Henlow july 14 by debi1977

VILLAGER The

Issue 68 - July 2014

and Town

Life

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

Inside this issue

Happy Birthday Brownies

The Swiss Garden Shuttleworth

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Langford, Henlow, Shefford, Stanford, Hinxworth, Ickleford, Caldecote, Radwell, Shillington, Pirton, Upper and Lower Stondon, Gravenhurst, Holwell, Meppershall, Baldock, Stotfold, Arlesey, Hitchin & Letchworth

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Friday General Market and Antique and Collectors Saturday General Market Sunday General Market and Car Boot Sale Last Saturday of The Month Craft & Farmers Market on the Riverside

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Calling all advertisers & readers…

I am happy to announce I am the new Advertising Manager of The Villager Magazine, Henlow edition. I look forward to catching up with all of our clients very soon, and should you have any questions for me in the meantime, please feel free to call. If you have only just discovered The Villager Magazine and are interested in advertising, simply give me a call and I will be on hand to guide you every step of the way. Call Sarah Fryer on 01767 261122 or email sarah@villagermag.com

Contents Walking Back to Happiness

Happy Birthday Brownies!................................................4 Employing a Tradesman and NOT a Cowboy.....................8 The Art of Breathing Underwater...................................11 The Swiss Garden at Shuttleworth.................................13 Sunny Summer Days... or not.........................................14 Competition Time...........................................................16 Inle Lake, Myanmar........................................................19 Perfect Nails...................................................................20 Walking Back to Happiness............................................23 Helen’s Helpful Hints......................................................26 Is Your Work Life Balance a Little Uneven.......................28 Mediterranean Magic.....................................................34

Have a Healthy Holiday..................................................37 In-Car Dash Cameras......................................................40 Animal Queries...............................................................43 Wild Mushroom and Spinach Tagliatelle........................45 Puzzle Page....................................................................48 Competition Winners.....................................................53 Prize Crossword..............................................................54 What’s On.......................................................................58 Book Review..................................................................62 Classifieds......................................................................63

Have a Healthy Holiday

9,500 copies delivered free of charge in the following areas: Henlow, Langford, Astwick, Edworth, Hinxworth, Caldecote, Newnham, Radwell, Bygrave, Shillington, Holwell, Pirton, Upper and Lower Stondon, Shefford, Ashwell End and Stanford (Further bulk drops are made to local shops and busineses in Arlesey, Upper and Lower Stondon, Shefford, Baldock, Letchworth, Hitchin and Stotfold)

Editor - Catherine Rose Editorial - Catherine Rose, Jonathan Vernon-Smith, Ted Bruning, Melanie Ridley, Solange Hando, Helen Taylor, Debbie Singh-Bhatti, Helen Springer, Sarah Reid, Pippa Greenwood, Alison Runham, Culinary Masters, RSPCA North Beds Branch

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

Advertising Sales Sarah Fryer - 01767 261122 sarah@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.

Photography - Anton Maltsev and Catherine Rose Design and Artwork - Design 9 Tel 07762 969460

History

Happy Birthday Brownies! This year the popular worldwide activity group for girls, Brownie Guides is 100 years old. The Brownie movement for girls aged seven to ten was started in 1914 by Lord Baden Powell, four years after Girl Guides had been set up in 1910. Initially they were called the Rosebuds and wore a navy blue uniform similar to their bigger Guiding sisters. In 1915 Baden Powell changed the name to Brownies from an 1870 story by Juliana Horatia Ewing where two children learn the difference between being helpful Brownies (kindly goblins) or lazy Boggarts (malevolent spirits). A condensed version of this story appeared in Brownie handbooks for many years. The uniform became brown while the promise badge featured an acorn. By the 1920s this badge had become a Brownie figure on a metal bar pin worn on a brown tie. The brown cotton dress was sometimes topped with a hat that resembled a pith helmet. Girls also had to wear brown knickers - often checked at uniform inspection time! Baden Powell’s wife Lady Olave took over Girl Guides and Brownies in 1918 and the Sixes were named after fairy folk: Elf (blue), Gnome (white

By Catherine Rose

with a black broom), Sprite (green with a tricorn hat), Imp (yellow), Pixie (green with pointed hat), Fairy (yellow with wings), Little People (yellow and green) and Leprechaun (red) along with additional Welsh and Scottish names. Each Six was embroidered onto a rectangular badge and led by a Sixer with two yellow stripes on her sleeve. The Sixer was helped by her Second who had one yellow stripe. Metal service stars were issued for each year of membership and triangular proficiency badges worn on the sleeve. The official opening ceremony - the Brownie Ring – would be where the girls joined hands and sang. Each Six also had its own song. After being invested by making their Brownie Promise, girls could gain proficiency badges when they had achieved their Golden Hand and Brownie Wings badge which helped them ‘fly up’ to Guides. In 1934, a yellow tie was introduced. Five-day camps would take place in village halls or rural schools with a programme of activities including simple cooking. World War Two had a huge impact on the

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The Hon Miss Pearl LawsonJohnston who brought guiding to Bedfordshire

movement. Evacuation meant that many urban groups shut down while rural ones doubled and tripled overnight. Due to the blackout, meetings had to take place during the daytime, usually weekends. Materials for badges, particularly metal, became difficult to obtain. Brownies were given tasks to do that helped on the home front including collecting fruit for making jam, sewing, and holding concerts for the Red Cross. It was during this time that brown felt berets started to be worn. The 1950s and 60s saw Brownies flourish with the post-war baby boom but by 1968, it was felt the movement needed updating. The dark brown dress became chestnut brown and the pockets moved to the skirt. The yellow tie became a small crossover held in place by a new metal promise badge – a Brownie in a trefoil. Brownies no longer had to earn their ‘wings’. Instead a series of progress badges based on the Ordnance Survey map was introduced along with fabric service badges instead of metal stars. A new Brownie song was written and the Little People and Fairy Six groups were dropped. In 1971, the brown beret was replaced with a brown knitted hat topped by a pom pom. In 1987, Rainbows was founded for girls aged five to seven and a range of more modern and practical clothing in yellow and brown that subsequently incorporated trousers and a gilet was brought out shortly after. A brown sash was introduced to display the larger diamondshaped proficiency badges, along with a more up-to-date baseball cap. The promise badge is now a small round yellow enamel one with the trefoil logo on it. This year’s Big Brownie Birthday has ongoing challenges, badges and events for a quarter of a million Brownies in the UK.

1st Girton Brownies visit the London Brownie Exhibition 1950

Brownies is 100 years old

Dear Villager We are writing to you bec ause it is the 100th year of Brownies all over the world. Also it was one of our challen ges to write a letter to you. At Brownies we make new friends and we have lots of fun doing art, playing games and earning badges. We do lots of amazing activities and gam es. If you join Brownies you find lots of new friends. As a group we decide on games to play. Also we rais e money for the community and poo r people. We go on trips and have a very special promise. We get badges when we do good things. This year it is the 100th Brownie birthday. One of the challenges is to write this lett er. In a group there is a Sixe r and a Seconder that are in cha rge. We love coming to Brown ies because it is very fun and you can make new friends. Als o we have visitors to tea ch us about interesting things. More people should come to Brownies because it is fun. We love playing games, cooking and going on trips. Also you can have fun with your friends and you have fun earning badges. From Hedgehogs and Fox es Six 1st Clifton Brownies

Alconbury Pack singing in Ely Cathedral 1998 6

If you would like to volunteer at Brownies or put your daughter on our waiting list please see the Girl Guiding website and sign up via ‘join us’. For any more information about Clifton Brownies call 07946115282.

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astes f summer

Dine with us on Saturday19th July to enjoy a special nine-course summer tasting menu designed by our chefs. Flavours of gazpacho ~~~ Brixham crab salad

brown crab emulsion, crispy bonbon, cucumber, avocado, mooli

~~~ Tasting of wild rabbit

liver parfait, plum gel, rillette, pain d’épices, carrot pickle, tea-smoked loin

~~~ Beetroot soused Cornish mackerel

green apple, salt-baked young beets, horseradish potato salad

~~~ Tempsford beef ‘two ways’

seared fillet, braised cheek, Swiss chard, salsa verde, chanterelles, caramelised white onion purée, slow-cooked carrot, Cabernet Sauvignon

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apricot, roasted hazelnuts, frisée

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blowtorched marshmallow, strawberry gel, basil soup, meringues, lime

~~~ Peach Melba ~~~ Coach House chocolate truffles

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Three Counties Radio

Employing a Tradesman and NOT a cowboy!

By Jonathan Vernon-Smith

Sadly over the years I have dealt with far too many cases of consumers who have employed the services of a rogue tradesman and have paid a heavy price for their mistake. But how do you find a good tradesman to carry out work in your home or garden? Here are my top tips: NEVER employ the services of someone who knocks at your door offering their services. If a builder, roofer or plumber has time to cold call people, then they’re obviously not very busy. Why are they not very busy? BECAUSE THEY’RE PROBABLY NOT VERY GOOD! A good tradesman will be busy with work for weeks in advance. I am always similarly sceptical of anybody who tells you on the phone they can do a job for you that day. Always ask your friends and neighbours if they can recommend a good tradesman when you decide you need some work doing. It may sound simple, but the best way I have always found to employ the services of someone good, is to use your trusted contacts. Chances are if they did a good job for your best friend or next door neighbour, they’ll do a good job for you too. Make sure you always get at least 3 quotes from different people before you decide who to use. Don’t necessarily use the cheapest, but at least if you have a range of quotes you can ensure that you are not overpaying for work to be undertaken. I generally go for the quote in the middle as long as I have a good feeling about the tradesman and feel I can communicate effectively with him/her. Always ask for references (particularly when you’re using someone to carry out a large job). Don’t be afraid to make contact with their previous customers and ask if you can go and look at the job they did. Ask them if they had any problems and what the tradesman/company was like at resolving those problems. It is very important that you agree a method of payment before work begins. I personally do not pay for work until it has been completed. If the builder/electrician/plumber needs to buy parts etc for the job, then I am happy to pay for that on the basis of a receipt, however I insist on paying for labour costs on completion of the job. When you’re dealing with a large job (e.g. an extension), then I would agree a payment plan in writing. However, you should always ensure a large enough final payment is retained to act as an incentive for the job to be completed to your satisfaction. Finally, NEVER agree work without a written quote. Verbal contracts and quotations are of course legally binding, but trying to prove what was agreed weeks down the line is normally a nightmare. Of course, as always if you follow my advice, but still come unstuck and find yourself dealing with a cowboy, then remember you can always call my consumer programme on 01582 637450.

Jonathan Vernon-Smith not only offers you his consumer advice here but you can listen to The JVS Show tackling your consumer problems every weekday morning from 9am. 8

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Travelogue

The Art of Breathing Underwater

By Melanie Ridley

If there was one thing in life I would recommend anyone to experience, it’s scuba diving. Having the ability to breathe underwater and for it to feel so natural, while witnessing wonderful creatures in their natural habitat seems unimaginable until you actually do it. The first time I was baptised into this underwater world was on the beautiful island of Ko Tao, Thailand, with its turquoise transparent waters and white sandy beaches and after four days of intense training, I achieved my PADI Open Water qualification. A year later and I had booked myself onto a twoday, one-night dive package aboard the Sea Quest, where I would explore the iconic Great Barrier Reef. My itinerary consisted of seven dives and to say I was excited was an understatement! My navigation above water is questionable, so underwater it’s non-existent. Embarrassingly, I did get myself and my fellow divers lost on one occasion. During my second dive we came face to face with what has to be my favourite animal, the turtle. We were close enough to touch him and even spent a few minutes knelt beside him on the sea bed. As we descended for dive three, we were welcomed by a peculiar looking fish, the size of a large dog, called the Maury Wrasse who have coined the nickname ‘Dog of the Sea’ because of their friendly and affectionate demeanour. This Visit our new community www.beds-local.co.uk

being a particularly inquisitive one, we felt inclined to tickle his - or her - giant lips as we were told they were partial to a bit of lip tickling! Little did I know that when I booked this dive package, dive four was to be a night dive. With this only being my eighth dive, I was petrified, even more so because the ship’s crew began throwing left over food overboard which attracted approximately 30 white tip reef sharks. Jumping in amongst these was a fearful prospect and on the way down I was in fits of panic, not only because of the lack of visibility and sharks lurking in the shadows, but due to the fact that my flipper had decided to slip off! Fortunately, my fellow divers were on hand to rescue me and my rogue flipper that was slowly descending into the black depths below. Once the dive was over and we were all safely back on board, my instructor congratulated me on how quickly I had controlled my breathing and explained that many divers would have turned around and sacrificed the dive. The following morning we dived the same site at 6:30am and everything looked so different. The sun was rising and beaming through the water, which was surprisingly warm. Before 11:30am I had completed three more scuba dives and my time on the Sea Quest and the Great Barrier Reef was over. With this incredible experience under my belt and a new passion in my heart, I look forward to my next scuba dive adventure...

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Local News

The Swiss Garden at Shuttleworth

New woodland trail with themed wood sculptures The Swiss Garden project at Shuttleworth in Old Warden is finally drawing to a close and the garden is due to open to visitors again this month, July 2014. After over a year of conservation works, which has included re-thatching the Swiss Cottage and the restoration of both the garden’s paths and its beautiful ironwork structures, the final touches are being done. The team is looking forward to revealing an exciting new phase in the Swiss Garden’s history, which will reflect both Lord Ongley’s creation of his picturesque late Regency landscape in the 1820s and Joseph Shuttleworth’s Victorian embellishments. Cecilia Ridley, a visitor to the

garden in 1839, described it as a “fairyland”, and it is hoped modern visitors will find it every bit as magical when they see the newly restored landscape. As well as a new woodland trail, which includes seven themed wood sculptures designed by local schoolchildren and created by chainsaw sculptor Patrick Brown, one of the most noticeable changes is that the important view lines radiating out from the Swiss Cottage and up to it from other parts of the garden have been reinstated. Extensive tree surveys have taken place, and several diseased and self-seeded specimens removed in order to restore the structure of the garden’s original planting schemes. A few rare trees have been grafted by experts at Kew Gardens and will be replanted in the Swiss Garden in due course. A series of planting plans have been implemented and include a mix of plants inspired by the Ongley and Shuttleworth periods. Evergreens, a staple of the Swiss Garden, provide structure and the ‘bones’ of the garden, but the plans also contain a proportion of appropriate deciduous flowering shrubs and climbers to provide screening and floral interest at key points. A sinuous border of herbaceous plants and box balls forms the front of each bed in accordance with Ongley’s desire for a three-tiered system of planting – with deciduous shrubs in the middle and an evergreen spine, while the flowering plants in the mix vary from bed to bed. The Shuttleworth elements of the planting include a combination of appropriate ferns, ground cover plants and bulbs to clothe the banks of the Grotto and which reflect the importance of Shuttleworth’s intervention and works to the Grotto in the 1870s. The Swiss Garden team is now complete following the recruitment of two garden apprentices and a volunteering officer. Anyone interested in volunteering at the Swiss Garden is encouraged to contact Ann Wise on ann.wise@shuttleworth.org or to telephone her on 01767 627911 (Tuesdays and Thursdays). A variety of roles will be available, and duties will include ‘meeting and greeting’, gardening, conducting guided tours of the garden and helping out with educational and other garden activities.

Time of Year

Sunny summer days... or not By Ted Bruning

Ahhh, it’s sunny July at last; the sky is blue; the air is warm and your neighbourhood smells delightfully of sun-tan lotion and barbecue. Of course, being British, we understand that our summers are never a glorious succession of hot dry days and long evenings of tennis and Pimms. Indeed, it has even been known to rain sometimes. But let’s forget about the weather for a moment and focus on the climate – the difference being that the weather is what actually happens to you, while the climate is what weather becomes when people start analyzing it. The other difference is that climate is almost predictable but weather most certainly isn’t. The wedding planners, barbecue chefs, church fête organisers etcetera want to know when is the best time for the wedding/barbecue/fête/daytrip or whatever? But the best answer is – and it’s a truly British answer, this – none of them. And any of them. So let’s narrow it down. Which is usually the least rainy month of summer? It has to be July, surely. Wrong! July is usually the wettest, actually, with an average of 101mm over the five years 200812. Then – another big surprise – was August

with 91.6mm, then September with 77.1mm, and taking gold by a healthy margin, was June with only 50.5mm. Mind you, June 2012 was also the rainiest month of all five summers in the sample with a squelching 157.8mm, and the two biggest rain-induced flash floods in living in memory weren’t in July but August – Lynmouth in 1952 and Boscastle in 2004. This, of course, being the difference between weather and climate. All right then, which is the sunniest, i.e. which has the best average of sunny hours per day (which we shall call SHPD for the sake of brevity)? This one has to be July, right? Uh-uh. The 10-year average for July is 6 SHPD, better than August at 5.5 SHPD and September (when of course the days are shorter anyway) at only 5 SHPD; but the winner is once again June with 6.9 SHPD. Still, July 2013 racked up an average of 8.2 SHPD, which is a record in recent years. July is, at least, the warmest month of summer, with average temperatures ranging from 13.7-23.4C over the past 20 years; but only just. August has been a close challenger, with an average low just edging ahead of July’s at 13.8C but an average high just missing at 23.1C; so not much in it there. June and September, though, fall woefully short with ranges of 11.8-21C and 11.4-20C – it’s almost as if they aren’t even trying. All this, of course, depends on where you are. The further north you go the colder it gets, right? Well, yes; but not directly because you’re north – England has vineyards at the same latitude that Canada has polar bears. The skies above us are a battleground where four sets of weather fight for supremacy: Western Scotland gets its from the Maritime Polar region (cold and wet); Eastern Scotland and the North of England get theirs from the Continental Polar (cold and dry); Wales and the West Country are at the mercy of the Maritime Tropical (warm and wet); and East Anglia and the South of England bask in the Continental Tropical (warm and dry). Hence the hottest day on record was 10th August 2003 in Faversham, Kent (38.5C), while the coldest was 30th December 1995 at Altnaharran, Sutherland (-27.2C). Well, that’s me decided, then. This year’s barbecues will be in Faversham. Which is handy, because that’s where my Mum lives.

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Competition

Competition Time Win a signed copy of

‘The Wildlife Quiz Book’

by local author Tim Sharrock and learn more than 1,500 fascinating facts about the flora and fauna of the natural world. Simply answer the following easy questions which appear in the book for a chance to win. 1. Which small, dog-like Chinese deer has now become established throughout much of southern England, sometimes occurring even in suburban gardens? 2. Which cat has been tamed by human beings and used for hunting, being hooded like a falconer’s hawk, since at least 2300 BC? 3. Which animal has a single tooth that grows to 8ft (2.5m) in length that has been passed off as a ‘unicorn’s horn’? 4. In what year was the killing of whales completely banned worldwide? Send your answer by post to Catherine Rose – Editor, Wildlife Quiz Competition, he Villager Magazine, 24 Market Square, Potton, Beds SG19 2NP or by email to editor@villagermag.com.

The closing date is 16th July 2014

The winner will be the sender of the first correct set of answers selected at random by the editor on the closing date. You can also buy a copy for £9.95 from your local bookshop (ISBN 978-1-291-81321-0) or from Wildlife Books, Fountains, Park Lane, Blunham, Bedford MK44 3NJ. Please include £1.80 p&p. 16

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Travel

Inle Lake, Myanmar By Solange Hando

Deep in central Myanmar (formerly Burma), Inle, ‘the blue sea in the Shan hills’, is a truly magical place glistening at nearly 3000 feet in the first foothills of the Himalaya. Stretching for 11 miles and crisscrossed by myriad channels, it’s unlike anywhere else in the country, a cool escape for visitors who relax in luxurious floating hotels and a lifeline for the locals who toil in villages perched on stilts above the water. Rice and sugar cane glow all shades of green on the banks but for the Inthar people, the lake is the soul of the community. From morning to night, lonely fishermen ply the waters, standing as still as herons in their tiny skiffs, rowing with one leg now and then so they can cast and pull the net with both hands. Placid or choppy at times, the lake is a bustling highway where tourists in long-tail boats bounce in showers of spray, children paddle their canoes to school, red-robed monks make their way to secluded shrines and women sheltering under conical hats head for the floating market to sell beads and T-shirts to visitors or fresh vegetables to the locals. For it isn’t just the fishermen who make good use of the lake. The hard working Inthar produce much of their food in ingenious floating gardens which they build with silt and weeds. Anchored deep down, long bamboo poles keep the allotments in place but they can be moved around, extended, strengthened with an extra layer, and best of all, there’s no need to worry about watering crops. All sorts of vegetables and fruit are grown on the lake but the small Inle

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tomatoes are said to be the sweetest anywhere and come spring or summer, great swathes of flowers bloom on the water. Meanwhile, a housewife scrubs her laundry on a rickety pontoon, children shampoo their hair at the water’s edge and a buffalo waits for its turn to have a bath. Huts and gardens mingle their reflections in shimmering colours, framed by the blue and purple hills silhouetted against the sky. All is quiet but no one is idle. Every village hides a sprinkling of workshops where cottage industries have long flourished, handed down through generations. Spinning, weaving, painting paper umbrellas, crafting silver bowls and figurines, clay ornaments and pots, it’s a hive of activity but pride of place goes to extracting and weaving silk from lotus fibre. A hundred years ago, according to legend, a girl offering a lotus bloom to the Buddha began to weave the thread trailing from the stem to make a robe for the local Abbot. Today, highly valued and unique to Myanmar, lotus silk is woven into luxury items as well as monks’ robes and drapes for precious statues. The people of the lake are devout Buddhists and many shrines and pagodas peep along the shore, the most important being the glittering Hpaung Daw Oo with its stepped roofs and golden dome mirrored in the water. Devotees have covered the Buddha images with so much gold leaf you can no longer see their shape but once a year at festival time, they are gloriously paraded all around the lake on a magnificent golden barge resembling a holy bird. There are devotions and prayers, leg-rowing races and traditional dancing and for a few days, Inle comes into its own as one of the most colourful places in the land.

Health and Beauty

Perfect Nails by Helen Taylor You spend a lot of time and money on your hair, your skin and your makeup. But are you letting your image down by not giving the same attention to your nails? It’s worth establishing a hand and nail care routine and then planning a time every couple of weeks when you can treat yourself to a visit to your local nail salon. There’s more than one option though so we’ve taken a look at three of the most recent - and popular - nail services. CND Shellac Nails Shellac has definitely been one of the most popular nail services of recent years. Its simple application, smudge-proof finish and effective staying power have secured legions of loyal followers. Applied much like a regular nail polish, Shellac only requires a few minutes of curing time under a special UV lamp between coats. When you leave the salon your nail polish will be completely dry and you can enjoy chip-proof, glossy, lasting colour that stays looking great for at least 14 days. When you are ready to have the Shellac removed, a set of foils soaked in acetone are wrapped round your fingers, although some salons may speed the process by asking you to put your fingertips into a bowl of acetone. This soaking process takes about 10 minutes and then the old polish is gently scraped off and nails buffed to prepare for the new coat. There is no ‘infill’ option – even if your polish still looks great, when it has grown out you’ll need to start again. Minx Nails If it’s statement nails you’re after then Minx Nails are the perfect choice for you, offering a vast

choice of designs in show-stopping colours, patterns and prints. Minx ‘foils’ work on both natural and artificially enhanced nails. Before application nails are given a basic manicure. Minx is a solid film with an adhesive backing that is heat activated. The heat allows Minx to take on the natural curve of the nail and bond to the surface effectively. While still underneath a special infrared lamp, the Minx is smoothed out and filed to fit with the nail. The process is very gentle on natural nails and with a waterproof seal, they won’t get damaged when you swim, bath, wash-up or do any other day-today tasks. The seal is only broken when they are removed. They’ll last around 14 days. Removal is easy - the product is heated up, the seal is broken and the Minx is peeled off. Long lasting nail polish There are several reasons you might still opt for traditional nail polish. Firstly you might want a shade for a special occasion or to go with a particular outfit, without necessarily wanting to keep the same colour for weeks. It’s quicker to put on normal polish and much quicker to take it off. This not only saves time, but will usually be a lower priced treatment or you can do it at home. Particularly for a pedicure, when normal polish will often last weeks anyway, this might be a better option. And the choice of colours is much greater so you can get that perfect match if you need it. Some of the new salon polishes dry very quickly too (such as CND’s Vinylux), so whilst it won’t be as instantly ‘set’ as Shellac or Minx, your finger and toenails will be complete dry and hard within a couple of hours.

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Fitness

Walking Back to Happiness By Debbie Singh-Bhatti

Health experts recommend that we get 30 minutes of moderate physical activity five times a week. To achieve this, look no further than something you’ve been doing since you were a toddler - walking! Walking has been described as “the nearest activity to perfect exercise” and offers a host of health benefits, including a reduction in the risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, colon and breast cancer, Alzheimer’s and stroke. In addition, walking conditions all the muscles of the lower body, particularly those in the bottom and thighs, and US psychologists also claim that regularly spending time outdoors can help stave off anxiety and depression. Walking can, quite literally, be done anywhere but if tramping the streets or countryside alone is not your idea of fun, why not join a walking group near you? They are a great way to make new friends and meet like-minded people in a sociable and safe environment. The Ramblers is Britain’s walking charity, with around 500 groups throughout the British Isles. Most groups are organised geographically, but there are some that specialise in shorter, easier, or family-friendly walks, and others that cater for specific age groups - for example people in their 20s, 30s or 40s. Walks are run weekly and are generally led by a trained leader. The cost of annual membership is £32 or £3 per month.

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The British Walking Federation organises walking events for people of all ages and abilities, to encourage personal fitness through regular noncompetitive exercise. To participate, simply turn up and register on the day. A list of events can be found on their website www.bwf-ivv.org.uk along with a list of walking groups around the country. The British Walking Federation offers individual membership at £8 per year, which entitles members to a calendar of events, newsletters and discounts on entry fees to permanent BWF trails. If you like walking but fancy something a little different, why not give Nordic Walking a try? Originally designed to help cross-country skiers train during the summer months, this method of walking is suitable for all ages, experience and fitness levels, and involves the use of specially designed poles to give you a full body work out that tones the arms, legs, stomach, chest and back, in addition to the legs. Using the poles puts less pressure on the joints as the work is shared between different parts of the body. The only equipment needed to start Nordic Walking is a good pair of shoes and comfortable clothing. Poles are provided within the class fee price of £5-£6 for around an hour. For more information visit www.britishnordicwalking.org.uk or www.nordicwalking.co.uk.

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Couples Counsellor

Helen’s Helpful Hints No. 2 - Fix it before it is broke Would you like your relationship to be better than it is? The earlier you take action the easier it will be to improve it. How is your relationship now compared with when you first met? At the beginning of a relationship you probably felt that your partner was perfect. Even if there were a few little habits that you didn’t quite like you probably thought that they were ‘cute’. Now you are irritated by those cute habits. What happened? Over time things happen and people change. So when the ‘perfect’ couple begin to see fractures in their relationship, it is time to take action. Share your needs and negotiate how you can compromise to help each achieve your individual and common goals. However many people find this difficult especially if it is a long standing situation, if your circumstances have changed significantly or one person feels more disadvantaged than the other. The relationship then

becomes unbalanced and one person can become more aggrieved and probably does not tell the other how he/she feels. A good relationship can be sustained when the couple commit to each other and do what is necessary to keep the relationship well balanced. I am a couple counsellor who trained with Relate and have 28 years experience. During that time I have helped hundreds of couples to improve or repair their relationships, leading to greater contentment for them and happiness and more security for their children. Call me, Helen Springer for an appointment. I can fix a fee to suit your pocket. It is important to me that you achieve the kind of relationship that you desire. Tel. 01462 713685. I am located in Pirton, Herts.

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Employment

Is Your Work-Life Balance

A Little Uneven? On 30th June 2014, the right to request ‘flexible working’ was extended to cover all UK employees with at least 26 weeks’ continuous employment, rather than just those with children under the age of 17 (18 if the child is disabled) and certain carers. Employees now have the legal right to make one flexible working request each year (but not to demand a change). Employers have a legal obligation to consider all requests in a reasonable manner. However, they will still be able to refuse requests where they have good business reasons (or could suggest an alternative arrangement). Flexible working requests can include: part-time working, working from home, job-sharing, termtime working, and compressed hours (fitting a five-day week into four days). For many employees, the Flexible Working Regulations could be the catalyst to start reviewing and adjusting their work-life balance. If a Flexible Working request triggers greater transparency and open communication between employee and employer (even if the request isn’t granted), this can only be a positive step all round. There is some concern that the changes will bring a flood of requests, making it more difficult for those in greater need to have a request granted. However, feedback from some of the 90% of

companies already offering flexible working has indicated a boost in productivity and profits, along with reductions in sickness absence. There have also been indications of increased morale, more commitment and stronger employee loyalty. An increase in these types of family-friendly policies being rolled out and economic growth often go hand in hand. A recent survey from the IBM Smarter Workforce Institute, indicates clear evidence that a good work-life balance not only improves job satisfaction and employee retention, but is also linked to faster career progression! It was interesting that employers offering at least one flexible working option, not only benefitted from significantly higher levels of job satisfaction but, as a result, were retaining a greater mix of workforce talent. Our expectations for work-life balance are actively changing, and this quiet revolution will have a long-lasting and positive impact in the workplace of the future. So, if you’ve been waiting for an opportunity to address your work-life balance, it’s arrived!

By Sarah Reid

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TEMPLARS CROSS LODGE www.templarscrosslodge.co.uk Close to Baldock town centre in spacious surroundings this motel style Bed & Breakfast offers off road parking. • continental breakfast • large luxury en-suite rooms • free wifi internet access • sky tv/dvd player • fridge in room • private location • close to train station • major credit cards taken

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Garden

Mediterranean Magic By Pippa Greenwood www.pippagreenwood.com If you can’t get away this year, how about creating your own Mediterranean hotspot in your garden? Even if you do manage to escape to the sun for a week or two this year, you’ll still have the rest of the summer at home and a little slice of Italy, France or Greece outside your back door will bring happy memories flooding back. The first thing to do is to choose the sunniest spot available – it’ll not only make sitting out there more enjoyable, but will also mean that you can install some serious sun-loving plants too. Painting the nearby house, shed or garage wall with white masonry paint will help to create the right atmosphere and look. At the same time it will help to reflect our sunlight – often a bit washed out compared to more southern climes - so providing a stronger light for the type of plants that appreciate it. Mediterranean gardens often make full use of the walls and any other vertical surfaces, so put up hanging baskets, pots and wall baskets and cram them full of plants. Plants in pots are a must and if possible choose stone or terracotta containers. If you want to make brand new pots look more weathered try painting them with a solution of plain yoghurt as this will help to encourage rapid colonisation by mosses, algae and lichens. Any new hard landscaping such as wall, paths or patios and terraced surfaces will look best in natural stone and there are now also terracotta tiles available that are suitable for use in the garden. Terracotta tiles can also have a storageheater effect too – after a long, hot day they will have absorbed a good deal of heat and this will then be released gradually in the evening. Add interest to a vertical surface by planting

a vine. They have attractive leaves and there are plenty to choose from that will fruit well in our climate. You may not be able to create your own vintage but the vines will look particularly authentic when draped with a few bunches of grapes. Glazed tiles, wall-hangings and even the odd ornament or two can also add to the Mediterranean look, but make sure you choose items that won’t be instantly bleached by the sun. Try growing your own oranges or lemons. With our generally milder winters some gardeners are even managing to keep these plants outside all year round with only the minimum of protection. Growing your citrus tree in a good-sized terracotta pot means that you can move it into a more protected spot if necessary. With their wonderful silvery grey leaves and their often rather untidy or gnarled shape, olives too are a plant well worth considering. Olives are best grown in a large container unless you have a warm garden and a very well-drained soil as they hate winter wet. Some plants just spell out Mediterranean Magic – try geraniums and pelargoniums, aeoniums and sempervivums, rosemary, thyme, oregano and pretty well anything with silvery foliage. Go for the brightest coloured flowers and your new holiday destination will also benefit from a subtle Mediterranean aroma too. Visit Pippa’s website www.pippagreenwood.com for her ‘Winter thru’ Spring’ vegetable collection, great plants for September and regular advice emails from Pippa, and a super range of gardening products including Nemasys caterpillar, slug, ant and other biological controls, Enviromesh & Envirofleece

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Health

Have a Healthy Holiday

Alison Runham - www.alison.runham.co.uk You’ve booked your holiday. You’re dreaming you’re there, sunbathing, sightseeing and relaxing. But health issues could turn it into a nightmare. Holidaying in the UK - If you’re holidaying in the UK, everything is familiar, but still arrange travel insurance in case an accident or illness means your holiday is cancelled. If you’re going off the beaten track or hill climbing, check the weather forecast, wear appropriate footwear and take your mobile (fully charged), warm waterproof clothing, a first aid kit and a map. Ensure everyone knows the route and remember you’ll be slower over rough terrain. Many fatalities are caused by ignoring these precautions. Check your chosen beach is safe for swimming, with no concealed rocks or dangerous sea creatures (there’s a useful guide to them here: http://bit.ly/1m9uFYJ). Holidaying Abroad - Several weeks beforehand, read guidebooks, travel company information and specific precautions for your destination at http:// www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk. Ensure you’re aware of: Air travel health and safety - Newborn babies, women over 36 weeks pregnant (32 weeks in multiple pregnancy), or people who have recently had a stroke, heart attack, surgery or trauma shouldn’t fly, nor should those with a communicable disease or certain conditions affecting the ears, chest, head or cardiovascular system. See your doctor and check insurance t&cs. The air inside aeroplanes is very dry, so stay hydrated and avoid alcohol, (altitude increases its effects). Ask your doctor’s advice if you’re concerned about DVT (deep vein thrombosis) or you’ve given birth in the last two months. Reduce the risk of DVT by walking, stretching, avoiding alcohol and caffeine, and keeping well hydrated. Compression stockings can help if worn correctly. Local laws and customs - Beware different traffic signals and different laws particularly about standards of dress. Food and water safety - Practice good hygiene and pack sanitizer gel or wipes. If you’re unsure of water safety, boil it or treat it with purification tablets, or use bottled water for drinking and brushing teeth. Avoid ice cubes. Choose well-cooked, freshly prepared food and Visit our new community www.beds-local.co.uk

avoid salads, shellfish, unpeeled fruit and icecream (unless it’s a major brand). Health precautions - If there’s a malaria risk don’t take it lightly. Use repellents on exposed skin and repellents and/or insecticides around your room and on mosquito screens and clothing. Wear long trousers and long-sleeved tops, particularly after dark. Anti-malarial tablets must be started before you go and continued after you return. Take a supply of diarrhoea medication with you. Vaccinations - Again, requirements depend on destination – check specific guidelines at http:// www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk at least 8 weeks before travel as some vaccinations are in several doses. Carry proof of vaccinations; some countries require an International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis (ICVP). Hepatitis A, cholera, typhoid and DTP (diphtheria, tetanus and polio) should be free, but you’ll pay for yellow fever, encephalitis, meningitis, rabies, tuberculosis and hepatitis B. Rules about prescribed medication - Take a copy of your prescription and a doctor’s letter including personal details, travel dates and medication details. Healthcare Entitlements - If you’re travelling to Switzerland or a country in the European Economic Area (EEA), apply for an EHIC (European Health Insurance) card entitling you to healthcare equivalent to that provided for residents. Outside the EEA, medical care must be covered by your insurance. Sun Protection - Wear a hat and sunglasses, avoid midday sun, stay hydrated and apply high factor sun lotion regularly.

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Motoring

In-car Dash Cameras By Debbie Singh-Bhatti

You’re behind the wheel of your family saloon, quietly minding your own business, when a souped up sports car suddenly flies past and cuts you up just as you reach the motorway exit. Seconds later it’s gone, with nothing to show but a trail of smoke. Not so long ago there was no getting back at reckless drivers like this guy (unless you employed the tactics of the driver in the photo!) but in-car cameras now offer the chance to bring them to count. An absolute given in countries like Russia, Japan and the USA, only 3% of British drivers currently own a dash cam, but the trend is on the increase. A recent RAC survey found that 4 out of 10 car owners would consider buying one, and that a fifth of current dash cams are used to guard against ‘cash for crash’ scams. False insurance claims are growing, and one common way of faking it is to set up a collision and claim the crash was the fault of the innocent party. If you’re the victim in a case like this, capturing the event on camera could help prove your innocence and bring the bad guys to justice. Good footage from a dashboard camera is admissible evidence in court, so if you are involved in a genuine accident it can offer proof of what really took place. You can also use it to protect your vehicle whilst parked. The camera will come to life

when damage is detected. Dashboard cameras, which are usually mounted on the windscreen, record onto memory cards whilst the ignition is on. Recording is constant, which means that once the card is full, old files are overwritten. Recording time depends on the size of memory card and the bit rate of the camera, but can run into several hours. Installation is by suction or adhesive pads. Cameras are most often wired into the cigarette lighter, but can also be hard-wired directly into the car battery - the only way if you want a model with parking mode. When choosing an in-car camera, first consider the size. Smaller models are more discreet, and black is the best low-profile colour. Next, look for one with a decent video resolution. The current standard is 1080p, which will pick out number plates and other details - essential if required as evidence. Check what the night video quality is like, and decide if you want a model that can save footage you might want to keep. Other useful options include date and time stamps, and dual or multiple channels which record what’s behind as well as what’s in front of you. Finally, don’t forget that dash cams can be fun! They are a great way to capture details of memorable trips, and film the more unusual sights we come across from time to time!

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Pets

Animal Queries

RSPCA Bedfordshire North Branch

Dear RSPCA vet, My friend is a farmer and he’s scared me by talking about something called fly-strike that can be fatal in sheep. He says I should be careful with my pet rabbits – is this true? Hassan, Kempston Dear Hassan, I’m afraid, your friend is correct. Fly-strike (also known as Myiasis) is when flies lay their eggs on a rabbit’s skin (usually around the bottom). The eggs quickly hatch and the maggots chew their way into the rabbit’s skin. This can happen within hours and can very quickly become fatal. This is particularly common in the warmer summer months so it’s vital that owners always check their rabbit’s bottom twice daily, and every time you pick him up. Any rabbit can get fly-strike but the risk is highest for rabbits with dirty bottoms, wet fur or wounds. If your rabbit often has a dirty bottom you may have to change his diet. To avoid this horrible problem, keep your rabbit’s living quarters clean and dry: flies are

attracted by damp, smelly conditions. If any rabbit becomes quiet and listless, or appears restless and shows signs of discomfort, pick them up immediately and check for eggs or maggots. If you do find maggots, don’t just try and clean him yourself – telephone your veterinary practice IMMEDIATELY. Fly-strike is a true emergency – day or night – and treatment cannot wait. As long as it doesn’t delay your trip to the vet, pick off any visible maggots with tweezers. Do not dunk the rabbit in water as fur in the affected area may need to be shaved and wet fur clogs the clippers. Fly-strike is a very serious condition and is, sadly, often fatal. However, rabbits can make a full recovery if the condition if found and treated quickly. Fly-blown rabbits are usually in pain and severe shock, and need skilled veterinary and nursing care. ANIMAL QUERIES is one of a series of articles brought to you by the RSPCA Bedfordshire North branch www.rspca.org.uk/local/bedfordshire-northbranch

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by Culinary Masters

Food and Drink

Wild Mushroom and Spinach Tagliatelle INGREDIENTS 150g wild mushrooms (e.g. porcini, chestnut, oyster) 50g baby spinach 50g parmesan cheese (and some parmesan shavings to serve) 100ml double cream Onion, chopped 2 garlic cloves, crushed 100ml white wine Tagliatelle Salt and pepper 1. Put on a saucepan of water to heat, with a teaspoon of oil and salt added, and bring to boil. 2. Meanwhile, sweat off the onions, garlic and wild mushrooms in a pan. 3. When the water has come to the boil, add the tagliatelle and cook for 10 minutes or until soft. Visit our new community www.beds-local.co.uk

4. Add the white wine to the pan with the onion, garlic and mushrooms and simmer until the liquid has reduced by half. 5. Stir in the double cream and continue to simmer for a minute. 6. Add the parmesan cheese and seasoning to taste. 7. Stir in the baby spinach and cooked tagliatelle and serve with rocket and parmesan shavings. Based in Bedfordshire, Culinary Masters can supply a professional chef to cater for you in your home, whether it is a romantic meal for two or a dinner party for friends and family, you can enjoy the luxury of a meal out with all the shopping, cooking and clearing up done for you. Call 07872391726 for competitive quotes, menu options and more details. 45

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THE BIGGLESWADE TALKING NEWSPAPER

Local news, for Local Listeners by Local volunteers supported and funded by Local organisations

Saturday 12th July BIGGLESWADE TALKING NEWSPAPER DAY Come and meet the team, we will be at ASDA Biggleswade between 9am and 3pm • • •

Giving details of the service and showing how we edit and record the week’s news, listen to that week’s edition. You may have family or friends who could benefit from the service. You may be looking to do some Voluntary Work? We can help you become a Sorter, Technician, Despatch Officer, or Editor, say 20 to 90 minutes a month. Training available. • Come along and talk to the team. Call David Gentle on 07840 504940

www.biggleswadetalkingnewspaper.org.uk We are a registered charity No 281316 established in 1981

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Painting & Decorating Property Maintenance Quality Workmanship Papering, Coving etc. Interior and Exterior Work Free Quotations Call W Firkins & Partners Ltd 01462 814117 or 07939 267083 Est 1981 20 Clifton Road, Shefford, Beds

Codeword 1

ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ

Easy Suduko

Hard Suduko

Fill in the grid so that each row, column and 3x3 box, contains the digits 1 through to 9 with no repetition. Use your logic to solve the puzzles. 48

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KPC Property Services IAN SIMPSON Carpentry and Joinery All aspects of carpentry work undertaken Kitchens, Bedrooms, Doors, Windows 25 years experience Free estimates Please call 01462 851695 or 07967162448 E-mail ij_simpson@hotmail.com

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• • • • • •

Kitchens & Bathrooms Plumbing & Heating Painting & Decorating Carpentry Tiling & Flooring General Maintenance

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Crossword Solution for The Villager June Edition

Mayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Crossword Winner Mrs D Driver from Wrestlingworth

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The Villager Prize Crossword

Prize

ÂŁ25

Across 1 Unable to hear (4) 3 Previously (8) 9 A lawn game (7) 10 Tease (5) 11 Produced (12) 14 Period of time (3) 16 Stop (5) 17 Feminine pronoun (3) 18 In spite of (12) 21 Shoreline (5) 22 Placing (7) 23 Daily (8) 24 Requests (4)

18th July 2014 Prize Crossword, Villager Publications Ltd 24 Market Square, Potton, Beds SG19 2NP

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

Down 1 Twelfth month (8) 2 Embellish (5) 4 Not in (3) 5 Dimensions (12) 6 Entrants in a race (7) 7 A toy (2-2) 8 Adequately (12) 12 Map or diagram (5) 13 Communications (8) 15 Mean (7) 19 Departs (5) 20 Land measurement (4) 22 Small vegetable (3)

Name: Tel: Address:

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14 Pear Tree Close, Lower Stondon, Bedfordshire SG16 6ND Email: dave@dhplumb.co.uk Website: www.dhplumb.co.uk

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n O s ’ t Wha 2 July German and English spies in WW1 7pm for 7.30pm Comrades Club, Godmanchester The Cambridgeshire branch of the Western Front Association is pleased to present a talk by Roger Negus on different aspects of spying during the Great War. Web: www.westernfrontassociation.com 3 July School’s IN Project Launch 6-9pm, British Schools Museum, 41/42 Queen Street, Hitchin. Adults £4, Under 18s £2 Join us in the Museum’s Exhibition room for a slide show and opportunity to join in with our new community project; capturing Hitchin’s school life through the ages. Tel: 01462 420144 Web: www.hitchinbritishschools.co.uk 3 July Baldock Floral Society 7.30pm Community Centre, Baldock Members free, visitors £6 Joyce Furssedon will demonstrate “Seasons of Splendour”. All welcome. 3 July Just Perfect Admission £10 7.30pm Sun Hotel Ballroom, Hitchin Beautiful music from Funky Strings and Hitchin Light Orchestra Singers. Tickets: Tel 01462 431206 or email chris@pink-champagne.co.uk. 3, 10, 17, 24 & 31 July Sapphire Social & Singles Club 8.30pm Meet in Hitchin This social group caters for unattached people over 45 and organizes a variety of events throughout the year. Tel: 07960 440417 for info Web: www.sapphiresocialsinglesclub.co.uk 4 July Bedfordshire Family History Society 7.15pm Mark Rutherford School Drama Hall, Bedford, MK42 9RX. Members free, Visitors £2 Illustrated talk is “The Green Room Plaque” by John Frearson. Bedfordshire Family History Society welcomes new members to its talks. Library and bookstall are available at meetings. Next meeting 5 September. Web: www.bfhs.org.uk

4 July The Lastminutecomedy Club Doors open 7.30pm, show 8.30pm Woodside Hall, Walsworth Road, Hitchin Tickets £10, members £8 Great comedy from Pierre Hollins and Mandy Knight plus MC Paul B Edwards. Tel: 079939 081391 www.lastminutecomedy.com

5 July Garden Square Craft Market 8.30am-4.30pm Garden Square Shopping Centre, Letchworth Garden City Specialises in the sale of genuine, high quality, hand made goods and offers local artisans the opportunity to show case their work. 5 July Langford Family Fête Community and trade stalls, family activities with entertainment in a central arena, drawing visitors from Biggleswade, Bedford, Hitchin, Stevenage and surrounding towns and villages. We seek to raise £2,000 towards the upkeep of the Village Hall and Playing Fields, plus funds for local community groups. 6 July Concert Band at Shuttleworth Gates open 1.30pm, concert starts 3pm Shuttleworth College (Old Warden village entrance) Adults £6, Concessions £4, Family £15 East Beds Concert Band will be performing their annual summer concert. A wide range of music from the ﬁlm music of Laurence of Arabia, Handel’s Fireworks Music, to a Deep Purple Medley. Bring a picnic, and rugs or chairs and to sit in the fabulous grounds whilst enjoying the wide selection of music. 6, 13, 20 & 27 July Stotfold Mill Open Days Stotfold Mill Milling flour and oats will take place; water levels permitting. “The Countryside in Pictures”. A display by the Stotfold Art Group with a chance to buy an original art work for your own home. 9 July Railway Correspondence and Travel Society Doors open 7pm, talk starts 7.30pm Hitchin Christian Centre, Bedford Rd, Hitchin Humphrey Gillott will give a talk on My Work as a Railway Mission Chaplain – a very different side to the railway’s personnel.

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9 July Henlow branch of The Royal Naval Association 7.30pm The Aragon Housing Association Hall, The Gardens, Henlow, SG16 6DG Ex Services or not all welcome. 11 July “Where the Working Boats Went” 7.30-9.30pm Stotfold Mill A show that mixes drama, pictures and music to tell the story of the Inland Waterways of Britain, presented by Graeme Meek and Barry Goodman. Bookings: 01462 734541 www.stotfoldmill.com 12 & 13 July Flower Festival (Free admission) Sat 10am-5pm, Sun 11am-6pm St. George’s Church, Norton Way North, Letchworth Celebrating 50 years of the consecration of St. George’s Church. There will be wonderful floral displays on show throughout the church with crafts and gifts available to purchase. Web: www.parishofnorton.org.uk 12 July-6 September Summer Reading Challenges Bedford Borough Libraries Bedford Borough libraries have two fantastic summer reading activities: ‘Mythical Maze’ Summer Reading Challenge and ‘imagiNation’ (11-16 years). Both challenges start Saturday 12th July and finish on Saturday 6th September. Tel: Sue Shead 01234 718178 for more info Web: www.mythical-maze.org.uk and http://imaginationeast.org.uk 14 July Talking in Class: Oral History 1pm British Schools Museum, 41/42 Queen Street, Hitchin £5 including tea/coffee and biscuits Andy Gibbs gives a talk about the Oral History projects at the museum. Tel: 01462 420144 www.hitchinbritishschools.co.uk 15 July The Rose Consort of Viols 8pm Benslow Music, Benslow Lane, Hitchin Tickets £12 including programme, free offers for under 25s The Eclectic English: A programme of six-part consort music by Peter Philips, Henry Purcell and others. Tickets also available from Hitchin Town Centre Initiative. Tel: Box Office 01462 459446 Web: www.benslowmusic.org 19 July See the Faces – Hear the Voices 1-5pm George Public House, Bucklersbury Our new exhibition, which combines the museum’s fantastic photographic and oral history archives. Have your say about you former (or current) schooldays in our ‘School’s IN’ project. Tel: 01462 420144 Web: www.hitchinbritishschools.co.uk

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19 July Hitchin Market and Summer Fete 2pm Hitchin Market by the riverside Lots of treats and goodies on the Hitchin Market. Sponsor a duck for £1 to win vouchers to spend on the Market, for local Charities. 19 & 20 July Art Demonstration Weekend The Art Nest, West Alley, Hitchin Emmeline Webb, greetings card designer, will show you how she creates her award winning card designs and brings them to life. 21 July Craft Club 2-5pm Stondon Village Hall, Hillside Road Monthly craft club. Email: mycraftottingshed@gmail. com for more information 21 July Hertfordshire Constabulary Choir 7 for 7.30pm British Schools Museum, 41/42 Queen Street, Hitchin Tickets £12 including light refreshments A policeman’s lot is not a happy one? You’d never guess it to hear the arresting performance of this everpopular mixed voice choir. It would be a crime to miss their varied programme from Mozart to Pop and with the emphasis on fun. Cash Bar. Tel: 01462 420144 Web: www.hitchinbritishschools.co.uk 24 July Alex Bay plays live Tickets £10 8pm British Schools Museum, 41/42 Queen Street, Hitchin Alex Bay is a 24-year-old singer-songwriter from North Hertfordshire. He creates melting pots of original soul, folk and blues, laden with memorable hooks and melodies. Expect a stirring live performance and a heartfelt vocal full of character. Alex’s 5-track EP “Daylight” is available now on iTunes. Cash Bar. Tel: 01462 420144 www.hitchinbritishschools.co.uk 25 July A Summer Night of Jazz 8pm Benslow Music, Benslow Lane, Hitchin Tickets £12 including programme Tickets also available from Hitchin Town Centre Initiative. Tel: 01462 459446 Web: www.benslowmusic.org 27 July Summer Masked Ball 7.30-10.30pm Spirella Ballroom, Bridge Road, Letchworth, SG6 4ET The Sunday Dance Club. Our music providers play a range of Ballroom, Latin and Popular Sequence dances. Visitors very welcome, tickets on the door. Tel: David 01234 300179

Alan George Painter & Decorator Interior and Exterior Work Wallpapering and Coving Reliable and Local Specialist City & Guilds trained with 30 years experience Sole trader No VAT Free estimates Call Alan on 01582 454604 Mob:07760198256 or E-Mail: george-a6@sky.com

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Books

BOOK REVIEW

By Catherine Rose Top Ten for Men by Nick Harper

Described by the Daily Mail as ‘a must have for fact fans’, national journalist Nick Harper’s book aims to bring together men’s favourite subjects – sport, cars, women, gadgets, beer and meat – in a catalogue of Guinness World Record-style top tens to fire the imagination and “feed a manly desire for knowledge and trivia”. This is not a book to challenge the intellect but it may help with some male bonding if you can quote the top ten sexiest female characters of all time or the ten greatest footballers ever. The lists are categorized under chapters that include Film, TV, Music, Celebrities, Technology, Sex, Life and Death, Food and Drink, Transport, Sport, History and The World amongst others. Want to appear clever? Memorise the ten words that will make you sound more intelligent. Another fuzzy head the morning after one too many? The ten most unconventional hangover cures will soon come to your rescue. The lists go from the sublime (ten great opening lines of British classics) to the ridiculous (the top 10 places at risk of alien invasion in the UK). And in between, there are fascinating gems such as ten songs with bizarre hidden messages, ten delicious insects and spiders, and the top ten UK places where men live longest (and die soonest). There are also such poignant facts as the ten ‘last meal’ requests and the top ten TV themes played at funerals. This book may not qualify you for Mastermind but it will certainly pique your interest, surprise you, make you laugh (the eighth most memorable country music song title - ‘You’re the Reason our Kids are Ugly’) and it may even ensure you are on the winning team for your next community quiz. Top Ten for Men by Nick Harper (ISBN 978-0-60062916-0) is published by Hamlyn, a division of Octopus Publishing Group Ltd, and is available from Amazon priced £10 in hardback.

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Drum Lessons DRUM LESSONS

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Van Hire

3/12/12 11:44:54

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