Issue 62 December 2019
www.onourdoorstepbaldock.co.uk Baldock, Ashwell, Weston and surrounding villages
www.sunshinegardens-baldock.com
david@sunshinegardensbaldock.co.uk
Welcome To the December issue... We are almost at the end of the year and the end of the decade. What a year 2019 has been, from the scorching hot summer and endless events through the town to the political rollercoaster that we won't even begin to talk about! St Mary's School hosted an amazing firework display this year despite the wet weather. The whole sky was lit up thanks to Graham Tapp's generous donations once again. The Baldock Rotary Club will be starting to spread Christmas spirit over the next few weeks with their annual tour of Santa's Sleigh. You can spot the sleigh gliding through Baldock, Ashwell and Weston this year. To find out exactly when and where you can find it take a look back through our November issue for the full schedule or head over to our Facebook page. On Saturday 7th December Baldock High Street will be full of festive cheer as the Christmas fair sets up. There is set to be a huge marquee with a heated bar as well as a variety of street food stalls to tickle your taste buds. If you're feeling creative there is a gingerbread house competition you can take part in and lots of local craft stalls to pick up some gorgeous handmade gifts and treats. We're sure we'll see many of you there with a mulled wine in hand watching the local bands and the legendary G La Roche take to the stage!
Don't forget to send your letters to Santa nice and early, not forgetting to include your name and address so he can reply to you before the big day! Post your letters to Santa/Father Christmas, Santa's Grotto, Reindeer Land, XM4 5HQ. Shires of Baldock are collecting your ‘food advent’ boxes this year to share with those who need a little help this Christmas. Lastly we'd like to thank everyone for their continuing support throughout 2019. A special mention to our dedicated delivery who are out there come rain or shine, our awesome advertisers and to each and every contributor of articles and photos.
Paul & Jacqui info@onourdoorstepbaldock.co.uk or call Jacqui 07973 788418
Disclaimer All adverts and editorial are printed in good faith, however On Our Doorstep Baldock cannot take any responsibility for the content of adverts or services provided by the advertisers. Reproduction on whole or in part of this publication without prior permission from the publishers is strictly prohibited.
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Oh No It Isn’t Oh Yes It Isn’t Christmas just wouldn't be the same without that tradi onal yule de treat of a trip to the Panto! An exci ng ou ng for the kids, not to men on the Mums, Dads, Grandmas and Grandads, what be er way to fill that lull between Christmas and New Year than a visit to your local St Francis' College Theatre in Letchworth Garden City, for a truly entertaining show that's filled with fun for all the family. SPADS are well known throughout North Herts for their annual Pantomime and every year they come up trumps with a spectacular family show that's full of fes ve fun. This talented local amateur group have been pu ng on a Christmas show every year since 1956 - so they certainly know what they're doing! This year's show is Sleeping Beauty and
rehearsals are now well underway for this produc on, which brings another enchan ng fairy-tale to life. A terrible curse on the beau ful Princess's 16th birthday sets the heroine of this story into a deep everlas ng sleep - and only true love's kiss can wake the lovely Sleeping Beauty. With lively music, hilarious slaps ck comedy, oodles of audience par cipa on and a generous sprinkling of fairy magic, this upbeat Pantomime is a sparkling Christmas bonanza for all the family to enjoy… Oh yes it is! Performed at St Francis' College Theatre, Broadway, Letchworth Garden City, SG6 3PJ, Sleeping Beauty runs from Friday 27th through to Monday 30th December 2019, with two shows each day, at 1pm and 5pm.
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Tickets are just £8 for concessions and £12 for adults and can be purchased online at: cketsource.co.uk/spads Or in person at: Discover Letchworth, One Garden City, Broadway, Letchworth Garden City, SG6 3BF - next to Morrisons. Open Monday Saturday, 10am - 4pm. For more informa on, please call 0845 652 2478.
Copy Deadline for the January issue is 10th December Merry Christmas and thank you to all ou r Customers
'Lets get you ready for winter'
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Advice for Owners of Keyless Vehicles We are con nuing to receive reports from Her ordshire residents whose “keyless” vehicles have been stolen. If your vehicle uses a vicinity key, please follow the below advice. What is a vicinity key? If your vehicle has a vicinity key, you only have to be near the vehicle for it to detect the key's signal and unlock. The key's signal only has to be present to enable you to press a bu on to turn on the engine. Keyless the : how it works This is where a vehicle is stolen without the thief having physical access to the key. The crime can be commi ed without the thief entering your home. The thief can detect the key's signal from outside your home and use a signal boos ng device to “boost” the signal, making your vehicle think the key is nearby. You can see it here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=8pffcngjjq0
Protect Your Vehicle: Keep your vicinity key in a signal blocking pouch which stops the signal from your key. You can source suppliers of Police approved 'Secured By Design' RFID signal blocking pouches at: www.securebydesign.com/membercompanies/accredited-products-RFID Keep keys away from the front of your property; upstairs and hidden away is preferable. Check your Manual or with your Dealer if it is possible to switch the key's signal off. Check regularly for so ware updates for the car. For addi onal security, consider purchasing a steering wheel lock. If your vehicle has an alarm or immobiliser, ensure it is enabled. If your vehicle doesn't have a Tracker, consider fi ng one. Vehicles equipped with tracking devices are o en promptly recovered. Purchase devices to 'Thatcham' and 'SBD' approval. Herts Police
We were delighted to be able to hand over a cheque for £2,146.30 to Garden House Hospice. These funds have been raised by our students by walking the Greenway Challenge in the Summer Term plus some other ac vi es this term. Thank you to everyone who supported this – a wonderful achievement. Please can I ask that you send your child to school fully equipped for their school day. Making sure that all books are packed, a full pencil case and homework completed. This also includes having a suitable coat when the weather is cold. We will be keeping an eye on the weather and if it is too cold, we will allow the students in at lunch and break, but on the whole the students will be outside unless they are involved in a club or lunch me ac vity. Please be reminded that the school will be closed on Friday 29th November. In line with all other school in Her ordshire, this is our annual Occasional Day. Kind regards, Tim Litchfield - Headteacher
CHRISTMAS MENU 3 Course Set Meal £24.95 per head WELCOME DRINK A glass of Prosecco STARTER Hummus, Tzatziki, Halloumi,Pastorma & Warm Pitta Bread MAIN COURSE Mixed Grill for one Chicken Cubes, Lamb Cubes, Lamb Chop &Chicken Wings Mixed Seafood for one Tiger Prawns, Calamari, Swordsh Tuna Mixed Veg for one Aubergine, Courgette, Onion, Pepper & Mushroom Choose between: Saffron Rice or Sautee Potatoes or Oven Cooked Baby Potatoes Comes with Salad DESSERT Baklava or Ice Cream (vanilla, Chocolate or Strawberry)
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2019
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Saturday 7th December
2019
Christmas T ree Festival At St Marys Church Christmas T ree Light Switch On 6 pm
BALDOCK CHRISTMAS FAYRE Fun Fair Fd Stalls Crafts & Gifts Stalls Mulled Wine & Bar Live Music
High Street Communi Centre 11am - 4pm
Arts & Heritage Centre 11am - 4pm
Church Hall 11am - 6pm
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Me infmati www.baldockeventsfum.g.uk
DECEMBER
2019
Give Your Views on the Use of St Mary's Church Building!
Do you come into St Mary's Church? If so, you will know the wide range of ac vi es that go on there: talks, discussions and presenta ons, o en using our big screen; musical events, both ancient and modern, some mes using our majes c organ (recognised to be one of the highest quality in East Anglia), some mes using a few musicians and some mes a large orchestra; meals o en serving 50 people with hot food; cra s events and tours exploring the amazing heritage of the
building; and of course the much loved annual fixture of the Christmas Tree Fes val. And all this is in addi on to the main purpose of the building for Chris an worship. This leaves a sense of peace and tranquillity which many more people find helpful, coming in, in ones and twos, to find s llness and clarity of thought. “Building with Christ” You may know that we are part way through a major restora on of the building to ensure it remains the focal point of the town for the next 700 years as well as the last 700 years. We very much hope we may soon be able to complete the urgent external work on keeping the building water ght and begin to start on the interior. We need to make decisions about things like sea ng, visibility and walkways and, to do so, are developing a vision for the church building which we want to be owned by the whole community. What ac vi es would you like to see the church building used for? What guidance do you think is most important
for us to consider when we are thinking about the interior of the building? If you come into church for one of our major events over the next few weeks, you will be asked for your opinions. Which of these are most important for you when you consider St Mary's Church (given that the primary purpose is, of course, Chris an worship) Ÿ Accessibility and visibility Ÿ Tradi on and heritage Ÿ Mul -purpose and community use Ÿ Bap sms, Weddings and Funerals Ÿ A comfortable place to be for all ages Ÿ Unchanging There is also an opportunity to give your own sugges ons. We would very much value your opinion. You can also complete this consulta on on line by going to www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/TNBW7QW This is your opportunity to influence decisions about St Mary's Church. Please respond by 10th January 2020. Thank you very much! Andrew Holford - Rector
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Aaron Oyston December 27th.
Lots of Love Mum & Dad
Happy 17th Birthday TH
HAPPY 14 BIRTHDAY
OLI GEERE Love Mum, Dad & Isobel
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
IAN MORRISON 14th December
Lots of Love Cheryl, George & Eleanor
30
TODAY
Daniel Loriot 6th December
Lots of Love Rosie
All Boiler Maintenance, Serving & Repairs
Happy Birthday
Graham Tapp 5th December
All the Best from the Calvers 10
DECEMBER
2019
WINTER TIPS FOR YOUR PETS Winter is coming! Get ready for the cold weather, the short days and the Christmas risks with a few simple ps. Days get shorter and by mid a ernoon it's already dark out there. If you walk your dog it's advisable to use an highvis vest or a led-collar or some light to make your dog safer and easy to be seen in the darkness. For cats allowed to go outdoors consider a reflec ve collar, that can be easily opened if it gets caught somewhere. In winter me temperatures go down quite abit. Make sure your dog or cat stays warm, especially in the young or elderly ones, or if they have short hair. A sweater/coat can be considered in these cases. On frosted pavement remember that paws can be damaged, and some salt can be irrita ng for their pads. Check the paws regularly as your pet can get cuts/sore on these areas.
Then along comes Christmas, with the lights, the decora ons and the fes ve food! Keep your dog or cat away from the tree. (We know this is not always possible) Some dogs or cats might ingest pieces of decora ons (baubles, nsel, silver lame a) and it can be a serious problem, leading to intes nal obstruc on or perfora on. Also keep the fes ve food in a safe place: raisins, chocolate, grapes, sweets containing xylitol as they are toxic to cats and dogs. If they do eat any of them, seek Veterinary advice. Try to be as precise as you can, the vet will ask you the weight of your pet, amount and type of toxic food ingested (especially for chocolate). If the amount of toxic food is risky, then it's safes to induce vomi ng. The an freeze liquid is another winter risk. It has a sweet flavour, so pets are
very tempted to lick and drink it, and even small amounts can be very toxic. Keep any an freeze away from your pets, dry and dispose safely of any spills and if you suspect inges on contact your Vet as possible as in these cases me is of the essence. Finally, keep your pets safe during the fireworks. Their hearing is much be er than ours, they can get very scared, panic and hurt themselves running away. If your pet is scared by fireworks try to stay home and keep an eye on them, ask your Veterinary prac ce for advice about anxioly c medica ons for dogs and cats and find a safe room for him/her, make sure the curtains are drawn, and put the TV or radio on and turn it up a li le bit to deaden the sound from outside.
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DECEMBER
2019
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St Marys Chair of Governors Chocolate Tombola Baldock Youth Football Club, along with thier Events Manager Kerry, will be at Baldock Christmas Fair on Saturday 7th December. They have their own stall which consists chocolate tombola, to help raise funds for the football club. Any dona ons of chocolate or anyone free to help in the a ernoon on this day please contact events@baldocktyfc.co.uk Also look out for their Quiz Night on the 6th March and annual summer tournament on the weekend of the 27th and 28th June 2020. More details to follow. Baldock Town Youth now has a new website www.baldocktyfc.co.uk where you will find all the latest news and informa on about the club, including the teams, fixtures and upcoming events.
I have been a governor at St Mary's school for about 10 years and have found it a very rewarding experience. On Saturday 16th November, it was announced that I was a runner-up in the Her ordshire Associa on of School Governors Outstanding School Governor Award 2019. I am of course very proud to have received this recogni on, but equally recognise that the staff, parents and children at the school have all helped me be the governor I am. I always look forward to going into school as I am made to feel welcome and part of the team. If there is anyone in the community who thinks that they would like to give back something, then I can thoroughly recommend the role of a governor. Contact your local school to see if there is a vacancy and help to shape the future of our children. Rosemary Charsley.
KTS Hockey News Following on from the success last week when our senior girls became District Netball Champions…we successfully became senior District Champions at Hockey last Monday! We played St Francis first in a very close game with Maisie T scoring for KTS. The team waited pa ently to play Hitchin Girls knowing they needed to win in order to be District Champions. The team were fantas c against Hitchin and won convincingly 4-1, with brilliant goals from Anna W and Zara N. Congratula ons to all the girls who played and par cularly to Zara N for captaining the team to victory. The girls are all a credit to us, amazing team spirit and flair on the pitch. Well done to all the players.
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Local dancers from Gifford Dance Academy, who prac ce at Knights Templar each Friday, had the privilege of performing at Blackpool Opera House in November. A er coming first in their heats, they'd reached the Grand Final of Dance Challenge UK which is a huge na onal compe on and one of the very largest in Britain. They entered two rou nes this year and the 'Mini' team covering age 6 -11 years, are now the NATIONAL CHAMPIONS a er winning in the final and the 'mixed' age team took second place in the UK! They had never imagined that they would win and the dancers and parents were absolutely thrilled (as were their teachers).
The dance school was set up in 2015 by sisters Rebecca and Lucie Gifford who are not only trained as professional dancers but have also been gymnasts to na onal level. They danced alongside the mixed team and both dances were beau ful lyrical rou nes which included 'acro' giving their performances a unique edge. November was a fantas c month for the dancers as some of them were also fortunate enough to spend a day in London filming with Britain's Got Talent. This is the third year that 'Gifford' have been contacted and asked to take part in this way and of course it's a privilege and a huge compliment too. Having taken a group of dancers to perform at Disneyland Paris in the Summer as well, this has been a fantas c year for the Academy which is growing rapidly. Rebecca and Lucie believe that giving their dancers the opportunity to compete against some of the very best schools from all over the UK, challenges them and they are incredibly proud of what this year's team has achieved and the recogni on the Academy has received.
Ghosts, Ghouls & Goals! Had you wandered down to the KTS Sports Centre Astroturf to play football on Halloween you'd have been in for a fright! Baldock U8 Templars, Crusaders and Knights turned into ghosts, ghouls and zombies as the coaches laid on a Halloween themed training. The youngsters par cipated in spooky relay races around pumpkins, tombstones, zombies and witches, before playing 'Beat the Ghost!' and then a frightening football match! In other news, Baldock U8s have all made a fantas c start to the season and the boys are showing great improvement in their skills and teamwork. We're also really pleased to report that our refreshment stall has donated half of its proceeds over the past two weeks to support worthy causes – the Royal Bri sh Legion Poppy Appeal and Children in Need. Jason Pelle - U8 Manager/Coach
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DECEMBER
2019
n O s ’ t a h W Christmas Dinner Sunday 1st December - Mid-day - St Marys Church Christmas dinner with all the trimmings followed by Messy Church and Christingle Service - no need to book!
North Herts Arts Society Lecture Thursday 5th December, 11am -12.15pm or 2pm – 3.15pm Spirella Ballroom, Bridge Road, Letchworth. Free Parking – lift access Visitors £7.00
www.theartssocietynorthherts.org.uk Girlie Christmas Drinks Thursday 5th December 7pm at Pixies, High Street Baldock, Santa Canta 5k - North Herts Road Runners Saturday 7th December 8 am Norton Common Letchworth in aid of Garden House Hospice fancy dress is optional with a prize for the best costume.
The Orange Tree Baldock Saturday 7th December 7pm - 12am- Northern Soul Night Baldock Christmas Fayre Saturday 7th December. incl Christmas Tree Festival, All details are on page 8
Gourmet Evening Thursday 12 December - 6pm - 9pm Vintage Co HIgh Street, Baldock, enjoy a selection of cheeses, meats, breads and much more whilst you browse the Christmas Goodies. Tickets £14:50 vintagecobaldock@hotmail.com
Royal British Legion Christmas Social evening Monday 16th, 7pm December The Cock, Baldock
Exam Certificate Collection Afternoon Tuesday 17th December - The Knights Templar School Call in between 3.30pm—6pm School Hall and Dining Room. For all certificates from 2019 exams
The Soul Man- Christmas Party Night Thursday 19th December 7pm - 1pm The Broadway Letchworth
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Letchworth Christmas Farmers Market Saturday 21st December starting at 10am - enjoy a festive craft market with plenty of stalls to browse around and food to tantalise your taste buds
Midnight Mass Christmas Eve, come early to ensure a seat 11.15pm
Christmas Day 8am Traditional Christmas Communion 9.30am Christmas Day Communion for All Ages
Sleeping Beauty Pantomime Friday 27th - 30th December St Francis College Letchworth. A great night for the whole family, full details on page 5 If you would like to have your event included FREE in the next issue please email us at info@onourdoorstepbaldock.co.uk by 15th Nov 2019
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Sports News from St Marys It has been another successful month for St Mary's Sports. Our Boys A Team entered the pres gious 9 a side Wix Cup, which is a knockout tournament that runs throughout the year in Her ordshire. I am pleased to announce that a er being 0-2 down to Whitehill in the first few minutes, we came back to win 3-2 and book ourselves in the next round against King James Academy in Royston on the 16th December.
Our Year 4 Boys Football Team also entered a football tournament in Hitchin, where they came out as champions with stunning performances against Wilshere Dacre, Whitehill & St Thomas More. It wasn't just our A team and Year 4's
who have been busy playing football matches in the last month. We've had year 5 and 6 matches against the likes of Weston, Hartsfield and LGCA. With a total of 30 different boys playing, we ended up with an impressive record of 6 wins, 1 draw and 1 defeat. In other sports, our teams have performed admirably in basketball and boccia. In basketball, our final match was a decider against William Ransom, with the winners heading to the final. A er leading throughout and arguably playing the be er basketball, our team came unstuck and lost a close game. The children were really proud of their efforts and there were smiles all round. In boccia, we had a mixed team of boys and girls from every year group. They had a wonderful me playing the game and mixing with the other schools, and were awarded the Team Of The Day for their teamwork and sportsmanship. Our netball team have also started this school year brightly, winning
every match they've played in by impressive margins. Sport doesn't stop over Christmas. The boys and girls football teams have the County Finals to look forward to on Saturday December 7th, and there are plenty of other friendly football matches to be played too. Our Year 4's are going to busy too, compe ng in Mul -Sports Fes val and a Rapid Fire Cricket compe on. Sco Hagland - PE Teacher
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Baldock Gardens By Graham Tapp
December 2019 The end of October and the first two weeks of November were the wettest for a long time. I re-call September to November 1974 was the last horrendously wet season. We couldn't move the tractors around the orchards as they were like muddy lakes, we had to pick the fruit and carry it hundreds of feet to dry ground before putting the fruit into the bulk bins used to store them. As we farmed on the North Downs in Kent, we had lots of orchards on some very steep slopes, perfect for the sun to ripen the fruit, but incredibly dangerous in extremely wet conditions to harvest. Having said all that about the torrents of rain, the actual figures from the Environment Agency show something very different and shocking. It seems that all this rain hasn't gone anywhere near what is required as far as the groundwater reserves are concerned. Our borehole water level has only risen by ten centimetres so far; It has another 3 metres to go to get back to our average resting level. Environment agency figures provisionally show that at the end of October, our local area had a soil moisture deficit of 27 mm. In a perfect situation, we would need 27 mm of rainfall to achieve SMD 0 (zero). I will explain: Field capacity is the amount of water your growing media will hold after any excess has drained off. That situation is now a soil deficit of zero (SMD 0) that is the amount of water your growing media will hold against gravity. For example, if we take a flower pot full of soil and then water it, we will eventually come to a point when it is unable to hold any more water and start leaking, just at that point is what is called (SMD 0) or field capacity. Anything above that is called the saturation point. Some confusion arises when we start talking about saturation point. Saturation is when every pore within the soil structure becomes full of water, this can be, but isn't always the same thing; not all pores need to be filled to reach SMD0, something stopping the water running away causes saturation. Now, we may get 27mm of rain over the winter, and early spring, but that may not bring our SMD to zero as areas of the soil
may be compacted causing some areas to become saturated. Any excess will run away, causing local flooding. The soil below will still have an SMD between 0 and 27 and in need of some remedial work to correct it. Deep cultivation to break up pans and compactions, incorporation of humus and to stay off the land when wet. Hopefully, this will make clear to you what is going on when you hear farmers, allotment holders and gardeners complaining that they need more rain when it seems to have been raining cats and dogs for months. If we step back a bit, I said that with all this rain our Borehole had only gone up by ten centimetres if we do have an SMD of 27mm that indicates that there is not yet enough rainfall percolating through the soil into the chalk aquifer. To raise the groundwater level significantly, we will have to get near to SMD 0 or even saturation point. Until then, it is still being soaked up by the soil and not reaching the aquifer. This is not the whole story by any means as there is a considerable catchment area that feeds all of the local boreholes, and the water has to travel a significant distance before we get to see it. Other factors are at play affecting the level of the groundwater and not to be discussed here. I am hoping that those who have read my writings will remember that I am always talking about air-filled porosity (AFP). There is a complicated formula for working out AFP; it is the relationship between saturated water content and the water content, the very things I have discussed above. Porosity has a big part to play in plant growth. Generally, course soils or composts have bigger particles than those found in fine soils or compost. Common sense would have you think it's the same for porosity if you have large particles, the greater the porosity surprisingly this is not the way it works. The highest amount of porosity or overall pore space will be
St Johns
Tapps, The Baldock Garden Centre
with small particles. Permeability then has a relationship to pore space affecting root zone air, nutrients and moisture. (Moisture not water as that would imply saturation and flooding). You may now see why Garden Centres have different types of composts on offer. It is essential to have the correct medium for the plant you are growing, even for the stage of growth. Hopefully, you can now understand the effects droughts or floods can have on the plants around you. Air-filled porosity (AFP) is vitally important in plant health this may go a long way to you understanding why when you get back from holiday your plants look like they desperately need watering, even though they are soaking wet. The person you asked to look after them has watered them to the point of saturation two weeks of no oxygen to the roots and the bag of high nitrogen plant feed just in case, has killed them. Ten per cent AFP is the absolute minimum requirement before oxygen becomes restricted around the roots; severe damage occurs, and indeed their ability to function, even die. It is probably now becoming clear why I always talk about keeping off all parts of the garden in wet weather, especially your lawn Compaction is the worst enemy of a good grass lawn and the best friend of moss. Keep dry if you can, have a Merry Christmas and happy new year.
Cheers Graham
Contrary to popular belief, I love Christmas, I really do. What I don't like is the Three months of constant sell, sell, sell beforehand. From September it starts to rear its ugly commercial head, sneaking into a small corner of every supermarket then gradually spreading its solici ng wings shelf by shelf, week by week un l by the start of November it's taken over everything and there is no more escape. The famous Black Friday sale, which started off as one day in late November and was really great to catch a real bargain, has now started in October and although they call it a Black Friday Sale, it goes on for Four weeks and is not a sale at all. There are a lot of people who spend this me of year alone, lots that find it enormously stressful, and many that find it financially crippling. Which is why I really would like to see a ban on all things Christmas un l a er we have paid our respects on Armis ce Day. I just feel this would ease some of the pain for some of these people. Having said all that, here we are, December the 1st, full on Christmas, twenty-four days to go. This is when I allow myself to get a li le Christmassy, I finally except the inevitable and start to get a li le excited. Now that I have grandchildren it's so much be er. They have the ability to bring a real thrill to the event. Not just on the big day, but I really enjoy shopping for them. It takes
me back to my children's excitement and then further back to mine. I always preferred Christmas eve to the Big Day when my kids were young, I'd chuck them all to bed as soon as I possibly could, and when they finally went to sleep I'd haul out all the presents from their hiding places around the house, pour myself a generous slug of Baileys, cobble together a cheese board of sorts and get wrapping. I'd be there for hours cu ng, s cking and tying ribbons. organising stockings whilst listening to Phil Spector's Christmas CD. The quality of the wrapping diminished as fast as the bo le of Baileys. As a parent of Four, this was my me before the carnage, and I loved it. Christmas Day is mainly about the morning for me, the grand present opening ceremony at Five in the morning, my eldest was always the first one up, he'd wake up the whole house with he's shouts of “Santa's been”. He tried it once a Three O'clock! Having just gone to bed an hour earlier and s ll under the influence of said bo le of Bailey's, I was not best pleased with having to usher everyone back to bed and se le the house again. He s ll does it, he's is s ll the first one up, more excited than his kids. It's a li le less madhouse now my kids are adults and have their own homes and agendas. One year we had to wait to the
a ernoon to open the pressies because one of us had to be somewhere else, it killed me; Presents a er lunch! Unheard of and never to be repeated. Can you remember the days of old when we used to have only three television channels, when we weren't able to watch any thing we wanted to, when we wanted to? I recall that we used to gather as a family at my Aunty Pats house on Boxing day, the dads and uncles would be in the dining room playing Poker for the pennies that they had been squirrelling away for weeks in readiness for this special event. Mums and aunts would be in the kitchen cooking up a feast. Then at 3 o'clock, the big film, which always seemed to be a Bond movie. We'd all squeeze into Aunty Pats front room and watch in awe as Mr Bond seduced the lovely Pussy Galore (such innocent naugh ness) and bested the wicked, evil baddy. I remember when I was very young, and the Christmas day film was Disney's Peter Pan, us kids were glued to it, it was magical and s ll one of my absolute favourites of the Disney films. I suspect my mother spent that me in the kitchen with her feet up and a good bo le of sherry. However you choose to celebrate this yule fes val, or even if you don't, from my family to yours we wish you the most peaceful, safe and happy me. May the new year bring you good things. A full bo le, A full purse and a full heart. Merry Christmas (s ll a ny bit bah humbug though)
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22
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2019
FOMA - Fear of Missing Alocohol How would you deal with total abs nence of alcohol? the fears swirling in your frontal lobe ( the part of the brain that monitors the poten al outcome of our ac ons, as well as suppresses socially unacceptable behaviours) may be: life will become dull and monotonous, I'll lose my friends, people will think I'm a weirdo, must have a “problem” or worse, that I'm all judgy and superior, It will be impossible to 'switch off from work, holidays, weddings and birthdays will never be the same again, I'll never have a reason to get dressed up in an ou it! The idea of life without alcohol what would be the point of dressing up and going out!
Alcohol has been given the role of the ul mate social lubricant and bonding tool, alcohol for most of us is the fabric of our social interac ons whether we're at home, at work, or socialising, a glass of wine or beer is the universal code for 'lets connect'. Studies show that the quality of our rela onships is by far the greatest predictor of overall happiness, and suffer when our social bonds are threatened or severed. But the good news is just coming to realise that the only thing you miss out on by not drinking…is ge ng drunk. Ge ng drunk is just a simple act of altering our mental, emo onal and physical states which makes us less aware of surroundings and the people we're with and can lead to arguments, texts you regret, terrible sex and the morning a er feeling u erly awful. There are many benefits for stop drinking completely one of the first things you should see is improved energy levels. Regular drinking can affect the quality of your sleep making you feel red and sluggish as drinking disrupts your sleep cycle. Drinking less alcohol can also have a posi ve impact on your appearance as it causes dehydra on which makes your skin and eyes to look dull and lifeless. Your liver will definitely thank you for no alcohol intake. If your worried not drinking will make you stand out at par es or in bars, mocktails are a great way to blend into the crowd if FOMA kicks in. Using Hypnosis combined with other techniques improves thought processing building confidence in a fast and effec ve way helping to create changes in your general a tude towards yourself and your current life situa on enabling you to go out and enjoy yourself alcohol free Kim Holloway – www.total-therapy.co.uk
DECEMBER
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5 minutes with... ...Kim Holloway Tell us a li le bit about yourself I am an ac ve 59 year old with two daughters, 3 grandsons I live in Sandy with my beau ful Cavachon dog which keeps me on my toes. I enjoy walking, keeping fit and photography How Did your career start as a hypnotherapist? I have always been interested in alterna ve and holis c treatments, back in 1999 I lived in Stoke on Trent and worked in the Po ery Industry and as the industry was in decline the government gave grants to retrain and I used mine to learn holis c treatments such as reki, massage, hopi candles and Indian head massage which I really enjoyed as there was so much sa sfac on seeing an improvement of the health of clients, this lead me into wan ng to help the state of mind and hypnotherapy seemed the perfect solu on. What is hypnosis and can anyone be hypno sed? Hypnosis is a natural state of mind characterised by an extraordinary state of relaxa on (physically, mentally and emo onally) by a heightened awareness and focus, and by an open responsiveness to sugges on. Hypnosis is a perfectly normal, natural state of mind that everyone is in every day of their lives. When you become engrossed in a book, television programme or daydream, you are in this same state of mind. Your awareness is highly focused to the exclusion of all else. This relaxed highly focused state of mind generates the brainwave state known as alpha state. When you fall asleep at night, alpha is the state of mind you are in right before you fall asleep. You can also be in a deep state of alpha right a er you fall asleep before you dri down into the theta brainwave state - the state of mind where sleep occurs.
Alpha is also the state of mind most associated with hypnosis. Most people can by hypno sed if they want to be, some people will enter hypnosis rapidly and easily while others may need a li le preliminary work and prac ce to help them let go and relax. *What condi ons can you treat? Absolutely everything from stopping smoking, weight loss, Anxiety and stress along with all the symptoms associated with it, fears and phobias, depression, confidence and self esteem issues *Probably your most asked ques on..... Will it work? It's like anything in life you have to work at it, I give powerful sugges ons to the subconscious mind to help make the changes but the session always involve talking about how you are feeling and how you can overcome the nega ve thoughts and there is homework to do in between sessions, if you put the effort in and you will achieve your desired goals and will have amazing results. *What has been your biggest success story so far? Every client is a success story, I have immense pride when I see clients changing from one session to another, whether it is some one giving up smoking a er 40 years, or dropping 5stone in weight, or being able to fly to New Zealand when they couldn't even turn up at an airport, it is not all down to me but the effort the clients put in to lead a happier healthy life. *How has it changed your life? It definitely has changed my life I o en prac ce self hypnosis when I'm feeling challenged or have a difficult decision to make, I'm far more posi ve and relaxed and see life with much more clarity and perspec ve.
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2019
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DECEMBER MOVIES DECEMBER 11th - JUMANJI -The Next Level In Jumanji: The Next Level, the gang is back but the game has changed. As they return to Jumanji to rescue one of their own, they are joined by Spencer's grandpa Eddie and his friend Milo have taken over two of them. With the grandpas in tow, they must find and rescue Spencer while facing a whole new set of murderous obstacles. But kids who enjoyed the action and humour of the first film will likely want to see this one, too
DECEMBER 19th - STAR WARS The director has been tasked with bringing four decades of the most popular and longest-running sci-fi franchise of all time to an epic conclusion. It’s been more than a year since the events of 2017’s The Last Jedi and the First Order has decimated the Resistance. Rey has been training to use the Force. Finn and hotshot pilot Poe Dameron have been sent by General Leia Organa to find allies throughout the galaxy.
DECEMBER 20th - CATS Oscar winning director Tom Hoope transforms Andrew Lloyd Webber ’s record-shattering stage musical into a breakthrough cinematic event. Cats stars James Corden, Judi Dench, Jason Derulo, Idris Elba, Jennifer Hudson, Ian McKellen, Taylor Swift, Rebel Wilson and introduces Royal Ballet principal dancer Francesca Hayward. Featuring Lloyd Webber’s iconic music and a world-class cast of dancers under the guidance of choreographer Andy Blankenbuehler.
DECEMBER 26th - PLAYING WITH FIRE The hero of the movie, Jake Carson, is forever pointing out that he’s not a firefighter. He’s a smokejumper, and with the help of his quirky crew, Jake drops from helicopters to put out forest fires. Jake’s hyper-regimentation is challenged when his crew lowers him into a burning cabin. He finds three children huddled in the blaze and takes them into his care at the station. Immediately, the kids, ranging in age from toddler to teenager, make themselves too much at home.
DECEMBER 26th - LITTLE WOMEN Writer-director Greta Gerwig has crafted a Little Women that draws on both the classic novel and the writings of Louisa May Alcott, and unfolds as the author’s alter ego, Jo March, reflects back and forth on her fictional life. In Gerwig’s take, the beloved story of the March sisters – four young women each determined to live life on her own terms -- is both timeless and timely. The film stars Saoirse Ronan, Emma Watson, Florence Pugh, Eliza Scanlen.
DECEMBER 26th - SPIES IN DISGUISE Super spy Lance Sterling and scientist Walter Beckett are almost exact opposites. Lance is smooth, suave and debonair. Walter is not. But what Walter lacks in social skills he makes up for in smarts and invention, creating the awesome gadgets Lance uses on his epic missions. But when events take an unexpected turn, Walter and Lance suddenly have to rely on each other. And if they can't learn to work as a team, the whole world is in peril.
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DECEMBER
2019
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HO HO HO! Why Laughing is good for you We all enjoy a good laugh and at this me of year there can be quite a lot of it about, unless you are the Bah Humbug type, Christmas usually helps to increase the giggles and it's not just a consequence of the odd pple or two! I completely understand that it can be trauma c and very emo onal for some. But I want to focus on the belly laugh, the chortle, the ho ho ho's and find out if laughing is actually good for our 'elf (sorry!) Children can laugh as much as 40 mes a day; you will have all seen how a baby can crack up over something as simple as peek a boo but us miserable adults grow up and lose our sense of humour and laugh as li le as 15 mes a day and for some, I think that's being generous! I think that we could all do with a bit more laughing in our lives; it's one of the best feelings ever, it's very contagious and can bring people together, but, it's not only great for us socially it really does have health benefits: Ÿ It helps with stress managementLaughing reduces stress hormones like cor sol, adrenaline and dopamine, these hormones can all have a nega ve effect on our health if they are present in the body over long periods of me.
It's a workout! - When you have a really good belly laugh your diaphragm gets a workout session, your abs contract and expand, similar depending on your laughing technique, your shoulders are worked out too! So, if you can't get to the gym over the Christmas break have a good laugh to keep those abs ght instead! Ÿ Improves your cardiac health Laughter gets your heart pumping and burns a similar amount of calories per hour as walking at a slow to moderate pace, walk and laugh and well, you're laughing! Ÿ Boosts T-Cells - T-cells are our superhero specialist immune system cells that are wai ng for ac va on, when you laugh you ac vate them to spring into ac on and fight infec on. So, next me you feel a sniffle coming on don't reach for the cold relief meds; watch a comedy show instead! Ÿ Releases endorphins - These are our feel good hormones which can help with pain relief and make you feel good! Ÿ Promotes a general sense of wellbeing Research has shown the people with a Ÿ
posi ve outlook on life tend to fight disease be er than people who are nega ve, so the key to a long life could be to laugh more! These are all great reason to smiling more and so I thought I'd help you on your way to a happier healthier you by sharing with you my favourite Christmas cracker jokes… *What happened to the man who stole an advent calendar? He got 25 days *What is the best Christmas present? A broken drum, you can't beat it! *Why are pirates called pirates? Because they arrrrrrr! *What's round and bad tempered? A vicious circle *Why is it ge ng harder to buy Advent calendars? Their days are numbered! *Kim Jong Un will play Santa this year in the South's annual pantomime... He said he fancied a Korea change! *What goes ha ha ha clonk? A man laughing his head off! And, the best ' ll last.. *What did the inflatable headmaster say to the inflatable boy who went on a rampage with a pin? “You've let me down, you've let the school down but worst of all, you've let yourself down” “Happy” Christmas everyone, have a laugh with family and friends, seek out the comedy shows on TV but make sure you avoid the Soap Operas at all costs because they are guaranteed to undo all the benefits of the laughing, happy hormones in 30 minutes!! Brandie - Knights Templar Gym
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be simple and you may risk injury or aggravate exis ng health condi ons. No ma er how unfit you are, even if your last bit of exercise was the egg and spoon race at school, we'll help you. Having a quick skeletal check with an Osteopath to avoid an injury is a good place to start. Our Sports Massage Therapist can help too, with exercise advice and massage to prepare you for your chosen ac vity. The start of every journey begins with the first step and there is one thing we can all do and that's walk! Nordic Walking is one of the fastest growing ac vi es in the UK and is recommended by the Government's Chief Medical officer (and our Osteopaths), as an excellent way to improve muscle func on, balance and fitness. Its's easy to learn, non-compe ve and everyone can do it at their own pace. Give us a call to book with our Bri sh Nordic Walking Instructor, and rest easy over Christmas knowing that you are going to be fi er than ever in 2020 by simply walking.
Support to Sport in 2020 There are people that are mad for sport and addicted to working out, but if you are not one of them, then ge ng fi er in 2020 may not be on your agenda. We've all been there – joined an exercise class and the person next to you bends double while you are s ll thinking about it. Amber Health treat elite athletes and all kinds of sports people, helping them to maintain fitness and recover from injury with Osteopathy and Sports Massage. But we also see people who don't exercise and know that they need to fit some sort of exercise regime into their lives to prevent health issues developing in later in life. Ge ng started if you don't do any exercise currently, can seem hard. Advice given is o en to park at the other end of the supermarket or walk instead of taking the bus. All great stuff, but if you are carrying a few extra pounds and get out of breath easily, then making these adjustments may not
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- KNITTED NATIVITY SCENE with stable all funds raised will go to the Bri sh Heart Founda on.
Tickets (50p) for sale at Baldock Country Market (Friday mornings in the Victoria) from 8th November un l draw at 11:30am on Friday the 13th December. Na vity on show and raffle ckets on sale at Baldock Christmas Fare 7th December in Community Centre and Weston Fair on 24th November.
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Slimming Wld Recipe Supplied by
Sandra Lloyd
Chunky Root Vegetable Hot-Pot A hearty one-pot dish of meltingly tender root vegetables cooked in a tomato-based stock.
Ingredients Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ
1 red onion, peeled and roughly chopped 4 celery sticks, roughly sliced 500ml vegetable stock 2 garlic cloves, peeled and thinly sliced 3 turnips, peeled and roughly chopped 2 carrots, peeled and roughly chopped *2 parsnips, peeled and roughly chopped 3 medium potatoes, peeled and cut into bitesized pieces 60g yellow split peas 2 x 400g cans chopped tomatoes 300g small button mushrooms 2 rosemary sprigs Salt and freshly ground black pepper Freshly chopped flat-leaf parsley, to garnish (optional)
Method 1.Place the onion and celery and half of the stock in a large saucepan. Bring to the boil, reduce the heat and simmer for 10 minutes. 2.Add the remaining stock along with the garlic, turnips, carrots, parsnips and potatoes. Bring back to the boil and add the split peas, tomatoes, mushrooms and rosemary. 3.Bring the mixture back to boil once again, reduce the heat, season well and simmer gently 20-25 minutes or until the vegetables are tender. Sprinkle over the chopped parsley, if using, and serve immediately
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We sell direct from the farm our own Free Range Bronze Turkeys and Barn Reared Chickens fresh for Christmas. Having arrived on the farm as day old chicks in July they are allowed to reach full maturity
HAPPY 10th BIRTHDAY
JACK COLES
Christmas Eve Happy Birthday
MATT GEERE 30th December Loads of Love Tara, Isobel & Oli XX
TEDDY
Have a fantastic day, love Nanny & Grandad Chapman 18th December
HAPPY 1ST BIRTHDAY YOU
DINOSAUR! Happy 30th Aaron
21st December
Love Mum, Dad, Jordan &Charlie
Happy Birthday
Izzy Alvarez
Lots of Love Mummy, Daddy & Marcus
20th December 30
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2019
R.H GARDEN DESIGN The Garden Specialists Some of our many services offered include:
rich.humphreys@btinternet.com T: 01462 612033 M: 07738 246568
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Regular maintenance Garden Make-overs Jungles tamed Patios Fencing Turng Planting Articial grass Decking Driveways Pressure washing of patios and drives
LAWN CUTTING HEDGE CUTTING LANDSCAPING PATIOS
ASHWELL
WESTON DECEMBER
2019
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The children at Weston Way Nursery have been very busy recently; Ÿ Making firework pictures using a variety of cardboard tubes and lots of brightly coloured paint. I think you will agree the finished pictures are very effec ve and worthy of a place on the front of any fridge in the kitchen. Ÿ Christmas cards are being made by all the children in their colour groups. We have some snowmen, penguins and reindeer to name just a few of the designs. The cards are then printed professionally and the parents have the op on of buying mul ple copies to send to family and friends. Ÿ Mrs LaRoche's memorial garden had a dy up from some members of staff and is now looking neat and dy.
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Peekaboo photographers are coming to the nursery next week to take individual photographs of the children. Ÿ Our recent fundraiser took place over the half term holiday. The children and their families were tasked to find items on a treasure hunt and collect some sponsorship. We are hoping to put the proceeds towards an interac ve touch screen for one of our classrooms. We are about to add up all the money raised and will let you know when we have a final total. The nursery is hos ng an Open Morning on Saturday 23rd November from 9.30-11.00am everyone is welcome. Applica ons for September 2020 can be made online, via our website, a er the Open Morning. If you have any ques ons, please feel free to contact the school. Ÿ
Autumn camp is my favourite, even if it's cold! We get to cook our own meals, have fires and there's always some exci ng new way of crea ng something (hopefully) edible that Deb has taught us. This year, Camp was in Bromham, at the Leslie Sell Ac vity Centre. We did loads of fun ac vi es, including crate stacking and axe and saw workshops. We also learnt how to use the Dutch Ovens to make pizza, which was delicious! The leaders also made an amazing cheesecake for everyone. We played manhunt on the field both evenings as well, which was very energe c and fun. On Saturday night we had a bonfire with another troop that was camping too, where we sang a few songs and showed each other some new campfire sketches. I really enjoyed Autumn Camp this year, and I would definitely recommend Scouts to anyone, as it is so much fun, and never boring! Beth McC, 1st Baldock Scout Troop
Why Not Try Judo Baldock Community Centre
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Courtlands Riding Stables & Pony Club Centre Always fancied horse riding but don’t know where to start? Why not come down and have a chat and see what we have to offer Our friendly staff and clients are always around Saturdays and Sundays 9am -12pm
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DECEMBER
2019
33
November Gallery
Please send your local snaps new or old to our facebook page or email info@onourdoorstepbaldock.co.uk
Perfect wintry morning at Hartsď€ eld school, - Cath McLeod
Remembrance Sunday - David Chapman
Dexter and Ozzy, They arrived separately both unwell and remain in an enclosed garden Nadia Picard-Cook
A very spooky Guilio McEwan An other brilliant halloween. 150 sweets gave out with a toy.
Frosty morning! - Paul Dixon
Duchess of Sutherland approaching Baldock. - Matt Porter
Baldock Town Youth members enjoying Halloween
Rotary club installing the xmas lights
Members of the Gifford Dance Academy
Squirrel Proof they said Laurence Browne
Thor enjoying life Donna Jacquet
Osca enjoying his walk at Weston woods - Mia Lloyd
Baldock 1st cooking up a storm at their Autumn Camp
Fluffy tailed Baldock resident - Margaret Dellar
Amazing ď€ reworks display, St Mary's School, Baldock Ryan Edwards
HARTSFIELD RAISE £1830 Our School Councillors were busy selling merchandise in the run up to Children In Need Appeal on 15th November. We were fortunate that Pudsey was able to visit us and children enjoyed mee ng him on the playground and in their classrooms. A big thank you to everyone who contributed, we are pleased to have raised £1830.00 for this worthy cause including our non uniform day. Our student ambassadors are proudly showing our school to parents of children due to start in Recep on classes next September. This is a great responsibility for them and an opportunity to showcase what children love about our school. If any families with nursery aged children are looking at school op ons, please do look at our school website www.hartsfield.herts.sch.uk for dates of the school tours.
Christmas is a very exci ng me in schools with our choirs prac cing new and favourite songs and teachers organising fes ve performances for children to present to their parents. By the me you read this, The Friends of Hartsfield will have held our Christmas Fair providing lots of fes ve fun for families and fundraising opportuni es to benefit the school. Thank you to everyone involved in this event.
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Baldock is used to Baldock & Clothall WI hos ng a Champagne A ernoon Tea as part of the Baldock Fes val. However, this year, we also decided to put on an Autumn Coffee and Cake morning, on 19 October, for people to just drop in. Inevitably, there were lots of different cakes on offer. One complaint was 'which one do I choose??'. Not such an issue once we said they could come back for another piece! Considering it was the morning of the England v Australia rugby match we had a steady stream of customers. Any le over cake, and there wasn't a lot, was donated to Providence Court, a residen al care home in Baldock. Thanks to all those who came along on the day. And watch this space to see what we come up with for 2020.
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DECEMBER
2019
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2019
People of Her ordshire, Bedfordshire, and surrounding areas - we need your help! Let's all work together to make a difference this Christmas. Emil Dale Academy are hos ng our 4th annual 'Spare Chair' Christmas event for elderly people in our local communi es. This is aimed at people who are deemed alone and who may not have immediate friends or family to celebrate the fes ve season with. This will be our fourth year of hos ng the event. This years Spare Chair is dedicated to Julian Smith, who a ended the day in both 2017 and 2018. He is unfortunately no longer with us, and his daughters kindly donated money towards the day taking place this year. The 2019 Spare Chair event is on Friday 6th December from 13:0016:00 and this year is dedicated to Julian Smith, a previous Spare Chair guest who has unfortunately passed away.
We will be providing our guests with a full Christmas dinner, dessert, and beverages. Our Academy students will also be performing some numbers! We would really any help towards spreading the word around this fantas c day. We have previously been very lucky with the generous dona ons from families and friends of Emil Dale Academy, providing each guest with a present to take home. This year, we are also looking for dona ons and volunteers as well as people coming together to support this event. We want to welcome as many people as possible. Please spread the word - it's me to step up! We are located in Hitchin, Her ordshire 60 Wilbury Way SG4 0TP. We have spaces for 80 people to join us, and lunch will be held at 13:00. If you would like to get involved with our Spare Chair Christmas Project, all you need to do is email info@emildale.co.uk with SPARE CHAIR 2019 in the subject box or call us if you or they do not have access to email, one of the team will be happy to help. Let's all make this Christmas the most giving one yet.
Baldock Rotary recently recognised the excellent work that Andy Saunders undertakes in his role as Street Cleansing Opera ve in Baldock. Through Andy's diligent work, effort and enthusiasm for over 35 years Baldock residents have benefited from a cleaner town than would otherwise be. Andy commented how pleased he was to have received the recogni on and went on to say that although cleaning in Baldock had not changed significantly over the years he did say that fast food li er had increased substan all. Well done Andy you do a great job. Let's ask all our residents to take as much pride as you in keeping Baldock as clean as possible. Rotarian - Paul Lucke
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Useful numbers Advice Citizen’s Advice Bureau Trading Standards Advice Samaritans
03444 111444 0300 300 8136 116 123
Councils 01462 474000
North Hertfordshire District
Doctors 01462 892458
Baldock Surgery
Dentist 01763 313869
Victoria Place Dental Surgery
Emergency Utilities 0800 111 999 0800 7838838
Gas Emergency Electric power cut
Hospitals Lister Hospital Queen Elizabeth 2 EMERGENCY HEALTH
01438 314333 01707 328111 111
Library Baldock Library
0300 123 4049
Police 01707 354000
Police
Schools Knights Templar Hartseld St Johns St Marys Brandles
01462 620700 01462 895267 01462 892478 01462 892347 01462 892189
Travel Arriva Buses National Rail Enquires National Bus line
08701 201088 03457 484950 0870 6082608
Vets Baldock Veterinary Centre
01462 895579
Nurseries Weston Way Nursery Merry Go Round
01462 892172 01462 896322
Play Groups 07709 618434 01462 896322
Magic Moments Merry Go Round
Plumbers Maben PE James
07949 120911 07816 586777
Window & Door repairs JML Windows Repairs Warrens Windows
01438 906300 01462 261401
Florist 07747 195325
Blooms of Baldock
Barbers 01462 895002
Micks of Baldock
Locksmith 07737885528
Lock and Glaze
Airport Taxi 07555 707848
Greenacre Transfers
Funeral Directors 01462 491149
Shires - CPJ Field Balodck
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www.gallery1066ďŹ neart.com
AND VIEW THE FULL RANGE OF OUR PRODUCTS
Come along and view our full range of products on display in our new show room. Kindlelight’s friendly staff will be on hand to assist with any queries. Everyone is welcome. Ample parking and refreshments available.