Potton October 2019 by Villager Mag

VILLAGER The

Issue 158 - October 2019

and Town

Life

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

In this issue The History of

Witches

Win tickets to see

We Love Little Mix Win £25 in our Prize Crossword

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

F co1

Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts

Inside this issue... Win Tickets to the Festive Gift Fair

The History of Witches........................................................................ 4 The Big Draw - 1st to 31st October..................................................... 8 Win a Family Ticket to see We Love Little Mix................................... 10 Win Tickets to the Festive Gift Fair.................................................... 12 Ragdale Hall Spa: The Experience..................................................... 16 Wordsearch...................................................................................... 18 Wood Green - The Animals Charity................................................... 21 New Voices of Potton........................................................................ 25 Fireworks - How they work.............................................................. 26 Fun Quiz........................................................................................... 31 Fast Fixes.......................................................................................... 32 How to dress well for your job.......................................................... 35 Skin Deep - Basal Cell Carcinoma...................................................... 37 The Jack O’Lantern........................................................................... 40 Beds and Herts Youth Organists Training Scheme............................. 42 New Season at Biggleswade and District Camera Club..................... 45 Is early repayment right for your mortgage?.................................... 47 Beautiful Blueberries....................................................................... 51 Rural Ramblings............................................................................... 52

Rats Tales......................................................................................... 55 Animal Know How........................................................................... 57 R.A.T.S. Rehoming Appeal................................................................ 58 Ask Alan - Potton Vets...................................................................... 61 Children’s Page................................................................................. 62 The Best Seven Seaters on Sale Today.............................................. 65 Nick Coffer’s Weekend Recipe........................................................... 67 What’s On......................................................................................... 74 Things that go bump in the night..................................................... 79 Puzzle Page...................................................................................... 80 Going Dutch..................................................................................... 82 Prize Crossword................................................................................ 86 The Parents’ Evening Survival Guide................................................. 89 Book Review.................................................................................... 91 Useful Numbers............................................................................... 95

Wood Green, The Animal Charity

Get your business off to a flying start this year

Advertise with the Villager Magazine... prices start from just £37.50 +VAT per month Editorial - Catherine Rose, Karen Campbell, Trevor Langley, Tracey Anderson, Kate Duggan, Jennie Billings, Aoife Brennan, Ann Haldon, Goeff Wharton, RSPCA, Potton Vets, James Baggott, Nick Coffer and Iain Betson

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

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

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

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

History By Catherine Rose

The History of Witches Magical rites and rituals have long been an important part of ancient pre-Christian civilizations. The earliest witches were often respected wise women who lived by and honoured the cycles of nature and had expert knowledge of how to use plants to make potions for healing. They sometimes acted as village midwives. However, witches also came to be labelled devil worshippers and heretics and were persecuted for hundreds of years. The image of a witch as a cackling hook-nosed crone bent over a cauldron was probably cemented by Shakespeare in his depiction of the three witches in Macbeth. But it was the Bible itself that helped seal their fate with the Book of Exodus

in the Old Testament stating: “thou shalt not suffer a witch to live” (22:18). Witch hunts began in the mid-fifteenth century with witches popularly being burnt at the stake, hanged or drowned. The latter method was the result of a test devised to root out a genuine witch, which in any case proved fatal. It was believed that if a witch was bound (usually by tying the thumbs to the toes), then thrown into water and subsequently sank (which would normally result in her drowning), she was innocent; if she floated however, she was guilty and so put to death anyway. A variation of this method was the ducking stool. Prior to this, confessions were extracted by various forms of torture including the witch’s bridle – an

Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts

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

iron headpiece which inserted a tongue clamp in the victim’s mouth after which they were hung against a wall, depriving them of sleep and nourishment. A book called The Malleus Maleficarium (The Hammer of Sorcery), written by Catholic Dominican monks Jacob Springer and Henrik Kramer, was published in Germany in 1486. It declared the practice of witchcraft to be heresy and explained how to identify a witch and what to do when you found one. Their belief that women were morally weaker and therefore more prone to the influence of the Devil became the basis of a gender bias that was to endure. The book sold so many copies between 1486 and 1500, it was second only in Europe to the Bible. In 1542, practising witchcraft was declared a crime in England and the post of Witchfinder General was created to rid towns of ‘troublesome and dangerous’ witches. The famous Pendle witches were three generations of one family who, in 1612, were paraded through the streets and hanged in Lancaster. Witchfinder General Matthew Hopkins, who oversaw purges in East Anglia and Essex, was responsible for 300 executions. Hopkins put 68 people to death in Bury St Edmunds between 1645 and 1646 alone. From 1500 to 1660, it is believed up to 100,000 people in Europe were accused of witchcraft and more than half of these killed, with the highest number of executions taking place in Germany. Religious professor Barbara McGraw has noted that some German towns had no women left in them. The hysteria subsequently spread to America with the famous Salem Witch Trials in 1692, but over the following hundred years or so the

prevalence of witch-hunts died down, with new laws introduced to protect innocent people from being falsely accused at a time when someone could be put to death for having a hairy mole (the Devil’s mark) or owning a black cat (believed to be a supernatural entity)! Witchcraft has long been associated with evil but in fact, modern witchcraft rejects the Devil on the basis that he is a Christian concept. Witches often practice the ancient pagan religion of Wicca (or Wicce) whose root beliefs lie in revering the natural world with a creed of ‘harm none’. Wiccans also believe in the ‘Law of Three’ which means that whatever you send out into the world, whether good or evil, will come back to you threefold. Therefore, putting a hex on someone will only result in something three times worse happening to you! In Wicca, witches are considered healers, protectors and teachers. Spells, incantations and charms are taken from The Book of Shadows, which despite its sinister name is an encyclopaedia of ancient wisdom for practising witchcraft and magick. However, there have been other somewhat darker religions pertaining to magic and the occult over the last 100 years. Once described as “the wickedest man in the world”, the notorious Aleister Crowley founded the cult of Thelema at the turn of the twentieth century, which advocated “do what thou wilt” in the practice of magic. The Church of Satanism was set up by Anton LeVey in 1966. It focused on hedonistic principles and ‘sins of the flesh’, while The Temple of Set was inaugurated by Dr Michael Aquino in 1975. Although named after the ancient Egyptian god of darkness, it didn’t believe in the power of a deity but in man’s limitless potential that could be unleashed by using ‘dark’ magic to benefit the individual rather than others. Whether for good or evil, magic spells and witches continue to intrigue and fascinate us, particularly at this time of year with the coming of Samhain, or Halloween.

Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts

Rooms from

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

Key Features

£750

• Landscaped gardens

per week

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

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

We look forward to meeting you...

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

Time of Year

The Big Draw October 1st -31st October is the official month of the worldwide project The Big Draw, which promotes the benefits of drawing for children and adults. I enjoyed art at school but like many kids I stopped drawing when I realised I’d never be ‘good’. Turns out you don’t need to be. The beauty of drawing is that you get all the benefits even if you make the average toddler look like Da Vinci. Drawing develops fine motor skills - Drawing provides immediate visual feedback that changes depending on the type of pencil, pen or crayon used and how its manipulated. This feedback helps to identify the best ways to produce the desired result. Fine motor skills are important for writing and typing in school, but are also great for adults with arthritis or mobility issues. Drawing improves hand-eye coordination - If you’re trying to reproduce what you see then you are exercising hand-eye co-ordination. This helps with writing but also in sport! Drawing helps you see - By drawing objects in

By Karen Campbell

proximity to each other we learn about distance, size, perspective, and texture. It makes us really look at the world in ways we may never have done so before. Drawing aids concentration - Studying an object, focussing on form and detail takes time. If we’re enjoying that process it aids concentration. This is helpful for both children in school, but also older people, particularly in early stage dementia. Drawing improves problem-solving - How do you connect body parts, convey distance or size, represent emotion or texture? These are all creative problems to be solved. Drawing boosts confidence - If you practice, you improve and feel good, whether you’re an adult or a child, that’s a confidence boost you can take into other areas of your life. Drawing is a great activity and beneficial for any age group or ability level. Look out for local activities related to The Big Draw. For more information visit https://thebigdraw.org

Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts

MAking LifE EASiER | WE SELL | WE REpAiR | WE CARE

COMFORT HOMECARE Mobility Superstore

SEE OUR WAV CARS IN THE MOTOR SECTION

from

£3495 LOW RATE FINANCE AVAILABLE

* PART EXCHANGE WELCOME * EXCLUSIVE TO COMFORT HOMECARE

RISE & RECLINE CHAIRS STOCk CLEARANCE

SCOOTA CAR £5995 • Remote Central Locking • Reversing Camera • parking Sensors • phone Charger • Heating • Roll Down Windows • Window Wipers • Headlights

OVER 25 On DiSpLAY MADE TO MEASURE SERViCE AVAiLABLE

from

£495

WHEELCHAIRS BOOT SCOOTER

ELECTRIC BEDS

£495

Wheelchair & Scooter Adapted Cars 20 Now in Stock

£395

from

£11.50 pER WEEk

STAY WARM & DRY THIS WINTER SCOOTER CANOPY FROM

SpECiAL OffER

LEASE YOUR SCOOTER fROM AS LiTTLE AS

from £99

SALE 8MPH SCOOTER FROM

3YRS gUARAnTEE

£595

£495

STAIRLIFTS Bedfordshire’s

leading mobility specialist.

from £950 fitted

We also stock one of the Largest and most comprehensive Range of Bathroom & kitchen aids, Cosyfeet Shoes, Daily living aids.

We lead others follow!

OVER 40 SCOOTERS On DiSpLAY in OUR SHEffORD SUpERSTORE 3 years guarantee on all new mobility Scooters

Large selection of used scooters from £250 with guarantee free delivery and set up*

5B & 5C St francis Way, Shefford, Bedfordshire, Sg17 5DZ. www.comforthomecare.co.uk 01462 811211 www.comfortwavs.co.uk Opening Hours Monday – friday 9.00am – 5.00pm Saturday 9.00am – 4.00pm *Some of the advertised scooters may already be sold, we reserve the right to change any offer without notice, some scooters advertised may be ex-demo, lightly used (full description available on request) ex lease hire scooters, bankrupt stock or part exchanges, a minimum or 3 months guarantee applied to all used scooters and 3 years on all new scooters.

Off ROAD pARking RigHT OUTSiDE THE SHOWROOM ©LW

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

WIN a FAMILY TICKET (for 4 people) to see

We Love Little Mix “The Ultimate Little Mix Experience”

We Love Little Mix The Ultimate Little Mix Party! Tuesday 22nd October 2019, show at 6pm Bedford Corn Exchange Tickets £15 If you love Little Mix, you are going to just L.O.V.E this show! Featuring four fantastic singers and dancers who really capture the look, the sound, and all the dance moves of one of the UK’s best loved Girl-Bands. Little Mix came to fame after winning X Factor back in 2011 and have gone on to release five albums and many hit singles, including four number-ones. We Love Little Mix features all-live vocals, breath-taking costumes and an impressive light and video show. This non-stop, high-energy show is packed with all your favourite Little Mix songs including DNA, Wings, Salute, Black Magic, Love Me Like You, Secret Love Song, Shout to my Ex, No More Sad songs, and many more. The perfect half term treat for all the family!

Tickets available from www.bedfordcornexchange.co.uk and from the box office in Bedford Harpur Suite 01234 718044

For a chance to win a family ticket simply answer the question and complete the form below and send to: We Love Little Mix Competition, Villager Publications Ltd, 24 Market Square, Potton, Bedfordshire SG19 2NP. Deadline: 16th October 2019.



WE LOVE LITTLE MIX COMPETITION ENTRY

How many number one singles have Little Mix had?

Name: Tel: Email: Address:

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

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

The biggest and most lively indoor Christmas Shopping Fair in the Midlands is back!..... with so much choice, fabulous bargains and great musical entertainment The Festive Gift Fair 14-17th November 2019 NEC, Birmingham From the moment you arrive, you’ll be caught up in the fabulous atmosphere, anticipation rising as you browse 300+ stalls overflowing with thousands upon thousands of unusual gifts, stocking fillers, decorations and artisan food & drink at prices worth celebrating! It’s an Aladdin’s cave of sparkling stalls offering more choice, more variety and more fun than the High Street, and it’s all under one roof. The run up to Christmas Day involves a lot of planning and most of us have so much to do and so little time to do it! Take the pressure out of Christmas shopping and find all the presents you want at the one-stop shop Festive Gift Fair. When your bags are full, just drop them off at the Present Creche and continue to shop some more! No other Christmas fair in the UK has as much entertainment in one hall to get you into the Christmas spirit… The Grinch will be up to his usual menacing antics! • Father Christmas will be mingling The Stilt Jazz Band will be legging it up the aisles! • The UK’s largest snowman will be amazing the children The outrageous Panto Dame will be causing havoc around the hall The fabulous CHRISTMAS BAND will be performing throughout the day. THE BASETONES will have you toe-tapping as you shop, with their Motown-style Christmas harmonies For more information and how to book your advance tickets please visit www.festivegiftfair.co.uk

We have 10 pairs of tickets to give away Simply send your name and address by 16th October 2019 to: Festive Gift Fair, Villager Publications Ltd, 24 Market Square, Potton, Beds SG19 2NP The winners will be drawn at random. If you are not a lucky winner, adult tickets are priced from just £6.00. Book now by calling The Ticket Factory hotline on 0844 581 0808 or online at www.theticketfactory.com

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

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

Registered Charity No 307534

ENGINEERING OPEN WORKSHOP 2019 27 & 28 DECEMBER 2019 Get behind the scenes at The Shuttleworth Collection with our engineers and volunteers. See first-hand what it takes to keep these vintage aircraft, vehicles, and heritage machinery working as intended! With kids activities, trail and ‘Make and Paint’ with Airfix and IPMS Brampton, and entry to the Swiss Garden included in the entry price.

£16.00 ADULTS | £14.00 CONCESSIONS £2.00 CHILD | £5.00 STUDENT

BOOK NOW: WWW.SHUTTLEWORTH.ORG/OPENWORKSHOP The Shuttleworth Collection, Old Warden Aerodrome, Bedfordshire, SG18 9EP enquiries@shuttleworth.org | 01767 627933

14Villager - Eng Open Nov 2019 FP.indd

Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding adverts 10/09/2019 to 16:52:29

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

Food and Drink

Ragdale Hall Spa: The Experience Ragdale Hall Spa has won numerous awards, over many years. This world-class spa can boast awards and commendations, including Best UK Spa, UK’s Best Destination Spa, plus Best All-Round Health Spa. The different areas, within this venue, have parts which capture inspirations from global destinations.

Having six pools (including a rooftop infinity pool, aqua gym and candle pool) and with a river of warm water, leading to an outside paradise, all is very calming. The gymnasium and exercise studios are stateof–the-art and extensive daily programmes have regular ‘devotees’. A wealth of thermal experiences have steam rooms and saunas appealing to many, including the volcanic salt bath. Numerous treatment rooms (100+ qualified, experienced therapists), beauty express areas, the pavilion and impressive shops, all have something to occupy, continually. Indeed, from manicure to makeover! Included in several packages and deals is the fabulous buffet lunch. Starters are served or help yourself from the buffet. The buffet offers a lot of different foods that include seafood, fish and meat choices. Stir fry, honey-glazed roast gammon and a good deal more are very popular, too. Mohamed Bardouz is the Dining Room Manager and ensures all guests have a memorable, most enjoyable dining experience. All cuisine is cooked and presented to perfection by the brigade of very talented chefs, kitchen personnel and carvers. Desserts can be served and are also help yourself from the buffet, that includes yoghurts and chilled options. Complimentary mineral water and tea or coffee are included, also. With several packages being available – from a short visit to an extended stay – there is always time to take the opportunity for a treatment (or three!). From a few minutes, to deep massages, it is very worthwhile including this aspect in a visit to Ragdale Hall Spa. Mountain bikes, tennis courts, plus croquet and more, are all available, too. For evenings the dining room is transformed, with pristine, candle-lit table settings adding to the ambience. All courses are served, to table. The 90+ beautiful, inviting bedrooms offer wonderful, comfortable accommodation. Gift vouchers are available – perhaps surprise someone special? Ragdale Hall Spa, Ragdale Village, Nr Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire LE14 3PB General Enquiries. Tel: 44 (0) 1664 434831 Reservations. Tel: 44 (0) 1664 433000 E-mail: enquiries@ragdalehall.co.uk E-mail: reservations@ragdalehall.co.uk www.ragdalehall.co.uk

As always, Enjoy! 16

ey Trevor Langl

Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts

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

Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts

1-2-3 NOVEMBER

Hot Tubs & Swimming Pools

FRI 9:30AM - 8PM SAT 9AM - 6PM SUN 10:30AM - 5PM NEXT TO JOHN LEWIS

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

FREE ENTRY 130+ STALLS TO

THOUSANDS OF GORGEOUS ONE-OFF BARGAINS

TAGE.CO.UK MKHANDMADEANDVIN

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

MK flier_November.indd 1

22/08/2018 19:45

Countrywear

FREE Postage & packing until Christmas

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

Chicksands, Shefford, Beds SG17 5QB

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

Intrigued by seeing gliders flying overhead? Why not experience it for yourself? Want to become a solo glider pilot? Cambridge Gliding Club can teach you how. Introductory lessons to solo, advanced cross country and aerobatics. Open seven days a week April to October, five from November to April.

See www.camgliding.uk for further details or contact the office on-line at office@camgliding.uk or on 01767 677077 to book your Introductory lesson 20

Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts

Local News

Wood Green, The Animals Charity Wood Green’s aim is to help every pet and pet owner that comes to them. Wood Green, The Animal Charity’s aim is to bring pets and people closer together, providing pets with loving homes that they deserve whilst empowering owners with the knowledge to take the very best care of their beloved pets. Wood Green offers free pet advice to anyone who needs it, whether you are considering having a pet in the future and need guidance on pet choice, or you already have a pet and need some general advice or intensive support. In a year, Wood Green found loving homes for more than 4,000 pets and reunited 164 pets with their owners. Their dedicated team gave one-to-one care and support to 2,343 pets and their owners, with more than 10,000 veterinary consultations and around 3,200 operations carried out. Sponsoring a pet pen is a meaningful way to be part of rescue pets’ journeys at Wood Green and help the financial effort in providing the best quality treatment and care possible – from shelter, regular nutritious meals and veterinary care to training, love and affection. Pets at Wood Green stay for an average of 30-35 days, meaning you will play a vital role in giving a number of adorable pets the happy ending they deserve. You will receive regular updates from your dog, cat or small animal pen and follow pets’ amazing journeys, seeing first-hand how your support is making a difference. Find out more at woodgreen.org.uk

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

Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts

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

Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts

Local News

New Voices

of Potton Formed in January 2018, New Voices of Potton is a mixed voice adult choir and is currently made up of around 30 members. Anne Wright is the current Musical Director. We are looking for new singers to join us, in all voice parts. There is no audition and even reading music isn’t essential as we often have teach-tracks to help you. We come together once a week during school term-

time to rehearse at St Mary’s Church Hall in Potton and aim to provide a fun, friendly and encouraging environment. We sing popular music including arrangements from musicals and films, which are more flexible and make our concerts really appealing. Music making is widely acknowledged as being really beneficial, especially for mental health and wellbeing. Members will learn new skills such as reading and performing music whilst having fun and making new friends. We are about to start rehearsing for our Winter Concert which will include Carols, seasonal readings but also modern Christmas music. So whether you are a bit rusty since your school choir days or just want to give singing a go, get in touch with us at www.facebook.com/newvoicesofpotton or call Jan on 01767 260413. You can be assured of a warm welcome!

Wanted – singers for New Voices of Potton! Singing is good for you! It helps lower stress, improves your posture and is very sociable. Come along and meet our friendly adult choir at rehearsals on Wednesdays at St Mary’s Church Hall, Hatley Rd, Potton (term-time 7.45pm). All voice parts welcome. No audition. We sing two concerts a year and perform a wide variety of popular music.

For more information on the New Voices of Potton or to message us, visit www.facebook.com/newvoicesofpotton or call Jan on 01767 260413 To advertise in The Villager and Town Life please call 01767 261122

Time of Year

Fireworks

By Tracey Anderson

How they work!

Most of us love watching fireworks, but have you ever thought about how rockets work? It’s a fascinating science and if you read on, you’ll be able to amaze your friends in the pub after attending your local display. Fireworks are essentially small missiles designed to explode in a controlled and colourful way. The word ‘firework’ originates from the Greek word pyrotechnics, which means, ‘fire art’ or ‘fire skill’; and modern rocket designs require both in huge amounts. Rockets mostly consist of five main parts. The tail or the stick – This protrudes from the bottom and ensures the firework shoots in a straight line, which is important for two reasons: first, so that the rocket doesn’t fly off in a random direction, and injure someone; and second, because it aids accuracy and precision when creating complex displays. Fuse - This is the part that allows the firework to be ignited safely. It allows a time delay before the main part of the firework (the charge) begins to burn. This charge ignites other, smaller fuses that make the interesting, colourful parts of the firework (the effects) explode a little later. In a basic rocket, the main fuse consists of a piece of paper or fabric that you light with a match. In a complex public firework display, fuses are lit by electrical contacts known as wirebridge fuseheads. When the firework technician pushes a button, an electric current flows along a wire into the fusehead, which ignites the main fuse. Electrical ignition has the advantage it can be done at a very safe distance. Charge - This is actually a fairly crude explosive designed to blast the rocket up into the sky. Some rockets travel at speeds as fast as a fighter jet. The charge is usually made up of tightly packed, coarse explosive gunpowder (known as black powder) and simply sends the firework high into the air, clear of spectators; it’s not responsible for the spectacular colours. Effect - This is the business end of the firework. A single firework may have just one effect, or several, packed into separate compartments which fire off in sequence, ignited by a timedelay fuse. Effects are explosives too, but different from the main charge. Each effect is made up of more loosely packed, finer explosive material, often fashioned into separate ‘stars’, which make up the small, individual, colourful explosions from a larger firework. The arrangement of patterns and colours depend on how each effect is made and packed. Head - This is the top part of the firework which contains the effect or effects. Sometimes the head has a pointed nosecone to make the firework faster and more aerodynamic and improve the chance of it going in a straight line. However, you choose to enjoy the fireworks this year remember safety should always be paramount. Follow the firework code.

Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts

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

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

Park House Nursing Care Centre, Mill Lane, Sandy, Bedfordshire SG19 1NL T: 01767 692186 E: office@parkhousesandy.org W: www.parkhousecare.com To advertise in The Villager and Town Life please call 01767 261122

Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts

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

Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts

Ghosts 1. Which famous literary character is haunted by a ghost called Banquo? 2. Named after Ghostface Killah from the hip hop group the Wu-Tang Clan, which social networking app has a ghost called Ghostface Chillah as its logo and mascot? 3. Ghostface is the name given to the killer or killers in which film series? 4. How is the ghost of Jennet Humfrye known in the title of a 1983 book by Susan Hill? 5. In the Harry Pottery novels, what is the nickname of the ghost that haunts the first floor girls’ lavatory at Hogwarts, with author J.K. Rowling saying she was inspired by “the frequent presence of a crying girl in communal

bathrooms, especially at the parties and discos” of her youth? 6. Which famous song is played on a jukebox in the famous pottery scene from the film Ghost? 7. In the video game Pac-Man, what colour do the ghosts turn when Pac-Man eats a power pellet? 8. Who had a hit single in 1984 with the theme song from the film Ghostbusters? 9. How many ghosts visit Ebenezer Scrooge in the Charles Dickens novella A Christmas Carol? 10. Which famous person won a Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Supporting Actor for a cameo role as himself in the 1989 film Ghosts Can’t Do It?

S ee our F a ce

1. Macbeth 2. Snapchat 3. Scream 4. The Woman In Black 5. Moaning Myrtle 6. Unchained Melody (by the Righteous Brothrs) 7. Blue 8. Ray Parker Junior 9. Four 10. Donald Trump

a fo r

l l t h e l ate s t o f

fe r

Known for our specialist expertise and exciting curtain and blind design ideas

 Home selection  Comprehensive range  Free measuring and quotation  Friendly, impartial design advice  Local, family run business  All blinds supplied meet current child safety regulations

01763 243894

www.newdawnblinds.co.uk New Dawn Blinds

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

We are ‘Inspiration Dealers’ for Luxaflex Blinds Visit our showroom to see our motorised blinds. Unit 6a Highfields Business Park Old North Rd, Bassingbourn, Royston Herts SG8 5JT

Beauty

Fast Fixes From chapped lips and dry skin to acne, tackle your skin or hair dilemma quickly with one of these problem-solving, wallet-friendly mini-marvels. Puffy eyes or chapped lips? Try Nature’s Kitchen Skin Nourishing Eye and Lip Treatment. This little multitasking genius is packed with nature’s finest skincare ingredients, from aloe vera, jojoba oil and avocado to cocoa butter. It even includes hyaluronic acid to boost hydration. It’s very rich so you only need a small amount to tackle fine lines, puffy bags, dark circles and dry lips. Use it as a night-time treatment, or as and when needed. It’s £10.99 at www.lovelula.com. Tackle spots with Tisserand Aromatherapy’s Tea Tree & Aloe Skin Rescue Stick, £4.50. The blend of antibacterial tea tree oil and witch hazel treats blemishes, while the aloe vera moisturises skin to prevent peeling. Super dry skin or mild eczema? Try an oat bath. Pop a handful of organic porridge oats into the foot of an old pair of tights and tie a knot. Drop your oat bomb into the bath while the water is running. It’ll send the water all milky and you can use it like a sponge. It’s a simple treatment, but incredibly effective. If you don’t have an old pair of tights, put the oats in a sieve and hold it under the tap. Feeling a bit meh now the days are closing in and the sun has decided to hang up its hat? Try adding a splash of colour with a bright nail

By Kate Duggan

polish. Peacci nail varnishes are vegan, cruelty-free and available in a range of shades. They’re not gloopy (unlike some polishes), so are easy to apply and mistakes can be wiped off with a tissue if you’re quick. You’ll need two coats for a flawless finish. It’s £10 at www.peacci.com. If your hands feel dry and cream isn’t helping, the answer may lie with your hand wash. Liquid hand soaps usually contain sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS), which some people can find very drying. I try to avoid it completely as it makes my hands so dry the skin starts cracking. Thankfully, there are plenty of SLS-free handwashes and bars of soap out there – www.faithinnature.co.uk, www.naturisimo. com and www. biggreensmile.co.uk have lots to choose from. Or just pop into your nearest Holland & Barrett. Hair feeling dry and parched after the summer? Coconut oil could be your saviour. You can find it in some supermarkets and health-stores, or buy it online. Coconut oil is solid at room temperature so scoop up around a tablespoon of it and use the warmth of your hands to melt it. Then just smooth it through your hair (avoiding the roots), leave for half an hour and rinse out. Coconut oil is packed with fatty acids and minerals so works like an intensive conditioner. You can also use it as a body oil and cleanser. (And for cooking of course.)

Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts

Air-Co

nditio and fr ned Salon ee WiFi

La Vida

HAIRDRESSING

Professional hairdressing in Biggleswade

Over 17 years of successful hairdressing We welcome all clients both old and new OPENING HOURS Monday - Closed, Tuesday 9.00am - 5.00pm Wednesday 9.00am - 8.00pm, Thursday 9.00am - 8.00pm Friday 9.00am - 5.30pm, Saturday 8.30am - 4.00pm Our graduate stylist Lauren is now building her clientele Prices are greatly reduced and all work will be checked by a senior stylist. Cut & blowdrys - £15 Blow dry £9-£12 Full head highlights - £40 Please contact salon for a full range of Lauren’s pricing

1 Station Road, Biggleswade, SG18 8AH Tel: 01767 600510 Web: www.lavidahair.co.uk Follow us on Facebook and Instagram for our current offers To advertise in The Villager and Town Life please call 01767 261122



£50 off

All Semi Permanent Makeup Treatments with this Villager advert

Expiry date: 31/12/2019

Hairdressing • Beauty • Lash Bar • Threading • Makeup Bar Hair Extensions • Nails • Semi Permanent Makeup Microblading • Machine Brows Ombré Powder and Hairstrokes • Dermal Fillers • Botox

Download the Lou•Lou’s App from the App or Play Store, browse our extensive range of treatments and book yourself an appointment.

70 High Street, Biggleswade SG18 0LJ Tel: 01767 221320 Web: www.lou-lous.co.uk

Ask about our Payl8r Service and spread the cost of your treatment over a time period to suit you.

Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts

House of Colour

How to Dress Well for your Job

Whether your work place is really casual or quite formal what we wear does affect how we are viewed at work. What we need are some hard and fast ways to look professional, dress well for our job and feel good so we can leave home for the day with confidence (and not spend ages in the morning fretting over it!):1. Knowing what suits you means you can spend a little longer in bed, with your kids or at the fym in the morning. If your capsule wardrobe is full of clothes that fit you, are the right style for you and in the best colours for you then you can save a huge amount of time (and money) and eliminate wardrobe stress first thing. 2. The Corporate Look – Only one in 10 employees are thought to wear a suit to work. It may be that in very formal or conservative jobs a suit still signals professionalism but what’s wrong with adding some flare? If you dress like everyone else then you may feel like you fit in more easily, but you are less likely to get noticed. If tailored jackets don’t suit you go for a more unstructured jacket or a cashmere or a good quality cotton cardigan in a colour that makes you look radiant. 3. Take Pride - Being well groomed and wearing the right size and style can make or break your professional look. Wearing shoes that make you walk badly or being unkempt is a poor start to you entering the room for an important meeting. Taking care of yourself sends a message that you take care with your work and also your colleagues. 4. It is all in the detail - We all suit different hemlines, necklines, trouser lengths, lapels and sleeves, not to mention of course colours etc. Know what suits you rather than necessarily opt for the latest trend. 5. Wearing quality – it says we are successful because we have investment power. Quality is always better than quantity for your look, not to mention your wallet and the environment too. Cost per wear is a great philosophy for life.

6. Colour – Only 1 in 4 of us can look good in black whether that be a suit or other workwear and that includes the gents. Choose the colours that makes you look fresh and dynamic not drained, but in your mind professional. 7. Personalise your work attire with easy-update, ready to grab accessories such as gorgeous bags, scarves and quality jewellery to add oomph. Perfectly pair with a fabulous pair of shoes that can boost your confidence and empower neutral smart attire in particular. Use a pattern shoe such as snakeskin, a bold colour or detail depending on what suits your personality. 8. Be authentic - Know who you are. Mark Zuckerberg, Oprah Winfrey, Melinda Gates and Richard Branson all have a clear work look that makes them themselves. If you have a bubbly and bright personality, then try a gorgeous funpatterned blouse with cigarette trousers. If you are a classic dresser then ooze timeless style with a gorgeous shift dress. Add a ruffle or two if you have some gorgeous curves. Being and dressing true to yourself actually leads to stronger bonds with your peers and removes barriers in the workplace. 9. Confidence bags the job – It is important not just how you are perceived by others but how you feel about yourself. Have a bit of variety in your wardrobe so you can feel confident if you need to be authoritative and chic because you have a big meeting, or more relaxed and creative because you are writing an important document. Always be authentically you but dress for the day ahead to be confident. 10. Understand Smart Casual – If your job role is more casual still always opt for a smart-casual to give the best impression. Be on your boss’s radar for all the right reasons. The old adage still stands - dress for the job you want, not the job you have. Over half of workers believe a casual dress code is more affordable and takes less upkeep, and more than one fifth say they felt more able to express their personality, but this doesn’t mean you shouldn’t look good at work. By Jennie Billings, Colour and Style Consultant, House of Colour www.houseofcolour.co.uk/jenniebillings e:jennie.billings@houseofcolour.co.uk

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

Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts

Health

Skin Deep - Basal Cell Carcinoma It began with an insect bite on my right cheek. At least I thought it was a bite though I didn’t remember being bitten. I dabbed it with tea tree oil and waited for it to heal up. It sort of did, but then grew a little and flaked a little. It was tiny, maybe 2-3mm across but something about it bothered me. I told myself that if it hadn’t gone in a month, I’d see the GP. It didn’t change much over that time, but neither did it go away so, listening to my gut feelings, I went to see my GP feeling a little foolish (I wasn’t sick after all) and fully expected to be dismissed as one of the worried well, but after inspecting it the GP looked thoughtful. “I think it might be a BCC. A basal cell carcinoma.” I was shocked. Carcinoma was cancer, right? I was only 50. Was I going to die? A basal cell carcinoma is indeed a type of skin cancer. There are two main types of skin cancer: melanoma and non-melanoma. BCC is a nonmelanoma type, and accounts for more than 80% of skin cancers in the UK. As with most skin cancers, exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light from the sun or from sunbeds is the cause, which is why they often appear most often on the face or head of fair skinned people like me. I am not a sunbather, nor have I ever used sunbeds. I do like to be outdoors, cycling and kayaking but I always wear sun protection and a hat. I’m a natural redhead though, with freckles so I am in a higher risk group. BCCs vary in appearance, from small red flaky areas; scabs that bleed but don’t heal, or pearly

little lumps, often with a central depression. They are generally painless, although sometimes they can be itchy or bleed a little if you catch them with your nail. I had to undergo a skin biopsy under local anaesthetic to confirm the diagnosis. The dermatologist was at pains to reassure me that BCCs rarely spread to other areas of the body and can be cured in almost every case, although treatment can be more complicated if the BCC has been present for a long time, or if it occurs in an awkward place, such as close to the eye or on the nose or ear. The commonest treatment for BCC is surgery under local anaesthesia. The BCC is cut away, along with some surrounding skin. There are generally just a few stitches but sometimes a skin graft is needed. Sometimes radiotherapy, curettage (scraping), cautery (heat treatment), cryotherapy (freezing treatment), photodynamic therapy (PTD), or creams may be used instead. My BCC was removed surgically. I was worried I would have a large scar as the wound seemed very large in comparison to the size of the lesion but six months later it’s faded so much that you can barely see it. Treatment is easier if a BCC is detected early. So, if you notice a new lesion on your face (or anywhere on your body) which is growing, or which bleeds and never really heals, or if your skin appearance has changed in any way don’t wait, consult your GP. It’s worth it.

By Aoife Brennan

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

Call Nadia on 07790 000256

The Mobility Physio

Helping you or a loved one regain or maintain mobility, strength, balance and independence

• • • • •

Post operative rehabilitation Orthopedic rehabilitation Post hospitalistion rehabilitation Rehabilitation for people with dementia Home visits and Care Home visits

Email nadia@themobilityphysio.co.uk or visit www.themobilityphysio.co.uk for more info

Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts

Local News

Let’s Fight Fatigue & Pain!

If you or someone you know would like more energy and less pain, come along to a free drop-in event on Saturday 19th October. Between 12pm and 2pm anyone is welcome to find out more about Fighting Fatigue & Pain, a project run by Letchworth charity Herts MS Therapy Centre. Extreme fatigue and chronic pain can result from many conditions, including Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and ME – and many others. The Herts MS Therapy Centre in Letchworth helps people with any serious health challenge, not just those with Multiple Sclerosis. It offers Physiotherapy, Oxygen Therapy, APS Pain Reduction Therapy and specialist exercise sessions to help people improve their quality of life. Oxygen Therapy helps some people recover faster after injury, surgery and cancer treatments. It’s also great for increasing energy. Some people find it reduces pain, especially people with Fibromyalgia and CFS. On 19th October, free test sessions are available. Rachel B says: “Without my Oxygen Treatment in Letchworth I would still be in agony from Fibromyalgia and probably jobless and depressed. I can’t even begin to explain what a difference it has made for me.” Nicki H has MS. She adds: “Also, it’s great to meet other people who have an idea of what you’re going through. It’s nice to have a chat with other people at the Centre.” Mark Boscher, the Chief Executive of Herts MS Therapy Centre added: “If you, or someone you know, lives with long term pain or fatigue – from any condition - maybe we can help them to gain more energy and feel less pain. Please come on Saturday 19th October.” To book your free test session, call Claire on 01462 684214 or email openday@hmstc.net

Fighting Fatigue & Pain: Free Event Saturday 19th October 2019, 12pm – 2pm Visit to find out about:

• Oxygen Therapy

(may accelerate healing, boost energy, reduce pain)

• APS Pain Reduction Therapy • Specialist physio and group exercise sessions (tailored to people with medical conditions)

Free test sessions available – book your place now!

Fighting Fatigue & Pain

We’re at Herts MS Therapy Centre, 30 Campus Five, Letchworth, SG6 2JF. Just turn up! For more details call Claire on 01462 684 214.

www.hertsmstherapy.org.uk

Hertfordshire Multiple Sclerosis Therapy Centre is Charity 299524 and Company 2215165 Registered Office 30 Campus Five, Letchworth, Herts SG6 2JF

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

Time of Year

The Jack O’ Lantern

By Aoife Brennan

Why we carve pumpkins at Halloween We think of the Halloween pumpkin lantern as an American invention but in fact it was the Irish who took the tradition of carving pumpkins to America, except the original Jack O’ Lantern was not a pumpkin because they didn’t exist in Ireland. Celtic cultures actually carved turnips on All Hallows’ Eve and placed a glowing piece of coal or a candle in them, to ward off evil spirits. There are many stories behind these turnip lanterns but one of the most popular comes from The Tale of Stingy Jack. Stingy Jack was a grumpy old drunkard who liked to play malicious tricks on just about everyone including his family, friends and his mother. He was proud of his antics and boasted that he could trick the Devil himself. The Devil heard about Jack and paid him a visit. Jack was as good as his word and tricked the Devil into climbing up an apple tree. Once the Devil was in the tree, Stingy Jack hurriedly placed crosses around the base of its trunk. The Devil couldn’t touch the crosses, so he was stuck in the tree. Stingy Jack made the Devil promise him not to take his soul when he died. Reluctantly the Devil agreed, and Stingy Jack removed the crosses, and allowed the Devil to climb back down. Many years later, when Jack died, he found his way to the pearly gates of Heaven. Saint Peter told him that because he’d been mean and cruel and

had led a miserable, worthless life he could not let him enter Heaven. Stingy Jack then went down to Hell. The Devil smiled mischievously and said he was bound by the promise he’d made in the apple tree and would not allow him to enter Hell. Stingy Jack became really scared. He had nowhere to go and was doomed to wander about forever in the dark Netherworld between heaven and hell. He protested to the Devil that there was no light, so the Devil tossed him a piece of coal from the flames of Hell. Jack always carried a turnip with him because it was one of his favourite foods. He hollowed out the turnip and placed the glowing coal the Devil had given him inside. From that day onward, Stingy Jack roamed the earth without a resting place, lighting his way as he went with his ‘Jack O’ Lantern’. On all Hallows’ eve, it became the tradition for Irish people to hollow out Turnips, swedes, potatoes and beets. They placed a little light in them to ward off evil spirits and keep Stingy Jack away. These were the original Jack O’ Lanterns. In the 1800’s waves of Irish people travelled to America in search of better lives. These Irish immigrants quickly discovered that American Pumpkins were bigger and much easier to carve, so they began to use pumpkins for Jack O’ Lanterns. Eventually this new trend found its way back across the Atlantic to Ireland and the UK.

Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts

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

Local News

2 Beds and Herts Youth Organists Training Scheme Whenever you visit the Royal Albert Hall you can’t but help notice the impressive array of pipe in the huge organ at the back of the stage. If you’ve been to one of the Proms concerts where it has featured, you would surely have been amazed by the way it can dominate a whole orchestra playing at full blast. Have you ever thought about what it is like to play that organ - or, indeed, the organ at your local parish church? Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire have some of the finest organs in the country, including the wonderful instrument at St Albans Cathedral. And now Beds and Herts Organists’ Association is calling upon budding musicians to take up the organ by offering free lessons - yes free lessons! The association has secured funds to offer a year’s free tuition to young musicians up to the age of 25 who are interested in learning the instrument. Prospective players will no doubt already have some keyboard skills, but the scheme is open to anyone who has a particular musical aptitude and who would be interested in playing at their local church, whatever denomination. David Warner, president of the association said: “The Young Organists’ Training Scheme provides a truly unique chance to learn to play the organ - the king of all instruments.” Anyone who is interested, or who knows of someone who might benefit from the scheme, should contact johnwitchell73@gmail.com and visit the website www.bedsandherts.org where there is an online application form.

We offer customers no obligation home visits where we can provide demonstrations using sample products and help customers choose the best product for their needs. ENABLING PEOPLE’S PARTICIPATION EVERYWHERE

Please call 01767 220418 Mobility Scooter From £499

Electric Wheelchairs From £999

Adjustable Beds From £399 Wheelchairs From £59

Rise and Recline Chairs From £495

Visit www.midbedsmobility.org for full range

We are committed to providing the highest quality scooters, wheelchairs and mobility products, with exceptional customer service and support at the best prices. 42

Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts

EMERGENCY DENTURE REPAIRS 1 HOUR SERVICE 01767 651439 07973 141862

VIRTUAL PA / GIRL FRIDAY

REPAIR OR A CLEAN AND POLISH ON YOUR DENTURES BY A QUALIFIED TECHNICIAN

DO YOU EVER WISH YOU HAD AN EXTRA PAIR OF HANDS? NO MONEY OR TIME TO EMPLOY THAT EXTRA PERSON! WHY NOT CALL ME!!

COLLECTION AND DELIVERY ALSO AVAILABLE

• • • • •

NVQ 3 IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION ECDL QUALIFICATION EXPERIENCE IN WORD, EXCEL AND OUTLOOK EXPERIENCED RECEPTIONIST EXPERIENCE IN SAGE LINE 50 AND VARIOUS IN HOUSE ACCOUNTS PACKAGES • EXPERIENCE IN PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTORS *REASONABLE RATES* TAKE A LOOK AT THE WEBSITE AND GIVE ME A CALL TO DISCUSS YOUR REQUIREMENTS www.helpinghandsofficeservices.com Tel: 01767 690075 / 07966 554304 Email: maureen@helpinghandsofficeservices.co.uk

Denture repairs 1/4 page.indd 1

09/09/2016 16:42

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

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

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

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

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

Before

Large scale plan printing service also available

After

Contact Jason Dixon:

01767 677540 or 07908 004816 info@dixonsd.com www.dixonsd.com

Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts

New Season at

Local News

Biggleswade & District Camera Club The 2019-20 season at Biggleswade and District Camera Club (BDCC) began on Thursday 19 September with a Welcome and Enrolment Evening. This was followed by an evening in which members were given help and advice on preparing their prints for exhibition and competition by one of the club’s leading print workers, Ian Gostelow ARPS DPAGB BPE3*, who has recently been awarded the prestigious Associate distinction by the Royal Photographic Society for his superb panel of 15 prints. October begins with a digital presentation by well-known local photographer Ann Miles FRPS EFIAP MPAGB FBPE from Cambridge on the subject of Inspiration and Motivation in Photography. Nonmembers are welcome to attend this talk and pay the visitors fee of just £3. Potential new members are welcome to come along to up to 3 meetings before committing to joining, however, there is a £3 charge when we have a visiting speaker. The annual subscription is currently £47 (half price for U18s and full time students). Tea or coffee is included and there is a bar! For further details and a copy of the current Programme see the website www. biggleswadecameraclub.co.uk email the Secretary on secretary@biggleswadecameraclub.co.uk or telephone 01767 316176. Meetings take place on Thursday evenings from 7:30 for 8pm until about 10pm from September to April in The Sullivan Room, The Weatherley Centre, Biggleswade SG18 0NE. Last season was very successful with a move

Print of the Year Abandoned by Ronnie Lane ARPS

Digital Image of the Year The Archer by Roger Bradshaw BPE2*

to a new, improved venue at the Weatherley Centre. The level of photography within the club is ever improving and BDCC did well in interclub competitions – especially the Central Club Challenge where Biggleswade beat 8 other clubs to win the trophy. Individual members have also achieved success in national and international photographic exhibitions with Roger Bradshaw attaining the BPE2* award for having 50 images accepted into British Photographic Exhibitions and Ian Gostelow’s ARPS as already mentioned. The club also had a good number of images accepted in the prestigious East Anglian Federation Annual Exhibition and the Smethwick International Exhibition which they visit each January. The new season includes presentations from top photographers who will show their images and give tuition and advice, club and inter-club competitions and critique evenings where impartial judges will mark and give helpful guidance on the photographs submitted, practical sessions using professional studio lighting and a chance for members to show their images. In addition there is a monthly midweek outing to places of photographic interest. All genres of photography are catered for – nature, landscape, portrait, sport, etc. and images can be shown as projected digital images, prints or audiovisual sequences. Should you wish to find out more please come along on a Thursday evening at 7:30 for 8pm.

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

Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts

Finance By Ann Haldon

Is early repayment right for your mortgage? If you have money left over at the end of each month, or have received an unexpected lump sum, you may be thinking about paying off your mortgage early. You can save large amounts in interest and potentially cut your mortgage term by years but it’s not always the best option. So what factors do you need to consider before deciding whether to clear your mortgage early? Does your mortgage allow for overpayments? Not all mortgage products let you overpay and some will charge you for doing so, but many allow borrowers to overpay up to 10% of the outstanding mortgage with no penalties. If you’re not sure about the terms and conditions of your mortgage, get in touch with your lender or check the original documentation. Are you enrolled in any pension schemes? If you’re currently paying into a pension scheme it could be more beneficial in the long run to increase your contributions because of the tax relief offered by the government. If not, consider using the extra money to start saving taxefficiently for your retirement. What are the current savings rates? Although savings rates have been extremely low in recent years, there may be a fixed rate or longer term savings account that offers a higher rate of interest than that charged by your mortgage lender. Do you have significant unsecured debt? Paying off more expensive debt such as credit card and store card balances, and unsecured loans, is always a good idea if you have residual income

and should be prioritised over paying extra sums to your mortgage. Once this type of debt is paid off you’ll automatically increase the amount of money you have available each month and can then consider overpaying your mortgage, which is a lower cost debt. Do you need extra life insurance? You probably had to take out a life insurance policy to cover your mortgage loan amount, but it might only cover death rather than illness or disability. It’s a good idea to review your insurance needs from time to time – you may want to change from a fixed period that covers your mortgage term to a ‘whole-of-life’ policy where the timing of a payout isn’t restricted, for example. Do you have an emergency fund? If you lost your job, could you pay the bills for at least six months? If not, it would be worthwhile building an emergency fund with your residual income rather than paying down the mortgage. A mortgage is typically the largest debt that people take on. It represents a huge financial commitment whatever your stage of life, and paying it off early always seems a very attractive option at first glance. Before you do, though, consider some of the other areas where the money could be put to better use, at least for a while – then you can go ahead with confidence and potentially shave years off your mortgage term. www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk/en/articles/shouldyou-pay-off-your-mortgage-early

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

Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts

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

Pottons Specialist Welding and Fabricating Company

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

ton for a ll yo Wrought iron work, ur w elding needs made to order, including

ma m e G

• stairs • benches • individual beds • furniture

• • • •

Suppliers of manual and automated gates Security doors and grills Fire escapes All welding projects

Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts

Garden View

Beautiful blueberries

By Rachael Leverton

I love blueberries and they are not only incredibly good for you but also quite simple to grow. They thrive in a sunny border or in a pot on a balcony or patio, so there’s no excuse for not harvesting a crop of your own. In addition, they are a generous plant. All varieties produce pretty white flowers in the spring, followed by delicate green fruits which ripen to deep blue. If that wasn’t enough, the foliage then turns pink and peach for Autumn. Blueberry bushes do require an acid soil to thrive but if you don’t have that (I don’t!) then use pots of well-drained ericaceous compost. When you need to re-pot, choose a pot just a few inches larger because they fruit better in a snug pot! Ensure it has adequate drainage holes and put some stones or crocks in the bottom and keep it raised so it doesn’t become waterlogged. Water with rainwater from your water butt, especially if you live in a hardwater area. Make sure they are watered well while they become established and also while the fruit is ripening. Feeding with tomato food helps too. Poor or erratic watering causes the blueberries to shrivel or split, and noone likes a shrivelled blueberry! If you have acid soil you can plant blueberry

bushes at any time of year when the ground is soft. Dig a hole twice the size of the root-ball and spread the roots as you refill the hole to the base of the stem. Press the soil down with the heel of your boot. Blueberries are sun-lovers and will fruit most abundantly in full sun. They are better grown in pairs to allow for cross-pollination. If you can bear it, remove the flower buds in the first year after planting because it encourages strong stem growth better fruiting for the following year. They don’t require any pruning for a few years. After that thin overcrowded or unproductive branches in winter after the leaves have fallen. Remember blueberries fruit on branches produced the previous year, so each year remove one or two of the oldest canes to make space for the more productive younger stems. In the winter move pots to a sheltered area or the shed for protection. NOTE – Our feathered friends love blueberries as much as we do so make sure you protect you harvest with netting!

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

Happy Gardening 51

Gardening & Wildlife

Rural Ramblings A Warning

By Geoff Wharton

It is so good to have back with us those warm summer days when everything is growing well and all in the garden is looking colourful and relaxed. The mornings are fresh and clear and made even better with birdsong. It is a real pleasure to go to work on those mornings - a little trimming here or a little snipping there, what could be better than to experience the British countryside working outdoors?……. although the reality may not always come up to expectations as the following events unfolded one summer morning. The weather was calm, bright and warm, ideal conditions for cutting the grass so off I went being careful to skirt around any potential difficult areas. I knew a bit about the antics of insects such as bees and wasps, as previously I have had personal encounters with both and on each occasion had experienced their defensive tactics when disturbed. I knew there were bee hives in the garden and I knew their position, and I would be sensible, not attract excessive attention and get in, around and out as quickly as possible to avoid being seen as a threat. I planned my route and would avoid their flight–path at all costs. I approached the bee hives with a slight degree of concern but I was confident that early in the morning when they were cold and sluggish, I would be away before they knew I had been near. A lesson to be learned, NEVER underestimate the opposition!! Somehow, they managed to “lock on” to me as their target and despite a speedy retreat, I received four or five stings, the initial pain from which quickly subsided. I was annoyed with myself for thinking that I could get away without causing a disturbance and continued with the grass-cutting. Within thirty minutes I was regretting everything as I now had stopped work and was feeling decidedly unwell. I HAD to lie down. I couldn’t talk, I was panting and I felt sick, my head felt it was about to explode and I could not have dialled for help even if I had a phone nearby, I lay in the field feeling very ill. A friend who was with me saw my situation and had a mobile phone and, fortunately for me, called for the paramedics who responded admirably. I was so thankful for everyone’s help. I was taken to hospital and slowly began to recover from this nightmare. I spent most of the day there being monitored and slowly the head cleared and the sickness decreased. The next day I was physically back to normal, but very concerned at what had

happened. I had previously known that I was slightly allergic to bee stings but was unaware that this sensitivity could increase with exposure. This time the reaction was so much stronger and faster and if I had not been with someone who could phone for medical help, I do not know what the outcome would have been especially as I was well away from anyone else. I am now trying to obtain an epi-pen and always carry anti-allergy tablets and have a much greater respect for allergies and their effects on the human body. BEE CAREFUL out there. It is quite incredible how such a small volume of toxin from a little insect can, in some cases, have such a dramatic effect on a person.

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

Tel: 01767 261727

Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts

GARDEN MACHINERY AND TRAILER CENTRE

 Personal customer service, collection and delivery available.  Assessment of individual requirements.  Full after sales backup and parts service.  NEW Oregon, the world's only unique battery operated, self-sharpening s In stock. chain saw.  Ride-on and pedestrian mowers, chainsaws, strimmers, hedge trimmers, cultivators, estate and equestrian equipment. Trailers - sales, hire, service.  Accessories, oils, Aspen fuel, batteries, spares, security locks for garden/ horticultural machinery and trailers. horticultu

Appointed dealers for:

 Main dealer for Briggs & Stratton, Honda, Kohler, Kawasaki & Mountfield engines.

Honeydon Road, Colmworth, Bedfordshire MK44 2LY

01234 376513 www.bri-ag.co.uk

Open Monday to Friday 8am to 5pm and Saturday 9am to 12pm

FRE

OTA TIO

 Fencing Services  Security Fences  Garden Fences  Gates  Repair & Restoration Call 01767 316901 or 07927 748460

Email: rsfencingservices83@gmail.com Web: www.rsfencingservices.co.uk

Our services extend across Beds, Herts and Cambs from RS Fencing To advertise in The Villager and Town Life please call 01767 261122

GARDEN DESIGNERS

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

Tel: 07802 355122 Email: coxjames416@yahoo.com

GILKS FENCING LTD

All Types of Fencing, Gates & Railings, SUPPLIED & INSTALLED

Call for a FREE Survey & Quotation Visit our Display Area at:

Gilks Fencing

Drove Road, Gamlingay, Sandy, Beds SG19 2HX Tel:

01767 650 615

Email:

gilksfencing@hotmail.com

www.gilksfencing.co.uk 54

Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts

Rats-tales

Pets By Tracey Anderson

Why you should consider a rat as your next pet Rats suffer from bad press, but these intelligent little rodents actually make delightful pets, as celebrities from Paris Hilton to John Cleese can testify. Rupert Grint, who played Ron Weasley in the Harry Potter films fell in love with the two rats who played Scabbers and asked to adopt them when filming ended. They are clean creatures and groom themselves frequently and diligently. They can even be trained to use a litter tray! They’re smart and empathetic too. Rats are intelligent, highly social and inquisitive little animals. They spend lots of time exploring and playing, and form life-long bonds They recognise their owners and respond to their voice. They will choose to hang out with their human family members on the couch or riding on their shoulders. They have an uncomplicated diet. Commercial ‘rat blocks’, which are nutritionally-complete pellets available at pet stores can be supplemented with vegetables from your kitchen. T&G131x93AdvertReady.pdf The only thing better than one rat is two07/06/2015 rats! They do13:34:43 better in pairs because they keep each other amused.

CMY

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

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

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

YOUR LOCAL EXPERT PLUMBING & DRAINAGE SERVICE

No call out charges • Pre-fixed price 24/7 • 365 days a year

Call your local plumber today

For your Free Estimate call Joe on:

Biggleswade, Sandy & Surrounding Areas

01767 - 260 550

01767 662040

DDR Bedford Villager 62x93.indd 1

07/11/2017 16:46:27

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

RESINBOUND DRIVEWAYS

MAINTENANCE AND WEED FREE HARD WEARING QUICK INSTALLATION CAN BE USED AS OVERLAY BESPOKE DESIGNS SUITABLE FOR DRIVEWAYS, PATHS AND PATIOS • 10 YEAR GUARANTEE • • • • • •

0800 046 1080 hello@thehomeimprovementproject.co.uk www.thehomeimprovementproject.co.uk 56

Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts

Animal

Pets

Know-How

As Bonfire Night approaches, lots of people start getting excited about watching fireworks and going to bonfire displays. However, the excitement is not shared by all. Many animals find fireworks scary. Did you know that approximately 45 percent of dogs in the UK show signs of fear when they hear fireworks? So, what can we do to help our pets during the Bonfire Night celebrations? There are a lot of straight forward things you can do to help your pet cope with fireworks. By preparing in advance before all the fireworks start, your pet will be able to cope better with the sudden loud bangs and bright lights. Ask your neighbours whether they are planning to have a firework display in their back garden or if they are going to attend an organised one. Read our top tips and find out how you can keep your pets safe and happy during the celebrations. f you have a dog, talk them for a walk during daylight hours, thus avoiding times when fireworks are being set off. Make sure all windows and curtains are closed as this will cushion and muffle the noises outside. You could always play some music or put the television on to mask the sound of the fireworks. This will help to create a calm atmosphere. If your dog is particularly nervous and frightened, we would suggest making a quiet hiding place where your dog can go to feel safe and in control. It is important to follow their lead, as different pets cope with fireworks in different ways. Providing a safe place to hide is really sensible but be aware some dogs might

prefer to be near their owners. Keep a close eye on them and try to gauge how they are feeling. Have plenty of toys to hand to distract them, if there are any sudden noises. Cats would also benefit from having places to hide. Perhaps make two or three around your home, for them to retreat to if they start to feel stressed. Cats often feel safest when they are high up, so they may prefer a space on a shelf or a cupboard. Avoid picking up cats or restraining them as cats prefer to control how they cope. Like dogs, cats respond to the soothing voice of their owner, and can often mimic the emotions of their owners. For example â&#x20AC;&#x201C; if their owner is frightened or becomes startled that will unsettle the animal. Many of us have outdoor pets living in hutches and cages. These small animals are particularly vulnerable by being outside. Some owners of small animals prefer to bring them indoors during the Bonfire Night celebrations. If that is not practical, you could partially cover outdoor cages and pens with blankets. This acts as soundproofing and will provide your pets with an area to take shelter and hide. Other animals may benefit from being given extra bedding so they can burrow and hide from the loud noises and bright lights. Garages and sheds can also be used as a temporary homes for your outdoor pets. So, whatever you are doing on Bonfire Night, have fun, stay safe and think carefully about how to keep your pets safe and happy.

Brought to you by the RSPCA Bedfordshire North Branch www.rspca-bedfordshirenorth.org.uk To advertise in The Villager and Town Life please call 01767 261122

Pets

Rehoming Appeal Kiera & Narla Kiera and Narla are two tortoiseshell coloured cats that came to RATS from the same home. Kiera, is the dark tortoiseshell and she is 3 years old. She is a lively, outgoing cat who is playful and loves attention. Narla is 4 years old. She is quite shy and not as confident and outgoing as Kiera. Once she gets to know you, she is really a very sweet, gentle little cat who likes to be fussed. Both cats are neutered, microchipped and vaccinated and they can be homed together or separately, but a home without young children would be preferable for them. If you would like to find out more about either or both of these pretty cats, please contact Liz on 01767 681157. Alternatively, please email Philippa at info.rats@gmail.com who will be pleased to forward your enquiry onto the team. View other dogs, cats and small mammals currently in our care for re-homing on our website: www.rats-animalrescue.co.uk or facebook: www.facebook.com/ratscharity. You can also see photographs and details of the animals in our care in our charity shop in Hitchin Street, Biggleswade SG18 8AX. Open Monday to Saturday from 10.00 am until 4.00 pm.

Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts

Our Pride - Your Joy • Conservatories • Orangeries • Sunrooms • Porches • Composite Entrance Doors • Bi-Folding Doors • Energy Rated Glazing • Garage Conversions • Tiled Roof Garden Rooms • Re-Furbish Your Existing Conservatory Your specialist local company, who build with care and dedication from design to completion

CALL 0800 0751779 Visit our online showroom at

“The new generation of living space”

QUALITY HOME IMPROVEMENTS

01438 728485 07796 394883

www.conservatech.co.uk www.refurbishmyconservatory.com To advertise in The Villager and Town Life please call 01767 261122

Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts

Ask Alan Dear Alan, My dog is on an opioid painkiller and I heard on the news that it can be addictive, do I need to worry? Trying to prevent and relieve pain to prevent suffering is one of the mainstays of our work as vets. There are a wide variety of medications available for pain relief but the most powerful painkillers are the opioids (group of drugs related to morphine) and these are normally reserved for the most severe pain, or when pain does not respond to any other treatment. Any effective medication affects the body and so may give rise to side effects. The side effects of opioids are quite severe, including a tendency to cause addiction in people and also in animals. This is why vets request that any animal on long-term medication comes in for regular health checks. Painkillers (including opioids), used responsibly and under veterinary supervision are very

Pets important to prevent suffering. If, however, we approach pain holistically and also use a variety of means to relieve it (physiotherapy, K-Laser, heat and cold therapy, acupuncture, etc) then we can minimize side effects and really improve quality of life. So, while you need to be aware of the risks, there is no need to worry, as long as your dog is regularly assessed. 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.

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

Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts

• • • • • •

Swimming Lessons

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

Call Heather on Tel: 01767 631053 Mob: 07511168499

Email: tadlowswimming@btinternet.com

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

Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts

Motoring

These are the best seven-seaters on sale today Need plenty of space, both for luggage and occupants too? You’ll want a seven-seater then. Fortunately there are plenty of options, offering a choice of body styles from a variety of brands. But which are best? Land Rover Discovery - This list was always destined to feature Land Rover’s go-anywhere Discovery. As well as seven comfortable seats, its off-road technology makes it just as capable at scaling steep inclines as it is making the weekly shopping run. It’s expensive, but the Discovery comes loaded with equipment and is available with a range of engine choices. Volvo XC90 - The first-generation XC90 stormed the market thanks to its rock-solid build quality and efficiency. The latest edition continues the legacy, albeit with a lot more technology and equipment. It’s also one of the safest cars on the market thanks to a raft of assistance systems. For families, there are few better options than the XC90. Seat Alhambra - For the best possible passenger space, look no further than the Seat Alhambra. It may be a little outdated inside, but makes up for it with a huge amount of interior room. It’s also surprisingly good to drive, and frugal, too. As the Alhambra is not a new model, you’re likely to find good deals at the forecourt. Skoda Kodiaq - Skoda hit the nail on the sevenseater head when it released the Kodiaq. Rocksolid build quality and incredible value for money meant that this Czech SUV enjoyed immediate popularity and has continued to do so. It’s available with a range of efficient engines too, including a new performance-orientated model, the Kodiaq vRS.

Audi Q7 - The big Q7 flies the flag for premium manufacturers here, offering that top-notch driving experience you’d expect from an Audi. A high-quality interior and silky-smooth petrol and diesel engines seal the deal. There’s the allconquering SQ7 available too – which puts many ‘normal’ performance cars to shame. Tesla Model X - Representing the electric contingent is Tesla’s Model X. Spaceship-like in design, it’s a real looker out on the road. A realistic 300-mile all-electric range means it’s usable for long-distance drivers, too. Though it may be expensive to buy outright, the Model X justifies its high price tag with minimal running costs and plenty of performance. Mercedes GLS - The Mercedes GLS takes the fight to the Audi Q7, and having recently been updated, packs more technology and features than ever before. A longer wheelbase than the car it replaces means there’s more space than before, and improved legroom for all occupants. The interior of the car has been vastly overhauled, with a full widescreen infotainment system helping to give the cabin a particularly high-tech feel. Ford S-Max - Though Ford’s S-Max has been around a little while now, it’s still one of the bestdriving seven-seaters around, and offers genuine practicality as well. A range of frugal engines help to keep trips to the pump to a minimum, and build quality is solid. A range-topping Vignale is now available, though even lower trims get a vast amount of standard equipment.

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

By James Baggott

QUALITY KITCHEN FACELIFTS

Do You Dream Of A New Kitchen? EST. kit U ch K’s 1999 en l fac ead eli ing ft ex pe rt!

Before

Why replace when you can reface? • Large choice of made to measure doors, worktops & appliances

Like us on Facebook to follow the latest kitchen trends; facebook.com/DreamDoorsEastHerts

• Less time, money and hassle than a full kitchen re-fit

Call our friendly staff for a free estimate:

• Installed in a matter of days by local skilled tradesmen

dreamdoors.co.uk

• The whole process managed from design to completion 66

9.7 / 10 for customer satisfaction on Checkatrade. Dream Doors East Herts won the Checkatrade Franchise of the Year Award 2017.

01920 463 302 Dream Doors East Herts, 5 Star Street, Ware, Hertfordshire, SG12 7AA

Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts

Food & Drink

Pineapple Teriyaki Grains with In the ten years since I started hosting the Weekend Kitchen on BBC Three Counties Radio, the rise in popularity of vegetarian and vegan dishes has been phenomenal. We’ve come a long way from the days where guests would say “it tastes good for a vegan dish”. Chefs are now creating fantastic food, standing alone for quality in its own right. First comes the taste, second comes whether it happens to be vegan or not. One such very creative young chef is Greg Owen, who runs the funky Monstera Canteen in Luton. His food is fabulous, and this lovely vegan dish was a big hit on my show. Don’t be concerned by the list of ingredients. You can sub in and out any grains, and just use any vegetables which you have to hand. Ingredients: Serves 4 Grains 100g brown rice 100g pearl barley 100g freekeh 80g wild rice 80g oats Sauce 4 tbsp soy sauce 1 can pineapple slices or chunks 2 tbsp Mirin 1 tbsp garlic 2 tbsp brown sugar (or maple syrup) 1 tsp ginger (optional) 1 tsp garlic powder (optional) 1 tbsp rice wine vinegar (optional) Vegetables 50g edamame beans 50g carrot, chopped 50g courgette, chopped 1 small Leek, sliced 1 Red onion, chopped 1/4 chilli (optional) Handful of Rocket (optional) Coriander leaves (optional) Sesame seeds (optional) For the Crispy Mushrooms 4 large flat mushrooms Plain flour Panko breadcrumbs Unsweetened soya milk (or any similar milk) 1 tsp apple cider vinegar

Crispy Mushrooms

1. Cook all the grains as per the packet instructions. You can cook them all in the same pan, or, better still, in a pressure cooker. 2. Chuck all the sauce ingredients in a blender, blitz and set aside. 3. Mix a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar in a smallish bowl of milk and whisk with a work for a few seconds. The acidity will naturally thicken the milk into a butter milk style. 4. Prepare a bowl of plain flour and a separate bowl of breadcrumbs. 5. Remove the stalk and slice the jumbo mushrooms horizontally into two discs. 6. Dust in flour, then dip in the milk, then into breadcrumbs to coat. You can shallow fry them, deep fry them, or spray with oil and bake in the oven too. 7. Sauté all the veg until they are cooked but still with a nice bite. 8. Mix in the sauce, then add the cooked grains, stir for another 2 minutes and plate up! 9. You can garnish the top of this dish with rocket, chopped chillis, coriander and sesame seeds. 10. Finally slice the cooked crispy breaded mushrooms and arrange on top to serve.

Hear wonderful recipes on Nick Coffer’s Weekend Kitchen every Sunday morning on BBC Three Counties radio at 11am. You can also join Nick every weekday afternoon at midday for brilliant local guests with great stories to tell and all the music you want for your early afternoon.

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

Window Doctor Repairs to Windows, Doors & Conservatories

The original oven cleaning specialists

Oven Clean will transform your oven and put sparkle back into your kitchen Friendly, local, professional and reliable Complete eco friendly cleaning system

• • • • • • •

No fumes, no mess, no bother Removes grease, fats and burnt on carbon

30 Years Experience

Ovens | Filters | Hobs Grills | Extractors

Contact Stewart Gyles on T: 0798 444 1638 or

Call John on 07513 439604 www.ovenclean.com

enclean 9-15.indd 1

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

01767 221 057

E: stewy_133@msn.com

17/09/2015 16:10

Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts

DRIFTWOOD JOINERY LTD Specialists in Bespoke Joinery

Conservatories • Doors • Windows Staircases Handmade Kitchens Handmade Bedroom Furniture

Unit 12, Gracious Farm, Southill, Beds SG18 9JB T: 01462 816695 F: 01462 850915 E: info@driftwoodjoinery.com

COUNTRY STOVES & SWEEPS STOVE/GAS FIRE INSTALLATION • Wood Burning/Multi Fuel Stove & Gas Fire Installation • Chimney Lining • Twin Wall Flue Systems • Free Survey & Quotation

EPS

CHIMNEY SWEEPING • Brush & Vacuum Sweep • Smoke Test

• Clean & Tidy • Insurance Certificate • Bird Guards Fitted

From

40.00

£ T:

01767 627591 - Northill, Beds

E: countrystovesandsweeps@gmail.com

www.countrystovesandsweeps.co.uk

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

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

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

0800 046 1080 30% OFF ORDERS PLACED IN OCTOBER hello@thehomeimprovementproject.co.uk www.thehomeimprovementproject.co.uk 70

Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts

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

Tel: 01767 261622 Mob: 07947 732883 Email: dialporter01@tiscali.co.uk

Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts

UALITY

P.E.JAMES

Â®

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

UALITY

Domestic Plumbing, Heating & Gas

Boiler Servicing Maintenance and Repairs

- OVER 30 YEARS IN THE TRADE - CITY & GUILDS CERTIFIED - REFERRALS & RECOMMENDATIONS AVAILABLE - NO VAT Call Pete:

Reg No. 193542

01767 680791 wilkinschimneysweep.co.uk/bedford

07816 586 777

Guaranteed Friendly Service, look out for the... ...Blue Van & Big Smile

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

n O s ’ t Wha In October

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

1 October Hatley Coffee Morning 10am-1pm Hatley Village Hall Come along for a chat, coffee/tea and a slice of cake. Donations on the day. All donations split between Hatley Village Hall and Hatley St George Church. First Tuesday of the every month. 1 October Potton Ladies Club 7.30pm Mill Lane Pavilion, Mill Lane, Potton Visitors £5 inc. light refreshments. Flower arranging on a Harvest Theme by Sarah Hulatt. Visitors welcome. Tel: Sarah Burgoine 01767 631415 Email: sarahjburgoine@gmail.com 1, 8, 15, 22 & 29 October Biggleswade Ivel Badminton Club 8-10.30pm Biggleswade Recreation Centre (Stratton Leisure Centre) £3 per night. Seeking competitive badminton players wishing to play in local leagues. Visitors welcome. Email: IvelBC@hotmail.com Facebook: Facebook.com/IvelBC 1, 8, 15, 22 & 29 October Biggleswade Board Game Group 7.30-10.30pm George’s Hall, 67 High Street, Biggleswade Meets every Tuesday to play modern board games in a friendly atmosphere. New and experienced players welcome - bring your own games or try something new, there are always plenty available to play. Facebook: Biggleswade Board Game Group 1, 8, 15, 22 & 29 October Phoenix Chorus 7.45-10.15pm Potton Lower School Have you loved the a capella singing shows on TV? Could you be pitch perfect with us? Phoenix A Capella Chorus meets every Tuesday. Visitors always welcome. Tel: Sarah 07842 101799 Email: pro@phoenixladies.co.uk Web: https://phoenixladies.co.uk 2 October Aircraft Enthusiasts’ Group 1pm Princess Charlotte Room, Shuttleworth Visitors £5 inc. raffle ticket. ‘The Flying Doctor Service’ with Graham Laurie. The group meets on the first Wednesday of every month. Enjoy lunch in the Shuttleworth restaurant before the meeting. Lots of free parking. Email: 99aegr@gmail.com Web: www.a-e-g.org.uk 2 October Sandy Night Owls Women’s Institute 7.30pm Sandy Conservative Club Visitors £4. Meets on the first Wednesday of each month (except August). Friendly group where guests will receive a warm welcome and enjoy a varied programme and refreshments. This month we are holding a Beetle Drive so come along and try us out for fun. Email: sandynightowlswi@gmail.com

2 October Gamlingay & District Gardening Club 7.30pm The Kier Suite, Eco Hub, Stocks Lane, Gamlingay Visitors £3 inc. refreshments. Luci Skinner of Woottens of Wenhaston. Everything you have wanted to know about growing irises. These beautiful plants are now very fashionable again. Come and Learn why! Visitors welcome. 2, 4, 7, 9, 11, 14, 16, 18, 21, 23, 25, 28 & 30 October- ‘Open Door’ 10-11.30am Potton Salvation Army, Chapel Street Tea/coffee, chat and browse various stalls on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. All welcome. Tel: 01767 261138 for further info 2, 9, 16, 23 & 30 October Moo Music Sandy, Biggleswade & Shefford 10-10.40am Sandy Methodist Church Music and movement classes for 0-5 year olds. Original moosic, lots of moovement, dancing, sensory and role play. First session free. Tel: 07981 825654 Email: Heather sandymoo@moo-music.co.uk Web: www.moo-music.co.uk/sbs

2, 9, 16, 23 & 30 October Ivel Bereavement Support Centre 10am-12 noon The Community Rooms, Baptist Church, 24 London Road, Biggleswade Has a loved one died? Are you struggling coming to terms with it? Perhaps we can help you at our drop in centre on Wednesdays. Tel: Linda 07704734225 2, 9, 16 & 30 October Mums and Dads Coffee Morning 9-10am Moggerhanger Church Bring your pre-school children with you. Toys available in the church. Tea/coffee, juice, biscuits £1 with fruit juice for your pre-school children. 3 October Sandy Astronomical Society Mama’s Coffee Shop General meeting. Facebook: www.facebook.com/ groups/SandyAstronomicalSociety 3 October Biggleswade Camera Club – Inspiration and Motivation in Photography 7.30pm for 8pm-10pm The Sullivan Room, Weatherley Centre, Orchard Close, Biggleswade Non-members £3. A digital presentation by Ann Miles FRPS EFIAP MPAGB FBPE. All welcome. 3, 10, 17, 24 & 31 October Moo Music Sandy, Biggleswade & Shefford 10-10.40am Sutton Village Hall Music and movement classes for 0-5 year olds. Original moosic, lots of moovement, dancing, sensory and role play. First session free. Tel: 07981 825654 Email: Heather sandymoo@moo-music.co.uk Web: www.moo-music.co.uk/sbs

3, 10, 17, 24 & 31 October Amici Singers 7.30-9.45pm Trinity Methodist Church, Shortmead Street, Biggleswade Membership £15 per term (£45 per year). The Amici Singers, a women’s chorus of 60 voices, meets on Thursday evenings under the Direction of Douglas Coombes MBE. We welcome all voices and ages and there aren’t any auditions. If you are interested to join please contact Carole. Tel: 01767 2603661 4, 11, 18 & 25 October Get Fit Keep Fit 9.30-10.30am Moggerhanger Village Hall £5. Join Tina or Josh as they take you through a light-hearted sequence with a warm-up, exercises designed to improve muscular fitness, brain coordination, balance and general well-being, then a cool-down. It’s not over-strenuous; it’s fun and makes you feel good. Tel: 01767 640124 4, 11, 18 & 25 October Lego Club 3.45-5.00pm Potton Library Love Lego? Come along and get building! Every Friday afternoon. 4, 11, 18 & 25 October Sandy Ukulele Group 7-9pm Baptist Chapel Hall, Bedford Road, Sandy Meets every Friday. Visitors welcome. Email: sandyukulelegroup1@gmail.com Web: www.sandyukulelegroup.com 4 & 18 October Craft and Chatter 7.30-10pm St Marys Church Hall, Potton £2.50 inc. refreshments. Bring your own project. Cross stitch, sewing, knitting, crochet, embroidery or something else. www.facebook.com/craftandchatter 5 October Coffee Morning 10-11.30am Potton Salvation Army, Chapel Street Coffee, tea, bacon butties, homemade cakes, cards, bric-a-brac, books, jigsaws etc. Coffee Mornings are held on the first Saturday of every month except January. All welcome. Tel: 01767 261138 5 October The Signals Museum Open Day 10am-4pm The Signals Museum at RAF Henlow is open to the public. Entry is free but official photo ID is required to get an entry ticket from the Guardroom. Web: www.rafsignalsmuseum.org.uk 5 October Cambridgeshire and Bedfordshire Hardy Plant Society 2pm Weatherley Centre, Eagle Farm Road, Biggleswade John Amand with ‘Unusual bulbs and how they get to your garden’. John is the Managing Director of Jacques Amand International and a new speaker for the group. Web: www.hpscambsandbeds.co.uk

Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts

n O s ’ t Wha In October

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

5 October Performers & Pints 8.30 for 8.45pm - 11.30pm The Rising Sun, 11 Everton Road, Potton A great community night out of fresh live music for all. Four Singer Songwriter Music Acts - Lizzy Hardingham, Gavin Chappell-Bates, Minnie Birch and Christian Smith. Please note this is the penultimate Performers and Pints, so if you have been before but not for a while, come down for some fantastic music before it ends on 23 November. Web: www.facebook.com/performerspints 5 & 6 October Harvest Festival Celebration 10am-5pm St Mary’s Church, Everton A Harvest Festival celebration with flowers and produce displays accompanied by a Harvest of Talents with displays from local groups and individuals. Harvest Festival Service - Sunday 4pm. 5, 12, 19 & 26 October Lego & K’Nex Club 1.45-3.30pm Potton Library Love Lego and K’NEX? Come along and get building! 6, 13, 20 & 27 October Hare & Hounds Hash House Harriers 11am H5 are a social running and walking club for mixed abilities, meeting every week in the Bedfordshire area. The trail is set by our hare from a local pub and typically lasts 1 hour covering between 3 and 4 miles. Family and dog friendly. Email: info@h5hashers.org.uk Web: www.H5hashers.org.uk 7, 14, 21 & 28 October Ballroom and Latin Dance Classes 7.30-9.30pm Sutton Village Hall £9 per person. For adult beginners. Come along for a fun evening and learn to dance, especially if you have two left feet. Tel: 07958 877440 Email: info@learn2dancesandy.co.uk 7, 14, 21 & 28 October Branch Out Social Club for Single People 8.30-11pm Cromwell Bar, The Sun Hotel, Hitchin Branch Out meets every Monday night and is a medium-sized Social Club for single people. The club organises regular events, day and weekend trips and holidays. Tel: Lorna 01438 233657 Web: www.branch-out.org.uk 8 October Sutton WI 7.30pm Sutton Village Hall The group meets on the second Tuesday of every month. Please feel free to join us!

12 October Sandy Historical Research Group 10am-1pm Sandy Town Council Chamber, Cambridge Road Admission £2, Members free Sandy at War Exhibition. Bring your Sandy memories, photos, etc. Refreshments available.

17 October Biggleswade Poetry Table 7.45-9pm The Courtyard Centre, 6 High Street, Biggleswade Grab a drink and join us to share poems. We look forward to hearing any poem you’d like to bring. Email: leah@leahkstewart.com

12 October Autumn Craft and Gift Fair 10am-3pm Great Barford Village Hall, Fisher’s Close Admission £1. Craft and gift stalls, tombola, cake stall, raffle. Refreshments served all day. Proceeds to All Saints’ Church and Great Barford Women’s Institute.

19 October Coffee Extra 10-11.30am Potton Salvation Army, Chapel Street Tel: 01767 261138 for further info

14 October Sandy Flower Club 7.30pm Conservative Bowls Club Pavilion (Rear of the Conservative Club, Bedford Road) Visitors £5. The Flower Club meets second Monday in the month (excluding Aug. Dec. & Jan). New members and visitors welcome. Raffle and tea/ coffee. Call for more information or follow us on Facebook. Tel: Sue Alexander 01767 699729 15 October Sandy Women’s Institute 10am Sandy Conservative Club Meets on the third Tuesday of each month (except August). If you would like to give us a try before committing to full membership, visitors are welcome (cost £4). Tel: Val Haygarth (President) 01767 691711. Email: sandywibeds@gmail.com 15 October Potton Writer’s Club 7-9pm Potton Community Centre £3. Meets on the third Tuesday of each month. This month’s theme is ‘Dog days’. A day in the life of a person’s best friend, or the hot sultry days of summer when it’s too warm for any activity at all – you choose! All welcome - please call or email in advance so we know to expect you. Light refreshments. Tel: Tracey 07778 148030 Email: info pottonwriters@gmail.com 17 October Sandy Astronomical Society 7-9pm Blunham Playing Field Public viewing (weather permitting) using telescopes. Facebook: www.facebook.com/groups/ SandyAstronomicalSociety

17 October A Sidecar Named Despair! 7.30pm Little Gransden Village Hall 10 October Tickets £12, 18s and under £10. A comedy by Biggleswade Evening Women’s Institute Common Ground Theatre Company. Take a ride up 7.45pm The Weatherley Centre, the comedy freeway with a tale of mobsters, missing Eagle Farm Road, Biggleswade gems and a mashed-up motorbike. Tickets from A new group which meets on the second Thursday of Great Gransden Village Stores, by telephone or email. each month (except August). Guests welcome. Tel: S Sullivan 01767 677906 Email: ssulledit@aol.com Web: www.commongroundtc.co.uk

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

20 October Biggleswade Antique & Vintage Fair 9.30am-4pm The Weatherley Centre, Eagle Farm Road, Biggleswade Entrance £2, Under 16s free if accompanied by an adult. Diverse range of antiques and collectables this monthly fair is the place to visit. Café serving breakfast, lunch and afternoon tea. Tel: 01480 382432 or 07906 647346 Web: www.madisonevents.co.uk 21 October Biggleswade Women’s Institute 10am The Weatherley Centre, Eagle Farm Road, Biggleswade Visitors £4. Meets on every third Monday of the month except August. Susa Drage will talk about ‘Recycling with a Difference’. Visitors welcome. Email: biggleswadewi@gmail.com 24 October Biggleswade and District Flower Arrangement Society 7.30pm The Weatherley Centre, Biggleswade If you love flowers, we invite you to join us on the fourth Thursday of the month for “flowers and fellowship” where you will be able to relax with fellow enthusiasts and our guest demonstrators. No need to consider yourself a flower arranger, all you need is the sense of joy in the beauty of flowers. Please call Moira for further details about the club. Tel: Moira Fuller (Chairman) 01767 316104 24 October Potton History Society 8pm Potton Community Centre, Brook End Members free, Visitors £3 inc. refreshments. ‘Potton WW2 Aircraft Accidents’ with Graham Hague. Graham has researched the Stirling Bomber crashes in our area and can now clear up some of the unanswered questions about the background to the disasters. Web: www.pottonhistorysociety.org.uk Facebook: www.facebook.com/groups/ pottonhistorysociety 25 October Sandy Historical Society 7.30pm Stonecroft Hall, St Swithins Way, Sandy Members & Students free, Visitors £2.50 inc. refreshments. ‘Burgoyne Family & Sutton Park’ by Chris Walker. Tel: 01767 680171

Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts

T&R Roofing Ltd

Family Business Est. 1985

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

All NEW work guaranteed Fully insured for employer & Public Liability Call Tony Simpson for a FREE estimate on:

01767 314847 mob. 07831849847

Mark Dilley Electrical

JL Oil Heating

OFTECH registered and insured

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

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

Tel: 01767 261008 Mob: 07990 895430

mark.dilley@btinternet.com

Services Repairs Boiler installations Tank installations LPG Gas

Contact Jamie on 01767 690977 07724 447566 Jlugmayer4@btinternet.com

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

We clean your ovenâ&#x20AC;Ś. ....so you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have to. Call today to have your oven, hob, extractor or Aga professionally cleaned

Rob Radford contact details Tel: 01767 640594 Mobile: 07960 467805 www.ovenwizards.com

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

01438 211302 info@eastanglianloftladders.co.uk eastanglianloftladders.co.uk 78

Call now for a free, no obligation quotation

Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts

Technology

Things that go bump in the night How to protect your tech from disaster

Ghosts aren’t the only thing we need to worry about over Halloween: there’s also the ever-present risk of dropping or damaging your device. Whether it’s lumps, bumps or ending up underwater, all kinds of horrors can affect our phones, tablets and laptops. One way to prevent problems is to look for hardy hardware in the first place. For example, many smartphones (e.g. a recent Samsung Galaxy or iPhone) now boast what’s called IP68 certification, which means they’re water and dust resistant. If you have an older phone, you can buy protective cases that promise IP68 protection for around £15. It’s important to understand what IP68 and its sister rating, IP67, actually mean – and remember, water resistance is not the same as waterproofing. IP67 and IP68 tell you that a phone can be immersed in a specific depth of water for a specific amount of time: one metre deep and half an hour for IP67, rising to one and a half metres for IP68. This means

that when new, your phone can be dropped in pure water and survive for a short time. Pure is important, because chlorine in swimming pools or salt in the sea is very corrosive. Repeated exposure to either will eventually wear away the seals and damage your phone’s water resistance. One of the biggest dangers for devices is being dropped or scratched. Solve the former with a protective case, and the latter with a screen protector. Plastic screen protectors are harder to fit properly because of air bubbles, but glass ones can crack and can be hard to remove when they’ve been scuffed. Protective cases come in a variety of flavours, styles and prices. The trick is to think about what kind of protection you want, so for example if you’ve got kids it’s worth looking for a relatively thick case with very large lips, so when – and it’s a case of when, not if – the device gets dropped, the case keeps the screen well away from the floor. Some kids’ cases include

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

carrying handles that make them less likely to be dropped in the first place. For grown-ups, it’s about striking a balance between substance and style: you want protection, but not so much protection you can’t fit it in your bag or pocket. Slim cases can still do a very good job of protecting your phone’s back and sides, but they do leave the screen relatively exposed: it’s a good idea to look for one that still has a bit of a lip around the screen and to put a good screen protector on too. No matter what protection you use, it’s designed for relatively minor things – so for example most protective cases are designed to protect from drops of a few feet, not from the top of a ladder. If the worst happens and your phone is seriously and expensively damaged, check your home insurance: it may well cover the damage to your phone. If you have a bank account that offers various rewards for a monthly fee, you may have phone insurance in there too.

Codeword 1

ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ

Easy Suduko

Hard Suduko

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

Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts

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

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

C.S.

ROOFING SERVICES LTD

Flat Roofing • Tile Roofing • Slating Leadwork • Guttering • uPVC Fascias & Soffits Free Quotations Fully Insured

40 Years Collective Experience 10 Year Guarantee on all work

Tel: 07305 641010 Email: charliesewell@hotmail.co.uk To advertise in The Villager and Town Life please call 01767 261122

C.S Roofing Services Limited 81

Motoring

Going Dutch

First introduced in the Netherlands, where it is now part of their driving test, road safety bodies in the UK are promoting the technique of using your LEFT hand to open the driver’s door. This action means you will naturally turn your head to the right and thus look back over your shoulder for oncoming, or passing, cyclists. The Dutch Reach, as it’s called, has been endorsed by a major UK private-hire firm, who now incorporate it into their driver training, and Olympic cycling gold-medallist Laura Kenny. And I can see why Laura would lend her name to this door-opening method: last year a survey of 2,000 cyclists found that over 60% either had personal experience of a car door being opened in their path, or knew someone who had. Just over half of those surveyed had sustained an injury as a result, some requiring hospital attention. In the last couple of years there have been changes to the Driving Test in order, it’s said, “to

bring it into line with today’s road conditions”. Perhaps, with the increase in cycling, which is no bad thing, the Government should consider introducing this door-opening technique into the driving test? It may seem trivial, but we are taught to look over our right shoulder before entering the carriageway, so why not do the same for when we exit the vehicle? In the meantime, incorporating the Dutch Reach into your driving might just save a cyclist?

By Iain Betson

3 Windows 3 Doors 3 Conservatories 3 Orangeries 3 Bi folds 3 Repairs T: 01767 765440 82

E: sales@i-glaze.co.uk

W: www.i-glaze.co.uk

Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts

Electrician

www.hertsandbedselectrical.co.uk

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

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

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

MELTON

PLUMBING

AND

HEATING

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

We can professionally clean... Carpets Upholstery Fascias Soffits Gutters Conservatories Patios Driveways

Based in St. Neots Covering All Surrounding Areas

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

01767 222 822 07812 335 860 www.pkcleaningservicesltd.co.uk Find us on

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

WALL COATING

ALL REPAIRS UNDERTAKEN BREATHABLE COATINGS WEATHER PROOF SMOOTH OR TEXTURED SELF CLEANING PROTECTS YOUR WALLS CLEAN & TIDY INSTALLATION SUITABLE FOR MASONRY OR RENDER • COLOUR MATCH AVAILABLE • 10 YEAR GUARANTEE • • • • • • • •

Before After

0800 046 1080 hello@thehomeimprovementproject.co.uk www.thehomeimprovementproject.co.uk 84

Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts

September’s Puzzle Solutions and Winners Last Month’s Crossword Winner Mr T James from Huntingdon Ed Byrne Competition Winner Cloe Turnbull from Hitchin

Easy

Hard

Seasoned Firewood Locally sourced hardwood Split and fully seasoned

£75 a Dumpy Bag 0r 2 bags at £70 each Including delivery (Builders Bag)

Simon Gurry 07734 159501 Don’t shiver, we deliver To advertise in The Villager and Town Life please call 01767 261122

The Villager Prize Crossword

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

16th October 2019 Prize Crossword, Villager Publications Ltd

Prize

ÂŁ25

Across 1 Actors in a play (4) 3 Grow or enlarge (8) 9 At rest (7) 10 Odd (5) 11 Numerical (12) 14 Short sleep (3) 16 Very angry (5) 17 Epoch (3) 18 However (12) 21 Call in (5) 22 Spiciest (7) 23 Agitated (8) 24 Classification (4) Down 1 Ritual (8) 2 Divided (5) 4 Head movement (3) 5 Necessities (12) 6 The mean value (7) 7 Beige (4) 8 Exploratory (12) 12 Adjust (5) 13 Tape container (8) 15 Crushes (7) 19 Foe (5) 20 Above (4) 22 Owns (3)

24 Market Square, Potton, Beds SG19 2NP Name: Tel:

ď&#x20AC;˘

Address:

Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts

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

• Remote Control Door

SANDY • POTTON • All Major Brands

Supplied and Serviced

BIGGLESWADE • Call for a Free AND SURROUNDING AREAS

Quotation

• OAP Rates Available

01767 260165 Sandy

01480 210410 Eaton Socon To advertise in The Villager and Town Life please call 01767 261122

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

01767 680762 07972 622305 shadbeam@tiscali.co.uk

Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts

Parenting

The Parents’ Evening Survival Guide Top five tips for a successful meeting Talk to your child - Children are often apprehensive about parents’ evenings. Even a quiet, well-behaved child may worry a teacher will complain about them. Ask your child if they have any issues with their lessons or with classmates. Make them understand that the meeting is held for their benefit. Let them know you’re on their side and that you’ll help sort things out. Prepare – Write down important questions. You have a limited time with teachers. A list of questions prevents you from missing important points in the discussion. Discuss any problems – Share insights about your child in the By Karen Campbell meeting. Let the teacher know if they are upset about things like a grandparent being poorly, or their dog dying. These insights may help a teacher understand why your child might be acting differently and let them know they need to be more sensitive. Listen to the teacher - They spend hours observing your child. Be aware that your child may behave differently in a school environment. If the teacher points out any negative qualities in your child don’t lose your temper. Take the suggestions on board for consideration and rebook another longer meeting for another day if you feel the situation merits it. Be on time – There will be other parents scheduled after you so make sure you are punctual; it will help with the general flow of the evening and you’ll have more time to talk.

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

Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts

Book Review By Kate Duggan

Classifieds Accountants

The Dutch House by Ann Patchett

This is a book about the bond between siblings, the repercussions of past events that echo down the years and the attachment people can feel for a place. In this case, the place is a big, grand house, and the siblings are Danny and his big sister, Maeve. Their mother flees when Danny is just a toddler, leaving Maeve to step into her shoes. When the children gain a stepmother, they soon learn they’re not welcome in their own home and the future they had planned comes tumbling down. A beautifully written, gentle book, The Dutch House is one to savour.

Tall Tales and Wee Stories by Billy Connolly

Tall Tales and Wee Stories brings together some of the most popular sketches from Billy Connolly’s 50 year career in comedy, including Jojoba Shampoo, The Last Supper, Shouting at Wildebeest and more. Dip in when you need an instant pick-me-up after a bad day. (Just don’t read it on the train, unless you don’t mind snorting with laughter in public.)

Time to Cook by Nadiya Hussain

Like to eat home-cooked food but often struggle to find the time? This book is for you. From batch-cooking to making the most of leftovers, plus plenty of quick and simple recipes, Time to Cook is a treasure trove of ideas. Enjoy Harissa Bean Pizza for brunch (with just ten minutes hands-on time), followed by One Tray Peanut Chicken for dinner and Caramelized Biscuit Traybake for pudding.

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

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

Tel: 01462 732 628 • Mob: 07860 436 217

Builders “YOUNG’S BUILDERS” “YOUR LOCAL PROFESSIONAL MASTER BUILDERS” “QUALITY AND VALUE FROM START TO FINISH”

Garage conversions from £5.9K

Extension - Sunrooms

Call 07811 985568 or 01767 261803 www.youngsbuilders.co.uk “Free quotes • Excellent references”

• Extensions & Sunrooms • Garage & Loft Conversions • Walls, Patios & Decking • General Building Work • Property Maintenance

Domestic Appliance Repairs

Solo Appliances Domestic Appliance Repairs • • • •

Washing machines Tumble Dryers Dishwasher Electric Cookers/Ovens

Established over 30 years All work guaranteed

Tel: 07966 229085/01767 261847

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

Classifieds Domestic Appliance Repairs

Garden Specialist

JB Domestic

Hillier Garden Services

Guaranteed Repairs To: Washing Machines Tumble Dryers Electric Ovens/Cookers Dishwashers

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

01767 699252 07901 985123

No Call Out Charge! Tel: 01767 680621 Mobile: 07778 891490

Handy Man

Electricians

HGS Classified advert.indd 1

Electricians

Locksmith Services

Foot Health Practitioner

Painter & Decorator

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

14/04/2015 21:23

RICHBAW

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

Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts

Classifieds Painting Services

Plumbing and Heating

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

Bathroom installations FREE estimates Over 35 years experience Based in Gamlingay

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

Pet Services

Plumbing and Heating

Plastering Services

Property Improvements Property Improvements by

A professional property maintenance service

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

Tel: 01767 651821 Mob: 07773 973420

Plumbing

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

Property Improvements

Tel: 01767 650619 Mobile: 07870366414

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

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

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

Classifieds Property Maintenance

CJ Property Maintenance

Tiling

Free Estimates

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

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

Window Cleaner

Removals

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

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

Wood Suppliers

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

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

Roofing

Wood Suppliers

FOR SALE

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

Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts

USEFUL NUMBERS

VILLAGER The

and Town

Life

Alcoholics Anonymous..............................0845 769 7555 Al-Anon Family Groups..............................0800 008 6811 Anglian Water............................................08457 145 145 Bedford Hospital........................................ 01234 355122 Lister Hospital............................................ 01438 314333 Addenbrooks Hospital............................... 01223 245151 Benefits for people with Disabilities...........0800 882 200 Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue.................... 01234 351081 Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue................... 01438 729041 Carers Line..................................................0808 808 7777 ChildLine...........................................................0800 1111 Citizens Advice...........................................0344 245 1292

Bringing Local Business to Local People Your local full colour A5 monthly magazine delivered free of charge to 1000s of homes and businesses in your local area. The Villager and Town Life is dedicated to promoting local businesses, charities, community groups and everything else in your local area.

Cocaine Anonymous..................................0800 689 4732 Crimestoppers..............................................0800 555 111 Cruse Bereavement Care............................0333 252 9152 Floodline....................................................0845 988 1188 Frank-Drug Advisory....................................0800 776 600 National Debt Line.....................................0808 808 4000 Gas Emergency............................................0800 111 999 NHS Direct.........................................................0845 4647 National Rail Enquiries..............................03457 48 49 50 Non Emergency Police Line.........................................101 NSPCC.........................................................0808 800 5000 Relate..........................................................0845 48 49 50 RSPCA Cruelty Line....................................0300 1234 999 Samaritans............................................................116 123 Tax Credit Helpline.....................................0345 300 3900 Victim Support..........................................0845 30 30 900

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

Tel: 01767 261122

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

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

We look forward to seeing you at Friends during October. Below we have some fantastic offers for you to take advantage off. Open 6 days a week with 2 late evenings.

October Offers

On the day blow-drys for only ÂŁ10 (call up on the day and see what last minute slots we have left to offer)

Complimentary mask treatment for all Cut and Finish Appointments (must be quoted at time of booking for time allowance) Student offer for 1/2 term - 50% off Highlight services with our Apprentice Erin Must be a student and only valid from Monday 21st Oct - Friday 25th Oct

Red/Copper Autumn Offer Warm up for Autumn with autumnal colours and receive a Complimentary Cut & Finish (Must be a full head colour with ph bonder and quoted at time of booking) Combo Hair and Beauty Appointments on Mondays and Tuesdays Save 10% off both bills 10% off Our Luxurious Katherine Daniels Facials

Free consultation

Check out our Facebook page www.facebook.com/friendshair for all our special offers on hair and beauty

Call us on 01767 682789 Opening Hours: Monday, Tuesday & Friday 9.30am - 6.00pm Wednesday & Thursday 9.30 - 9.00pm, Saturday 8.30 - 4.00pm www.friendsfivestarhairdressing.com facebook.com/friendshair

Friends Five Star Hairdressing 1 Market Square, Sandy, Beds SG19 1HT