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Green Fingers 55
Seasons of mist
R.A.T.S. Rehoming Appeal
4
Raising the Rose 8
1950’s Potton Car in 3D Stereo
Wine Selection: Choosing Zweigelt
57
58
Ask Alan - Potton Vets 60
The best used hybrid cars 62
Fuel Fright 65
Wordsearch................................................................................................. 65
Run your way to fitness
66
The heat is on 68
The nation’s TV treasure 73
What’s On in October 74
The best apps for weather forecasting
Baking: Polenta, pistachio and orange cake
76
78
Puzzle page 80
Fun Quiz 83
Villager Prize Crossword
Saved by the bell
12
16
Jack O’Lantern 18
Higher Education: The Future 22
Look back in time 24
Time-saving wonders of the beauty world
Buying a winter coat
28
33
Breast cancer awareness month 36
What’s that oxygen therapy about? 39
National Poetry Day - October 6th
Password Protection
41
Money in my mind 44
Pension Jargon Buster 46
Design a home office that works for you 48
Garden tasks and treats for October
51
86
90
Book Review: A step back in time 92
Useful Numbers 95
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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.
Whether you’re an intrepid mountaineer or a family looking for a new hobby, there’s no better way to embrace the cold weather than to set off on a skiing holiday. After a scorching summer, the thought of carving through white powder snow, soaking up outstanding mountain scenery, and sipping Gluhwein in ski chalets certainly sounds appealing.
From the world-famous Rockies to the picturesque Alpine landscapes here in Europe, we’re spoilt for choice on where to ski in the winter months. To help you decide, here are a few of the world’s most popular skiing destinations, and some of the best resorts to explore while you’re there.
When you think of skiing, you probably think of the Alps first. Spanning Italy, France, Switzerland,
Liechtenstein, Austria, Slovenia and Germany, it’s here that the tradition of skiing was born. With some of the best skiing scenery in the world, pictureperfect chalets, gigantic ski circuits and a lively après-ski scene – not to mention the close proximity to the UK – the Alps are a top choice for skiers all across the country.
Some of the top resorts include Val d’Isère in France, with its reputation for challenging black pistes, offpiste terrain and buzzing après ski scene, and Italy’s Courmayeur, a sophisticated ski town renowned for its mountain restaurants and glamorous shopping. Then there’s the Swiss resorts – Zermatt with its gorgeous Matterhorn views and gourmet dining, and the more relaxed resort of Obergurgl, perfect for those looking for short ski queues and a familyinclusive après ski scene. And that’s just touching the surface! With 1,152 ski resorts to choose from in the Alps, there truly is something for everyone.
Whoever said that ski holidays are expensive hasn’t discovered Bulgaria’s ski scene yet. With excellent ski schools, cheap drinks, buzzing bars and an abundance of blue and red slopes, it’s the perfect place for beginners to learn to ski on a budget. Borovets and Bansko are the country’s largest ski areas but with only 5km and 3km of black runs, advanced skiing is limited. Borovets is the oldest of the two, located on the northern slopes of the Rila mountain range with pistes reaching 2,600m high. Easily accessible from Bulgaria’s capital, the resort’s
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scenic snow-covered pine forests, lively atmosphere and traditional Balkan pubs make it a great spot for skiers looking to ski hard – and party hard too.
Further south, at the foot of the Pirin mountains, lies Bankso, which has grown to become Bulgaria’s largest ski resort. Offering 70km of well-groomed pistes and impressive off-piste for skiers and snowboarders of all ability levels, it’s popular with families looking for a more leisurely skiing holiday.
A bucket-list destination for skiers and snowboarders alike, Canada’s world-class slopes are famed for their knee-deep powder, immaculate tree-lined runs and unrivalled hospitality – not to mention their spectacular scenery and wildlife.
Surprisingly, you can ski in every single province in Canada, but the country’s biggest and most popular resorts are located in British Columbia, Alberta and Quebec.
Repeatedly rated as North America’s top ski resort, Whistler in British Columbia is Canada’s pride and joy.
With over 200 trails spread between the Whistler and Blackcomb mountains, linked by the famous Peak2Peak gondola, the resort sits at the higher end of the price scale – but it’s worth every penny.
With an amazing snow record, fantastic beginner’s area, lively nightlife and array of off-piste activities, it’s the perfect choice if you’ve got a mixed ability group. After a day on the slopes, kick back in the town’s mountain bars, indulge in some holiday shopping or soothe your aching muscles in a topnotch spa.
Japan
Japan is often an underrated skiing destination, but one thing the 600 resorts here are renowned for are their abundance of incredible powder snow. Many
average upwards of 600 inches of snow per winter – and this isn’t just any snow. The snow in Japan is super light and extraordinarily dry, making it great fun to ski or ride.
The most popular ski areas are split across two regions – Hakuba on the southern main island and Niseko, Rusutsu and Furano in the northern island of Hokkaido. The resorts in Japan are worlds apart from the usual European and North American resorts. Sample incredible food, from sushi and ramen to fried chicken and potatoes, and hop between Japanese onsens, natural hot springs that offer a soothing and traditional après-ski experience. However you look at it, Japan offers a skiing holiday that you just won’t find anywhere else.
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Looking back four decades to October 1982, when the Mary Rose was finally raised from its watery grave.
As famous warships go, it’s right up there with Cutty Sark, HMS Queen Elizabeth, and the Golden Hind, yet what perhaps makes the Mary Rose so special is not just its age – it was sunk in 1545 off Portsmouth in the Battle of the Solent – but also the fact that despite its deterioration across over 400 years off the south coast saw it split into three pieces, large sections of the hull remained intact.
The ship’s demise has always been something of a tale of folly on the part of the captain and crew. Several eyewitnesses described an account where the vessel had reportedly exhausted its gunfire from one side. It attempted to turn so as to utilise the gunports on the other, but a sudden heavy breeze unbalanced it. Water rushed in through the open gunports and sailors found themselves powerless to correct the sudden imbalance, scrambling for safety on the upper deck as the ship began to sink rapidly taking 90% of its 400-strong crew to the depths. Wind forward to 1836, when a group of five fishermen caught their nets on timbers protruding from the bottom of the channel. They contacted
a diver to help them remove the hindrance, and on June 10th, Henry Abbinett became the first person to see the Mary Rose in almost 300 years.
As a self-contained community on board, the ship was stocked with victuals (food and drink), casks, clothing, games, books, plates, a sundial, musical instruments, a tankard plus countless tools. Animal remains were also found – skeletons of a rat, a frog and a dog – amongst over 26,000 artefacts in total. However, the actual raising of the vessel, in October 1982, was anything but simple. It was decided that the hull would be emptied of its contents and strengthened with steel braces and frames. It would then be lifted to the surface and transferred to a cradle.
Sure enough, on the morning of October 11th 1982, the final lift began, with Prince Charles and other dignitaries watching from nearby in boats. The first parts of the boat to reach the surface in over 400 years broke through at 9.03am.
The raising of the Mary Rose has since become regarded as one of the most ambitious and expensive projects in the history of maritime archaeology, but also an event that enhances and lengthens the legacy of this iconic vessel.
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A recent donation to the Potton History Society Archives were a set of eight stereo slides. Readers of a certain age will recall the delight that miniature duplicate photographic transparencies mounted on a cardboard holder and placed in a special viewer provided when a 3-D image appeared as if by magic! Many commercial sets were produced, often of tourist views around the world. These particular stereo slides turned out to be good colour images of the ‘Potton Car’ at Hastings in late 1953 at the end of a Daily Express Rally from Plymouth up to Glasgow and back to the south coast. Quite a journey for a little car which is now owned by the Society! The 398cc vehicle was made by the German firm Champion, but found its way to Potton in 1953 having been purchased by the then owners of the now demolished Victorian Manor Otto von Smekal and Eva Pokorova, owners of the Delta Research Laboratories. They rebranded it as their first Delta car. Their plans were to create a factory for their production on land that became Judith Gardens. These failed and on the death of Otto in 1966 the little car was left gathering dust in the conservatory of the decaying house. On the death of the reclusive
By Peter Ibbett
Eva in 1977 the National Motor Museum acquired the vehicles from the Manor but after initial interest again the German import was left to gather more dust until in 2003 MNM 451 returned to Potton to become the largest object in the History Society collection, due to funding from one of its members. The full story is available in our booklets on the Manor and the Potton Car.
Austria produces most excellent wines of all types, many of which are award-winning. Zweigelt is the mostplanted red wine grape variety in Austria and the high-quality wines produced are now recognised around the world. The Zweigelt grape varietal is very capable of creating wines from dry to sweet, easy-drinking, to more complex, full-bodied productions, with grand notes of Morello cherry. Zweigelt ice wines are increasing in popularity worldwide, too.
INGRID and MARKUS IRO have a very well-established winery. Zweigelt wines account for approx 20% of their total productions at this time and are appreciated by many ‘devotees’. Neusiedlersee DAC Zweigelt (13.5% vol) and Zweigelt ried Ungerberg (14% vol) are extremely popular, from Iro’s ranges.
E-mail: wein@markusiro.at www.markusiro.at
HANS MICHAEL and ANDREAS NITTNAUS produce wines to an exceptional standard, too. Zweigelt is some 35% of total productions, currently. Neusiedlersee DAC Blauer Zweigelt (13.0% vol) and ried Goldberg Neusiedlersee DAC Reserve (13.5% vol) are regular choices for many lovers of Zweigelt and Nittnaus family wines.
E-mail: weingut@nittnaus.net www.nittnaus.net
HANNES REEH produces Zweigelt wines that are very much respected. The Zweigelt varietal occupies around 60% of their total wine productions today. Neusiedlersee DAC Zweigelt (13.o% vol) I found to be another splendid example of this varietal and, if a sparkling Zweigelt is required (great for welcoming guests with and for parties) then Reehbellion (13.0% vol) certainly will not disappoint – A sparkling delight!
E-mail: wein@hannesreeh.at www.hannesreeh.at Zweigelt-based wines offer several trocken preferences. Created by Dr. Fritz Zweigelt, during 1922, the splendid productions continue to gain more popularity each year, globally. Zweigelt grapes are now grown in numerous winegrowing regions of Austria. From the enticing bouquet of the wine, through the elegant, fruity mouthfeel, leading on to the palate’s pleasure, Zweigelt wines carry on pleasing. Wonderful to accompany pasta dishes, meat dishes, casseroles and also cheeses. These are just a selection of Austria’s wine producing companies, some of which have a history of several centuries. Take time and pleasure to locate your favourites. For more information of each company’s productions, please contact and/or visit their respective websites.
E-mail: management@neusiedlersee-dac.com www.neusiedlersee-dac.wine
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There are few people who don’t enjoy carving a Halloween lantern. Over the years it’s somehow become a tradition in our family to host a friendly pumpkin carving competition involving my sons and their teenage friends and quite a few of the parents!
There are also hotdogs, sticky toffee pudding and wine, so something for everyone and all participants seems to enjoy the occasion, especially the judging. We have categories such as ‘best in show’, ‘ugliest, ‘most creative’ etc.
Ghoulish pumpkins are iconic of Halloween season. I’ve always thought of them as an American import but in fact the practice of decorating jack-o’-lanterns originated across a much smaller expanse of water, in Ireland, where large turnips and potatoes were the vegetables being carved. The name, Jack-o’lantern, originates from an Irish folktale about a man named Stingy Jack. I don’t know if you’ve ever tried to hollow out a turnip (I have…it resulted in a trip to A&E), but I can only imagine the delight of Irish immigrants, newly arrived in America, home of the pumpkin, on discovering this easily carved gourd. No wonder it became an integral part of Halloween festivities.
In case you were wondering about Stingy Jack, well he rather rashly invited the Devil to have a drink with him, but true to his name, didn’t want to pay for the
beverages, so he convinced the Devil to turn himself into a coin that Jack could use to buy their drinks. However as soon as the Devil did so, Jack popped the coin into his pocket next to a silver cross, which prevented the Devil from changing back into his original form.
Jack did eventually free the Devil, but only on the condition that he would not bother Jack for one year and that, should Jack die, he would not claim his soul. It seems the Devil didn’t learn his lesson and the following year Jack tricked him again, this time into climbing into a tree to pick a piece of fruit. While he was up in the tree, Jack carved a sign of the cross into the tree’s bark so that the Devil could not come down until the Devil promised not to bother Jack for ten more years.
Jack thought he was being very clever, but it all backfired on him because when he did finally die God refused him entry into heaven while the Devil, keeping his word not to claim his soul, would not allow Jack into hell. He sent Jack off into the dark night with only a burning coal to light his way. Jack put the coal into a carved-out turnip and is said to have been roaming the Earth his home-made lamp ever since. The Irish began to refer to this ghostly figure as “Jack of the Lantern,” and then, simply “Jack O’Lantern.”
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The pandemic brought into sharp focus the strengths and weaknesses of our Higher Education system in the UK. As a result, our universities and colleges have been forced to assess and evolve what they do, and as a result we may see some profound changes in the way they operate going forward.
Here are seven ways they may evolve over the next decade.
The UK government’s refusal to increase the tuition fee cap, which currently stands at £9,000 per year, could mean greater numbers of overseas students filling courses.
The Retail Price Index means £9,000 in 2012 is worth only £6,350 in today’s prices, yet the tuition fee cap does not apply to those coming from abroad, meaning universities may lean towards higher-paying candidates.
Over the past two decades most universities have moved away from the concept of colossal halls packed with hundreds of students for a single lecture. It’s been accepted that smaller, more intense study groups produce better results; but the current funding shortfall may necessitate a move back to larger-scale learning environments.
In much the same way, universities driven to cut costs may lean towards fewer staff being asked to specialise across greater subject matters.
Whereas in the past those earning degrees would focus on a subject, using that as a base for greater learning once out in the world, an expected trend is that degrees in future would factor in blended learning. This would be both in terms of less rigid subject matter and in how subjects are taught - for instance, a mixture of in-person, location-based programmes, experiential teaching, and virtual learning. Indeed, Cambridge University announced last year that they were making a number of their courses available online.
One positive that came out of the pandemic was the drive towards achieving educational aims across digital means. While this was a process forced on teachers and students, the outcome has been a revelation, with technological solutions aiding both learning and assessment.
Universities will have to continue to look outside of traditional funding means. Certainly, on the private side, there may be greater sponsorship and corporate funding options, whereby organisations may also have a stronger contribution towards provision of resources and materials.
The current batch of GCSE graduates achieved the highest set of grades ever across the board. To that end, the expectation of that group, and those that follow it, will be a university environment that reflects their talent.
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Sometimes, you want to spend an hour soaking in the bath with a face mask or take your time perfecting your make-up. But most days, you’re lucky to have five minutes to spend on your morning make-up, and a fifteen-minute face mask would need booking into your calendar.
Time-saving, multi-tasking products are your friend. When time is of the essence, you need easy to apply make-up that won’t smudge and stays put. Kosas 10-Second Eye Gel Watercolor Eyeshadow (£16) ticks all those boxes and more. Just swipe the applicator over your lid, wait ten seconds and then tap to blend. You can do both eyes in under two minutes. There are six neutral shades to choose from. Visit www.cultbeauty.co.uk to see how each one would look on your skin tone.
There’s no denying that disposable make-up wipes are convenient, but they’re terrible for the environment. Ogato’s Reusable Makeup Wipes (£9.99 for five at www.amazon.co.uk) are just as quick to use but can be washed and reused hundreds of times. You don’t even need a separate cleanser, so they’ll save you money as well as time.
Most of us know we should be applying sunscreen every day, all year around. That doesn’t mean we actually do it though. So, look for a moisturiser with SPF. Even better, make it a tinted one. My new favourite product is Morphe’s Glowstunner Hydrating Tinted Moisturiser (£18 from uk.morphe. com). It’s SPF30, available in fifteen shades, easy
to apply and stays put all day. SPF, moisturiser and foundation in one, what’s not to like?
Want a higher SPF? Go for Sunny Daze Mineral Moisturiser SPF50 by Bondi Sands (£12.99, www. bondisands.co.uk).
Sometimes, you need to spend time to save time. A professional gel polish, for example, might take a bit longer to apply, but it should stay chip-free for around three weeks. Likewise, an eyelash and eyebrow tint could shave minutes off your make-up routine.
Is your hair in desperate need of a deep conditioning treatment but you just don’t have the time? Try amika’s Flash Instant Shine Mask (£20 from www. loveamika.co.uk). In just 60 seconds, it smooths the cuticles to boost shine and leaves hair feeling softer and less frizzy.
Late for work and don’t have time to wash your hair? Try a dry shampoo. Spray it on your roots, run it through with your fingers and watch the oil disappear. In the evening, wash your hair and plait it while it’s wet for effortless waves the following day. You’ve finally made it to the gym. You even made it into the shower. But you’re hot, sweaty and pretty sure your skin is going to rebel with a breakout tomorrow. You need Faace Sweaty Face Mask (£24). It’s designed to tackle post-workout spots, while soothing skin and replenishing moisture. Plus, it’s a leave-on mask, so there’s no need to hang around the changing room a moment longer.
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An investment piece, such a coat, is a considered purchase. This is going to need to last you several seasons so it needs to be right.
Colour – it needs to be a neutral in one of your key shades (or a WOW colour if you feel more daring!). This means you can easily wear it with every other colour in your palette. Winters have black and deep navy plus charcoal grey while Summers can use their rose browns, French navy and blue greys. Autumns and Springs can use their tan and camel colours which are still very on trend this season. The paler creams can also work for Springs and Autumns but such a light colour can clearly be limiting – this won’t be an everyday wear option!
Length – longer length coats are having a moment which is great for some clothing personalities but can be swamping on others. Three-quarter length coats are a great alternative and suit most people (easily found this season too). One factor to consider though is how much time you spend in a car. If you are driving regularly anything longer than hip length is going to become creased and potentially annoying after a while meaning you won’t want to wear it so much. A shorter length will be a better option if this is your lifestyle.
Fabric – Check the fibre content when looking at coats. Natural fibres are going to be warmer in coating so looking for a higher wool content is the aim. The exception to this comes with padded synthetic options. They can be beautifully warm but their lasting power is limited. Given that padded options eventually go to landfill as they aren’t biodegradable I think we need to seriously consider whether this is a viable option. They are often difficult to wash and in my experience have begun to clump and wear badly in a shorter period of time, than traditional coating.
Lining – give the lining in any coat a good check as if this fails it’s expensive to replace and uncomfortable if it isn’t sitting well.
Style – With a curvy frame you need a curvier coat! Sounds simple I know but can be a little challenging to find. Curves needn’t just be in the overall shape but also in the lapels, with perhaps layers in the sleeves. There are a lot of straighter styles around currently which is absolutely great if that’s your shape, but beware if you need to show some waist in your look. Better to leave it than find yourself with something unflattering that you need to justify wearing having spent serious money on it. Shorter
neater styles such as the pea coat are also in this season and are particularly good for smaller framed figures who need neater shapes. Your stylist will be able to guide you given your specific body proportions and style personality so if in doubt get in touch.
Article by Jennie Billings – House of Colour House of Colour has a network of stylists to help you update your look – find your nearest at houseofcolour.co.uk/find-a-stylist
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Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer in the UK, with around 55,500 women and 370 men diagnosed each year. The statistics are scary, but the more we understand about breast cancer, the better our chances of successful treatment.
What is breast cancer?
Breast cancer is a type of cancer that starts in the breast tissue, when cells begin to divide and grow in an unusual and uncontrolled way.
One of the dangers of breast cancer is how easily it can be spread to other parts of the body. This is due to the network of lymph glands close to the breast, which are part of the lymphatic system that runs throughout the body. Cancer cells that have broken away from the breast tissue can be carried by lymph fluid to nearby lymph nodes.
What are the causes of breast cancer?
Unfortunately, no one knows the exact causes of breast cancer. There are, however, certain risk factors which may increase a person’s chance of developing breast cancer.
Some examples of avoidable risk factors include lack of physical activity, poor diet, being overweight, drinking too much alcohol and undergoing combined Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT).
You’re also more likely to develop breast cancer if you’re a white female, over the age of 55 or if your mother, sister or child has been diagnosed with breast or ovarian cancer. Other unavoidable risks include starting menstruation before the age of twelve, reaching the menopause after the age of 55 and having children at an older age.
What are the symptoms of breast cancer? The most common symptoms of breast cancer include:
A lump in the breast, upper chest or armpit
A change to the skin, such as puckering or dimpling
A change in the colour of the breast
A nipple change, for example an inversion
Rash or crusting around the nipple
Unusual discharge from the nipple
Changes in size or shape of the breast
See your GP if you notice a change to your breast that’s new or unusual for you.
Is breast cancer curable?
The survival rate for breast cancer is reasonably high, especially if you’re diagnosed early.
Fortunately, there are several different treatment options for breast cancer, most of which include a combination of surgery, radiation, hormone therapy, chemotherapy and targeted therapies. Your doctor will take many different factors into account when deciding which treatment is best for you, including how big the cancer is, whether it has spread and your general health.
What can I do to help?
Whether you’re suffering from breast cancer yourself, supporting a loved one through their treatment or looking to raise awareness in your community, there are many ways in which you can seek and provide support in the face of breast cancer.
Charities such as Prevent Breast Cancer, Breast Cancer Now, Breast Cancer UK, Against Breast Cancer and the Pink Ribbon Foundation offer care packages, support groups, expert guidance and more to help people battling with breast cancer. You can also get involved in sports challenges, fundraising and volunteering initiatives, or donate to a breast cancer charity that resonates with you.
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Small, friendly classes available in Great Barford, Haynes Moggerhanger and Old Warden
Feel fitter, stronger, more toned, more energetic, more flexible and enjoy every class
Everyone - regardless of age, gender or fitness levels and experience – will benefit 07765
Sallyjmarsh@btinternet.com
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It is amazing how many people feel better through breathing pure oxygen. At Hertfordshire Multiple Sclerosis Therapy Centre, in Letchworth, we have been doing Oxygen Therapy for 33 years. We’ve helped thousands of people with MS, Parkinson’s, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia, leg ulcers, bedsores, and cancer. People visit us from Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire... and Europe! Oxygen Therapy means breathing pure oxygen under gentle pressure enabling our bodies to absorb a higher proportion of the oxygen we breath. (Normal air has about 21% oxygen.) Often that extra oxygen helps the body to reduce pain, fight infection, increase energy levels and speed up the body’s natural healing processes. It can accelerate recovery from an operation and is used by athletes to improve performance.
We have the only Oxygen Chamber in Hertfordshire. It seats up to seven people and is like a small tube train carriage.
01462 684 214
Each person wears a mask that supplies the medical grade oxygen. Our team shows you everything you need to know and follow strict safety procedures. Many of our oxygen sessions are run by trained volunteers. If you know someone who can help us for 2 hours a week ask them to contact us at volunteering@hmstc.net We are delighted to see oxygen helping so many people although it does not work for everyone. It’s a natural therapy, without the side effects of prescription drugs. Talk to us about what you hope Oxygen Therapy may help you with. Email oxygen@hmstc.net or call 01462 684 214.
Why do we have to learn poetry? My 11-year-old who has just started senior school was moaning about homework. Good question. I remember asking the same one when I was a similar age. I don’t think I got a satisfactory answer then so in the name of research I spoke to a couple of English teachers.
Poetry builds reading, speaking, and listening skills - Poetry is intended to be read aloud, repeated often, and shared. Children learn to attend both to the words they hear, the rhythm and rhyme, and also to think about what those words mean together. Poetry introduces more complex language and vocabularyPoetry allows teachers to show children how language can be broken down and evaluated in parts. This is useful for literacy. The rhymes teach phonics and letter sounds. The verses can be used to teach sentence structure and grammar. Children are exposed to new words in context and learn how those words are chosen for their effect to create imagery.
Poetry inspires writing - Poetry teaches children how to put words together to form meaning and context. They learn that choosing the right words is important.
Poetry encourages creativity - Writing poetry encourages children to think about and find meaning in their experiences and to be able to articulate them and think about things in a new way.
Poetry books to get you started:
Revolting Rhymes – Roald Dahl (Author), Quentin Blake (Illustrator)
National Trust: Tiger, Tiger, Burning Bright!: An Animal Poem for Every Day of the Year by Fiona Waters (Author), Britta Teckentrup (Illustrator)
By Sarah DaveyWORD,
• EXPERIENCED
• EXPERIENCE IN SAGE LINE 50 AND VARIOUS
• EXPERIENCE IN PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTORS
www.helpinghandso ceservices.com Tel: 01767 690075 / 07966 554304
Email: maureen@helpinghandso ceservices.co.uk
Almost every week this year one of my friends or acquaintances has been hacked. Cyberattacks have increased in 2022 and mostly revolve around password breaches because we still don’t take our passwords seriously.
Almost 70% of people use one password over multiple websites and accounts. This means that if you experience a breach all your accounts (including those you may have forgotten about) can be at risk.
If you think replacing some letters with numbers or adding extra characters will keep you safe, thing again. Hackers use sophisticated software to quickly guess variations on a basic password. The only way to increase security is to use random unique passwords for each account. This can seem intimidating, but password managers exist to create and protect your passwords.
Lots of people create a random unique password for their bank or work account and stick with a single password for accounts they deem lower risk. Unfortunately to a hacker even the basic information such as an email address or phone number is valuable data they can use to impersonate you. It’s a bore but use random unique passwords for ALL accounts.
I have tried to persuade friends of mine to invest in password manager software (NOT a free download from the internet). A password manager will create unique, single-use passwords AND autofill them as long as they are tied to that account. This means that even if you accidentally click on a phishing link, the password manager should recognise that it’s not the legitimate account and flag up a warning or refuse to autofill.
Norton, RoboForm, Dashlane and LastPass are four password managers (there are many others), and
costs vary. Mine is an annual subscription and works across my phone, tablet, and laptop. If you don’t have a password manager (and you should have one...really...get one now) then create passwords that are hard to guess by choosing words that are personal to you but not personal information such as name, or birth date. Think of song lyrics, or your primary teachers, or your favourite shade of nail polish! Three unconnected words with some numbers and symbols are a good start. Passwords should be at least 12 characters long. And don’t be tempted by Facebook and Twitter ‘fill in the blank quizzes’ of the ‘My first car was a...’ or ‘My first pet was named...’ variety. They are generally exercises in data mining.
We’ve all been asked to sign up to multi-factor authentication systems for bank accounts, PayPal, or eBay etc. There is usually opt out button, but don’t. Even the most complex passwords can be compromised. A multi-factor authentication creates an extra layer of protection between you and a potential hacker by requiring verification in excess of your password when you log in.
Generally, this involves a one-time password sent to you via SMS or email. It’s an extra step, but one worth having, so turn it on whenever it’s offered. It’s tempting to think that you won’t be hacked, but every time you use the internet you are a potential target.
My three rules are: Assume you are unsafe online always. Change passwords regularly and close down old accounts.
Investigate new authentication technology early and adopt it.
Stay Safe!
He’s the UK’s leading money saving expert - a journalist and presenter who has kept millions of pounds in people’s pockets as well as lifting the lid on the threats and dangers we need to be aware of as consumers.
In this month’s column, Martin Lewis looks at whether it’s possible to still be green at times of real economic restraint.
None of us need reminding how tough this year has been, and while we’re all looking for the green shoots of recovery, that greenness has become another sticking point of late, with environmental campaigners looking to keep their own eco priorities live and real.
As consumers, we’re all pretty aware that products and services that are more organic, or better ethically sourced, or that contain a strong environmental edge, are typically more expensive, so that leads us to a potential conflict of choice – do we look after our planet, or do we prioritise the money in our pockets?
The answer – from research I have been doing on part of my website, and a collection of other polls that pool data on this subject – is very much that green issues take a massive backseat when our backs are against the wall.
Now that’s not to say I don’t have a green conscience, or the average Joe in the street doesn’t work hard to preserve the planet, but the absolute truth is that in the vast, vast majority of cases – both at times of struggle and even when things are less
chaotic – individuals are not willing to make big sacrifices.
What I think is important though is that, in future, it would be nice if people are being incentivised to go green, and doing so means we are given all the support we expect from government. We expect tax cuts on fuel and a decrease in oil price to be reflected at the pump; we expect utility providers to play by the rules with clear billing and fair price schemes; we expect home insulation initiatives to really add up in the short-term, not 25 years down the line; and we expect new customer incentives to be accompanied by rewards for existing ones. What’s more, the days of us feeling guilt-tripped into buying a green product over one that isn’t, are probably and hopefully over. Of course, we all want to get back to a place of economic and environmental prosperity, and I’m sure that will come, but our conscience to feed our families has been proven, time and again, to be stronger than anything else.
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• 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 or email info@willandestateplanning.com 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
Do you know your annuities from your elbow? If you don’t, you’re not alone…
Annual allowance - This is the maximum amount that you can pay into your pension each year before you have to pay tax. The current annual allowance is £40,000, or 100% of your earnings – whichever is lower. Your annual allowance may reduce in certain circumstances, for example if you earn over £200,000 a year, or if your income plus any pension contributions totals £240,000 or more.
Annuity - An annuity provides you with a guaranteed income in retirement. You hand over some or all of your pension to an insurance company and in return they agree to pay you a set amount each year.
Auto-enrolment - In 2012, the government introduced auto-enrolment, a process by which employees are automatically enrolled into their company pension scheme once they start work.
Under current rules, enrolment is automatic for anyone aged 22 or over earning a minimum of £10,000 from a single job.
Drawdown - Drawdown is a way of taking an income from your pension in retirement.
Guaranteed annuity rate - Some older definedcontribution or money-purchase pension policies, usually those sold before the late 1980s or early 1990s, promised to pay a ‘guaranteed annuity rate’ at retirement. This means they must provide you with an income at a set rate for the remainder of your life.
Index-linked annuity - When you use your pension pot to buy an annuity, you’re essentially buying a guaranteed regular income. An index-linked annuity
ensures that this income will increase in line with living costs.
Lifetime allowance - This is the maximum you can hold in your pensions without having to pay extra tax when you take money out of them. It’s not a small amount of tax either – any amount above the allowance that you take as a lump sum is taxed at a hefty 55%. The lifetime allowance is currently £1,073,100.
Normal retirement age - Although the minimum age you can access your retirement savings is 55, most workplace pensions set a normal retirement age when you’re expected to take your pension. If you have a personal pension, you can choose your retirement date.
State pension and state pension age - The state pension is a weekly payment that the government makes once you reach state pension age. The amount you get depends on your age and your National Insurance contributions record. The current full state pension in the 2022/23 tax year is £185.15, but to get this you’ll need to have at least 35 qualifying years of National Insurance contributions.
State pension age is worked out based on your date of birth. To check your state pension age, visit www. gov.uk/state-pension-age.
Tax relief - Tax relief essentially means you get money back from the taxman on your pension contributions, which can make it a very cost-effective way of saving for retirement provided you stay within the annual limits. If you’re a basic rate taxpayer, a £100 contribution into your pension will only cost you £80.
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By Katherine Sorrell
1Even in a small home office or a shared space, it is possible to create a working environment that functions efficiently and effectively – while also being a pleasure to spend time in.
Your desk is likely to be the most important element, and should be at least 50cm deep, though 75cm is better, and wide enough for a computer and some paperwork, perhaps with storage drawers on one or both sides. Depending on the configuration of your room, an L-shaped or corner desk may be the most convenient. Style-wise, there are endless choices, from modern and minimal to grand antiques; your choice will come down to budget and the style of the room in which it will be sited (but do ensure that an antique desk is stable and has a reasonably smooth surface). One option is to commission a built-in work area, taking advantage of awkward features such as sloping ceilings, changes of level, tall skirting boards, niches and so on, while
a middle ground would be to opt for a modular system where elements can be customised according to the set-up that suits you best.
While a spare dining chair may be fine for the odd bit of admin, if your work involves sitting for long periods of time a good chair is essential for preventing back problems and muscle strain. For some, a kneeling chair is a good solution, while others may like a saddle chair or even a balance ball. However, for most people an ergonomic chair is the ideal. Experts recommend choosing a chair on wheels with a five-castor base, that is adjustable to your height, with a seat depth that supports your legs adequately and a back rest that gives good support to your lower and middle back. You may also appreciate having adjustable arm rests and the ability to recline (it’s best not to spend too long sitting in one position).
Storage is, of course, vital, and if working from home looks like it will be a long-term option, should be designed with room for expansion. Despite cloud
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storage cutting down on physical paperwork in many ways, for some, a filing cabinet may still be the best solution, for others, perhaps stacking boxes, a shelf full of folders or plenty of shallow drawers. In shared rooms, such as an office in a bedroom or dining room, concealing the less attractive elements of office life may be important, and it could be an idea to appropriate part of a wardrobe or cupboard so that work can be physically separated and shut away at the end of the day. If that’s not possible, choose storage that suits the overall decor of the room and that can be seamlessly integrated as much as possible.
A comfortable working temperature is important in any home office, and if the room is likely to suffer from extremes of temperature (lofts, for example, can vary considerably between summer and winter, while a converted shed or garage may be chilly) consider whether you’ll need a plug-in heater and/ or fan or air conditioning. Meanwhile, good task and general lighting is vital to avoid eye strain. The more natural light the better – though beware glare from direct sun on a sunny day. For working on dim days and in the evenings, desk lamps should ideally be bright and easily adjustable, so as to highlight different areas as required.
While ensuring that your desk and chair are comfortable, seek out furnishings that suit your home and your personality. Plenty of chain stores and independent shops sell home office furniture at a range of prices, but you could also consider hunting for interesting alternatives, such as old
school lockers, a trestle resting on a pair of metal filing cabinets or a desktop made from blackboard. Add accessories that will brighten up your day, whether colourful waste bins and quirky pen holders or a sophisticated leather desk set. Finally, decorate as you would any other room with finishing touches such as plants, family photographs and scented reed diffusers, making sure that this becomes a space where you actually want to spend time.
1. A desk with a view is always nice, and this home office has plenty of storage as well as a stylish vibe. Eames desk unit EDU, £1,320; Eames storage unit ESU, from £1,449 for a one-tier shelf; both Nest.
2. Any small table can become informal desk space for some quick home admin, blending prettily into its surroundings. This image showcases the autumn range of home office accessories from Dunelm.
3. A modular system can be the answer when fitting a desk into an awkward space. It’s especially helpful when it has adjustable shelves. Modular home office desk with storage, £1,274.45, Shelved.
Dunelm: dunelm.com Nest: 0114 243 3000; nest.co.uk
Shelved: shelved.co.uk
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As we dip into the mellow days of autumn, there’s a lot to celebrate outside. Firstly, the light levels are often perfect for photography in the garden. Capture those glistening spiders’ webs and moisture droplets that decorate leaves. Soak up every moment of the golden times when long shadows make great shots. There is generally less pollution in autumn due to cooler weather, and skies tend to be clearer.
October can catch you out. There are days that feel like an Indian summer, with bright blue skies and sun that warms, but also unexpected frosts. It’s not unusual in northerly regions to experience freezing weather right at the beginning of the month. Protect vulnerable plants by moving them to sheltered sites, or cover them in horticultural fleece.
During this magical month, which ends in All Hallows’ Eve, don’t miss the petrichor! It’s a real treat, and is the scent of rain that arises from damp earth after it falls on dry soil. The word comes from the Ancient Greek for ‘stone’ and fluid that was the ‘blood of the Gods’! This is a time to savour the daylight, knowing it will be seeping gradually away. But rather than mourn the loss of longer days, there’s work to be done outdoors as you need to get your garden in order to make it winter-ready.
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Before leaves are filling up every crevice and corner, remember to cover ponds using fine mesh. It will stop the debris from falling to the bottom of the water where it will rot. Leaves release toxic gases as they break down and this replaces valuable oxygen in the pond. A pond needs to be balanced. A little decomposition is perfectly healthy and in fact, leaves release a tiny amount of phosphorus that is valuable in terms of nutrients.
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When you are ready to turn your attention to the borders, stop and think before you cut things back. Many autumn plants have high feed value for garden birds. The seeds provide food and the leaves and stems offer shelter for birds, small mammals and mini-beasts. Leave them in situ if you can.
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This is an ideal time to collect seeds for propagation. Many of them can be sown right away, but some can be scattered later. Check the preferences of each type of seed, as some require ‘cold stratification’, where they need to undergo a cold period before they are likely to germinate. A fridge or freezer could do the trick.
Alternatively, you can chip away at part of the outer coating, as this should perform a similar function. They include many acer trees, most shrubs such as cornus (dogwood) and forsythia, clematis and many other climbing plants and perennials including lavender, nepeta, sedum and rudbeckia. For seeds contained within fleshy fruits, such as elderberries and rosehips, be sure to squeeze them out of the soft fruit before sowing. They would naturally be digested by birds and mammals, which would remove the fruits.
• This is a perfect pruning time, including climbing plants such as clematis, lavender and rosemary, but take care not to cut back into old wood. You can also prune shrub roses and soft fruit bushes. Cut hedges without too much fear of disturbing bird nests and consider giving your hedge a mulch around the base. Always check before adding fresh wood chippings, however. Some newly shredded wood can change the pH value of the soil and others might deplete nitrogen levels in the ground underneath.
• Lawn lovers will be in their element during October, as this is a good time to rake out the thatch and apply autumn lawn fertiliser. This contains high levels of potash and phosphates, which will help to make the grass resilient to cold weather. But at this time of year, you need to avoid nitrogen. It will encourage too much soft
growth, which will be easily damaged during frost. Trim the lawn edges to give it a crisp shape that should last until spring.
• Last, but certainly not least, it’s time to plant some underground flower power while there is still warmth in the soil. This is the best bulbplanting month for spring-flowering beauties such as daffodils, crocuses, snowdrops, alliums and hyacinths. They can all go in the ground, ready for a burst of colour when you need it the most. Tulips can wait until November, or even later if the weather is mild. This helps to avoid the dreaded tulip fire virus.
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please
Tel: 01767 261845 Mobile: 07941 187689 Email: Gemmaton@hotmail.co.uk Web: www.gemmaton.com
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He’s a brilliant presenter, accomplished gardener, talented novelist and all-round horticultural inspiration. This month, Alan Titchmarsh discusses the changing seasons, and why he ventures out into his garden in any weather.
I’ve been talking to a number of people over these summer months and it’s always a pleasure. Naturally, it feels like the part of the year where we all come out and celebrate what it is to have a space that is all ours – we all share in the successes and, okay, some of the failures too!
Yet what’s interesting is the fact the longer the summer goes on, the more the chat seems to evolve. There is an unspoken devil in the air, and it goes by the name of winter, though I encourage people to look at winter as a lot more than just a time when we feel like stepping off the gardening carousel.
Certainly, my routine in those quieter months never changes. Whether rain, hail, sleet or snow, I will always potter around the garden. Okay, so in the
winter months it’s a lot more difficult to sit still in a garden anyway, but just getting out there, soaking up the air and feeling the natural goodness around you, is really inspiring.
Ultimately, what it’s all about is being out there, and believing you are making a difference. I've always thought however tiny a patch of ground you have, if you look after it well when you shuffle off your mortal coil you've paid your rent for your life on Earth.
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...and mellow fruitfulness, states the first line of the famous Keats poem. There is something rather lovely about autumn. The days are cooler but often sunny, yet the ground is more moist and so easier to dig. It’s the perfect time of year for gardening.
It’s tempting to tidy up all the browning plant stems but try not to get carried away. Leave some standing because they provide important habitats for wildlife. I do harvest a few seedheads each year: poppies, nigella, and alliums are my favourites. I cut them, leaving their long stems intact and put the heads inside a paper bag, then hang the bunches inside to dry. The ripe seeds fall into the bag and can be labelled and kept for sowing next year’s free plants! The decorative heads look nice in a vase too. My neighbour (who is retired) makes fabulous leaf mould in meshed cages he’s constructed himself. I take a ‘busy mum’ approach to fallen leaves. I run them over with a mower then rake the resulting con fetti off my lawn into the flower beds and borders and let them rot naturally. They soon break down and are incorporated into the soil by worms. I still hanker after my own leaf mould crates though. If you planted any perennials a few years ago they
By Rachael Levertonmight need to be divided. Take a look at your plants. If they are dying off in the middle but have good growth around the edges, it’s time to lift and divide. Dig up the root ball of the plant, brush and pull off excess soil and set on to a plastic ground sheet. Pull (or use a garden fork to prise) apart the football into three or four clumps, each with a section of healthy shoots and roots. Replant the ’new’ plants elsewhere in the garden or try swapping plants with friends.
Don’t forget to keep them well-watered until they have become established.
If you feel that your garden needs a little more colour heading into winter add a couple of dogwood shrubs into your borders. There are striking red and yellow varieties available. You can also plant sedum, Japanese anemones (Liriope) and Michaelmas daises (Aster). These flower well into late autumn and early winter.
Finally, a little planning for next year goes a long way. October is the perfect time to plant daffodil, crocus, hyacinth and allium bulbs for next spring.
As Paddy was a stray, we are unsure of his age, however we believe that he is around a year old. He’s a strong, handsome long-haired Lurcher, who loves to play and is big for his breed. Typical of a Lurcher, he has a high prey drive, but he walks very nicely when he is out.
Paddy is still a pup, so he will need lots of training from his dedicated new owner, who will ideally have breed experience. Paddy likes to jump up and can be excitable, therefore he can only be rehomed with older children, he would also prefer to be the only dog in the home. He cannot live with cats or small mammals.
We are, however, very confident that with love and patience, Paddy will grow to be a well-behaved, boy. He’s so affectionate and loving, and he adores human company.
If you feel you might be able to offer Paddy the
loving home that he so needs, please contact Julie on 01763 289827. Alternatively, please e-mail Philippa at info.rats@gmail.com who will be pleased to forward your enquiry on to the team. View the dogs, cats and small mammals currently in our care for re-homing on our website: www.rats-animalrescue.co.uk or facebook: www.facebook.com/ratscharity
You can also see photographs and details of the animals in our care in our charity shop in Hitchin Street, Biggleswade SG18 8AX. Open Monday to Saturday from 10.00 am until 4.00 pm.
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Dear Alan,
I have just got a puppy for the first time. What can I do to make sure he is happy and well behaved?
Everyone thinks about their physical health, diet, vaccinations, parasite control and exercise but often forget about behaviour, thinking that if they just love the new addition to the family, that will be enough.
While it is important to care for your new puppy, it is also important to teach him about the world and how to behave.
Up to 16 weeks is a pup’s prime socialisation period where he learns what is normal and how to interact appropriately and it is vital to socialise him with other animals and people and expose him to a variety of situations so he can have a wide range of experiences.
Set ground rules and be consistent, teach him as a puppy how you want him to behave as an adult. Teach him with love and rewards. Dogs do not learn from punishment; they just get frightened.
Mental stimulation is important to keeping him happy, and regular walks to shed his excess energy and keep him from being bored are essential.
With love and the right input when he is young, your puppy will grow into a fantastic companion. Enjoy your puppy, now and in the future. 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.
Though there’s a real push toward full-electric vehicles, for many people a hybrid vehicle is a great fit. Combining an internal combustion engine with an electric motor and battery means a traditional engine to fall back on, but with the opportunity to benefit from the lower running costs that electrification brings. Fortunately, hybrids have been on sale for a little while now, so there is a reasonable number available in the used market. Let’s take a look.
The CR-Z arrived in 2010 as a sporty hybrid and thus featured an eye-catching exterior design and a relatively compact body. It combined a 1.5-litre petrol engine with an electric motor and battery and, strangely for a hybrid, had a six-speed manual gearbox. But today, with prices hovering around £5,000, the CR-Z makes for an inexpensive left-field hybrid choice. It’ll return over 52mpg and cost just £20 to tax.
Lexus CT
Lexus has been using electrical assistance in its cars for quite some time now and has the technology down to a fine art. The CT, a slightly elongated hatchback with a typically sharp Lexus design, is a ‘regular’ hybrid with a 1.8-litre engine and an electric motor and battery. It’s exempt from London’s Ultra Low Emissions Zone charge, too. Early, highmileage examples can be had for around £5,500, but reasonable-mileage versions with plenty of equipment are around the £10,000 mark.
Toyota Prius
There are few better-known names in the hybrid world than Prius and it’s now a very tried-and-tested option. There are plenty of used examples, too, with
prices starting from around £2,000 – though these will be earlier models with seriously high mileage.
Later models use a 1.8-litre engine – compared with the older 1.5-litre version – but you’ll still get a very respectable 70.6mpg combined, so it’s ideal for reducing fuel bills.
Mitsubishi Outlander
The Outlander was one of the groundbreaking hybrid models, and the plug-in hybrid is the go-to choice as it offers super-efficient motoring and the chance of seeing up to 156mpg providing you keep it topped up with electricity.
Prices are competitive, with second-generation cars built around 2015 standing at around £17,000. It’s a big, practical car for the money.
Fancy something a little sportier? The Golf GTE aimed to combine Golf GTi driver involvement with the efficient running of a hybrid. With a 1.4-litre turbocharged petrol engine and an electric motor with a battery, this plug-in hybrid can slot into everyday life easily.
First-generation cars – built around 2015 – can be had for as little as £12,000, though expect to pay slightly more for lower-mileage, higher-spec versions.
BMW 530e
The BMW 530e could be a great more-refined option. It’s as comfortable and spacious as the regular 5, but has that efficient petrol-electric hybrid setup to help reduce fuel bills.
Early 2018 models of the spacious 530e can be had for under £20,000, so it’s definitely at the top end of our price list. Push that budget higher and you’ll find lower-mileage versions, of course.
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The price of everything is soaring right now and petrol is still at astronomical levels. Who hasn’t inwardly winced (or openly wept) when they’ve filled their petrol tank recently? So, it makes financial sense to conserve as much of the liquid gold as possible. Try our five fuelsaving tips.
Don’t floor it! Hard acceleration dramatically increases fuel consumption. Accelerate gently and even larger cars will use much less petrol or diesel.
Don’t speed Fuel consumption increases substantially once you drive at speeds above 60mph.
Set the pressure Correct tyre pressure provides optimum road traction and more economical fuel use. Under-inflated tyres ratchet up fuel costs (and are also dangerous) so know your pressures and check them regularly.
Services make sense Skipping a service is false economy. A serviced engine will run more efficiently, saving more fuel (and avoiding major mechanical problems) in the long run.
Lose Weight! Well not you exactly, though saving money might be a good incentive to start that diet if you’re a little on the hefty side. Remove all extra weight from your car. Don’t leave golf clubs or large tool kits in the boot if they’re not being used. Remove roof racks and top boxes too, as they cause drag and increase fuel consumption.
Try driving normally for a month, keeping a note of how much fuel you use. Then follow our tips for a month and compare the difference.
By Andy Harrison
Running is one of the best ways to get fit. There are no gym fees, no opening times to fit in around and no complicated rules to learn. It’s great for your heart, lungs, stamina and mental health. And you can start with just one minute of running at a time. Useful apps
• NHS Couch to 5k builds your fitness up gradually over nine weeks. You’ll start by alternating one-minute bursts of running or jogging with 90 seconds of walking.
• If you don’t fancy Couch to 5k, track your progress with Strava instead.
• Zombies, Run! puts you in the role of a survivor in a zombie apocalypse. There are numerous missions to complete, and when zombies are near you’ll need to run (or walk) faster to stop them catching you and stealing all the virtual supplies you’ve collected.
What you’ll need Decent, supportive trainers are essential. Ideally, head to a sports shop to get a gait analysis and recommendations. Trainers can be pricey though, so look out for sales and check online stores like www.sportsshoes.com. In most cases, you’ll want to size up from your usual shoe size to avoid bruised toenails!
You might also want to add the following to your kit list (Christmas is approaching after all):
• Running leggings or shorts (look for ones with a pocket for your keys)
• Sports bra (a must for most women)
• Sports T-shirt
• Easy grip running water bottle or hydration backpack
• Head torch if you’re planning to run in the dark
• Something hi-vis (essential if you’re planning to run on a road), e.g. a vest, jacket or sports T-shirt
• Running belt or armband for your phone
If you’re on a tight budget, there are several Facebook selling groups for second-hand sports gear. One of the best is ‘Sh*t Kit That Dunt Fit’ (replace the asterisk), where people offer items for free. You just pay the postage costs. The expectation is that you’ll then offer items in the future when you’re able to. Keep going… An injury can put you out of action for months, so make sure to warm up, cool down and stretch properly. You’ll find lots of useful videos on YouTube and guidance to essential stretches on www.runnersworld.co.uk.
One way to reduce injury and fatigue is to ‘Jeff’. This is where you have short, timed bursts of running and walking and stick to the same ratio, e.g. run for two minutes/walk for 30 seconds. Search online for ‘jeffing training plan’.
It can be difficult to keep your motivation up through the colder months. One of the best solutions is to find a running buddy or join a club. While some clubs are for experienced runners, others are very welcoming to newbies and won’t mind if you need to run/walk and take regular breaks.
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If you want to keep your energy bills low (who doesn’t?) and reduce your carbon emissions, you need to review just how much of your precious heat is escaping. Even little fixes around the home can accrue significant savings and bigger fixes will save more still.
Start at the top
If you’ve lived in your house for a while, chances are you already have loft insulation and think it’s good enough. But compared to a new home, even a twenty-year-old property will have room for improvement.
If you can see the floor joists in the loft or if you’ve managed to install decking straight onto the joists, it means you don’t have sufficient padding underneath. In a new build you can’t even see the joists for insulation, and any loft flooring will be on specially designed ‘legs’ to leave an airgap above the thick material.
While loft insulation isn’t expensive to buy, it is not a pleasant material to handle, and you’ll need skin, eye and breathing protection for the job. Unless you have good access to your attic and don’t mind a weekend’s hard work, calling in a professional is going to be a good decision.
Windows
If you have double glazing, ensure it’s performing as it should. If you have any condensation between the panes, it means the air gap has failed and it’s not much better than single glazing. You don’t always have to replace though, as a window repairer
can often effect a fix at a fraction of the cost of replacement windows.
If you have only single glazing, then you will either need to replace it or go for secondary glazing. The latter isn’t very attractive, although for some listed properties may be the only option
Regardless of which type of windows you have, install blinds for both a bit of extra heatproofing and daytime privacy, and thick curtains for the evening.
Is it worth it? New double glazing will be extremely effective at cutting your bills and will definitely add value to your home. Smaller measures are more affordable though, and still worthwhile.
Wasted water
Your heating bill covers your hot water too, so don’t heat water for longer than you need to. If you shower in the morning, try heating it for an hour before you get up and just keep adding fifteen minutes until you get enough to last. In the evening, if you only rinse off a few plates before switching on the dishwasher (which uses cold water), managing with cooler water will be better than heating a full tank.
• Check your water tank has an extra thick jacket and that pipes coming out have lagging.
• Thermostatic radiator valves should be added in all rooms and in a spare bedroom just turn the radiator off completely and close the door.
• Chimneys can be a real heat loss offender, so research what you can do to according to your type of fireplace.
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One of the nation’s longest-serving and most popular breakfast TV presenters, Eamonn Holmes balances family life and career to get the best of both worlds.
The bloke from Belfast has done good. Born on 3rd December 1959, Eamonn Holmes has gone on to be one of the longest-serving breakfast TV presenters in the world.
He began his broadcasting career as a farming reporter at Ulster Television and at 21 he became the youngest anchor in regional television, when he hosted Good Evening Ulster.
Recalls Eamonn: “By the age of eleven, being a journalist was all I wanted. Everybody thought it was ridiculous and all a bit pie in the sky… My mother didn’t want me to do it at all – she thought I should just get a real job. If I was the assistant manager in the local Co-op, that would be the height of her dreams. But I loved it right from the start because it never felt like work to me.”
He left Ulster TV to work at the BBC in Manchester – and that’s where his love affair with Manchester United football club began, despite being arrested on his first-ever visit to Old Trafford under the Prevention of Terrorism Act. Today Eamonn is a trustee at the Manchester United Foundation, the associated charity of Manchester United, which uses football to engage, inspire and unite young people. The 63-year-old father-of-four is a dedicated family man, even though he has spent most of his working life going to bed early in order to be up early. “I have a magnificent job, but it would be more magnificent
if it was at 6pm rather than having a 2.30am wake-up call. I go to bed around 10pm but it can take an hour to get to sleep and then you realise you’ve got less than four hours until the alarm clock goes off.”
Eamonn has been a co-host on GMTV, Sky News Sunrise and This Morning, with his wife Ruth Langsford. He and Ruth were engaged in March 2009 after they had been together for twelve years, and married the following year at The Elvetham hotel in Hampshire.
Eamonn recalls: “Ruth was the missing jigsaw piece in my life. I was meant to be married – I never saw any joy in the bachelor lifestyle and when I met Ruth, not only did I fall deeply in love with her, but she had so many attributes that I admire. She’s a wonderful mummy to Jack, a fantastic partner both personally and professionally, and now, I’m proud to say, she’s my beautiful wife.”
The much-loved TV presenters live with their son Jack in a six-bedroom mansion in Weybridge, Surrey. In a career spanning more than 40 years, Eamonn has presented a vast array of programmes including game shows, panel shows, sports events, documentaries, news and current affairs.
In December last year it was revealed that Eamonn, who was made an OBE in the 2018 New Year’s Honours, was to join GB News. “I’ve spent my career on broadcasting firsts and start-ups, and GB News is one of the most exciting yet. To me the greatest honour in journalism is to give a voice and respect to the unheard, and that’s exactly what GB News is all about.”
1 OCTOBER
10-11.30am Potton Salvation Army, Chapel Street
Coffee, tea, bacon butties, homemade cakes, cards, Bric-a-Brac, Books and jigsaws etc. Held on the first Saturday every month except January. Tel: 01767 261138
1 OCTOBER
10am-3pm Jordans Mill, Broom A fantastic range of stalls including sweet treats, hand-made items, locally made foods and more. In the front car park and throughout the grounds of Jordans Mill.
1 OCTOBER
Castle Comedy
Doors open 7.30pm, show 8pm The Weatherley Centre, Eagle Farm Road, Biggleswade
Three headline quality acts means the ultimate comedy night out! Web: www.castlecomedy.co.uk
The Higgins, Bedford Free entry. Body & Soul is a new exhibition exploring how women have been represented in art over the past two centuries.
Lunchtime Concerts
1pm St Paul’s Church, Bedford Free recitals with a retiring collection (suggest min. £5) in aid of church funds. 4 Oct Paul Edwards and friends (Piano & Organ), 11 OctOsman Tack (Piano), 18 Oct - Samuel Finch (Flute) and 25 Oct- ‘Solstice’ (Vocal Duo). Tel: 01234 340163
5 OCTOBER
Aircraft Enthusiasts’ Group
1pm Shuttleworth
‘Women Pilots of the ATA’ by Ted Martin. Meets first Wednesday of every month. Entry to Shuttleworth £19.50 or email to book free entry ticket.
Email: 99aegr@gmail.com
Web: www.a-e-g.org.uk
5 OCTOBER
Sandy Night Owls Women’s Institute
7.30pm Sandy Conservative Club Visitors £4. Meets first Wednesday of the month (except August). Friendly group where guests receive a warm welcome and enjoy a varied programme and refreshments. Email: sandynightowlswl@gmail.com
5, 12, 19 & 26 OCTOBER
Open Craft and Coffee
10-11.30am Potton Salvation Army, Chapel Street Everyone welcome. Tel: 01767 261138
5, 12, 19 & 26 OCTOBER
Hinxworth Art Society
10am-12pm Hinxworth Village Hall Drawing, painting, coffee and chat. No need to book. Occasional oneday courses and demonstrations. Email: 99aegr@gmail.com
6 OCTOBER
Roxton & District Local History Group 7.15pm for 7.30pm
Roxton Village Hall Members free, visitors £4 ‘From Erik the Bald to Nigel de Albini: the Domesday Book in Bedfordshire’. Annual membership £20.
Email: mariascreen1@gmail.com Web: roxtonhistory.org.uk
6, 13, 20 & 27 OCTOBER
Biggleswade & District Camera Club
8-10pm
Weatherley Centre, Eagle Farm Road, Biggleswade Non-members £3
See website for full programme. Web: https:// biggleswadecameraclub.co.uk
7 OCTOBER
Bedfordshire Family History Society
7pm and 7.30pm on Zoom Drama Theatre, Mark Rutherford School, Bedford ‘Tracing Your Ag Lab Ancestors’ with Dr Nick Barratt. Web: www.bfhs.org.uk
7 OCTOBER Bedford Art Society
7.15pm for 7.30pm
Putnoe Heights Church, Bedford Members free, visitors £5 AGM and ‘Collage’ with Anne-Marie Abbate. Jean Paterson 01234 307210 Web: www.bedsartsociety.co.uk
7, 14, 21 & 28 OCTOBER
Sandy Ukulele Group
7-9pm Baptist Chapel Hall, Bedford Road, Sandy Meets every Friday. . E: sandyukulelegroup1@gmail.com Web: www.sandyukulelegroup.com
8 OCTOBER
Organ Recital 12 noon
St Paul’s Church, Bedford Simon Headley from Loughborough. Free recital with retiring collection in aid of church funds. Tel: 01234 340163
8 OCTOBER
Accorde Chamber Choir Concert 7.30pm St Bartholomew’s Church, Great Gransden Free entry. Including both sacred and secular songs. Light refreshments available. Cash donations accepted on behalf of the Bluebell Community Sponsorship Group (BCSG) who are raising money to provide a home for a refugee family from Syria.
9 OCTOBER
The Raven 7.30pm
Little Gransden Village Hall Tickets £13. An excursion into the weird and wonderful mind of Edgar Alan Poe by Common Ground Theatre. Cash bar. Tel: 01767 677562
Email: sue@sechase.co.uk Web: www.commonground.co.uk
10 OCTOBER
Sandy Flower Club
7.30pm The Conservative Bowls Club Pavilion (rear of the Conservative Club, Bedford Road) Visitors £5. The Flower Club meets second Monday in the month (excluding January, August and December). Tel: Sue 01767 699729
12 OCTOBER
Bedford Local Group of The Wildlife Trust
7.15pm for 7.30pm
Priory Methodist Church Hall, Newnam Avenue, Bedford Illustrated talk ‘The Hidden World of the Cow Pat – and more’ by Nancy Reed. Ample parking. All welcome. No charge but voluntary contributions appreciated.
Tel: 01234 266057
Web: wildlifebcn.org
14 OCTOBER
Autumn Quiz Evening
7.30pm
Church Rooms, Sandy £2.50 per person
Teams of up to six. In aid of The Leprosy Mission.
Tel: Colin Osborne 01767 682032 to book your team
14 OCTOBER
Castle Comedy
Doors open 7.30pm, show 8.15pm
The Roundabout Club, Bedford Road, Sandy
A classic mixed bill of comedy featuring TV names and rising stars. Web: www.castlecomedy.co.uk
15 & 16 OCTOBER
Pre-Christmas Craft Fair
10am-3pm
Biggleswade Social Club
Free entry
Support local small businesses. Email: thestitchincraftcabin@ outlook.com Web: facebook.com/ crafteventsatbiggs
16 OCTOBER
Antique & Vintage Fair
9am-4pm
The Weatherley Centre, Eagle Farm Road, Biggleswade
Café serving food and drinks all day. Free parking. Wheelchair/pushchair access.
Tel: Marcel 07887 648255
Web: www.marcelfairs.co.uk
16 OCTOBER
Locrian Chamber Choir Concert of Classical Music
3pm All Saints Church, Sutton Tickets £12, under 18s free inc. refreshments
Faurre’s Requiem, Ave Verum –Mozart. Panis Angelicus – Franck and Ave Maris Stella – Grieg. Tickets from Cameron’s Newsagents, Market Square, Potton or by phone. Tel: 01767 261431
16 OCTOBER
Not Strictly Jazz
5-7pm Tickets £20, 10-18 years £10 Fairfield House & Studio, Fairfield Road, Biggleswade Live music performed by exceptional musicians. Refreshments included.
Tel: 01767 312176
Email: sarahwiggs@hotmail.co.uk
18 OCTOBER
Bedford National Trust Association 2.15-3.15pm
Addison Centre, Kempston BNTA members £3, NT members £3.50, visitors £4
Talk by local speaker Mike Muncaster, who gives talks on a wide variety of subjects. Mike has entertained the group before and is always interesting. Non-members welcome.
Tel: Garry Telling 01480 819625
Email: garry.geoff.telling@gmail.com
18 OCTOBER
Sandy Women’s Institute
10am-12pm Sandy Conservative Club, Bedford Road, Sandy Visitors £4. Meets third Tuesday of every month, except August. Tel: 01767 680644
Email: sandywibeds@gmail.com
19 OCTOBER
St Neots Art Group
7.30pm Roxton Village Hall Members £5, non-members £8 Demonstration by Carole Massey ‘A portrait in pastels’.
20 OCTOBER
Biggleswade & District Camera Club 7.30pm for 8pm
The Sullivan Room at The Weatherley Centre, Eagle Farm Road, Biggleswade
Non-members £3. ‘Beside the seaside’, a presentation by Ann Miles FRPS MPAGB EFIAP FBPE. Tel: 01767 316176
Email: secretary@ biggleswadecameraclub.co.uk
22 OCTOBER
The Peacemakers 7.30pm
St Andrew’s Church, Biggleswade Entry by generous donation
Biggleswade and District Choral Society along with friends from other choirs will perform The Peacemakers by Karl Jenkins. Proceeds to Ukrainian Humanitarian Fund.
27 OCTOBER
Bedford Branch Historical Association 7.30pm
Venue Chapter House, St Peter’s Church, De Parys Ave, Bedford ‘Raj and Reality: understanding British in India’ by Dr Sean Long of Ruskin University. Non-members welcome with a donation. James Collett-White 07989 837819
29 OCTOBER
Kempston Musical Society Concert 7.30pm
Transfiguration Church Hall, Bedford Road, Kempston Tickets £8 inc. refreshments
Music from the shows. Cake and craft stalls. Tickets on the door. Tel: 01234 781010
Email: prestissimo@btinternet.com
30 OCTOBER
St Neots Art Group Autumn Exhibition 10.30am-4.30pm Roxton Village Hall
Free entry. A chance to buy art from local artists. Refreshments.
The
is 12th September. What’s
On
whatson@villagermag.net
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This is truly a cake for everyone.
Made with polenta and olive oil, it is both dairy-free and gluten-free
200g pistachio kernels, finely ground – use a spice grinder or food processor
Zest and juice of 1 orange
200g bramata polenta
4 eggs
150g runny honey
200ml extra virgin olive oil, plus extra for greasing
Zest and juice of 1 orange
75g runny honey
50g pistachio kernels, roughly chopped
1. Preheat the oven to 200°C / 180°C fan / gas mark 6, grease a 24cm springform cake tin with oil and line the base with baking paper.
2. In a large bowl, mix the ground pistachios, orange zest and the polenta together. Crack the eggs into another bowl and whisk in the honey, orange juice and olive oil until smooth.
3. Pour the wet mixture into the dry and thoroughly combine to a smooth batter, then pour the batter into the prepared tin. Bake in the oven for 40 minutes, until a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean, then remove the cake from the oven and transfer it to a wire rack to cool in the tin.
4. Once the cake is cool, release it from the tin and transfer it to a large plate.
5. To make the syrup, stir the orange juice and honey together in a small saucepan. Place the pan over a medium-low heat and bring the ingredients to a simmer, stirring to fully combine. Immediately remove the syrup from the heat.
6. Using a fine skewer, prick a few holes into the top of the cake and pour the honey and orange syrup over the top. Sprinkle on the orange zest and pistachios to decorate.
Recipe extracted from The Italian Pantry by Theo Randall, published by Quadrille on 1st September, priced £26, with photography by Lizzie Mayson.
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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.
Windows
Secured By
accreditation,
Factory,
the only
1.
In which James Bond film does the title character have a third nipple?
2. In which winter sport might a team member be referred to as the vice-skip, or third?
3. Published in 2010, which politician wrote the memoir The Third Man: Life At The Heart Of New Labour?
4. What is the more common name for a tooth that is also called a third molar?
5. What is the third letter of the Greek alphabet?
6. “It was the third of September, that day I’ll always remember” is the opening line to which song?
7. In the nursery rhyme This Little Piggy, what did the third little piggy do?
8. What is the third most expensive property on a Monopoly board?
9. First broadcast in 1996, the TV show Third Rock From The Sun was set mainly on which planet?
10. Consisting of a flat wooden soundbox with strings stretched across it, which musical instrument did Anton Karas play on his distinctive soundtrack to the 1949 film The Third Man?
and
Across
1 Cars, vans, buses etc (7)
5 Type of sailing boat (5)
8 Enhance (7)
9 Perfect (5)
10 Severe (5)
11 Playhouse (7)
12 Reliable (6)
14 Shovels (6)
17 Extremely old (7)
19 Endangered species (5)
22 Tracks (5)
23 Sportsman (7)
24 Father (5)
25 Female relations (7)
Down
1 Works hard (5)
2 Type of fruit (5)
3 Grimaced (7)
4 Crates (6)
5 Dagger (5)
6 Given medical care (7)
7 Assistants (7)
12 Exchanged (7)
13 Elated (7)
15 Throws (7)
16 Used for drinking (6)
18 Assignment (5)
20 Waterfowl (5)
21 Scottish dances (5)
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Doorbell technology was never particularly exciting: from time to time a manufacturer would come up with a slightly different set of ding-dong sounds and that was pretty much it. But that’s changed: the same tiny cameras that we have in our phones have made their way to our front doors too, enabling us to see and even communicate with whoever comes to the door.
One of the best known video doorbell makers is the Amazon-owned Ring, whose range includes options that work with your existing wiring or battery-powered ones that last for months. While the specification improves the more you spend, with higher quality cameras, better night vision and so on, the core features are much the same: you can be alerted when someone approaches the door either by a chime or a notification on your phone or smart home hub, and you can decide whether to answer the door or pretend you’re not in. They’re useful when you’re away from home too, enabling you to instruct couriers if you don’t happen to be in when an unexpected delivery arrives. Where Amazon has Ring, Google has Nest. It has just two models, though: the Nest Doorbell (battery) and the Nest Doorbell (wired). Both stream live video over Wi-Fi 24 hours a day, both can distinguish between parcels, pets and people, and both have HDR for great contrast in the day and night vision to see in the dark.
When you’re considering a video doorbell it’s worth considering two things: what it’s compatible with – Amazon Alexa? Apple HomeKit? Google Home? – to ensure that it’ll work with either the smart home system you have or the one you want to get. And the second thing to look at is whether all its features are free. As with wireless security cameras you’ll often find that to get all the security features, such as long-term video storage or custom alerts, you may need to take out a security subscription. They aren’t hugely expensive – for example Google’s Nest Aware is £5 a month for unlimited cameras – but it’s still an extra cost.
Ring Video Doorbell (Gen 2) £89,99, amazon.co.uk
This is the best video doorbell for most people. It has 1080p HD video, night vision, motion detection and a range of smart features, but it doesn’t include an indoor chime: that’s about another £30. Battery life is several months and it’s built to withstand the British weather.
Google Nest Doorbell (battery) £192.41, nest.com
Google’s Nest doorbells look very similar but the battery model has more features and better recognition of different kinds of object. It works with the Google Home app and in a clever touch the camera will keep recording for an hour if it detects your Wi-Fi network going down or losing power.
Arlo Essential Wireless Video Doorbell £97.99, amazon.co.uk
Arlo is well known for its wireless security cameras and its doorbells are part of the same tradition. There’s high-resolution video, two-way audio, motion detection and customisable activity zones; the only real negative is that you’ll need to recharge the battery every month.
Ring Video Doorbell 4 £169.99, amazon.co.uk
The most advanced doorbell in the Ring range has dual-band 5GHz Wi-Fi, constant recording and an improved camera sensor and lens. It also includes useful wedge mounts to help you fix your doorbell for the best viewing angle.
EZViz DB2 Battery Video Doorbell Kit £99.99, very.co.uk
This isn’t the best video doorbell but it may be the best value: the price includes not just the doorbell but a fitting kit and an indoor chime so you can hear when someone’s at the door. The camera has 2K resolution and black and white night vision.
It’s been 21 years since Journey to the River Sea was published, but it still captivates readers (old and young alike) across the globe. The main character, Maia, is an orphan who is sent to live with distant relatives in Brazil in the early twentieth century. The relatives are interested in little but Maia’s money. However, Maia finds loyal companions in her governess, a young actor and a local boy.
Beth Underdown
Secrets, lies and deception abound in this gothic thriller. Ivy Boscawen is mourning the death of her son in the Great War. She’s also still haunted by memories of a child’s death 30 years before. Ivy believes the boy was murdered and now she needs to find out what really happened. But will anyone be prepared to let the full truth come to light, even Ivy herself?
Dolen Perkins-Valdez
Civil Townsend embarks on a career in family planning. It’s 1973 and she has high hopes of helping women to take control of their lives. But amongst her first patients are two young girls – eleven and thirteen. The girls live in virtual squalor and Civil does what she can to help them. Soon it becomes clear that people in power are intent are making life-changing decisions for girls like these two. A saddening insight into a dark period of American history.
By Kate Duggan
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Who needs a time machine when you have historical fiction?
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