Raising awareness to find things locally of what’s on & where
Baldock, Ashwell, Weston and surrounding villages
Welcome
Welcome to the March Issue!
Spring is on the horizon, and with the longer days and (hopefully) warmer weather, there's plenty happening in our community to look forward to.
First up, it's finally time for Pancake Day—aka Shrove Tuesday—a day filled with sugar, lemon juice, and questionable pancake-flipping attempts!
Mothering Sunday is just around the corner, a perfect excuse to celebrate the wonderful women in our lives. Whether it's an enjoying afternoon tea at Tapps or a delicious meal at Eight, there are plenty of ways to make the day special.
If you're a fan of live music, delicious food, and a great community atmosphere, don't miss Country Boots on 31st May! The family-friendly event, organised by Katie Mathews and the Baldock Events Team, has a new venue this year at Hartsfield School and is raising funds for Hitchin Pantry. With live country music, a bar, and even some line dancing, it's set to be a fantastic day out for all ages. Tickets are on sale now, so grab yours while you can!
In this issue, we also have exciting updates from the Beer Festival team (find out more on page 23).
There's also good news for fitness lovers—new outdoor gym equipment has been installed at Avenue Park in
Baldock! Featuring an exercise bike, cross-trainer, and more, it's a great (and free!) way to get active. Final touches are being made, so keep an eye out for the grand opening.
Speaking of achievements, a huge well done to the organisers and participants of the Baldock Beast. Another successful year, with slightly milder weather but still plenty of mud to keep things interesting!
For those with a case of wanderlust, this month's travel review takes us to Budapest, as one of our local residents shares their experiences exploring this stunning city. If you've been on an adventure recently and fancy writing a review, we'd love to hear from you!
Finally, here's a little positive news—by the end of March, the evenings will be even lighter as the clocks go forward and we officially step into British Summer Time! Longer days, more sunshine, and the promise of spring blooms—what's not to love?
Paul & Jacqui
info@onourdoorstepbaldock.co.uk or 07973 788418
St Mary's Junior Sports CLIMATE FRIENDS
St Mary's Junior School have had a very busy start to 2025 with our spor ng ventures. Many of our year 5's and 6's have taken part in netball and football matches, with many more fixtures to come over the next few weeks.
It is Indoor Athle cs season too. Both our boys and girls teams got the job done in their heats to qualify for the grand final on February 26th. Many of our children finished in gold posi on as teams in events such as standing long jump, javelin and many of the races.
We also managed to take just over half of our year 6's to a Dodgeball compe on. As the reigning champions of this compe on, we were very
confident we'd do well. We took five teams, each aptly named a er the Dodgeball movie. I' m delighted to say one of our teams, The Average Joe's, won every match and were crowned champions.
But what was even more special about the event was being able to get so many of our children involved in represen ng the school in a team sport. They all showed fantas c energy, teamwork and excellent a tude and sportsmanship with everybody at the event. We are really proud of every child who has represented the school this month; all 117 of them!
Sco Hagland - PE Teacher
Thursday March 6th at The Orange Tree, 7pm Norton Road, Baldock SG7 5AW. FREE ENTRY
This is a new group which extends a welcome to anyone who would like to talk about climate change, the environment, nature, recycling or anything related to these.
The mee ng is free to all-comers, but we hope you will buy yourself some refreshments at the pub and enjoy the evening. This will be the first, we hope, of a regular discussion group where we can all share our views, talk about the latest developments and get ideas from each other. We hope to hold it on every first Thursday evening of the month.
If you would like further details please email us at baldockbeatswaste@gmail.com
JoinOurMission: VolunteeratEHAAT'sLetchworthCharityShop
Essex & Herts Air Ambulance (EHAAT) is seeking passionate and enthusias c volunteers to join the team at our Letchworth charity shop.
By volunteering, you'll play a key role in helping us keep our life-saving helicopters flying and providing cri cal care to those in need across Her ordshire, Essex, and surrounding areas.
Our charity shops are at the heart of raising vital funds, and as a shop volunteer, you'll:
Ÿ Sort and organise generous dona ons from the community
Ÿ Price and prepare items for sale
Ÿ Serve customers with a friendly smile
Ÿ Create engaging displays to showcase our stock
Whether you're looking to gain new skills, meet people in your community, or simply want to support a cause close to your heart, we'd love to welcome you. No experience is required—just a willingness to lend a hand and a posi ve a tude.
Be Part of Something Life-Saving
Just once a week or even once a month can make a big difference. To learn more about volunteering at our Letchworth shop, call 01462 685 133 or pop in to speak to the friendly team, or visit: ehaat.org/volunteer
Your me could help save lives. Join us and make a real impact in your local community. Shop Address: 17 Eastcheap, Letchworth Garden City, SG6 3DA
Opening Hours: MondaySaturday: 09:00-17:00 and Sunday: 10:00-16:00 Graham Hobbs - Volunteer
5 minutes with... Lisa McCole from McColes & Co.
*TellusabitaboutMcColes&Co
We're a small and friendly chartered accountancy firm based in Baldock. I set up McColes & Co just over three years ago, but someofusintheteamhavebeenworkingtogetherfor20years! We've several clients that have been with us for that length of metoo.
*What'syourcareerbackground?
Ibeganmycareerinaccountancyin2000andIqualifiedin2006. IwaswithAshley'scharteredaccountantsinHitchinfor21years and Co-Director for six of those years, before I decided it was metosetupmyownfirmandestablishedMcColes&Co.
*Whatsortofcompaniesdoyouworkwith?
We work with all kinds of small and medium-sized businesses, ranging from sole traders to larger companies. As well as regularbusinessservices,wecanalsohelpifyoujustneedsome businessadviceorwithaone-offtask.
*Whatservicesdoyouoffer?
We offer a full range of business accountancy servicesincluding annual accounts, payroll, management accounts, corporatetaxplanning,CIS,fundingandVATtonamebutafew. We can also help with personal taxa on ma ers such as Personal Tax Returns, Capital Gains Tax, estate planning and re rementplanningtaxadvice.
*Whatdoyouenjoymostaboutyourjob?
I love working with local businesses, but par cularly start-ups. We have many clients that have been with us from the very start of their business journey and it's always a privilege to see their businesses grow and be there to offer advice along the way. It's a real passion of mine to help someone get their business venture off the ground and guide them through the ini al set up period, before helping their business expand and flourish.
*Why should a prospec ve client choose McColes & Co over anotheraccountant?
It sounds cliched, but we really care about our clients. We're a small firm and as a result our clients really get to know the members of our team. Unlike with some larger accountancy firms, with McColes & Co you always get a personal level of service, and I make sure I personally a end face-to-face client mee ngs at year end. I believe it's this level of service - as well as the fact that all the team are extremely friendly, approachable and professional – that has helped us gain and retainmanyclients.
We also offer a FREE ini al consulta on to all prospec ve clients - so you can come and have a no-obliga on chat (and a cuppa)andfindouthowourservicescanhelpyou.
– Free Oxygen Therapy Sessions Fight Pain & Fatigue
Extreme fa gue and chronic pain can result from many condi ons, including Fibromyalgia, Cancer, Mul ple Sclerosis, Stroke, Chronic Fa gue Syndrome, ME and Long Covid. The Herts MS Therapy Centre welcomes people with any challenging health condi on.
Many people have felt less pain by doing Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy. Some mes the improvements have been drama c and long las ng.
The Letchworth charity offers a free trial session to anyone who wants to try Oxygen Therapy for the first me. Oxygen Therapy gives lots of people:
Ÿ Faster healing
Ÿ Energy boosts
Ÿ Reduced pain
Ÿ Decreased swelling and inflamma on
Ÿ More ability to combat infec on How does Oxygen Therapy work?
Pure oxygen is breathed through a mask under pressure in a specially constructed chamber. It's very safe with almost no side effects and can be very effec ve.
It's amazing how many people feel be er through breathing pure oxygen –some meshelpingwithseriousmedical condi onsthey'vehadforyears. “I was struggling to cope with my fa gue, and it was weighing me down mentally. The treatment was a ray of hope that resulted in new friends and a be er quality of life.” Charlo e D Would Oxygen Therapy help you?
Trial sessions are the best way of experiencing Oxygen Therapy, helping you make an informed decision about whether Oxygen Therapy may be right for you.
The sessions last for an hour, giving you the complete Oxygen Therapy experience. Places are limited and must be booked in advance.
Find out what Oxygen Therapy feels like! Phone 01462 684214 or email oxygen@hmstc.net to book your free trial session.
PhotoCompetition
We know how many great photographers there are in Baldock so maybe this is something you'll be interested in. Baldock Town Twinning Associa on is star ng a new event in 2025 with our twin towns in France and Germany- a photo compe on. It has been started by our friends in Sanvignes in tribute to twinning member, Jacqueline Combier, who sadly passed away last February in a tragic car accident. The compe on is free to enter and open to all ages and abili es, you just have to keep to the theme chosen for the year. This year's theme is “Flowers”. Maybe you have a beau ful photo of the poppy fields from last year or from your own garden that you think is par cularly special.
Anyone wan ng to enter should send their photos to Baldock Town Twinning and, from all the entries, the Baldock Town Twinning Commi ee will pick three photos to send to Sanvignes, where a final neutral jury will select their favourite photo from entries from Baldock, Eisenberg and Sanvignes. The Sanvignes Commi ee will award a
ForAllAges!
trophy to the winner and the 9 selected photos and their makers will be honoured in our three towns and the winner will pick the theme for the next year.
As well as that, all photos entered will be displayed at an exhibi on at St. Mary's Church Hall on 31st May to help raise money as part of their fundraising campaign.
So if you think you've got what it takes to beat the compe on in France and Germany, send your photos accompanied by your name, date of birth, postal address, email and telephone number to baldocktowntwinning@gmail.com by 1st May 2025. Please also include the date and loca on of the photo (this can be anywhere, not just Baldock) and the tle chosen. The photos must be of sufficient resolu on to be printed by us on a 30x45 format or equivalent.
If you would like to know more informa on, contact Baldock Town Twinning on to baldocktowntwinning@gmail.com
Aby Hucker - Chairperson
Baldock Town Twinning Associa on
'OpenGardens'
Rotary Club Seeks New Gardens for 'Open Gardens' Event in May
As part of the Baldock Fes val in May, the Rotary Club of Baldock will once again be sponsoring and organising the very popular Open Gardens event.
As is tradi onal, it will be held on the last a ernoon of the Fes val on Sunday, 18th May and we ask gardens to be open between 1.00pm and 5.00pm.
Our Open Gardens are a mix of gardens some of which are open for the first me and others that have opened previously. This always gives people a choice of which gardens to visit.
In order to provide an even wider choice of new gardens to visit we would like to give people the opportunity to volunteer to open their gardens. Your garden doesn't have to be;
Ÿ a show garden – there are no prizes at stake
Ÿ a large garden – small can be just as interes ng
Ÿ pris ne – weeds have a habit of appearing overnight!
It does, however, have to be a safe environment.
Baldock residents are always interested in the Open Gardens event and ideas and comments (always posi ve) are shared on the day. However, with greater publicity the event now a racts visitors from further afield.
All gardens are marshalled throughout the a ernoon by Members or Friends of Rotary who take responsibility for checking ckets and suppor ng the garden owner.
In previous years people have responded to this request and found it an enjoyable experience.
If you are interested in opening your garden and would like to volunteer or would like more informa on about the event please contact Janet Hammond, telephone number 01462-894603 or email janet.hammond4@b nternet.com Rotarian - Paul Lucke
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For most people their home is the biggest investment they will ever make and the things they keep in it are their most prized possessions.
As your local broker our role is to select the policy most suited to your individual needs. Ensuring peace of mind for our customers is at the heart of what we do.
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A ekend Bude
For one month only this isn't a review of a new tv series on Prime, but instead a travel review of a few days in Budapest which my wife and I were able to take this month! A er being able to sever ourselves from work and 'mum and dad life' for a few days, we opted for a mini break to the Hungarian capital as it had been on our list of places to visit for some me.
We flew Bri sh Airways from Heathrow. The new Elizabeth line from Farringdon connects us in Baldock superbly well and we were there in less than 90 minutes door to door – yes the trains all ran on me!
A er a two hour flight, it's a half hour taxi from Budapest airport to the city centre and will set you back approx. £25 - not too shabby. There are public transport op ons, but we arrived late and our hotel had sent a driver for us. For day 1 a er filling up at the breakfast buffet and sneaking a few bread rolls and pastries in the bag for later ( c'mon we all do that right!?) we set off for Fisherman's Bas on – a medieval emba lement towering above Budapest giving spectacular views. Fisherman's Bas on looked like a Disney fever dream, its neo-Romanesque terraces delivered prime views of the Danube and of the glorious Hungarian Parliament building with its neo-gothic spires and towers. Do visit the Church of St Ma hias in the grounds of
Fisherman's Bas on – for a few quid it's really very beau ful and we had a good hour wandering around and climbing up the inside tower.
A er a quick coffee stop, we set off on foot over Széchenyi chain bridge which spans the mighty river Danube and connects Buda and Pest together, we stopped by the Four Seasons Hotel for a quick look inside ( our budget did not stretch to staying here!) it's huge glass dome foyer and roman c cocktail bar looking like something straight out of the Wes Anderson Grand Budapest Hotel Film. We concluded our walking tour at St Stephen's Basilica - a stunning roman catholic cathedral built between 1851 and 1906 . Housing the mummified hand of the first king of Hungary, King Stephen, you can spend a good hour here wandering around soaking up the atmosphere – the ceiling pain ngs and design are incredibly detailed.
A er all this culture we decided we needed some alcoholic refreshment was required and headed for Ruin Bars
Here, derelict buildings house a series of interconnected bars and cocktail meets all set against a rundown façade with street food joints set inside. It totally works and is a great way to bring back to life abandoned buildings. Well worth a visit!
Our second day featured an early morning visit to Széchenyi Thermal baths - the largest medicinal bath in Europe. Its water is supplied by two thermal springs and as we stepped in out of the rather chilly -3 morning it was like a glorious hot bath. The baths inside and outside, along with saunas, are like a labyrinth of thermal and medicinal wellness. The place has a faded charm (it's no Champneys) but the architecture is stunning and the yellow façade glistened in the early morning sun . It was a worthy experience. We purchased ckets online and in advance at £38 each and spent 3- 4 hours here. Go early we arrived 8am ahead of all the big tourist groups. The baths are situated in a big city park which was nice to have wander around a erwards.
We spent the rest of the day exploring the shopping and market area before grabbing some cocktails, some goulash and ge ng some gi s.
All in we had a perfect few days there. We stayed in Hotel Vision, which was well placed in central Budapest and was great value. We took off back for Heathrow refreshed and recharged ready to tether ourselves back to family and work life once more!
Crash Care Centre Hitchin Ltd
Jack Jones, a middle aged, drugtaking football hooligan who feels increasingly irrelevant in today's society as he struggles to keep his family together. Hooked on drugs and adrenaline; and struggling to resist the pull of his firm of fellow football fans, Jack is arrested after some violent matchday exploits and given six weeks to turn his life around, or else face a long spell in prison.
15 83mins
“Disney’s Snow White” is a liveaction reimagining of the classic 1937 film. Starring Rachel Zegler in the title role and Gal Gadot as her Stepmother, the Evil Queen, the magical adventure journeys back to the timeless story, as she escapes into the forest and seeks refuge with seven dwarfs Bashful, Doc, Dopey, Grumpy, Happy, Sleepy, and Sneezy.
The movie centres on legendary British intelligence agent George Woodhouse as he is tasked with spying on his wife and fellow agent Kathryn Woodhouse, who is suspected of betraying the nation. Caught between protecting his wife and his country, George will have a difficult decision to make as they go from husband and wife to spy vs. spy.
18 93mins
Levon Cade (Jason Statham) left behind a decorated military career in the black ops to live a simple life of working construction. However, Levon is forced to use his old set of skills, when human traffickers kidnap his boss's daughter, his search to bring her home uncovers a world of corruption far greater than he ever could have imagined.
RunningTime 18 118 mins
Baldock Gardens
By Graham Tapp
This write-up is supposed to be for March, but I'm excited to tell you that on the 10th of February, the first delivery of our plant material for growing on in our nursery has just arrived; we will now have regular deliveries of plant materials every week, sometimes twice, maybe three times throughout the growing season. Compost delivery is next, the first 24 pallet lorry load to start with and another three lorries later as needed, then the pots for growing will turn up; this is an enormously complex job working out what pot is necessary for what plant, then how many growing trays the pots fit into called shuttle trays are required for the different sizes of pots. Shuttle trays and the associated pots are biodegradable, so they will not succesfully keep from season to season, so we have to calculate our requirements every autumn.
Requirements for pots and compost are dependent on what we decide to grow. This hinges on what we see, like and order at the plant breeder trial grounds we visit throughout the year and, notably, what did or didn't sell the season before.
So, the litres of compost required are calculated based on the number and size of the pots. We then have to go through the list of plants ordered to work out how much of what type of compost we need; the types of compost available to us growers are many and varied.
As you can understand, any plant material we have delivered in February and March will be hardy, needing no heat protection other than for hard frosts -4 or lower; our polytunnels are designed to keep out mild frosts.
As we get to the end of March into April, much of the plant material delivered will be tender and requiring heat input, mostly at night, but through the day, if needed, heating is provided by fan blowers that burn low sulphur paraffin we use direct heat burners so that we can deliberately increase the carbon dioxide levels inside the tunnels, these can only be used in high ventilation areas due to the risk of carbon monoxide. This sounds scary, but we work with tiny increases.
The Baldock ambient Co2 level ( indoor and Outdoor ) is currently 400 - 1000 Parts per Million; we work well within those parameters, so in the grand scheme of things, we are not adding a burden on our local area.
One Litre of kerosene/ paraffin will produce 2.5 kg of Co2. One kg at sea level pressure will fill a slightly larger than a one metre-wide beach ball or 4.73 miles driven in an average-size family car. Frost protection here is usually required through April. Perhaps the first week of May, but not every day or night, so on average, we will be using 5 litres/ day for 20 days, 100 Litres for 473 miles equivalent, 24 miles a day for the average car, 1.3 miles per day averaged over a year. For both ways, the average singleoccupancy car commute is now 30 minutes; the best part of an hour per day at an average of 30 miles per hour is 30 miles per day, an equivalent of 6,3 litres of kerosene or 15.75 average beach balls per day x 5 days per week equals 78.75 per week as you can see we have managed to get our plant heating environmental cost of down as low as possible at 12.75 beach balls per day when operating.
Bedding plants will make use of Co2 enhancement from ambient atmospheric levels at 400 parts per million to 1800 parts per million; productivity falls off over 1500 parts per million and becomes toxic to the plants above 1800 parts per million. Artificial lighting is needed above 450 parts per million to achieve maximum production; this then becomes very expensive as all the inputs require pinpoint accuracy.
If you are driving around and see some of the new high-tech greenhouses in operation, you will see the strange light glow radiating from them; these are the latest multi-colour LED lights computercontrolled to mimic the very brightest day they can be, but strangely not in the colour spectrum we would imagine as it will change during the day and to fool the plants that they are in a different season to their neighbours outside. It could be dark, cold, and snowy outside, but the plants inside will be fooled into thinking it is anything from the growing
season (Spring) to peak cropping time. These greenhouses are very high specification with high insulation values to the floor and surrounding glass. The irrigation systems can control nutrients to the finest levels and areas as one part of the crop may want to be held back or brought forward or just need a pep up. Generally, the atmosphere is controlled; the temperature and humidity can vary at different times of the day. Pollination is also accurately controlled and can be done manually with hand tools or by releasing unique insects and or bees. Even in highly controlled environments, pests and diseases can occasionally turn up, so various techniques involving no chemicals have been developed. Aphids ( green and black ) have to have a specific light wavelength to thrive and multiply, so roof coverings that reduce the very wavelengths they need have been developed and are used with great success; also, the LED lights mentioned earlier can be tuned to remove the aphid wavelength.
My favourite of all techniques to remove pests, and I have written about it many times, is the predators; there are many beneficials that will chase down the damaging insects and devour them. It is easier to keep the benificials alive under these closely controlled environments as it is always warm enough for them to thrive, unlike in yours and my greenhouses where it may not be warm enough for them.
Until next month
American Primeval – Ne lix
Too much choice out there?
Spend more time deciding what to watch than actually watching something? LET BALDOCK'S RESiDENT TV GLUTTON HELP YOU ON YOUR MiSSiON!
Ne lix's American Primeval is a brutal, unflinching dive into the untamed American West, where survival is a daily struggle, and violence is the law of the land. Set in 1857 Utah, the six-episode limited series follows Isaac (Taylor Kitsch), a tormented fron ersman with a haunted past, as he navigates a vola le world of se lers, Na ve American tribes, Mormons, and outlaws. I was given this programme as a p from my brother and it paid dividends as it gripped me with its visceral style and unflinching portrayal of how tough life was then in the American Midwest. From the get-go, the series delivers on its promise of grit. I found that the cinematography captured the raw beauty and brutality of the wilderness, while the ac on sequences are intense and unforgiving.
Among a sprawling cast – the men growling every word from so far down their throats that the volume bu on on the remote will be needed (or at least , if like me, sub tles on!) – our protagonists are a woman and her son trying to get from Philadelphia to the boy's father in Crook Springs, Utah. They arrive at an obscure trading post called Fort Bridger with a purse full of dollars and a great desire for haste, which is explained when a bounty hunter turns up looking for her.
Eventually they come under the guidance of the most grizzled, growling fron ersman of them all – Isaac Reed (Taylor Kitsch), who was raised by the Shoshone na ve tribe and boy, is that going to come in handy as they a empt to get from point A to B
without being killed by any of the tribes including a Mormon mili a, US army or assorted groups of violent sociopaths who li er their path so thickly you wonder if there is any unoccupied land le anywhere in America.
Meanwhile, a genuine historical incident is unfolding: the Mountain Meadows Massacre, near Salt Lake City, during which an es mated 150 white se lers, including Mormons, were killed in an a ack thought to have been carried out at the behest of Brigham Young, the founder of the Church of La er-day Saints who at the me was very much concerned with preserving his nascent religion's land.
We also follow the fates of newly married Church of la er Day Saints couple Jacob and Abish Pra (Dane DeHaan and Saura Ligh oot-Leon) who survive the massacre but become separated. She is taken by the Pauite na ve tribe, and he is le for dead and remembers nothing of who was responsible and he is taken in by his brothers in Christ.
At mes, the shows ambi on some mes works against it. With mul ple intersec ng storylines each vying for emo onal weight some characters and arcs feel underdeveloped. The series leans heavily into its dark tone, occasionally at the expense of nuance, making it feel relentlessly grim without much room to breathe.
=That said, American Primeval succeeds as a gripping, visceral fron er saga. If you're looking for a Western that doesn't roman cise the past but instead plunges headfirst into its chaos, this one is worth the ride. Just be prepared for a rough journey.
Thank you to all the people that have recommended me as their personal estate agent in Baldock. I love working here and the town has always held a special place in my heart, it's just great!!
Manners Maketh Man
I consider myself as a tolerant person, but I don't suffer fools gladly, just quietly. There are many things that get my goat about other people, but I just keep my council and move along. It's the way I was taught and because I now have the privilege of age, I have heeded the many lessons of life. Saying that, there are some things that I just cannot let go, I am aware that some may see my irks as inconsequen al, while other will stand with me at the irksomeness of the behaviour.
Rudeness is always unacceptable in my book. I do understand that my percep on of this is a personal thing, but I'll give you some idea of what boils by prunes and gets me so mad I could rip the head off a Barbie doll.
Obviously, the number one is people who forget the basics of please and thank you.
Folk that do not hold doors open for you but allow them to slam shut in your face. An addendum to the doors thing, is people that will walk through a door that you hold open leaving you standing there while the world files past not saying thank you.
Crap bags that will start to load their shopping at the ll before you have finished loading yours. For me, the rule here is that you do not load your shopping un l the person in front has indicated they are finished by placing that li le bar thing on the belt, and to
con nue, those that don't say thank you when you place the li le bar thing on the belt, and those who don't place the li le bar thing on the belt. You can correctly surmise that I am not o en in a pleasant place a er most shopping trips and any nearby Barbie dolls are running for the hills.
This one is a li le tricky and depends on tone and personality. Being corrected loudly in front of other people. I don't mean the banter type funny stuff like when you declare that a star you can see by the moon is Venus and it turns out it's a helicopter (true story). I mean the condescending, I'm be er than you declara on that is just unimportant and designed to embarrass. Its not just rudeness to me that gets my blood up (but not enough to assault Barbie). The Farmers unions had a mee ng with the government last week and didn't give them the curtesy of pretending to listen to their concerns. Why bother giving them the mee ng if you're not going to even engage a li le bit.
I struggle with Diversity, Inclusion and Equity programmes because no one should need to be trained to be a decent person. In the old days, if you were a crap bag to another employee, you were sacked. Simples. I know that's a simplis c look at things, and it all goes much deeper than that, but I
really dislike being lectured by twentyfive-year-olds on one-hundred and twenty-five grand a year on how to be a decent human being. Because a er all, that's what it all comes down to.
I'm big on free speech and the right to express your self how you want to, live, and let live is my mantra. If you want to be 'phobic' or racist, that is en rely up to you, just don't expect me to engage with you. In fact, you can expect me to completely disengage from you. You have the right to feel how you feel, I have the right not to give you my me. Its all just manners really, something we tend to easily forget some mes. I remember old folk when I was young saying that the youth of today have no manners, I hear it now that I am old. In my experience there is no age where we suddenly find our manners, we are either rude or we aren't.
Can you tell I've had a grumpy week? I s ll haven't found a Snowdrop, that must be it, and the fact that I am completely sick of being cold. I am quite sure my grumpy git side is weather related. It's your right to disagree if you want to, just don't forget your P's and Q's or the Barbie gets it.
Nicky
LocalCharityChangestheFaceof Pre-lovedShoppingontheHighstreet
The Garden House Hospice Care shop in Baldock re-opened it's doors on 13th February a er undergoing an exci ng transforma on. Shoppers, fellow local businesses and Hospice service users a ended the grand reveal to experience pre-loved shopping in style.
Baldock is one of the Hospice's 11 shops on the highstreet which support with funding their award-winning wellbeing and pallia ve care services for thousands of local people each year. Garden House Hospice Care have been recognised na onally for their innova on in service provision to breakdown barriers in access to hospice care with some incredible results.
However, as the services expand and the numbers of people in need of Garden House Hospice Care's support con nues to rise, so does the income the charity needs to raise. By adding a li le love to their pre-loved shops, the Hospice hopes to not only increase vital income but elevate the shopping experience for their community.
When asked about what has changed, Richard Wayment, Retail Director for Garden House Hospice care, said: “Not only have we enhanced the look and feel of our Baldock shop, the overall shopping experience has improved as we have new products in store. Our customers have told us they would like to see more fashion, menswear, shoes, handbags, accessories and items for the home. So this is what we have focused on –offering a wider range of high quality pre-loved products at great value. We have also introduced a new hot drinks machine and a cosy sea ng area
so our customers can enjoy a nice cup of coffee or tea while they shop. Our staff and volunteers love cha ng with customers and we want to build on the hospitality they experience by offering an environment where people can truly make themselves feel at home. If the coffee and tea catches on, we'll upgrade our coffee maker for sure!
We are delighted with the way our Baldock shop refit has come together - a real team effort and I am confident that our new and improved shop will be well received by our local community. Please do pop in the next me you're in town –our staff and volunteers look forward to welcoming you.”
One of Baldock's regular customers, Katherine, was one of the first people to make a purchase in the new shop: “ I have lived in Baldock for years. Visi ng the Hospice shop has become part of my weekly rou ne. I go in at least twice a week and always come away with a li le treasure or two. The new look feels very much like a 'proper shop' – I shop here because the Hospice supported my husband following a demen a diagnosis and they were absolutely wonderful. They now also support me; I a end the weekly wellbeing hubs and it really keeps me going and has brought hope back into my life a er my husband died. It is so much more than a charity shop.
My life would be very different without their services or shops to visit and I am loving the new look and shopping experience.”
Judy Flack, a Hospice service user, had the honour of cu ng the ribbon:
“I was honoured to be asked to cut the ribbon to open the refurbishment today. I've had associa ons with the Hospice for a number of years a er my husband was a pa ent 20 years ago. Since then, I have taken advantage of a number of the services including the Wellbeing Hubs and Compassionate Neighbours. I'm happy to support the Hospice in any way I can.”
The Baldock Garden House Hospice Care shop is located at 26 Whitehorse Street and is open Monday – Saturday from 9am to 5pm, and on Sundays from 10.00am – 4.00pm.
The Baldock shop is just the first of the Hospice's local shops to be refi ed –there will be more exci ng transforma ons on the way, so keep an eye out for an update on your local shop. If you're not already following the Hospice on social media, you can find them on facebook and Instagram.
High quality dona ons needed! The shop urgently needs quality dona ons, especially household items, clothing, handbags, accessories and footwear. Items can be donated every day of the week but please note that during busy periods the mes and days dona ons are accepted may change. With pre-loved and new items in-store there are many reasons to visit. Every item you buy will not only get you a great bargain, but the money you give will also help the Hospice to con nue to care for people in the local community. . Telephone: 01462 558083 Email: baldock.shop@ghhospicecare.org.uk
Redefining & Reinventing
New Aston Mar n DB12
Aston Mar n has introduced the DB12, which the iconic Bri sh maker describes as a "quantum shi in spor ng character and dynamic capability."
The new car is a significant evolu on of the brand's fabled DB bloodline, si ng alone as the world's first Super Tourer. It marries the long-distance comfort of a grand tourer with the blistering performance and agility that have come to define supercars.
Where the DB11 was pioneering, the DB12 brings many improvements that redefine the drive. The car has an expanded range of driving modes, with GT, Sport, and Sport Plus modes carried over from the DB11, while Wet and Individual se ngs complete the suite. The Individual mode allows you to tailor your own setup thanks to an innova ve suspension system featuring intelligent adap ve dampers and an electronic rear differen al. Some serious engineering has been employed to make sure the driving se ngs are dis nct.
Historically, Aston Mar n decided not to use the DB8 nameplate and instead went directly to DB9 due to concerns that doing so might confuse consumers about the engine specifica ons.
Ironically, the DB12 has a huge 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 rather than a V12. However, it produces a whopping 680PS - almost 180PS more than the V8 DB11 and over 40PS more than its defunct V12 sibling. All this muscle catapults the DB12 from 0-62 mph in just 3.6 seconds, while its maximum speed is 202 mph. Its more subtle but significantly effec ve upgrades included revised camsha profiles, op mised compression ra os, and larger-diameter turbochargers. The DB12's advanced technology includes a six-axis iner a measurement unit capable of ultraprecise, real- me measurements of the car's dynamic condi on. This unit effec vely predicts available grip and further adjusts performance to op mise trac on.
On a visual basis, the DB12 is more agressive than the DB11. The bonnet is more upright, with revised air vents now located in the centre. The rear gets boomerang-shaped taillamps, while the 21-inch alloy wheels are both bigger and lighter. They come shod in Michelin Pilot S5 tyres, which cut down road noise.
Inside, the DB12 also moves with the mes; its cabin has been redesigned
is even more luxuriously appointed. There is a 10.25-inch infotainment touchscreen and an all-digital instrument display. For the first me, Aston Mar n has created the infotainment system in-house. It is intui ve to use and features all the latest connec vity, including Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
A en on to detail abounds, too, with no ceable premium materials like 'roller bu ons' for volume and temperature se ngs. The Aston Mar n also features safety systems like adap ve cruise control and laneassistance technologies.
Star ng at around £185,000 for the basic model and an es mated £200,000 for the so -top Volante, the DB12 is almost a synthesis of old and new.
As Aston Mar n has claimed, it's bolder, purer, sharper, finer, and more fearsome - a brazen declara on against relentless compe on in the sports car segment that underscores its promise to thrill drivers.
More than paying homage, the DB12 even rejuvenates some benchmarks that hint at the future of grand touring.
New Aston Mar n DB12
Ÿ Max speed: 202 mph
Ÿ 0-62 mph: 3.6 secs
Ÿ Powertrain: 4.0L twin-turbo V8
Ÿ Max. power (PS): 680
Ÿ Price: £185,000
Baldock Festival Update
Hi Baldock
Just a bit of an update before the fes val details are printed in next month's edi on of On our Doorstep. Planning is going well for the 2025 Baldock Fes val fortnight, 2nd to the 18th May. Just a quick note that a couple of the big events are moving outside of the Fortnight this year. The Baldock Beer Fes val commi ee have informed us that the main Beer fes val will be moved to the Bank holiday weekend in August (21-23) in the community centre and the Country Boots, Baldock Roots event will be held on Saturday 31 May at Hartsfield school. But don't worry there will s ll be lots to do, wine tas ng (3rd) , whisky tas ng (9th), Book fair (10th) , Street Fair (17th) and the Car show (18th) to name a few. New for this year will be Rum tas ng (dressing as a pirate ac vely encouraged!) and possibly a waffles, Frites and Belgian Beer night. So watch out for all the details next month and we hope to see you all then. In the mean me can you all do your sun dances for some great May weather please. Love the Baldock Fes val Commi ee. X
SPRING INTO ACTION
The days are ge ng a ny bit longer and when the clocks go forward at the end of March, you will start to get a spring in your step as daffodils appear and a bit of Spring sunshine is all around. There is one very good reason to get out and have a simple walk each day and that is the major health benefits. Ge ng your circula on going is good for your heart and most importantly moves your blood around and so sends an bodies round to fight infec ons and germs.
If you do have any twinges there will be a reason for them, and you should get them checked out before you embark upon any exercise. Pain in the upper body, in the lower back, hips and knees can o en stem from an issue with ankles or feet.
An Osteopath can give you a full skeletal check iden fying ghtness, imbalances and postural issues then using massage and manipula on to alleviate the tensions in your body.
Simple stretches they recommend, done daily, can be very beneficial before and a er your walk.
The NHS faces a huge challenge with our ageing popula on. The Ins tute of Osteopathy launched its first na onal campaign en tled Freedom of Movement and are commi ed to raising the current levels of awareness about Osteopaths and the contribu on they make to help keeping people healthy and ac ve for longer. Osteopaths don't just treat sore backs as is commonly thought. Exercise is good for the soul and is proven to help mental health. Have you ever returned from a walk or an ac vity and said to yourself “I wish I hadn't done that”? You feel good and who doesn't like catching a blackbird having a bath in a puddle or the red flash of a li le robin as you catch them on your early morning walk.
Embrace spring and enjoy it. The Amber Health Team 01462 490141
ASHWELL WESTON
WillsandInheritanceTax–factormyth?
There are many people who 'know' all about inheritance and have amazing ' ps' and advice to offer, but how do you know if what they are saying is true? If they aren't professionally qualified, they may be right - but they could be completely wrong! Have you heard any of the following?
1.You don't need a Will if you just want everything to go to your spouse –that isn't strictly true, only the first £322,000 will pass to your spouse outright if there is no Will and you have children.
2.My 'common-law' wife or husband would inherit anyway so I don't need a Will – that isn't true. 'Common-law' isn't a legally recognised term for inheritance, so nothing would pass to your partner if you died without making a Will leaving assets to them.
3 My family won't need to apply for 'Probate' if I have made a Will – the need for Probate is based on the type and value of asset, not whether there is a Will. It is called Le ers of Administra on where there is no Will, but the process with or without a Will is similar.
4. You need to make a Will to stop everything going to the government. This is an absolute last resort where someone dies without a Will – a er all a empts to find family, no ma er how distant, have been exhausted. Only then would your estate go to 'the government.'
5. If I put my house in my children's names – it will avoid care fees and inheritance tax.
This is a big subject! Some things to understand though:
Ÿ If your children haven't yet bought property of their own, they would no longer be first me buyers, so they would lose all benefits associated with that status.
Ÿ They could end up paying a lot of Capital Gains Tax when the property is finally sold (if it isn't their main residence).
Ÿ Inheritance Tax could end up being due on the house value anyway, unless market value rent was being paid to the children (without rent payments, it would be a 'gi with reserva on of benefit' and that means it would s ll form part of the taxable estate).
Local authori es would ques on why you put your home in your children's names. Unless you have a good reason, they can get it put back in your name to include it as an asset when calcula ng care fees. There is no '7 year rule' either. They can go back as far as they want to when looking at what they would call 'deliberate depriva on of assets.’
You should never trust anyone who isn't professional qualified to advise on important ma ers like this. Following advice from someone unqualified to advise could cause major problems down the line! If you have any ques ons about any of the points above, please do get in touch with us at A R K – call 01438 746977 or email info@arkpowers.com
Sumac Roasted Chicken
March is a funny month for us in the kitchen. There isn't any new seasonal produce besides blood oranges, purple sprouting broccoli and some nettles! On the meat front, there's venison and on the fish front, shellfish is beautiful right now. Cod, coley and a bit of hake are in abundance so we try and stick to the basics in the restaurant, buying the best possible produce we can and cooking it with love and care, maximising its natural flavours. So this month's recipe transforms the humble chicken into a Middle Eastern meal packed full of flavour. Most of the ingredients are readily available but as always, if you struggle to buy any of the ingredients listed, pop into the restaurant and we'll try and help.
Try and marinate the chicken in the morning, ready for the oven when you get home. This recipe will feed a family of 4.
For the Marinade
Ÿ 2 Tbsp Sumac
Ÿ 4 Cloves of Garlic (grated)
Ÿ 1 Tsp Chilli Flakes (optional)
Ÿ 1 Tbsp tomato puree
Ÿ 1 Tbsp pomegranate molasses
Ÿ Salt & Pepper
Ÿ 100ml Olive oil
Mix all the marinade ingredients in a bowl to form a smooth paste.
Ÿ A Whole Chicken (1.4 to 1.6KG in weight)
Try and buy a free-range chicken or at least a cornfed chicken. Spatchcock your chicken first. This will help cook the chicken quicker and it will be easier to portion once it's cooked. To spatchcock your chicken turn it upside down so the breasts are facing downwards and using strong scissors cut along the spine. Turn it back over and press down on the breasts to flatten the chicken. Massage the marinade onto the chicken ensuring you cover every inch of the bird. Roll your sleeves up and get stuck in! Leave it in the fridge uncovered until you're ready to cook. If you don't have time to do this in the morning then try and leave it to marinade for at least an hour.
When ready to cook your chicken take it out of the fridge for at least an hour beforehand to bring it up to room temperature. This will help ensure even cooking. Let's Cook
Set your oven to 190°C. Once up to temperature pop your chicken into the oven for 45 minutes.
Whilst the chicken is cooking we can prepare our garnish. I love using pulses at this time of year when seasonal produce is sparse. Chickpeas work well with this recipe but you can use anything you want. Borlotti beans, haricot beans, and lentils are a few examples
of things that would work well. For this recipe we're going to use cous cous as it's probably the quickest thing to make, it's low in fat and can take on all the different flavours you associate with the Middle East.
Ÿ 300g couscous
Ÿ 400ml chicken stock (you can use a stock cube if you don't have any chicken stock)
Put the couscous in a metal mixing bowl big enough to hold double the amount of couscous.
Boil 400ml of water in the kettle. Once boiled add it to the cous cous and wrap tightly with cling film straight away to allow the cous cous to steam. Leave it at room temperature for 30 minutes.
After 30 minutes, remove the cling film and gently fork the cous cous to separate the grains to form a light fluffy texture.
Ÿ Tsp of smoked paprika
Ÿ Tsp of sumac
Ÿ Salt & pepper
Ÿ A jar of roasted red peppers (drained & chopped)
Ÿ 100ml Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Ÿ A handful of mint leaves (chopped)
Ÿ A handful of coriander leaves (chopped)
Add the ingredients to the couscous and mix gently. Taste the cous cous before adding salt & pepper so that you don't overseason.
Once your chicken is cooked, remove it from the oven and leave it to rest for 10 minutes uncovered. After 10 minutes take a few spoons of the roasting juices and mix it into the cous cous. This will give it another layer of flavour.
Let's plate up
Spoon your cous cous onto a big platter. Cut your chicken into Eight pieces. Two legs, two thighs then cut each breast piece in half so that everyone gets a piece of white meat and a piece of brown meat. Lay the chicken on top of the cous cous and spoon on any resting juices in the oven tray over the chicken.
Ÿ pomegranate (cut in half and seeds tapped out)
Sprinkle the pomegranate seeds all over the serving dish and serve. For a veg element, you could serve alongside some steamed purple sprouting broccoli. Sit down at the table and enjoy a glass of rose, chardonnay or a cold beer alongside your meal.
I hope you enjoy making this super simple recipe. I'd love to know how your version turn out.
Kish
Eight. , Chef patron of
Please send your local snaps new or old to our facebook page or email info@onourdoorstepbaldock.co.uk
Baldock Town FC Women after a 6-1 victory over Wootton team.
‘Ward is Hydra' performing at The Orange Tree Kevin Thompson
Our neighbourhood Sparrowhawk had its lunch on our overgrown lawn .- Tim Felce
Jane Evans Photograpy
Frosty morning just outside Baldock Stuart Leader
Team Hunt Eco Power, excited for the beast
Jenny’s friendly visitor
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