Your FREE copy
DELIVERED TO 11000+ HOMES/BUSINESSES ACROSS BEDFORDSHIRE
Issue 25 December 2020
Inside Win
£25
Seasons Greetngs
Also inside
Local Christmas Messages Kid’s Got Talent Scene By You
2
Wishing all our readers a Merry Christmas & Happy New Year
Competition Winner
november a big well done to:
paul cuthbert Who was the closest to spotting the hidden drone pilot in last month’s photo & won £25. See below for last month’s location
NOTE FROM THE EDITOrS Ho Ho Ho! A big, warm welcome to our festive edition of LivingLife magazine! It’s really difficult to comprehend how we can be coming to the end of another year, but what a strange year 2020 has been, a very difficult year, some might even say a year This cover that month’s we should be photo glad towas see captured Kate McBurney the back of,byhowever, no matter (John’s wife) during angets, evening how challenging life it is stroll acrosstothe farmers fields important keep positive and look forward to things ahead. near Henlow Village. CompeComing up Winner in this month’s tition magazine we have the latest instalment of our Beautiful Bedfordshire Gardens feature and this time we visit Shirley & David’s garden in Lower Stondon, a truly fascinating garden on a miniature scale! We also get to meet Jorja Crookes, who is this month’s Kid’s Got Talent, she’s a thirteen-year-old dancer from Campton School of Dance.
| Andrew Martin |
JULY
Get in touch with us: We would love your feedback on what you enjoyed about this edition, and of course, any areas where we could improve.
01462 414265
admin@livinglifemagazine.co.uk
DISCLAIMER
The opinions expressed in LivingLife magazine do not necessarily reflect those of the editors, publisher or their agents. Whilst every reasonable care is taken to ensure the accuracy of information included within this publication, the publishers take no responsibility for any errors or omissions in LivingLife Magazine. The content is not to be reproduced in any form without permission of the publisher.
| John McBurney |
Our cover photo this month was captured during last year’s Christmas Lights Switch-On event in Shefford. It brings back fond memories, but also some sadness, as unfortunately we cannot celebrate in the same way this year, however, we can still go out and enjoy and appreciate Shefford’s fabulous Christmas Lights. So, as we approach the festive season, we have a message from everyone here at LivingLife Magazine: to all of our readers, advertisers, followers and supporters, we wish each and every one of you a very happy Christmas and we hope you all enjoy a super break.
Kind Regards, Andrew & John
Please pass to a friend, recycle or compost after reading.
Don’t forget to mention LivingLife when contacting advertisers
3
TABLE OF CONTENTS
6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 21 24 26 29
ppc Candidate pledge beautiful bedfordshire gardens kid’s got talent artisans in the yard diddy directory DIARY OF A PUB OWNER CREATE, RECORD, RELEASE CHRISTMAS MESSAGES YOUR PETS AT CHRISTMAS SCENE BY YOU DECEMBER CROSSWORD SPOT THE DRONE PILOT
16
4
Wishing all our readers a Merry Christmas & Happy New Year
Don’t forget to mention LivingLife when contacting advertisers
5
Crime & Policing
Contribution thanks to
Festus Akinbusoye
Conservative PCC Candidate pledges on new Police Contact Hubs
www.fest4bedspcc.co.uk enquiries@fest4bedspcc.co.uk
C
onservative PCC candidate Festus Akinbusoye has announced that if he is elected as Bedfordshire’s next Police and Crime Commissioner in May 2021, he will create a number of new Police Contact Hubs in the larger market towns where there are currently no police stations or desks. This initiative is in line with one of his key campaign pledges, to bring back policing into our communities. Commenting on this initiative, Conservative PCC candidate Festus Akinbusoye said: “A key priority of mine if elected as PCC for Bedfordshire is to bring policing back into our communities so residents can talk to a police staff or community police officer in-person. By working with local partners and investing in these walk-in Contact Hubs, we can ensure residents and local businesses have a more positive experience of police service in our county.” The Police Contact Hubs will be located in high visibility locations such as on the High Street, and will be staffed Tuesdays to Saturdays from 10am to 6pm. Festus believes the new Police Contact Hubs will serve Bedfordshire residents in several ways: - Provide visible police presence and reassurance in the communities. - Create a welcoming space for community policing officers to meet residents. - Report crime and provide intelligence - Follow up on reported crimes - Provide witness statements - Hand in lost items A similar space currently exists in Bedford Town Centre which is paid for through the local business district management. The new Police Contact Hubs proposed by Festus will be funded in partnership between the Office of Police and Crime Commissioner and local agencies. The Police Contact Hubs is one of Festus’s response to the conversations he has had with residents across Bedfordshire, who frequently told him that when they have raised an issue with Bedfordshire Police, they got no response, there was no follow-up, they have no idea what has happened with the intelligence provided, and no one showed up to collect CCTV footage of a crime. These Contact Hubs will therefore provide a solution to these problems while also placing policing in the heart of the community. Commenting on this initiative, Conservative PCC candidate Festus Akinbusoye said: “By bringing policing closer to residents through our Police Contact Hubs, and investing in the retention of our officers, we will be able to improve our response to residents’ needs, whether it is an emergency, a complaint or following up on a crime report.” 6
Wishing all our readers a Merry Christmas & Happy New Year
Don’t forget to mention LivingLife when contacting advertisers
7
garden
Beautiful Gardens of Bedfordshire
Shirley & David, Mayfield Crescent, Lower Stondon
Check out all the photos on our blo g
www.livinglifemag
azine.co.uk/blog
Discovering beautiful gardens in the local area. Welcome to our latest instalment of beautiful gardens. This time we were kindly invited to visit the fascinating garden of Shirley & David who live in Lower Stondon. With summer a distant memory we focus our attention onto more unusual gardens, not so much flowers and colour, but gardens that offer a unique twist, and this garden does not fail deliver, a delightful model village that would make any head turn. Shirley & David treated us to a guided tour and whilst we captured photographs Shirley explained the history behind this amazing collection of miniature houses. “The miniature houses were originally located elsewhere in the garden of one of the houses in our road. Sadly, the elderly lady who owned them passed away and her son did not know what to do with the collection; he did not want to see the collection end up a skip, so we decided to help out and take on the main bulk of the collection. The collection was split up, there is also a castle and an additional church which are located elsewhere. The miniature houses were built some time ago by the elderly lady’s deceased
8
Wishing all our readers a Merry Christmas & Happy New Year
husband. They are made from concrete and as such are very heavy, but built to last, although they do require repair and maintenance and we now spend our time repairing the roofs and the windows, and repainting the walls. Do I have a favourite aspect? No, not at all, I love all of them. Our neighbours also love our miniature village, and children on their way home from school, they love to look at them, especially at night when the lights are on.”
A professional, friendly, local gardening service making your garden somewhere for you to enjoy • Seasonal pruning & maintenance • Lawn care and weeding • Planting for seasonal interest • Composting and mulching for garden health • Gardening to encourage wildlife Claudia McCullough mulberrygardening.co.uk 07907 303130 Don’t forget to mention LivingLife when contacting advertisers
9
Welcome to our monthly feature: ’Kid’s Got Talent’ The place where we showcase the amazing talents of local children. We hope this will help motivate and inspire other children to discover new sports and hobbies.
Jorja Crookes age: 13 from: campton Name:
Q. Briefly explain your talent I’ve been dancing since I was 4 years old. I started with ballet lessons which then led to the addition of tap. I’ve also enjoy trying new dance styles. Q. When do you practice, with who, and for how long? I go to dance classes on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday- as well as doing dance lessons at school. Mondays consist of Ballet and Modern, Tuesdays consist of Tap, and Wednesdays consist of Ballet and Modern again. Q. What do you love about dance? I love that dance gives you freedom and you can let out all of your emotions and worries through it. Whenever I get upset I can put on some music and dance to it and it makes me feel better. I also love the environment that dance provides as it’s like a second family to me and it’s so easy to make friends. Q. Are you a member of a dance club/class? I am a member of Campton School of Dance, run by Lynda Miah. Q. What is your dance teacher like? My dance teacher is really friendly and encouraging. She gives me lots of opportunities and supports and guides me through my upcoming future. Q. In terms of dancing, what are your goals/dreams/visions? I would love to become a dance teacher when I’m older so I want to do whatever I can to get there. I would also love to have my own studio. Q. Can dancing be dangerous? Do you ever get injured? You should always learn to dance with a qualified teacher who knows what they’re doing and follow their advice when it comes to keeping yourself safe. Some dance moves can be more complicated than others but I wouldn’t say that dance is a dangerous sport. Q. Do you enter exams or perform in shows and have you ever won prizes? The Campton School of Dance puts on a show every couple of years for all the dancers to perform in. I really look forward to these shows as we get to perform in front of a large audiences. I also take exams at the end of every grade which you can score either Distinction, Merit, Pass or Does your child have an amazing talent? if so, please get in touch at admin@livinglifemagazine.co.uk Fail. 10
Wishing all our readers a Merry Christmas & Happy New Year
Don’t forget to mention LivingLife when contacting advertisers
11
local art
Contribution thanks to
Adrian Goulding
WE HAVE A LUCKY WINNER!
the new Manager of
Artisans in the Yard FB@Artisansintheyard
W
e have a winner! Delighted that Shefford resident Marion Young, came up lucky with our customer Prize Draw run during the summer. She has been presented with Yvette Jordan’s beautifully shaped rainbow heart picture full of butterflies and sparkle which was kindly donated at our reopening after the initial Covid lockdown. Thank you Yvette, congratulations Marion, plus Artisans in the Yard is also donating £100 to Shefford Good Neighbours to say thanks for those helping our community. Recent feedback and comments from visitors to our gallery are most encouraging, and we shall be delighted to welcome you all back Shefford’s Little Secret after current lock down ends start of full of unique gifts December. Our paintings, sculptures, @ 44 High Street turned wood, ceramics, fabrics, and Call 07909 876400 new jewellery will definitely fit the or browse bill for your Christmas shopping. artisansintheyard.com NEW opening date - THURSDAY 3RD DECEMBER and each Thursday, Friday and Saturday until Christmas. 10 - 4 as usual. STOP PRESS: We need an Artisan Jeweller to exhibit work at our Gallery and possibly become our Resident Jeweller.
12
Wishing all our readers a Merry Christmas & Happy New Year
Don’t forget to mention LivingLife when contacting advertisers
13
The
14
Diddy
Directory
the guide to local trades & businesses cost effective, contract free advertising
Book your advert today - visit www.livinglifemagazine.co.uk/diddy
ÂŁ20 ÂŁ30 1 Area
2 Areas
15
local support
WHERE DO I BEGIN?
Railway Steamer landlady has high hopes of Saving Christmas!
Contribution thanks to
Anne Bowen Railway Steamer www.railwaysteamer.co.uk 01462 814414
M
y relationship with the Railway Steamer started back in the winter months of December 2019. We already had history, it was like getting back together with an ex, only slightly more tolerable. I knew from the get-go it would be a tough journey given the pubs history, and many people told me it was a bad idea, but I would not be me if I didn’t love a challenge. Within the week, with a few helping hands, we worked tirelessly cleaning and painting the interior. I knew the locals loved the pub and I hated the thought of them being torn away from this place any longer than needed, so the exterior was put on hold and I spent the coming weeks/months getting to know the people that held this place together. It is crazy to believe I only had one staff member working at the beginning, and at times that was a stretch. I believe the unfortunate past of the pub pushed many residents away which killed the footfall the pub so desperately needed, and at times found myself feeling disheartened that people kept to the opposite side of the road, avoiding a place they should have loved to walk into. I made it my mission to correct previous mistakes and build the Railway Steamer into a place for all to enjoy and feel safe. Unfortunately my mission didn’t sail too smoothly, I ran into one of the biggest hurdles any business has had to face in 2020. The Covid-19 pandemic swept in with no warning and by March the country was in lockdown which meant the closure of the pub. Like most people I had my moments of worry. What would I do? How will I keep this place going? All questions no one really had the answers to. The country was in panic mode, shops were raided for their essentials; loo roll and flour became gold dust and many people were falling short of food supplies. That was when I decided to set up shop, as a business I knew I had supplies to source the essentials people needed. I dragged the garden benches out front and created a street-side market selling everything from razors to halloumi cheese. Oh, and a bucket load of flour which went down like a storm, on one day selling 500 bags! This became my new station, I posted up every day to help those in need. Although the circumstances were an outcome of an unfortunate time, it gave me the opportunity to meet the residents of Shefford and create friendships who went on to become a great support system for me. It also gave me the time and opportunity to tell all about the changes I had made to the pub and encourage people to once again visit their revamped local once doors would finally re-open. For all of the community’s continued support, I cannot thank you enough, and as we continue through this second lockdown please bear in mind I will help any and all that I can. In the midst of the first lockdown I had to prepare the pub for a socially distanced re-opening, and 16
Wishing all our readers a Merry Christmas & Happy New Year
our garden made way for our new cosy garden pods. With protective covers, cushions and lighting, they gained us some popularity with people visiting from many places to wine and dine in our magical garden. Now, as the second lockdown continues through the winter months, we are working on saving Christmas! We are currently creating a winter wonderland right here at the Railway Steamer. Out back, with helping hands, a winter marquee is being built. Nestled inside will be the pods and additional seating areas (all socially distanced of course) sitting nicely within what we hope will look like Santa’s back garden. Laced with decorations and a mound of Christmas spirit, we hope to save Christmas 2020.
“Deck the marquee with trees and holly fa la la la la, la la la la.” On top of this, we are on the search for the Railway Steamer’s next best Santa Clause. By any means necessary we are ready to provide the children with a visit from the jolly fellow, we know what the joy of Christmas can mean to people and their children, so we hope to give you a bit of Christmas comfort and give this annual tradition, although not a lot, a little bit of normality. Also, if you are in the mood to give the old PVC Christmas tree a night off this year, we will also be selling real Christmas trees that you can pre order for delivery, please enquire for details. The Railway Steamer is now home to a staff count well above the lonely number it started at, with its new growing reputation I find myself calling more staff in rather than sending them home early. Our brand-new menu and popular Sunday roast dinner, all of which is available for take away, has proved to be gaining in popularity with regular people coming back for more. We absolutely adore seeing new faces and families walking through the doors and it also goes without saying, there is a huge amount of love for our regulars who have
now become like family. I think it’s safe to say we’ve changed the history of the pub, and in such a short time it has now become a place where residents can be proud of, a home our mascot Jack the dog can be a part of, and a pub I’m proud to be the landlady of.
#SaveChristmas2020
To help support Anne, go to
www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/save-railway-steamer Don’t forget to mention LivingLife when contacting advertisers
17
MUSIC
CREATE, RECORD, RELEASE
by Steve Coxon
E
veryone has a song inside them, waiting to be released, but how do you free the words and melody that are whirling around inside your head and heart? I’ve spent a lifetime listening to great songs that can make me dance or cry, happy or sad, give me hope or lead me to despair. But after hearing all those songs, have I learnt any lessons about what makes a song work, and did I have it in me to produce one myself? I’m no musical expert, I can barely sing in tune and it’s painful to hear me play an instrument but over the past year I have tried to answer that question, and the process has brought me a lot of joy. I have found videos on YouTube that have guided me through the process, and groups on Facebook that provide support and feedback when I struggle, and an app called GarageBand in my iPad that lets me play any instrument like I’ve been having lessons for years. This is the process I followed to create my most recent song, September Sun. First, I find a chord sequence that pleases my ear. The chords I used on this occasion were the same chords John Lennon used in ‘Imagine’, fortunately chord sequences aren’t copyrighted, and the most popular ones are used in thousands of different songs. As I mentioned, GarageBand has a smart instrument feature that plays the chords for you in a variety of styles, so I use the app to add drums and other instruments until I have a backing track and a rough song structure of verses and choruses. Lyrics next, my theme was ‘growing older’, so I grabbed a pen and paper and gave myself a couple of minutes to write as many words and phrases linked to that idea, then I grouped them into little verses. A neat trick is to try and start each verse with the same or similar words, because this is pleasing on the listener’s ear. With my lyrics and backing track sketched out, I play the track again and again until I find the melody that fit the words. I have a microphone that I plug in to my tablet, but you could just use the one that’s built in, so I stand in my dining room and record my vocals, goodness knows what the neighbours think! Some collaboration at the end, when my friend TOMIK did a little tuning and production to make everything sound professional. Finally, I send the song via a free distribution service who release it to the streaming world! If this idiot can do it, anyone can. Let me know how you get on! 18
Wishing all our readers a Merry Christmas & Happy New Year
Don’t forget to mention LivingLife when contacting advertisers
19
FESTIVE THANKS
20
Wishing all our readers a Merry Christmas & Happy New Year
FROM OUR ADVERTISERS
Don’t forget to mention LivingLife when contacting advertisers
21
PETS & ANIMALS
PETS AT CHRISTMAS
Contribution thanks to
Dr. Dan West
BVetMed MRCVS Elizabeth Smith Veterinary Practice Ltd
W
e all enjoy treating ourselves over the Christmas holidays, but as the decorations go up and our fridges start to fill, it is important to remember that some of our favourite festive snacks can be harmful to our furry friends.
Grapes and Raisins:
These can be found in a number of Christmas foods – mince pies, Christmas cake and pudding, cheese boards. They can cause potentially fatal kidney failure in dogs, and unfortunately there is no specific toxic dose, so ingestion of any amount should be treated as an emergency. Additionally, the foil trays with mince pies could potentially cause gastrointestinal (stomach & intestines) damage or even blockage.
Chocolate:
From advent calendars to Quality Street, chocolate is a staple of many of our Christmases. However, it contains a chemical called theobromine, which is toxic to dogs. The toxicity is related to cocoa content, so dark chocolate and cocoa powder pose the highest risk. The most common symptoms are vomiting and diarrhoea, but ingestion of large amounts can cause cardiac and neurological signs.
Leftovers:
It may be tempting to give the leftover turkey to your dog, but be careful as cooked bones can easily splinter and get lodged in - or even puncture - the oesophagus or gastrointestinal tract. Eating large quantities of leftovers, likely cooked in oil or fat, can easily cause vomiting and diarrhoea, or a more severe gastrointestinal upset called pancreatitis. Leftover food should be disposed of well out of reach of dogs, as ingestion of older, mouldy leftovers can cause severe seizures.
Alcohol:
Whether it’s booze-soaked cakes or mulled wine, there can be quite a lot of alcohol around the house at Christmas. Dogs are more sensitive to its effects than we are, and so keep it well out of their way. Cats generally tend to be slightly more discerning eaters than dogs, but there a still a few things to be mindful of over the Christmas period.
String/ribbon/tinsel:
It might look cute to see a cat playing with a ball of string, but this can be potentially very risky. A piece of string or ribbon can get wrapped around the tongue and lodged in the throat, or may get trapped in the stomach or intestine causing a serious blockage. Hopefully these tips will help you to avoid any unexpected emergency visits to the vets over the holidays. 22
Wishing all our readers a Merry Christmas & Happy New Year
Don’t forget to mention LivingLife when contacting advertisers
23
SCENE BY YOU Your chance to share your favourite photos
Submit your photo for the next edition www.livinglifemagazine.co.uk/myphotos
1 4
2 5 A big thanks to this month’s submissions
3 24
1
Chris Mills
2
Debra Christoforou
3
Linda Parcell
4
Nisha Clarke
5
Kate Baker
Winter Arlesey Old Moat Toadstool at RSPB Sandy Grebe reflection It’s Raining, Ducks- Hallelujah! Clifton Pond Fungi in Arlesey
Wishing all our readers a Merry Christmas & Happy New Year
Don’t forget to mention LivingLife when contacting advertisers
25
puzzles
The December edition
CROSSWORD Answers on P30
26
Wishing all our readers a Merry Christmas & Happy New Year
Don’t forget to mention LivingLife when contacting advertisers
27
NO
Stamp Duty
up to
ÂŁ500,000 21
until march
28
Wishing all our readers a Merry Christmas & Happy New Year
Spot the Drone Pilot
Win
£25
It’s competition time! The drone pilot who captured this image has been magically removed from the photo, can you deduce exactly where he is positioned? Place a cross (‘X’) where you think the drone pilot is standing (just like ‘Spot the Ball’ puzzle), then take a photograph of this page with your phone or device and submit your entry here: www.livinglifemagazine.co.uk/drone Close date 15/12/2020. Only 1 entry per person. Judge’s decision is final.
Don’t forget to mention LivingLife when contacting advertisers
29
christmas spirit
A CHRISTMAS MESSAGE FROM ALL AT ST. MICHAEL AND ALL ANGELS
I
t has been our custom to hand deliver Christmas greetings to all the businesses in Shefford. It has been an important part of church life and we were saddened when the decision was taken not to do so this year. In the current climate it was felt to be unwise. However, looking for hope and opportunity in these difficult times and with the co-operation of LivingLife Magazine, we are delighted to be able to wish not only the businesses but also all residents of Shefford‌
A Peaceful and Blessed Christmas.
30
Wishing all our readers a Merry Christmas & Happy New Year
Don’t forget to mention LivingLife when contacting advertisers
31