Potton March 2022 by Villager Mag

VILLAGER The

Issue 155 - March 2022

and Town

Life

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

Inside this issue

Top Five

Cruise Destinations

Make your

Mother’s Day Win £25 in our Prize Crossword

Bringing Local Business to Local People Every Month in Buckden, Brampton, Godmanchester, Eaton Socon, ur E o Y The Hemingfords, Grantchester and all surrounding villages REpy

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Inside this issue... Spring Cleam your Kitchen............................................................. 39 Swiss Chard...........................................................................................40 Amazing Animals and their Superpowers................................. 42 Seasonal Recipe: Seared Lamb Fillet...........................................44 Outdoor Adventures......................................................................... 47 Puzzle Page...........................................................................................48 What's On in March...........................................................................50 A Faceclift for you Front Door...................................................... 53 Villager Prize Crossword..................................................................58 Book Review: New Starts.................................................................61 Useful Numbers.................................................................................. 63

Spring Clean your Kitchen Conifer Charm

Worried about Flooding at St Neots?.......................................... 4 Top Five Cruise Destinations............................................................ 6 Wines: A Choice Selection...............................................................10 It's Pancake Day..... at last!................................................................ 12 Scents and Sensibility........................................................................ 17 The Dangers of Ultra-Processed Foods.......................................18 Looking for Quality?......................................................................... 22 Make Your Mother's Day................................................................. 25 Big Changes for Seperating Couples...........................................29 Driving Insurance Charges...............................................................30 Colour your Home Happy................................................................32 Conifer Charm..................................................................................... 34

Get your business off to a flying start this year

Advertise with the Villager Magazine... prices start from just £35.00 +VAT per month Editorial - Peter Ibbett, Trevor Langley, Sarah Davey, Kate Duggan, Jennie Billings, Faye Carter, Leeds Day Solicitors, Caroline Knight, Kate McCarthy, Rachael Leverton, Beacon Wealth, RSPCA and Katherine Sorrell,

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History

Worried About Flooding at St. Neots?

By Peter Ibbett

The Environment Agency folk have been busy at the Eaton Socon and Godmanchester locks on the Great Ouse. A mobile display trundled into the area to encourage home owners to draw up a flood plan in case of flash flooding or Biblical torrents bursting through expensive local upgrades to river defences. We are fortunate that our area has large expanses of river meadows, such as that at Regatta Meadow in St. Neots in 2009, that can keep flood waters from inundating our local towns as they used to do in the days of our 19th century ancestors as mentioned in ‘Legends and Traditions of Huntingdonshire.’ W. H. Bernard Saunders :"Although St. Neots is very liable to inundation from any unusual fall of rain, so rapid and destructive a flood is not remembered by the oldest inhabitant. At eight o'clock in the evening of Oct. 30th 1823, when the flood was at its highest, not a house in the town but was inundated to a considerable depth; in many the water ran over the shop counters, and in some it was more than five feet deep; indeed, in one or two instances, it was up to the ceiling. Mr. Inkersole sustained damage to the extent of £1,200, and Mr. Burdell, grocer, to the extent of £500. One poor woman,

who had been compelled to take refuge from the flood in the garret, remained from Saturday night to Monday morning without any food, it being impossible from the low situation of her dwelling to afford her any assistance; persons were rowing about the Market-place in boats and brewing tubs, endeavouring to render aid; and amongst other things swept away by the destructive element, a pig-stye was seen floating down the streets. The walls of the town bridge were burst down by the impetuosity of the flood and the force of the tempest, and the arch was injured. At Eaton Socon a poor man was rescued from his dwelling in a boat only a minute before the house was overwhelmed. The Regent coach, from London to Stamford, was stopped in the flood, the horses swimming, and the passengers, 14 in number, had to be conveyed into St. Neots in boats for a distance of half a mile. The bridge next the mill was completely torn to pieces, and Mr. Towgood suffered to the extent of many hundreds of pounds." If you have flood material or memories do drop a copy into the museum which is now open for 2022 and is free for residents. Its shop has a wide range of family items.

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Travel

Top five cruise destinations

Is there anything more idyllic than waking up on a cruise ship and drawing your blinds to reveal an endless expanse of ocean? Add in cocktails by the pool, daily entertainment, exquisite food and shopping galore, and you have all the ingredients for the perfect holiday. That’s not even touching on the destinations you stop off at along the way! From the Greek Islands and Norwegian fjords to Egypt’s River Nile, cruises can take you all over the globe. So, if you want to tick multiple countries, cities or ports off your travel wish list, a cruise holiday should definitely be on your radar for 2022. The cruise industry was hit hard during the start of the Covid-19 pandemic – but thankfully it’s now back up and running. To give you some inspiration, here are five of the world’s most popular destinations to visit on a cruise. The Norwegian fjords If you’re more interested in adventure than sun, sea and sand, Norway’s dramatic fjords are sure to deliver. Carved from glaciers, these long, narrow, saltwater inlets make up the majority of the country’s northern coast and boast some of Scandinavia’s most exceptional scenery. A cruise is undoubtedly the best way to soak up the sights. Exploring from a ship means you can get close to Norway’s tumbling waterfalls and skyscraper cliffs, looking out for rare seabirds and even a glimpse of a sperm whale if you’re lucky. Most Norwegian cruises will also stop at remote fishing villages along the

way, where you can sample some of the freshest and most delicious seafood. What’s more, with hotel and food prices in Norway renowned for being sky high, a cruise can also be the most affordable way to experience this part of the world. The River Nile As far as river cruises are concerned, there aren’t many that could compare to a voyage along the Egyptian stretch of the River Nile. Measuring about 4,160 miles in length, shared by eleven countries, the Nile is widely considered the longest river in the world. There’s no better way to put its sheer scale into perspective than to sail along a portion on a scenic river cruise. Starting in Cairo, capital city of Egypt and home to the ancient Pyramids of Giza, many Nile cruises will take you on a captivating journey through Luxor and its royal tombs, all the way to Aswan and its spectacular High Dam. Whether you’re into your history or simply want to soak up the culture, it’s impossible not to be blown away by the 7,000-year-old history you’ll witness at every turn. The Greek Islands With more than 6,000 Greek islands peppering the Aegean and Ionian seas, it’s no surprise that islandhopping cruises around Greece are some of the most popular cruises around. This is a corner of the world made for exploring by ship. Start in Athens and spend your first couple of

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days exploring the capital before embarking on your journey. Top cruise destinations include Mykonos with its waterside cocktail bars and white-sand beaches, Rhodes with its Old Town and uninterrupted swathes of sand, and Santorini, where the sunsets are world-renowned. Many cruises will also take you to the archipelago’s lesser known islands too, Chania and Thessaloniki being good examples. The Caribbean The Caribbean’s wealth of white-sand beaches washed by turquoise seas make it an incredibly popular cruise destination for sun-seekers. Thanks to the islands’ close proximity to one another, you could wake up in a new country every day. Snorkel with turtles in Tobago, enjoy the sounds of reggae and taste of jerk chicken in Jamaica and brush up on your colonial history in Barbados.

Although equally colourful, each island has its own distinct character, meaning there’s enough to please wildlife lovers, history enthusiasts, foodies and anyone who just wants to laze on the beach. Alaska Coined ‘The Last Frontier’, Alaska is the USA’s most sparsely populated state – and its wildest. A cruise here will make you feel like you’ve walked straight into one of David Attenborough’s documentaries. Sail past gigantic glaciers, snap photographs of sea lions from the ship, take a shore excursion to see brown bears and witness breaching whales; the cruise itineraries around Alaska’s largely untamed landscape are hard to beat. You can also expect visits to Alaska’s state capital of Juneau, only reachable by air or by water, Glacier Bay National Park, and Skagway, a compact city saturated with history from the Gold Rush era.

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Food & Drink

Wines: A Choice Selection

Certainly, there are many retailers, independents, supermarkets and other outlets, that offer numerous wines. A good number of which are of excellent and superb quality. Whether a preference is for red, white or something ‘pink’, there are beverages to choose from. For this quest I searched for a range of wines, that are widely available and decided to go for the red and white options. Of course, sparkling wines are available – perhaps for a later time! VINHO VERDE LOUREIRO (12% vol), from Portugal, is a most acceptable white wine production. I found this wine to be fresh, fruity and, although great on its own, to pair with white fish dishes, plus salads, perfectly. ALBARINO ADELANTE (12.5% vol) is from Spain. This white wine is extremely popular. Grapes are handpicked, from the Galacia region. Fruits, on the nose, are then enticed to the mouth’s pleasures and sensation on the palate. Great with seafood dishes, particularly. For red wines I chose TOSCANA (13% vol) from Italy. This wine has many ‘devotees’, being handcrafted, in collaboration with one of the oldest and most highly-regarded wine estates, in Tuscany. This very impressive, aged production, has dark fruit flavours in abundance, which follow from the nasal pleasures. Wonderful to pair with red meats and casseroles. Another ‘famous’ red wine is BAROLO (14% vol). This ‘King of Wines’ and ‘Wine of Kings’ is renowned for its distinctive high-quality, being produced by utilising Nebbiolo grapes, to great advantage. Again, from Italy, this wine, which is also aged, has connoisseurs who regularly enjoy the bouquet, pronounced flavours and long finish. Perfect to accompany steak, beef and red meat dishes. I located these wines (just some of their range) at a Morrisons store. Trading from 1899, Morrisons now has a range of wines and drinks, that are very acceptable, indeed. The wines described are within the ‘the Best’ range. This range of wines, from Morrisons, comes from their wine experts, who constantly search for exceptional quality wines, from around the world, which are produced by some of the very best wine producers, globally. Take time and pleasure, to locate some favourites. www.morrisons.co.uk

As always, Enjoy!

ey Trevor Langl

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Time of Year

It’s Pancake Day…at last!

By Sarah Davey

Pancake Day is a bit late in 2022. We’ve had to wait until March 1st This is because the date changes each year because it’s related to Easter, and Easter Day varies annually according to the spring equinox. Shrove Tuesday is celebrated the day before Ash Wednesday, which is 40 days before Easter. This Lent period represents the time Jesus fasted in the desert. Historically, Christians went to confession on Shrove Tuesday seeking absolution for their sins. In fact, the word ‘shrove’ originates from the Old English word ‘shrive,’ which means ‘to give absolution after confession.’ Then they returned home to tuck into rich foods, made to use up all the fatty ingredients ahead of Ash Wednesday when the Lent fast began. There is evidence that the Christian Pancake Day derived from a pagan festival which welcomed the arrival of spring. The Pagans made circular pancakes to symbolise the sun, and which were thought to imbue the sun’s power and strength to those who ate them. Whatever their history pancakes are universally popular and being able to flip them well guarantees the flipper appreciative ‘Oohs’ and ‘Ahs’ from their audience. For the perfect flip use a well-greased non-stick pan and make sure its hot. When you pour in the batter make sure the edges are perfectly cooked. A little shake will make sure the pancake is loose and ready to flip. Use a nice strong upward wrist flick and keep your eye on the pancake. Enjoy!

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• Bespoke training and development • Receive generous pa y and benefits • Access to 24/7 support and training • Your own supervising social worker

• Support group and networking opportunities You need to be over 21, have a spare bedroom, be compassionate, resilient, flexible and willing to learn. 14

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A D V E R T O R I A L

UNCLE FUNK’S DISCO INFERNO COME TO ST NEOT’S!

Uncle Funk’s Disco Inferno, the UK’s top disco covers band will be playing a special one-off show at The Priory in St Neots this coming March as part of their 2022 UK tour. Presenting a set of the Greatest Hits Of Disco, the band guarantee a fabulous night that will put smiles on faces and keep feet firmly on the dance floor! Endorsed by many of the stars of the 70s, including Robert “Kool” Bell from Kool & The Gang, Uncle Funk’s Disco Inferno have quite a pedigree. Over their 20 year history, the 9 piece band have played some of the biggest stages in the world, including repeat bookings at Glastonbury Festival, Standon Calling and the Cambridge Club Festival where they are booked again for 2022. Fronted by the enigmatic Uncle Funk and the incredible Sea Sisters, the band are augmented by guitarist Bobby Harrison, currently also Cliff Richard’s guitarist and formerly lead guitarist in the Australian Pink Floyd Show, Bonnie Tyler’s bass player Mike Brooks, recording artistes Ajit Gill on drums and James Beckwith on keys, and west-end brass players Roseanne Duckworth and Fiona Asbury. The set features songs by disco giants such as Earth, Wind & Fire, Chic, The Trammps, Bee Gees, KC & The Sunshine Band, The Jacksons and many, many more. Don’t miss this fantastic night of entertainment! Uncle Funk’s Disco Inferno play The Priory in St Neots on Friday, March 25th. Tickets are £17 each and available from the box office or online from www.wegottickets.com Photo © Goat Photography / Uncle Funk

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Beauty

Scents and Sensibility Bored of your usual perfume? Signature scents are all very well, but sometimes it’s good to try something new… Sampling a perfume If you don’t know where to start, sniff a few bottles to see which ones you want to sample. Ideally, spray the perfume on the inside of your wrist, rather than on a strip of cardboard. Over the next few hours, keep sniffing your wrist to see how the fragrance is developing. Perfume is made up of top, middle and base notes. They’re designed to complement each other, but the fragrance will gradually change as the lighter top notes evaporate, so you want to make sure you like the perfume throughout its journey. As well as deciding whether you like the scent, consider how it makes you feel. Some fragrances are uplifting, while other are more calming. Fragrance types Perfumes are broadly categorised into different families, the most popular of which are floral, oriental, woody and fresh (also called green). Floral scents tend to be slightly sweet and let flowers such as rose, jasmine and lily take the starring role. Oriental fragrances are spicier, with warm, sensual notes. Woody fragrances are warm and musky, with notes such as sandalwood, bark and leather, while fresh fragrances contain citrus or grassy notes to create a clean, light and invigorating perfume. You’ll also find combinations – such as floral oriental. Perfume or eau de toilette? The higher the concentration of fragrance, the longer it will last. Perfumes/ parfums have the highest concentration, so one spritz should last pretty much all day. However, not all fragrances are made into an actual parfum as it’s just so expensive. Eau de parfum isn’t quite as concentrated, but it should still last a good few hours. Eau de toilette is lighter and will need reapplying every few hours. Eau de cologne will need reapplying frequently. So, if you’re looking for a day perfume, go for the highest concentration that you can afford. (Do apply it sparingly if you work in a crowded environment or take public transport, however, as perfume can give some people headaches.) If you just want a fragrance to wear for an occasional evening out, you can get away with a lower concentration. A few to try… While gardenia takes the leading role in Gucci’s Flora Gorgeous Gardenia, the jasmine, pear blossom and brown sugar add depth and intrigue (£105 for 100ml Eau de Parfum from Boots). Nuxe’s Prodigieux® le Parfum is summer in a bottle. Orange blossom and magnolia adds sweetness, but they’re warmed and tempered by vanilla (£45 for 50ml, uk.nuxe.com). Love Jo Malone but can’t justify the price tag? Check out the legendary perfumier’s collaboration with Zara. She’s been working with the retailer for a couple of years now and you can try eight of her perfumes at home with the £15.99 sample Discover Set.

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Health

The dangers of ultra-processed foods More than half the calories we eat in the UK now come from ultra-processed foods. But what does this mean for our health, and how can we cut back? Ultra-processed food is everywhere, and it probably makes up more of your shopping trolley than you’d think. The term is often used interchangeably with ‘processed food’ but they’re not the same. So, what exactly are ultra-processed foods, how are they affecting our health and what can we do to cut back? Generally, most of the food we eat has been processed in one way or another. Milk is pasteurised to make it safe to drink, beans are dried and canned to extend their shelf life, and seeds are pressed to produce oils. However, this doesn’t necessarily make these foods unhealthy. Ultra-processed foods, on the other hand, contain ingredients you wouldn’t typically find in your kitchen cupboard. Chemicals, colourings, sweeteners, preservatives – ultraprocessed foods are littered with them.

Some of the foods that fall into this category are unsurprising. Crisps, fizzy drinks, biscuits and ice cream are all highly processed, but did you know that even breakfast cereals, white bread and ready meals are too? It can be hard to detect highly processed foods, which unfortunately makes us even more likely to add them to our shopping basket. But what damage does this do to our bodies? Created to be convenient, cheap and tasty, ultraprocessed foods are typically high in sugars, refined grains, fats and salt. They also have very little nutritional value and are highly addictive, which explains why they’re so prevalent in our diets. They’re hard to resist! Recently, highly processed foods have also been linked to heart disease, diabetes, obesity and even some cancers. As with anything though, moderation is key. There’s nothing wrong with a biscuit dipped in your cup of tea or a takeaway every now and again. The trick is to eat ultra-processed foods as part of a healthy balanced diet. So, how can we limit the amount of highly processed foods we consume?

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ACUPUNCTURE FOR WELL-BEING

Judy obtained her Licentiate in Acupuncture, and B.A (Hons) degree in Traditional Acupuncture, from the College of Traditional Acupuncture, Warwickshire. Judy is a passionate believer in the positive benefits, on both physical and emotional levels, that may be obtained from receiving acupuncture treatment. Acupuncture originated in China and other far eastern cultures where it still features in mainstream healthcare, both as a stand-alone therapy and in combination with conventional western medicine. Judy has been trained as a classical Five Element Acupuncturist; treatment is aimed at the root cause of your condition as well as your main symptoms. This approach helps with resolving your problem and enhancing your feelings of wellbeing. You may notice other niggling problems resolve as your main health complaint improves. Judy continues to pursue her belief in excellence of care for her patients in her role as a dedicated acupuncture practitioner, and is a member of the British Acupuncture Council. Please contact Judy for a free 20 minute consultation to discuss how acupuncture treatment can help you.

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Check your labels One of the easiest ways to check whether a food product is highly processed is to look at the ingredients list. A label full of long words you can’t pronounce is one sign that a food is highly processed. You can also check the Nutrition Information Panel to identify foods that contain high amounts of saturated fat, sugar and sodium (salt). Find substitutes There are plenty of substitutes to ultra-processed foods on the market. Instead of potato crisps try low-fat popcorn, which is whole grain and a good source of fibre. Swap sugary cereals for unsweetened oatmeal, and add fruit for flavour, and replace white bread with a homemade or granary loaf. Cook more meals from scratch When you prepare a meal from scratch, you have more control over the ingredients you’re consuming. You can also pack in plenty of whole foods, such as vegetables, beans, legumes and whole grains. Start compiling a list of quick and easy meal ideas to prepare when you’re feeling lazy. Salads, omelettes and stir-fries require little effort, and are super tasty. Be wary of false advertising Don’t be fooled by phrases like ‘fat-free’, ‘natural’,

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‘no added sugar’ and ‘sugar-free’. Foods that are advertised as healthy often contain artificial ingredients or other chemical additives, such as artificial sweetener, which make them significantly more processed – and unhealthy – than they might first appear. Remember to check the ingredients list! Keep healthy snacks on hand If you’re in a rush, grabbing a packet of crisps and a cereal bar on your way out the door is tempting. However, keeping your kitchen stocked with portable, nutritious snacks can make it much easier to make healthy choices on the go. Fresh fruit, unsalted nuts and hard boiled eggs are all good examples of simple but tasty snacks that’ll keep you energised throughout the day. Take it slow If ultra-processed foods constitute a large portion of your diet, it’s a good idea to reduce your intake of these foods slowly to begin with. This is because going cold turkey increases your likelihood of craving the high-fat, high-sugar foods your body has become accustomed to. Plus, sometimes highly processed food is simply more convenient. Start by trying to enjoy one unprocessed or minimally processed meal a day, and gradually increase as you see fit.

House of Colour

Looking for Quality? Quality clothing should look, last and feel good for longer. Deciding what is quality and what isn’t is not necessarily so easy. In simplistic terms it should feel good to the touch and have some weight to it. For many years the mantra is ‘you get what you pay for’, but it isn’t always so straightforward. Yes, the very cheap end of the market will not last well. But higher end clothing does not always mean quality or quality that will last. Designer clothes can still use cheaper fabrics and not last in the way you might expect of the pricetag. • Jackets, and coats’ shoulder seams should finish at the outer edge of your shoulder. • Patterns should match at the seams – particularly in stripes or checks! • Lining – does it give you enough space to move easily? Linings are expensive to replace if they get damaged through being too tight or poorly fitting. • Zips – double check that a zip fastens easily. It’s infuriating when it repeatedly jams. If this does happen try a lubricant but you need to be mindful which to choose as they can damage the fabric. Your options could be; a graphite pencil, talc powder, lip balm, vaseline, bar soap, glass cleaner and even wax paper. Apply your chosen lubricant along the teeth of the zip to help it slide. • Enough fabric? Cheaper items tend to skimp on the amount of fabric that is used so consider going a size up. Hems should have a generous amount of fabric (1.5”) to add weight which means it should hang well. • Knitwear – natural fibres will generally last better and look better in the long term than acrylic options, so choose those whenever you can. If you find a jumper has pilled then invest in a knitwear comb and gently use it to remove the loose fibres, wash and then press and your jumper can look as good as new. • Consider your own needs in terms of durability. Silk is still a beautiful fabric and can be extremely good quality but it isn’t necessarily the most robust so think about what the item of clothing is going to be used for. • Seams. Looking at seams can be revealing. Good quality items tend to have more generous seams and are well finished, neat and don’t have threads loose.

• Alterations can make a difference to the fit and durability of an item. Make sure that the alteration is as good as or better than the original work on the garment. • Lighter colours need to be good quality as they look cheaper faster so be prepared to look carefully and potentially spend more. • Looking after your clothes means they will last longer too! Enjoy the new Spring season! Article by Jennie Billings – House of Colour House of Colour has a network of stylists to help you update your look – find your nearest at houseofcolour.co.uk/find-a-stylist

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Time of Year

By Faye Carter

Make your Mother’s Day Your life changes forever the day you bring home your little bundle of joy. Whether you give birth naturally, adopt or foster, this little person now depends on you for everything. From now on they come first, you come second, and a poor second at that. Being a mother is fabulous, and funny, and frightening. It’s the best and worst of jobs. There are cuddles and giggles, sports days and parents’ evenings, Nativities, and music recitals…there are also blazing rows with slammed doors, sleepless nights and more vomit than you ever realised one small human could produce. Mums are multi-tasking maestros. Carer, teacher, agony aunt, tour guide, drill sergeant, PA, and chauffeur… Even when they leave home it doesn’t stop. I still rely on my mother for advice, help with childcare, and a shoulder to cry on when things go pear-shaped. It’s only now as with children of my own, that I realise what my own mother went through – why she made me do my homework, go to bed early, stop beating my sister up, eat my broccoli, save my pocket money, don’t talk to strangers, and say please and thank you. Mother’s Day might have become a cliché, but it does give us the perfect opportunity to say thank you to our mums for everything they have done and still do for us. Anna Jarvis, who founded Mothers’ Day in the US

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said she came to regret campaigning to get the day recognised, because it became commercialised. She hated that people sent cards with a pre-printed message rather than writing a letter. So, although it’s a nice gesture to buy a card and give flowers and chocolates, it’s even nicer to do something special to show you care – maybe valet her car or treat her to a pamper session, or just visit and spend the afternoon chatting. Time is the most precious gift of all. And go beyond the message in the card. Write a few personal lines of your own to tell your mother what she means to you. Make sure she knows that she’s loved and appreciated all year round.

FACTS Mother’s Day is celebrated all around the world, usually in March or in May. In the UK, it is a mixture of a Christian tradition, and the celebration of motherhood that began in the USA in the early 20th century. During the 16th century, people in service would return to their home or ‘mother’ church on the fourth Sunday in Lent – Mothering Sunday. The modern version of Mothers’ Day we know today became a regular event in the 1950s, largely thanks to businesses keen to exploit its commercial potential!

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Jill Dighton MA Counselling & Psychotherapy Practice BSc (Hons) Integrative Counselling MBACP (Accred)., UKCP Reg.

Counselling Service Depressed? Anxious? Relationship Issues? Low Self Esteem? Have you considered Counselling sessions? Based in Grafham village, I offer a professionally qualified Counselling Service to individuals and couples in a secure, confidential & non-judgemental atmosphere. Ample parking. Concessionary rates available.

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Leeds Day

Big changes for separating couples No fault divorce is coming The Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Act 2020 (“DDSA 2020”) is the biggest reform of divorce law in 50 years. Currently, couples seeking a divorce in England and Wales must have been separated for a period of 2 years or one must blame the other for the marriage breakdown, citing either adultery or unreasonable behaviour. Even if they mutually agree that the relationship is over, if they do not wish to wait for two years before seeing a divorce, then the only way to end the marriage sooner is to apportion blame when applying for a divorce. The DDSA 2020 aims to reduce conflict within the legal process of divorce and it is hoped that this in turn will empower separating couples to work together to find constructive solutions for the issues relating to finances and children arising from separation. Key Changes Under the new regime, no explanation or evidence of the reasons for the breakdown of the marriage is necessary and it will no longer be possible to raise allegations of bad behaviour. All that will be required is for one or both partners to provide a statement confirming that the marriage has irretrievably broken down. The new system will remove the possibility of one partner contesting the divorce and the scope for the divorce to be challenged will be extremely limited, avoiding costly defended proceedings. Couples will also be able to lodge a joint application for divorce where the decision to separate is mutual.

Huntingdon Godwin House, George Street, Huntingdon, PE29 3BD T: 01480 454301

The start date for the new regime is 6 April 2022. Coupled with the recent guidance from the family court that applications to court on financial and children matters should be the last resort, this really is a wholesale shift in the culture of family law with the focus going forward being firmly on collaboration and co-operation. At Leeds Day LLP, our experienced family law team regularly help clients embrace a collaborative approach to separating through exploring alternatives to court proceedings. Simon Thomas, team leader and partner at the firm, is based at the St Neots office and is one of only a small group of family lawyers in Cambridgeshire who specialises in collaborative family law, a process where each person appoints their own collaboratively trained lawyer and the couple and their respective lawyers all meet together to work things out face to face. Both of you will have your lawyer by your side throughout the process and so you will have their support and legal advice as you go. You sign an agreement that commits you to trying to resolve the issues without going to court and prevents them from representing you in court if the collaborative process breaks down. This means that everyone is absolutely committed to finding the best solutions by agreement, rather than through court proceedings. To find out more, contact Simon Thomas at Leeds Day LLP on 01480 442078, email: simon.thomas@leedsday.co.uk or visit our website: www.leedsday.co.uk/family.

St. Ives 11 Station Road, St. Ives, Cambridgeshire PE27 5BH T: 01480 464600

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St. Neots Xenus House, Sandpiper Court, Eaton Socon, St. Neots PE19 8EP T: 01480 474661 29

Finance

Driving Insurance Charges Driver insurance rules have changed for 2022, with a mixed effect for customers. The good news is that price-shopping is no longer the only way to get a better deal. Since 1 January, ‘loyalty penalties’ are no longer allowed in either home or motor insurance. That means an insurer offering a renewal price to an existing customer cannot charge more than they would offer to a new customer with the same details. PRICE WALKING The idea is to stop what the Financial Conduct Authority calls price-walking, in which insurers rely on customers letting policies auto-renew rather than shopping around. It should also remove the pantomime-like process where a customer who has found a better deal elsewhere is suddenly offered a lower price when they try to cancel their renewal. The negative of the rules change is that insurers may well raise prices overall to make back some of the money they can no longer get from the loyalty penalty. That makes it more important than ever to find creative ways to cut costs – though perhaps not as creative as an anonymous social-media user who

worked as a television camera operator but got a lower premium by describing their occupation as a picture framer! PAY BY MILE Several companies now offer a pay-as-you-go or payby-mile policy. This means that rather than paying a set premium for the year, customers pay a varying amount depending on how much they actually drive. It’s certainly an approach many would have appreciated in 2020, when car use slumped during lockdown. Such policies aren’t quite as simple as they seem. The per-mile rate will still take into account risk factors such as car model and driving experience. There’s also a fixed fee that applies even if you don’t drive at all, designed to cover such risks as your car being stolen. Whether such policies work out cheaper depends on individual circumstances. As a rough rule, they are most likely to suit people driving less than around 6,000-7,000 miles a year. Customers of pay-per-mile policies must fit a device (sometimes dubbed a black box) to their car, which simply measures distance. However, some specialist

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policies offer cheaper deals that use more extensive data to assess risk. These telematics policies usually offer discounts, either at annual renewal time or on monthly payments, based on the way the customer drives. Factors that can reduce premiums include shorter journeys, keeping to speed limits and avoiding sudden braking, and driving at safer times such as during daylight but outside of rush hour. Telematics deals are most suitable for young drivers who’d normally be charged extremely high premiums based on industry assumptions about their risk level. Some insurers will only cover young drivers on such a policy. If you take out a telematic or ‘black box’ insurance policy, you need to read the conditions carefully. Some will simply offer discounts when you drive in a less risky way. Others use the data to enforce conditions such as only driving a certain amount or not driving after a ‘curfew’ time. Breaching these conditions won’t usually invalidate the policy but will instead make you liable for higher premiums. ADVANCED DRIVING Another option to save on premiums is to take and pass an advanced driving course. These cover topics such as driving in extremely busy traffic or coping with adverse weather such as heavy rain or wind.

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They often put more emphasis on observation and anticipation of potential hazards. In theory, passing such a course qualifies you for lower premiums, particularly where you’d otherwise face steep charges based on age or experience. The problem is that there are several different courses and qualifications available and not all insurers recognise all qualifications. The IAM Roadsmart and Pass Pluss qualifications are the most commonly accepted, but you will need to check with each insurer. Another limitation is that the cost of taking an advanced driving course may outweigh or limit the savings on insurance premiums. For this reason, experts advise that you shouldn’t consider such courses solely as a money-saving exercise and instead take into account the inherent benefits of becoming a more skilled and confident driver.

Home Products

Colour your Home Happy By Katherine Sorrell

Use colour in unexpected places – such as on a staircase, dado rails or skirting boards. This cheering yellow makes a great contrast to a grey sofa that’s adorned with fun cushions. Harlow grey L-shaped sofa, £999.99, Furniture And Choice.

Lift your spirits and freshen up your space by introducing bold, clear shades This cool lamp, in a ‘mootard’ glaze, would liven up any desk, table or shelf. Nellie table lamp, £112, with 35cm straight empire shade in Heraldic Ikat, £79, Pooky.

Bold colour probably won’t work all around the room, but used on a small section can create an eye-catching feature. Out of the Blue paint by COAT, £42 per 2.5l, coatpaints.com.

A sofa, chair or – in this case – loveseat can make a good focal point in a room, especially in a warming, bold colour such as this. The Rebel 1.5 Snuggler in marmalade velvet, £899, Snug sofa.

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Choosing and using bright colours

Go for a tropical vibe with a bright and breezy accent lampshade, featuring abstract palm trees, a gold lining and looped fringing. Ravenala lampshade, £180, Mindthegap.

Replacing some cushions is one of the easiest ways to introduce personality and pops of colour. Combine plains with bold patterns for variety and interest. Jonathan Adler Milano Concentric Loops cushion in emerald/ navy, £134, Sweetpea & Willow. Nothing beats a blanket or throw as an easy way to introduce fresh new colour, texture and pattern, whether over a sofa, chair or bed. Manhattan reversible supersoft merino lambswool blanket, from £150, The Fine Cotton Company.

The smallest accessory in the right combination of colour and pattern can make all the difference, and a distinctive piece such as this terracotta vase, hand made in Portugal, is a great example. Tangerine Bold pitcher, £42.99, softstore.co. Coloured glass is one of the prettiest things – and this delightful vase is very ontrend, since Pantone’s colour of the year 2022 is Very Peri, a dynamic violet-blue. Small cushion vase in amethyst, £27, Dartington Crystal. STOCKISTS Dartington Crystal: dartington.co.uk Furniture And Choice: 03330 150 000; furniturechoice.co.uk Pooky: 020 7351 3003; pooky.com softstore.co: softstore.co

• Choose shades that are fresh and clear rather than muted or muddy, and neither too pale nor too dark. Mid-spectrum brights such as sunny yellow, fuchsia pink, emerald green and brilliant blue will make your home sing. • For this look, keep things simple with a backdrop of white or a pale neutral, which will allow you to experiment with adding pops of bold colour here and there as you wish. Some say it’s best to keep the area that’s covered by bold colours to around a quarter of the room at most, so as to let the eyes rest and not be overwhelmed. • Choose two, or maybe three, bold colours and add them in gradually – an accent sofa or chair, a cushion or throw, a vase or candlestick, and so on. Alternatively, make bold colour part of the architecture by painting or papering a feature wall, or even sections of woodwork. See how things look together, and move them around (or even take them out again) as necessary. • Lovers of pattern may feel confident enough to mix pattern-on-pattern with brights; most of us, however, will prefer to play a little safer and stick to plain colours plus the occasional minimal pattern. Simple geometrics look great with this look, and have a mid-century style that works really well.

Coat: 07368 870 097; coatpaints.com The Fine Cotton Company: 0345 602 9050; thefinecottoncompany.com Mindthegap: +40 265 264 121; mindtheg.com Snug: 020 3095 6555; snugsofa.com Sweetpea & Willow: 0345 257 2627; sweetpeaandwillow.com

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Gardening

Conifer Charm If there’s one particular group of plants that people love to despise, it tends to be conifers. Could it be that many of us dismiss the huge variety among conifers with just one word – leylandii? The Leyland cypress, Cupressocyparis leylandii, seems to fire up a lot of hatred. It is believed that there could be around 55 million of these trees within the UK – that’s more than one for every adult. The problem is all about size. The trees can grow up to 90cm per year and people have a habit of planting them

inappropriately, then failing to keep them under control. The citrus-scented foliage of leylandii actually makes a magnificent, dense hedge, which acts as a perfect screen or windbreak. It also provides noise reduction, which can be very valuable for those living next to a main road. When clipped regularly, it’s a perfect garden friend. But nobody knows exactly how tall the tree can grow because there are no ancient leylandii, though estimates suggest they could reach heights of 61 metres (200ft) or even more. These are relatively new plants that originated from a cross created in the late nineteenth century in Wales. The parent species are the Monterey cypress and the Nootka cypress, both from the USA. One parent brings its hardiness to the mix, whilst the other provides a pretty amazing growth rate. The tree is unable to reproduce without human help and all existing leylandii therefore come from cuttings. Whilst legal disputes involving neighbours and leylandii run into thousands, others celebrate the beauty and grandeur of a rather spectacular tree, which can take pride of place in a suitable setting.

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It grows into an impressive specimen and also plays host to many birds and other wildlife. Indeed, the National Pinetum in Bedgebury, Kent, is rightly proud of what is believed to be the tallest and oldest leylandii hedge in Britain, measuring over 40 metres. Conifers possess many charms that should never be overlooked. These cone-bearing trees are hugely diverse and they hold impressive carbon-capturing statistics. The largest tree in the world, measured by volume, is a giant sequoia, Sequoiadendron giganteum, in California, measuring 83m tall with a diameter of 11m at the base. It is considered to be middle-aged, being around 2,000 years old. The magnificent cedar of Lebanon, Cedrus libani, can easily grow to 35m high and almost as wide. This is the oldest cedar of all and there are some situated on the slopes of Mount Lebanon that are said to be 2,500 years old. At the other end of the scale, many miniature conifers will not reach even 100cm tall at maturity. Pinus mugo is the dwarf mountain pine and it sits comfortably within a mixed border or can even be grown in a large pot. There are hundreds of different shapes, colours, contrasting textures and forms of conifers that can provide colour and interest throughout the year. The pencil-slim Italian cypress is widely used in Mediterranean-style gardens here in the UK, creating vertical impact and drama all year

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round. In contrast, prostrate, spreading junipers, such as Juniperus horizontalis, provide excellent ground cover and colour-changing foliage from summer through to winter. Juniperus is known for its dark berry-like cones, which can be used in food dishes such as casseroles and stuffing. They are also the main flavouring for gin. However, the red, fleshy berries produced by Taxus baccata, the English yew, are highly toxic. Some conifers, such as yew, respond extremely well to clipping, whilst others, including leylandii, go brown and won’t re-grow if you cut back into old wood. Not all conifers are evergreen. The beautiful, native larch tree loses its soft, needle-shaped leaves in winter. Others change colour throughout the seasons, including Cryptomeria japonica which is coloured blue-green in spring, turns green during summer and rusty-red in winter. This conifer has soft, tactile foliage, whereas the monkey puzzle tree, Araucaria araucana, has sharp foliage that can cut like a razor blade. The dwarf conifer beds of the 1970s era have now been largely usurped by more naturalistic planting. Island beds filled with rocks and conifers fell out of fashion during the late 1980s, although there are still examples to be found in public parks and larger estate gardens. Conifers are, however, back! They can be used with spectacular success as specimens and can be blended within planting schemes to bring year-round colour and interest. Never underestimate this amazing family of trees – there is something suitable to lend a touch of unique magic to any outdoor space. Caroline Knight: Gardendesignideas.co.uk

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Time of Year By Kate McCarthy

Spring Clean Your Kitchen If you feel overwhelmed at the thought of springcleaning, the kitchen is a great place to start. First throw away obvious rubbish. Then empty the bin and take out the recycling. Do the washing up (or load the dishwasher) and then wash out the bin and recycling containers with warm soapy water. Leave them upside down outside to dry. Remove everything from the kitchen cupboards. Throw away empty containers, consolidate halfempty duplicates, and get rid of products you’ll never use. Check ‘use by’ dates and get rid of embarrassingly ancient jars. For pots, pans, cutlery, and crockery, be honest about what you use regularly and what you will use over the coming months. No-one really needs 29 mugs, surely. Wipe down cabinets and put everything you’re keeping back inside. Take stock of your kitchen gadgets. Those you use on a regular basis need to be within easy reach. Those you use less frequently can go on a higher shelf. If you know you haven’t used a gadget in the last year, donate it or dispose of it. I realised this time that I will never use a milk-frother or a stand-alone steamer. Fetch a step ladder or stool and wipe the tops of all kitchen cabinets. Then wipe the handles, walls, and light switches. Wipe down windowsills and polish windows with glass cleaner or white vinegar. Clean the countertops. Most can be cleaned with soapy water, but some require specialist cleaning products Wipe down any small appliances that live on the countertop — like the toaster or coffee machine. Scrub the sink and faucet. You can use a specialist drain-cleaning product, but I use couple of tablespoons of bicarbonate of soda and a cup of white vinegar poured down afterward. Let it sit for

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30 minutes, and then pour a couple of kettles of hot water down to rinse it through. Vacuum behind the fridge because dust can interfere with its efficiency. Then empty everything out and throw away expired food. Remove drawers and shelves and wash them in the sink with mild soapy water. Wipe everything down, paying special attention to the rubber seals that tend to collect crumbs. If your fridge is stainless steel, use either a specialty cleaner or a tiny amount of oil on a clean cloth to polish away fingerprints. To clean a microwave, fill a glass bowl a cup of water and a tablespoon of white vinegar and microwave it for three minutes until it’s boiling. This steam-clean will help soften caked-on food inside making it easier to wipe down. Clean the stove top (and grates if you have a gas stove), with warm soapy water. You might need a degreaser on the hood, stovetop, and backsplash. If you have a dishwasher check the filter for any food that might be stuck and rinse it. Run the empty dishwasher on hot using a specialty cleaning product. If you have a waste disposal unit, Run the tap with it on, then grind up some ice cubes and finally half a lemon to freshen it up. Vacuum the floor thoroughly, paying attention to the gaps between the countertop appliances. Wipe down baseboards with warm soapy water, then mop or scrub the floor. Finally deep clean and descale clean any regularly used items like the kettle and coffee pot. Rinse thoroughly. Stand back and enjoy your kitchen. Then feel totally vindicated in buying a takeaway tonight so you don’t mess it up again!

Garden View

Swiss Chard March means the start of outdoor sowing season in the UK, as the days begin to lengthen and become warmer. I discovered Swiss Chard several years ago when I was looking for something more interesting than spinach. It’s rarely found in the supermarkets for some reason and is quite delicious. It’s also easy to grow and doesn’t require much maintenance. Beta vulgaris subsp. cicla var. flavescens is sometimes called Rainbow Chard because of its ornamental stems. The fact it’s so decorative, with its large fleshy dark green leaves and bright stalks in shades of red, purple, gold and white make it a good choice for a small garden. It looks attractive in containers or borders. To grow it, choose a sunny (but not sun-baked) spot, prepare the soil well (or use compost in a large container), make shallow drills about 40cm apart and sow the chard seeds thinly, approximately 1.5cm deep. Cover the seeds with soil and water well. You can start sowing in March, then every few weeks you can repeat sow, until September for a continuous crop that will even see you through the winter if you give it a little protection. I move my pots to the greenhouse. As the seedlings begin to grow, thin out the plants

By Rachael Leverton

so that they’re 25-30cm apart. Water well after thinning. Chard is an easy vegetable to look after but keep an eye open for slugs and snails. Birds also seem to like the little seedlings (at least in my garden) so you might need to protect them. Young chard leaves can be eaten fresh so use the early thinned leaves for salads. The adult chard leaves are ready to harvest about 10-12 weeks after sowing, though later in the year it will take a little longer. It’s a wonderful cut-and-come-again plant. Cut individual leaves as you need them, and the plant will keep producing new growth. Swiss chard varieties to try My favourite variety is ‘Bright Lights’ which has rainbow-coloured stems. It’s particularly good for autumn crops. ‘Fantasy’ has pretty red stems and is good if your garden tends to be damp as it’s resistant to mildew. As its name suggests ‘Bright Yellow’ has yellow stalks and is very striking. All three of these varieties can be over-wintered with a little protection and provide you with an early crop the following spring.

Happy Indoor Gardening

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Pets

Amazing Animals and their Superpowers I always marvel at the sight of a cat walking along the narrowest of fences as though it were a tightrope. Elegant and skillful. Perfectly balanced. It makes me wonder what other superpowers cats and other animals have. Cats Let’s start with an impressive fact, that a cat’s genome is 95% tiger. They share many behaviours with their jungle ancestors including scent marking by scratching, pouncing, urine marking and prey stalking. As we know cats claws all point downwards. Did you know it is for this reason that a cat cannot come down a tree forwards, and they must back down the trunk? Incredible. Each cats nose print is unique much like a humans finger print! Cats walk like giraffes and camels. They move both of their right feet first, then they move both of their left feet. No other animals walk this way. Some cats are ambidextrous, but 40% are either left or right pawed. Male cats are more likely to be left pawed, while female cats are more likely to be right pawed. In 1963 a cat went into space! We are all aware that a monkeys and dogs have been sent into space, but did you know that a cat braved the great unknown too? On 18th October 1963, ‘Astrocat’, also known as Felicette, was the first and only cat to go into space. Dogs Dogs can detect one drop of liquid in 20 Olympic sized swimming pools. For this reason, dogs are trained to sniff out people, drugs and even money. Remarkably, dogs are now being trained to detect diseases such as malaria, diabetes, tuberculosis, and Covid-19. It was during one of The Royal Institution Christmas lectures last December that Professor Jonathan Van-Tam demonstrated how dogs can detect the Covid-19 virus. Greyhounds can reach a top speed of 45mph within seconds of starting to run, compared to a cheetah that

can reach 70mph. However, cheetahs can only keep this going for around 30 seconds meaning a greyhound would actually outrun a cheetah! Greyhounds can easily run at speeds in excess of 35mph for seven miles. Despite the cheetah’s head start, they’d soon be overtaken. Did you know that dogs have 3 eyelids? Their third eyelids is called the nictitating membrane and helps to protect and clean the eye. If you have a dog, you may have noticed that they move their ears a lot. A dog has an incredible 18 muscles that are responsible for moving their ears! Their ears are vital in helping them communicate with us and other dogs. They can hear over 4 times the distance of a human. So, next time you come across a cat or dog, stop to marvel at how amazing they are. 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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Seasonal Recipe

Spring is the perfect time to enjoy lamb. This is a light flavoursome dish that is delicious served warm or cold. Ideally, marinate the lamb the night before to enhance the flavour.

Seared Lamb Fillet

With Beans And Garlic Minted Dressing Preparation time: 15 minutes Marinate: 1 hour or overnight

Cooking time: 50 minutes Serves 4

Ingredients 500g lamb fillet 1 garlic clove, crushed Grated zest of 1 lemon 1 tsp cumin powder 1 tbsp olive oil plus a little extra for frying 150g green beans or sprouting broccoli, trimmed 250g mixed green leaves, baby spinach or rocket 150g cherry tomatoes, halved ½ red onion, finely diced Dressing 1 bulb of garlic Drizzle of olive oil 200g Greek yoghurt Handful of mint leaves 1 tsp honey or maple syrup 2 tbsp balsamic vinegar Pinch of cumin ½ tsp Dijon mustard

1. For the lamb, mix together the garlic, lemon zest, cumin and olive oil and rub over the lamb. Leave to marinate in the fridge for at least 1 hour or overnight. 2. For the dressing, place the garlic bulb in a piece of foil and drizzle over a little oil. Bake in the oven for about 30 minutes. Cool slightly then squeeze out the garlic pulp into a blender. Add the remaining ingredients for the dressing and blend together. Season to taste. 3. Preheat the oven to 220C/200C fan/gas mark 7. Sear the lamb in a frying pan with a little olive oil so that it is brown all over. Place in the oven and roast for 15-20 minutes. Allow to rest for 5-10 minutes. Slice thinly. 4. Blanch the beans or broccoli in boiling water until al dente, drain and refresh under cold water. Pile the green leaves on a platter and top with the beans, tomatoes and onion. Arrange the lamb on top and drizzle over the dressing to serve.

Nutrition per serving: 437kcal, fat 33g (of which saturates 15g), carbohydrates 6.7g (of which sugars 5.7g), protein 28g, fibre 1.9g

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Special Report

Outdoor Adventures Spring Cleaning Your Home’s Exterior In your home, you’ll realise when maintenance jobs need doing and rooms need cleaning. But particularly during the winter months, any deterioration to the outside of your property is likely to go unnoticed until the brighter spring days. The roof If any part of your roof is north facing, near trees or both, you are very likely to see a build-up of moss. This is not only unsightly, it’s not good for your roof and the moss is likely to block your gutters too. If your roof is at a low level or can be accessed from an upper window, gently brush the surface to loosen the build-up. Generally though, unless you happen to own the specialist equipment to ensure you are safe on a roof, this really is a job for the professionals. The gutters Some debris in your gutters will get washed away and will mulch down, but more often it’ll just build up. If your gutters are overflowing every time it rains, you are going to need a long ladder and a pair of thick rubber gloves to clear the slimy mess. A professional will have a camera on a pole to see where the worst spots are and to help them clear out all the winter debris. Ask about having gutter guards fitted, too to help prevent future build-ups. Facias and soffits There are two options if your facias and soffits look tatty and the paint is peeling: repainting is lower cost but it won’t last that long and is fiddly to do; replacement facias and soffits are made of uPVC and will last for years. It’s well worth considering

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replacing the guttering at the same time. Pathways The inexpensive way to clean your path is a bucket of water and a stiff brush. Alternatively, a jet washer is very thorough and reasonably affordable, although you only need to use it once or twice a year. This is a job you can do yourself, but it’s blooming hard work! You will get quite a workout controlling the pressure washer hose or sweeping a brush. Windows This is another one of those jobs that is hard work and while it’s easy to access the inside of your windows, the upper floor of the outside is much more difficult. Furthermore, a one-off clean is not enough – you are looking at your windows all the time so you’ll notice them getting dirty again within a month or two. It’s better to have a regular arrangement with a cleaning company who will usually have a pole system to reach the heights. They normally use purified water, meaning that the windows dry sparkling clean. In summary There are many jobs around the home that you are probably capable of doing yourself to save the pennies. But these external tasks don’t need to be done very often and a specialist will have the equipment, the safety training and the insurance to do the job efficiently and quickly.

Codeword 1

ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ

Easy Sudoku

Hard Sudoku

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. 48

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What's On

WHAT'S ON IN MARCH 1 MARCH Huntingdonshire Health & Care Forum 2-4pm online Organised by Healthwatch Cambridgeshire and Healthwatch Peterborough. Share your ideas and experiences, ask questions and get involved. www.healthwatchpeterborough. co.uk/event/2022-03-24/ peterborough-health-and-careforum

3, 10, 17, 24 & 31 MARCH Riverport Singers 10.15-11.15am The Corn Exchange, St Ives Community choir for people living with dementia, their carers, family and friends. Come along and sing a range of songs (folk, pop, musicals) in a fun, relaxed atmosphere. Tel: Agi 07757 811802 Email: agipeach@icloud.com Web: Facebook.com/ riverportsingers

1 MARCH Hail Weston Wildlife and Gardening Group 7.15pm for 7.30pm Hail Weston Village Hall Members £1, non-members £3, under 18s free Nature friendly farming with Martin Lines. Martin farms in Cambridgeshire and has a passion for the preservation for the countryside. He champions a way of sustainable farming that is good for nature. Email: hwwgg@yahoo.com for more info/to book

3, 10, 17, 24 & 31 MARCH Bingo 7.30pm Alconbury Sports & Social Club Eyes down for the weekly Bingo session! Web: www.assc.org.uk

1, 8, 15, 22 & 29 MARCH St Neots & District Camera Club Via Zoom Regular talks and competitions. Web: www.stneots-camera-club. org.uk 2 MARCH Brampton Flower Club 7.30pm Community Centre, Brampton High Street Meets the first Wednesday of the month. Visitors welcome. 2, 9, 16, 23 & 30 MARCH St Neots Choral Society 7.30-9.30pm Eynesbury Junior School, Montagu Street, Eynesbury New members. Rehearsals are every Wednesday in term time. Tel: 01480 212298 for membership enquiries Web: www.stneotschoral.org.uk

4 MARCH St Neots Local History Society 7.30pm Eynesbury Primary School SNLHS members free, visitors £4 ‘Pirates and De-Frocked Vicars - more tales from Bedfordshire Churches’ by David Longman, Ecclesiographer. Web: http://stneotslhs.org.uk 4, 11, 18 & 25 MARCH Great Fen Little Bugs 10.30am-12pm Great Fen Countryside Centre, Ramsey Heights Wildlife Trust BCN child member £5, non-member £7 A fun and sociable morning of exploration and discovery for preschool children and their guardians. Web: wildlifebcn.org 5 MARCH Cambridgeshire and Bedfordshire Hardy Plant Society 2pm Weatherley Centre, Eagle Farm Road, Biggleswade ‘Hostas – Little and Large’ by Colin Ward. Colin is a well-known nursery owner and a member of our group. Plants for sale. Visitors welcome – small charge. Web: www.hpscambsandbeds.co.uk

5 MARCH Huntingdon Comedy Club 7pm Commemoration Hall, Huntingdon Tickets £15 + booking fee With TikTok sensation President Obonjo. Support from Paul Thorne, Adam Riley and Jenny Collier. Web: www.chuckl.co.uk/ huntingdon-march 5 MARCH St Neots Sinfonia Spring Concert 7.30pm St Mary’s Church, Eaton Socon Tickets £10 Tickets available by telephone or on the door. Tel: 01480 213884 12 MARCH Spring Craft and Gift Fair 10am-3pm.The Village Hall, Fishers Close, Great Barford Entry £1, accompanied children under 10 free Craft and gift stalls, tombola, homemade cakes, raffle. Refreshments available all day. In aid of All Saints’ Church and Great Barford Women’s Institute. Tel: Maureen Munnelly 01234 870633 or Ann Lovesey 01234 870693 for more info 12 MARCH Meet the Romans 11am-4pm St Neots Museum Adults £2, children and Friends of the Museum free Come face-to-face with the Longshore Legion and join the curator on 15-minute museum ‘micro tours’ at 11am, 12pm, 2pm, and 3pm. No need to book a tour but please book a one-hour timeslot. Web: stneotsmuseum.org.uk 15 MARCH 10am-12 noon Dementia Café St Ives Free Church, St Ives £2.50 per person For people with dementia and their carers. Tel: George 07725 588145 Web: facebook/ stivesdementiafriendlycommunity

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What's On

WHAT'S ON IN MARCH 16 MARCH Godmanchester WI 7.30pm Church Hall, Chadley Lane, Godmanchester Meets the third Wednesday of the month. Regular speakers and activities. New members welcome. 18 MARCH Kimbolton Community Cinema 7pm for 7.30pm Mandeville Hall, Kimbolton Tickets £5, concessions £4 + booking fee for online tickets Spencer (12A). Bar, ice cream and free popcorn. Tickets from Bytes Café, online or on the door if available. Email: kimbolton.cinema@gmail. com Web: www.ticketsource.co.uk/ mandeville-hall-kimbolton 19 MARCH Huntingdonshire Philharmonic Choir Concert 7.30-9.30pm St Mary’s Church, Godmanchester Tickets £15, students/children £5 With instrumental and vocal soloists. Dvorák Mass in D, Janáek Otenáš, Eben Pražské Te Deum, Smetana Vltava from Má Vlast, Andrew Parnell - organ and Lee Dunleavy - conductor. Tickets available on the door (cash) from 7pm or online - no booking fee. Web: huntsphil.org.uk 23 MARCH Lunchtime Talk 10.30am-12.30pm Shuttleworth, Old Warden Park, Biggleswade ‘The House: The Shuttleworth Peacock’, this engaging presentation covers the story behind the Shuttleworth Minton Peacock and the Wreck of the Loch Ard. Web: shuttleworth.org/talksprogramme

23 MARCH Crime & Punishment Walk 7.30-9pm St Neots Museum £6 Shocking murders, bank robberies, drunk and disorderly – hear about local historical crimes and the punishments issued, from the birch to the death penalty. Please arrive 10 minutes before the start. Walks take place whatever the weather. Web: stneotsmuseum.org.uk 24 MARCH St Neots & District Gardening Club Meetings 7.30pm St Mary’s Church Hall, Brook Street, St Neots Members £2, Non-members £2.50 A talk on self-sufficiency in your garden by Nigel Start. Visitors welcome. www.stneotsgardenclub.org.uk 25 MARCH Knit, Lit and Natter 3pm Huntingdon Library Do you love to knit, crochet or sew? Do you also love to read? Get together with other crafters to work on projects and chat about books. Tel: 0345 045 5225 25 MARCH Uncle Funk’s Disco Inferno Comes to St Neots 7.30pm for 8pm The Priory Centre Tickets £17 ‘Greatest Hits Of Disco’ show, a special two-hour set split into two one-hour sections with interval. Tickets available from the box office or online (booking fee applies). 18+. Tel: 01480 388922 Web: www.wegottickets.com 25 MARCH Quiz Night 8pm Alconbury Sports & Social Club Web: www.assc.org.uk

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26 MARCH Little Paxton Community Litter Pick 2-4pm Start and finish QEII Playing Field, Little Paxton High Viz jackets, litter grabbers and bin bags provided. Please bring own gloves. Tel: Jenny Gellatly, Parish Clerk 01480 470193 26 MARCH Huntingdonshire Philharmonic Orchestra Concert 7.30-9.30pm Hinchingbrooke Performing Arts Centre, Huntingdon Tickets £15, students/children £5. Brahms Symphony No.4, Sibelius Karelia Suite and Stravinsky The Firebird. Conductor Andrew Morris. Tickets available on the door (cash) or online. Web: huntsphil.org.uk 27 MARCH The Huntingdonshire Local Group of the Wildlife Trust Talk 10.30am Free event Guided walk at Godmanchester Nature Reserve, consisting of four lakes which were former gravel pits and attract a wide range of birds. Meet at the reserve entrance at the end of Cow Lane, PE29 2EJ, GR TL2639 7149. Limited parking available. Everyone is welcome. No charge, but donations welcome. Email: George Cottam georgecottam@virginmedia. com for info 28 MARCH Wild Babies at Paxton Pits 9.45-11.30am Paxton Pits Education Centre, Little Paxton Bring your pre-walking aged baby along in a buggy, pram or sling for a gentle relaxing stroll with plenty of chance to chat to other ‘wild baby’ parents. Web: www.wildlifebcn.org

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Interiors

1 By Katherine Sorrell

A Facelift for your Front Door

First impressions count, so give some thought as to how you can transform your entrance with colour, hardware, lighting… or even a whole new door. It’s a welcome to visitors, the first thing that greets you after a hard day at work, and vital security that keeps out noise, draughts, intruders and the outside world in general. But is your front door up to scratch? Taking a long, hard look may reveal ways in which it, too, can be improved. Both practically and aesthetically, the difference can be remarkable. When choosing a replacement door (if, for example, your door has warped, rotted or shrunk beyond repair), you may wish to replicate exactly what was there before – or it may be possible to update it with something better. It’s important to get it right, as a great front door is an investment that could even enhance the value of your home; get it wrong, however, and the reverse could be the case. Start by researching styles to suit the period of your property, and consider what material will work best. Wooden doors are still the most popular, and are ideal for period houses, while uPVC is usually a cheaper option that can be complementary for modern homes. Aluminium, though expensive, combines strength and stability with a cool, industrial look. Sometimes it may be appropriate to include some glazing with your new door – ideal for introducing

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extra light into a dark hallway. Consider whether you would prefer clear, frosted or perhaps even stained glass, depending on the overall style, how much privacy you require and whether security is an issue. Double-glazed, laminated glass is the best option to ensure intruders can’t gain access. Speaking of security, an upgrade to your locks may also be a good idea – check with your insurers, but a five-lever mortice is usually best for timber doors, while a uPVC door should have an anti-snap lock and multipoint locking system. Any door, new or old, should fit well within its frame, but it may still be an idea to improve its energy efficiency by adding seals around the edges, and a brush strip along the bottom. An internal letterbox flap or brush is also a great idea. Good lighting is vital for when you’re struggling to find your keys or simply need to see the front path on a dark evening. It should not be too difficult for an electrician to swap your existing light for a swanky new one – or perhaps a pair, one on either side of the door. Again, you will probably wish to coordinate your lighting with the architectural style of your property, whether it’s a carriage, lantern or bulkhead model, a decorative hanging pendant or a sleek

and minimal wall washer. If possible, add a motion sensor (good for security as well as convenience), and always ensure the fitting is suitably rated for safe exterior use. The fastest way to transform an existing timber door is to give it a fresh coat of paint. What colour? It’s a matter of personal preference, of course, unless limited by a planning restriction (which may be the case in a conservation area), but it’s always a good idea to try to coordinate the colour with the style of your property and to take account of local approaches. A garish pink in a historic terrace where everyone else’s door is neutral may result in some unhappy neighbours! Painting a door also helps protect it from the weather, so it’s important to do it properly. Start by washing it down with soapy water, and either remove or cover the hardware. Remove loose or flaking paint, fill any holes or cracks, and sand down. Use primer on unpainted wood, or undercoat on previously painted or uPVC doors – you may need several coats – then finish with a couple of coats of the final colour, in tough, exterior gloss. A lovely finishing touch is a brand new set of hardware – letter plate, knocker, knob and numbers, which are available in an array of durable styles. Provided you measure up correctly, it is surprisingly easy to swap them over for an instant refresh and smart new look. Entrance Solutions If you have ever forgotten your door key, you will probably have dreamt of swapping your oldfashioned lock for a ‘smart’ access mechanism that

2 54

lets you in via fingerprint recognition – or even an app on your phone. Modern locks may also employ fobs, cards and keycodes, usually with a combination of several methods of opening, and while some only work when you are actually at the door in person, others can be opened remotely, offering you the chance to allow other people into your property when you’re away. Some connect to Alexa or other home networks, and there are options that create virtual keys or have time-sensitive pass codes, that feature anti-theft capabilities, a security camera or emergency siren, or that will alert you whenever your door is locked or unlocked. Having chosen your preferred type of lock, the main consideration is to ensure it is compatible with your existing door, depending on the thickness of the door and the material from which it’s made. If you are keeping your existing lock rather than replacing it, that will also be a factor. Bear in mind that smart locks also need a battery (which will need recharging or changing from time to time) and may require a good Wi-Fi connection. There is a huge amount of choice, and the technology is confusing, so do your research thoroughly and don’t be afraid to ask for advice from the manufacturer or retailer before committing.

1 Porto design hinged door set in a RAL-painted finish in black, Urban Front: 01494 778 787; urbanfront.com. 2 Front door painted in Lavender Quartz, Dulux: 0333 222 7171; dulux.co.uk/en/products. 3 Etch-effect house name with Edwardian text, from £45 per square metre. Purlfrost Window Film: 020 8992 4024; purlfrost.com.

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FOR ALL YOUR GLAZING NEEDS: • SINGLE & DOUBLE GLAZING • SEALED UNITS GONE ‘FOGGY’ • MIRRORS • SHELVES • WINDOWS & DOORS • LOCKS, WINDOW & DOOR ACCESSORIES

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LESTER O’DRISCOLL CARPENTRY Door Hanging, Skirting, Flooring, Fitted Kitchens, Fencing, Decking, General Carpentry, Bespoke Timber Garden Offices, Workshops & Garden Sheds

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Crossword Puzzle Solution from our February Edition Last Month’s Crossword Winner - Nathalie Powers, Lower Stondon

February’s Codeword and Sudoku Solutions

Easy

Hard

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The Villager Prize Crossword Prize

£25

Across 1 Money (4) 3 Used in board game (5,3) 9 Scold severely (7) 10 Electronic post (5) 11 Young cabbage plants (6,6) 14 To allow (3) 16 Type of drum (5) 17 Joint (3) 18 Seen in a rink (6-6) 21 Violent disturbances (5) 22 Stabbing weapon (7) 23 Supporting column (8) 24 Popular sport (4)

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

16th March 2022 Prize Crossword, Villager Publications Ltd 24 Market Square, Potton, Beds SG19 2NP The winner will be drawn at random from the correct completed entries.

Down 1 Advises (8) 2 Serious (5) 4 Stowed away (3) 5 Lock picks (8,4) 6 Loyal (7) 7 Story (4) 8 Eats its own kind (12) 12 Doomed (5) 13 Alcoholic appetiser (8) 15 Twice as much (7) 19 South American dance (5) 20 Hold tightly (4) 22 Type of snake (3)

Name:

Address:



Tel:

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A RELIABLE, QUALITY SERVICE YOU CAN TRUST • Gas Boiler Installation, Servicing and Repairs • Landlord Gas Safety Certificates • Central Heating System Installation and Upgrades • Radiator Flushing • All General Plumbing Based in St. Neots Covering All Surrounding Areas

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G.B.BUILDERS NO JOB TOO SMALL FOR ALL MAINTENANCE, RENOVATIONS AND DIY WORK All general building repairs and odd jobs Specialist in Painting and Decorating & Groundwork and Grass cutting • Brickwork & Plastering Tiling Driveways • Paths & Patios Slabbing • Concreting Blockpaving • Fencing, Carpentry • Rooﬁng Guttering • Drainage Plumbing

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New Starts

Books Forget January, there’s no better time for a new beginning than spring…

The Meaningful Money Handbook Pete Matthew

Consumed Aja Barber

Atomic Habits James Clear

Decluttering at the Speed of Life Dana K. White

If you need to get your finances in order (that’s most of us then), The Meaningful Money Handbook could prove invaluable. It’ll help you to cut through the confusion, figure out how to get out of debt, create a personal financial plan and grow your savings. If you’re already starting to wince at the thought of reading a book about finances, rest assured that there’s no jargon or judgement – just plenty of straightforward advice and useful tips.

All too often, major change feels so daunting that we don’t act, or we give up after a few days. Instead, James Clear recommends making tiny tweaks to your daily routines. Atomic Habits shows the reader how to break bad habits and start new ones. James Clear sets out, step-by-step, how to make small improvements that, over time, become life-altering. His advice is backed by psychologists, but as Clear says, this book is “not an academic research paper; it’s an operating manual.”

Survival Skills for Freelancers Sarah Townsend

At some point, everyone dreams of quitting their job and becoming their own boss. Whether you’ve already made the move or you’re just thinking of taking the plunge, this book can help you to ride the roller coaster that is self-employment. It’s full of helpful advice, from how to avoid burnout and look after your mental health to how to tackle imposter syndrome.

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Feel like you shop to fill a void? Uncomfortable with your role in fast fashion? Or do you just want to learn how to enjoy fashion sustainably and ethically? Whatever your motivation, this book is well worth a read. Aja Barber shares her story of how she came to understand the systemic injustices in the fashion industry. You’ll learn about the history of the textile industry, the growing issue of fast fashion and, crucially, what you can do to bring about change.

Clutter can be overwhelming. The more possessions you have, the more time it usually takes to organise, tidy and clean your home. Unlike other decluttering books, this one isn’t just a ‘how to’ guide; it also addresses the emotional challenges that make it difficult to let go of unnecessary possessions. It’s also packed with practical advice and tips. Plus, it’s funny.

30 Day Kick Start Plan Joe Wicks

It’s hard to make healthier choices in the depths of winter, but lighter evenings and warmer days are just around the corner. 30 Day Kick Start Plan can help you eat better, move more and stay motivated. You’ll find 100 recipes to try, along with six workouts and weekly plans to help you stay on track. There’s also advice on everything from sleep and meditation to goal setting. In short, it’s far more than just another healthy-eating cookbook.

By Kate Duggan 61

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Electrician

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Plumbing

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Potton March 2022

Articles inside

Book Review: New Starts

Villager Prize Crossword

Amazing Animals and their Superpowers

What’s On in March

Outdoor Adventures

What’s the new Range Rover up against

Swiss Chard

Top Five Cruise Destinations

Seasonal Recipe: Seared Lamb Fillet

Wines: A Choice Selection

Conifer Charm

Looking for Quality?

Driving Insurance Charges

Make Your Mother’s Day

Colour Your Room Happy