Potton November 2019 by Villager Mag

VILLAGER The

Issue 159 - November 2019

and Town

Life

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

In this issue The History of

Thanksgiving Win ice skating tickets to

The North Pole Win £25 in our Prize Crossword

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

F co1

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Inside this issue... Win Ice Skating Tickets to the North Pole

The History of Thanksgiving............................................................... 4 Roman Site in Morocco....................................................................... 8 A Taste of France.............................................................................. 10 Win Ice Skating Tickets to the North Pole, Cambridge...................... 12 Heaven Scent................................................................................... 14 Britain’s Oddest Laws....................................................................... 17 The Fall of the Berlin Wall: 30 Years On............................................. 19 Air Ambulance’s, muddy obstacle run is back................................... 20 Nick Coffer’s Weekend Recipe........................................................... 22 Gifted Inspiration for 0 to 8s............................................................. 25 The Geek Shall Inherit the Earth!...................................................... 27 We Will Remember Them All............................................................ 29 Who do you call to help a struggling child?...................................... 30 Presents and Parties......................................................................... 33 ‘Grey Pound’ Movies: Are they moving us on?................................... 34 Tips to Beat Anxiety......................................................................... 36 Wordsearch...................................................................................... 36 From Open Plan to Broken Plan........................................................ 41 Bedfordshire Steam and Country Fayre............................................ 43

Too late to save for retirement?........................................................ 46 Could you give some time to help at your local RSPB?...................... 49 Winter Hanging Baskets................................................................... 50 Simple ways to reduce your plastic footprint.................................... 53 Animal Know-How........................................................................... 54 R.A.T.S. Rehoming Appeal................................................................ 56 Give an assistance dog the best start in life...................................... 59 Ask Alan - Potton Vets...................................................................... 60 Manor Farm Day Nursery and Forest School..................................... 63 Here’s how to buy a new car............................................................. 64 The Hardest Decision - Putting your dog to sleep............................. 66 Children’s Page................................................................................. 71 What’s On......................................................................................... 74 Be a Super-Saver.............................................................................. 77 Fun Quiz........................................................................................... 77 Puzzle Page...................................................................................... 80 Can you bag a bargain on Black Friday?............................................ 83 Prize Crossword................................................................................ 86 Book Review.................................................................................... 90

Bedfordshire Steam and Country Fayre

Get your business off to a flying start this year

Advertise with the Villager Magazine... prices start from just £37.50 +VAT per month Editorial - Catherine Rose, Solange Hando, Trevor Langley, Sarah Davey, Kate McLelland, Nadia Houston, Nick Coffer, Kate Duggan, Robert Grant, Tracey Anderson, Katherine Sorrell, Ann Haldon, Pippa Greenwood, Kath McLean, Potton Vets, RSPCA and James Baggott

Advertising Sales/Local Editorial Nigel Frost • Tel 01767 261122 nigel@villagermag.com Photography - nd3000 Design and Artwork - Design 9 Tel 07762 969460 • www.design9marketing.co.uk

Publishers Villager Publications Ltd 24 Market Square, Potton, Bedfordshire SG19 2NP Tel: 01767 261122 nigel@villagermag.com www.villagermag.com

Disclaimer - All adverts and editorial are printed in good faith, however, Villager Publications Ltd can not take any responsibility for the content of the adverts, the services provided by the advertisers or any statements given in the editorial. No part of this publication may be reproduced or stored without the express permission of the publisher.

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History

The History of Thanksgiving

By Catherine Rose

On the fourth Thursday of November, Americans abroad and in the UK will celebrate Thanksgiving. Similar to Christmas, there is a traditional meal of turkey, but what were the origins of this national holiday? Thanksgiving is believed to have born with The Mayflower – the ship that sailed for America carrying the Pilgrim Fathers to a new life after persecution in Europe. The American and Canadian celebration is said to have originated with the Pilgrims’ first harvest and is known in American history as ‘The First Thanksgiving’. This harvest festival lasted for three days in October 1621 when 53 Pilgrims sat down with 90 Native American Indians and their chief, Massasoit, from the Wampanoag tribe – indigenous people who had lived in the region for centuries. The shared feast was said to have been prepared by four Pilgrim women – Eleanor Billington, Elizabeth Hopkins, Mary Brewster and Susanna

White, along with their daughters and servants. It took place as the result of an agreement made between the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag in March 1621 to work together for mutual protection and food. The agreement came after the Plymouth settlers had suffered a harsh winter for which they were unprepared when half of them died, while the Native Americans had already lost many of their tribe to disease. Sadly, this was one of the rare occasions where white Europeans and Native American Indians forged such a collaborative bond. As well as fish and venison, the feast included turkey. In his account of that time, Pilgrim Father William Bradford wrote: “…as winter approached… there was great store of wild turkeys, of which they took many…” And Pilgrim Edward Winslow’s account of the First

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Santa’s Grotto and Festivities 7, 8, 14 and 15 December 2019 Watch Santa fly in* to The Collection’s aerodrome, then follow a festive trail around The Swiss Garden to find Santa in his grotto. With lots of activities running all day there’s something for everyone at Shuttleworth this Christmas. For more details and prices please visit: www.shuttleworth.org/santas-grotto or call 01767 627933.

Other Festivities Include: Traditional Funfair Rides, Wreath Making Workshops, Face Painting, Mulled Wine and Kids Hot Chocolate, Festive Pony Rides, Steam Engine with Living Wagon, Roasted Chestnuts, Kids Craft’s and Activities! Old Warden Aerodrome, Biggleswade, SG18 9EP

enquiries@shuttleworth.org

*Flying subject to aircraft serviceability and weather on the day (Saturdays only).

To Villager advertise inFlyThe Villager and1Town Life please call 01767 261122 - Santa In FP Nov 19.indd

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Thanksgiving says: “…Our harvest being gotten in, our governor sent four men on fowling, that so we might…rejoice together after we had gathered the fruits of our labor. They four in one day killed as much fowl as...served the company almost a week….many of the Indians coming amongst us…. whom for three days we entertained and feasted…” Thanksgiving celebrations later became commonplace across New England but these were based on religious fasting rather than feasting. Following George Washington’s official declaration in 1789 that a day of thanksgiving should be celebrated by every American to mark independence, in 1817 New York became the first of several states to officially adopt an annual Thanksgiving holiday. In 1863, after more than 30 years of pressure on the government by writer and journalist Sarah Josepha Hale (most famous for the nursery rhyme ‘Mary had a Little Lamb’), President Lincoln declared Thanksgiving to be a federal holiday to take place on the fourth Thursday of November. It was intended to help boost morale and “heal the wounds of the nation” due to the Civil War as well as give thanks to “our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the heavens”. Today, Thanksgiving is regarded not as a harvest celebration or one of fasting but the commencement of the winter holidays that include Christmas and the New Year. Over the long Thanksgiving weekend, families come together to eat traditional Thanksgiving dinner which consists of turkey, cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes, gravy, stuffing, candied yams (sweet potato) and squash, corn on the cob and Brussel sprouts, which it is custom to precede

with a Thanksgiving prayer. Other traditional fare includes green bean casserole, fruit plates and pumpkin pie. Forty-six million turkeys are eaten in the US over Thanksgiving. Traditional Thanksgiving parades take place in many cities such as New York, Detroit and Philadelphia, the earliest having begun in 1920. Some of these parades also feature Santa Claus linking into Christmas festivities, and cities are usually decorated in lights from this time. American football games feature highly in the celebrations both by amateur groups, known as ‘Turkey Bowl’ games, and professional leagues. For these reasons, Thanksgiving is sometimes said to be about the three F’s: Food, Family and Football and as a non-religious celebration, Thanksgiving is important as it includes all American (and Canadian) citizens. Since 1947, the National Turkey Federation has given the US President one live and two dressed turkeys for Thanksgiving. After President John F Kennedy stated that he would not eat the live bird, it has since become customary to grant a ‘turkey pardon’. This official ceremony was made a permanent presidential tradition in 1989 by George W. Bush. The pardoned turkeys are usually sent to petting zoos – although that doesn’t guarantee they won’t be eaten the following year! Although it leads into Christmas, Thanksgiving is the more important winter celebration in the US and Canada, even though presents are not exchanged. The day after Thanksgiving has become known as Black Friday, when stores sell goods at a massive discount in the run up to Christmas and gift-giving.

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Travel

By Solange Hando

Roman Site in Morocco Rising above the fertile plain near Meknes, Volubilis scatters its ruins on a lonely hilltop with superb views all around. There are oleanders morning glory and olive groves, and beyond the gently rolling land you can see Mount Zerhoun and the holy town of Moulay Idriss. But Volubilis stands in a class of its own, listed by UNESCO for “its outstanding importance at the frontier of the Roman Empire”. First settled by local tribes, the ancient capital of Mauretania flourished from the third century BC, trading with Carthage until the Romans annexed it in AD 40. The Berbers took it back around 285 and in the late eighth century, Volubilis became the capital of Idriss the First, founder of the Moroccan State. Yet by the end of the fourteenth century it was abandoned and later destroyed by the Lisbon earthquake. The 1920s excavations revealed a 42-hectare site once enclosed by a massive wall dotted with bastions and gates. Much remains to be unearthed but as soon as you reach the entrance, the House of Orpheus takes your breath away with its hammam – hot, warm and cold rooms – and its fabulous mosaics of dolphins and local fauna charmed by Orpheus playing the lute. Then beyond the Thermal Baths and their communal toilets – a most sociable place for the Romans – you are in the heart of town, gazing at the paved square of the Forum once decorated with statues, the Capitol dedicated to three gods and the

impressive remains of the Basilica where justice was delivered and, today, storks build their nests on top of the columns. Then a Triumphal Arch honours Emperor Caracalla near the House of the Acrobat and that of the Dog, best known for the giant rock phallus that identified the brothel. Other attractions include the North Baths and olive press and more houses famous for mosaics such as the Labours of Hercules, Dionysus and the Four Seasons, Nymphs Bathing and Wild Beasts. But best of all perhaps is the romantic House of Venus with erotic designs sure to entertain its royal resident Juba II, a King of Mauretania loyal to Rome. These luxurious dwellings were in the northern district crossed by the main ‘highway’, the Decumanus Maximus as straight as an arrow, lined with columns and so well-preserved it sends shivers down your spine. Few visitors venture this far in the blazing sun but it’s the most inspiring place to reflect and feel the past almost within reach. Best time to visit is in the spring when the grass is lush and green and poppies splash colour among daisies and asphodels. All you can hear are storks rattling their beaks or the occasional bleating of sheep in the meadows. Meanwhile, down in the valley, be sure to enjoy the ‘golden apples’ so loved by the Romans – we call them oranges – and when you sip a glass of wine, remember they planted the first vineyards almost 2,000 years ago.

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Rooms from

Potton View Care Home can accommodate up to 31 residents, all on the ground floor. The Home has been completely refurbished in 2018 when it was purchased by Black Swan. It has high quality lounges, dining room and bathroom facilities as well as a salon. Outside there is are extensive enclosed gardens as well as internal courtyards. The property is a detached, purpose built care home with a car park at the front. The Home is situated between the villages of Potton and Gamlingay in easy access of local amenities.

Key Features

£750

• Landscaped gardens

per week

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

We are very proud of what we do and are always keen to show visitors around. No appointment is necessary so please feel free to drop in for a guided tour, coffee and cake!

We look forward to meeting you...

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Food and Drink

A Taste of....

France

France is renowned, globally, for many aspects. From history and architecture, through arts, literature, music, fashions and so much more, there is something to interest all. French wines need little introduction and the cuisine of France is now available around the world.

Le Garrick Restaurant is recognised as an ‘institution’. Very popular with theatrical actors and actresses, Le Garrick offers all-day dining, in a venue that has a lot of history. This ‘little piece of France’, in the West End of London, is known for its excellent, regional French food, service and atmosphere. Having a ground floor, with window tables, plus a downstairs restaurant area, with intimate candlelight alcoves, Le Garrick offers character, exceptional dining and splendid cuisine. Being in close proximity to many theatres, pre and post-theatre dining is very popular. The menu is undoubtedly French. Les Entrées has selections that include Scallops and an Assiette de Charcuterie, for example. Boeuf Bourguignon (slow-cooked beef marinated in red wine and served with new potatoes, vegetables and lardons) is extremely popular for a main course – compliments to chef! Other mains have ‘devotees’ for their succulent Honey-glazed Duck and Fish dishes. Tender Steaks have ‘followers’, too and are served with a choice of sauces, plus French fries. The team of chefs ensure all cuisine is cooked and/or presented to perfection. The complementing flavours of the dishes are outstanding and impress, constantly. Desserts have something for all tastes and Tarte au Citron or a Chocolate creation will certainly not disappoint. Champagne, plus high-quality wines/drinks, that are elegant, light, rich and powerful, have something for all palates. Having a good number of theatres within easy distance, this is most certainly a restaurant to consider prior to or after a theatre visit, as well as a venue to return to, when in the area and to make a destination, too. All dietary requirements can be catered for and gift vouchers are available, also. Le Garrick has regular clientele – always a good sign. Booking is advisable, particularly during popular times. Le Garrick Restaurant 10-12 Garrick Street, Covent Garden, London WC2E 9BH Tel: 44 (0) 20 7240 7649 Email: info@legarrick.co.uk www.legarrick.co.uk

As always, Enjoy! 10

ey Trevor Langl

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THE NORTH POLE

CAMBRIDGE IS BACK!

The Villager Magazine is offering two lucky readers the chance to be part of the festive fun with a prize draw competition to win FREE ice skating tickets for a family of four worth £40! This November, Parker’s Piece Park will be transformed into an enchanting winter wonderland for The North Pole Cambridge. Families, couples and groups will be able to take to the rink under the sun, moon and stars in the centre of Cambridge this winter, getting outdoors for some festive fun on the ice, before extending the seasonal spirit with a visit to the Alpine pop-up food and drink stalls, plus a funfair for some traditional family entertainment. Open from 16 November 2019 to 5 January 2020, visit thenorthpolecambridge.co.uk for more details and to pre-book your tickets and skate aids now. Terms: There are two prizes of one family ticket for a 45-minute ice skating session at The North Pole Cambridge. Each prize is worth £40 and includes entry to the rink for one ice skating session for four people. Prize does not include skate aids or entry or access to other attractions within The North Pole Cambridge which are run independently to the ice rink. The promoter will not accept responsibility for any technical, or other reason that affects entry being made or the winner being notified or drawn within the specified time period. Promoter: Arena UK & Europe, Needingworth Industrial Estate, St Ives, Cambridgeshire, PE27 4NB.

THE NORTH POLE COMPETITION ENTRY

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For a chance to win a family ticket simply complete the form below and send to: The North Pole Competition, Villager Publications Ltd, 24 Market Square, Potton, Bedfordshire SG19 2NP. Deadline: 16th November 2019. Winners will be notified via email and advised how to redeem their prize.

Name: Tel: Email: Address:

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

Local News BIO-MULCH 1,000 litre bag delivered* = £85.00 collected = £55.00

150 litres collected = £8.50 collected refill = £6.50

• Fully organic soil conditioner • 100% peat free • 100% natural and plant based • 100% chemical free • Fantastic results • Prevents weeds • Protects against frost • Pet and child friendly • Retains moisture • Feeds your plants • Enriches soil • Adds valuable humus • Promotes soil micro-organisms • Locally produced • Sustainable & Vegan

fullcirclegrowing.co.uk Wood Farm Vicarage Road, Waresley, Nr Sandy, Bedfordshire SG19 3DA *Delivery 6 mile radius from Waresley, further may incur extra charges

Announcement The Days Inn Sandy Hotel and Garden Court Conference and Events Centre ceased trading early October 2019. Some of our valued customers will remember us as the Holiday Inn Garden Court Sandy. Over the years, we have been fortunate to help the local community celebrate some of the most important events in their lives, what an honour that has been! It’s with great sadness that we say goodbye to our local community, and friends, thank you for your past business and support. We wish you all the best for the future. Days Inn Sandy

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Home Fragrance

Heaven Scent What’s the first thing a guest notices when they walk into your home? Your antique coat stand? The ornate mirror? The pristine hardwood flooring? No, it’s actually the smell. Smell is our most powerful sense and will override the other four senses if something foul wafts our way. So, if your house smells like musty wet dog, stinky shoes, or last night’s fish supper, none of the other details will matter. How your home smells leaves an impression on visitors so it’s nice to make that impression a good one, and of course it’s nicer for you too; after all you live there! There’s a whole industry devoted to home fragrance, so you have lots of choice. But the secret to a nosefriendly atmosphere isn’t synthetic scents. Aside from being overly perfumed, they often contain chemicals that can irritate some sensitive people, particularly asthma and migraine sufferers. Let the outside in - The simplest most effective way to freshen up your home is to open doors and windows yet very few of us do it on a daily basis. Stale air is a health hazard and a mood zapper. I’m not suggesting that you leave the windows open all day in November, but just five minutes will give you an instant, and totally free, air refresh. Grow an indoor herb garden - Fresh herbs such as basil and mint give off a lovely aroma. If you’re feeling ambitious try planting a herb box overflowing with marjoram, lemon balm and rosemary. Sweep your hand across them to agitate the foliage and spread the fragrance around.

Chop up a few lemons and limes - For a quick and easy fresh smell, you can’t beat citrus. Slice a few lemons, limes and oranges into thin wheels and bake them at a very low temperature for several hours until they are dry to the touch. You can pretty much forget about them while they are in the oven except for the fact your house will smell incredible. When they are done you can make potpourri. Thread some on a string with a cinnamon stick and some star anise and hang in your kitchen or pop them in a pretty glass bowl. Bonus tips Make citrus salt - Grind the citrus wheels to a powder in a spice grinder and mix with flaked sea salt. Make citrus sugar - As above but mix with sugar. Make sweets - Dip them in dark chocolate and sprinkle with flaky sea salt. Buy quality scented candles - Organic beeswax scented candles are very different to synthetic chemically fragranced varieties. Try them and you won’t look back. If you are wondering which scents to try, fresh citrus scents have universal appeal; incense and patchouli are lovely at this time of year. Vanilla has long been named as the most popular choice among air-freshener companies and in candle form it takes on an even warmer, more mellow quality. Make your own air freshener - For a quick-fix, all-natural air freshener, fill a pan with water, add fresh rosemary or lavender and bring to the boil, then simmer for an hour and let the vapours drift around the house, scenting the air. Later, you can let the mixture cool and decant the liquid into a spray bottle. Store in the fridge and spritz a little as needed.

By Sarah Davey

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FESTIVE AFTERNOON TEA WITH CAROL SINGERS This Christmas savour the quintessentially English past-time of taking afternoon tea with a festive twist, held in the grand setting of The House, Shuttleworth. Each sitting will enjoy a wonderful festive carol service performed by our beautiful choir. The Festive Afternoon Tea Dates are as follows: Sunday 1 December 2019 Sunday 8 December 2019 Sunday 15 December 2019

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

01767 627970

1 mention The Villager and Town Life when responding 13/09/2019 to 15:05:57 16Villager - Festive Afternoon tea advert FP Nov 19.indd Please adverts

Quirky Britain

By Kate McLelland

Britain’s oddest laws Since 1215, when King John put his signature to the Magna Carta, all sorts of laws have crept onto our statute books. We may be keen on creating new laws, but it appears we’re not quite as good at getting rid of old ones that are no longer fit for purpose. Some of these laws are so obscure that you could be committing an offence without even realising, but if you did happen to break one, it’s very unlikely that you would ever be prosecuted. Don’t walk the plank Congestion zone charges and 20 mph speed limits are making life more difficult for the capital’s drivers, so if you live in London it would be understandable if you decided to walk, rather than drive, to your local DIY store. But here’s the problem: as you stroll home holding your newly bought plank or ladder, you are actually breaking the law. According to the Metropolitan Police Act 1839 it is an offence to “roll or carry any cask, tub, hoop, or wheel, or any ladder, plank, pole … upon any footway, except for the purpose of loading or unloading any cart or carriage, or of crossing the footway”. Suspicious salmon Section 32 of the Salmon Act 1986 warns that you can be prosecuted for “handling salmon in suspicious circumstances”, although the Act doesn’t fully explain what those circumstances might be.

We’ve heard some fishy tales in our time but can’t really imagine Sherlock Holmes on the lookout for dodgy-looking salmon handlers. Low al-cow-hol beer, please The Licensing Act 1872 not only outlawed drunkenness in pubs, it also made it an offence to put salt in beer (something crafty landlords did to make their customers extra thirsty, thus increasing sales). Another unusual clause in the same act made it illegal to be drunk in charge of a cow or a steam engine on a highway or other public place. Parliamentary protection? These days it seems there are always battles raging in parliament, so it’s probably just as well that a law from 1313 forbids people from entering the Houses of Parliament wearing a suit of armour. The PM and Chancellor can also relax: numbers 10 and 11 Downing Street are protected by section 55 of the Metropolitan Police Act 1839, which makes it illegal to fire a cannon within 300 yards of a dwelling house. The British legal system has been built up over centuries of law creation, amendment and repeal, so a ‘spring clean’ is probably long overdue. For the moment, however, we can go on enjoying the comedy value of these archaic pieces of legislature, safe in the knowledge that the long arm of the law is very unlikely to reach out and grab us.

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Special Report

By Nadia Houston

The Fall of the Berlin Wall:

30 Years On 9th November 2019 marks thirty years since Berlin became reunified, with the fall of the Berlin Wall which had kept the city divided for almost the same amount of time. Today Berlin is a bustling city, home to over three million people offering city breaks to Europeans, an innovative art scene, museums and a vibrant night life. But it hasn’t always been this way. At the end of WWII, Germany was divided in to East and West zones. Whilst Berlin sat entirely within the Soviet part of the country, it too was divided into Allied and Soviet territories. For the first several years, freedom of movement was permitted, with many citizens living and working in different areas of Berlin. As time progressed, repressive laws and regulations, a deteriorating economic climate and poor living conditions were all motivating factors that encouraged people to leave East Berlin, with almost 3000 leaving in a single day at its peak. In a desperate attempt to stop this flow of migrants and ‘brain drain’ to the West, the Communist government of East Germany began to build a wall between the two areas in August 1961. During the night of 13th August, soldiers and workers set about tearing up the streets that led to West Berlin in an attempt to stop anyone fleeing the area. Concrete posts and barbed wire were put up to further restrict movement as a temporary measure. In just two weeks, the army, police force

and a swathe of construction workers had erected the temporary barrier. Once built, the wall was kept under heavy surveillance by guards, who were authorised to shoot anyone who attempted to cross it. Travel was officially permitted through one of three checkpoints – Checkpoints Alpha, Bravo and Charlie. Over time the permanent wall was put in place: 12 feet tall and 4 feet wide, topped with a smooth pipe to ensure scaling it was almost impossible. In all, more than 100 people died trying to cross into West Berlin over the thirty years the wall stood, a stark symbol of the Cold War and Iron Curtain that separated the Soviet Bloc and the democratic West. By 1989, after years of resistance to westernised reforms by the East German leader Erich Honecker, the East German government was overrun by the democratisation that was sweeping the rest of Eastern Europe. Demonstrations were already taking place across much of Europe until eventually, on 9th November 1989, it was announced that travel restrictions would be eased in Berlin. Crowds began to gather at checkpoints on both sides of the wall in anticipation of the return of freedom of movement. Passport checks were eventually abandoned, as people climbed on top of the wall, celebrating with their east and west counterparts, graffitiing and chipping at the wall in the process. In one of the greatest demonstrations of ‘people power’ the world had ever seen, Berlin was informally reunified.

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Local News

Air Ambulance’s muddy

obstacle run is back East Anglia’s mud obstacle run Only The Brave is back in 2020 for its fifth year and early bird tickets are now on sale. The muddy obstacle run in aid of East Anglian Air Ambulance (EAAA) takes place at Thetford Forest and is celebrating its fifth birthday, at the same time the charity celebrates 20 years of saving lives. To mark these historic milestones, the event, which saw nearly 2,000 runners take part last year, will see brand new obstacles including the kit carry bag challenge, 24/7 clock climb and the rotor scramble, as well as a new route through Elveden Estate. The popular race is set to take place on Sunday, March 29, and provides both a six and 10 mile course, with 20 to 35 obstacles, lots of mud, slides, straw bales and challenging hurdles. The event, which this year is sponsored by Mark Ewin Estate Agents, is in aid of EAAA’s life-saving work, a charity which relies on donations and operates two high-tech helicopters from its Norwich and Cambridge bases every day of the year. In February the charity launched a new campaign

to raise an additional £1m annually to help them become a 24/7 service. The charity will be offering an early-bird rate until the November 30. Catrina Miller, events manager at EAAA, said: “This obstacle course is for everyone and hosts competitive runners sprinting for the time, people who want to have a fun team day out with their friends or work colleagues, people who want to set themselves a challenge to people who want to just take part in a fun event and raise money for EAAA. We can’t wait to unveil our brand new obstacles next year and celebrate 20 years of saving lives!” The early-bird rate provides several options ranging from £25 upwards. Every entry will receive an OTB official t-shirt, a medal and a goody bag when they finish the course. To book your early bird tickets or find out more, visit www.onlythebraveraces.co.uk For more information on the work of East Anglian Air Ambulance, visit www.eaaa.org.uk or call 03450 669 999.

Potton & District Club Entertainment 2019 - Keeping LIVE MUSIC live every week!

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

NOVEMBER

Friday 1st November - Rob (Solo singer is back by high demand) Saturday 2nd November - Sandy Ukulele group Saturday 9th November - 100 Foot Drop Saturday 16th November - Eton Rivals* (Ska & 2-Tone) Saturday 23rd November - The Flying Ants Friday 29th November - Potton Christmas Light switch on. From 9pm Columbia (5 piece Indie band) Saturday 30th November - Escape (Christmas party band) On Sale Now - Christmas Raffle 1st Prize £100 & many more to be won

DECEMBER

Friday 6th December - Caribbean Themed Reggae Night **Live Reggae Band Saturday 7th December - Soul Intervention* Saturday 14th December - Donut Monday 23rd December - Soul Power Duo Tuesday 24th December - Christmas Eve Party Night: Disco Saturday 28th December - Karaoke (Davina’s 50th! Birthday) Christmas Day - Open 12-2pm Boxing Day - Open 12-11pm LIVE BAND Jam Basket from 7pm NYE: 31st - New Year’s Eve Party night**: Disco (STRICTLY ENTRY BY TICKET ONLY)

All info is provided in good faith, always check the web page pottonclub.co.uk for changes. When you see this * an ENTRY FEE will apply.

Potton CIU Club, Charities Hall, Station Road, Potton Tel: 01767 261465 (Evenings) Website: www.pottonclub.co.uk 20

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Looking for a for a unique and special Christmas present? Someone you know intrigued by seeing gliders flying overhead? Why not buy them a CGC Gliding Voucher? CGC offer a whole range of Introductory Lessons starting at ÂŁ117.50 Book on-line at www.camgliding.uk. Summer evening Group bookings? Fixed Price to Solo packages? â&#x20AC;&#x201C; We do those too.

For further details see www.camgliding.uk email the office at office@camgliding.uk or call 01767 677077. Our office is open seven days a week April to October, five from November to April.

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Food & Drink

Crab cakes, pickled kohlrabi

and mooli, chilli and tarragon mayonnaise

This is such a lovely recipe. Full of colour, flavour, texture, crunch and a sweet and sour hit. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the creation of local chef Tom Brittain, who spent years honing his trade before rather romantically going back to his home village and working at the Lytton Restaurant at Chalfont Dene in Chalfont St Peter. The thing I like about recipes like this is the fact that all the elements are interchangeable and can be incorporated into other dishes. Plus, the vegetables and vibrant mayonnaise would go just as well with breaded chicken or a large breaded mushroom. For the crab cakes 400g handpicked white crab meat (or tinned crab) 400g mashed potato 100g coriander 100g fresh chilli 100g spring onion 250g panko breadcrumbs 1 egg For the pickled mooli and kohlrabi 1 mooli 2 heads kohlrabi 1 habanero chilli 1 litre white wine vinegar 1 litre water For the chilli and tarragon mayonnaise 150g fresh chilli 1 bunch tarragon Half a litre good quality mayonnaise Salt and pepper 1 tsp lemon juice

Extra leaves for serving 1. For the crab cakes, combine all ingredients into a bowl. Use your hands to shape into balls and season to taste. 2. Peel and dice the kohlrabi into fine strips. Using a potato peeler shave strips off the

5. 6.

mooli. Bring the water and vinegar to a boil and leave to cool. Once the water and vinegar has cooled, combine with the kohlrabi and mooli in a kilner jar and leave in the fridge. The longer you leave it the better it will be in truth. Make the mayonnaise. Finely dice the chilli and tarragon together, fold into the mayonnaise, add lemon juice and salt and pepper to finish. The mayonnaise will keep and can be used in other dishes, as can any excess pickled vegetables too. Cook the crab cakes in a deep fat fryer at 180C for 3 minutes. You can pan fry them if you prefer. Make a bed of the pickles, place the crab cakes on top and add some leaves for colour and flavour too. Drizzle with a little of the pickling juice and serve.

Hear wonderful recipes on Nick Cofferâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;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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Parenting

By Kate Duggan - www.kateduggan.co.uk

Gifted Inspiration for 0 to 8s

Are you planning to welcome a mischievous elf to your home this year? How about this crocheted version from Best Years? It’s handmade, Fairtrade and rather cuter than the plastic mass-produced versions. It’s £18.99 from www.bestyears. co.uk. Ewan the Dream Sheep (£39.99) is sure to prove popular with newborns and new parents alike. This award-winning modern classic has been helping babies (and parents) to get some shuteye for 10 years now. It mimics the environment a baby has grown comfortable with in the womb, by glowing softly and playing soothing sounds. Rather than jangling nursery rhymes (which parents will

grow to hate rather quickly), Ewan’s main sound is a recording of a heartbeat, which is then combined with other gentle sounds, such as white noise or rainfall. The deluxe version even turns on automatically when a baby cries. Anything that babies and toddlers come into contact with is likely to get grubby rather quickly, particularly when they’re as soft and cuddly as Ewan. Luckily, you can take the electronic pod out to give him a good wash. Looking for a new Christmas duvet for your child?

We love the Christmas Jumper Bedding Set from George at Home. And the cuddly Yeti Stocking from Sainsbury’s (£4) is sure to be loved long past Boxing Day. New, uber-soft PJs are a must for Christmas, but ones bedecked with snowmen and snowflakes can feel out of place by New Year. We like these organic, Fairtrade pyjamas by OceanBluu. They’re kind to skin, kind to the people who make them, and kind to the planet. The brand is plastic-free and donates a pair of PJs and underwear to a child in need for every purchase. They’re £25 from www.oceanbluu.com. Ice cream and lollies may not be the most appealing of treats to adults in winter, but kids love them all year around. And GLTC’s wooden Lolly and Scoop Ice

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Cream Shop (£65, www.gltc.co.uk) will last a lot longer than the edible variety. There are ice lollies, cones, wafers, tubs and ice cream balls ready to scoop up and serve. Perfect for imaginative play. The White Stuff Christmas Veg Box Set is a bargain at £9.95. Why not split the decorations up to use as stocking fillers? See www. whitestuff.com. Speaking of stocking fillers, the chunky woodland creature range from National Trust is perfect for toddlers. Each one is priced at £2.75, www.nationaltrust.org.uk. Planning to really push the boat out this Christmas? The Flexa Play Work Bench (£161) is made from birch wood and comes with a vice. Add the Toolset (£21) and ToolBox (£30) to keep your child entertained for hours. See www. nubie.co.uk.

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Technology

The Geek Shall Inherit the Earth!

Get started in coding for a brighter future Technology runs the world. Almost everything we touch these days has a computer inside. From the obvious things like our laptops and smartphones all the way down to our televisions, cars, fridges, and even toasters. Many of these are now also connected to the Internet and large software systems collect and analyse our information 24 hours a day. As our demand for technology increases every year society is in desperate need of more people who can build and program these devices and software. Our school system has finally caught on to this idea and started to bring computer science into the classroom but there is a nationwide shortage of specialist teachers. But outside of schools there is a fantastic eco-system of passionate companies and individuals who want to develop the next generation of software and electronics developers. You just need to know where to look and where to start. The biggest hurdle in exciting your child about technology is to capture their imagination. Almost every kid plays computer games, so these are one of the best places to start. Learning how to code computer programs can be tedious, especially using the traditional textbook teaching methods. But put the coding exercises into a gaming environment and suddenly the subject comes to life. Programming your own spaceship to move around the screen and fire bullets opens up a whole world of gaming possibilities.

But where do you start? Technology again comes to our rescue, this time in the form of YouTube, probably the best home learning tool there is. You’ll find a whole range of tutorials and exercises all based around learning to code by writing your own games programs. But the sheer amount and variety of these videos can be overwhelming. Which one will work for your child? Is the tutorial at the right level? What happens if your child gets stuck? To cut through the confusion I’ve been developing games programming courses for 10’s and over to take them from absolutely zero experience through to A-level programming standards and beyond. I’ve been through the process with my own 10-yearold. I’ve seen his frustration when things are hard to set up, don’t work first time or simply left him stranded with no idea what to do. My course uses software that installs in under a minute and lets you get your first game up and running in less than half an hour, all using “proper typed in code” as my son calls it. From there they can take one of the full programming courses and learn all the software techniques needed to write your own programs. Everything, including all the software is absolutely free. So why not have a look at bytesnbits.co.uk and get your child on the road to becoming the next Bill Gates or Steve Jobs.

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By Robert Grant

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Local News

We will remember them all Even those who returned

Every year in November the people throughout the United Kingdom come together to remember those who have died in the service and protection of our great country on Remembrance Sunday. I am always proud of the numbers of Potton residents that turn out on the day for the service in the market square, the march up to the cemetery for the Act of Remembrance at the War Memorial and also those that cannot make the service for many reasons but line the roads up to the cemetery. In an age when league tables and statistics seem to rule Potton must be high up in all categories. In terms of actual numbers attending Potton has more attendees than many larger towns. On a percentage basis we must be in the top 10. Every year we remember those that fell in battle but we forget those that returned to our village / town but may have died later, or suffered for the rest of their lives due to injuries or gas attacks etc. During the 1914 to 1918 war many brave men suffered attacks that diminished the quality of their lives forever when they returned. At times it was called shell shock. In recent years it has been identified as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. (PTSD). Some lost limbs or eyes or were left totally blind. It has been suggested that these heroes should also be remembered in some form of publication made available to the general public. The long term families can see their relatives are remembered and our newer residents can also see the contribution the previous generations of our town have made to our freedom and our own way of life.

To make this possible we need to know who these heroes were. We are looking for information your parents or grandparents may have passed on or stories about themselves back then. So if you know of anyone who returned to Potton from the 1914- 1918 and 1939 - 1945 wars injured and subsequently died as a result of their injuries please send details of who they were and how they suffered with dates of their death to the address below.

This may possibly also apply to other conflicts such as Korea, Cyprus, Malaya, Palestine and others where our people have been involved. pottonheroes@gmail.com. (Please ensure you add your name and contact details)

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Parenting

Help! I Need Somebody…

Who do you call to help a struggling child? If your child is struggling in school the chances are that you are struggling to figure out how to find the most effective help for them. There are many reasons why a child might fall behind. Some children find that despite a lot of effort, they are frustrated by learning disorders. Some fall behind because they have a hard time focusing on learning or making an organized effort to get homework done. Some children will get the support they need to succeed from specialists in their school, in the classroom or in sessions outside of class. But every year many parents feel that their child is not receiving adequate assistance and end up sourcing their own help. This is where things can get confusing. What sort of help might be best for your child? Think carefully about your child’s needs. Subject support – Sometimes a child falls behind in a particular subject for an obvious reason: they were off sick for a while, or they’ve had a succession of supply teachers, or disrupted lessons. If your youngster is failing in one particular subject, a specialist tutor might be the way to go. It’s easy to understand what a tutor is and does: They are knowledgeable in a particular subject area and can bolster a child’s success by filling in background information your child might have missed and offering deeper explanation and practice to help the student acquire the necessary skills. These people are specialists so expect to pay between £20-40 per session depending on subject and area.

Homework support - If your child’s challenge isn’t a particular subject, but trouble settling down to tackle the work itself, a homework helper might be what you need. A homework helper provides structure and support. Many parents find themselves filling that role for their kids, being present and providing back-up when kids get confused or unfocused. But for some children who are really struggling with focus and organisation (many kids with ADHD and autism fall into this category) homework becomes a major area of conflict, so having a professional homework helper on the case can be a big relief for both parents and kids. Helping a child succeed at homework without involving parents can remove a lot of stress from the whole family’s evening. The person does not have to be a specialist teacher, they do have to be good at helping a child to organise their thoughts and their time. Learning support - For a child with serious learning issues, an educational therapist can work with them to strengthen the skills they need to be able to keep up. Educational therapists come to the task with a range of professional skills, from special education to speech and language therapy to psychology. What they have in common is that they will work with an individual child’s learning style, and then help him develop skills and strategies that will enable him to build on strengths and compensate for weaknesses. Children with dyslexia particularly benefit from this approach.

By Tracey Anderson

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

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Beauty

By Kate Duggan

Presents and Parties New beauty releases to see you through the Christmas season The perfect party make-up starts with the right base. Urban Decay’s new Stay Naked Weightless Liquid Foundation (£29.50) is waterproof, long-lasting and available in a staggering 50 shades. The light texture is similar to a tinted moisturiser and you can build it up for the coverage that’s right for you, whether that’s barely there or airbrushed perfection. Head to an Urban Decay counter for help choosing the right shade. Don’t fancy battling through the Christmas shoppers? Try the online colourchoosing tool. For a flawless finish, follow up with the Stay Naked Correcting Concealer (£20), which is semi-matte, designed to last all day (and night) and available in 25 shades. See www.urbandecay.co.uk Give someone the gift of painfree hair styling. The Alfa Italia Liscio detangling brush (from www. alfaitaliapro.com) is suitable for wet or dry hair and makes detangling a breeze. The bristles make short work of tangles but are gentle enough not to snag or break hair. The brush is also an ideal stocking filler, being priced at under £10 and just the right size to fit in the toe of a large stocking. With their glittery design and baby soft fibres, StylPro brushes are perfect for Christmas. They don’t use animal hair, so they’re suitable for vegans. Treat someone to the set, or split them up to use as stocking fillers. The set of eight is priced at £39.99 from Argos, so each brush works out at around £5. See www.styltom. co.uk

A brand new make-up palette reminds me of untouched snow – almost too pristine to disturb. If you fancy treating someone to a new palette, without breaking the bank, take a look at W7’s Socialite Eyeshadow Palette – an absolute bargain at £11.95. The palette contains 18 eyeshadows, ranging from daytime nudes to glitter-infused golds and shimmery pinks. Unlike some of the more high-end brands, this palette even includes a brush and mirror. The eye shadows are easy to apply, and blend well. Whether it lasts until Christmas Eve, or somehow finds its way into your own make-up bag, is up to you. See www.w7 makeup.co.uk. Know a unicorn-loving beauty addict? The bestselling Yes To range has recently released two new products in its Yes to Grapefruit range. The Vitamin C GlowBoosting Mud Mask contains kaolin clay to exfoliate and detox skin, aloe vera to hydrate and grapefruit extract to give skin a dose of antioxidants. Together, they help to tighten pores, reduce shine and leave skin looking brighter and healthier. Central heating can leave skin feeling dry, tight and parched, so the Vitamin C GlowBoosting Unicorn Brightening Mist should prove a welcome relief. Planning to vamp it up for your Christmas party? Try PÜR Cosmetics’ Velvet Matte Liquid Lipstick (£16). It goes on like a gloss, but has a matte, non-sticky finish. Agave extract and Vitamin E help to make it less drying than some other lipsticks. Try Addiction for full red-wine vamp, or Ever After for an easier to wear pink, from www.feelunique.com.

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Life Begins...

By Kate McLelland

‘Grey pound’ movies: are they moving us on? In recent years the ‘grey pound’ – that’s the term coined to describe the purchasing power of senior citizens – has created new marketing opportunities for everything from holidays to household gadgets. It is even starting to affect the films we watch on TV and in the cinema, as movie studios begin to understand the earning potential of shows pitched at an older audience. Over the past decade films such as Quartet and The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel have been partly responsible for breaking the mould. The tide began to turn in 2003, when a groundbreaking film based on a true story was released in the UK. Calendar Girls told the story of a group of Yorkshire women who, under the auspices of the Women’s Institutes, produced a nude calendar for Cancer Research following the death of a WI member’s husband. Focusing on middle-aged women not just as wives, mothers or aunts, but as people in their own right, Calendar Girls was a rare film for its time. It was also the surprising hit of 2003, winning Best Comedy Film at the British Comedy Awards

and eventually grossing almost £80 million pounds in box office revenue worldwide, but UK cinema audiences had to wait a further eight years before they were able to watch another British film that put older people at the heart of the story. That film was The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, which opened to great acclaim in 2011. It told the story of seven British pensioners who decide to move to a retirement hotel in India. Soon after, in 2012, the films Quartet and A Song for Marion – coincidentally both about singing pensioners – hit our screens and a sequel to the Best Exotic Marigold Hotel was released in 2015. So do these movies provide a more positive view of aging? Those in favour believe that placing a stronger focus on older people’s lives has helped to eliminate the lazy stereotypes previously used by film-makers: the sweet, undemanding grandmother or eccentric, obsessive older woman; the grouchy old man in the street or the pathetic, aging father suffering from memory loss. Less sympathetic reviewers

have accused ‘grey pound’ filmmakers of opting for “light laughs over deeper insights” while condemning them for their “condescending” and “simplistic” approach to story lines and characters. The suspicion is that film studios are simply aiming at a lucrative audience sector rather than attempting a longoverdue transformation of the way older lives are represented on screen. Actor and director Emma Thompson is one of a number of critics who dislike films aimed at a particular segment of the cinema audience. “The film industry has tried to separate us into groups, and it’s a mistake culturally, artistically and economically,” she told the BBC in 2014. Opinions over the quality and content of ‘grey pound’ films might be divided, but at least these movies have made senior citizens more visible on our screens. No longer limited to playing benign grannies or grouchy old men, older actors now have the opportunity to portray characters who, despite – or maybe because of – their age, lead vibrant lives every bit as interesting as those of their younger counterparts.

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Well-Being

Tips to Beat Anxiety Breathe – Don’t fight the racing heart or sweaty palms, breathe into it. Place the palm of your hand on your stomach and breathe slowly and deeply. The aim is to train your mind to get used to coping with panic, which takes the fear of fear away. Face your fears - Avoiding fears makes them seem scarier. By facing them you should start to make them fade. Don’t try to be perfect – We’re surrounded by images of perfection on Facebook and Instagram. It can make us feel very anxious if we perceive our own lives as not measuring up. Real life is full of stresses; bad days and setbacks happen, and it’s important to remember that life is messy. Visualise a happy place – Practice closing your eyes and imagine a place of safety and calm. It might be a beach you love, or a forest, or snuggled up in bed with your puppy. Let the positive feelings soothe you until you feel more relaxed. Talk - Sharing fears takes away a lot of their scariness. Talk to a partner, a friend or a family member, or if you don’t feel you can talk to someone you know call a helpline such as Samaritans. If your anxiety is not getting better, please talk to your GP. Call The Samaritans free on their 24 hour help line 116 123

By Tracey Anderson

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Local News

Exclusive ‘Black Friday’ Offer for Villager Readers The Herts MS Therapy Centre is offering a special November discount for ‘Black Friday’. The Letchworth charity welcomes people with any challenging health condition. They’re offering a special offer exclusively to readers of The Villager… that’s you! Try Oxygen Therapy – First Time Free! Extreme fatigue and chronic pain can result from many conditions, including Cancer, Stroke, Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, ME, Multiple Sclerosis – and more. Oxygen Therapy gives lots of people: • Faster healing • Energy boosts • Reduced pain • Decreased swelling and inflammation How does it work? Pure oxygen is breathed through a mask under pressure in a specially constructed chamber. It’s very safe with almost no side effects, unlike much medication. “I was struggling to cope with my fatigue and it was weighing me down mentally. The treatment was a ray of hope that resulted in new friends and a better quality of life.” Charlotte D Would this therapy help you? Try Oxygen Therapy for free! Call 01462 684 214 to book your session. Exclusive Offer Worth Up To £40 To celebrate Black Friday, Villager readers can enjoy a 10% discount, worth up to £40. Simply try Oxygen Therapy for free by 30 November 2019. Then – if you choose to book a block of further sessions - enjoy a 10% discount. You just need to pay for your sessions by 31 December 2019. You could save up to £40. For more details or to book your free session call 01462 684 214. Remember to say that you’re a Villager reader!

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Interiors By Katherine Sorrell

From open plan to broken plan Despite the allure of large, bright spaces, it is not necessarily convenient to live in an openplan home all the time. Hence the development of ‘broken plan’ design. Everyone loves open-plan living. Light, bright, spacious and airy, an open-plan home is always desirable. Or is it? Sometimes, let’s face it, we all need a quiet space, somewhere to feel separate in one’s own small world. Huge open spaces can be difficult to heat, too, and there can be times when noise is an issue. Enter ‘broken plan’, a practical evolution of open plan, that retains all the great elements of open plan that we love, particularly good light and a feeling of openness, but introduces subtle elements that divide large spaces into

more manageable ones, with different zones that can be used for different activities. Spaces may even (depending on the design) be opened up or closed off whenever you wish. Broken plan is flexible, dynamic and interesting, and offers sociability combined with privacy – truly the best of both worlds. When renovation or building work is being carried out, one way to achieve the broken-plan effect is to create differences in floor levels. A step up or down from, say, the sitting room into the dining room can give a great sense of two discrete areas. It may also be possible to lower the ceiling in one area of a large, open room in order to enhance a sense of intimacy. And in homes with very high

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ceilings – a barn or industrial conversion, for example – there is the opportunity to introduce a mezzanine level, perhaps as an office, snug or guest bedroom, which combines the feeling of open plan with the practicality of a separate space. Other structural solutions include building internal glass walls or floor-toceiling steel-framed windows (the best-known trade name is Crittall) in order to subdivide a space. Stylish and luxurious, these suit both modern and traditional homes. More typically, especially in a period home where two groundfloor reception rooms have been knocked through to bring in more space and light, a great way to add flexibility to what is often a long, thin, hard-to-use Continued on page 44

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Local News

Bedfordshire Steam & Country Fayre The Bedford Steam Engine Preservation Society are pleased to announce that the Bedfordshire Steam & Country Fayre will return on the 18th, 19th & 20th September 2020 at our new venue Turvey House by kind permission of the Hanbury family. Turvey House is a Grade 1 listed Country House, set in established parkland on the River Great Ouse, just 9 miles from Bedford on the A428 Bedford to Northampton road. With good transport links to Bedford, Northampton and Milton Keynes with access by public transport, we are looking forward to holding our 61st annual event at this new location. The Bedford Steam Engine Preservation Society have a long history with Turvey village, being home to our Founder John Crawley for many years. The Bedfordshire Steam & Country Fayre is one of the premier events of its kind in the Country and one of the largest events held within Bedfordshire each year, with plenty to see and do for all ages. Attracting over 20,000 visitors each year and hosting over 800 exhibits, we aim to pull together an insight into life at the turn of the 20th Century. Details for exhibiting and trading at the event will be released shortly via our website www.bseps.org.uk and further details will be posted via our social media channels as they become available. We look forward to welcoming friends old and new and hope you will support us in 2020 and beyond.

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room is to add glazed or timber double doors. If made from timber they could be panelled to match the architectural features of the house; ideally the doors would slide and fold away, or else be hinged so that they fit seamlessly back against the walls when open. An alternative way of connecting/separating two rooms is to build pocket doors, which slide into the slim walls on each side – great for, say, a dressing room off a bedroom. Often, of course, it is far more convenient (and less expensive) to employ temporary ways of dividing a large room: a screen, for example, a large floorstanding bookcase, or even simply a slender console table – which could be the base for a pair of lamps, some vases of flowers or a sculpture. These have the advantage of being relatively easily moved around or removed if you feel like a change. An open-plan space can be

divided visually, using simple tricks such as changes in paint colour or floor finish – from carpet in a seating area to floorboards in a dining space, for example – and it is easily possible to create mini ‘rooms’ by grounding furniture arrangements on a rug or on an area of contrast flooring. Finally, employ lighting as a powerful tool to delineate space. Think of forming ‘zones’ by using different

types of lighting in the different areas, including pendants (perhaps over a dining table or kitchen counter), wall lights, and careful positioning of floor and table lamps. If possible, install different circuits (controlled by switches or dimmers) that will allow you to break down the spaces and illuminate different parts to suit your needs, whether it be a living area or bedroom, a kitchen or a dining area. Great ways to introduce a broken-plan feel Changes in floor level Lowered ceilings to create cosy areas Glass walls Steel-framed internal floor-toceiling windows Pocket doors Sliding/folding doors Hinged, panelled doors Screens Large bookcases Console tables Lighting zones Changes in paint colour Differences in flooring Rugs to create mini ‘rooms’

1 Red Baron bookcase by Piero Lissoni for Knoll, poa, Chaplins Furniture: 020 8421 1779; chaplins.co.uk. 2 Mondrian® steel-framed and glazed sliding pocket door, designed by MW Architects, IQ Glass UK: 01494 722 880; iqglassuk.com. 3 Muga and Hunter Dunn paints used in two separate halves of a living room, £49.50 for 2.5l pure flat emulsion, Paint & Paper Library: 0845 880 5844; paintandpaperlibrary.com. 44

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Finance

By Ann Haldon

Too late to save for retirement? We’re often told by financial experts that it’s never too late to start saving for retirement, and that even in our 50s building a substantial retirement pot is possible. Clearly this depends on individual circumstances and it’s always going to be better to start saving early, but it’s heartening to know you may still be able to fund a decent retirement lifestyle. Workplace pensions If you’re in employment, a workplace pension can often be the best way to save for your retirement. Your contributions are matched by your employer; they’re typically deducted from your gross pay automatically and attract tax relief. Pension auto-enrolment, a government initiative intended to help people save for their retirement, means that if you’re aged over 22 and earn more than £10,000 per year you should automatically be enrolled in a workplace pension scheme. If you’re close to retiring and also in debt, however, it might be better to prioritise paying off your debts rather than contributing to a pension, but you need to speak to an authorised financial adviser who can assess your individual situation.

Personal pensions If you’re self-employed or not working you can benefit from tax relief on pension contributions by paying into a personal pension. Unlike a workplace pension scheme, a personal pension is an individual contract between yourself and the pension provider, which is often an insurance company. The pension provider invests your contributions, but in the same way as a workplace pension you’re not able to access your money until you’re 55 years of age under current legislation. What about the state pension? Under current legislation the full new state pension is £168.60 per week.¹ If you’re eligible, the amount you’ll receive depends on the number of ‘qualifying years’ of National Insurance contributions you’ve built up. Currently, you need 35 qualifying years to receive the full payment of £168.60 per week, but state pension regulations may change again over the coming years – when new governments are elected, for example. Stocks and shares ISAs Investment ISAs are another way to build up retirement savings, and the current maximum limit for saving into a stocks and shares ISA is £20,000 (2019/20 tax year). You need to make sure your money is growing above the inflation rate, however, otherwise you’re effectively losing money. Stocks and shares ISAs offer more flexibility than pensions as you can access your money more readily, whereas workplace and private pensions aren’t usually accessible until you reach the age of 55. Investment ISA providers typically allow you to pay in a lump sum, ‘drip-feed’ in a monthly amount, or both. Some people choose to save into an investment ISA as well as a pension scheme, so they spread the investment risk and don’t tie up all of their money up in one place. As with most important financial matters, it’s important to seek guidance from an authorised adviser who can analyse your financial situation and present the best options. 1

www.gov.uk/new-state-pension/what-youll-get

www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk/en/articles/ automatic-enrolment-into-a-workplace-pension www.gov.uk/personal-pensions-your-rights

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ARCHITECTURAL DRAWINGS AND BUILDING SURVEYING SERVICES Professional Affordable Free Advice/ Estimates

Before

Large scale plan printing service also available

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r e v DiscoThe Lodge W ild play nature trail e nts m sh e fr re d n a p o sh B P S R Events and activities RSPB The Lodge nature reserve and gardens, Potton Road, Sandy SG19 2DL Tel: 01767 693333

rspb.org.uk/thelodge facebook.com/RSPBhertsandbeds Images: family by Phil Barnes (rspb-images.com). Fly agaric by RSPB. The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) is a registered charity: England and Wales no. 207076, Scotland no. SC037654. LGE-0658-19-20

48LGE-0658-19-20 The Lodge poster advert Autumn Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts 131x194P AW.indd 1 09/10/2019 13:40

Local News

Do you love nature? Could you give some of your time to help us and inspire others at your local RSPB nature reserve? The RSPB is holding a volunteer recruitment day at The Lodge nature reserve at Sandy on Sunday 3 November between 11am and 4pm. The RSPB is the largest conservation charity in Europe. We have over 13,000 fantastic volunteers across the country, and they come from all walks of life. Between them, they contribute over a million hours each year. As we plan our visitor programme at The Lodge and Fowlmere reserves for the coming year, we would like more volunteers to join us. If you are friendly, confident talking to the public and able to inspire our visitors about the work of the RSPB, then we want to hear from you. Full training will be given, uniform supplied and reasonable expenses paid. We are looking for the following help with these volunteering roles; Visitor Welcome Assistants; Working in our visitor centres, where you will welcome our visitors and introduce them to the reserve, be able to enthuse people to support the RSPB as new members and talk about the birds and wildlife found at The Lodge, Fowlmere or our other reserves. For this role we are especially looking for help at weekends and busy periods, such as school holidays. Roving Rangers; The Lodge reserve relies on our dedicated volunteers help maintain a safe and enjoyable reserve for visitors. Are you passionate about nature and the environment and are confident talking to people? We are looking for flexible volunteers to help us deliver a consistently excellent experience.

Events Assistant; Working at The Lodge reserve you will be assisting the Visitor Experience Manager in organising and delivering dynamic and vibrant events. We are looking for someone with enthusiasm, a creative flair and excellent organisational and communication skills. For this role we’re able to be flexible and would need help during some weekdays with occasional weekends. Assistant Gardeners; The Lodge has gardens that encourages a huge variety of wildlife. Help our Head Gardener continue to provide these beautiful wildlife havens. No previous gardening experience is needed, full training will be given. We are looking for volunteers on weekdays. Shop Team Member; The Lodge shop is one of most popular and busy on our reserves, and we would like more volunteers to join us to help give our customers an excellent service. If you’re friendly, confident talking to the public, and able to inspire our visitors about the work of the RSPB, then we want to hear from you. Flexible options are available on Fridays and weekends. Pop in and meet us on the Gatehouse Lawn, near the reserve entrance, anytime between 11am and 4pm to have a chat with us to find out more. If you can’t make this date but are interested in volunteering for one of these roles at The Lodge or Fowlmere, please contact Rebecca Shaw, Visitor Experience Manager, The Lodge nature reserve; rebecca.shaw@rspb.org.uk 01767 693253. RSPB The Lodge nature reserve and gardens Potton Road, Sandy, Beds SG19 2DL ‑

Photo Credit: Shannon Shaw

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Gardening

By Pippa Greenwood

Winter Hanging Baskets Hanging baskets are a great way to create a miniature gardening space with your choice of colours. Once established they make even the gloomiest back yard look more cheerful, or the prettiest patio look even more gorgeous. Making a hanging basket is not difficult and although traditionally a summer planting feature, they work just as well for the winter months. Plenty of plants make for a colourful basket and your local garden centre or nursery should have a good selection, including winter-flowering pansies (I am fond of the purple and yellow varieties) and heathers, Gaultheria with its waxy red berries, dianthus for late autumn into early winter and assorted miniature shrubs, including variegated Pieris, Choisya ternata ‘Sundance’ and variegated euonymus, to help give structure and colour. The shrubs will look great in a container for a year or two, before being planted in the garden. A thicker, almost felt-like liner provides insulation in cold weather as well as keeping the compost and plants in place. I suggest a 35cm (14”) diameter basket as it can take more plants and, because it is larger, resists cold better. You’ll also need compost. Stand the basket in a large flowerpot before you start to prevent it rolling about. Once the liner is in place, remove the chain at one anchor point to stop it getting in the way. The liner will protrude above the basket edge at this stage but this helps to keep the compost in place. Use good quality multi-purpose compost, firming it gently, and fill

the basket about half full. Mesh baskets allow for easy side planting. Cut holes in the liner then insert small plants such as pansies at regular intervals around the sides of the basket, inserting them from the outside inwards to reduce damage. Nestle the roots into the compost and make sure that the liner is back in position after the last plant is in place. Add more compost to cover the roots of the side plantings and firm again gently. Next get the central plant in place and add three more upright plants such as miniature shrubs, equally spaced around the edges. For extra colour, add more winter bedding plants around the very outermost edge of the basket. Pinch out any faded flowers and add more compost, carefully filling in any gaps before watering thoroughly. Your hanging basket will soon fill out but stand it in a sheltered spot for a week or two to allow the roots to establish before hanging it in position, watering if necessary. Regular deadheading and removal of faded flowers plus a feed with a high potash fertiliser after about a month will keep it looking great, well into the spring. At Pippa’s website (www.pippagreenwood.com) you’ll find l natural pest controls, stylish cloches, practical and pretty plant supports, the fantastic SpeedHoe, gardening tools, planters, raised bed kits, Grower Frames, and the Grow Your Own with Pippa vegetable growing system! Or book Pippa for a talk at your gardening club

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Simple Ways to Reduce Your Plastic Footprint

Environment

Stop straws - If a straw is a must, instead of a plastic one purchase a reusable stainless-steel straw and carry it with you. Invest in reusable produce bags - A single plastic bag can take 1,000 years to degrade. Purchase or make your own reusable produce bag but be sure to wash them often. Give up the gum – Chewing gum is made of a synthetic rubber which is actually plastic! Buy boxes over bottles - If your laundry detergent comes in a box it will be more easily recycled than a plastic bottle. Buy from bulk bins - If possible, purchase food, like cereal, pasta, and rice from bulk bins using your own container or bag. Not only will you save on packaging you’ll also save money. Take your own cup to coffee shops - Some establishments offer a reduction in price for this! Ditch the disposables - Disposable nappies are a huge source of landfill. Modern cloth nappies are nothing like the monstrosities of yesteryear. Check them out, reduce your baby’s carbon footprint and save money in the process. Squeeze your own - Make your own fresh squeezed juice or eat fruit instead of buying juice in plastic bottles. It’s healthier and better for the environment. Lead with your lunch - Pack your own lunch in reusable containers and bags. Use a real razor - with replaceable blades instead of a plastic disposable razor. These are all simple steps but if more of us follow them they have the potential to make a big impact on our joint plastic footprint. By Kath McLean

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Pets

Animal

Know-How

Winter Watch

Winter Nights Now that the nights are drawing in and the weather has become much colder, we need to consider the welfare of our pets and wildlife. So with a little thought and careful planning our little or large, furry or feathery friends can stay healthy, warm and safe.

If you are taking your pet outside for exercise or if they live outdoors in a field, consider whether they need and extra layer or two – just like humans do. Your dog, for example, may need a special jumper or coat for those wintery walks. There is now a large choice of clothing for pets in the shops. Or why not try making your own. An additional consideration if you are walking your dog in areas that may have been gritted by rock salt, please ensure you wash their paws when you have returned home. Anti-freeze and rock salt can be poisonous to dogs. Reflective wear like leads, collars and coats are highly recommended for animals that will be out in the dark eg: dogs and horses. Bedding for all animals needs to be checked regularly so that it remains dry, warm and free from draughts. Much of our wildlife is reliant upon the food and water we provide during

the winter. Ensure water baths have not frozen over and snow has been cleared from any feeders. Keep them topped up, and even put out extra fat balls and treats. Christmas Guide Make sure everyone has a merry Christmas with this quick guide: • Alcohol: often left lying around or spilled, even more dangerous to pets than people. • Leftover food: any fatty, spicy or ‘unusual’ foods can cause gastroenteritis. • Stuffing/gravy: the ones containing onions are particularly poisonous to animals. • Christmas pudding: sultanas, currents and raisins are toxic. • Cakes: artificial sweeteners (especially Xylitol) are poisonous. • Cooked bones: can get stuck in teeth or intestines. • Chocolate: safe for humans, poison for animals. • Nuts: all nuts can be dangerous, macadamias particularly so. • Cheese: all can cause gastroenteritis; blue cheese is toxic. Even these things require consideration when you have puppies or inquisitive pets: • Christmas Trees: sharp pine needles can damage mouths and perforate intestines. • Christmas Ornaments: if eaten tinsel can cause a blockage. • Toys: to a dog a toy soldier or a Lego piece is a tempting morsel. • Wrapping Paper/String: dogs play with and eat paper. Cats do the same with string. • Silica Gel Packs: often packed with presents, if eaten can cause intestinal blockage. • Batteries: just as dangerous to you pets as to babies. • Wreaths/Christmas plants: Lilies, mistletoe and poinsettia are all highly toxic if eaten. • Pot pourri: the aromatic oils that make this smell nice are toxic for days if eaten.

Brought to you by the RSPCA Bedfordshire North Branch www.rspca-bedfordshirenorth.org.uk 54

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Pets

Rehoming Appeal Lola Lola is a pure white short-haired cat and she is two years old. She can be a little shy when she first meets new people, but she soon makes friends. She has a very gentle nature and will make a lovely companion. She is neutered, microchipped and her vaccinations are up to date. She has had a very unsettled time so far during her life and we would like to find her a quiet home with no small children or other pets and with someone who is at home most of the day so that she can gain her confidence back. If you would like to find out more about this pretty cat, please contact Liz on 01767 681157. Alternatively, please email Philippa at info.rats@gmail.com who will be pleased to forward your enquiry onto the team. View other dogs, cats and small mammals currently in our care for re-homing on our website: www.rats-animalrescue.co.uk or facebook: www.facebook.com/ratscharity. You can also see photographs and details of the animals in our care in our charity shop in Hitchin Street, Biggleswade SG18 8AX. Open Monday to Saturday from 10.00 am until 4.00 pm.

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GARDEN MACHINERY AND TRAILER CENTRE

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Give an assistance dog

Local News

the best start in life

Volunteers are needed to offer the best start in life to a puppy training to be an assistance dog for charity Canine Partners. The national charity is looking for puppy parents in Bedfordshire to provide their puppies with the love, care and skills they need to get ready for the next stage of their training. Canine Partners trains amazing assistance dogs to transform the lives of people with disabilities, boosting their confidence and independence. The dogs are taught a range of everyday tasks including picking up and fetching items, opening doors and dressing a person. They can even help to load and unload a washing machine and they can fetch help in an emergency. Puppies-in-training live in the volunteer’s home from around eightweeks-old until they are ready to start advanced training when they are between 12 and 14 months, at the Southern Training Centre near Midhurst or the Midlands Training Centre in Leicestershire. Canine Partners’ expert trainers are on hand to support puppy parents, as training involves home visits, one-toones, town visits and puppy classes in order to socialise the puppy and get them used to all situations they may need to be in as a fully trained canine partner. To become a puppy parent in one of Canine Partners’ 13 puppy satellites across the country including Bedfordshire, you need to be aged 18 or over, work less than full-time and be willing to make a long term commitment of at least 14 months. To find out more about becoming a puppy parent for Canine Partners, please visit caninepartners.org.uk/puppy-parents/, call 08456 580 480 or email puppyoffice@caninepartners.org.uk

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Pets

Ask Alan Home visits for pets Home visits are ideal if it is difficult to bring your pet to the surgery because they are very nervous, very reluctant to travel, painful or if you have mobility/transport problems. Pets needing health checks, vaccination or treatment for non-serious conditions can be seen at home. Even simple diagnostics (e.g. drawing bloods) can be done at home if arranged in advance. If more complex diagnostics are needed but you are unable to bring your pet in to the surgery, we can arrange a collect and drop off service. Pets are living longer than ever before because of advances in diet and care but getting these aging pets to the vet can be difficult, again home visits are ideal in these circumstances. Home visits do cost more because of the time required to drive out, cost of the vehicle etc, yet they can still be surprisingly affordable if

arranged in advance and at a time that is mutually convenient to you and our practice. There are some limitations to home visits though, for example in cases where pets are seriously ill or needing diagnostics, they are nearly always better being seen at the surgery which is fully equipped and staffed to deal with things like key-hole surgery, x-rays, ultrasound, heart investigations, anaesthetics, blood tests and just about anything else you might think of having done in hospital. If you think home visits may be of interest to you, please give us a call, we are happy to answer any questions. Best wishes,

Alan 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.

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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

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Local News

Manor Farm Day Nursery and Forest School is based on London Road in Sandy in a spacious Edwardian property with extensive gardens for the children to explore. Our Ofsted registered nursery is for children from three months to five years of age. With excellent links to the A1 and close proximity to the railway station, the nursery is perfectly located for your commute to work. We have recently introduced weekly forest school sessions for the children from two and a half to four years old. These sessions give the children the opportunity to explore the natural environment at their own pace, in an environment that they feel comfortable. In these sessions, the children learn to use a variety of different tools and take part in activities, such as den building, tree climbing and fire lighting. By encouraging the children to take part in these ‘risky’ activities it helps them to assess dangers and be as risky as they feel comfortable with. In each session the children have a ‘tool talk’ helping them to understand how to use the tools correctly and safely. Forest School links into the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) in many ways, throughout the sessions so far the children

have been working in teams to solve problems and overcome difficulties, check on their own and each others progress and communicate and play alongside children they, possibly, wouldn’t normally play with. They have been using bow saws to cut wood, loppers to cut sticks and hammers to make a variety of art to take home. The children enjoy making art using different materials like mud and clay and also are busy making bug hotels and insect houses. Each week there is the opportunity to go back and add to their projects and see if anything has developed from the previous week’s work. We spend lots of time going on bug hunts and looking under logs and rocks to discover new insects and wildlife living in the Manor Farm gardens. We encourage the children to continue this activity with their families at the weekends in different outdoor environments. At the end of each session the children reflect on what they have done and share with their friends what they discovered, or created, and which part they enjoyed the most. Forest School sessions have the freedom to change direction at anytime; they follow the children’s interests. If they decide they would like to make fairy potions or hunt for the Gruffalo whilst den building then that is what we do, this really helps to encourage creativity. Each week, we look forward to new messy, fun and exciting activities. If you would like to have a look round our nursery and gardens, please get in touch on 01767 681805 or email info@manorfarm-day-nursery.co.uk

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Motoring

By James Baggott

Here’s how to buy a new car Buying a new car can be riddled with stress and anxiety, but it doesn’t have to be. Here’s how the buying process can be made easier, and what to look out for. Research the car - Research everything you can about the car you’re looking at. When it comes to buying from a dealer, making sure you know everything about a certain model can make all the difference. Don’t be afraid to be choosy. Pick a colour, specification and engine and stick with that. Choosing a dealer – franchise or independent Franchised dealers get first access to the latest cars and technology, and are therefore potentially better equipped at answering questions. In terms of aftersales and repairs, they have the manufacturer’s support. They’ll also have a good selection of used vehicles that have been well maintained in their servicing department. An independent dealer might not be able to offer you different options of the model you’re looking at, but they will be keen to do a deal and will offer the backup of a well-established business. Check them out online - Look through your chosen dealer’s online reviews thoroughly, to see how they treat their customers and deal with aftersales issues. Asking friends, neighbours and relatives about a potential dealership can be useful too. Pick your purchase time - Dealers are often pressed to reach quarterly targets, which means the end of March, June, September and December could result in a better deal – potentially saving you thousands of pounds.

Test drive - On a test drive, it’s likely that the salesperson will accompany you, but don’t let that stop you from pressing all of the buttons and getting a real feel for the vehicle. Ensure that your test route features a range of different corners, roundabouts and road surfaces – and check the car works for you. Cash or finance - There’s a variety of ways to pay at a dealer. With hire purchase, you pay a deposit and repay the remaining balance in monthly instalments, at which point you’ll own the vehicle outright. With personal contract purchase (PCP) you pay a deposit followed by monthly payments, but at the end you’ll be offered a ‘balloon’ when you can pay off the remainder of the car’s value or return it to the dealer. Personal leasing is a good option if you’re planning on frequently changing your car, although you have to pay three months’ rental in advance, and there’s no option to buy it at the end of the deal. Or you could pay cash! Haggle - Haggling remains crucial and even with used cars there will be some wiggle room. You should never pay the full price for a car, and dealers are prepared for this, so go in strong and stick to your guns. Don’t be afraid to ask for free additions and discounts on servicing plans. The worst they can do is say no! Don’t be scared of walking away - There are thousands of available cars and hundreds of dealerships, so don’t be scared to walk away if things don’t feel right, and don’t be pressured into a deal – the final decision is entirely yours!

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Pets

By Tracey Anderson

The Hardest Decision Putting Your Dog to Sleep No dog owner wants to think about putting their dog to sleep, but it’s a decision that you may find yourself faced with at end of your dog’s life. Although its heart-breaking, sometimes the kindest option for your pet is to let them go. It’s never easy to agree to put your dog down but doing your research before the day arrives may help you to come to terms with the decision. If your dog’s quality of life is suffering with no sign of getting better you are faced with a difficult choice; on the one hand you want to spend as long as possible with them but, on the other hand, you want to make the best decision for them. Usually you will have at least a few days to think things through. A good vet will be happy to discuss the process with you. They will also have a good insight into how your dog’s health issues will affect their quality of life. They will help you consider things like mobility, appetite, breathing, comfort, happiness and response to treatment, but ultimately the final decision to put your dog to sleep will be yours. Your dog is probably an important and muchloved member of your family so the decision will

be hard for everyone, especially children. If you can, discuss the situation with them honestly. They will be upset but try to focus the discussion on what is best for your dog. Reassure them that the reason the procedure is called ‘putting a dog to sleep’ is because it is a very peaceful procedure and will help their beloved pet pass away with as little pain and distress as possible. The vet administers a measured overdose of a drug, similar to an anaesthetic, which will put your dog into a deep and permanent ‘sleep.’ If you want to, you can stroke or cuddle your dog as they drift off. Afterwards you have a number of choices. You can take your dog home and bury them in your garden. Bear in mind that some councils place restrictions on home burials, and you will not be permitted to do this on public ground or if you are in rented accommodation. You may arrange for your dog to be buried or cremated at a pet cemetery or you can ask the vet to arrange a cremation. In the days and weeks after loss of your dog, try to focus on the good times you had together, and take comfort in the fact that the final decision you made for your pet was the best one for them.

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

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n O s ’ t Wha In November

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

1 & 15 November Craft and Chatter 7.30-10pm St Marys Church Hall, Potton £2.50 inc. refreshments. Bring your own project. Cross stitch, sewing, knitting, crochet, embroidery or something else. Meet like-minded people, help each other out with tips and advice and chat at the same time. Web: www.facebook.com/craftandchatter

5 November Potton Ladies Club 7.30pm Mill Lane Pavilion, Mill Lane, Potton Visitors £5 inc. light refreshments. Beverley Hines will talk on ‘My experiences of helping in a Greek refugee camp’ (note change of speaker). Visitors welcome. Tel: Sarah Burgoine 01767 631415 Email: sarahjburgoine@gmail.com

11 November Sandy Flower Club 7.30pm Conservative Bowls Club Pavilion (Rear of the Conservative Club, Bedford Road) Visitors £5. Demonstration by Doug Howard ‘Natures Treasure Chest’. The Flower Club meets second Monday in the month (excluding Aug. Dec. & Jan). Raffle and tea/coffee. Tel: Sue 01767 699729

2 November Coffee Morning 10-11.30am Potton Salvation Army, Chapel Street Coffee, tea, bacon butties, homemade cakes, cards, bric-a-brac, books, jigsaws etc. Coffee Mornings are held on the first Saturday of every month except January. All welcome. Tel: 01767 261138

6 November Aircraft Enthusiasts’ Group 1pm Princess Charlotte Room, Shuttleworth Visitors £5 inc. raffle ticket. The Angie Milne Memorial Lecture. The group meets on the first Wednesday of every month. E: 99aegr@gmail.com W: www.a-e-g.org.uk

12 November Sutton WI 7.30pm Sutton Village Hall The group meets on the second Tuesday of every month. David Longman will speak about Churches in Bedfordshire’ The Weird, the Wonderful and the Curious’.

2 November The Signals Museum Open Day 10am-4pm Open to the public. Entry is free but official photo ID is required to get an entry ticket from the Guardroom. Web: www.rafsignalsmuseum.org.uk

6 November Gamlingay & District Gardening Club 7.30pm The Kier Suite, Eco Hub, Stocks Lane, Gamlingay Visitors £3 inc. refreshments. Tim Fuller, the owner of Plantsmen’s Preference in Norfolk will tell you everything you ever wanted to know about gardening with grasses. Visitors welcome.

2 November Cambridgeshire and Bedfordshire Hardy Plant Society 2pm Weatherley Centre, Eagle Farm Road, Biggleswade AGM followed by Russell Bowes ‘Say it with poison - stories of murders from the herbaceous borders’. Russel is a Garden Historian and Lecturer. Web: www.hpscambsandbeds.co.uk 3 November 20th Anniversary Fireworks Spectacular Gates open 4pm Gamlingay Eco Hub Advance tickets £5, on the gate £6, 3 and under free Sensational celebratory display at 4.45pm, fireworks at 5.30pm. BBQ, refreshments and glowies. Tickets available from Gamlingay Village Primary School, Eco-hub, Woodview Farm Shop, Co-op and Premier. 3, 10, 17 & 24 November Hare & Hounds Hash House Harriers 11am A social running and walking club for all abilities, meeting every week in Bedfordshire. The trail is set by our hare from a local pub and typically lasts 1 hour covering 3-4 miles. Family and dog friendly. E: info@h5hashers.org.uk www.H5hashers.org.uk 4, 11, 18 & 25 November Ballroom and Latin Dance Classes 7.30-9.30pm Sutton Village Hall £9 per person. For adult beginners. Come along for a fun evening and learn to dance, especially if you have two left feet. Tel: 07958 877440 for info Email: info@learn2dancesandy.co.uk 5 November Hatley Coffee Morning 10am-1pm Hatley Village Hall Come along for a chat, coffee/tea and a slice of cake. Everyone welcome. Donations on the day - split between Hatley Village Hall and Hatley St George Church. First Tuesday of the every month.

6 November Sandy Night Owls Women’s Institute 7.30pm Sandy Conservative Club Visitors £4. Meets on the first Wednesday of each month (except August). Friendly group where guests will receive a warm welcome and enjoy a varied programme and refreshments. This month we are holding a Chicken Wire Sculpture Workshop. Email: sandynightowlswi@gmail.com 7 November Moggerhanger Walkers Held on the 1st Thursday in the month. Weather dependent. Linda and Alan decide close to the date on the details and let people know by email. If you would like to be on their email list please call or email. Tel: 01767 640798 Email: alanheath@gmail.com 7 November Sandy Astronomical Society Mama’s Coffee Shop General meeting. Facebook: www.facebook.com/ groups/SandyAstronomicalSociety

13 November Business Buzz Biggleswade. 10am-12 noon George’s Hall, Biggleswade £5. Drop-in session and for local small businesses from in and around Bedfordshire. No membership, no booking, just pay on the door. 14 November Biggleswade Evening Women’s Institute 7.45pm The Weatherley Centre, Eagle Farm Road, Biggleswade A new group which meets on the second Thursday of each month (except August). Guests welcome. 15 November Stocking Filler Sale 10-11.30am Potton Salvation Army, Chapel Street 16 November Harriet Kelsall Bespoke Jewellery Xmas Event 9.45am-5pm North Barn, Fairclough Hall Farm, Halls Green, Hertfordshire, SG4 7DP Kick off the festive season with mulled wine, mince pies and beautiful jewellery including the limited edition 2019 Christmas collection. Personalise your own disc pendant for £35 which includes £10 donation to Garden House Hospice. Free parking and disabled entrance. Tel: 01462 790565 www.hkjewellery.co.uk/events 16 November Coffee Extra & Stocking Filler Sale 10-11.30am Potton Salvation Army, Chapel Street

8 November Autumn Quiz Evening 7.30pm St. Swithun’s Church Rooms, Sandy £2.50 per person. Teams to consist of a maximum of six persons. In aid of The Leprosy Mission. Tel: Colin Osborne 01767 682032 to book your team

16 November Autumn Fayre 10am-12.30pm Everton Village Hall Cakes, toys, bottle tombola, jams and produce, books and raffle. Come and enjoy a cup of coffee with friends while supporting St Mary’s Church, Everton.

8 November Biggleswade W.I. Fashion Show 7.30pm The Weatherley Centre, Eagle Farm Road, Biggleswade Tickets £5. Fashion Show by Tracey Jane. Tickets available from Tracey Jane. Email: biggleswadewi@gmail.com

16 November Christmas Gift Fayre in aid of the NSPCC 10am-2.30pm The Boundary Cafe, Potton Free entry. Come and browe the pop-up stalls.Gifts, stocking fillers and handmade goodies all under one roof. In aid of NSPCC. Web: www.facebook.com/ TheBoudaryCafe

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n O s ’ t Wha In November

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

16 November 50th Anniversary Celebration Concert 7pm St. Swithun’s Parish Church, Sandy Tickets £5. Stotfold Salvation Army Band, Sandy Community Choir, St Swithun’s Primary School, Sandy Methodist Church Girls Brigade, Soloists Grace Dukes and Martha Hetherington and special guest Pam Rhodes. In aid of The Leprosy Mission. Tel: Colin Osborne 01767 682032

21 November Coral’s Afternoon Tea 2.30-4pm Moggerhanger Church Monthly afternoon tea.

21 November Sandy Astronomical Society 7-9pm Old Warden Public viewing (weather permitting) using telescopes. Facebook: www.facebook.com/groups/ SandyAstronomicalSociety

26 November Knit & Natter 10.30am-12 noon Moggerhanger Church Every 4th Tuesday of the month. You don’t even have to be a knitter, you can also come simply for the natter. The group looks forward to seeing you, whatever your aim. Tel: Jane 01767 641501

28 November Biggleswade and District Flower Arrangement Society 7.30pm The Weatherley Centre, Biggleswade If you love flowers, we invite you to join us on the fourth Thursday of the month for “flowers and fellowship” where you will be able to relax with 21 November fellow enthusiasts and our guest demonstrators. No Biggleswade Poetry Table need to consider yourself a flower arranger, all you 7.45-9pm need is the sense of joy in the beauty of flowers. The Courtyard Centre, 6 High Street, Biggleswade Tel: Moira Fuller (Chairman) 01767 316104 17 November Grab a drink and join us to share poems. We look Biggleswade Antique & Vintage Fair forward to hearing any poem you’d like to bring. 28 November 9.30am-4pm The Weatherley Centre, Email: leah@leahkstewart.com Potton History Society Eagle Farm Road, Biggleswade AGM 7.30pm, Meeting 8pm Entrance £2, Under 16s free if accompanied by an 23 November Potton Community Centre, Brook End adult. Diverse range of antiques and collectables. Tess of the D’Urbervilles Members free, Visitors £3 inc. refreshments Café serving breakfast, lunch and afternoon tea. 7.30pm ‘Potton In 1919’ with Peter Ibbett. Our archives and Tel: 01480 382432 or 07906 647346 Sutton Village Hall the Biggleswade Chronicle help provide a picture of Web: www.madisonevents.co.uk Adults £12.50, Under 16s £8 our parish coping with peacetime after four years of The talented theatrical group, Hotbuckle, is back the ‘Great War.’ www.pottonhistorysociety.org.uk 18 November again by popular request to perform Thomas Hardy’s Biggleswade Women’s Institute ‘Tess of the D’Urbervilles’. 29 November 10am The Weatherley Centre, Web: www.suttonvillagehall.org for further info/ Sandy Historical Society Eagle Farm Road, Biggleswade tickets 7.30pm Stonecroft Hall, St Swithins Way, Sandy Visitors £4. Meets on every third Monday of Members & Students free, Visitors £2.50 inc. the month except August. Vic Botterilli with “A 23 November refreshments. ‘From Front to Home to Hospital on the Christmas Cracker”. Visitors welcome. Performers & Pints Western Front WW1’ by Dr John Sorrell. Email: biggleswadewi@gmail.com 9-11.30pm Tel: 01767 680171 The Rising Sun, 19 November 11 Everton Road, Potton 30 November Sandy Women’s Institute A great community night out of fresh live music for Santa’s Grotto 10am-3pm 10am Sandy Conservative Club all. Three Singer Songwriter Music Acts: Karmadillo Tysoes Hardware, Market Square, Potton Meets on the third Tuesday of each month (except aka Rishi Nag, Georgia Nevada and the Will Mak Mulled wine, mince pies, coffee and tea. All August). If you would like to give us a try before Band featuring Will Mak, Charlie Le Bosquet and proceeds to Keech Cottage Hospice Care. Everyone committing to full membership, visitors are welcome two other musicians. Please note this is the last welcome. (cost £4). Tel: Val Haygarth 01767 691711 Performers and Pints, so if you have been before but Email: sandywibeds@gmail.com not for a while or never been, come down for some 30 November fantastic music. Everton Heath Primary School Winter Fayre 19 November Web: www.facebook.com/performerspints 2-4pm Everton Heath Primary School Bedford National Trust Association Free admission. Stalls for Christmas shopping, 2.30pm Addison Centre, Kempston 23 & 24 November handmade crafts, children’s activities. Raffle Richard Galley on ‘Bedford Highlanders’. Richard has Beeston Winter Festival including Hotel Chocolat hamper. Mulled wine been researching the story of the Highland Division’s Sat 10.30am-3.30pm, and mince pies provided by the PTA. All proceeds friendly ‘invasion’ of Bedford during the first nine Sun 10.30am to Everton Heath Primary. Parking available in the months of WW1. Tel: Betty Thomas 01480 860421 Beeston Methodist Chapel, playground. Email: pta@evertonheath.org.uk The Baulk, off Lime Avenue 19 November Saturday ‘Christmas Through the Looking Glass’. 30 November Potton Writer’s Club Various stalls, refreshments, lunches and afternoon Sandy Flower Club Open Meeting 7-9pm Potton Community Centre teas will be served throughout the day. Come and 2.30pm Conservative Club Hall, Bedford Road £3. Meets on the third Tuesday of each month. This find those Christmas presents for the family and £10 month’s theme is ‘In the attic’. What’s up there? All friends. The Courtyard Singers will be singing at Christmas Demonstration by Barbara Collins welcome - please call or email in advance so we 1.30pm in the church. Sunday 10.30am Morning ‘Christmas - All Spruced Up’. Raffle and refreshments. know to expect you. Light refreshments. Tel: Tracey Service conducted by Rev. Mike Yates. Come and see Tickets available on the door or by telephone. 07778 148030 Email: info pottonwriters@gmail.com the beautiful decorations. Plenty of parking behind Tel: Marian Attfield 01767 226275 the chapel. 16 November ‘Call my Bluff’ 7pm Willington Village Memorial Hall Tickets £15. Organised by Biggleswade Ivel Rotary. A highly entertaining evening made more so with Wine Tasting alongside. Two-course hot supper. Tel: Alan 01234 838994 or Brian 01767 317031 Email: tickets@ivelrotary.org.uk

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

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Finance

Be a Super-Saver By Kath McLean

Most of us know we should be saving but most of us also find it difficult. Try these tips. Pay Yourself First - Put an allotted amount into a designated savings account before you pay anything else, rather than trying to save leftover funds at the end of the month. Make it a habit - It doesn’t matter how little you are able to save every month; the important thing is to make the commitment so that monthly saving becomes a habit. Budget - Include savings as part of your spending plan. Make it a priority above spending for anything else. Make it automatic - Use your online banking resources to set up an automatic deduction from your current account to your savings account just after your alary goes in. Save extra money - When you reduce or eliminate an expense, put all or part of that money into additional savings. Put any tax refund, salary raise or bonus you receive into savings rather than spending it. Emergency Fund - Open a separate bank or savings account and name it “emergency fund”; even better if it earns interest. As with your other savings, deposit money into the account every month before you pay other bills. Make this savings part of your spending plan too so you aren’t tempted to spend it on something else. If you have a true emergency in the future, such as a car repair or a washing machine breakdown tap into your fund. Otherwise, let the money grow and continue to contribute to the fund each month. An emergency fund should ideally be about 6 months’ salary, but studies show that even a moderate amount of £500 in a saving account increases your sense of financial well-being.

Lords & Ladies 1. Which alternative name for the devil literally means “lord of the flies”? 2. Florence Nightingale became known as “the lady with the lamp” after checking on wounded soldiers at night during which war? 3. What word comes after “first lord of the” to complete the inscription on the letter box of 10 Downing Street? 4. Which famous 1949 British film has a title that is taken from a line in the poem Lady Clara Vere De Vere by Alfred, Lord Tennyson? 5. Which singer is often referred to as “the first lady of country music”? 6. An anagram of “I am Lord Voldemort”, what was the birth name of Lord Voldemort in the Harry Potter novels?

7. First used to refer to the leading female singer in an opera company, what two word term means “first lady” in Italian? 8. What were the names of the landlord and landlady of the Queen Vic when the TV show EastEnders was first broadcast? 9. What word for a wealthy and powerful business person comes from a word meaning “great lord” that was used as a title for leaders of Japan? 10. According to legend, only one person spied on Lady Godiva when she rode naked through the streets of Coventry. What two word phrase was used to refer to this person and has come to be used more generally to refer to anyone who gets sexual pleasure from secretly watching others?

1. Beelzebub 2. The Crimean War 3. Treasury 4. Kind Hearts And Coronets 5. Tammy Wynette 6. Tom Marvolo Riddle 7. Prima Donna 8. Den Watts and Angie Watts 9. Tycoon 10. Peeping Tom

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

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Electrician

www.hertsandbedselectrical.co.uk

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

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Codeword 1

ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ

Easy Suduko

Hard Suduko

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

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

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Technology

Can you bag a bargain on Black Friday? November is the month of big deals. Are some too good to be true?

Black Friday is the annual sales event that crossed the Atlantic to become huge in the UK too. But does that mean you’ll get a good deal? Black Friday is actually two big days of deals: Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Black Friday is the start of the Christmas shopping season in the US, because it’s when retailers traditionally ran ‘door-buster’ sales on the day after the Thanksgiving holiday. The following Monday has been dubbed Cyber Monday because apparently everybody goes back to work, panics about Christmas presents and hits the online shops on the same day. Black Friday gets bigger every year. A long weekend became a week of deals, until now Black Friday runs for two weeks or more, with all kinds of deals announced well in advance as well as flash ‘lightning deals’ on Black Friday and Cyber Monday. It’s become the most important part of the retail calendar not just for technology but for many retailers selling fashion,

homeware and jewellery too. It’s a good time to buy smart home technology, which attracts massive discounts at this time of year. Can you really get good deals? The answer is a qualified yes. There are plenty of deals to be had, but some of them are illusory: common tactics include listing RRPs that no sensible person would pay – you’ll see this a lot with TVs, which promise massive discounts on recommended retail prices nobody paid – or gently increasing prices in the run-up to Black Friday so they can be lowered in time for the big event and labelled with a big ‘Sale!’ sticker. And like any sale, often the deals are on products that are being phased out to make room for new products or because they’re no longer being made. End-of-line products aren’t necessarily bad buys, but research anything before you decide whether or not to spend. Before you hit the ‘Buy Now’ button on a bargain, search for it in Pricespy.

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co.uk. That shows you what other retailers are selling the product for, and tells you whether you’re really getting a good deal. It works on everything from DVDs to dishwashers and it also tells you whether products are in stock: a deal isn’t much use if you can’t actually order the product. If you’re looking at a deal on Amazon, have a look at uk.camelCamelCamel.com. Simply copy and paste the address of the Amazon product listing or the exact product name and it’ll show you the price history – so for example if we search for the cult favourite Instant Pot pressure cooker we can see that while its price varies from £70 to £130, it’s usually sold for around £90. One of the simplest tricks to Black Friday and Cyber Monday is to make sure you only buy things you actually need. This time last year we bought some fancy headphones on Black Friday; this week we’re selling them on eBay, still in the original sealed packaging. A bargain isn’t a bargain if you don’t use it.

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October’s Puzzle Solutions and Winners Last Month’s Crossword Winner Rita Hobson from Brampton We Love Little Mix Competition Winner Karen Bower from Langford

Easy

Hard

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

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

The Villager Prize Crossword

Prize

ÂŁ25

Across 1 A strong effect on (6) 4 Sore (6) 9 Stopping place (7) 10 Narrates (5) 11 Slumber (5) 12 Arrives at (7) 13 Presenting (11) 18 Item (7) 20 Mechanical engine (5) 22 Higher up (5) 23 Dealt with (7) 24 Help (6) 25 Theatre seats (6)

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

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

Down 1 Be certain of (6) 2 Wood smoothing tool (5) 3 Crunchier (7) 5 Additional (5) 6 Popular sea mammal (7) 7 Withstand (6) 8 Components of recipe (11) 14 Countries (7) 15 Remark (7) 16 Yellow fruit (6) 17 Classifications (6) 19 A board game (5) 21 The whole amount (5)

Name: Tel:

ď&#x20AC;˘

Address:

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

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COUNTRY STOVES & SWEEPS STOVE/GAS FIRE INSTALLATION

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Books

DRIFTWOOD JOINERY LTD

Book Review By Kate Duggan

Specialists in Bespoke Joinery

The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes

Times are hard in Kentucky at the end of the Great Depression. Five women set out to bring some light back into people’s lives, through books. This isn’t your average mobile library; the librarians have to travel hundreds of miles every week, on horseback. Amongst them is Margery – whose family and unconventional lifestyle mean she’s all but ostracised by ‘polite society’. And Alice – a lonely incomer far from home. A great story, great characters and great writing make The Giver of Stars the perfect gift.

The Hairy Bikers’ One Pot Wonders by Si King and Dave Myers

The Hairy Bikers are back with another cookery book packed with more than 100 recipes. Create delicious dishes with minimum effort and mess. Recipes include Sausage and Bean Tray Bake, and Boozy Syllabub Trifle. Just make sure the recipient of your gift invites you over for dinner soon.

The Secret Series by Pseudonymous Bosch

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Young adventure fans are sure to appreciate this series, starting with the first book – The Name of This Book is Secret. (My ten year old daughter devoured all five in quick succession.) Cass and MaxErnest are unlikely friends who find themselves caught up in a quest to uncover a secret. Danger, mystery, friendship, villains and humour abound.

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Classifieds Accountants

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Classifieds Electricians

Garden Specialist

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

01767 699252 07901 985123

Handy Man

Fencing

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

Foot Health Practitioner

Locksmith Services

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

Garden Specialist

Painter & Decorator

RICHBAW

DECOR LTD Local, honest, professional service

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

Classifieds Painting Services

Plumbing and Heating

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

Bathroom installations FREE estimates Over 35 years experience Based in Gamlingay

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

Pet Services

Plumbing and Heating

Plastering Services

Property Improvements Property Improvements by

A professional property maintenance service

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

Tel: 01767 651821 Mob: 07773 973420

Plumbing

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

Property Improvements

Tel: 01767 650619 Mobile: 07870366414

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

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

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

Classifieds Property Maintenance

CJ Property Maintenance

Tiling

Free Estimates

Interior and Exterior Painting Gutter Cleaning & Repairs uPVC Fascia Board Cleaning, Fencing, Gates and all Repairs Patios and all Garden Work, Double Glazing & Repairs Concrete Bases, Paths & Steps, Chimney & Wall Pointing Brick Work & Repairs, Driveway Cleaning Broken Roof Tiles & Pots Tel: 01767 680532 Mob: 0774 600 8188 cjpainting@hotmail.co.uk

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

Window Cleaner

Removals

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

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

Wood Suppliers

Riding School MANOR FARM RIDING SCHOOL Sutton, Beds - SG19 2ND

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

Roofing

Wood Suppliers

FOR SALE

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

Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts

USEFUL NUMBERS

VILLAGER The

and Town

Life

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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

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

Tel: 01767 261122

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

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