sandy Road. A group of gravestones have listed status, mostly dating from the later 17th to the early 19th centuries. They are ‘notable for high relief carving on many of the stones and for unusual decorative motifs, both features uncommon to the county limestone’. One example is that of Ann Rugeley. She was the wife of Henry Rugeley, innkeeper at the Rose & Crown Inn in the Market Place. She was born Ann Chambers in Bedford and she was baptised at Saint Cuthbert’s on 2nd November 1670. She married Henry Rugeley (who was younger than her having been born in 1673) at Saint Peter de Merton in the town on 19th July 1699 The Potton parish register records baptisms of their children: Ann, the first born was baptised on 27th April 1700, having been born a week earlier; Frances was born on 26th August 1701 and baptised five days later. Next came the first Henry, born on 1st February 1703 and baptised a fortnight later, sadly he was buried on 26th January 1704, not quite a year old. Susannah was born on 4th January 1705 and baptised on 21st January and Rowland was baptised on 20th November 1706. Another Henry came next, baptised on 26th September 1708. Sadly, just like his brother he died as a baby, being buried on 10th October in that year. Lastly came a third Henry, born on 28th August 1709. Happily this Henry survived into adulthood and succeeded his father at the Inn. More information about the churchyard memorials and local families at Potton can be found on the Potton History Society web site www.pottonhistorysociety.org.uk or on its Facebook page. 12

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Food & Drink

Wines Worth Locating The Winebarn Germany utilises Riesling grapes to great advantage and the resulting wines have a range from Trocken (dry), Kabinett (medium-dry), through medium and sweet, to Beerenauslese (very sweet) and Eiswein (even sweeter).

The WineBarn Ltd company specialises in finding, importing and offering German wines of superb quality and elegance. Their MD is Iris Ellmann. Iris is very much acknowledged and respected. One of the UK’s first Fellows (The Riesling Fellowship), Iris is an expert in German wines. The team are extremely proud of having been recognised as The IWC Best German Wine Merchant. Advice includes recommendations for food pairings, any occasions and events. The WineBarn also offers a Rare and Antique Wines Service, sourcing elusive investment wines from hidden German cellars. For this ‘quest’ I searched for dry Riesling wines. The Allendorf family have a history of over 700 years, living and working in the Rheingau region, which is home to the famed Riesling white wine grape. Their estate is recognised as one of the largest family-owned wineries in the Rheingau. Allendorf Save Water Drink Riesling (dry) has a primary fruity sensation, including apricot and crisp apple, for the nasal senses. Continuing to the mouthfeel and palate’s enjoyment, this is a very popular, refreshing wine. www.thewinebarn.co.uk/collections/allendorf Since the latter part of the 15th century the Aldinger family have worked the land in the town of Fellbach. Committed and dedicated to their productions, the wines produced have exceptional quality. Aldinger Rebhuhn Riesling Trocken I found to have very acceptable orchard fruits on the bouquet. Certainly crisp and fresh, with a good finish on the palate. Ideal to grace many dining tables, this is another popular production. www. thewinebarn.co.uk/collections/aldinger Riesling wines are great to accompany numerous dishes of cuisine, as well as having the ability to be enjoyed on their own. These and many more excellent wines with a passion - a good number of which are (multi) award-winning - are available from The WineBarn Ltd. Ordering is easy and available online, too. Orders are dealt with quickly and efficiently, dispatching to all types of properties, including hotels, Michelin-starred restaurants, retailers, private clients, homes and offices. The WineBarn is delivering now. The WineBarn Ltd, 16 Taylor’s Yard, Sutton Scotney, Winchester, Hampshire, SO21 3XX, England. Tel: 00 44 (0) 1962 761215 E-mail: wine@thewinebarn.co.uk www.thewinebarn.co.uk

As always, Enjoy!

ey Trevor Langl

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Registered Charity No 307534

EXPERIENCE SHUTTLEWORTH

EXPLORE OVER 50 ACRES AT SHUTTLEWORTH Take a relaxing walk around our Swiss Garden filled with pretty seasonal colour and three delightful peacocks. Wander along the woodland sculpture trail, around a lake home to nesting swans and other wildlife. Observe fantastic views of Shuttleworth House and the scenic surrounding countryside from North Parkâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s gentle hills, before a stroll around the paddocks overlooking the grass airfield. Book admission online. Visit with confidence, Shuttleworth has safety measures in place including: Social distancing reminders, hand sanitiser, takeaway catering, contactless payment, and plenty of clean toilets!

ENHANCE YOUR VISIT WITH OUR DIGITAL GARDEN GUIDES @Swiss_Garden

WWW.SHUTTLEWORTH.ORG/SWISSGARDEN Shuttleworth, Old Warden, Bedfordshire, SG18 9EP | 01767 627933 | enquiries@shuttleworth.org

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12/06/2020 11:03:42

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Quirky Britain

What do our national animals say about us?

By Kate McLelland

Australia has the barn swallow, Belarus has the European bison, Canada has the beaver and, famously, China has the giant panda. Almost every country in the world has its national bird or beast, and some have more than one. In most cases, countries select their national animal or bird based on the creature’s characteristics. In order to qualify for ‘national’ status, the animal – whether a living thing or an imaginary beast – must share the same qualities, values and spirit as its home nation. England: the lion The lion symbolises courage, nobility, royalty, strength, stateliness and valour. Lions were first used as royal emblems by Danish Vikings and later by Saxon leaders. In the late twelfth century Plantagenet kings decided to use three lions on their heraldic shields and the symbol endures to this day, on coins, and, of course, on those iconic English football shirts. Scotland: the unicorn In Celtic mythology this fabled beast represents innocence and purity. It is also believed to be a symbol of masculinity and power, which is perhaps why it was favoured by Scottish kings. The unicorn first appeared on a Scottish royal coat of arms in the twelfth century reign of King William I, and when King James VI took over the English throne in 1603, he combined the unicorn with the English lion in a royal crest that is still used today. Wales: the dragon More of a heraldic beast than a living creature, Wales’ national animal is the ‘Red Dragon of Cadwaladr’. Legend has it that the magician Myrddin (or Merlin) prophesied an epic fight between the red dragon (representing the Welsh people) and a white dragon

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(representing the English). Northern Ireland: centaur or elk? Wikipedia lists Northern Ireland’s national animal as a centaur, although there’s no explanation as to why this mythical half-man, half-horse was chosen to represent the six counties of Northern Ireland. A 1924 coat of arms showed a red lion (for the Ulster Scots) standing opposite an Irish elk (representing what officials of the time jarringly referred to as ‘the native element’). Unsurprisingly, this highly controversial badge is no longer used. Spirited symbol: the bulldog While the bulldog doesn’t carry the same official weight as the lion, unicorn or dragon, it would probably win any poll in which voters were asked which creature best represented the nation’s character. Despite being famously used in WW2 propaganda, the well-known expression ‘British Bulldog Spirit’ actually dates from the eighteenth century, when bulldogs developed a fearsome reputation as fighting dogs in the popular sport of bull-baiting. The British may be great animal lovers but it’s clear that we don’t let our hearts rule our heads when picking creatures to represent our nation. Those animals are not chosen for their fluffy, endearing qualities but for their strength, endurance and power. They have stood us in good stead for many hundreds of years and will doubtless continue to represent our nation well into the future.

Home Products

A light material and modern shape give this pendant light versatility that works with any design scheme, from Scandi style to modern country chic. The slatted design throws eye-catching patterns across the room. Bamboo Darcy single pendant lights, from £125 each, Modish Living.

Light up your Dining Table

Light up your mealtimes and create a style statement by choosing a great-looking dining room pendant.

For a relaxed, boho-chic effect, white-painted wooden beads form scallops and swags. Wooden beads waterfall pendant light, £350, The French Bedroom Company.

For a handmade and traditional style, look no further than the lovely patina of hammered brass. Trio of Kielder pendant light in antique brass, £110, Garden Trading.

With four bulb holders, this large, industrial-style pendant is a good choice for a rectangular dining table or a breakfast bar. Large metal quad pendant, £250, Cox & Cox.

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How to illuminate your dining table

With an Art Deco feel, this elegant pendant features a luxe brass-finish frame and a row of four glass globe shades. Four globe light and brass pendant, £345, Cox & Cox.

With a nod to midcentury modern design, this ceiling light has a streamlined shape and three adjustable shades to create focused pools of light wherever you most need them. Ballan white metal chandelier ceiling light, £120, Habitat. Inspired by the ceiling lights often found in French boulangeries, this powder-coated steel pendant is finished in a choice of colourways to suit a range of decors. Toulon pendant light in Lulworth Blue, £85, Garden Trading. Smoky glass with a lustre finish gives a warm, welcoming glow. Noreen pendant in smoke lustre, £805, Arteriors.

To illuminate a long table, choose a row of single pendants or a multiple one. The advantage of using single ones is that their heights can be varied to provide added interest. These industrial-style metal pendants look great teamed with the Xavier oak dining table, from £1,790, Wearth London.

STOCKISTS Cox & Cox: 0330 333 2123; coxandcox.co.uk Garden Trading: gardentrading.co.uk Modish Living: 01273 499 057; www.modishliving.co.uk

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• Plan your lighting by taking into account how many people eat there and how often, the size of your table, any other lighting in the room, the style of the space as a whole and – of course – your budget. The idea is to provide good enough lighting to eat by but without creating harsh and uncomfortable glare, with a fitting that complements what’s already there. To provide flexibility, adding a dimmer switch is always a good idea. • The shape of your light doesn’t have to correspond exactly to the shape of your table, but proportions should be carefully considered. Don’t overpower a tiny table with a huge chandelier, for example, and ensure that a large table has a big enough light above so as to reach the diners sitting at the far ends. For large tables, clusters or lines of lights always work well. These could be in the form of multiple single lights (you could even hang these at different heights for interest) or a fitting that incorporates two or more light sources. • How much light will the fitting give the room, and how much will it shine onto the table? An opaque shade, for example, will not provide much general light, but will concentrate its glow below wherever it is fixed, while a glass shade will, of course, illuminate the room more generally. Choose the right bulb, too, in order to create the exact level of brightness you wish. A decorative bulb may be the answer if it is on show. • How high to hang? There are no hard and fast rules, but in general avoid the fitting hanging so high that it appears to be clinging to the ceiling, and so low that diners can’t see each other across the table. Experiment with various heights, viewed from both standing and sitting.

Arteriors: 020 7929 8015; arteriorshome.com The French Bedroom Company: frenchbedroomcompany.co.uk Habitat: 0344 499 4686; habitat.co.uk Wearth London: 07799 360 101; www.wearthlondon.com

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Life Begins...

What’s happened to our love of antiques? If you’re a fan of daytime television you can’t fail to have noticed the vast array of programmes themed around buying, selling and refurbishing antiques. There’s Bargain Hunt, Antiques Road Trip, David Dickinson’s Real Deal and The Repair Shop, to name but a few. These shows, mainly developed for an older audience, compete to help us identify, value and care for antiques. It’s either about the thrill of the chase (Antiques Road Trip, Bargain Hunt) or our emotional connection with items we once treasured. Programmes like Money for Nothing show the journey of an item destined for landfill as it is transformed from tip fodder to statement piece. In The Repair Shop, anxious customers hope their Grandad’s mantle clock or a childhood toy will be restored to its former glory. TV dreams versus reality Given the huge popularity of these programmes, you might expect everyone over fifty to have a home cluttered with brass candlesticks, chaise longues and oversized mahogany wardrobes. But somewhere along the line, modern lifestyles seem to have got in the way. We may be happy to dream about buying and selling antiques, but it seems we’re unwilling to turn that dream into reality. Downsizing decisions People belonging to the Baby Boomer generation (born between 1946 and 1964) are more likely to have inherited their antique possessions. When the time comes to downsize, the first things to go are usually large pieces of family furniture that don’t transfer easily to smaller spaces. It also happens at this time that the children of the family, starting out in their own flats or smaller houses, don’t want to be burdened with family heirlooms either. By Kate McLelland

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The current trend for open-plan living has also changed the way people furnish their homes. An open-plan design with well-designed fitted storage calls for a minimal approach, which is why individual pieces such as wardrobes or chests of drawers are no longer required. Mix, mix, mix If you’d like to bring antique pieces into a contemporary setting but aren’t sure how to do it, there’s plenty of advice to be found online. Speaking to the Elle Décor website, interior designer Benjamin Johnson says: “Mix, mix, mix. Don’t recreate a room from the past. Create a room that speaks to today by mixing in both contemporary and vintage pieces.” Maria Haidamus of Maria Haidamus Design says: “Choosing the right antique is more alchemy than science. I think it is great to mix and match periods, shapes, forms, and colour as long as the rules of scale and proportions are respected.” In these times where recycling is encouraged and many items of antique or vintage furniture are sold at bargain basement prices, it makes sense to snap them up. Provided the pieces are in good condition they will often have many years of service left in them. So next time you switch on the TV to watch Flog It! or The Antiques Roadshow, turn that passive enjoyment into positive action. Visit your local auction room online, and search sites such as Ebay, Gumtree and Facebook marketplace. It won’t be long before you find your own ‘real deal’ to bring a little heritage to your home.

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 22

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Special Report

Gail’s Guide to Gin By Gail Mitchell

I fell in love with gin when I went to a gin tasting event a few years ago. These events are a bit thin on the ground right now for social distancing reasons, so if you are gincurious and wondering where to start I’ll to try to be your guide. Gin is a flavoured alcohol, with juniper as the predominant botanical. Juniper is a fragrant shrub and its aroma and taste should be the signature note in any gin. Even the name ‘gin’ is derived from either the French genièvre or the Dutch jenever, which both mean juniper. You can add other botanical ingredients, but juniper should always be the primary one. There is actually a legal EU definition of gin: it must be a juniper-dominated spirit, with an agricultural origin and a 37.5% ABV. This means that as well as the main botanical being juniper, the base alcohol must be made from something natural such as wheat, barley, rye, molasses, potatoes or grapes, and there must be at least 37.5% of pure alcohol in the total volume of liquid. London Dry Gin This doesn’t have to be made in London, it can be made anywhere in the world but it’s important to know that it’s the highest-quality gin you can produce. It has to be made with all-natural ingredients (no artificial flavourings), highquality alcohol and only contain 0.01g of sugar per litre of alcohol. Crucially you can’t add any other flavourings after distillation. It’s the purest form of gin and is a good place to start your gin journey. I would say No. 3 London Dry Gin is one of the best places to start your gin journey. It’s won the world’s best gin 4 times and is a beautiful smooth gin which won’t disappoint.

Regular distilled gin This is made in a similar way to London Dry Gin but may have flavourings, essences and sugar added to it after the distillation process. Craft distillers have been producing more variety and exciting new flavours recently. Broadly there are herbal gins (less sweet), floral gins (light and fragrant), fruity gins (sweeter) and citrussy gins (light and fresh). Look at the list of botanicals to see which appeal. Geographical gins Just as champagne has to come from a specific region in France so certain gins have to come from a particular geographical area. Mahón Gin can only come from Menorca, it’s a sweeter style of gin which comes in various flavours, and Vilnius Gin from Lithuania,

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which is quite smooth and has a citrussy / pine flavour. The UK used to have a geographical gin - Plymouth gin - but it lost its protected status in 2014. Sloe gin - is a gin liqueur. It contains more sugar and its ABV is between 20-25%, which is below the minimum requirement of a spirit. Old Tom gins An older style of gin. These gins are sweeter because in the 18th Century, when gin was also very popular sugar or honey was added to disguise bad-quality gin they used. Nowadays Old Tom Gins are made to a high standard and are the gin you would use in a Tom Collins cocktail, which should be made with soda water rather than tonic, because tonic would add too much sweetness to an already sweet alcohol.

Local News

East Anglian Air Ambulance is still flying and saving lives, thanks to the community The team at East Anglian Air Ambulance (EAAA) has been working incredibly hard to keep the charity’s helicopters and rapid response vehicles operating throughout the crisis, never missing a shift. The medical teams are available 24/7 (with the rapid response vehicles used at night when both helicopters are offline) and ready to respond when needed. While Covid-19 has been dominating the news, people are still having cardiac arrests, medical emergencies and accidents at home and road traffic collisions, which is when the EAAA critical care teams are needed to help save lives and get patients to hospital for further treatment. Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire are well served by EAAA, which flies out of Cambridge Airport between 12pm and 12am with the rest of the day covered by rapid response vehicle. The teams have been tasked to Bedfordshire 56 times so far this year, and 167 times to Cambridgeshire to provide emergency care. EAAA is proud to keep operating despite the challenges Covid-19 has presented. The main change is that its teams now have to wear personal protective equipment (PPE) on all missions. And will have to do so for the foreseeable future. The risk of being exposed to Covid-19, when the teams know very little about the patients they are treating, is going to be high for a long time. Especially as the EAAA doctors and paramedics are delivering critical care procedures

which put them at a greater risk of coming into contact with droplets from a patient. Adapting to this need and sourcing and financing the equipment has been a huge task for the charity. Thanks to an overwhelming response to its emergency PPE appeal, the community has come through and helped to support the charity at an uncertain time. However, to keep its helicopters flying and its team operational for the rest of the year, continued support from the community will be required. EAAA need to raise £13 million a year to develop and deliver its lifesaving service. All of its scheduled fundraising events and bucket collections for 2020 have been cancelled, due to the need to observe social distancing. To help East Anglian Air Ambulance keep flying and saving lives, please give in any way that you can. Making sure its teams can operate safely has been the number one priority. Now, the charity needs to make sure it can continue to raise funds throughout the rest of the year. There are several ways you can help EAAA from home. You can make a one-off or regular donation, sign up to play its weekly lottery, set up your own sponsored fundraising challenge or consider leaving the charity a gift in your Will. Anything you can do will help to keep EAAA’s life-saving teams in action. Call 03450 669 999 or go online to www.eaaa.org.uk to help. Thank you.

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Parenting

Classroom Challenges Coming out of lockdown presents particular challenges for families with kids will have been in school all along; some will have had a good lockdown experience; some will have struggled for many reasons, and some will not be going back at all this side of the summer break This is a challenging time for families as they readjust while still dealing with anxieties and worries about the pandemic, jobs, relatives, and finances. Your child may be excited about the return to school and reuniting with their friends, or they may be worried and anxious. Talk to them about what they are looking forward to and what concerns they may have about going back to school. Try to act as a sounding board, listening without immediately offering advice. Sometimes just talking something through can help children come up with solutions of their own. Take your child’s concerns seriously. Academic and

social pressure is daunting enough without the additional stress of returning after a lockdown. Never belittle or trivialise their problems. Share some of your feelings and experiences in an age-appropriate manner. Also share your own healthy coping mechanisms. Try to keep communication channels open so they will talk honestly with you. Discuss important issues but also make time for silly stories about your day or theirs. Make it a priority to motivate their learning. Be curious and interested in their lessons and link it back to the learning they did at home if you can. Give specific, concrete praise such as “I really like your detailed approach to this project,” rather than a general comment “ That’s great!” Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Let teachers know if you’re worried about anything in particular, or if you feel child could benefit from extra help in making the transition back from home to school.

By Tracey Anderson

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Food & Drink

Vietnamese Duck Salad Serves 4 people I used to live in East London and we had some wonderful Vietnamese restaurants there. I fell in love with this cuisine. It’s often light, fragrant, crunchy and healthy. And those four words perfectly describe this duck salad. The star here is the dressing, which is so versatile. It was made for my show by Anne Harvey, who launched her catering and cookery course company, Taste of Vietnam, in St Albans to showcase all that is great about her country’s food. This is simple food, executed to perfection. Ingredients 2 duck breasts 1 onion 1/2 red cabbage (shredded) 2 green mangos (peeled and julienned) 2 carrots (peeled and julienned) 15 mint leaves (roughly sliced) 10g piece of ginger 2 shallots For the dressing: 1 tbsp fish sauce 1 tbsp lemon/ lime juice 1/2 tbsp sugar 2 tbsp hot water 1 tsp garlic (finely chopped) 1 tsp chilli (finely chopped) 1 tsp ginger (finely chopped or grated) 1 tbsp crushed roasted peanuts

1. Bruise the ginger with a meat tenderiser or rolling pin. The ginger should remain in one piece. 2. Place the duck breasts in a saucepan and cover it with boiling water. 3. Add the ginger, 2 shallots and a pinch of salt to the pan. Cover with a lid and simmer for 10 minutes on a medium heat. 4. Take the duck out, leave it to rest and thinly slice it just before serving it. 5. While waiting for the duck to be poached, prepare the sauce. 6. In a small bowl, add the fish sauce, lime or lemon juice, sugar and hot water. Mix well until the sugar has dissolved. Add the ginger, garlic and chilli. 7. In a mixing bowl, combine the mango, carrot, red cabbage and mint. Add a tablespoon of dressing and toss well. 8. Transfer to a plate, add the duck breast slices on the top, and garnish with crushed peanuts and more of the dressing.

(NOTE: Duck breast can be replaced here with chicken breast or tiger prawns.)

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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Health

By Jo Turner

Walking Back to Happiness What walking can do for your health During lockdown I was furloughed, and my husband John had to work from home. We decided to use the time it usually took us to commute (an hour each way) to walk. We’d never really walked as a form of exercise before...we’d never really taken any form of exercise before, so this was something new. We worked out a route and as we were used to getting up at 6am to travel to our respective jobs and we decided that staying in that routine seemed sensible so we wouldn’t be too out of sync on our return to work. The mornings were gradually becoming lighter at the start of lockdown so although we were heading out early it wasn’t dark. We have walked for just over an hour every day for ten weeks and this is what we’ve discovered. Walking trims your waistline - Both John and I had the start of middle age spread. Over ten weeks I’ve dropped a dress size and John has discovered he’s wearing the trousers that prior to lockdown he’d been considering donating to charity. Walking relieves arthritis pain - After four weeks John noticed that his arthritis pain seemed less. This seemed counterintuitive so I consulted the arthritis society website and discovered that walking is recommended because it does indeed help reduce inflammation and stiffness in your joints. The important thing to remember is to walk ‘correctly’. Hold your head up; keep your neck, shoulders and back relaxed; swing your arms naturally, with a slightly bent elbow; tighten your stomach muscles a little to give yourself a supported core, and breathe deeply as you walk. Walking improves your mental wellbeing - At the start of lockdown I think we both felt really anxious about all the uncertainty. As the weeks progressed, while we walked awe discussed our worries and thrashed out solutions to some of the problems we faced or might face. I certainly began to feel in a better place mentally and as though I could cope better with life in general. Being outside, breathing in the fresh air and enjoying the sunshine definitely helped to clear some headspace each day. Walking reduces blood pressure - Johns blood pressure had been sneaking upwards and just before lockdown our GP had been monitoring it with a view to him starting blood pressure medication. When it became clear that he wasn’t going to be examined by a doctor for some time I was concerned enough

to buy a home blood pressure monitor online. We tested it out to make sure the readings matched those of the clinic then forgot about it! After six weeks (on the date he was supposed to have been returning the GP) we tried it and discovered his blood pressure was just within normal range. By week ten it was well within the normal range. Mine too has dropped significantly. Crucially throughout this period neither of us has felt like we were ‘exercising’. Walking felt natural and easy. I know this article is anecdotal and personal but there is plenty of research to support exercise being almost as important as diet in controlling type-2 diabetes; that it helps with balance and co-ordination and so helps to prevent falls in older people, meaning they are more likely to stay out of hospital, which at the moment is even more important than usual, and finally that it helps boost the immune system which is important for obvious reasons right now. We will definitely continue to fit walking into our day even when life returns to a more normal pattern.

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Interiors

By Katherine Sorrell

Dining in the Kitchen A quick breakfast, a family supper or an informal dinner party: design a comfortable, practical and stylish place to sit down and eat in your kitchen. A separate dining room is a luxury for formal occasions, but for daily life the idea of preparing dinner while watching your children do their homework at the table, or chatting to friends who are sipping a drink while you whip up a tasty meal, is hugely appealing. A dining area in the kitchen can even serve as a makeshift home office. As with any room design, consider the floor plan, taking into account the doorway, windows, any radiators, cupboards and so on, ensuring that you plan your eating space in the kitchen at the early stages, with wiring in the right places to allow suitable lighting over the table. Consider the size and shape of the available space as well as the number of regular diners and what different functions the table will serve. Ensure that any seating area is not on a through-route to, for example, the fridge or sink, and allow plenty of circulation space behind chairs (600-750mm is recommended). In larger kitchens, the obvious choice is a standalone dining table, rectangular, square, oval or circular, depending on what will best suit the

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space. It could go parallel to the island, or in the space provided by an L-shaped run of units. If you place the table near a recessed window, in a corner or adjacent to an island unit, it might be possible to build in benches (perhaps with hinged seats for extra storage) to save some floor space; an extending table is another great option, giving you flexibility when needed. Look for a table that is easy to wipe down and that complements your kitchen in terms of style, whether it is modern and minimal or classic and more decorative. You may even wish to harmonise your table top with your kitchen worktops. Another great option is to continue the island unit with an adjacent but lower dining table, either in one line (ideal for a long, thin kitchen) or at right angles, which takes up less space than a separate table but still gives the illusion of one. When space in the kitchen is more limited, or the proportions of the room will not allow the inclusion of a separate dining table, adding barstool seating around one or two sides of an island unit works extremely well â&#x20AC;&#x201C; though as the cook

may be preparing food while diners are waiting to eat, it does help if they are able to keep the work surface relatively clean and tidy! On the upside, it makes it easier for everyone to pitch in and help. A difference in worktop materials, or a slight change in level, is a nice way to separate the cooking area from the eating area, and don’t forget that the counter should have an overhang that extends beyond the base by at least 30cm, in order to allow your knees to fit in comfortably below. And, when a hob or other cooking area is incorporated into the island, it is very important that diners are far enough away to be safe from splashes or accidentally touching hot surfaces. Choose bar stools with cushions or upholstery, a supportive back and a foot rail to make them more comfortable. Styles that lift up and down are ideal when family members are different heights; otherwise, measure the available height carefully to ensure that your chosen option will fit under the countertop. In tiny kitchens, there are other options for enjoying a cup of coffee or a quick breakfast. A counter area for two or three people to perch can consist of little more than a slender ledge with

stools tucked underneath (think of sandwich bars – if they can do it, so can you). A small flip-down table – even as little as a hinged overhang – can be attached to a wall or island and lowered just for mealtimes, with folding chairs hung on wall hooks to be out of the way when not in use. It may even be possible to install a pull-out worktop (often used as additional prep areas), which would be ideal as a breakfast bar for one or two people. With careful thought and some ingenuity, you should be able to fit a welcoming eating area into your kitchen, whatever its size, shape and style.

2 1 This island unit combines cooking and eating, with a change of worktop material and handy storage shelves. Kitchen, from £25,000, Day True: 020 7788 9229; daytrue.com. 2 By extending an island unit at a lower level it is possible to create comfortable dining on a relatively small footprint. Profile collection handleless kitchen in Anthracite Gloss, Trend Interiors: 0800 028 4466; trendinteriors.co.uk. 3 In a spacious kitchen it may be possible to include a standalone dining table as well as an area for high stools at an island or bar counter. Alderley kitchen in Bone, from £15,000, Kitchen Makers: 024 7667 1600; burbidgekitchenmakers.co.uk.

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Beauty

Staycation Treats

Staying at home doesn’t mean you can’t splash out on some new skincare goodies… Bring a touch of the exotic to your staycation, with Elemis Frangipani Monoi Body Oil (£40). It absorbs almost instantly, and leaves skin feeling softer and moisturised, without any greasy residue. And the exotic floral fragrance lasts for ages. For the best results, use it on slightly damp skin straight after a bath or shower. I also use love the fact that it’s multipurpose. People swear by it for treating split ends, brittle nails and rhino heels. The only downside is that it tends to solidify at room temperature, so during the cooler months you have to melt it by warming the bottle in hot water. A bit of a faff, but worth it, see www.elemis.com. There’s no denying that disposable face wipes are handy. But they’re also terrible for the environment. If you’re looking for a more sustainable alternative,

I highly recommend Ogato’s Face Eraze cleansing pads. For £19.99, you get three makeup remover pads and two cloths, plus a headband and wash bag. The best bit? They’re designed to remove make-up without cleanser. All you need is warm water. And they really do work, even on waterproof mascara. Rinse them clean after use and then just bung them in the washing machine now and then, and they should last you for years. Find them at www.amazon.co.uk. I have pretty sensitive skin, so tend to steer clear of facial fake tans. However, I decided to risk trying Bali Body’s Face Tan Water (£25.95) and have to say that I’m impressed. It’s a face treatment and self-tan in one, with ingredients such as rosewater

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and hydrating jojoba oil. It’s easy to apply and results in a natural, even-looking tan. If you want a lighter tan, just mix a few drops in with your moisturiser. I also tried the Gradual Tan (£21.95) on my body. Great colour, but less ‘gradual’ than I was expecting, so if you try it make sure you’re rather more careful around knees, elbows and ankles than I was! See uk.balibodyco.com. Dr Carl Thornfeldt developed severe eczema as a child. The experience led to a thirty-five year career in dermatology, and the launch of skincare brand Epionce (www. epionce.co.uk). One of the brand’s newest products is the Renewal Calming Cream. At £61 it’s rather pricey, but it has been proven to soothe and calm eczema flare-ups and reduce itching. So if you have eczema or extremely dry skin, that hefty price tag might well be worth it. You don’t need to go on holiday to take advantage of travel skincare collections. As long as you’re likely to use everything in the set, they usually offer great value for money. The Sanctuary Spa Ultimate Travel Selection is hard to beat. There’s a 250ml body wash, 75ml bubble bath, 50ml body butter and a salt scrub sachet. Plus, you get a new bag to keep it all in. Not bad for £17, see www.very.co.uk.

By Kate Duggan 37

Local News

Would you like more energy? Are you in pain? Is your brain foggy? Oxygen Therapy may help you. It helps people with a wide range of conditions – and is also used by many professional sports people, including world-famous footballer Cristiano Ronaldo! Many people find that Oxygen Therapy gives them: • More energy • Reduced pain • Clearer thinking • Faster healing • Decreased swelling and inflammation Oxygen Therapy means the delivery of pure oxygen under gentle pressure. It can help people with neurological conditions including MS, Fibromyalgia and CFS/ME, also Cancer, Diabetes and stubborn infections and ulcers. Inflammatory conditions like Arthritis and Cerebral Palsy can also respond well to Oxygen Therapy. The Herts MS Therapy Centre is a Letchworth-based charity with the only Hyperbaric Oxygen chamber in Herts. People with any neurological or long-term condition are welcome to visit the Centre. In fact,

anyone is welcome to come along to try Oxygen Therapy. “The day after my treatment I feel so much better. I’m walking faster and I can think more clearly. Plus – I’ve met some great people.” Sharon H The Centre remains open with thorough safety measures in place to ensure that customers and the highly trained team of staff and volunteers are as safe as possible. To find out more and book your session, please email oxygen@hmstc.net or call 07743 172 393. Or visit search online for ‘Oxygen Therapy Letchworth’ for information about Oxygen Therapy. Find out if Oxygen Therapy can help you – or someone you know. Let’s fight pain and fatigue!

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House of Colour

Summer dressing to keep cool Whether you love summer clothes or find hot weather dressing frustrating here’s my guide to keeping your cool in the warmer months. Summer Dressing • We’re very good at wearing very little as soon as it gets hot in this country (often little opportunity I know!) but it’s not always doing us a favour. The more flesh we expose the less authority we hold. If you’re in a professional setting, and even on a zoom call, keep your shoulders covered. A light weight jacket or even a fine knit cardigan at work is great to have on call. • In warmer weather we can lose our own style in an effort to keep cool – anything will do! Think a little bit about your lifestyle and have a few items that serve you, give you style and shape, in really warm weather (it does still happen here!). Not all of us can work a linen peasant dress but all of us have some styles that we can use in really hot weather to keep cooler. For example I can’t do the maxi or midi dress (look like a small child lost in a grownup outfit!) but I can do a neat halterneck. • Quality – buy less buy better. I think as our summer months can be so erratic we splurge when its warm on cheap clothing to get us by. Investing in a summer wardrobe can seem a waste when our weather is so unreliable. But, our summers have been getting warmer and it looks like that will continue. Look for those quality items that you will wear every year in versatile colours, and the ones you absolutely love. A neutral item on the bottom half will always be more useful that a bright shade. Also, be critical of your clothes. Are they still looking good? Have they seen better days? Remember your clothes are speaking for you. • Sales – tempting I know to go for the bargain options around but if you wouldn’t have bought it at full price then why are you buying it now? It won’t be a bargain if it sits clogging up your wardrobe. • Grooming, grooming, grooming. So this is a challenging one currently but it is really key to looking good in the summer months! It’s tempting to give up on make up too but a light dusting of foundation and some lipstick will help to define your look. • Invest in good underwear for the summer. Underwear should not be visible! Generally it needs to be a nude shade and smooth to avoid lines. If you’re stuck or hate underwear shopping

there is a virtual solution from BraSense. She’s a miracle worker. • Accessories – again we can forget about our accessories in warmer weather. They’re a quick way to update our look if we aren’t into investing in clothes. More importantly they complete our look, making us look finished and put together. Think about that cameo area in your online call too, you’ll look the part with your jewellery on. They aren’t just a piece of fun, they’re important! • If you’ve had to have a massive clearout recently because you’ve not been wearing most of your wardrobe and are worried you might make the same mistakes again, find your local stylist for free no-obligation chat. Enjoy your clothes this summer! 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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Local News

Biggleswade Community Agent Here to help people access support and services Your Biggleswade Community Agent is here to help people to access the services and support they might need. Her services are free of charge, and she can phone you at home. Biggleswade has a strong Good Neighbour’s Scheme, and hopefully you are being well supported, and have access to food and medicines. If you don’t know who to ask for help just call Gill on 07534 484750. Here are some more resources which you might find useful. Are you struggling with your mental health? You can phone 111 option 2, weekdays 5-11pm or weekends 7am-11pm to access mental health crisis support from a trained mental health professional who can arrange urgent assessment or signpost you to another service that can help. Mind BLMK are a national and local mental health charity, making a difference to the mental health and wellbeing of people in Bedfordshire by providing advice, support and other services. To

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contact them phone 0300 330 0648 or email hq@mind-blmk.org.uk. Mind Crisis Café will offer phone support on 01582 722225 Tuesday to Friday 5-11pm. Bedfordshire Wellbeing Service is making a positive difference through talking therapies and other services, it is free and confidential. If you are anxious, stressed or worried you can self refer by calling 01234 880400 Monday-Friday 9-5pm, or email elf-tr.bedfordiapt@nhs.net or look them up on their web site at www.bedfordshirewellbeingservice.nhs.uk. Samaritans can be contacted on 116 123 or email jo.samaritans.org with a 24 hour response. Gill Reeves Community Agent Bedfordshire Rural Communities Charity 07534 484750 gillr@bedsrcc.org.uk

Parenting

Back to Nature Keeping kids entertained is difficult at the best of times. But having already endured weeks in lockdown and a return to complete freedom looking to be some way off, it’s a challenge to keep your little ones occupied and to tear older children away from a screen. These ideas might help though! Take the indoors out What does your child enjoy doing that could be done outdoors? Could you make cookie dough at the garden table rather than the kitchen table? Is there any reason a board game can’t be played on a picnic rug? Could you set crafts up on a plastic sheet? (On the plus side, it saves your carpet getting covered in paint, glitter and chocolate.) Play to their interests Younger children often like ticking off a list of things to spot when they’re out, or collecting petals, leaves and pebbles for a craft activity. If your child is an animal lover, could you go on a bug hunt? If they enjoy solving puzzles, could you go geocaching or set up a treasure hunt? Active kids might enjoy a simple obstacle course in the garden or throwing balls to knock down tin cans. Shake things up Most of us like a bit of variety in life. Even moving a swing to a different part of the garden or trying some

different games can help to reignite a child’s interest. On a more practical level, a reorganisation of their bedroom or a shared space can be exciting for them. Play games My eight-year-old loathes going for a walk. With a passion. And he doesn’t hesitate to let us know just how boring he finds it. So our family walks tend to be less about walking and more about playing games on the move. His favourite is a game where we adults challenge the kids to impersonate an animal. When he was younger, it was a case of “Can you hop like a kangaroo?” “Can you slither like a snake?” Now it’s evolved into “Can you charge like a short-sighted rhino?” “Can you soar like an eagle with a broken wing?” We also play hide and seek and other games. Build it into a routine If you have the option, it might be worth setting a family rule that you all have to spend a certain amount of time outside every day, even if it’s just bouncing round the garden. Don’t be afraid of bribery I’m not suggesting you pay your child to get active, but there’s nothing wrong with promising an ice lolly or half an hour of screen time after a bike ride now and then. By Kate Duggan

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Finance

By Ann Haldon

How Can You Protect Your Money With a Lasting Power of Attorney and a Will?

Lasting Powers of Attorney (LPAs) are legal documents that help to protect your money if you’re unable to manage your own finances for any reason. Wills contain instructions on how your money should be distributed when you die. So why should you make a Lasting Power of Attorney and a Will, and how do you do it? Let’s start by looking at Lasting Powers of Attorney. What is a Lasting Power of Attorney and why do you need one? A Lasting Power of Attorney is a document that appoints one or more individuals (attorneys) to make decisions and act on your behalf (the donor) in relation to your property, finances, health and welfare. Should you suffer a stroke, lose mental capacity or experience a debilitating ailment, a Lasting Power of Attorney ensures important aspects of your life are taken care of by one or more individuals you trust. Setting up a Lasting Power of Attorney You can ask a solicitor to draw up these documents for you or set them up yourself. If you decide to set up a Lasting Power of Attorney yourself, you must be over eighteen and have the mental capacity to do so. There are two types of Lasting Power of Attorney: • Property and financial affairs • Health and welfare You can download the forms from the gov.uk website or complete them online. They must be registered with the Office of the Public Guardian before they can become effective, which currently costs £82 per document. What is a Will and why do you need one? A Will documents your wishes regarding what happens to your money, property and possessions

when you die. This may be a straightforward instruction to pass your entire estate to your spouse, for example, but some situations are more complex. A Will allows you to decide in advance who will inherit your money and possessions. Making a Will helps you avoid inheritance tax, or reduce it – inheritance tax currently stands at 40% and applies to some deceased estates over £325,000.¹ How do you make a Will? As with a Lasting Power of Attorney you can ask a solicitor or professional Will writer to make your Will or you can do it yourself. Some charities also offer free or reduced cost Will-writing services in return for a donation, so this may be worth considering. It’s sensible to seek professional assistance in drawing up your Will if your circumstances aren’t straightforward. If you do decide to write your own Will, you can buy ‘blank’ templates that provide simple guidance and example wording at stationery stores and online. You’ll need to consider who to appoint as your Trustee(s) and who will inherit your money and possessions. Drawing up a Lasting Power of Attorney and a Will protects your money if you fall ill or lose mental capacity, and in the event of your death. Writing these documents is an important consideration at any age, but it becomes more so as you get older – a time when your health may be more likely to fail. ¹www.gov.uk/inheritance-tax www.gov.uk/power-of-attorney www.which.co.uk/money www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk/en/articles/ planning-what-to-leave-in-your-will

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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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SOLUTIONS4GARDENS Before the lockdown, landscaping experts Solutions4Gardens gave us an insight into some of the new products that are spearheading contemporary garden design. This month, we look at the latest in decking with the manufacturer and supplier the company swears by. As an alternative to wood, composite decking has many advantages and one of the best manufacturers of it is Trex. Now, to add to its ever-expanding professional endorsements, Solutions4Gardens has recently become a Trex Pro, that is an accredited installer for Trex’s wide range of decking products.

Solutions4Gardens has long been an advocate of Trex. “It doesn’t fade, is very hard wearing and is totally non-porous and non-slip” says Mark Woodman, Solutions4Gardens’ director, designer and chief labourer. “It’s manufactured from recycled material and is an increasingly popular premium product that will last a lifetime.” It’s also very stylish - in keeping with contemporary spaces - and will retain its good looks with virtually no maintenance. “Although the initial cost of a Trex deck is higher than a wooden deck, a lot of that investment is reclaimed over the life of the deck in reduced time and expense spent on maintenance” explains Mark. “Trex does not need pressure washing or staining, and it does not become slippery in the wet and in winter.” With the Transcend range of decking, fixings can be completely hidden using colour coordinated plugs to give a seamless look. There is also a wide colour palette available that can be mixed and matched to have darker borders or patterns within the overall design, even across product ranges. “The results we can achieve are really stunning” Mark explains. “By using a combination of colours, board directions and even curves, we can create really fabulous spaces. I think decking became a bit passé,

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but we can now build great areas which integrate beautifully into any garden style.” To complement its decking range, Trex makes a choice of composite, metal or glass railings, the latter looking particularly effective around roof terraces. Although more expensive than timber decking, Trex now offers a three-tier price band across its ranges to make it more affordable for all budgets. However, Mark makes the point that if you are undertaking a garden makeover or large landscaping project, the impact of using Trex over traditional timber will be relatively small on the overall price. “As with paving and patios, the finished surface is really only 20% of the cost of the project” Mark says. “To create a solid deck, we usually need to excavate the area, install concrete piers and build the deck frame. The labour and materials needed to create the essential pieces you don’t see account for most of the project cost. Spending a little more on the decking boards doesn’t significantly impact the overall budget.” Having recently expanded into the Hitchin and Letchworth area, and in keeping with its ethos of using a reliably local supply chain, Solutions4Gardens obtains its Trex products through Hertfordshire Timber & Building Supplies Ltd. “One consideration when choosing a composite deck is ensuring the supporting framework is comparable with the decking project you are using on top of it” explains Mark. “There is little point installing composite decking,

guaranteed for 10 years, and building it on top of a poorly treated and prepared wooden frame.” Solutions4Gardens has Hertfordshire Timber & Building Supplies specifically treat all the wood for their decks to a grade designed for outdoor use. “We only use wood designed to be put outdoors” Mark adds. “But we also go one stage further. Trex Protect is a bitumen tape that we apply to the tops of all the joists. It protects the wood and the bitumen seals any screw holes as they are made, ensuring water penetration and rot is eliminated.” For the customer that doesn’t want to have any wood used in their project, Solutions4Gardens can supply an aluminium or composite frame in what Mark describes as a ‘zero wood’ deck. Trex products come with a 10-year guarantee. There is no doubt that if you are looking for an accredited expert garden design and landscape company that can work on projects from paths and fencing to decking and water features, Solutions4Gardens certainly lives up to its name. And reassuringly the company has the backing of both top manufacturers and reputable local suppliers. For more information, please use the details below.

Email: info@solutions4gardens.com Web: www.solutions4gardens.com

Tel: 01767 348 028 To advertise in The Villager and Town Life please call 01767 261122

Gardening

Silver Splendour

By Pippa Greenwood

Why not add some sensational silvery plants to your garden? If you are partial to aromatic plants then there are several, such as the cotton lavender and the curry plant, that have both a pungent aroma and striking silvery foliage. They look gorgeous and need not take up much space. Hostas are herbaceous perennials suited to shady and somewhat damp spots. Their large, showy leaves come in a range of colours including some smart, silvery blues. Pair them with the somewhat silvery and densely hairy Alchemilla mollis for a great ground cover display. Lavenders are a good ingredient for any garden where silver foliage can play a part. They smell gorgeous and have a naturally relaxing quality for most people. Bees adore the flowers too. There are several silver-foliaged plants with a naturally trailing or cascading effect, such as Helichrysum petiolare with its long trailing stems edged with small, rounded leaves, each so densely covered with hairs that they are like silver coins. Ideal for hanging baskets, they create a waterfall effect within weeks of planting. For a year-round effect grow a variegated ivy, perhaps Hedera helix ‘Glacier’ with silvery-white edged grey-green leaves. Many of the small Artemisias have elegant silvery foliage, not least Artemisia ‘Powys Castle’, whose finely divided foliage looks like silver filigree lace. They are best grown in a fairly sheltered, sunny spot and will provide a fabulous display for many years. Sometimes that touch of silver comes in the form of seed heads. Those of the lovely purple or white

flowered alpines called Pulsatilla are a delight, with a wispy silver plume on each seed. Some clematis have fluffy seed heads, with the silvery furry seed heads of the wild clematis aptly called old man’s beard. For shrubs, take a look at the Cotinus – most have wonderful autumn colour and the seed heads explain its common name of smoke bush! Many plants appear silvery due to a dense matt of short hairs on the leaves, some of which will become studded with water droplets after rain or a heavy dew. In a tiny space, for example a small window box, grow some silver with the houseleek Sempervivum arachnoideum with its evergreen, fleshy rosette of red-tipped leaves covered with a web of silvery white hairs. Many silvery foliaged plants have Mediterranean origins, where their dense hairs and pale colour help them withstand dry or hot conditions, making them ideal for a sunny and dry spot. Conversely, use a few silvery foliaged plants in a slightly shaded spot, ideally combined with some plants with large, pale-coloured flowers, and see how they make a dull spot look brighter. Combine silver foliage plants with some with very dark-coloured leaves or rich blue or purple hues for a magical effect, as the rich dark colours are brought to life with the sparkle of the silvery foliage. Plant silver foliage close to, say, Cotinus ‘Royal Purple’ with darkest purple leaves, and you’ll see what I mean. Visit Pippa’s website (www.pippagreenwood.com) to book Pippa for a gardening talk at your gardening club or as an after-dinner speaker.

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Garden/Wildlife

Rural Ramblings The Same but Different

So much looks the same - the trees, roads and buildings are all still there, but the places are deserted apart from the odd rambler and cyclist. It is as if everybody is having a long lie in after a late night of merriment! We are being forced/encouraged to spend our time in different ways and it is without doubt that people are concerned as to how we will live our lives in the future. Lots of unknowns with work, jobs, money and social life. Hopefully temporary arrangements only. Since the restrictions on movement have been in existence, the home and garden (if lucky enough to have a garden) have taken on a new level of importance. Many people are saying how appreciative they now are of the early spring birdsong especially now that the traffic noise is greatly reduced. The garden is being now even more important as a “re-charging point” for play, relaxation, creativity and observing nature. It has become an escape from the daily government announcements of depressing statistics and advice and provides a sanctuary for pottering about sowing seeds, watering plants and trimming our shrubs. It provides the opportunity to enter another world seemingly running parallel, where we can learn new skills and appreciate the life which is living just outside our doorstep. They say that “every cloud has a silver lining” and

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although it is much easier if you are an optimist, wonderful things still exist. It is just a case of looking for them.

Geoff Wharton Gardening Services Reliable, experienced, well qualified. General and specialist garden work: Jungle clearing, Pruning, Hedge and grass cutting, Regular maintenance, Licensed waste disposal. Full public liability cover. Geoff Wharton - BSC honours Hort.Science Email:geoffwharton@hotmail.com

Tel: 01767 261727 53

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Fun Activities

Escape to Victory Escape rooms have gone online

Do you like escape rooms? Have you always fancied having a go at one but never got around to it before lockdown started? Escape rooms became popular over the past couple of years, with families and groups of friends who like a challenge. Kind of like The Crystal Maze (remember that?) in concept where you have to solve puzzles as a team to ‘escape the room’. As physical escape rooms have had to close, so these businesses have been quick to adapt and take the experience online. You can play as a family or with groups of friends as a social experience. There are many online; some are free, and some are paid for. the free ones are a good way to try the experience to see if you enjoy it. Hogwarts Digital Escape Room was created by an American librarian in Pennsylvania. It’s loosely based on Hogwarts and the puzzles are fun. My family enjoyed it but found it quite easy and we were finished very quickly. But we discovered we enjoyed the concept and signed up for others which are more involved. Trapped In The Web is a game you can play solo or with a team to complete tasks that will take between one to two hours. It’s reasonably priced at around £8 per person. There are five themed rooms to choose from: Space Race; Cabin Fever; A Night at the Theatre; School’s Out, and Out of Hours. There is a different storyline attached to each one and different clues to collect and puzzles to solve. These family-friendly escape rooms will get you started, but if you find you’ve got the By Sarah Davey bug you can find many more complex versions online.

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Pets

Rehoming Appeal

Buddy and Bailey

Buddy and Bailey are nice little crossbreed boys and both around 9 years old. They have sadly spent their entire lives in shelter. We would therefore love to find them a home together as they are very close friends and devoted to one another and do not do well if separated. They can be a little nervous on first meeting new people, but soon settle once they get to know them. They are undemanding dogs who just need a quiet home, preferably an adult only home or with older children. They would make an older person or couple ideal companions. We will not consider rehoming them separately so please do not apply unless you can offer them both a home. If you would like to find out more about these lovely boys, please contact Julie on 01763 289827 You can register your interest in any of our animals by phoning the appropriate number or emailing Philippa on info.rats@gmail.com who will be pleased to forward your enquiry on to the team. The enquiries will be dealt with as soon as we are able to do so safely. You can 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.

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For further information please call Trevor on Tel: 01767 261845 Mobile: 07941 187689 Email: Gemmaton@hotmail.co.uk Web: www.gemmaton.com

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GARDEN DESIGNERS

Professional Paving & Landscaping Groundwork • Driveways • Concreting • Patios Turfing • Fencing • Re-pointing • Brickwork All work guaranteed and finished to a very high standard Free quotations

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Hot Tubs & Swimming Pools

Inground & above ground pools servicing & maintenance Pool toys & chemicals | Hot tubs & Spas Steam showers & gazebos

Visit our showroom: Unit 1C, St Francis Way, Shefford Ind Estate, Beds SG17 5DZ Tel: 01462 819003 | www.crystalleisurepools.com

Pets

The Good Pet Owner’s Guide to Summer The weather over the last few months has on the whole been glorious. May was particularly warm – being the sunniest and driest calendar month on record. 626 hours of bright sunshine were recorded in Spring 2020 for the UK. With this in mind as we approach the Summer, one cannot help but wonder what is in store. If we do have a warm, sunny summer as many are predicting, pet owners need to start making the appropriate preparations. Use our easy to follow checklist to make sure the animals you love and care for have a safe and enjoyable summer. • Check the temperature of the pavement before you take your dog out for a walk. If it is too hot to touch with your hand, it will certainly be too hot for your dog’s paws. • Exercise your animals in the cooler parts of the day. This may mean that your routines change slightly to accommodate this. But going out in the cooler mornings and evenings will be much better for your dog or horse. • Think carefully about the environment your pet is in, more specifically the temperature of it. Vehicles, caravans, tents and conservatories can become extremely hot places during warm weather. Never leave pets in these places, as they can easily overheat and die. • Pet-safe sun cream can now be purchased from a range of shops and online. Consider apply to exposed skin during the warm weather. • Shade and fresh water are essential for the health and safety of humans during sunny days. Animals are no different. Ensure your pets have access to a shady

area with plenty of fresh drinking water available. • Check that any hutches or enclosures you have in your garden are not in any direct sunlight. Also make sure they have good ventilation. • If you keep rabbits or guinea pigs, it is recommended that they are checked regularly for ‘flystrike’. The RSPCA suggest checking twice a day during the summer months. • Water can heat up quickly in the summer, so be mindful of any fish you have as pets. Keep fish tanks out of direct sunlight and top up the water levels in ponds. • Damp towels are perfect for pets to lie on when it is hot. Ice packs can be wrapped in towels if temperatures begin to increase, and the damp towels aren’t enough of a coolant. • Most dogs treats can be kept in the fridge and will therefore provide your dog with a great way of cooling down. You could always make ice lollies using dog friendly ingredients. • Adding ice cubes to a pet’s water bowl is a quick and easy way of keeping them cool. Don’t forget Kongs can be put in the freezer • Why not fill a paddling pool or spray a hose for your dog to play in (always supervised) If you need to contact our Branch (North Bedfordshire) for any reason we can be reached by the details below, or for an animal welfare issue or emergency, contact 0300 1234 999. Lines are open 7 days a week 24/7. Email: info@rspcabedsnorth.org.uk Tel: 01234 266965 / 01234 930304

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CMY

Arrington Garden Centre

Come and visit our friendly team for expert advice! UK and home grown veg plants, herbs, bedding, herbaceous perennials, shrubs and trees Large range of Mr Fothergill flower seeds Specialist composts, mulches, garden aggregates and grits Limited home delivery service for self-isolating, contact us via Facebook Messenger ...and much more!

ARRINGTON GARDEN CENTRE & CAFE

Located directly off the A1198 near Arrington, SG8 0AG | Open 7 days a week | 01223 208194 www.arringtongardencentre.co.uk | manager@arringtongardencentre.co.uk

ALL YOU NEED FOR YOUR GARDEN, THROUGH ALL THE SEASONS To advertise in The Villager and Town Life please call 01767 261122

J.R. Bibby Turf Supplies Quality Turf with a Quality Service

• Professional Turf Laying Service • Weed Treated & Fertilized • Fast Delivery • Commercial and Domestic • Free Estimates • All Areas Covered • Hard Landscaping Large or Small Jobs Undertaken

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Pets

Ask Alan Grass Seeds

It is the dreaded grass seed season again. That time of year (generally June to August) when the grasses produce seeds that get trapped in petâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s coats and, because of their arrowlike shape, move forward to penetrate the skin. The most common places that seeds get caught are in the feet and ears, but they can end up anywhere, including up noses, in eyes and in the skin in the armpits and groin. The symptoms depend on where the seed ends up. If in the feet or skin, they cause pain and irritation so your pet will scratch, and lick and a painful lump may develop. If in the ear, they will shake their heads, scratch their ear and look distressed. If up the nose, they will have severe sneezing. Try to prevent them by keeping the hair clipped between the toes, checking your entire pet very carefully after every walk and try to avoid walking through fields where there is a lot of these ripe grass heads. If you notice a sudden onset head shaking or sneezing after a walk, or if you notice a painful lump between the toes or on the skin, then contact your vet. Generally, your pet will need sedation or anaesthetic to be able to remove the seed as it is very painful once lodged. A variety of grass seeds can be involved. I hope you and your dogs have the opportunity to enjoy the outdoors this summer, please take care to avoid this potential problem. From all of us at Potton Vets. Best wishes If you have any questions you would like answered, please email them to villager@pottonvets.co.uk. For more information visit www.pottonvets.co.uk or pop into the clinic in Potton Market Square.

Alan

Making life easier

15 15 minute appointments

Call today:

Open until 7pm

Emergency appointments

Helpful printed notes

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01767 260007

Appointments online at: pottonvets.co.uk 9 Market Square, Potton, Bedfordshire SG19 2NP

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• • • • • •

Swimming Lessons

Private pool - Tadlow ASA qualified teachers Beginners & stroke technique classes 1-3 pupils per class 10 week courses (term time only) Mother and Toddler classes

Call Heather on Tel: 01767 631053 Mob: 07511168499

Email: tadlowswimming@btinternet.com

POTTON UNITED YOUTH FC the new name of Potton Colts football club Providing football for boys and girls in Potton & surrounding areas. All abilities welcome, we don’t do trials and everyone plays.

Recruiting now for the 2020 - 2021 season We’ll have teams at the Under 7s, Under 8s, Under 9s, Under 12s, Under 15s and Under 16s age groups playing Saturday mornings. We’ll also have an Under 18’s team playing matches on Sunday which we hope will provide a path into the Potton United setup. PLUS we’ll continue to run our Saturday morning FUN development sessions for 4 to 7 year old boys and girls to learn skills, and if they want to progress into our teams. The Club is run by volunteers, and we actively encourage people to get involved, and will pay all course fees for those wanting to become a team manager, coach or referee. Give us a shout to find out more: Web: www.pottonunitedyouth.co.uk Email: pottonunitedyouth@gmail.com Call Club Secretary, Steve Judd on 07709 612 053

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Motoring

Exciting Car Technologies

We take a look at upcoming car features that could transform the way we drive The automotive sector is currently seeing the rise of electrification and increased autonomy, and the next few years could see manufacturers including a number of exciting technologies. We pick out some examples.

Vehicle-to-Grid Charging

Clutchless Manual

With the rise of hybrid and electric vehicles, the need for a manual gearbox is fading, though it may live on in some form. In 2017, Toyota showcased the GR HV Sports Concept, which had automatic transmission but left an H-pattern shifter in place to retain driver engagement. Don’t be surprised to see such a feature in a near-future production car.

Enhanced Autonomous Technology

Production cars already use autonomous technology, many for safety reasons – such as allowing cars to detect vehicles ahead of them slowing or stopping. In the next five years, we expect further developments. It’s unlikely that we’ll see production cars that are capable of piloting themselves on public roads, but there’s a good chance that many production vehicles will be able to take over more control from the driver than is currently available.

Launched in 2018, vehicle-to-grid charging (V2G) allows electric cars to give back electricity to the grid. Essentially electric cars ‘talk’ to the grid, detecting when energy demand is at its highest. We expect this to properly come to fruition over the next five years.

Wireless Electric Car Charging

A major drawback of electric car ownership is the charging process – it can be complicated, and involve heavy and unwieldy cables going from vehicle to plug. Wireless electric car charging allows a vehicle to drive over a ‘pad’ capable of transmitting charge wirelessly from the mains to the car’s batteries. Just driving over a section of road or parking space fitted with the technology will allow you to charge an electric car.

Speed Limiters in Cars

From 2022, all new cars sold in the EU and the UK will be fitted with automatic speed-limiting

technology that detects the speed limit of a road and prevents gradual acceleration beyond that point. However, pressing the throttle harder with the limiter active will allow the car to push beyond it, though keep in mind breaking the speed limit is an illegal act.

Breathalyser Technology Built-in

2022 will also see the infrastructure for breathalyser technology built into all new cars. This won’t require every driver to take a breath test before using their vehicle but convicted drinkdrivers would have to breathe into a device — with the engine unable to be started if they are over the limit or do not attempt the test.

Digital Mirrors

Digital mirrors are expected to be more widespread and replace traditional mirrors with cameras located on the wings of the car. These relay an image onto small screens placed at either side of the cockpit. You get a clearer picture of the area behind you and there are efficiency benefits through decreased drag. We’ve already seen it on cars like the Audi e-Tron and Honda e, but it’s likely to be adopted in other vehicles soon.

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Driving

Do you do a Post-Park Check? Rounding the corner of a multi-storey car park, I was presented with the sight of a BMW 1 Series at a crazy angle, in the middle of the lane, with its rear crashed into a parked car. It looked like the owner had abandoned an attempt to reverse into a space. Contacting the car park office they told me “Yes, we’ve seen it on the CCTV. The owner left the handbrake off and it’s rolled backwards.” A simple flick of a switch would have engaged the parking brake, so either the driver had forgotten or the system had malfunctioned. But this prompts me to ask: “Do you do a ‘post-park’ check on your car?” Ensuring the hand/parking brake is on is a must, especially when parked on a hill. The Highway Code gives the guidelines for all hill-parking, so it well worth revising. Is the interior light off? Modern cars will turn this off automatically, but things can fail and coming back to a dead battery is very inconvenient. Are valuables stored away out of sight? Car thefts have dropped as security features improve, but thefts from cars are just as common. Finally, is it locked? Using the key fob to lock the car as you walk away without checking it, is not recommended. A quick test of the door handles is all it takes to make sure.

By Iain Betson

Spot the Difference Can you find the 10 differences between these pictures?

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WORDWHEEL

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

TARGET Excellent: 32 or more words Good: 25 words Fair: 22 words

U M

P C

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Food Facts

Brain Food: Oranges Oranges are not a naturally occurring fruit. Rather they hybrid of two citrus fruit: a pomelo and a mandarin, with 25% of its genome coming from the pomelo and 75% from the mandarin. Surprisingly the word orange, referring to the colour, comes from the fruit first not the other way round. Before the fruit, the colour was referred to as geoluhread, which literally translates to “yellow-red”. There are just two words in the English language with which orange rhymes. There’s a mountain in Wales called Blorenge and spores are made in a sac known as a sporange. Try including that in your next poetry session. Orange peel is a natural deodoriser. Put the rind anywhere with a stale or musty smell and the odour will disperse in a couple of hours.

Twins 1. By what name are twin sisters Gabriela and Monica Irimia more commonly known? 2. Which planet’s two moons are named after twin brothers from Greek mythology who personify fear and dread? 3. On the TV show The Simpsons, what is the name of Springfield’s neighbouring city that is treated as its twin city, even though it has a strong rivalry with it? 4. Which two actors played the title roles in the 1988 film Twins? 5. According to legend, which twins founded Rome?

6. In the TV series Twin Peaks, Twin Peaks is a town in which US state? 7. The pop group The Thompson Twins took their name from detectives called Thompson and Thompson who featured in comic strips centred around which character? 8. In which Star Wars film is it revealed that Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia are twins? 9. In 2012, which village in Perthshire in Scotland was twinned with the town of Boring in Oregon? 10. Of the three Gibb brothers who made up the Bee Gees, which two were twins?

1. The Cheeky Girls 2. Mars (the moons are called Phobos and Deimos) 3. Shelbyville 4. Arnold Schwarzenegger and Danny DeVito 5. Romulus and Remus 6. Washington 7. Tintin 8. Return Of The Jedi 9. Dull 10. Robin and Maurice

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Â®

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Special Report

Handy Songs for Clean Hands! As lockdown eases, we should be even more vigilant about handwashing. You can’t catch coronavirus through your skin but if contaminated hands touch your face then all the belated social distancing in the world won’t help you. I don’t know about you, but I am sick to death of the Happy Birthday song. I will never sing it again when this is over...we were surely due a new celebratory melody after almost 130 years anyway But you still need to scrub with soap for 20 seconds to remove those pathogens and twenty seconds is a long time when you’re standing at a sink, so here are a few alternative 20-second tunes... which will probably give you an earworm for a week. The chorus to Dolly Parton’s hit single Jolene: Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, I’m begging of you please don’t take my man. Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene. Please don’t take him just because you can. As a teen I was in love with Morten Harket from A-Ha so I was delighted to find that the chorus of Take On Me is 20 seconds providing you hold the last note properly...and who wouldn’t? Take on me (take on me), Take me on (take on me), I’ll be gone, In a day or two. One friend also suggested reciting The Lord’s Prayer, which is fine if praying is your thing, or you feel divine intervention is necessary! My favourite though was overhearing my friend’s unbearably cute curly-headed three-year-old singing, “Twinkle, twinkle little star, look how clean my two hands are. Round my wrists and round my thumbs, link my fingers, almost done. Twinkle, twinkle little star, look how clean my two hands are!” Stay safe everyone. By Alison Williams

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Travel

Uzbekistan

By Solange Hando

The Registan Square in Samarkand “This is the noblest public square in the world,” said the future viceroy of India in 1888, and as you stand on the viewing platform, looking down on portals, minarets, domes and cupolas glistening with mosaics and tiles, you feel almost dizzy at so much magnificence, shimmering all blue and gold on three sides of the square. You can hardly believe this was once a ‘sandy place’ (hence its Persian name ‘Registan’) but today, rising among fountains and flowers, it’s a dazzling world heritage site where bridal couples pose for the pictures of a lifetime. As one of the oldest cities in Central Asia, Samarkand prospered on the Silk Road. After waves of invasions, it reached a new golden age in the late fourteenth century, when the great conqueror Timur chose it as capital of his new empire. With loot from battles, and artisans and craftsmen from across the empire, he beautified the city with palaces, gardens, mosques and mausoleums while the heart of town became the place for royal proclamations and executions. Today three superb madrassas frame this vast open space, all built after Timur’s reign but reflecting his own Islamic architecture. The oldest was commissioned by his grandson, Ulugh Beg; the other two were added in the 1600s. Passionate about astronomy rather than affairs of state, Ulugh Beg left his signature mark in the madrassa bearing his name, with a lovely mosaic of sky and stars above the arch. Stretching eighty-

one by fifty-six metres around an open courtyard, this was not a strictly religious school (like other madrassas) but home to a hundred students who could learn a range of subjects, such as science, maths and astronomy. Ninety scientists gathered here on opening day, the greatest Uzbek poet attended classes in the compound and the Ulugh Beg’s Madrassa became one of the most illustrious in the land. Facing it across the square is Sher-Dor , the ‘Madrassa with Lions’, two of them hunting white deer on the arch above the entrance. Lions symbolized the ruler’s power, but striped as they are these look more like tigers with human faces lit up by the rising sun. Lion or tiger, it is an unusual allegory, since Islam does not allow images of living beings, but the idea may have come from Persian miniature masters. Also surprising for some visitors may be the swastika above the entrance but this is an ancient sign promising abundance and eternity. Then at the far end, Tilla Kari, the ‘gold-covered’, stretches right across the square, the last and largest of the three structures and, according to many visitors, the most embellished on the Registan. As usual, the madrassa has its fair share of craft and antique dealers but the true highlight is the mosque where the gilded ceiling takes your breath away. Although the Timurid Empire was relatively shortlived, Timur’s legacy is still tangible in the restored wonders of Samarkand, the most illustrious city in Uzbekistan.

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

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WALL COATING

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The Squatter

Short Story

By Jackie Brewster “Grandma, come quick!” Polly shouted from the top of the garden. “There’s a man in a cream suit stuck in the Wendy house.” “Just what I need!” Dorothy tutted, wiping her hands on a tea towel. She might have known it was a bad idea to enter the Open Gardens competition. Today had been exhausting. After weeks of weeding, watering and second guessing her planting scheme, she’d fixed a polite smile on her face and served cream teas on the. She’d not seen hide nor hair of the competition judge, which was very rude considering all the effort she’d put in. Just when she thought she’d the last visitor had gone and she was preparing her large gin and tonic, there was a squatter in her Wendy house. She tucked her tea-towel in her pinny and strode up the garden. The Wendy house was a dilapidated wooden construction. Anyone over ten years of age would bump their head on the ceiling. Polly used to play tea parties at the little table in there with her teddies, but now the Wendy house was abandoned, home to only the creepy crawlies. As Dorothy reached it she was greeted with the unpleasant sight of a large backside. There really was a man in a cream suit stuck in her Wendy house. He had his rear to her, crouched in a very undignified position. “Excuse me, sir.” She assumed a matronly tone. “You’ll have to come out. The open garden is now closed.” “I’d like to.” His voice was strained. “But I’m afraid I can’t move.” “Why did you go in there in the first place?” Dorothy

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asked impatiently. “It’s only designed for children.” “I thought it was where you came to get a cream tea,” his muffled voice wailed, “but then I couldn’t turn around. “I want to back out but my knees have gone to sleep.” Polly stifled her laughter. “Sir,” Dorothy summoned the last reserves of her patience, “just bend over and crawl out backwards.” “But I’ll ruin my trousers,” the man complained. “Do you want to live in my Wendy house?” Dorothy snapped. The man sighed. They watched as he awkwardly felt his way to the muddy and leaf-strewn floor. The poor man crawled slowly on his hands and knees through the cobwebs, squeezing his bottom back through the doorway. Eventually he was far enough out for Dorothy to catch him under his armpits and haul him to his feet. His suit was ruined. “Thank you very much,” he said. “I feel like a proper fool.” “What on earth made you go in there?” Dorothy said. “She told me that’s where the cream tea was.” The man pointed at Polly. “Only for a joke. I said it to loads of people.” Polly shrugged. “Nobody else believed me.” “I’ve left my clipboard in there,” the man said. “Would you mind getting it for me?” “What on earth did you bring a clipboard for?” Dorothy asked. “To write up my observations.” He brushed himself down. “I’m the Open Gardens judge.”

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Technology

Make your outdoors great

July is time to embrace the great outdoors. If your hard work has the garden looking great, it’s time to enjoy the benefits with our gadgets for summer days and nights. MUSIC One of our favourite pieces of outdoor technology is the wireless speaker, which can soundtrack anything from sunbathing to social events. You don’t need to spend a lot of money on a wireless Bluetooth speaker though. For example, Sony’s excellent SRS XB01 can be bagged for £19.99, runs for six hours between charges and is water-resistant. If you can afford higher-end models you’ll get even better sound and smart features. The Sonos Move may well be the best portable speaker in the world right now; it’s just a shame it costs £399. LIGHTING Another favourite is outdoor

lighting. There are two options: solar lighting that costs nothing to run and smart lighting that runs from a power socket. The former is available in many designs, from single posts to curtains of fairy lights, colour-changing flowers, security spotlights and decking lights – all you need is a reasonably sunny spot for the solar panel. Smart lighting isn’t as cheap, but it’s tons of fun. Philips’ excellent Hue lighting continues to add new outdoor ideas, with a range that now includes spotlights and wall lights as well as light strips and floodlights designed to deliver more subtle ambient light. Just like the indoor versions you can choose from endless colours, create your own lighting ‘recipes’ and set up automation that’ll trigger the lights either at set times or when specific things happen, such as the sun going down or you arriving home. It’s a fairly expensive

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option, however – individual lights such as the Appear, Resonate and Lily lights cost £129 each – and the lights’ hub needs to be within range of your Wi-Fi router. HEAT Although the UK gets comfortably warm July days, the temperature drops dramatically when the sun starts to go down. Instead of a fairly wasteful gas-powered heater, an electric one with halogen bulbs uses a lot less energy and is much cheaper to run, although you need to be within reach of a plug socket for them to work. Unlike gas heaters, which heat the air around them, electric heaters heat the things they light up but not the air in between: you might find a smaller tabletop heater (from around £70) or a parasolmounted heater (around £89) keeps you warmer than a more powerful big one that you have to sit further away from.

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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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Electrician

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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

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Technology By Aidan Wilson

Not Wired For Sound Today while so many of us are at working from home right now, the chances are we are sharing the space either with other family members or as part of an apartment complex so blasting loud music out of speakers is probably a good way to annoy people. Headphones have gone wireless and noise-cancelling now, which means it’s never been easier to create our own little oasis of sound. With so many headphones to choose from here are the main features you might want to consider. To connect headphones to your phone or tablet they need to speak the same language. This language is Bluetooth. Bluetooth is designed to connect devices together over short ranges. There are two main versions of Bluetooth at the moment, version 4 and version 5. For music and audio both give full quality sound. Bluetooth 5 is the newer version with a larger range and better battery life. The range extension should let you walk a couple of rooms away from your player rather than just a few metres. It has a faster data rate and while that probably won’t make a lot of difference for music, if you have a choice go for Bluetooth 5. Bluetooth also means that you don’t have to worry about whether you’re using an Apple device, Android, or any other system. If your device can output sound using Bluetooth it will be able to connect to any Bluetooth headphones. Many headphones offer noise cancellation. Be careful as there is active and passive cancellation. Active noise cancellation uses a microphone to listen to the noise around you and then tries to cancel it out by playing sound waves into your headphones. This works extremely well but is more expensive. Passive

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noise cancellation simply involves your headphones blocking out the background noise. They will either cover over your ears or use a tightly fitting earpiece to block sound from getting into your ear canal. Passive cancellation tends to reduce background noise rather than getting rid of it. Headphones come in two styles. Traditional headphones have an over the head band that connects the two earpieces together and supports the device. Ear buds use two separate wireless speakers that push into your ear. They are usually held in place by the way they fit inside your ear canal, but some include clips that help them stay in place. Which style you choose is really down to personal preference. Headphones can be more comfortable for longer periods of time and being much bigger they usually have better quality speakers built into them. Ear buds are lighter and more unobtrusive and can be less cumbersome if you move around a lot. So which headphones should you go for? The choice really comes down to how you plan to use them. If you want to relax and listen to music with the best quality possible, traditional, over ear headphones will be your best choice. You’ll get the best sound production and the best noise cancellation, but your headphones will be bulkier. If you want music while you exercise either in the gym or out in the open, wireless earbuds will be your best choice. Your earbuds will stay in place while you move, they’ll handle sweat and rain, while still giving excellent sound reproduction. As with all things it comes down to personal choice and personal budget. So, bear all of these factors in mind and have fun shopping.

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Crossword Solution for The Villager June Edition

Juneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Codeword and Suduko Solutions

Easy

Hard

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The Villager Prize Crossword

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

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

Prize

ÂŁ25

Across 1 Written announcement (6) 4 Film regulator (6) 9 Fan (7) 10 Subject (5) 11 Type of hat (5) 12 Closest to (7) 13 Sound transmitters (11) 18 Ruler (7) 20 Edition (5) 22 Tale (5) 23 Easily seen (7) 24 Lower down (6) 25 Helpful (6) Down 1 Close to (6) 2 Stopwatch (5) 3 Custodian of museum (7) 5 Surplus (5) 6 Most important (7) 7 Repeat aloud (6) 8 Carried along (11) 14 Make better (7) 15 Beginnings (7) 16 Stopped (6) 17 Relating to teeth (6) 19 Type of poem (5) 21 Horizontal board (5))

Name: Tel:

ď&#x20AC;˘

Address:

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Environment

Avoiding Food Waste We’ve never had it so good with the continuous year-round availability of fresh food. But it is so wasteful throwing food away just because it’s not supermarket fresh. So what can you use past its sell-by date and how? Vegetables: any veg good for roasting – peppers, courgettes, potatoes (including sweet potatoes), onions – don’t have to be crispy-fresh to still be edible. Roasted veg are excellent to go with a barbecue or as a colourful accompaniment to many meals. And do an internet search for roasted vegetable lasagne; better than the meat version. Fruit: lockdown made overripe bananas very popular for home-baking. But most summer fruits combined with apple or orange juice and liquidized make excellent smoothies and puddings and pies are fine with fruit that is past its best. Bread: family favourite bread-and-butter pudding is better with slightly stale bread than fresh. Toast your leftover French stick and then chop into croutons to add to a salad. Crisps and cake: 20-30 seconds in the microwave will remove the moisture that turned your crisps soggy or your cake dry. Leftover dinners: one-pot meals such as chilli, lasagne, curry, casserole often have some left in the pot when all have had their fill. A home vacuum packer means individual portions are kept fresh for a few days longer and don’t get freezer burn if you decide to store for a later time.

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Books

Books to keep you busy Dream Big! Heroes Who Dared to Be Bold by Sally Morgan

Dream Big! comprises a hundred bite-size biographies, each accompanied by an illustration. My ten-year old and I have both enjoyed learning more about some well-known names (e.g. David Attenborough and Maya Angelou) and discovering other inspirational people neither of us had heard of. As well as being a great read, it’s opened up conversations about racism, sexism, LGBTQ+ rights and having the courage to stand up for what’s right. Highly recommended.

The Sin Eater By Megan Campisi

14 year old May Owens expects to be sentenced to death for stealing a loaf of bread. But her sentence is much worse. She’s to become a Sin Eater – responsible for taking on the sins of others so that their soul is cleansed. The role means she’s to be forever shunned. So when she discovers someone is trying to blame dead women for sins they didn’t commit, no one will listen. Intriguing setting, believable characters and a great story. Pre-order it now for delivery at the end of July.

The Sleeper and the Spindle by Neil Gaiman and Chris Riddle

The companion book to the latest series of the popular BBC programme, The Great British Sewing Bee: Sustainable Style invites readers to upcycle and repair existing clothes, and make new ones using sustainable, natural fabrics. There are twenty-seven projects to choose from and plenty of advice for beginners.

Grow Food for Free: The easy, sustainable, zero-cost way to a plentiful harvest By Huw Richards

Growing your own fruit and vegetables can be expensive once you’ve factored in the costs of plants, compost, pots and so on. However, it is possible to grow vegetables on the cheap. This book has plenty of tips on doing just that, from growing new plants using vegetable scraps to ideas for raised beds and containers. There’s also step-by-step advice on everything from sowing and transplanting to controlling pests.

Vegan(ish)

This beautifully illustrated book takes the story of Sleeping Beauty and adds a dollop of darkness and a few ‘what ifs’. What if the sleeping sickness spread? What if there was a queen with hair as dark as a raven’s wing, lips as red as blood and several dwarves by her side, who could set out on a quest to rescue the princess? Yes, The Sleeper and the Spindle is aimed at young adults and takes under an hour to read, but don’t let that stop you from adding it to your wish list.

The Great British Sewing Bee: Sustainable Style By Caroline Akselson and Alexandra Bruce

By Jack Monroe Whether you’re 100% vegan or just want to eat more plantbased meals, Jack Monroe’s latest cook book could well become your go-to resource. There are a hundred recipes altogether, from simple soups and sandwiches to more complicated dishes such as Beet Wellington and Ultimate Moussaka. As you’d expect from the queen of budget meals, recipes are carefully costed out so they won’t break the bank.

By Kate Duggan

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Classifieds Handy Man

Foot Health Practitioner 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

Painter &

Decorator

01767 699252 07901 985123

Garden Specialist

HGS Classified advert.indd 1

Adam Staniforth

07870 428357 adamstaniforth35@gmail.com

Painter & Decorator

14/04/2015 21:23

RICHBAW

DECOR LTD Local, honest, professional service

Haberdashery

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

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

Painting Services

Classifieds Pest Services

Property Improvements

Reliable Local Pest Control Services We provide fast and effective control of WASPS, RATS, MICE, COCKROACHES, BEDBUGS and FLEAS Jobs and service contracts catered for Call today 01480 369802 / 07969753267 Please note: we are currently using unmarked vans

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

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

Property Improvements

Plastering Services

A professional property maintenance service

Property Improvements by

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

Tel: 01767 651821 Mob: 07773 973420

Property Maintenance

Plumbing and Heating

CJ Property Maintenance Free Estimates

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

Plumbing and Heating

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

Riding School MANOR FARM RIDING SCHOOL Sutton, Beds - SG19 2ND Lessons for all abilities TASTER LESSONS AVAILABLE

07875 192662 You can also find us on facebook 94

Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts

USEFUL NUMBERS

VILLAGER The

and Town

Life

Alcoholics Anonymous..............................0845 769 7555 Al-Anon Family Groups..............................0800 008 6811 Anglian Water............................................08457 145 145 Bedford Hospital........................................ 01234 355122 Lister Hospital............................................ 01438 314333 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 To advertise in The Villager and Town Life please call 01767 261122

For more information or to reserve your space please contact Nigel on:

Tel: 01767 261122

Email: nigel@villagermag.com Web: www.villagermag.com 95