Potton Spet 2019

VILLAGER The

Issue 157 - September 2019

and Town

Life

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

In this issue Win tickets to see

Ed Byrne The History of

Conkers 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

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Inside this issue...

Win Tickets to see Ed Byrne

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The History of Conkers........................................................................ 4 Harvest Time...................................................................................... 8 Tamil Nadu Top UNESCO Site in India................................................ 10 Win Tickets to see Ed Byrne.............................................................. 12 Celebrating the Great British Character............................................ 14 Dine in Style: Great British Restaurant............................................. 19 TATT: Are you tired all the time?....................................................... 22 Beauty Boosts.................................................................................. 24 Top Styling Tips for New Mums........................................................ 29 Sue Ryder St John’s Hospice Starlight Hike....................................... 33 Big Bang Theory: Thinking of cutting a fringe?................................. 34 Nick Coffer’s Weekend Recipe........................................................... 36 Here’s to a Dementia-Friendly Future............................................... 41 An Introduction to Photography...................................................... 43 Valuable VPN.................................................................................... 45 Managing your Money at University................................................ 46 Autumn Trends for Kitchens and Bathrooms.................................... 48

The Privet Hedge.............................................................................. 50 Going Green..................................................................................... 53 Wordsearch...................................................................................... 54 Water Works - Why we should all drink more water......................... 56 R.A.T.S. Rehoming Appeal................................................................ 59 Animal Know-How........................................................................... 60 Ask Alan - Potton Vets...................................................................... 63 Children’s Page................................................................................. 64 The 10 Best Electric Cars on Sale Today............................................. 66 Don’t Teach your Child to Drive......................................................... 68 Technology for the New Term........................................................... 70 What’s On......................................................................................... 74 Fun Quiz........................................................................................... 77 Puzzle Page...................................................................................... 80 Tech for Tweens................................................................................ 83 Prize Crossword................................................................................ 86 Book Review.................................................................................... 91

Autumn Trends for Kitchens and Bathrooms

Henlow Building Supplies

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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, Sarah Davey, Solange Hando, Kate McLelland, Trevor Langley, Tracey Anderson, Kate Duggan, Jennie Billings, Karen Campbell, Nick Coffer, Mark O’Keefe, Ann Haldon, Rachael Leverton, Pippa Greenwood, RSPCA, James Baggott and Iain Betson

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

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

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

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History

The History of Conkers With autumn comes the familiar sight of shiny brown conkers, the fruit of the horse chestnut tree, revealing themselves as their prickly green casings ripen and split open. These nuts’ sheen and rich colour make them irresistible to children and they are still used for playing the traditional game of Conkers.

The game of Conkers has two players. Each player has a conker which has had a small hole drilled through the centre and been threaded onto a piece of string around 25cm long. The players then take turns to strike the other’s conker until it breaks, earning a point each time. Scoring is accumulative, with the victor’s conker additionally taking on the points of their opponent. A new conker is known as a noner and conkers can build up points to become sixers, tenners and beyond.

The first recorded game of Conkers took place on the Isle of Wight in 1848, around 200 years after the horse chestnut tree was introduced into Britain from eastern Europe. Before this, a similar game had been played using hazelnuts (also known as cobnuts) or snail shells.

It is not generally known where the name ‘conker’ – used to refer to both the game and the horse

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chestnut fruit – originates from. Some suggestions are that it comes from the French verb cogner which means ‘to bump’ or that it is perhaps a colloquial version of the word conquer (the original cobnut or snail shell game was referred to as Conquerors). However, in other regions of the UK, the game of Conkers is also known as Cheggers, Cobblers and Kingers.

Often found in parks, the horse chestnut tree displays flower spikes in spring known as candles.

Unlike the sweet chestnut, its starch-rich fruit is extremely bitter and not edible to humans due to its high saponin content. However, in the Balkans, horse chestnuts were traditionally fed to horses to make their coats shiny. They can also be used as food for cattle by soaking them in lime water, boiling, grinding and adding them to fodder.

As well as being traditionally used as a horse food, the tree’s name may be due to the appearance of the horseshoe-shaped leaf scars that occur on its branches.

Conkers become harder with age but there have always been tricks of the trade to ensure your conker is a champion. I can recall my father swearing by soaking them overnight in vinegar.

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You can also do a test first to eliminate weaker conkers by placing them in a bowl of water. Those that are less dense (and so more easily smashed) will float, while the harder, denser conkers will sink.

The technique of drilling through the conker is vital too: the hole needs to be perfectly round and smooth with no cracks or fissures that could weaken the conker’s structure.

Vinegar baths and other such underhand tactics are regarded as cheating and prevented in the annual World Conker Championships where all contestants are supplied with ready-threaded conkers.

The World Conker Championships began in Northamptonshire in 1965. A group of regulars at the pub in Ashton, whose green had an abundance of horse chestnut trees, decided one rainy day to have a game of Conkers with a small prize for the winner and the remaining money going to RNIB Talking Books, as one of the players had a blind relative.

The game grew to become an annual event with people coming from all over to take part. Today it is international with the first overseas title having been won by Mexican Jorge Ramirez in 1976 and the first ladies’ title being awarded to Selma Becker from Austria in 2000. In addition, there are now junior competitions that attract schools with sponsorship and entertainment. Money is still given to the visually impaired with hundreds of thousands of pounds raised to date.

Conkers are not only interesting for their history as a playground game, it was once thought that they could help win us the war.

In the autumn of 1917, the Ministry of Supply offered children money through their schools and the Scout movement to collect as many conkers as they could. Under the Official Secrets Act, they were not told why.

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In fact, Lloyd George had asked a scientist called Professor Weizman to discover a way for Britain to manufacture cordite, which was needed for ammunition. At that time the country was experiencing a shortage due a shipping blockade that prevented its import from America.

To make cordite, a large supply of acetone is required, and to produce it, the professor needed a good source of starch. This was readily available in horse chestnuts.

However, thanks to the enthusiasm of the children, the government ran into problems when it came to transporting and storing the huge amounts of conkers collected, which had to be taken and kept at secret factory locations. The plan was consequently abandoned.

Conkers are believed to have medicinal properties, helping in the treatment of haemorrhoids, varicose veins and rheumatism. It was once thought that carrying one in your pocket was enough to reap the benefits, although these days there are tinctures and ointments available which contain its extracts.

For arachnophobes, conkers are said to be a deterrent to spiders when placed around the home.

Although traditionally a child’s game, many schools now ban conkers for health and safety reasons. And with the decline in the health of horse chestnut trees due to leaf miner moths and the bacterial disease bleeding canker, autumn conkers may become an increasingly rare sight.

By Catherine Rose

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Time of Year

By Sarah Davey

Harvest Time

The history of the Harvest Festival Take a look at a modern harvest festival and you’ll no doubt see many ‘urban’ offerings of prepacked cakes and tins of sweet corn. It’s so easy to pop down to the supermarket these days we forget that until relatively recently in this country, people’s lives depended upon the success or failure of their crops.

Harvest festivals were a way to say thank you for a good harvest while trying to guarantee the fortune of the next one.

Saxon farmers offered the first cut sheaf of corn to the gods of fertility in order to please them and ensure they were kind the following year.

The last sheaf was used to make a Kern baby; a doll, dressed in white and trimmed with coloured ribbons to represent spring.

Most peasants were tenant farmers who farmed for a landowner. Harvest time meant weeks of back-breaking work, so it became a tradition for the landowner to host a harvest supper as a thank you to the whole community once the harvest was brought home safely. There was no set date, but the celebrations generally took place around the time of the full Moon, known as the Harvest Moon.

Harvest festivals are closely associated with the church, but actually date back to Pagan times. It was 1843 before the Church became involved. The Reverend Robert Hawker invited members of his parish to a service of harvest thanksgiving at his Cornish church. The practice spread rapidly and led to the custom of decorating churches with

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harvest produce.

The story of John Barleycorn You may never have heard of him, but John Barleycorn is a character in a medieval folksong. He represents barley, the most important cereal crop of the harvest, and also the alcoholic beverages beer and whisky which were made from it.

In the song John Barleycorn suffers attacks, indignities and death which correspond to the various stages of the harvest such as reaping and malting.

It begins…

There was three kings into the east, Three kings both great and high, And they hae sworn a solemn oath, John Barleycorn should die.

They took a plough and plouh’d him down, Put clods upon his head, And they hae sworn a solemn oath, John Barleycorn was dead.

The song has many verses and poor old John Barleycorn suffers dreadfully throughout, particularly when he’s ground between the milling stones! But the story has a neat twist as our hero, who’s finally turned to alcohol, wreaks his revenge on everyone who drank him so merrily, and they suffer for their sins the following morning with gargantuan hangovers!

It is a mark of how important the harvest was that there are more versions of this song than any other in the English language!

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Travel

By Solange Hando

Tamil Nadu Top UNESCO Site in India On the Bay of Bengal, south of Chennai, these enchanting temples and shrines echo a glorious past to the sound of ocean waves. Eroded by wind, time and sea, they are still an outstanding display of Dravidian architecture, bequeathed by the first Pallava kings, father and son, in the 6th-7th centuries.

The site frequently changed its name but today it is best known as Mamallapuram, the place of ‘Mamallan’, the ‘wrestler’, referring to the first king.

From the ocean to the hillside, this vast outdoor complex holds you spellbound, starting with the ‘Five Rathas’ glowing coppery gold on the southern side. Shaped like ‘chariots’ carrying Hindu deities at festival time, each shrine was chiselled out of one huge boulder, starting from the top. Gently fanned by casuarinas, they are all different, one guarded by lions propping up the porch and a majestic elephant nearby, others looking like a thatched hut, a covered cart or a pyramid draped in sculptures of deities,

royal couples, comic figures and wildlife. The largest and most intricate is the lofty Dharmaraja, an art gallery in its own right.

Just beyond the Rathas, the hillside beckons with bas-reliefs and mysterious caves. This is a different world where carvings may send shivers down your spine, from battles against a buffalo-headed demon to boarlike Vishnu plunging into the ocean to rescue Mother Earth.

The Krishna sanctuary shows gentle scenes of pastoral life as the god lifts the mountain to protect shepherds from the wrath of rain. All these amazing carvings are the legacy of Pallavan artisans, most impressive among them the ‘Descent of the Ganges’. It’s the biggest outdoor bas-relief in the world, 96 feet long and 43 feet high, carved with nearly 1,000 figures of animals, humans and gods. According to legend this is where Lord Shiva brought the Ganges from heaven down to earth, letting it trickle through his matted hair. Then the river went its own way but you can

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still see the cleft in the rock.

Meanwhile saris flutter across this ancient site, bright red and gold, as locals make their way to the aptly named Shore Temple, the only survivor of the ‘Seven Pagodas’ mentioned by early travellers. The 2004 tsunami uncovered some extensive foundations but the undamaged Shore Temple rises above it all, its sculpted pyramids dominating the landscape from afar, resplendent yet haunted by shadows from a distant past.

Built in granite around 700 AD, it includes rock-cut shrines to Shiva and Vishnu and the ‘Mother of the Universe’ seated on a lion’s leg. Beautifully set on lush ground, away from the crowds and souvenir stalls, the compound is enclosed by a low tumbling wall where ‘Nandis’, the legendary bulls ridden by Shiva, have kept watch for over 1,000 years. It’s an inspiring backdrop for the midwinter festival but whatever the season, there is no better place to watch the sunset over the hills as ocean waves crash relentlessly on the shore.

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Photo: IDIL SUKAN

WIN a PAIR of TICKETS to see ED BYRNE at the HHPAC on 12th OCTOBER 2019 Following his biggest ever tour last year in which Ed sold out his entire Edinburgh Fringe run and many of his nationwide dates, culminating in extra dates added along the way, one of the finest observational comics in the industry announces his EVEN BIGGER brand-new tour for 2019/2020.

Join him as he takes a long hard look at himself and tries to decide if he has ANY traits that are worth passing on to his children.

A TV household name, Ed has been seen on pretty much every TV programme in the UK including Mock The Week, Top Gear, Have I Got News For You, The Graham Norton Show, Live At The Apollo (Host), The One Show, The World’s Most Dangerous Roads, Dara & Ed’s Big Adventure, Dara and Ed’s Road to Mandalay and most recently QI and The Pilgrimage.

We have a pair of tickets to give away for Ed’s Huntingdon date at the HHPAC on 12th October. All you have to do is send in the answer to the below question!

For a chance to win tickets simply answer the questions and complete the form below and send to: Ed Byrne Competition, Villager Publications Ltd, 24 Market Square, Potton, Bedfordshire SG19 2NP. Deadline: 16th August 2019.



ED BYRNE COMPETITION ENTRY

Which comedian pal did Ed have his Big Adventure with recently?

Name: Tel: Email: Address:

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Quirky Britain

By Kate McLelland

Celebrating the Great British Character Think Basil Fawlty beating his car in Fawlty Towers, Nora Batty wielding her broom in Last of the Summer Wine or manic middle-manager David Brent from The Office showing off his dance moves …

Our famous fictional creations are as British as fish and chips or a garden party at Buckingham Palace and it may surprise you to learn that the public’s enthusiasm for these distinctive characters dates back well over 400 years.

The writer Charles Dickens shot to fame after creating the Cockney servant Sam Weller for his novel The Pickwick Papers (1836-7), and just over two centuries earlier William Shakespeare invented an even more crowd-pleasing character in Sir John Falstaff.

Falstaff – the ‘Great Pretender’ Shakespeare created Falstaff as a foil for Prince Hal in Henry IV Parts I and II, but the rotund rogue became so popular that Shakespeare brought him back as a leading character in The Merry Wives of Windsor.

Falstaff was notable both for his scheming nature and his ridiculous airs and graces. Modern ‘Great Pretenders’ might include characters such as Hyacinth Bucket, Alan Partridge and David Brent.

‘Unlikely heroes’ – Potter and Trotter ‘Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone’, published in 1997, told the story of an orphan who grows up with his aunt, uncle and cousin in an unremarkable house in a Surrey village. With his round glasses and tousled hair, Harry Potter may be an unlikely hero, but he made reading cool again for a video-game obsessed younger generation.

Derek ‘Del Boy’ Trotter is also an orphan of sorts: his mother has died and his father has disappeared, leaving him

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to care for his younger brother Rodney. Unlike Harry Potter, Del Boy is always looking to make his fortune and doesn’t mind bending the truth a little in order to cash in, but we still love him for his eternal optimism.

‘Plain speakers’ – Fleabag, Sharples and Marple The final episode of the TV series Fleabag attracted 2.5 million viewers, putting Fleabag high on the list of popular female characters who aren‘t afraid to speak their minds.

In 1960 the cantankerous Ena Sharples arrived in Coronation Street, sparking legendary rows with her nemesis Elsie Tanner. Ena’s sharp eye for bad behaviour was matched by her sharp tongue, and we relished her acid putdowns.

Crime writer Agatha Christie’s female detective Jane Marple broke with convention when she appeared in a short story in 1927. Like Ena Sharples, Miss Marple started out as an interfering gossip but over the twelve novels that followed Christie allowed the character to mellow.

Thankfully, Miss Marple never lost the knack for putting tiresome local policemen in their place.

So what are the elements that make up a Great British Character? We want our heroes to be clever, funny and quick-witted, we’re attracted to individuals who can take risks and get away with them and we love to see our heroes struggle against impossible odds and win.

It’s no coincidence that qualities such as resilience, humour, defiance and irreverence – considered to be cornerstones of the British national character – can be found in our fictional favourites. So maybe the personalities we love are simply larger-than-life reflections of ourselves?

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HALLOWEEN MURDER MYSTERY EVENING

SATURDAY 26 OCTOBER 2019

Will you find out who the murderer was, the motive and how the killing was executed?

Includes a Three Course Meal - £60.00 Per Person www.shuttleworth.org/halloweenmurdermystery The House, Shuttleworth, Old Warden Park, Biggleswade, SG18 9EA

01767 627970

16 Villager - Halloween Murder Mystery advert FP Sept Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding adverts 19.indd 1 23/07/2019 to 12:22:31

PFYP_Villager_ad_Sep_15.qxp_Layout 1 01/09/2015 11:00 Page 1

Relax,unwind and…

paint!

Watercolours • acrylic • pen and ink • oils • • •

Artist and tutor Mary Booth welcomes students of all levels from beginner to the experienced painter looking to improve.

Work in small groups with others of similar ability level, gain confidence and improve your skills.

Courses are held at Mary’s studio in Gamlingay, in blocks of five weekly sessions, throughout the year.

Visit www.painting-for-your-pleasure.co.uk for more information or call 01767 654920 This advert and the Painting for your pleasure website have been produced by thecreativemix. Please visit www.creative-mix.co.uk to see the ‘exciting and inspiring’ communications we can provide for your business or organisation.

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Food and Drink

Dine in Style: Great British Restaurant The area of London around St James’s holds much interest, with Buckingham Palace, St James’s Palace, St James’s Park, Green Park and other popular locations only a short walk away. Mayfair and Knightsbridge districts, along with other shopping and designer outlets, satisfy many seeking ‘retail therapy’.

Dukes London is a ‘hidden gem’ and located in the heart of St James’s, an area which abounds in history and historic connections. St James’s Palace was built during the reign of King Henry 8th and the area soon became home to royalty, plus writers, musicians and politicians. Dukes London (Boutique five-star Red AA hotel) offers luxurious accommodation (80+ guest rooms), plus fine cuisine, to residents and nonresidents alike.

Dukes Great British Restaurant (GBR) offers all day dining, with dishes available as starters or main course options. English Burrata (Roasted onion squash, sage, toasted pumpkin seeds) is very popular, with wonderful flavours and excellent presentation. Chalk Stream Trout (Soft shell crab, roasted kohlrabi, crab sauce) is a regular choice too, from an impressive menu that has something for everyone, offering seafood, fish and meats. The ‘Daily Special’ changes each day, varying from Cumbrian Lamb Cutlets, through Salmon, to succulent, tender Rib-Eye Steak. Desserts can include Yorkshire Rhubarb and Lemon Meringue Pie. Executive Head Chef is Nigel Mendham. Nigel is passionate about great British food and ensures, with his very talented brigade of chefs and kitchen personnel, excellence at all times, with outstanding, complementing flavours.

Dukes Great British Jazz Brunch will jazz up everyones Sunday. This is style and sophistication, with bubbles (free-flowing, if you wish), Cured and Roasted Meats, Lobster Thermidor Omelette and much more. Dessert of Raspberry Cranachan, Waffles, Treacle Tart or Cheese Selection finishes the leisurely ‘experience’, wonderfully. Award-winning Dukes Bar is legendary and renowned for famous martinis and cocktails.

Dukes London offers the ‘Wedmin Weekend Package’, with engaged couples enjoying a two-night stay, plus champagne, chocolate covered strawberries, breakfasts and three course dinners with wine pairings.

Gift vouchers are available-perhaps surprise someone special?

Booking is advisable, particularly during popular times. A huge thank you to Denisa, for impeccable service throughout. A top recommendation.

Dukes London 35 St James’s Place, London SW1A 1NY Tel: 44 (0) 20 7491 4840 Email: gbrlondon@dukeshotel.com Email: bookings@dukeshotel.com www.dukeshotel.com

As always, Enjoy!

ey Trevor Langl

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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

Pink Angel Events

Mind, Body & Soul Fair The Days Inn, Sandy, SG19 1NA Sunday 6th October from 10.30am to 5.00pm Entry ÂŁ3, Plenty of free parking and refreshments available Psychic and Clairvoyant readers, Tarot, Angel Cards, Therapists, Reiki, Crystal and Sound healing, Light Therapy & Massage.

Stalls to include Native American crafts, Spiritual Gifts and Artwork, Himalayan bowls, Salt lamps, Crystals, Handmade jewellery, Pyramids, Skin care and much more

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Health

TATT - Are you tired all the time?

How do you feel when you wake up? Are you refreshed and ready for the day? Or do you feel drained, like you’ve hardly slept.

GPs report that more patients are complaining of lack of energy. The syndrome even has its own name, TATT - which means tired all the time.

If you constantly feel lethargic it is important not to ignore it. TATT is common but there are steps you can take to help yourself. There are many different causes of fatigue, and a good place to start is a chat with your GP. If you feel overwhelming exhaustion, which gets worse rather than better with activity, and does not improve with rest, you might be suffering from myalgic encephalopathy (ME) or chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). There is not a definitive cure for these conditions but there are treatments and self-help measures that can help to ease the symptoms.

A GP will test for other medical problems that can cause tiredness, such as anaemia, thyroid issues, food intolerances or diabetes.

Many cases of TATT are related to mental health problems, such as depression and anxiety.

Traumatic life events, stress and money worries can also cause fatigue. Talking therapies can help in these cases, and your doctor may be able to

refer you to a counselling service.

If a GP has ruled out more serious underlying causes but you still feel tired, there are lifestyle changes that will help. First make sure you’re getting enough good quality sleep. Make it a priority for a few weeks to see how much better you feel. The Royal College of Psychologists’ advice is to have both a regular bedtime and wake time, and avoid napping. If you struggle to drop off try a soak in a warm bath before you go to bed because this will make you feel calm, and the drop in body temperature when you exit the bath fools the body to start to prepare for sleep.

Reduce your stress levels by scheduling relaxation time into your day. This could be something as simple as listening to your favourite music or meeting friends for a chat.

A good diet also plays a role in increasing your energy levels. Try eating small snacks throughout the day, rather than one large meal in the evening.

Avoid alcohol and drink more water. Cutting caffeine will also help but cut down gradually to minimise the risk of headaches.

Finally, a little light exercise is another proven way to fight fatigue. Even a quick 15-minute walk around the block will give boost your energy.

By Tracey Anderson

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The Swiss Garden at Night Friday 1 November - Saturday 2 November

As part of the Museums at Night festival, the Swiss Garden is pleased to open for the second year running to show off the garden’s lovely collection of trees, shrubberies and architectural features. See magnificent cedars, ancient oaks, ponds, bridges and rustic buildings beautifully highlighted using a variety of lights, and re-visit Lord Ongley’s lamp-lit Regency garden, which so impressed contemporary visitors that it was described as a ‘fairyland’ in the 1830s.

18:30-21:00 (last admission 20.00). £10 per adult, £3 per child and £24 per family (2 adults, 2 children)

www.shuttleworth.org/garden-at-night The Swiss Garden, Old Warden Park, Biggleswade, SG18 9EP To advertise inGarden The Villager and Villager - Swiss at Night FP SeptTown 19.indd Life 1 please call 01767 261122

01767 627933 23/07/2019 12:40:59 23

Beauty

Beauty Boosts

By Kate Duggan

Treats for your skin, hair and senses.

If your skin (like you) is feeling a bit ‘meh’ after your summer holiday, try Green People’s Beauty Boost Skin Restore, £21. The creators seem to have set themselves a challenge to see how many supercharged natural ingredients they can fit into one product. There’s everything from shea butter and avocado to wakame (a type of seaweed), aloe, rosemary and evening primrose.

Skin instantly feels much softer, plumper and fresher. Mine still felt better 24 hours later. It’s an intensive treatment to use once or twice a week, and a little goes a long way, so the 50ml bottle should last for months. It also smells amazing as it’s scented with calming essential oils such as ylang ylang, mandarin and lavender. Perfect for before bed or when you feel like a bit of an aromatherapy treat, see www.greenpeople.co.uk If you’re in the market for a new day cream, Tamaar Skincare’s new Rejuvenate Advanced Natural Anti-Ageing Cream Complex could be just what you’re looking for. The hero ingredient is a date palm extract called D’Orientine, which has been clinically proven to boost collagen by up to 28% and improve the skin’s natural defence systems. The cream also includes turmeric root extract (an anti-inflammatory that promotes healing), aloe vera, rose hip oil, argan oil and other plant-based ingredients. It’s packed with antioxidants, vitamins and other goodies. The cream absorbs quickly and leaves skin feeling softer and more hydrated. My skin loves it. It’s £47 at www. tamaarskincare. com Planning a last minute getaway or trying to cut down on your plastic?

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Try a shampoo bar.

While they were quite hard to get hold of a couple of years ago, they’ve grown in popularity considerably, and it’s easy to see why.

A shampoo bar will last several times longer than a bottle of shampoo. There’s less plastic waste, and the bars are easy to transport.

I’ve been trialling The Shine Bar, which lathers well, leaves hair feeling clean and shiny, and has a pleasant citrus fragrance. It also comes in a handy metal storage tin, so is ideal for taking to the gym or for travelling. The Shine Bar costs £9.50 from www.shineshampoobars.co.uk. Alternatively, try Lush, The Natural Soap Company or www. ethicalsuperstore.co.uk for other shampoo bars.

Regular readers will know I’m a fan of Weleda’s Skin Food.

I’m in good company, as it’s also beloved by celebrities such as Victoria Beckham, Adele and Julia Roberts. The eco-brand has recently released a Skin Food Body Butter, £18.95, which is every bit as good as I was hoping and perfect for uber-dry skin. It’s very rich but absorbs quickly and really ‘feeds’ the skin with cocoa butter, shea butter, calendula, chamomile and other nourishing natural ingredients. See www.weleda.co.uk Keep that summer feeling going as long as possible, with a colourful nail polish.

Jolly Good by Butter London is a rich, cheerful coral that suits most skin tones. Its chip resistant formula is supposed to keep your nails looking salon-worthy for up to 10 days. It costs £15 at www. lookfantastic.com

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Call Nadia on 07790 000256

Sue Ryder St John’s Hospice

The Mobility Physio

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

Write your Will for free Whether you’re writing a Will from scratch, or amending an existing one it needn’t cost you a penny.

As a member of the National Free Wills Network, Sue Ryder is able to offer you and your partner the opportunity to make a simple single or joint Will with a qualified solicitor, free of charge.

• • • • •

There’s no obligation to include a gift to Sue Ryder in your Will – But if you do choose to remember us, your support will enable us to be there for more people when it matters, to support them through their most difficult times, and help them live the best life they possibly can.

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

To take up this opportunity, please contact Sarah Ashton at St John's Hospice on:

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

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call: 01767 642424 email: sarah.ashton@suerydercare.org visit: www.sueryder.org/freewills Sue Ryder is a charity registered in England and Wales (1052076) and in Scotland (SC039578). Ref No.06727. © Sue Ryder. January 2019

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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

Adjustable Beds From £399

Electric Wheelchairs From £999

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.



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

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

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EMERGENCY DENTURE REPAIRS 1 HOUR SERVICE 01767 651439 07973 141862

REPAIR OR A CLEAN AND POLISH ON YOUR DENTURES BY A QUALIFIED TECHNICIAN COLLECTION AND DELIVERY ALSO AVAILABLE

Denture repairs 1/4 page.indd 1

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09/09/2016 16:42

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House of Colour

Top Styling Tips for New Mums 1) You may spend a lot of time in jeans so make sure they are the right fit in a colour or tone that’s right for your season ie warm and dark for Autumns, cool and deep for Winters, bright and blue for Springs, and soft and cool for Summers, and they will then go with all the other colours in your season in your wardrobe.

2) Try to be as environmentally aware as possible.

Look out for products that are made from recycled fibres, organic cottons and quality materials.

Use locally sourced renewable materials when you can. Avoid polyester or nylon because they’re non-biodegradable. Synthetic fabrics are fashion’s equivalent to single-use plastic. Having a disposable mindset is not good for the planet’s health. Be choosey and ask yourself do you REALLY love the garment you are about to buy for your child. Enjoy hand-me downs.

3) Use jewellery to lift your outfit in any situation!

There will be times you won’t have time to sit and apply make-up for even 90 seconds before you need to dash out that door, but anyone can grab a necklace and earrings (unless of course your youngster is still at the ‘pretty thing, let me grab it’ stage)!

4) Don’t wear clothes that don’t fit even if you are a bit bigger than you once were. Drowning in oversized clothes is never a good look so don’t worry about your size and wear clothes that fit. Love your body and shape. Know what your best parts are and draw attention to those areas whether that means cinching in your waist or elongating a shorter mid-section for example. If you carry a bit of weight around your middle, but have shapely legs show them off in both your trouser and skirt choices.

5) Get a big bag with lots of pockets in one of your wow colours! This is a great way of adding your colours and style while out and about with your little one. There are so many designs and styles out there, you will be sure to find one that really suits you and your needs.

6) Wearing a patterned top can hide a multitude of problems from stains to feelings of bloatedness.

Choose a pattern that suits your personality and scale in colours that suit your palette.

7) If you manage to get a rare night off, take the opportunity to dress up a little to get your mojo back! Dressing for your shape is all in the detail.

We all suit different hemlines, necklines, trouser lengths, lapels and sleeves, not to mention of course colours, fabrics, structure, patterns and details.

8) Wear a scarf in one of your wow colours to make your skin look brighter and fresher, it can also serve as a breastfeeding cover if needed.

9) The right lipstick can work wonders for a hardworking mum’s complexion, as can a natural blusher! Make sure you know whether you should be wearing warm or cool coloured lipsticks.

10) Whilst comfy shoes are key because you will be walking a lot when they are small and doing lots of chasing after them when they are toddlers, choose shoes that really suit your style and to add some fun – choose them in one of your brighter colours.

By Jennie Billings, Colour and Style Consultant, House of Colour www.houseofcolour.co.uk/jenniebillings e:jennie.billings@houseofcolour.co.uk

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Local News

Would you like less pain?

Are you in pain? Does it affect your daily life?

APS Pain Reduction Therapy may help you. It has enabled many people to: • Reduce pain • Sometimes become completely free from pain • Decrease swelling and inflammation • Improve quality of sleep • Increase energy What is APS Pain Reduction Therapy?

APS Therapy is a safe, drug-free therapy.

It’s a comfortable micro-current therapy which simulates the body’s own healing systems. It’s effective for relieving or completely alleviating pain in about 80% of people.

‘APS’ stands for ‘Action Potential Stimulation’. It involves placing tiny electrodes on your skin. It’s safe and painfree.

“I’ve had Sciatica for months. APS Pain Therapy has been fantastic. The pain no longer stops me in my tracks – I can move and sleep so much better now,” says Cathy M. The best way to see whether APS Pain Reduction Therapy may help you is to give it a go. We offer a free test session – book yours now by emailing APS@hmstc.net or call Claire on 01462 684 214.

APS therapy is not recommended for individuals with: active cancer, epilepsy or electrical implants (such as a pacemaker), or those who are pregnant, have had a stroke, heart attack or DVT/PE within the last three months.

Our team is happy to discuss any queries or questions you may have.

To find out more, please contacts us at APS@hmstc.net or call Claire on 01462 684 214.

You can also find details on our website: www.hertsmstherapy.org.uk

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Add a little sparkle this summer Teeth Whitening

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*Offers valid until 31st August 2019.

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Local News

Sue Ryder St John’s Hospice

Join us for a walk under the stars, remembering loved ones whilst raising money for Sue Ryder St John’s Hospice along our 5k or 10k route. The night will be full of exciting entertainment to guide you to the finish line.

Starlight Hike

This year our magical Starlight Hike returns to the Shuttleworth Estate on Friday 20th September!

This event has something for everyone so gather your family and friends and join us for a night to remember.

Our hospice provides expert palliative care for people who are living with life-limiting conditions, as well as supporting their families.

We do this through our various services including inpatient care, day therapy, family support team and palliative care hub offering 24 hour palliative care support to local families.

Our expert care can only continue with people like you fundraising for us. Our services are free of charge, but it costs £140 a day for a Sue Ryder Nurse to give their expert and compassionate care to our patients. This is why events like Starlight Hike and people like you are vital in making sure our care can continue.

Become a shining star for the night!

If you would like to find out more information on how to take part, please do get in touch with the Sue Ryder St John’s Hospice fundraising team who would be more than happy to help you.

Call: 01767 642410 email: stjohnsfundraising@sueryder.org

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

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Hair

Big Bang Theory

Thinking of cutting a fringe?

Bangs are hairdresser-speak for a fringe, and they are all the rage right now as celebrities like Miley Cyrus, Emma Stone and Reese Witherspoon have all been photographed sporting them.

Bangs can be a fun and easy way to freshen-up your hairstyle, but you need to know which bangs will suit your face shape best.

Round - Go for thick side-swept bangs cut at a strong angle to break the shape of your face. Avoid straight-cut bangs as they will emphasise the roundness.

Square - Long heavy bangs that fall just below the eyebrows and are tapered down towards the outer corner of the eyes will soften the face. You can push the bangs to one side to further break-up the shape.

Avoid short straight bangs as they will make your face look squarer.

Long - Long choppy bangs with longer soft layers around the face with shorten and soften your features.

Baby bangs on the other hand will make your face look longer.

Heart-shape - Side-swept bangs which run from the brows to the cheekbones will emphasise your eyes and pretty, delicate chin. A full, blunt wide fringe will emphasise your wider forehead.

Oval - You are lucky. Your balanced features mean you can choose any style you like. Choose to emphasise the features you like best. Baby bangs will emphasise beautiful brows; eyebrow-grazing bangs will draw attention to your eyes, and if you love your cheekbones go for a Bardot style with soft layers that end at the top of the checks.

By Karen Campbell Have fun.

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

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

AUGUST

Saturday 31st August - Fishing with Robots

SEPTEMBER

September Open House & BBQ Weekend Special Event!

Friday 6th September - Garage R&B Night Saturday 7th September - Rob goes Solo (Rob is the lead singer from Bite The Bullet) Special Offer: Introduce a guest & buy them a pint or a glass of wine for £1 only New Member Offer - Get a pint or a glass of wine for a £1 (limited availability 1 offer per member or for every New membership purchased T&Cs apply) More of what’s on in September Saturday 14th September - Simon Baker Saturday 21st September - Woo & The Fuel Friday 27th September - The Soulman* Saturday 28th September - Karaoke All info is provided in good faith, always check the web page pottonclub.co.uk for changes.

When you see this * an ENTRY FEE will apply.

Potton CIU Club, Charities Hall, Station Road, Potton Tel: 01767 261465 (Evenings) Website: www.pottonclub.co.uk 34

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When the time comes, and you need to look into nursing care for a friend or relative, come and see us at the Park House Nursing Care Centre in Sandy.

With our team of dedicated carers and support staff, we provide specialised 24 hour care to adults of all ages in a homely and friendly atmosphere.

Some of the people in our community may be living with dementia, whilst others may have complex care needs requiring the intervention of our qualified nurses.

And we place a great value on socialising, with a varied programme of activities.

You’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

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Food & Drink

Polpettone

Italian Rolled Meatloaf

Make no mistake, this polpettone is pretty epic. It’s like a traditional meatloaf, only bigger, fuller, more dramatic and with more ingredients. It was created by Valentina Mamusa, who runs the delightful Valentina’s Café in Chiswell Green near St Albans. She runs it with her husband, Alberto. They always come on my show together and I call them Albertina! They moved to the UK with their young son for a new experience, opened their café and are now very much part of their local community. Italy’s loss is our gain, and this rolled meatloaf is magnificent.

Ingredients: 500g minced beef 1/2 teaspoon grated nutmeg 1 tbsp chopped parsley 6 eggs 100g grated parmesan 100g smoked cheese or Provolone 1 glove of garlic, crushed 200g spinach 1 pack thinly sliced bacon 1. Hard boil four of the eggs and let them cool. Pierce the spinach bag and pop it in the microwave for about a minute to wilt it. Alternatively you can pop the spinach in a pan with a little butter.

2. Mix the beef in a bowl with the remaining two eggs, nutmeg, salt and pepper, the parsley and the cheeses.

3. Lay a sheet of baking paper out on the worktop. Lay the bacon out on the paper and then flatten the beef mix out into a rectangle around 8-10mm in thickness on top of the bacon.

4. Add the spinach and top with the boiled eggs.

5. Tightly roll the mix up, using the baking paper as you go, in the same way as you would roll up a Swiss roll.

6. Pop this in a baking dish and leave it to chill for around an hour.

7. Heat your oven to 200C/ Gas Mark 5 and roast the polpettone for around 20-30 minutes. You want the bacon to have taken on lots of colour and the roll needs to be hot in the middle.

8. When it’s cooked, take it out of the oven and leave it to rest for 30 minutes.

9. Serve it in thick slices with mashed potato drizzled with the cooking liquor.

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.

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QUALITY KITCHEN FACELIFTS

Do You Dream Of A New Kitchen?

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• Installed in a matter of days by local skilled tradesmen

dreamdoors.co.uk

• The whole process managed from design to completion

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

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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

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Picture Framing By

Nesan Arts

Fine Art Picture Framing Choose Picture Framing in the comfort of your own home Consultation, collection and delivery included in the service Established 19 years Please call Sue on: 01954 719467 For a no obligation appointment nesan.arts@btinternet.com www.nesanarts.co.uk

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Life Begins...

By Kate McLelland

Here’s to a dementiafriendly future “We want to make Knaresborough a town where people living with dementia feel understood, respected, supported and confident so that they can contribute to life in the community.” So says Alison Wrigglesworth, Services Manager for Harrogate and Knaresborough Alzheimer’s Society.

The Yorkshire town of Knaresborough is one of the latest in a long line of UK towns to declare themselves a ‘dementiafriendly Community’ (DFC).

Dementia is not, as many people believe, a natural consequence of old age (although the older you are, the more likely you are to be affected) and it is predicted that the number of UK residents with the condition will increase to over one million by 2025. That figure is set to double by 2051.

Given these statistics, it’s seems likely that in future our public health and social care services could struggle to care for people who develop the condition.

Dementia-friendly initiatives therefore serve a dual purpose: helping people stay at home for as long as possible and relieving some of the burden that would otherwise be placed on our public care providers.

What are the issues?

Things we all take for granted, such as using technology, getting served in shops and banks, going on holiday or enjoying hobbies are difficult when you have dementia, but they can become even harder when the individuals around you don’t know how to respond appropriately.

For this reason it’s not uncommon for people to shut themselves away as their condition progresses, even though this can make them feel isolated and depressed. According to the Alzheimer’s Society, over two-thirds of those polled have reported feeling lonely.

What is a ‘dementia-friendly community’?

A dementia-friendly community is a place where people with dementia are understood, respected and supported. It can be a street, village, town, city or region, an organisation, a group or even a virtual community.

There are no hard and fast rules to follow when setting up a community of your own. Instead, local people are encouraged to decide what works best for them.

While flexibility is encouraged, there are certain measures that are regularly adopted by towns and cities who want to become

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

DFCs. Businesses that regularly come into contact with older people, such as banks and taxi firms, are asked to provide extra support for customers with dementia, while museums and art galleries are encouraged to offer dementia-friendly activities. Other initiatives include ‘dementia cafes’ and drop-in centres. In the public realm planners use clear signage, creating well-defined open spaces with public toilets, seats, shelters and good lighting.

Most DFCs are keen to engage local people as ‘Dementia Friends’.

These are individuals willing to promote the aims of the DFC, from spreading awareness about the condition to spending time with people with dementia.

Currently almost three million have signed up to this initiative on the Dementia Friends website (dementiafriends.org.uk).

The Alzheimer’s Society has estimated that one in six people aged over 80 in the United Kingdom currently has dementia, and a further 225,000 people will be diagnosed this year.

There’s clearly no time to lose, so it’s reassuring to see that new dementia-friendly communities, just like the one in Knaresborough, are appearing every day.

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2

EBAY COLLECTIONS

42

Local & Reliable

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Local News

An Introduction to Photography A workshop for budding photographers has been arranged for the 21st September to raise money for a nature reserve in memory of a much loved ecologist, wildlife lover and photographer, Madeleine Parnwell.

Madeleine’s Patch has being created as a community wildlife haven and already has a variety of wildlife not found in the surrounding arable fields. During the workshop you will learn more about how to use your camera, the effects of the different settings and lenses and how to compose better photographs, all within the stunning surroundings of Madeleine’s Patch HQ and the Patch itself. The emphasis will be on natural history photography. “The workshop is suitable for all abilities” says Steve Parnwell, founder of Madeleine’s Patch, “it will be a mix of indoor and outdoor sessions, with plenty of help available. The money raised will go towards the enhancement of Madeleine’s Patch and enable it to be enjoyed by the community over the years.”

The workshop costs £35 and spaces are limited so to book your place call Steve on 07786 443802.

For more information about Madeleine’s Patch go to the Facebook page at https://bit.ly/2LqIFQS

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

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Technology

Valuable VPN!

By Mark O’Keefe

Use a virtual private network to protect your data In a coffee shop the other day I took my phone out to catch up on some emails. The customer Wi-Fi was free so of course I connected and started browsing the web. I glanced up at one point and all around me a number of people were busy doing the same thing. It suddenly struck me that everyone was on the same network, so how safe was my information?

Then I wondered whether my home was really any safer.

Any time we use the Internet for browsing, watching videos, answering email, or any of our apps, our phone or computer has a digital conversation with other computers. If someone monitors this conversation, they will see what we’re looking at, who we’re talking to and, if the computer we’re talking to isn’t secure, our account details and passwords are vulnerable.

Organisations make a lot of money from gathering this sort of information. It’s called Big Data. Think of those pop-up ads that seem to know exactly the sorts of things we like.

So how can we stop the snoopers?

Using a VPN (Virtual Private Network) is a great solution. This works by using our Internet connection to securely connect us to a VPN server.

Hackers can see we’ve made the connection but can’t see anything we’re doing. Our device tells the VPN server what we want to do, and it goes on to the Internet to do it for us. It then sends that

information back to our device using this secure connection.

This technique has a number of advantages.

All our browsing is carried out by the VPN server.

No one can track our activity back to our computer.

Governments, hackers and websites can only see the VPN server, and these don’t keep any records of who was using the system.

Everything we do online instantly becomes fully encrypted. We can connect to public Wi-Fi hotspots without worrying about somebody stealing our information.

Most VPN systems allow connection to servers in different countries. It’s then possible to access websites and services as if you were based in that country. However big organisations like Netflix invest a lot of money trying to stop people using VPN connections to get US shows from the UK. In countries where the Internet is censored, using a VPN can bypass the censorship and allow access the information from forbidden sites.

VPN services cost a few pounds per month to rent.

Sometimes internet security software offers the service as part of their package.

So, if you do use lots of public Wi-Fi networks it’s well worth the investment. If you’re worried about people tracking your online activity and building up a personal profile of your likes and dislikes, then VPN is the easy solution.

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45

Finance

By Ann Haldon

Managing Your Money at University Newfound independence can be exhilarating when you go away to university for the first time, but starting life in a new city also has its challenges. Worries about studying and making new friends can creep in as the new term nears, but managing money is also a significant issue.

The good news is that it’s not difficult to control your finances and live within your means at university, so where do you start as a new student?

Make a budget every month Once you’re set up, budgeting only takes a few minutes every month, and is a fundamental part of managing money. Initially, you need to establish how much money is coming in and the amount you’re likely to spend.

Your income could consist of a maintenance loan, a grant or scholarship, wages from a job or financial contributions from parents, and outgoings can be divided into essential living costs and variable expenses.

Essential living costs typically include food, rent, heating, council tax, contents insurance, mobile phone, broadband and TV licence, with variable expenses including items such as clothes, entertainment, course materials, travel and savings.

Choose the best student bank account A student bank account should offer easily accessible support and services specifically designed for undergraduates. An interest-free overdraft is commonly offered when you open a student bank account, but a credit card may also be available subject to eligibility.

Banks often advertise free gifts to entice students

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to open an account, but don’t be swayed unless the gift is of particular use to you. A student rail card can be extremely helpful if you’re living a long distance from home, for example, as it saves onethird on the cost of rail travel in the UK. Nationwide FlexStudent¹ • Fee-free overdraft facility of £1,000 in the first year, £2,000 in the second, and £3,000 in the third year if you pay in at least £500 per term, subject to status.

• UK-only call centres.

Santander 123 Student² • Interest-free arranged overdraft of up to £1,500 per year subject to status.

• A free four-year 16-25 Railcard that saves you one-third on the price of rail travel in the UK. • Cash back of up to 15% at major retailers.

Take advantage of all student discounts The National Union of Students (NUS) offers a TOTUM³ card for one, two, or three years, with over 200 discounts available in the UK and more than 42,000 discounts worldwide. Cards cost £12, £22, and £32 for one year, two years and three years respectively, and at the time of writing discounts include: • 10% at Co-op • 25% at Odeon cinemas • 30% at Lonely Planet Managing your money at university doesn’t need to be difficult – you just have to be aware of how much is coming into your account and the amount you’re spending. Budgeting is the best way to stay in control and it’s well worth the extra time to keep an eye on your finances.

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ARCHITECTURAL DRAWINGS AND BUILDING SURVEYING SERVICES VIRTUAL PA / GIRL FRIDAY

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TAKE A LOOK AT THE WEBSITE AND GIVE ME A CALL TO DISCUSS YOUR REQUIREMENTS

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

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Autumn Trends

for Kitchens and Bathrooms

Chris Curson of Henlow Building Supplies tells us about the latest products Once summer is over and the children go back to school, people often move indoors and start looking to update tired interiors.

“Autumn is a busy season for kitchens and bathrooms” explains Chris. “For example, people who have started extensions during the summer are now ready for the finishing touches to their projects in a final dash to get the kitchen and bathroom ready for relatives staying at Christmas.”

So, what’s new in kitchens and bathrooms?

Bathrooms

Acrylic Walls and Shower Panels: People are moving away from traditional ceramic tiles and glass shower panels towards easyto-clean, hygienic and cost-effective acrylic options. Waterproof acrylic panels give a smooth, contemporary, seamless wall surface and come in a wide range of colours, patterns and finishes, including metallic. Manufacturer Wetwall will even make bespoke panels to match your chosen

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colour and if desired, can print your own digital photographs into panels, making your bathroom design totally unique.

Contemporary Tiling: If you still love ceramic tiles, they are now available in much larger sizes meaning fewer grout lines and a smoother finish. But if the minimalist look is not for you, HBS includes a range of traditional mosaic tiles in stunning and innovative new designs, including industrial-style patterns and metallic finishes with glittering inserts.

Luxury Vinyl Flooring: Vinyl flooring remains popular, but the latest products don’t come on a roll. Palio by Karndean for example is supplied in strips and clicks together like laminate, making it quick to install and easy to take up for servicing what’s underneath. Wood or slate-effect are HBS’ best-selling ranges and are now so realistic it’s very difficult to tell them from the real thing. Another bonus is that Palio is warm underfoot as well as being waterproof.

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The Hotel Look: The now much sought-after ‘hotel look’ combines large matt grey tiles and shallow shower trays with dark hardwood accented furniture like the Rhodes Aruba Flintwood units. HBS can adapt and design either a fitted or wall-hung bathroom around your existing pipes. While wet rooms with flush flooring remain popular, shallow trays come with a wider waste to accommodate water flow and are increasingly the preferred option.

Showers with Handset and Drencher Head: Shower units with a large ‘drencher’ head combined with a hand-held spray device are now the most opted for. Simplifying the shower experience, Roper Rhodes Event Click Shower has push buttons to switch between shower heads and the bath so that temperature-controlled water is delivered, literally, at the touch of a button. And plumbers love it too as it is installed in an easy-to-service pull-out panel.

Kitchens

Metro Tiles: The ‘brick-style’ tile remains in vogue and RAK Loft Brick is HBS’ most popular kitchen tile. It comes in a wide range of plain gloss colours or subtle graphic patterns and has a slightly undulating finish. Suitable for the bathroom too.

True Handle-less Kitchens: A handle-less rail offers a truly sophisticated look for any kitchen. Blending harmoniously with modern and contemporary clean lines ensures this style is fast becoming a ‘less is more’ design classic. It’s also easy to clean.

Quartz Worktops: Quartz worktops have taken over from traditional options. Bushboard M Stone has six popular colourways that can be cut on site by experienced people. HBS also supplies Corian’s and Hanex’ Acrylic Solid Surface - a much thinner worktop in a huge range of design and colour options, including a translucent range which can have lights shining through the work surface from underneath.

Induction Hobs: Not only do induction hobs look good, they produce no heat until a ferrous metal pan is placed on top. A quick-to-clean and easy-to-control alternative to gas, they also provide a safer alternative to the electric ceramic hob.

Acrylic Splashbacks: What’s good for the bathroom also goes for the kitchen and with their statement patterns and wipeclean surface, acrylic splashbacks can be matched to glass for behind the hob.

Henlow Building Supplies has a dedicated kitchen and bathrooms showroom upstairs from the main trade counter. It offers a complete range of products including those mentioned: everything from the foundations to the kitchen sink! Their free kitchen design service includes a site visit and final check measure. The company also offers a 31 day credit account. Subject to checks.

HBS now has a new separate door and joinery showroom with a range of popular styles such as the walnut 5-panel door and oak vertical panel door. Come and take a look!

Henlow Building Supplies

3A Pegasus Drive, Stratton Business Park, Biggleswsade SG18 8QA Tel: 01767 312800 Fax: 01767 318371 Email: sales@henlowbuildingsupplies.co.uk www.henlowbuildingsupplies.co.uk Facebook: @HenlowBuildingSupplies Pinterest: To advertise in The Villager and Town Life please call 01767 261122 Henlow Building Supplies

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Garden View

The Privet Hedge

By Rachael Leverton

One of the questions I’m often asked as a gardener is ‘How do I trim my privet hedge?’

Privet hedges aren’t a particularly sexy subject for a gardening article, but hedge-trimming seems to cause a lot of angst so let me tackle it here.

Privet is one of our most popular hedging plants.

It has dense foliage which is green all year round, and it’s hardy which means it’s suited to a wide range of planting sites. It’s also available in a selection of varieties and root types, so there’s a Privet hedge to suit most gardens.

Autumn is a good time to trim them because there’s little chance of disturbing any birds who might be nesting in them. Nesting season generally runs from March to early August.

If you have a small hedge like those outside terraced town houses, then hand-held hedge shears are fine, but for large hedges an electric or even a petrol hedge-trimmer is definitely easier. If you have one, give it a check over and make sure it’s sharp and well lubricated.

Safety should be paramount. Wear safety goggles and sturdy gloves. It’s not overkill. I once spent Saturday afternoon in eye casualty because a small sharp twig flew into my eye while I was trimming a hedge. It hurt and took ages to heal properly so be warned. Before starting, remove any potential obstacles on the ground which might

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prove to be a trip hazard. Avoid using powered tools above shoulder height; instead use a sturdy step ladder set on stable ground. If your hedge trimmer is electric use a residual current device (RCD) for safety purposes, and don’t use it in damp conditions.

One little trick I learned at a hedge-cutting course a few years ago is to cut hedges so that they are slightly tapered on both sides. This will mean the base is wider than the top and light can reach the bottom of the hedge, which means the hedge will be greener and look healthier.

Top tips to ensure an even, symmetrical hedge: Straight edges are difficult to cut by eye. Use a taut horizontal string tied between two stout canes to act as a guide so you can cut the top of the hedge level. For vertical lines use canes or stakes pushed into the ground.

When using shears, ensure that the top of the hedge is cut level and flat by keeping the blades of the shears parallel to the line of the hedge.

When using a hedge trimmer, keep the blade parallel to the hedge and use a wide, sweeping action working from the bottom of the hedge upwards, so that the cut foliage falls away

Happy Gardening

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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

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

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Gardening

Going Green With the ground still warm from the summer sun and moisture levels in the soil increasing, September is the perfect time to create a new lawn.

Using grass seed is cheaper than buying turf, plus you can choose a suitable grass mixture and the lawn can be shaped without having to cut pieces of turf.

First, examine the site and calculate the total area to be seeded, then study the grass seed packs in your local garden centre. Your choice will be between various grades of utility lawn (usually containing some rye grass for toughness), finer lawns that need more care and mixtures suitable for partial shade.

It will be about three weeks before the seedlings emerge and then about ten weeks before the lawn can be cut, so bear this in mind when choosing your start time.

Remove all weeds (including roots), old grass and debris. Perennial weeds should be dug out or killed off with weedkiller – those containing glyphosate allow grass seed to be sown straight away.

Dig over and examine the area – ideally you want a light, free-draining loam that does not become too dry in summer, or waterlogged or compacted in winter. Add horticultural sand and some bulky organic matter to heavy soil to improve drainage, and dig plenty of well-rotted organic matter into light soil for better moisture retention.

Rake the soil repeatedly to achieve a level surface free from large stones, plant remains or other debris. Gauge the level by eye or use a system of

By Pippa Greenwood

pegs and a spirit level if necessary.

Spread some granular general fertilizer evenly over the prepared area. Firm by treading it over evenly in flat-soled shoes or boots, paying particular attention to the edges – this prevents subsidence later.

Lawn seed germinates best in warm, moist conditions so avoid hot, dry weather and wait until just before rain is forecast.

Using pack directions, weigh out the quantity of grass seed needed for one square metre. Mark the corners of a one metre square plot and distribute the seed evenly over it – this shows you how correctly sown seed should look, thus acting as a guide for sowing the remainder. Sowing too thinly encourages weeds; sowing too thickly means poor-quality seedlings that are less likely to thrive.

For most gardens hand sowing is perfect; for larger lawns borrowing or hiring a machine may be worthwhile. Sow the entire area with the lawn seed and lightly rake over a thin layer of soil to partially incorporate the seed into the soil.

Water regularly with a fine sprinkler or watering can. Use twigs or cane with taut cotton tied between them, or netting stretched taut, to deter birds.

Visit Pippa’s website www.pippagreenwood. com and you’ll find Pippa’s September-dispatch vegetable plant collection along with other gardening items: Nemaslug, atylish cloches, practical and pretty plant supports, the fantastic SpeedHoe, gardening tools, planters, Grower Frames, signed books and more! Or why not book Pippa for a gardening talk?

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ACE PEST CONTROL Fast, efficient, friendly service with very competitive rates Available - 7 days a week Local company. Established 30 years We specialise in all pest problems especially WASPS 5 Google rating

Phone: 01767 627417 Web: acepestcontrolbeds.co.uk 54

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Dave’s Gardening Services Local, friendly gardener offering reliable gardening care

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per hou Services include: r • Lawn mowing and lawn care • Borders weeded, raked and trimmed • Garden tidy-up and leaf clearance • Plants/shrubs planted • Hedges and bushes trimmed • Fence and shed painting

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55

Health

Water Works

By Tracey Anderson

Why we should all drink more water Ask most people how much fluid they are supposed to drink in a day, and they will reply “Eight glasses of water.” This number has seeped into the public consciousness over the past couple of decades so it might surprise you to know that it has very little basis in science!

However, it is important to stay properly hydrated.

Fewer people know that if you feel thirsty you are already dehydrated, and this has a real impact on how your body and brain function.

Dehydration leads to a decrease in our physical performance. Losing just 2% of your body’s water contact can cause fatigue, problems with temperature control, and make exercise feel more difficult, physically and mentally, and it’s not uncommon for people to lose 6-10% of their body’s total water content through sweat during a workout, and as muscle is 80% water this increases muscle stress.

Our brains are also strongly influenced by hydration. Studies have shown that even mild dehydration impacts brain function. In separate studies of men and women it was found that about 1.5% fluid loss impaired mood and concentration, decreased working memory, and increased feeling of anxiety, fatigue and the frequency of headaches.

1.5% fluid loss can easily occur during normal daily activities, never mind during exercise or hot weather. Worryingly the effects of dehydration are shown to be worse in children and the elderly.

There has been some scientific interest in the effect

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of increasing hydration on migraine sufferers. So far, some studies have shown that while keeping hydrated doesn’t stop migraines completely, sufferers in the studies reported that the frequency and intensity of the migraines decreased when they were properly hydrated.

Constipation is a common health problem and can be serious in children and the elderly. Low water consumption does appear to be a risk factor in these cases. Some studies have shown that carbonated water seems to help the situation more than still water though scientists haven’t yet explained why.

Alcohol acts as a diuretic, so it makes you lose more water than you take in. The dehydration effects of alcohol are responsible for the thirst, fatigue, and headache which inevitably accompany a hangover.

It’s a good idea to alternated alcoholic drinks with water and to drink a large glass of water before going to sleep, after a night out on the town.

Finally, water both increases satiety and boost metabolism so is great if you’re trying to lose weight. Studies show that dieters who drank half a litre of water before each meal lost 44% more weight over a period of 12 weeks.

Try it. Make a real attempt to stay properly hydrated for a week and monitor the results. You may be surprised.

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GARDEN MACHINERY AND TRAILER CENTRE

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Our services extend across Beds, Herts and Cambs from RS Fencing 58

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Pets

Rehoming Appeal Dusty Dusty is a Netherland Dwarf doe rabbit. She has previously been a house rabbit although she is happy in a hutch. She loves to jump and run around both in the house, hutch and run, and is also very happy to sit on your lap and watch tv! Dusty likes a lot of attention.

She is litter trained, vaccinated, neutered and is ready to go to her special home.

For more information please contact Hazel on 01234 357788.

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 T&G131x93AdvertReady.pdf 07/06/2015 13:34:43 in Hitchin Street, Biggleswade SG18 8AX. Open Monday to Saturday from 10.00 am until 4.00 pm.

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59

Pets

Animal

Know-How

We have a very special appeal this month for a lovely cat, Sally, who is in need of a long term foster home. Foster carer’s play such an important role in our animal welfare work, which can help care for special animals on behalf of our Branch, in a comfortable home environment.

Sally is a special cat indeed, sadly found as a stray but nobody claimed her. She was in a poor way when she was picked up, so was taken straight to our vets. Her mouth was full of rotten teeth and she was very weak and frail. Under our vets’ advice, Sally had an emergency dental and it was also discovered she had a thyroid problem. On closer inspection, our vet suspected her age to be around 14 years old!

Once recovered from her dental she was moved to our private boarding cattery, where she took refuge in her igloo cat bed. Her first few days were touch and go, hardly leaving her hiding spot and refusing to eat. However, it turned out she was just biding her time, as once she was tempted with some lovely fresh fish she soon got her appetite back! Two months later she is doing much better, dinner time is now her favourite time of day and she has even moved out of her igloo and into another cosy cat bed.

Sally is a very sweet and friendly lady, who likes the occasional fuss but will also happily tell you when she’s not in the mood. Now we are looking

Sally

Felix for a foster home for Sally to retire. Any potential foster carer’s will care for Sally in the comfort of their own home, whilst still officially being under our care. This will also include taking her to any potential vet appointments she may have at our vets in Sandy.

For more information about coming a long tern foster carer for Sally, please contact us by calling our office on 01234 266965.

Another cat we have in our care is Felix, who is waiting for his second chance in a loving new home. Also found as a stray with nobody to claim him. He was found limping with an injured leg, which our vet believes is an old injury causing him a bit of grief. We believe he is approximately 4 years old, a friendly cat, but very independent!

He doesn’t like cattery life, so we are keen to find him his perfect new home. Ideally this would be somewhere he can be an only cat, given plenty of time to settle in and keep himself amused. Felix loves nothing more than to be outside, which is where he is likely to spend most of his time, but he is also happy to come indoors when he fancies it.

A home where he can come and go as he pleases would be perfect!

To adopt Felix, or for information about any other cats waiting for new homes, please visit our website www.rspca.org.uk/local/bedfordshirenorth-branch

Brought to you by the RSPCA Bedfordshire North Branch www.rspca-bedfordshirenorth.org.uk 60

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Ask Alan Dear Alan, My cat Mog has fleas, even though I am putting flea drops on her. What must I do?

Fleas are a real problem because of their life cycle.

The adults sit on the pet, the eggs drop into the environment, they hatch out, turn to larvae then pupae and finally back into adults that jump back onto the pets (and people) in the house. The population can build up very fast and only a very small percentage are visible on your pet.

There are many reasons for treatment failure: - The drops might be working but new fleas are jumping on and you are seeing them before they die.

- The drops might kill the fleas slowly so you see them before they die.

- The drops might be working but you are putting them on too infrequently so the fleas can still breed.

- Flea control does not work if you do not treat all the animals in the house.

- The drops might be ineffective

Pets Preventing fleas is easier than eradicating them, but to do so use a combination of products to kill fleas on the pet and in the environment.

Use products that kills fleas quickly, applied at the correct intervals and treat all the animals in the house.

There are many different products; spot-ons, tablets, shampoos and sprays. Please come and see us, we will be able to choose the right combination to get Mog flea free.

Best wishes,

Alan If you have any questions you would like answered, please email them to villager@pottonvets.co.uk For more information visit

www.pottonvets.co.uk or pop into the clinic in Potton Market Square.

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Motoring

The 10 best electric cars on sale today Each manufacturer is rushing their own electric car to market, and demand is increasing.

But which ones are best? We’ve put together some of the ideal all-electric cars currently on sale.

Hyundai Kona Electric - Capable of travelling up to 279 miles on a single charge, the new Kona Electric has one of the most impressive ranges of any new electric car available, and comes with funky styling and plenty of in-car technology too.

As a compact package, it’s just as well suited to urban driving as it is to longer distance motoring.

Jaguar I-Pace - The British firm has customers queuing up to buy its all-electric SUV, and it’s easy to see why – the I-Pace is both fast and a comfortable cruiser, plus has almost 300 miles of range. It’s not cheap at £64,495, but that’s good value compared with the Tesla Model X, its biggest rival.

Nissan Leaf - Nissan’s Leaf was one of the very first all-electric cars to become popular, and it has retained that popularity.

The Leaf still holds its own. It’ll crack 239 miles on a single charge, and is spacious and comfortable too.

BMW i3s - BMW has taken time to refine its i3 allelectric city car, ditching its petrol range extender thanks to better range. The i3s model gives the car a little added performance, and comes with a tuned stability system and a slightly more dynamic look.

Kia e-Niro - Journalists have praised the e-Niro crossover for being good to drive and offering a battery capacity that gives an excellent range.

Unfortunately, Kia hasn’t been able to source batteries quickly enough to meet demand, so wait times are about twelve months.

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Hyundai Ioniq Electric - The Ioniq Electric is an appealing electric car that’s practical, good to drive and surprisingly quick. The interior feels a little on the cheap side, but it’s far from disappointing.

However, due to the same battery shortage as has hit Kia, wait times can be up to a year.

Audi E-tron - Audi’s E-Tron is its first all-electric model, bringing a premium look and feel as well as impressive electric technology and plenty of space and practicality. Audi claims it’ll do 248 miles on a single charge.

Renault Zoe - The Renault Zoe offers one of the cheapest entry points to EV ownership and is a great little supermini.

The big battery version gives 186 miles of range, so most inner-city commuters will only have to charge it once or twice a week. Prices start at just over £17,000 with the plug-in grant.

Tesla Model 3 - Tesla’s Model S, its saloon car, has been successful, but for many is too expensive.

The new Model 3 is a bit more affordable, but still capable of delivering plenty of range and high technology levels too.

Volkswagen e-Golf - The Volkswagen e-Golf is a safe bet for an electric vehicle purchase, with the build quality and dependability you’d expect from one of the UK’s best-selling models.

Its range of 144 miles is far from the best in the segment, but is perfectly acceptable for the typical commuter. With plug-in car grant applied, prices hover around the £30,000 mark.

By James Baggott

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Motoring

Don’t Teach Your Child to Drive I have been driving for over 35 years, the entire time accident and points-free. I have a tri-annual driving test, with a Police Class 1 licence holder as the examiner, and I hold a racing licence too.

You can see I like driving. But I would never put myself into the role of teaching the subject to my children.

From personal experience and anecdotal evidence I have gathered from friends, my driving group and social media, it indicates a gross lack of car, road and Highway Code knowledge. (One friend thought a dual carriageway was called a “George carriageway”!)

So why do some parents think they are skilled

enough to teach their kids to drive? Perhaps it’s to save money? Driving lessons are expensive, especially as you are booking a training course that is, in effect, open-ended. But you wouldn’t service your own gas boiler, just because you know how to set the heating thermostat?

There are laws concerning who is qualified to work on gas installations, yet we have little to no regulation over who is qualified to pass on the skill of driving. In both cases, the results of bodge jobs can be tragic.

Parents I urge you: please leave the teaching of this ‘life skill’ to the professionals. You will be doing your kids a big favour.

By Iain Betson

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Technology

Technology for the new term You don’t need to pay full price for your child’s computing

If your child needs a computer for schoolwork, don’t get downhearted by the high prices you’ll see in your local Apple Store or electronics emporium. You don’t need to spend a lot to get a good computer.

There are three main types of computer. Windows ones, which run Windows 10 (don’t get ones with older versions; that usually means the hardware’s really old too); Chromebooks, which run Google’s Chrome operating system; and Apple ones. For most places the choice is entirely up to you, but some specialist courses at college or university may require specialist software.

If you’re looking for a Windows or Chromebook laptop, there’s good news: those kinds of laptops are almost always on sale, so you can expect a wide range of bargains. Sites such as Techradar. com have monthly round-ups of the best deals, organised into price bands: at the time of writing there’s a really nice Asus laptop for just £159, while more expensive laptops are available with discounts ranging from £175

to over £400. Sites often provide reviews of the products, so you can be sure you’re not buying something that won’t be up to the job.

Another way to save cash is to buy a refurbished computer.

This means it’s been used by somebody else and then returned to as-new condition. A number of firms specialise in such computers and the discounts can be enormous: for example, Laptops Direct currently has a perfectly decent Windows 10 laptop for just £109.

If your child wants Apple kit, you’ll know it’s often very expensive.

Shopping around doesn’t usually uncover much in the way of discounts but you can still save money if you know where to look. Apple has a refurbished Mac store on Apple.com. and at the time of writing it’s offering Mac minis with a typical saving of £140, alongside MacBooks, MacBook Airs, MacBook Pros and iMacs with £160 to £190 off.

Third party refurbished sellers can offer even bigger discounts but check the age of the product: may

third-party computers are a few years old, which isn’t necessarily a problem but does affect how big a bargain you’re getting: don’t compare the price of a threeyear-old Mac with what Apple’s charging for a new one.

End of line stock can be good too. Every time Apple updates its product range, the previous models are often sold at a discount. Keep an eye on eBay and you can save stacks – we’re writing this on an iMac we got brand new for two-thirds of the list price by looking for end of line stock – but make sure you stick to business sellers with solid, positive feedback going back years.

Last but not least, there are second-hand computers. Many ‘power users’ replace their computers regularly, and those computers are still more than powerful enough for the rest of us. eBay and classified advertising sites such as Gumtree can be great sources of good secondhand computers, but be wary. If something seems too good to be true, it usually is.

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Electrician

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n O s ’ t Wha In September

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

1, 8, 15, 22 & 29 September 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

4 September Aircraft Enthusiasts’ Group 1pm Princess Charlotte Room, Shuttleworth Visitors £5 inc. raffle ticket. ‘Funding the Spitfire’ with Marylyn Wood. The Group meets on the first Wednesday of every month.

Email: 99aegr@gmail.com Web: www.a-e-g.org.uk

5, 12, 19 & 26 September Amici Singers 7.30-9.45pm Trinity Methodist Church, Shortmead Street, Biggleswade Membership £15 per term (£45 per year) The Amici Singers welcome everyone to join the ladies Choir. We are a very friendly group of ladies who meet on Thursday evenings under the Direction of Douglas Coombes MBE. We welcome all voices and ages and there aren’t any auditions.

Tel: Carole Lindsay-Douglas 01767 2603661

4 September Gamlingay & District Gardening Club 7.30pm 2, 4, 6, 9, 11, 13, 16, 18, 20, 23, 25, 27 & 30 The Kier Suite, Eco Hub, Stocks Lane, Gamlingay September Visitors £3 inc. tea/coffee & biscuits ‘Open Door’ 10-11.30am Dr Ian Bedford on ‘Garden Bugs: Cohabit, Conserve or 6, 13, 20 & 27 September Potton Salvation Army, Chapel Street Control’. Visitors welcome.

Get Fit Keep Fit Tea/coffee, chat and browse various stalls on 9.30-10.30am Moggerhanger Village Hall Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. All welcome.

4 September £5. Join Tina or Josh as they take you through a Tel: 01767 261138 for further info Potton Ladies Club light-hearted sequence with a warm-up, exercises 7.30pm Mill Lane Pavilion, Mill Lane, Potton designed to improve muscular fitness, brain co2, 9, 16, 23 & 30 September Visitors £5 inc. light refreshments ordination, balance and general well-being, then a Branch Out Social Club for Single People ‘Puppets Tale’ by Angela Collins. Visitors welcome. cool-down. Tel: Tony or Judith on 01767 640124 8.30-11pm Cromwell Bar, The Sun Hotel, Hitchin Tel: Sarah Burgoine 01767 631415 Branch Out meets every Monday night and is a Email: sarahjburgoine@gmail.com 6, 13, 20 & 27 September medium-sized Social Club for single people. The club Lego Club 3.45-5.00pm Potton Library organises regular events, day and weekend trips and 4 September Love Lego? Come along and get building! Every holidays. Tel: Lorna 01438 233657 Sandy Night Owls Women’s Institute Friday afternoon.

Web: www.branch-out.org.uk 7.30pm Sandy Conservative Club A group meets on the first Wednesday of each month 6, 13, 20 & 27 September 3 September (except August). Guests very welcome.

Sandy Ukulele Group Hatley Coffee Morning Email: sandynightowlswi@gmail.com 7-9pm Baptist Chapel Hall, Bedford Road, Sandy 10am-1pm Hatley Village Hall Meets every Friday. Visitors welcome.

Come along for a chat, coffee/tea and a slice of 4, 11, 18 & 25 September Email: sandyukulelegroup1@gmail.com cake. Everyone welcome. Donations on the day. All Mums and Dads Coffee Morning Web: www.sandyukulelegroup.com donations split between Hatley Village Hall and 9-10am Moggerhanger Church Hatley St George Church. First Tuesday of the month. Bring your pre-school children with you. Toys 6 & 20 September available in the church. Tea/coffee, juice, biscuits £1 Craft and Chatter 3, 10, 17 & 24 September with fruit juice for your pre-school children.

7.30-10pm 6 Sept Upstairs Room of The Rising Biggleswade Ivel Badminton Club Sun, Everton Rd, Potton 8-10.30pm Biggleswade Recreation Centre 4, 11, 18 & 25 September 20 Sept St Marys Church Hall, Potton (Stratton Leisure Centre) Moo Music Sandy, Biggleswade & Shefford £2.50 inc. refreshments. Note change of venue on £3 per night. Seeking competitive badminton players 10-10.40am Sandy Methodist Church 6 September. Bring your own project. Cross stitch, wishing to play in local leagues. Visitors welcome.

Music and movement classes for 0-5 year olds. sewing, knitting, crochet, embroidery or something Email: IvelBC@hotmail.com Original moosic, lots of moovement, dancing, else. Web: www.facebook.com/craftandchatter Facebook: Facebook.com/IvelBC sensory and role play. Tel: 07981 825654 Email: Heather sandymoo@moo-music.co.uk 7 September 3, 10, 17 & 24 September Web: www.moo-music.co.uk/sbs Coffee Morning 10-11.30am Biggleswade Board Game Group 7.30-10.30pm Potton Salvation Army, Chapel Street George’s Hall, 67 High Street, Biggleswade 4, 11, 18 & 25 September Coffee, tea, bacon butties, homemade cakes, cards, Meets every Tuesday to play modern board games in Ivel Bereavement Support Centre Bric-a-Brac, books, jigsaws etc. Coffee Mornings are a friendly atmosphere. New and experienced players 10am-12 noon The Community Rooms, held on the first Saturday of every month. welcome - bring your own games or try something Baptist Church, 24 London Road, Biggleswade Tel: 01767 261138 for further info new, there are always plenty available to play.

Has a loved one died? Are you struggling coming to Facebook: Biggleswade Board Game Group terms with it? Perhaps we can help you at our drop in 7 September centre on Wednesdays. Tel: Linda 07704734225 46th Potton Show 2-5pm 3, 10, 17 & 24 September St Mary’s Church Hall & Field, Hatley Road Phoenix Chorus 5, 12, 19 & 26 September Traditional village show. Judging for the wide range 7.45-10.15pm Potton Lower School Moo Music Sandy, Biggleswade & Shefford of classes is held in the morning which is open to Have you loved the a capella singing shows on 10-10.40am Sutton Village Hall entrants old and new and includes children’s classes.

TV? Could you be pitch perfect with us? Phoenix A Music and movement classes for 0-5 year olds.

Fun Dog Show, Letchworth Morris Men, Raptors from Capella Chorus meets every Tuesday. Visitors always Original moosic, lots of moovement, dancing, the Raptor Foundation, classic cars, face painting, welcome. sensory and role play. Tel: 07981 825654 Potton History Society, barbecue, ice creams and Tel: Sarah 07842 101799 Email: Heather sandymoo@moo-music.co.uk beer tent and refreshments. Prize presentations at Email: pro@phoenixladies.co.uk Web: www.moo-music.co.uk/sbs 4.30pm followed by auction of produce.

Web: https://phoenixladies.co.uk Facebook: www.facebook.com/moomusicsandy Web: www.pottonshow.org.uk

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n O s ’ t Wha In September

Deadline for What’s On entries is the 12th of the previous month.

What’s on entries to whatson@villagermag.com

7 September Potton Show Barn Dance Tickets £12.50 inc. fish & chip supper. Tickets must be purchased in advance from Tysoes in Potton or by telephone. Tel: 07734 297868 7, 14, 21 & 28 September Lego & K’Nex Club 1.45-3.30pm Potton Library Love Lego and K’NEX? Come along and get building!

8 September Warden Abbey Vineyard Open Day & Wine Sale 11am-4pm Bedford Road, Old Warden Adults £3, Children free. Free self-guided tours and tastings (additional charges for guided tours and talks). Local food and craft stalls, Morris Dancing, Petting Farm and children’s activities, BBQ and refreshments. Web: www.wardenvineyard.org.uk 8 September Biggleswade & District Scouts 12.30-4.30pm District HQ, Boyd Campsite & Activity Centre, Church Road, Henlow All adults who are involved in Scouting in Biggleswade & District are invited to contribute towards the Development Plan. It is an opportunity to provide input into the future strategy for growth and development across the District, to improve Scouting and deliver more opportunities for young people across the District. Please let Rob know if you are attending for refreshments. T: 07989 987147 E: Rob.Pullinger@biggleswadedistrictscouts.org.uk 9 September 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. Tel: Sue Alexander 01767 699729 10 September Sutton WI 7.30pm Sutton Village Hall The group meets on the second Tuesday of every month. Beverly Bond will be giving a talk entitled ‘A History of the English Garden’.

14 September Coffee Morning 10am-12 noon Everton Village Hall The event is well-known for homemade cakes, jams and produce. Books to browse and raffle to win.

Time to enjoy a drink with old friends and new.

Proceeds to St Mary’s Church, Everton.

19 September Sandy Astronomical Society 7-9pm Blunham Playing Field Public viewing (weather permitting) using telescopes.

Facebook: www.facebook.com/groups/ SandyAstronomicalSociety

14 September Harvest Festival themed Coffee Morning 10.30am-12pm Eyeworth Village Hall In aid of All Saints, Eyeworth. Produce and cake sale, refreshments, raffle, crafts/colouring for children, stalls selling books and bric-a-brac, etc. Everyone also welcome to the Harvest Festival at 3pm on 15 September at All Saints, Eyeworth.

19 September 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

16 September Biggleswade Women’s Institute 10am The Weatherley Centre, Eagle Farm Road, Biggleswade Visitors £4. Meets on every third Monday of the month except August. Andrew Waite will talk about ‘Silver and Gemstones’. Visitors welcome.

Email: biggleswadewi@gmail.com 16, 23 & 30 September 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 17 September 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). Speaker for September is Richard Barlow from Sandy Historical Research Group talking about the origins of local street names and other aspects of Sandy’s local history. Tel: Val Haygarth (President) 01767 691711 Email: sandywibeds@gmail.com

20 September Quiz Night 7.30pm Everton Village Hall £8 per person. Teams of no more than 6 or join another team. Jacket potatoes with chilli con carne or veg chilli option. BYOB (& glasses) and snacks.

Please call, text or email for further info. In aid of Everton Village Hall. Tel: Gina 07771 790123 Email: inmangina04@gmail.com 20 September Starlight Hike Shuttleworth Estate Online registration is open with a 5km or 10km route option. In aid of Sue Ryder St John’s Hospice.

Web: www.sueryder.org/stjohnsstarlighthike.

21 September Quiz Night 6pm Potton Salvation Army, Chapel Street All welcome. Tel: 01767 261138 for further info 26 September Biggleswade Camera Club – Members’ Evening 7.30pm for 8pm-10pm Free admission. The Sullivan Room, Weatherley Centre, Orchard Close, Biggleswade Preparing an image for print.

26 September Potton History Society 8pm Potton Community Centre, Brook End Members free, Visitors £3 inc. refreshments 17 September ‘From the Whitfield Archives’ with Rex Whitfield.

Potton Writer’s Club Rex reveals more details of the Whitfield family 10 September 7-9pm Potton Community Centre contributions to life in the parish and the hard times Sandy Historical Research Group £3. Friendly, informal group whose aim is to improve some had to endure.

7.30pm Beeston Methodist Church Hall, their writing through encouraging each other, and Web: www.pottonhistorysociety.org.uk The Baulk, Beeston by regularly entering competitions. Meets on the Facebook: www.facebook.com/groups/ Members free, Non-members £4. ‘Why doesn’t the third Tuesday of each month. This month’s theme pottonhistorysociety A1 cross Biggleswade Common?’ a talk by Richard is ‘Wrong turn’. Perhaps your character has been Barlow. Refreshments available. led astray by their lack of map reading skills, or by 27 September their GPS? Or perhaps they are heading the wrong Sandy Historical Society 12 September way in the journey of life. But will they get back on 7.30pm Stonecroft Hall, St Swithins Way, Sandy Biggleswade Evening Women’s Institute the right track again? All welcome - please call or Members & Students free, Visitors £2.50 inc.

7.45pm The Weatherley Centre, Eagle Farm Road, email in advance so we know to expect you. Light refreshments Biggleswade refreshments. Tel: Tracey 07778 148030 ‘Windmills & Watermills’ by Robin Webb A new group which meets on the second Thursday of Email: info pottonwriters@gmail.com Tel: 01767 680171 each month (except August). Guests welcome.

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

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DRIFTWOOD JOINERY LTD Specialists in Bespoke Joinery

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City and Guilds Qualified Insurance Work

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Cats and Dogs 1. The Andrew Lloyd Webber musical Cats was based on a collection of poems called Old Possum’s Book Of Practical Cats by which author?

2. What breed of dog has a name that means “badger dog” in German, as it was originally bred to hunt badgers and similar animals?

3. Which TV show featured a character called Salem Saberhagen, who was once a warlock, but was sentenced to spend 100 years as a cat as punishment for trying to take over the world?

4. Featuring a dog listening to a gramophone, what was the name of the painting by Francis Barraud that was abbreviated to give the name of the entertainment retail company HMV?

5. What colour of eyes do Siamese cats have?

6. Born in 1979, which chart-topping singer took her stage name from the character played by Steve Buscemi in Reservoir Dogs?

7. Under what pen name did Theodor Seuss Geisel write the children’s novel The Cat In The Hat? 8. First appearing in a comic strip in 1929, which character went on a series of adventures with his fox terrier dog called Snowy?

9. Where do most cats have more claws?... on their front paws or their back paws?

10. With a name similar to Crufts, what is the name of the annual Kennel Club competition that allows crossbreed dogs of any parentage to compete?

1. T. S. Eliot 2. Dachshund 3. Sabrina The Teenage Witch 4. His Master’s Voice 5. Blue 6. Pink (Buscemi played Mr Pink) 7. Dr. Seuss 8. Tintin 9. On their front paws (5 on each v 4 on each of their back paws) 10. Scruffts

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MELTON

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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 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

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Codeword 1

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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.

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

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

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SC Heating Services Oil Boiler Servicing Oil Boiler Installation Oil Tank Installation Heating System Installation Bathroom Installation Pipework & Drainage for Kitchen Appliances General Plumbing Works and Maintenance

Free Quotes Based in Cambourne M: 07972 867 298 H: 01954 718 130 E: scheatingservices@gmail.com 82

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Tech for Tweens

Parenting

By Kate Duggan www.kateduggan.co.uk

Kid-friendly technology that keeps you in control Child-friendly tablets With Amazon’s Kindle Fire, you can activate parental controls to limit how much screen time your child has, when they can use their tablet and what they can do on it. It’s also worth adding the YouTube Kids app, which filters out unsuitable content and allows you to cherry-pick the channels you’re happy for your child to watch.

Have an accident-prone child or just want extra peace of mind? It might be worth paying extra for the Amazon Fire Kids Edition tablet. It’s priced around £100 to £200 depending on the screen size and memory, but comes with a robust case and a two year quibble-free warranty. You also get a year’s subscription to Fire for Kids Unlimited (normally £3.99 a month), which gives your child access to thousands of age-appropriate apps, game, videos and books – see www.amazon.co.uk.

Smart watches Most children’s smart watches allow kids to take photos and play games. The Moochies watch also allows children to text and call people, but only those who’ve been approved by the parent.

So, your child can call you to ask if they can go to a friend’s house after school, send a text message to their cousin and video call their granny, but they can’t call or text anyone you haven’t approved.

The Moochies watch is ideal for children who are old enough for a bit more

independence, but not quite old enough for their own phone. (It’s proven an absolute hit with my seven and ten year old.)

The watch itself costs £69.99 and you’ll need to choose a rolling network plan, which costs from £10 a month. You can also customise the watch with different straps, which cost £7.50 each. See www. moochies.com.

Pocket money apps If your child is old enough to go shopping on their own, you might want to look at getting them a prepaid debit card. There are several pocket money apps and cards on the market, including Go Henry, which allows you to transfer money to the card, decide how much your child can spend, and keep an eye on what they’re spending their money on.

You can also set them chores to earn extra money. So, for instance, you might set them the task of hoovering once a week to earn £2. Once they complete the task, you mark it as done on the parent app and the money is transferred from your account to theirs. You can also set up savings goals and kids can choose to give a percentage of their pocket money to charity.

Go Henry costs £2.99 per child, per month at www. gohenry.com/uk. Similar schemes include Nimbl (£2.49 a month) and Osper (£2.50 a month).

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83

Mark Dilley Electrical The original oven cleaning specialists

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August’s Puzzle Solutions and Winners Last Month’s Crossword Winner Mr P Baker from Stevenage Nathan Craig Competition Winner Mr J Clements from Potton

Easy

Hard

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The Villager Prize Crossword

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

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

Prize

£25

Across 1 Hairy and unkempt (6) 4 Detector (6) 9 Make comprehensible (7) 10 Vagabond (5) 11 Fear greatly (5) 12 Empowered (7) 13 Sections (11) 18 Replicating (7) 20 Ransack (5) 22 Presses (5) 23 Where plays are performed (7) 24 Required (6) 25 Remained (6) Down 1 Firm (6) 2 Round fleshy fruit (5) 3 Your parent’s mother (7) 5 Surplus (5) 6 Type of onion (7) 7 Fast running waterways (6) 8 Make inquiries (11) 14 Detonate (7) 15 Sincere (7) 16 Activity (6) 17 Rely upon (6) 19 Publication (5) 21 Not lean (5)

Name: Tel:

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86

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

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We clean your oven‌. ....so you don’t have to.

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

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.

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Call now for a free, no obligation quotation 89

Window Doctor Repairs to Windows, Doors & Conservatories

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Books

Book Review

By Kate Duggan Vox

by Christina Dalcher

In this dystopian tale, women are only allowed to speak 100 words a day. They’re also not allowed to read, have a job or, in fact, do very much at all other than look after their husband and children. But Dr Jean McClellan is given the chance to resume her research job and have the word limit lifted for both herself and her daughter, if she collaborates with the government.

A real page-turner of a book that will appeal to fans of The Handmaid’s Tale and The Power.

Tin Can Cook: 75 Simple Store-Cupboard Recipes

by Jack Monroe

Simple, wallet-friendly dishes that are delicious and nutritious? It seems too good to be true, but Jack Monroe seems to have succeeded.

Her latest book puts canned food at the heart of every dish. Recipes include Rhubarb & Custard Pancakes, Sunshine Soup, Red Lentil and Mandarin Curry, and Creamy Crabby Pasta. Most only contain a handful of ingredients and only take a few minutes to prepare, using ingredients you can pick up from the local shop.

Somebody I Used to Know: A Memoir

by Wendy Mitchell

Wendy Mitchell was diagnosed with early-onset dementia at the age of 58. In her memoir, she talks about the reasons she sought a diagnosis, how she came to terms with it and the changes she’s made to her life.

Somebody I Used to Know gives us an eye-opening insight into an illness that’s all too often whispered about behind closed doors.

Perhaps surprisingly, the memoir is also brimming with optimism, hope and humour.

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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

Domestic Appliance Repairs

Solo Appliances Domestic Appliance Repairs • • • •

Washing machines Tumble Dryers Dishwasher Electric Cookers/Ovens

Garden Specialist

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

01767 699252 07901 985123

Established over 30 years All work guaranteed

Tel: 07966 229085/01767 261847

Domestic Appliance Repairs

Garden Specialist

HGS Classified advert.indd 1

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JB Domestic Guaranteed Repairs To: Washing Machines Tumble Dryers Electric Ovens/Cookers Dishwashers No Call Out Charge!

Tel: 01767 680621 Mobile: 07778 891490

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Local, honest, professional service

Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts

Classifieds Handy Man

Pet Services

Locksmith Services

Plastering Services

Painter & Decorator

Plumbing

RICHBAW

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

Painting Services

M. Philmore (Phil) - General Plumber Now semi retired but still available for general plumbing.

57 Green Acres, Gamlingay, Beds. SG19 3LR Tel: 01767 650619 Mobile: 07870366414

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

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

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Classifieds Plumbing and Heating

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

Property Improvements

Riding School

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

Property Improvements

GB

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

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

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

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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

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

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