Potton November 2022

Best Christmas Markets in Europe

With Christmas now just around the corner, if you find yourself fantasising about mulled wine, festive coffees, mouth-watering cheeses and steaming chestnuts – you’re not alone. Christmas market season is upon us, the perfect time to wrap up warm, fill your belly and hunt for gifts you wouldn’t find anywhere else. While we have plenty of world-renowned markets to visit on our doorstep

By Solange Hando

– Winchester, Edinburgh, Bath and Cambridge to name a few – nothing quite compares to Europe’s fairy-tale, festive spirit. Wooden chalets in thirteenth-century towns, snow-capped cathedrals, powdery spiced stollen, and of course, all the mulled wine you can drink. The likes of Germany, Estonia, Hungary and Austria, to name a few, take Christmas markets to another level. From Hamburg’s regional specialities and the dazzling lights of Vienna, all the way to Tallinn’s picturesque cobblestone streets dusted with snow, you’re spoilt for choice on where to go. To make your decision easier, we’ve pulled out five of the best Christmas markets in Europe, and what makes each one so magical. Vienna, Austria - From the middle of November until Christmas Day, Vienna’s prettiest squares transform into a mesmerising maze of Christmas markets, adorned with fairy lights. There are over

twenty to choose from, but wherever your feet take you, you can expect to see everything from artisanal handicrafts and traditional wooden toys to ice rinks, Ferris wheels and merry-go-rounds. This is Christmas at its most traditional. Oh, and did we mention the food? Warm the cockles of your heart with a mug of mulled wine while inhaling the smell of roasted chestnuts and freshly baked pretzels. Divine!

Tallinn, Estonia - Part of what makes Tallinn’s Christmas markets so magical is their setting.

Nestled in the heart of this beautiful, medieval city, where everything in sight is dusted with snow, each December the markets fill with sellers of local arts and crafts and delectable festive treats. And if that wasn’t enough, they’re also joined by brass bands, bell ringers and endless dance troupes – not to mention Tallinn’s very own Santa, who arrives at his winter grotto on an authentic reindeer sleigh.

The highlight, though, is its Christmas tree, which the city has been displaying in front of its town hall since 1441, making it the first Christmas tree to ever be displayed in Europe.

Budapest, Hungary - Officially hailed as Europe’s best Christmas market in 2022, Budapest’s Advent Feast at the Basilica is a delight for the senses. Centred around the impressive backdrop of St Stephen’s Basilica, the market is home to more than 160 artisan vendors. Shop for unique gifts and sample local Hungarian specialities from friendly food sellers. Goulash and flódni are must-tries!

There’s even an ice rink in the heart of all the action, circling a nine-metre-tall Christmas tree. Be sure to hang around for the real star of the show though – a

spectacular laser light show projected on the facade of the magnificent St. Stephen’s Basilica.

Nuremberg, Germany - Home to more than 150 towns and cities with established Christmas market traditions, Germany is synonymous with the festive season. Berlin and Cologne are world-renowned, and for good reason, but most visitors will agree that Nuremberg’s Christkindlesmarkt just about comes up trumps.

One of Germany’s oldest Christmas markets, dating back to around 1530, Christkindlesmarkt is a foodie’s paradise. Grilled sausages, crackling pork, mulled wine, sweet gingerbread – every festive food fantasy can be fulfilled here. It’s also known for being one of Europe’s most environmentally friendly Christmas markets, thanks to its reusable cup system and regenerative energy power source.

Prague, Czech RepublicPostcard-worthy Prague was made for the festive season, so it’s no surprise its capital’s market is one of the favourites in Europe. This is part and parcel down to its magnificent setting. On one side, there’s the fourteenth-century spires of Our Lady Before Tyn, on the other, the city’s famous fifteenthcentury astronomical clock.

Czechs are famously heavy drinkers, so you’ll be spoilt for choice when it comes to booze too. Along with hot mulled wine, you’ll also find mead, punch and grog, a concoction of rum, lemon, sugar and hot water.

The market is family-friendly too. If you’ve got little ones, shepherd them over to the Old Town Square where you’ll find a petting zoo complete with sheep, goats and donkeys.

Remember, remember, the fifth of November

Bonfire Night is an annual commemoration of a failed assassination attempt in 1605.

In 1603, Protestant James I became King of England. Despite being the son of the Catholic Mary Queen of Scots, he carried out persecutions against those of the faith, much as his predecessor Queen Elizabeth had done.

This lead one unhappy citizen – Robert Catesby – to devise a plot to kill the king and his establishment. With the help of a team of other sympathisers, including soldier Guy Fawkes, barrels of gunpowder were placed in a cellar under the House of Lords with a plan to ignite them on the opening day of Parliament – the fifth of November.

Fawkes was given the job of guarding the vault on the previous evening, but the plot was rumbled and just after midnight Fawkes and the gunpowder were found.

As news spread of the incident, Londoners began lighting bonfires in celebration of the fact James I was still alive and in 1606 the Observance of Fifth of November Act was passed, enforcing an annual public day of thanksgiving for the plot’s failure. The Act was repealed in 1859.

As for Fawkes, tried and found guilty of his crime, he was to be executed opposite the Parliament building in January 1606, but he fell or jumped from the gallows ladder and died of a broken neck.

The commemoration eventually lost its religious and political undertones and is now more likely to be an organised bonfire and fireworks display, just for fun.

Potton Market Square Past and Future

Potton Market Square is looking smart with a full set of businesses catering for the increasing number of locals (5472 is the latest estimate). Four decades ago my father, Michael Ibbett, looked back with me at the square he had come to from St. Neots after his wartime RAF service. None of the individuals who gave the town its current trading heart are with us but you may have memories of them. The aftermath of the 2nd World War had left the town centre with a decaying central market building (the Potton Shambles) which was not replaced until 1956. Potton History Society has the care of Keith Lawrence’s model of the old Shambles as well as his dioramas of the surrounding shops including his 1950’s versions of the north & East sides. At just over 2000 inhabitants the town ‘footfall’ had not changed for a century. Perhaps a local artist/architect can provide us with a Charles III set of Market Square buildings!

By Peter Ibbett

For the love of: Sherry

The ABV (Alcohol by Volume) of sherry is usually between 15% and 20% (perhaps a little higher, in some instances), being fortified during production. Fino and Manzanilla sherries have dry styles, as do Amontillado and Oloroso productions. Sweeter options include Pedro Ximénez, which is great to pair with many desserts, at a dining occasion.

DON LUIS FINO DEL PUERTO (16.5% vol) I found refreshing, with excellent flavour. This crisp production utilises the grape varietal to great advantage (100% Palomino grapes). Following fermentation, in stainless steel tanks, the wine then has 48 months in old American oak barrels. An impressive pre-dining drink, that also accompanies fish and paella dishes, extremely well.

EL BENITO MANZANILLA (17% vol) spends 48 months in old American oak barrels, following fermentation in stainless steel tanks (100% Palomino grapes). A most pleasant bouquet entices to the mouth’s pleasures, evoking thoughts of apple-orchard fruits. Perfect to greet guests with and to have with tapas delectations, for example.

DON GASPAR AMONTILLADO (18.5% vol) is produced with fermentation taking place in stainless steel tanks (100% Palomino grapes). Then, the wine has120 months in old American oak Jerezana barrels, to give this very impressive fortified wine its full and rich flavour. A delight for predining experiences, with friends and/or family. Also, splendid with foods, such as tapas dishes, etc.

TORRE DEL ORO PALO CORTADO (19% vol) commences its journey from a vineyard with vines having an average age of 25 years. Stainless steel tanks are used for the fermentation process (100% Palomino grapes) and, after fortification, enter into the solera system for approx 4 years, to commence their ageing element. Selections are made by the winemaker, for the Palo Cortado classification. Following a further 8 years of ageing, the sherry is then bottled and released, with flavours hinting at orange and nutty notes. This, I consider, to be a superb example.

I located these sherry productions at Waitrose, in their No.1 range, which is produced in partnership with the eminent sherry house of Lustau. I found Waitrose to have an excellent drinks section, with something for all tastes and palates. www.waitrose.com

Trevor Langley

Schoolreaders Needed to Spread the Joy of Reading in Bedfordshire Schools

Bedford-based children’s literacy charity Schoolreaders is looking for volunteers who can help spread the joy of reading to children in Bedfordshire primary schools – especially in the Potton, Sandy and Biggleswade areas. A recent survey of young people by the National Literacy Trust (NLT) revealed that reading enjoyment had reached a 15 year low, rallying slightly in the pandemic before declining again by 2022, especially amongst those from disadvantaged backgrounds and amongst boys. Furthermore, the Annual Literacy survey found that fewer than 1 in 2 children aged 8 to 18 enjoyed reading with only 28% reading daily.

Schoolreaders is looking for volunteers of all ages –from students to retirees - who can listen to children read in a local primary school, especially at those schools where children require support the most.

Worryingly, 1 in 4 children leave primary school every summer unable to read to the expected standard and the Schoolreaders scheme is now more in demand than ever, particularly to help those children most disadvantaged following the education disruption caused by Covid lockdowns.

Schoolreaders volunteers act as trusted role models in the classroom alongside the class teachers, not only helping children improve their reading but also by being a positive influence.

Schoolreaders volunteers are asked to listen to children read once a week during term time and to commit to an academic year. By applying now new volunteers will be matched as quickly as possible to a partner school and be ready to start once they have completed a mandatory DBS check and virtual safeguarding training.

Jane Whitbread, founder of Schoolreaders, adds, “Children who leave primary school unable to

read well can’t access their secondary schooling fully which will disadvantage them for life. One in seven adults have poor literacy and cannot read instructions on a medicine label or a bus timetable or fill in a job application form. Working together we can change this.

“There is no substitute for face-to-face interaction and support when it comes to reading. Our volunteers provide a crucial supplement to classroom teaching and are welcomed by schools - and the children. 95% of children in our scheme improved their reading performance and over 90% their reading enjoyment after time with a Schoolreaders volunteer which is so valuable. If more children gain pleasure from reading from an early age and their reading fluency and confidence improves too, communities and Society will reap the benefits.”

To find out more or to apply today to be a Schoolreaders volunteer in primary schools with the greatest need in Bedfordshire, visit Schoolreaders.org

Get (back) on your bike

When was the last time you rode a bike? Last month? Last year? So long ago you can barely remember? It might be time to rediscover the joys of cycling. According to the NHS, there are lots of health benefits to riding a bike. It can reduce the risk of heart disease, stroke and type 2 diabetes. It’s low impact, so it puts less stress on your joints than running, football and other aerobic activities. It can help to ease anxiety and boost your mood. And, of course, it’s better for the environment (and a lot cheaper) than most forms of transport.

Learn to ride - If you’ve never ridden a bike before or aren’t a confident cyclist, it’s worth taking an adult beginners’ course with Bikeability. Find out more at www.bikeability.org.uk. You’ll also find some useful tips at www.cyclinguk.org/teachingadults.

Choosing a bike - The right bike will depend on a whole range of factors, including where you’ll be riding it (e.g. on roads or dirt tracks), your height and your budget. Head to a bike shop to discuss your requirements. If you live in a hilly area, fancy more leisurely rides or need to build your fitness up, then an e-bike might be the best bet. Buying second hand? Try to get the bike serviced or at least checked over. Halfords offer a free bike safety check.

What to wear - The most important thing is to be seen by other road users, so choose brightly coloured or high-vis clothes. To start with, you

can just cycle in a T-shirt and jogging bottoms or leggings. Avoid loose bottoms that could get caught up in the chain, or use clips to keep your trousers in place. Long-term, you might want to invest in decent cycling gear. Padded cycling shorts and a sweatwicking T-shirt can make longer rides a lot more comfortable!

Extras - You’ll need a decent helmet that’s the right size for your head. Check out guides.wiggle.co.uk/ how-choose-perfect-cycling-helmet for guidance or visit your local sports shop. You’ll also want a water bottle holder, puncture repair kit and pump. A bum bag is handy for your phone, wallet and keys, but you might need a backpack, basket or panniers if you need to carry anything else.

Stay motivated - Staying motivated is difficult at the best of times, but winter makes things a whole lot harder. Deciding a set day and time helps, as does finding a cycling buddy or joining a club. You could also set yourself distance goals or book onto a sponsored cycle ride to focus your training.

Stay safe - To begin with, you’ll want to stick to daylight rides in traffic-free areas, but you’ll still need decent reflectors, and a bike light is a good idea. Always let someone know where you’re going and keep your phone with you just in case. A flat tyre ten miles from home is never fun, but it’s a lot trickier if you can’t call someone to pick you up!

Take a Tumble

What to look for in a new tumble dryer

The problem with a British winter is that its damp, which makes clothes-drying difficult outdoors. It isn’t always practical to air dry indoors, especially if your household generates a lot of washing, so we often resort to a tumble dryer. The problem with tumble driers is that they use energy and energy is super expensive right now.

Hence choosing a new tumble dryer is not a decision to be taken lightly. Here are some feature to look out for.

By Matthew Carter

Capacity - How much laundry you typically do on a weekly basis? A large family generates a lot of dirty clothes so it’s worth investing in a bigger tumble dryer as not only will this cut down on time spent doing laundry, one larger load will typically cost you much less than three smaller loads.

Smart sensors - Sensor dryers can cut your energy use in half. They actually sense when moisture has been removed from clothes and automatically stop at that point rather than wasting electricity by needlessly completing the cycle. Some appliances allow you to choose your level of dryness, from dry enough to store or wear straight away, to iron dry which leaves clothes just slightly damp.

Quiet operation – Useful if your tumble dryer will be sited in an open plan area. Some modern dryers are virtually silent, no louder than a fridge!

Stainless steel interior - This prevents the drum of the machine from rusting. Air fluff/low heat setting – This protects materials that are sensitive to heat.

Energy rating - Modern dryers are more energy-efficient than older models. Upgrading will give you more hightech features for a reduced electricity bill. Look for an A or B rating for maximum efficiency.

The Icknield Way Association

Over the past couple of years it has become increasingly apparent that the great outdoors is of immense benefit for our mental and physical health – and is, largely, free! With walking being an increasingly favoured leisure activity (with associated family, health ansd social benefits) it is no surprise that people are looking to find what public footpaths and walking organisations are in their locality.

The Icknield Way is a set of rights of way that makes up the oldest known long-distance path in Britain –and it’s on your doorstep!

Formed in 1984, the Icknield Way Association seeks to make the Icknield Way a National Trail and to promote knowledge and use of it. It is a well-established long distance footpath (110 miles) that runs from Ivinghoe Beacon to Knettishall Heath, passing through South Eastern Bedfordshire and North Hertfordshire towns and villages (Ickleford, Letchworth, Baldock, and Royston, to name but a few), and passing places acquainted by people from prehistory as well as Celts, Romans, Anglo-Saxons, Vikings and others up to the present day.

We are seeking new members, wardens (who take on a stretch of the Icknield Way to walk and monitor), and officers. We also sell guides of the walk, and information on all these can be found on our website at www.icknieldwaypath.co.uk. Anyone who is interested in seeking further information and/or joining us in any capacity may e-mail our Publicity Officer, Doug Landman, on doug.landman@ntlworld.com. We look forward to hearing from you.

Helping you to live your best life! Love Life Fitness

Hello, my name is Amanda Whiteman, and I am the creator of Love Life Fitness.

My vision for Love Life Fitness is to help all ages of people to exercise their bodies to feel better, healthier, and happier. To live your best life. If your new to exercise, have a health condition or you’re training for a specific goal, I have the knowledge and skills to help you. I have loved exercise from a young age whether it was playing rounders, tennis, doing fitness videos at home, attending gym classes and bootcamps. I bring a lot of experience so every session you attend will be full of variety to keep you motivated and focused. A fitness plan designed just for you.

I have a fantastic workshop designed for younger adults who are looking to begin their fitness journey. It teaches them about weights, the muscles used, correct technique and when to increase the weights they are lifting. For primary school age children, I have the amazing Rainbow Fitness for Kids which is packed full of fun and games to get the children moving, learning about exercise their muscles and building their confidence.

Take a look at my website lovelifefitness.co.uk for more information and there are lots of ways you can get in touch if you have any questions or you’re wanting to book your sessions. I look forward to hearing from you and helping you on your journey to a fitter, healthier and happier YOU.

Style and Warmth?

I know on my own account that it’s easy to pile on layers and find yourself feeling and looking like a giant ball of wool (on me, beginning to unravel) when it becomes seriously cold. We can easily lose any sense of style in the effort to stay warm. However, there are some tweaks we can add into our look and prevent us looking too trussed up. Plus some elements that are on trend to factor in too. Necklines – a high neckline roll neck can foreshorten you adding to a ‘bunched up’ effect so find layers including jumpers that sit lower if this applies to you (if you’re not sure talk to your House of Colour consultant to find out). Us a softly draped scarf to fill in the area if you feel the cold and then you can adjust where it sits to be the most flattering. It’s better if we can avoid cluttering shorter areas. Scarf – a great place to add a pop of WOW colour particularly if your coat is a dark neutral. This will also break up silhouette and add interest. Try not to be a sea of neutrals, use your palette of colours. Those who struggle to wear a larger woollier scarf (not all of us can take the larger scale or sometimes the slightly messier look that accompanies it) try rolling it in half (so not as bulky) and creating a neater tie such as a ‘no knot’ tie. Sparkly embellishments – this is a trend were seeing across most accessories in some form. Think sequins, details with sparkle, and embroidery. Think about gloves, adding brooches/embroidery to hats. There are shapes and details that suit every individual look whether sharp and angular or small and pretty. Add those into your accessories to update your look and draw the eye to your best features!

Proportion Play – if you have a large puffer coat or

a giant scarf think about using it with some smaller scale elements. Let that one bigger piece be you ‘hero’ and allow the other elements to play second fiddle.

Footwear – there are lots of funky walking and winter boots around with waterproofing and style to them. Check out Clarks and look online. Lots of colour around too in a traditionally limited space. Layers – it’s not news but lighter layers add up to great warmth. So if you struggle in this colder weather add in your base layers – silk and merino wool (not the super itchy variety but the base layer engineered) seem to perform very well. I love Patra Selections silk thermals. Natural fibres do seem to perform best but M&S ‘heatgen’ range which is a blend gets great reviews so is worth trying.

Article by Jennie Billings – House of Colour House of Colour has a network of stylists to help you update your look – find your nearest at houseofcolour.co.uk/find-a-stylist

Dental care: looking after your teeth and gums

We all know that regular dentist appointments are a key component of healthy teeth and gums. However, with the NHS still catching up with its backlog of appointments post-pandemic, not to mention the cost-of-living crisis making private dentistry unaffordable for many, there’s never been a better time to prioritise preventative dental care. So what are the different measures you can take to protect your teeth?

Brush daily

Brushing your teeth daily is simultaneously the easiest and most important element of preventative dentistry.

The NHS recommends brushing with fluoride toothpaste twice a day for about two minutes to stop plaque build-up. Most of us will have got into the habit of brushing our teeth morning and evening since childhood. But did you know that the best time to brush in the morning is before you eat breakfast? This is because plaque-causing bacteria multiply in our mouths while we sleep.

What about the toothbrushes themselves? Contrary to popular belief, manual toothbrushes are just as effective as their electric counterparts – when used properly. However, many people find electric toothbrushes easier to use, which is why they’re often recommended by dentists. Remember to replace your toothbrush (or toothbrush head) three to four times per year to keep the bristles rough.

Floss regularly

In addition to brushing daily, dentists also recommend flossing regularly to clean areas of your teeth that your toothbrush can’t reach. Flossing is also believed to reduce the risks of gum disease, by

removing plaque that forms along the gum line. If you have gaps between your teeth, swap floss or dental tape for interdental brushes; they come in sizes to suit everyone.

Use mouthwash

Commonly used to keep our breath minty fresh, mouthwash can also reduce the amount of acid in the mouth, clean hard-to-brush areas in and around the gums and even remineralise teeth. With so many brands on the market, from products made for children to mouthwashes designed for those with sensitive teeth, speak to your dentist to find the perfect mouthwash for you. Reduce your sugar intake Sugar is your teeth’s arch nemesis. This is because it causes tooth decay by reacting with the bacteria found in plaque. Every time you consume sugary food or drinks, the enamel in your teeth is softened and your teeth become exposed to decay-causing acids.

Thankfully, this damage is somewhat reversed by minerals from the enamel of your teeth and your saliva. Saliva generates minerals like calcium and phosphates, both of which are beneficial for strengthening teeth. It’s an important process, but it can only do so much. To keep your teeth healthy, you’ll still need to limit your sugar intake. Sugary drinks are the main culprit, but what about sugar-free drinks? Surprisingly, even your favourite sugar-free fizzy drinks can be bad for your teeth due to their acidity levels. To be on the safe side, stick to water, unsweetened tea, milk, plain sparkling water and diluted juice – with sugary drinks as an occasional treat.

How Oxygen Therapy Can Help Dementia

The term ‘dementia’ refers to a group of symptoms caused by different diseases that damage the brain. There are currently around 900,000 people with dementia in the UK. This number is expected to rise sharply in the coming years. (Alzheimer’s Society).

The symptoms progressively worsen and described by the NHS as:

• memory loss

• difficulty concentrating

• finding it hard to carry out familiar daily tasks

• struggling to find words or follow conversations

• being confused about time and place

• mood changes

Some people with dementia, or their relatives, have reported that Oxygen Therapy (also known as Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy) has helped them.

Oxygen Therapy for people with Dementia - Research is underway to consider new approaches to treating dementia, including neurogenesis (creating new brain cells). One approach to neurogenesis is hyperbaric oxygen therapy.

A 2021 study published in Aging journal reports that six people with an average age of 70 carried out a series of oxygen therapy sessions. Each person showed signs of memory loss. Results revealed that “… the changes in pressure and rising and falling oxygen levels increased blood flow to their brains by around 20%, with an average 16.5% improvement in memory score.”

Try Oxygen Therapy - Herts MS Therapy Centre welcomes anyone with any long-term condition, including dementia. People from widespread locations visit our Letchworth Centre to try Oxygen Therapy. Our friendly, qualified team supervises your session and answers any queries you may have. Arrange your Trial Session by calling 01462 684214 or emailing oxygen@hmstc.net.

The Poignant Poppy

Why do we wear the poppy? - Scarlet poppies grow wild all over western Europe wherever the soil has been disturbed. The battles of the First World War churned up such vast areas of earth that millions of poppies germinated and bloomed, often around the bodies of the fallen soldiers.

A Canadian surgeon called John McRae wrote the poem In Flanders Fields, which many of us study in school. The poem is a haunting memorial to those soldiers who have died in any war and the imagery of the poppies is used to symbolise the deaths of those who fought.

Why do we hold a two-minute silence? - On the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month the guns of World War I fell silent. Four years of fighting and devastation finally ended. The following year ceremonies of remembrance took place on what was known as Armistice Day. An armistice is an agreement for the cessation of active hostilities between two sides in a war.

An Australian journalist, Edward George Honey first proposed a respectful silence to remember the dead. He wrote a letter to the London Evening News which was brought to the attention of King George V. The king issued a proclamation which called for a two-minute silence.

These days Armistice Day is more usually known as Remembrance Sunday and is a chance to honour the fallen soldiers of all conflicts.

In the light of the atrocities going on Ukraine this year, I hope you’ll think even more about your poppy and all it stands for.

By Nicky Gray

Grey is the New BlackGoing grey gracefully

A few years ago, I noticed that younger women were dying their hair grey. As a 45-year-old woman the irony was not lost on me. There I was paying to dye my hair back to its original chestnut while the 23-year-old sitting at the next basin was paying the same to achieve my silver locks. WHY was I doing this?

One of the many downsides of colouring hair is that you have to repeat the process every 3-8 weeks. I was closer to three weekly and was planning my life around my roots. Then there was the expense. In spite of Davina McCall’s exhortations home dying did not look professional and my bathroom needed a deep clean afterwards. Finally, I was beginning to notice that dyed hair just didn’t look authentic on me. My skin looked just a little bit ‘off’ next to my hair colour. So, I decided to embrace the grey. Why do we go grey anyway?

Each hair grows from a follicle which contains cells called melanocytes. Melanocytes produce two types of pigments: eumelanin (dark brown or black), and pheomelanin (reddish yellow). In combination they are responsible for our hair colour. As we age the melanocytes in the hair follicle start to die and the hair becomes more transparent. Gray hair still has some melanin, but not enough to give us back our youthful hue. White hair has no melanin. The process of going grey Lots of people opt for a shorter haircut but it’s not essential. I didn’t. I decided I’d grow mine to shoulder length and brazen it out. My hair is still fairly thick, so I wanted to make the most of it. My hairdresser recommend a textured cut to give it volume and movement. I still hated it for the first three months, as my roots came in, and I wore hats a lot. I nearly caved at one point but my wonderful

hairdresser talked me off the ledge. By six months I was loving the changes. My hairdresser recommended that I used products with a bit of shine. Grey hair loses its natural shine and can look less healthy. I love to use a hair oil from about halfway down my hair, which softens and moisturizes it. I don’t use it all the way up the roots because it does weigh the hair down a little. One bonus of being grey is that I have to wash my hair less. Grey hair is naturally drier so whereas before I was washing it every day or every other day, now I usually wash it every three or four days.

Another good recommendation was a specialist ‘purple’ shampoo and conditioner. ‘Don’t freak out when you first see it,’ my hairdresser warned me. ‘It’s very purple, but it will brighten your grey hair and remove yellow tones.’ Then she added, ‘Only use it once a week though or you’ll end up lilac!’ It works like a charm. I love how silver my hair looks when I use it but I’m mindful of her warning.

My biggest concern was about looking ‘old.’ It didn’t take me long to realise that if I didn’t embrace more colour in my wardrobe that is exactly what would happen. I switched to a brighter lipstick and added some jewel-coloured tops and statement earrings to my previously all black wardrobe. I even updated my spectacles to a bright coloured frame. In addition, I keep my hair in a modern, more youthful cut and I love the fact that the colour now compliments rather than competes with my skin tone.

Four years on I’m nearly fifty but I no longer worry about my roots, and I’m saving a fortune at the hairdresser. It’s not for everyone but I’d definitely recommend going grey because of the freedom it brings.

By Charlotte Harris

ceservices.com Tel: 01767 690075 / 07966 554304 Email: maureen@helpinghandso ceservices.co.uk

Turkey Tikka Masala

Turkey’s not just for Christmas – it’s a healthy all-year round option and this curry with a kick of heat is a great way to use up

cooked turkey meat.

Serves 4 Takes 40-45 minutes

Ingredients

500g leftover cooked turkey meat, cut into chunks

200g thick natural yoghurt

1 green chilli, chopped

Juice of 1 lime, plus extra wedges to serve

2 tbsp tikka masala paste

Sea salt flakes

Freshly ground black pepper

3 tbsp vegetable oil

50g butter

5 green cardamom pods

1 cinnamon stick

2 onions, peeled and chopped

2cm piece fresh ginger, peeled and grated

4 large garlic cloves, crushed

1 tsp ground cumin

2 tsp ground coriander

½ tsp ground turmeric

1 x 400g can chopped tomatoes

1 tbsp tomato puree

125ml single cream

200ml water

1 tsp fenugreek leaves, crushed in a pestle and mortar (optional)

1 tsp garam masala

1 tsp sugar

To serve

A small bunch of coriander, chopped Naan bread

Steamed rice Greek yoghurt

1. Put the turkey into a large bowl with the yoghurt, chilli, lime juice, tikka masala paste, some salt, pepper and 1 tbsp of vegetable oil, tossing well to coat. Set aside for at least 30 minutes in the fridge.

2. Meanwhile, make the curry sauce. Heat the remaining oil and butter in a deep frying pan, then add the cardamom and cinnamon and cook for 20 seconds until you can start to smell the spices. Add the onions with a pinch of salt and cook for 6-8 minutes until they start to colour. Add the ginger, garlic, cumin, coriander, turmeric, chopped tomatoes and tomato puree and stir well. Simmer for 15 minutes until the oil starts to separate from the sauce. Use a stick blender to puree until smooth or leave a little chunky if you like.

3. Heat the grill to high. Transfer the meat from the marinade to a baking tray lined with foil, reserving the marinade.

4. Grill the marinated cooked turkey for 5 minutes on each side until heated through and the marinade is charring in places.

5. Slowly stir the reserved marinade mixture into the curry sauce, along with the cream and water. Add the fenugreek (if using), garam masala and sugar. Simmer for 5 minutes, then stir in the grilled turkey. Taste and season, adding salt, sugar or lime juice as needed.

6. Serve sprinkled with some chopped coriander, plus extra lime wedges, naan bread, steamed rice and Greek yoghurt.

Technology

The best e-book readers for every kind of reader

Why e-readers are perfect presents – and great gadgets too

E-readers are brilliant things, especially for avid readers or travellers: they can store hundreds of books in a single slim case, they run for weeks without needing recharging, they’re much easier to read in sunlight than shinyscreened phones or tablets, and they can read e-books from all kinds of places, not just their manufacturers’ online shops. Some are made for kids; others for book-obsessed adults.

The most popular e-reader is Amazon’s Kindle, which is available in multiple versions for different kinds of user. Amazon regularly updates and replaces different models in the range, and it often offers huge discounts on the RRP: we wouldn’t recommend paying full price for any Kindle because Amazon cuts their prices so frequently. For example, at the time of writing Amazon has dropped the price of its Kindle Kids from £99.99 to £54.99.

The current Kindle range starts with the most basic Kindle, at £69. It’s a nice little device with a decent screen and weeks of battery life between charges, and the Kids edition is the same but with a kid-friendly protective case and a year’s free access to Amazon’s Kindle Kids subscription service.

The pick of the range is the Kindle Paperwhite (RRP £129 or £99 for the Kids edition). That has a larger, much higher resolution screen for paper-like print quality, it’s waterproof for beach or bath reading, and it has a warm light that’s much easier on the eyes when you’re reading after dark. An extra £50 gets you the Signature edition, which has wireless charging. The top of the range Kindle is the Kindle Oasis, which is bigger still and has more storage. However it’s also the most expensive option, at £229.

The main UK rival to Amazon is Kobo, with options ranging from £89 to £249. The flagship is the Sage, which is great for notetaking, but all models have good displays, plenty of storage and excellent battery life. It’s worth pointing out that you don’t need a Kindle to read e-books: the Kindle and Kobo apps are available for all kinds of phones, computers and tablets. Apple has a rival service, Books, and Google Play offers e-books. But reading on a computer isn’t as nice as on a dedicated e-reader.

Apple Books

You can turn any smartphone, tablet or computer into an e-book reader with apps such as Apple Books, Kindle or Kobo – although reading on a screen isn’t as comfortable as on the e-ink display of a dedicated e-reader. But it’s handy for occasional reading. Free, apple.com

Kobo Sage

Kobo’s e-readers start at £89 but the money-no-object option is the excellent Kobo Sage (£249), which enables you to annotate books with a stylus. If you’re a margin scribbler and phrase underliner that alone makes the Sage a must-buy. £249, uk.kobobooks.com

Amazon Paperwhite Kids

If your kids are bookworms, this slightly more expensive Kindle Paperwhite Kids (£99 compared to £54.99 for the basic Kindle Kids) has a warm white display that’s much less tiring for latenight reading sessions when they’re supposed to be sleeping. £99, amazon.co.uk

Amazon Kindle Paperwhite

This is the best Kindle for most people. It’s a nice size, it’s waterproof, it has a really nice warm white light that won’t tire your eyes and it lasts for weeks between charges. As with all Kindles, keep an eye out for discounts and don’t pay full price. £129, amazon.co.uk

Amazon Kindle Oasis

The Kindle Oasis is Amazon’s biggest and most powerful Kindle, but for most people we think the Paperwhite is the better buy: that model is £100 cheaper before any discounting and isn’t significantly smaller or less powerful. £229, amazon.co.uk

Money on my Mind

The Martin Lewis column

He’s the UK’s leading money saving expert - a journalist and presenter who has kept millions of pounds in people’s pockets as well as lifting the lid on the threats and dangers we need to be aware of as consumers.

In this month’s column, Martin Lewis looks at the current energy crisis, and the fact no real solution appears close.

Our energy sector is in a mess, and there is little doubt about that. For too long we have experienced this continual up and down shift of prices and supply and tariffs and everything else that, as consumers, drives us bonkers.

The reality of what we have and what’s going on right now has been brewing for a long time. A perfect storm of situations, from Brexit to covid to the conflict in Russia, effectively means we are being throttled in our desire to heat and light our homes, ensure water comes through our taps and more.

In the UK we have privatised energy firms, but we effectively have restricted competition and regulated prices in the form of a price cap. You have to ask yourself, what is the benefit of privatisation if you work in that marketplace?

The next price caps – they’re going to be in January and April – will reveal where we go from here. All I can say right now is energy bills will go down – they will be lower in April than they will be in January, but higher than they are now. The consumer has been sold down the river and the lessons of this will resonate with both current and future governments, as they should.

Techlink IT

Keeping your IT healthy

A gift that keeps giving

For many of us, our Will is the final message we send to our families, friends and wider community about who we are and how we want to be remembered.

After taking care of loved ones, consider leaving a gift to charity in your Will. As a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, now more than ever charities rely on income from legacies. In fact, many charities would not survive without such donations and a gift in your Will costs you nothing and ensures the good work of your chosen charity lives on.

Where to start

The pandemic has helped many of us to realise the importance of charities to our lives and the willingness of so many to help in a crisis.

• First decide to whom you’d like to leave a legacy. It can be a cause close to your heart, such as a local hospice, youth organisation or branch of an animal welfare charity, or one of the national/ international organisations such as Save The Children, UNICEF or Cancer Research UK.

• You do not need to write a new Will to include a gift to a charity. A codicil allows for you to make minor alterations to your Will without the need to rewrite the original document. However, if you have more than one or two minor changes, it’s generally recommended that you write a new Will. A codicil follows a certain format and has the same strict execution requirements as a Will – it will need to be witnessed and signed in the same way as a Will.

It pays to remember a charity Legacies can reduce the amount of inheritance tax that will need to be paid on an estate. For example, those giving away 10 per cent of their net estate can benefit from a discounted inheritance tax rate of 36 per cent (from 40 per cent) across the remainder of their estate.

• Another option could be to consider creating a charitable trust, which would ensure your money is dispensed over an extended period of time. The trust will be registered with the Charity Commission, and the trustees will distribute income and also capital to charities following your directions, by way of a ‘letter of wishes’. There will be fees involved in setting up a trust. Contact a law firm/solicitor that specialises in this area for more information.

How your gift is used

Your gift could help your chosen charity in many ways, but if there is a specific way you would like it to be used it is best to talk to them about it first, as it might not always be possible for the charity to use it in the way you wish.

• You are under no obligation to tell your chosen charity you are leaving them a legacy – in fact, many people prefer not to say anything.

For more information, visit the Charities Aid Foundation (www.cafonline.org) and Remember a Charity (www.rememberacharity.org.uk).

Choosing the right radiators for your home

By Katherine Sorrell

1An upgrade to your central heating radiators will not only improve the comfort of your home, but also its looks.

Radiators are one of those often-overlooked essentials of the home, conveniently forgotten about for as long as they do their job. However, over time, rust, corrosion and blockages can build up, resulting in cold spots or an inefficient system.

Chemical ‘flushing’ and regular bleeding will help but, unfortunately, central heating radiators won’t stay in perfect condition forever. Sometimes they need replacing because a new boiler, with increased pressure, causes leaks, or you may even be installing an entirely new home heating system. A heat pump, for example, may require larger radiators in order to heat your home efficiently.

Extra efficiency

The good news is that, thanks to improvements in technology and manufacturing, modern radiators heat up more quickly and can be 50% more energyefficient than old models – especially if yours were installed before 2000. What’s more, today’s radiators are no longer a necessary-but-boring feature; in an

array of sizes, shapes, materials and colours, they can be a good-looking as well as functional focal point of a room. This is your chance to complement your design scheme and even add a dash of style.

Where to start Start by calculating the heat output required for each room. This is measured in BTUs (British Thermal Units); you can use an online calculator or ask your plumber to work it out for you. You can achieve the same heat output with a long, low radiator (horizontal) as with a tall, thin one (vertical), or increase the heat with a double panel rather than single (though it will stick out from the wall more) – so the next task is to look at each space and work out what size and shape of radiator you want to install. You may even like the look of the traditional column radiator, while in a bathroom a heated towel rail is a great choice – though bear in mind that it gives off less heat than a panel radiator.

A choice of materials

While older radiators were made from cast iron (slow to heat and cool down, and very heavy), the vast majority of modern radiators are made from

mild steel. Other options include stainless steel (more expensive, but less prone to rust build-up) and aluminium, which is the most expensive option but also the best in terms of efficiency, and the greenest to manufacture. Stone, glass and brass radiators are also available, and offer opportunities for unusual and eye-catching designs.

Positioning your radiators

In terms of where to position each radiator, unless you are replacing an existing system like-for-like, there are options. They are best placed in the coldest part of the room, which always used to be under a single-glazed window, where the incoming cold air creates a circulation of warm air within the room. In modern, well-insulated homes, however, this principle is less important, and you can put radiators wherever you wish, depending on the positions of your furnishings, and on whether your aim is for them to blend in and be almost unnoticed, or to stand out as designer features. Just don’t block them with long curtains or bulky furniture, and in period houses it’s a good idea to aim for symmetry, with radiators placed centrally on a wall.

Design possibilities

Once you have worked out your required heat output and decided where each radiator will go, you’ll know how the size of radiator required corresponds to the floor footprint and wall space available. In many cases it’s then a simple case of choosing the material you prefer and deciding on a style and colour, though where space is limited or awkward you may need to research a few different solutions. It could be a corner radiator (around the

outside or inside), a curved one for under a bay window, one that’s completely flat, one with a mirror finish, or one that includes a bench seat. Where you wish to make a statement, there is an intriguing range of radiators that are shaped like abstract wall art and, increasingly, radiators are available in a wide variety of powder-coated colours, both off the shelf and bespoke. No longer do radiators have to be an unseen necessity – both attractive and efficient, they may well be the new heroes of your home.

1 This steel radiator incorporates a wooden seat and is made to order in a choice of four, five and six columns and 218 colours. Ancona Bench Seat Vertical, from £1,312.80, The Radiator Company.

2 A copper finish gives this mild steel towel radiator a luxurious and timeless look. Terma Jade curved heated towel rail in True Copper, from £154.99, Only Radiators.

3 Patented horseshoe-shaped tubes are designed to provide a high heat output from this steel radiator, available in white, dark grey or your own colour. Cirque horizontal, from £305.76 in a colour, Feature Radiators.

STOCKISTS

Feature Radiators: 01274 567 789; featureradiators.co.uk Only Radiators: onlyradiators.co.uk

The Radiator Company: 01342 302 250; theradiatorcompany.co.uk

Gardening

Filling the garden with golden light

Even on an overcast November day, the garden can be bathed in light. But it doesn’t need to come from the sky: plants can provide a golden glow that looks as warm as sunshine.

The stars of the autumn garden are not only spectacular leaves, turning shades of crimson, orange and yellow before they fall from deciduous trees, but ornamental grasses that send spirits soaring. They quietly grow in stature throughout the summer, then burst forth in full glory during autumn and winter, filling borders with joy once most other plants have faded. Grasses soften the understorey in a cloud of luxuriant waves. These are plants to excite and stimulate the senses. The sound of rustling in the autumn breeze cuts through the stillness in the air, evoking memories of the turning tide and of passing time.

The secret of successful planting lies in repeating forms and patterns throughout the space. One or two specimen grasses are certainly worth having, but it’s not until you repeat the theme across the garden that you create an unforgettable sea of beauty.

Top tips for using ornamental grasses in the garden

• Aim for contrast. Think about the backdrop against which your grasses will be seen. An evergreen yew hedge, for example, will make your golden autumn grasses look brighter and bolder than a background of mixed deciduous shrubs. A black wall or fence will provide a similar effect.

• Place taller grasses at the back of the border, such as Miscanthus sinensis ‘Ferner Osten’ (Chinese silver grass), which can reach heights

of 1.5m, and mounded forms of slightly lower grasses in the middle. Miscanthus sinensis ‘Kleine Silberspinne’ (another variation of Chinese silver grass) is a particularly easy grass to grow and it changes colour as winter progresses. Pennisetum alopecuroides ‘Hameln’ (fountain grass) is a rather beautiful smaller grass, and the evergreen or semievergreen Anemanthele lessoniana (pheasant’s tail grass) looks magnificent when placed towards the front of the border, spilling slender foliage and airy flowerheads onto paths.

• Plant most grasses in multiples of odd numbers, if possible. It creates a balanced composition that feels harmonious.

• Consider incorporating structural elements amongst grasses to provide an anchor. Topiary such as tall cones of evergreens, pillars of hornbeam (Carpinus betulus), cloud-pruned trees or multi-stemmed trees can look highly effective.

• Don’t expect all grasses to stay where you put them! Some tend to seed themselves around and the parent plant might eventually fade away. Aim for an informal look that allows this natural transition to take place.

• Research your grasses so that you know how to care for them. Deciduous grasses should be cut down to the ground in very early spring or late winter. Evergreen and semi-evergreen grasses generally need a comb through with a gloved hand in order to remove dead stems. The harder-leafed evergreens sometimes benefit from a very light pruning, just removing damaged stems.

Caroline Knight: Gardendesignideas.co.uk

The Alan Titchmarsh column

He’s a brilliant presenter, accomplished gardener, talented novelist, and all-round horticultural inspiration. This month, Alan Titchmarsh discusses the next generation of green-fingered gardeners. You’ll find me talking quite a bit about the new breed of gardener coming through. For me, it’s a natural evolution that presents to me two different things – firstly, the art of gardening is much more interesting and much cooler than it ever was in my day; and secondly, it seems as though I am becoming more and more aware of my own mortality!

Percy Thrower was the one who inspired me most when I was a kid. I watched him on Gardening Club on the box, and as the years have gone by, I have been lucky enough to work with a number of the horticultural greats. Christopher Lloyd was a friend, Beth Chatto is a friend who I really value and whose work I really admire. After a while you realise you have progressed from the student to the teacher, and I’ve always been very

proud to be that person. Ultimately, I want to inspire everybody to get into the garden, because I think there are so many benefits. And I do admit, the likes of James Swift, James Wong, Annemarie Powell, Katie Rushworth and Frances Tophill all have a knack of conversing to young audiences that I probably don’t have… and that’s great.

I want to see our gardens and our outside spaces continue to flourish over the decades to come, despite the noise and appeal of doing other things elsewhere; and you know what, I’m sure they will.

Email:

Feeling Fruity

Autumn is well advanced and following some brilliant colour, the trees and shrubs have shed most of their leaves. Many of us will have been busy tidying our plots in preparation for winter. However, if you’ve ever fancied growing your own fruit then now is the perfect time to put in a little extra effort. From now until spring is the best window to plant fruit trees because now is the time that nurseries are selling bare-root trees. ‘Bare-root’ simply means without pots or soil. Bare root trees are cheaper than those grown in pots, but they are quick to establish providing you follow a few simple steps.

Before you plant the tree, soak the roots in a bucket of water for at least two hours, so it gets a good drink.

Prepare a large enough area, at least 1 metre diameter. This means that if you are planting in a lawn you’ll need to remove an area of turf to the same diameter to stop the grass competing with the new tree for nutrients and water. Wherever you plant, make sure you dig in lots of organic matter, this could be garden compost, leaf mould, or well-rotted manure. Make sure you dig it all around the area where the hole will be, rather than just into the hole itself, because this will encourage the new tree to put roots out into the surrounding soil, helping it to establish quickly. The hole for the new tree needs to be roomy enough so that the roots will not be crammed together.

Drive a stake into the ground to a depth of at least 60cm. This will provide support for your fledgling tree.

If you are planting a grafted tree, there will be a clear join where it was grafted on to the rootstock This join should remain above the soil level when planted. It’s easier if there are two of you; one to hold the tree at the correct level, and one to backfill the hole around the roots. The person holding the tree should shake the trunk gently as the hole is filled, so

By Rachael Leverton

that soil gets in between all the roots. Once you’ve filled the hole, firm the soil gently with your foot. Don’t compact the soil too much. The drag more soil over the compressed area. Use a soft rubber tie to secure the tree to the stake at a height of 60cm. Too low and the tree won’t be secure; too high and the tree won’t flex enough in the wind. Allowing the tree to flex a little encourages more root growth and results in a stronger tree. Finally, water in well and apply a 5cm layer of organic mulch over the area but NOT touching the trunk, because it might rot. The mulch helps to suppress weeds, provide insulation, and retain moisture. Your tree should now be fine until spring when we’ll talk about ongoing care.

Happy Gardening

Rehoming Appeal

Tootsie

This mature little lady is Tootsie. She is 14 years old and we would love to find her a quiet, loving home for her retirement years.

She can be a little shy when she meets new people but it doesn’t take her long to get used to someone new in her life and she is then a friendly, loving little cat who likes nothing more than a cosy lap to curl up on.

Tootsie needs a home where she is the only pet and an adult only home or one with older children would be preferable for her.

She is neutered and her vaccinations are up to date.

Tootsie will make a wonderful companion for someone, so if you feel you could be that cosy lap that she could curl up on, please get in touch with Liz on 01767 681157

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

View the 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.

Rabbits in Rescue Care

In recent years the number of rabbits coming into rescue has been increasing, with last year alone seeing a jump in rabbit intake of 28 percent. This year is already superseding that with all local and national rabbit rescues full and with waiting lists. Rabbits come into rescue care for all kinds of reasons. They may come in as stray rabbits, have been abandoned or dumped by previous owners, or owners can simply no longer care for them. Rabbits are incredibly social creatures and should mostly be homed with as a pair, so commonly if one half of that partnership passes away, the other often ends up in rescue due to single rabbits needing much more care and attention.

A pair of rabbits we have at RSPCA Bedfordshire North Branch at the moment are Scooby and Scrappy. They came into our care after they were taken to a local vet by a member of the public who found them as strays. They were advertised as found and the owners were eventually tracked down, only to advise the vet practice they no longer wanted the rabbits. They have now been with our foster carer for almost two months, in which time both boys have been neutered, vaccinated and litter trained. They are beautiful little rabbits with very big personalities, and although a bonded pair are very much chalk and cheese! Scooby is the bigger of the two with a shiny, soft coat and black markings on his face. He is definitely the more timid of the pair and relies on Scrappy’s confidence, preferring to let him have the attention than get any himself, however he absolutely loves to run around the garden and is

Scooby

often caught doing his big binky’s across the lawn. Scrappy is just as his names suggests! He is much smaller than Scooby and always has a scruffy, fluffy looking coat. He is a very cheeky little rabbit that has to explore every tiny nook and cranny he can find, and also likes to dig. He generally doesn’t have any fear and unlike Scooby, is quite happy to be picked up, hand fed treats or the odd head rubs. One thing they do have in common though is their love of food. They come running to the door each morning to get their breakfast and love nothing more than getting their daily veggies.

Scooby and Scrappy are looking for a new loving home to go to where they have secure shelter and plenty of outdoor space to enjoy. They are currently living as outdoor rabbits, but could also easily be rehomed as house rabbits. Please be aware the minimum size requirement for a sheltered enclosure is 6ft x 2ft x 2ft with additional, accessible exercise space of 8ft x 4ft.

For more information about adopting Scooby and Scrappy or any other animals in our care, please contact our Branch by emailing adopt@rspcabedfordshirenorth.org.uk or phoning 01234 266965. We are a local Branch of the RSPCA working within North Bedfordshire.

Ask Alan

Fear of fireworks - A common question

While we are unlikely to have organised firework events this year, there are still likely to be fireworks in gardens which scare pets. This is a common and distressing problem, for pets and owners. Close windows to reduce the noise and draw the curtains to cut out the flashes. Have a radio or television on in the background to disguise the noise. Try not to leave them alone when fireworks are expected. Make sure they are secure as they can bolt if frightened.

Make a den, well in advance. This should be an enclosed space where they can feel safe, with their own bedding and toys. If possible, feed dogs a large carbohydrate rich meal before the expected event as this can be calming.

Do not punish them when they start to act fearfully as this will make it worse. Also, do not fuss or cuddle them as this can signal that their fearful behaviour is appropriate, and you don’t want to reinforce it. Stay calm yourself and try to ignore their unusual behaviour. This can be hard but behaving normally is the best response for them.

Pheromone plug-ins or collars are available, as is a range of liquids or tablets which contain L-tryptophan that may help to calm them without sedating them. Start using them at least a few hours before you think they will be needed.

If this is not helping, they may be phobic and may need behavioural intervention, desensitisation and medical treatment.

Desensitisation is a long process and needs to be started in advance and you will need help from your vet and a behavioural therapist.

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

run by Alan & René

First drive: Mazda CX-60 Motoring

Jack Evans tries out Mazda’s new range-topping CX-60, with the brand’s first plug-in hybrid setup.

What is it? The CX-60 is Mazda’s first plug-in hybrid and indicates a new direction for the firm, so let’s take a closer look.

What’s new?

Apart from the plug-in hybrid setup there are touches such as facial recognition to automatically adjust your seat position.

The CX-60 will also be available with straight-six petrol and diesel engine options, for those who don’t want a plug-in hybrid.

What’s under the bonnet? The plug-in hybrid CX-60 combines a 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine with an electric motor for a total output of 323bhp. The 17.8kWh battery should give up to 39 miles of EV-only range, with a full charge taking around four hours via a 7.2kW home wall box.

Performance is punchy, with 0-60mph achieved in 5.6 seconds and a top speed of 124mph. Efficiency is impressive, with Mazda claiming 188mpg and extremely low CO2 emissions of 33g/km. The CX-60 is also rated to tow 2.5 tonnes.

What’s it like to drive?

The pre-production CX-60 model we tested drove very well. The steering is spot-on, with decent weight and accuracy. The suspension is both supportive and comfortable and the car is well insulated from external sounds.

The seven-speed automatic gearbox felt a little jerky on downshifts, however, while the brakes needed more bite – but we expect these to be resolved in the production car.

How does it look? The CX-60 is definitely recognisable as a Mazda and stands out with touches such as the ‘PHEV’ logos on the flanks and the large, imposing grille.

It’s physically quite large and the whole car has also been designed to showcase the predominantly rear-driven setup, though it does run in four-wheel-drive too. What’s it like inside? Mazda has applied new materials to its CX-60 and offers a choice of specifications. It’s spacious up front with nice seating positions; however, despite great rear head and foot space, knee room is compromised.

There’s decent 570 litres of boot space or 1,726 litres with the rear seats folded down.

What’s the spec like? Although the CX-60 represents quite the premium compared to other Mazdas, it still does well for equipment. Prices start from £43,950, which includes 18-inch alloy wheels, automatic LED headlights and a variety of safety assistance systems.

The 12.3-inch infotainment system incorporates both wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. It’s decent, but lacks touchscreen control – utilising a rotary dial instead – which can be annoying when using the smartphone integration systems.

Verdict - The CX-60 feels like a sign of good things to come from Mazda and paves the way for a new era from the firm. In terms of the powertrain it elevates things considerably over cars like the CX-5, and should appeal to those who can take advantage of the cost savings that an efficient plug-in hybrid brings.

The lack of rear space does limit its appeal practicality-wise. However, it’s definitely a fitting addition to the Mazda range.

Space Invaders

How technology developed for space has appeared on Earth Space has been in the news a lot recently. From the Mars Rover to the James Webb telescope, we’ve marvelled at amazing images. In the 50th year since man last walked on the moon NASA is once again preparing a Lunar mission. It all seems far removed from our everyday lives, but did you know that some 2000 or more inventions that we use on Earth every day were actually invented by NASA? Here are my favourites:

Memory foam - Oh how I love my memory foam mattress and bike seat, and development of the ‘Tempur’ material used was NASA-funded. Engineers wanted to create better shock-absorbing aircraft seats for test pilots.

Infrared thermometers - Ubiquitous throughout the first COVID outbreak, the technology was developed by the space agency, to gauge the temperature of distant cosmic objects.

Mobile phone cameras - The image sensors used in just about every modern digital camera come directly from NASA. They were looking for better, cheaper, more efficient cameras for spacecraft, but

By Matthew Carter

the technology was quickly licensed and harnessed by camera and phone companies and is now used all over the world.

Scratch resistant lens coatings – These were around before NASA got involved, but they were a bit ‘meh’. NASA developed a diamond-like carbon coating and used it to improve the scratch-resistance of sensitive instruments by as much as 10 times. RayBan then decided to apply the technology to their lenses to create tough and super cool sunspecs.

Comfortable running shoes - After inventing a rubber moulding process for astronaut helmets, NASA engineers applied the same technology to shoes. It allowed for the creation of shock absorbers in the soles, and these have now become a common feature in running shoes. Self-driving cars - Not mainstream yet but give it time. NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory’s Quantum Sciences and Technologies group, invented something with the intriguing name of the “whispering gallery mode optical resonator.” This was a spherical resonator for light waves, but no-one could think of a practical use for the technology until it was integrated into General Motors’ LiDAR systems for self-driving cars.

By Gemma Brown

Shrunken! Sweater rescue

As the days became colder I pulled out my supersoft wool sweater and wore it for a while. Then I popped it in the wash basket with the intention of freshening it up before wearing it again. Then I fell victim to COVID (again) for a few days. During this time, my lovely husband and teenage daughter looked after me. One evening 15-year-old Elise appeared nervously by my bed. “Um. You know your turquoise sweater, it wasn’t like, your favourite or anything was it?”

Yup, she’d shoved my nicest cosiest knit in the tumble drier and shrunk it. “Never mind love,” I said through gritted teeth as I looked at my now diminutive pullover, which was too small even for her, “I’ll put one on my Christmas list.”

But I reckoned without the resourcefulness of teenagers. The next day, as I was attempting to get out of bed on wobbly legs for the first time in a week, she reappeared with my sweater, now apparently magically regrown. “How did you do that?” I asked. She looked pleased with herself, “YouTube!” she replied. “There’s a tutorial for most things. I looked up ‘shrunken sweater solutions’ and followed the instructions.”

And here are those instructions for anyone else who has ever accidentally ruined their knitwear. Wool items shrink because there are scales on the surface of the wool that react to the combination of heat, moisture and agitation in a washing machine or tumble drier. The scales stick to each other and interlock like Velcro, so you end up with a jumper that’s several sizes too small. Any rescue attempt is

101aimed at relaxing and separating the fibres. Fill a sink with lukewarm water and 50ml of hair conditioner. Soak the sweater thoroughly, make sure it’s completely wet and leave it for ten minutes. This helps to relax the fibres and release the scales. DON’T wring it. Instead let the water out of the sink and press out the excess water.

Then spread a large towel out on a firm surface and lay the sweater out on top of the towel. Place another large towel over the sweater and press out as much water as possible. Elise apparently used a rolling pin for this bit!

Then gently (so you don’t break any fibres) stretch the sweater out to pull the now unlocked fibres away from each other and back into the desired shape. Finally, allow it to air dry. This may take a couple of days.

Unfortunately, this method doesn’t always work. Elise also shrank my husband’s sweater in the same wash load, and it ‘felted’ quite badly and sadly was beyond rescue. His sweater was a looser knit lambswool while mine was a tight knit cashmere. The looser knit and shorter fibres of his jumper meant the heat and moisture had more of a ‘shrink’ effect because there was more ‘room’ for shrinkage to occur. The fact my sweater is a tighter knit and is probably made from longer fibres meant it was easier to relax them again.

So, while not a fool proof solution Elise scored a 50% success rate, learned a valuable life lesson in the process, and has promised her dad a new sweater for Christmas.

Hard Flooring Made Easy

For many years, carpet reigned as the favourite flooring throughout our homes. It is still the most popular choice for stairs and bedrooms, but homeowners are much more likely to opt for hard floors in ground-level rooms, although some still prefer carpet in the living room.

The practicality of a hard floor makes it an obvious choice. Furthermore, as the climate heats up, hard floors help to keep the house cooler. This is a guide to the most popular options available.

Sheet vinyl flooring - This has been around for years. It is sold on fixed-width rolls and you just order the length you need.

Pros: Easy to fit, inexpensive, water and stain resistant, warm, vast range of colours and styles available.

Cons: Doesn’t look or feel ‘real’, difficult to repair if you scratch it, colours will fade so not suitable for sunny rooms.

Laminate flooring - A fibreboard base is overlaid with a photograph of the finished surface (for example woodgrain or stone) and then finished with a clear protective layer. Typically designed for each plank or tile to click together.

Pros: Suitable for DIY, inexpensive, forgiving of floors that aren’t completely smooth, durable.

Cons: Often not waterproof, won’t pass for the real thing, easy to damage while fitting, you may need to trim doors to allow for the extra height.

Solid hardwood - The 100% natural flooring option, this is supplied as planks of wood, each one being unique. Fairly obviously you can only have a wood finish, although with different grains and stains.

By Sarah Davey

Pros: The most aesthetically pleasing, has a lovely feeling underfoot, can be sanded down and refinished many times so will really last, environmentally friendly.

Cons: Swells in damp conditions and shrinks in dry ones, requires regular maintenance, needs an expert for installation, expensive.

Engineered hardwood - Layers of inexpensive wood are glued together to form a plank base, then it’s finished with a final layer of real wood.

Pros: Looks like hardwood but more resistant to heat and moisture, durable and long-lasting.

Cons: It can be every bit as expensive as solid hardwood, needs a professional to fit it.

LVT (luxury vinyl tiles) - One of the most popular choices for hard flooring. There are two main options: loose-lay click system, which is rigid planks similar to laminate flooring, and glue-down systems requiring specialist LVT glues. Although this doesn’t really pass for real wood, the finish is close and still aesthetically pleasing.

Pros: Endless choices of style – wood, tiles, stone, concrete, waterproof, warm underfoot, very durable.

Cons: The subfloor must be completely level, which may mean having a floor levelling compound installed first.

Ceramic tiles - Yes, the same as you put on the walls – ceramic tiles can also be used on the floor.

Pros: Withstands the heaviest household traffic, waterproof, easy to clean, a high-gloss finish available.

Cons: Cold (underfloor heating can overcome this but adds to the cost), anything dropped will break easily, not a DIY install.

1. Named after a famous British explorer, what is the name of the strait that separates the North and South Islands of New Zealand?

2. The climax of the 1959 Alfred Hitchcock film North By Northwest takes place at which famous landmark?

3. Which town in Scotland is nicknamed “Queen of the South”?

4. Which explorer, who was once on the shortlist to replace Sean Connery as James Bond, was the first man to visit both the North and South Poles by foot?

5. Also the title of a 1996 film, what is the name of the most populated city in the US state of North Dakota?

North & South

6. Which character is killed off in almost every episode of the first five series of the TV show South Park?

7. Which of the following shares a border with Russia?... North Korea or South Korea?

8. The Great North Run is a half marathon in which competitors run from which city to which town?

9. The southernmost point of mainland South America is in which country?

10. In which country would you find a road bridge called the Bridge of the Americas that connects North America and South America?

WHAT'S ON IN NOVEMBER

1 NOVEMBER

For The Fallen - Music for All Saints, All Souls and Remembrance

7.30pm Bunyan Meeting, Bedford Tickets £10, concessions £5 - on the door. Cantamus Chamber Choir, conducted by Paul Edwards. Organist Ian Runnells.

1, 8, 15 & 22 NOVEMBER

Lunchtime Concerts

1pm St Paul’s Church, St Paul’s Square, Bedford Free recitals with a retiring collection (suggest min. £5) in aid of church funds. 1 Nov Eri Yamamoto (Piano), 8 Nov Eve McGrath (Soprano with Piano accompaniment), 15 Nov Peregrine Recorder Ensemble and 22 Nov Zoe Barnett, (Classical Guitar). Tel: 01234 340163

2 NOVEMBER

Aircraft Enthusiasts’ Group

1pm Shuttleworth ‘X-Planes - US Military Projects’ by Ray Hankin. Web: www.a-e-g.org.uk Email: 99aegr@gmail.com

2 NOVEMBER

Sandy Night Owls WI

7.30pm. Sandy Conservative Club Visitors £4. Meets first Wednesday of the month (except August). Email: sandynightowlswl@gmail.com

2, 9, 16, 23 & 30 NOVEMBER

Open Craft and Coffee

10-11.30am. Potton Salvation Army, Chapel Street Tel: 01767 261138

2, 9, 16, 23 & 30 NOVEMBER

Hinxworth Art Society

10am-12pm Hinxworth Village Hall Drawing, painting, coffee and chat. Email: 99aegr@gmail.com

2 & 16 NOVEMBER

St Neots Art Group

7.30pm Roxton Village Hall Members £5, non-members £8

2 Nov - Charcoal painting. Competition title ‘Tea Time’. 16 Nov - Painting with two complimentary colours, any subject of your choice. Web: www.stneotsartgroup.com

3 NOVEMBER

Roxton & District Local History Group. 7.15pm for 7.30pm Roxton Village Hall Members free, visitors £4 ‘The Commonwealth War Graves Commission, Its History and Archives’ by Sophie Newton. Email: mariascreen1@gmail.com Web: roxtonhistory.org.uk

4 NOVEMBER

Bedfordshire Family History Society 7pm and 7.30pm on Zoom Drama Theatre, Mark Rutherford School, Bedford ‘Gypsy Bride’ with Martin Rose. Web: www.bfhs.org.uk

5 NOVEMBER

Coffee Morning

10-11.30am Potton Salvation Army, Chapel Street Coffee, tea, bacon butties, homemade cakes, cards, Bric-a-Brac, Books and jigsaws etc. Tel: 01767 261138

5 NOVEMBER

Cambridgeshire and Bedfordshire Hardy Plant Society 2pm Weatherley Centre, Eagle Farm Road, Biggleswade ‘The Salutation – Reviving a Lutyens Classic’ with Steve Edney, Head Gardener at Canterbury Cathedral and nursery owner. Web: www.hpscambsandbeds.co.uk

6 NOVEMBER

Biggleswade and District Art Society Exhibition and Art Sale 10am-4pm Grand Hall, The Weatherley Centre, Biggleswade Free entry. Original framed and unframed artworks. Prints. Cards. Unique Christmas gifts! Refreshments.

8 NOVEMBER

Sandy Historical Research Group

7.30pm Beeston Methodist Church Hall, The Baulk, Beeston How much do you know about the town in which you live? Come along to the SHRG AGM and quiz night to find out. New members always welcome.

9 NOVEMBER

Bedford Local Group of The Wildlife Trust 7.15pm for 7.30pm

Priory Methodist Church Hall, Newnham Avenue, Bedford Illustrated talk ‘The Work of the Wildlife Trust in Bedfordshire’ by Aiden Matthew, Bedfordshire Reserves Manager. Ample parking. Tel: 01234 266057 Web: wildlifebcn.org

10 NOVEMBER

Biggleswade & District Camera Club 7.30pm for 8pm Weatherley Centre, Eagle Farm Road, Biggleswade

Non-members £3

‘Looking after the RSPB’s images’ David Tyler Memorial Lecture, a digital presentation by Ben Andrew. See website for programme. www.biggleswadecameraclub.co.uk

11 NOVEMBER

Ladies Fellowship

7pm Potton Salvation Army, Chapel Street Christmas craft. Tel: 01767 261138

12 NOVEMBER Organ Recital

12 noon St Paul’s Church, St Paul’s Square, Bedford With Ian Runnells, Director if Music at St Paul’s. Tel: 01234 340163

13 NOVEMBER

Not Strictly Jazz

5-7pm Tickets £20, 10-18 years £10 Fairfield House, Fairfield Road, Biggleswade

Live music performed by exceptional musicians. Refreshments included. Tel: 01767 312176 Email: sarahwiggs@hotmail.co.uk

14 NOVEMBER Sandy Flower Club

7.30pm Conservative Bowls Club Pavilion (rear of the Conservative Club, Bedford Road)

Visitors £5. Practical evening – make a floral Christmas table decoration. Tel: Sue Alexander 01767 699729

IN NOVEMBER

15 NOVEMBER

Sandy Women’s Institute

10am-12pm. Sandy Conservative Club, Bedford Road, Sandy

Visitors £4. Meets third Tuesday of every month, except August.

Tel: 01767 680644 Email: sandywibeds@gmail.com

15 NOVEMBER

Bedford National Trust Association

2.15-3.15pm

Addison Centre, Kempston BNTA members £3, NT members £3.50, visitors £4. Richard Clifford with ‘HS2 Aerial Photography’. Tel: Betty Thomas 01480 860421

17 NOVEMBER

Bedford RSPB Local Group

7.30pm. ARA Club, Manton Lane

Bedford MK41 7PF

Members £1, guests £2, annual group membership £5, under 18s free Richard Winspear - head of Technical Advice at the RSPB. Tonight’s talk entitled ‘RSPB work with Farmers’. Tel: 07905 199769 www.rspb.org.uk/groups/bedford

18 NOVEMBER

Bedford Branch Historical Ass. 7.30pm. Venue Chapter House, St Peter’s Church, De Parys Ave, Bedford

‘Oliver Cromwell Hero or Villain?’ with David Smith. Non-members welcome with a donation. James Collett-White 07989 837819

19 NOVEMBER

Christmas at Harriet Kelsall Bespoke Jewellery

10am-5pm Fairclough Hall Farm, Halls Green, SG4 7DP

Join us for the launch of our brandnew extension with a celebratory day of festive drinks and nibbles, free jewellery cleaning and the chance to get behind the bench yourself in aid of the Garden House Hospice.

Web: hkjewellery.co.uk

25 NOVEMBER

The Amazing 80s tribute night Doors 7pm, show 8pm Millennium Country Park, Marston Moretaine

Tickets £15. Relive the era of big hair, big shoulders and even bigger tunes, with The Amazing 80s! Book online. Tel: 01234 767037 for more details Web: www.marstonvale.org

26 NOVEMBER

Christmas Gift Fayre 10am-2pm Eyeworth Village Hall, SG19 2HH Free entry. Great selection of stalls from local small businesses, raffle, children’s tombola and games, and refreshments. Free parking. In aid of Eyeworth Village Hall & All Saints. Web: www.facebook.com/ events/467743395251780

26 NOVEMBER

Winter Festival ‘A Christmas Gift’ 10.30am-3pm Beeston Methodist Church, Lime Avenue, off A1 South Sandy Roundabout, Beeston Christmas stalls, treasure hunt, Christmas raffle, tea and coffee available all day plus light refreshments available at lunch time. The Courtyard Singers will be singing in the church at 1pm.

26 NOVEMBER

East Beds Concert Band Christmas Concert Stratton Upper School, Eagle Farm Road, Biggleswade Web: eastbedsconcertband.org.uk

26-29 NOVEMBER

Christmas Tree Festival

Sat & Sun 12-7pm, Mon & Tues 3.307pm Sandy Parish Church, High Street, Sandy Large display of Christmas Trees created by the local community. Refreshments and festive music. Tel: 01767 682499 sandytreefestival@yahoo.co.uk www.sandyparishchurch.org

27 NOVEMBER

Morning Service

10.30am Beeston Methodist Church, Lime Avenue, off A1 South Sandy Roundabout, Beeston Conducted by the Rev. Silas Wood. Car parking behind the church.

28 NOVEMBER

Potton Flower and Vegetable Show AGM 8pm Community Centre, Brook End, Potton Tel: 01767 260413

30 NOVEMBER-4 DECEMBER

Christmas Tree Festival

Wed-Sat 10am-5pm, Sun 12-4pm

St Paul’s Church, Bedford Entry £3, under 16s free Over 60 trees decorated with the theme of ‘Musicals’. Daily community concerts and competitions. Tel: 01234 340163

2 DECEMBER Festival Concert 7.30pm

St Paul’s Church, Bedford Tickets £17.50. Woburn Piano Trio. Tel: 01234 783181 Tickets: www.peoplesfundraising. com/concert-tickets

3 DECEMBER

Bedford Brass Christmas Concert

Doors open 6.30pm, concert 7pm Kempston East Church, Kempston Adults £5, under 16s free Tickets available from band members and on at the door.

3 DECEMBER Castle Comedy

Doors open 7.30pm, show 8pm The Weatherley Centre, Eagle Farm Road, Biggleswade

Three headline quality acts means the ultimate comedy night out! Web: www.castlecomedy.co.uk

UNTIL 16 APRIL

Changing Times: A Century of Modern British Art Exhibition The Higgins, Bedford www.thehigginsbedford.org.uk

I’ll Do It Later! How to stop procrastinating

Charles Dickens famously said, “Procrastination is the thief of time.”

Procrastination is intentionally delaying completing a task despite knowing it will have negative consequences. It’s a form of self-sabotage, which reduces the time available to complete the task, while increasing stress levels. So why do we do it?

Amygdala hijack - The amygdala is the part of the brain which moderates our fear response. When we are distressed the rational part of our brain (the pre-frontal cortex) shuts down leaving the amygdala in charge. If we feel negative towards a task and our brain interprets this as distress, the amygdala steps in to persuade us NOT to do it.

Instant gratification - Humans tend to repeat tasks when our brain rewards us with a dopamine hit. Procrastinating by watching cat videos on YouTube feels good in the present, like a reward, so we keep delaying tasks until procrastination becomes a chronic habit.

Present bias - We are more focused on who we are and how we feel today, than for our future self. We don’t dwell on how our current decisions will impact us in a few weeks or months. We actually process information about our current self and future self in separate parts of the brain. Functional MRI scans reveal that we view our future-self in the same way we view a stranger. So it’s easier for us to defer tasks and decisions that favour our future self, and instead choose instant gratification which provide pleasure right now.

Stopping procrastination

There is not a one size fits all solution but there are some tools which might help. Choose the ones that resonate with you.

By Tracey Anderson

Focus on the why - Will the task benefit someone else? Extrinsic motivation can sometimes be a powerful tool. ‘If don’t do this I will be letting them down.’ If it’s you who will benefit try writing down why you’re doing the task. A written reminder will help keep you focussed.

Eat the frog - If you knew you had to eat a live frog, you’d want to get the task finished first thing, then get on with your day knowing nothing else was going to be that bad. Eating the frog suggests that if we tackle an unpleasant task early in the day, everything else will seem easier.

Eat the Elephant - It’s an old joke: How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time? Break a task down for small easy wins. That way you build momentum gradually, and don’t feel overwhelmed.

The 3/5/10 Minute Rule - Tell yourself you only have to do the task for three, five or ten minutes. Most likely, when the timer goes off you will have the built enough momentum to want to continue.

The pressure cooker method - If you feel like you need a sense of urgency to complete tasks give yourself a certain amount of time to get all or part of the job done. Set a timer, or download a productivity app.

Body doubling - Ask someone to sit with you while you complete the task. Studies show that having someone else in the room while you are working (even if they are just doing their own thing), really helps some people focus.

Reward - Promise yourself a reward when you complete your task. Be specific: a scented bubble bath; an episode of your favourite sit com; a jam donut...whatever works for you.

Procrastination is a human trait. We can’t eradicate it, but we can learn to manage our time better.

Terribly talented Toksvig

Sandi Toksvig is one of the nation’s much-loved presenters – for many, becoming a household name through the cult-classic show The Great British Bake Off. Yet there’s much more to this comedian, writer and political activist, as we discover… This year, so far, has been a busy one for Danish born Sandi Toksvig, with a second series of Extraordinary Escapes and her new series of The Great Big Tiny Design Challenge, both on Channel 4. In April she hit the road with a new tour, titled Next Slide Please, which saw her perform 42 dates across the country. Ahead of the tour, Sandi said in a Channel 4 interview: “Part of the reason that I’m going on tour is that in the last two years, I think we have all missed having a big conversation, being able to be in a room with a lot of people. I engage with the audience, ask them lots of questions and there are prizes to be won. You can win a pencil with Next Slide Please on it, which is very exciting..!”

Similar to the late Victoria Wood, Sandi – who was brought up around the world in Europe, Africa and the United States, and was bullied at school in England for having an American accent – appeals to people of all backgrounds. “When I look out at the audience for my stand-up shows, there isn’t one type. We are all so diverse,” says the QI, The News Quiz and The Great British Bake Off co-presenter, who starred alongside Prue Leith, Paul Hollywood and Noel Fielding for three years. Once referred to as the ‘female equivalent of Stephen Fry, with a brain the size of a small planet’, both Sandi and Fry began their show-business

careers in the Footlights club at Cambridge University (alongside Hugh Laurie and Emma Thompson), where Sandi achieve a first-class degree. Sandi, 64 and 4ft 11in, lives on a houseboat moored in South West London with her psychotherapist wife Debbie – with whom she shares three children, Jesse, Megan and Theo with her ex-partner, Peta Stewart – and their dog Mildred. No one could be a prouder mother than Sandi. “They call me Mummy, and I earned it,” she said in 2011. “We love each other, and you can’t do better than that. Many families don’t.” Alongside the houseboat, Sandi also has a house in Kent “for all my books”. Much of her time is devoted to writing, with more than twenty fiction and nonfiction books for children and adults to her credit. Other accolades include being made an OBE, and as an activist for gender equality, Sandi co-founded the Women’s Equality Party (WEP) in 2015.

Although rarely away from our small screens for long, does she ever switch off? “I’m ashamed to say I don’t watch very much television as I’m usually working through a massive stack of books… I must have something to do. I must be building something like a shed, embroidering something or reading a book that is unputdownable. I cannot just sit – the poor family, they love to just sit but then I say listen it’s fine, I’m just going to rebuild the garage! And then I’m happy. I like to achieve something every day.”

To catch up on Sandi’s Channel 4 series online, visit www.channel4.com

Photo credits – Sandi Channel 4//

© LeonFoggitt/Channel 4

Football Crazy

Get your World Cup footie facts here

It can’t have escaped your notice that we are in the midst of the World Cup Fever! So here are a few World Cup facts for footie novices and experts alike.

The first World Cup took place back in 1930. Jules Rimet, a French football administrator who was the third and longest serving President of FIFA, wanted to create an international competition between men’s football teams. The first World Cup tournament consisted of thirteen invited teams and took place in Uruguay, who won the competition.

The World Cup has been played every 4 years since this inaugural tournament except in 1942 and 1946 when it was suspended because of World War II. Hence it has been held 21 times and 2022 will coincidentally be the 22nd World cup.

In 2018 Russia automatically qualified as the host country, with the remaining 210 nations competing for the remaining 31 places during 872 matches.

Following the international condemnation of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the Russians were banned from the 2022 World Cup. Their scheduled opponents in the playoffs at the time of the ban were Poland, who were given a bye through to the final — where they beat Sweden to book their ticket to Qatar 2022.

The Russian football authorities did appeal the decision, but their case was thrown out by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

Brazil has won the most World Cups with five, while Italy and Germany are close behind with four each.

The World Cup is usually held in June and July but the host this year are Qatar. The subtropical desert climate there results in extremely hot summers, with highs averaging between 32-27 degrees. As the temperature often exceeds these averages, the authorities felt it would be too dangerous to play soccer. So as part of their winning bid for hosting the World Cup, Qatar agreed to stage the tournament in November and December, where typical temperatures are a more comfortable 21-26 degrees. The winning team is awarded the World Cup Trophy. Although team gets to enjoy celebrating and being photographed with the trophy after the final, they don’t get to take it away with them. They are sent home with a replica. The current Jules Rimet trophy has been presented to winning teams since 1970. It is made of 18-carat gold and weighs in at 13.5 pounds (just over 6Kg). At the inception of the tournament in 1930 FIFA decided that if any nation won three finals, they would be given the trophy to keep. In 1970 Brazil achieved this feat when they defeated Italy in the final in Mexico, so the trophy was presented to the Brazilian Sports Confederation. It was placed on display on the third floor of the CBF offices in Rio. 13 years later on the night of 19th of December, the security guard was overpowered by a group of thieves and the trophy disappeared. It has never been found.

By Nicky Gray

Millionaire’s Shortbread

INGREDIENTS

For the shortbread

200g plain flour

50g caster sugar

1 tsp ground mixed spice

1 tsp ground cinnamon

150g butter, cubed

50g fudge pieces, broken into small chips

For the caramel

200g butter

75g caster sugar

3 tbsp golden syrup

1 x 397g can sweetened condensed milk

1½ tbsp Drambuie Honeyed Liqueur

For the chocolate

150g dark chocolate, broken into pieces

75g white chocolate, broken into pieces

1. Preheat the oven to 180°C / 160°C fan / gas mark 4. Grease and line a 20cm square baking tin.

2. Mix together the flour, caster sugar, mixed spice and ground cinnamon. Rub in the butter until it looks like fine breadcrumbs. Stir in the fudge pieces, then bring together with your hand to

form a dough. Press into the base of the prepared baking tin. Prick with a fork all over and bake in the oven for 20 minutes until lightly browned. Remove from the oven and leave to cool completely in the tin.

3. To make the caramel, place the butter, sugar, golden syrup and condensed milk in a pan and heat gently until the sugar has dissolved. Turn up the heat and bring to the boil, then lower the heat until it’s simmering and stir for 5-10 minutes until thickened. Stir through the Drambuie Honeyed Liqueur then pour into the cake tin on top of the shortbread. Leave to cool completely at room temperature.

4. For the topping, melt the dark and white chocolate in 2 separate heatproof bowls over a pan of barely simmering water, ensuring the bowls don’t touch the water. Remove from the heat.

5. Pour the dark chocolate over the cooled caramel. Using a teaspoon drop spoonfuls of the white chocolate randomly over the dark chocolate and, using a skewer, swirl it around to create patterns in the top of the chocolate. Leave to set hard.

6. Once set, cut into fingers using a sharp knife.

For more recipe inspiration, visit www.drambuie.com

Books to Gift

Whether you’re searching for the perfect Christmas present or a book to curl up with yourself on Boxing Day, we’ve got you covered…

It’s Christmas Everywhere Hannah Barnaby and João Fazenda

Looking for a Christmas Eve book for pre-schoolers? You’ve found it. This tree-shaped board book introduces children to global festive traditions, from stencilling apples in China to making paper boats in Greece. With its brightly coloured illustrations and simple rhyming Christmas countdown, this is sure to become a new family favourite.

Get Changed Kat Farmer

Kat Farmer (who you may know better as @doesmybumlook40) is on a mission to help people express their identity through their clothes. This book is for people who’ve fallen out of love with their wardrobe. For people who loathe clothes shopping but want to look good again. And for those who just want some helpful tips for creating outfits and accessorising. Full-colour illustrations, down-to-earth writing and straightforward advice make Get Changed a winner.

Do Earth Tamsin Omond

The thirty-first book in the Do series aims to empower people to take action on the climate crisis. Tamsin Omond talks through her own relationship with climate activism and offers advice on the small steps we can collectively take to heal the planet. It’s easy to feel paralysed by the scale of the climate crisis, but this book is hopeful and uplifting. The perfect antidote to climate anxiety.

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