February 2018

Baldock legend Ruby taken by Margaret Dellar

Issue 41 February 2018

Raising awareness of what’s on & where to find things locally

www.onourdoorstepbaldock.co.uk Baldock, Ashwell, Weston and surrounding villages

Welcome To the February issue We hope you all had a great start to the new year.

Thank god ‘Dry January’ is finally over! Congrats if you managed the full 31 days without breaking, I'm sure many of you have been looking forward to Retox Feb. I wonder how many of us have stuck to our New Years resolutions this far too?

NHDC have started sending out letters and a few signs have been pinned to lamp posts etc. regarding the outline planning applications for the new houses planned for Baldock. Remember to fill in the form with your feedback and send it in by 14th February. You can’t stop them from building but you can have your say regarding how they are going to impact on the town.

But before we get hung up on all the cheesy festivities Shrove Tuesday is on the 13th this year and is quite frankly a much more exciting day all round in my opinion.

I like to stick to a classic lemon and sugar topping on my pancakes but I'm sure our youngest will find something much more adventurous for hers, last year she opted for popping candy chocolate spread!

Why not burn off those extra calories with a half marathon? After all, the Baldock Beast returns at 10am on the 25th Feb... I'm not much of a runner myself but I've heard that the Beast truly lives up to its name! This year's event is being organised by Richard Harbon who also coordinates the Standalone 10k so you're in safe hands. If you're not running why not pop along and show

your support, if you snap a great picture be sure to send it in and we could feature it on next month this Gallery page.

We've had lots of submissions for February's Baldock Gallery, we've moved from snowmen to nature watch!

Some incredible pictures sent in that you can take a look at on page 32. Keep sharing your snaps as the months go on!

Finally the Fireside Festival is returns again this month, if you didn't make it there last year here's a brief rundown of the event. From the 21st February through till 3rd March there will be a different show almost ever day at local venues including Dawn French at the Broadway Theatre. Tickets and further info can be found on the Fireside website.

Paul & Jacqui info@onourdoorstepbaldock.co.uk

Jacqui Calver 07973 788418

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Rotary Club Seeks New Gardens to Open 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, 20th May. Generally, the 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!

However, it does 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 is beginning to a ract 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 01462894603 or e-mail janet.hammond4@b nternet.com Rotarian - Paul Lucke

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HAPPY BIRTHDAY

YOU TART DANIEL TRAVERS 2nd FEBRUARY

Happy Birthday

Rich Stark ‘The Caravan King’

60 HAPPY 31ST BIRTHDAY

PARTY PAUL

Love Helena and the Dean Gang Happy Birthday Clive Giddings

Love from Rongo from Norfolk xxx 6

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FEBRUARY

2018

Valentine's Day & Self Esteem Many of us struggle to live to the ideals we on TV, in adver sing and on social media.

That's why for many people, whether they are in a rela onship or not, days which are supposed to celebrate love and togetherness can only highlight how different, alone or low we feel which increases low self esteem.

Our self-esteem is how we see ourselves and how much value we see ourselves having. If you have low selfesteem you may feel like you dislike yourself, like you're worthless or no one likes you.

Days like Valen ne's Day can be difficult because there are a lot of portrayals of unrealis c and idealised

SHUTTER PROMOTION

rela onships to measure yourself up to, and therefore a lot of way you can feel you or your rela onships are not good enough.

I Cri cise myself in a way I wouldn't dream of doing to others! Sound like you? Hypnotherapy is one of the most effec ve ways to boost your confidence and self esteem, it will help you to teach yourself to recognise nega ve self talk, se ng yourself some challenges and taking care of yourself.

Having li le self belief can stop you from living the life you want to live, if you think your low self esteem is impac ng on your life try these few ps.

Think about what is affec ng you self esteem Ÿ Avoid nega ve self talk Ÿ Learn to be asser ve Ÿ Set yourself a challenge Ÿ Focus on your posi ves Just changing a few things in life can start the journey of improving your self esteem and when your self esteem is high you find that any social anxie es you may have felt will start to disappear too.

Kim Holloway at Total Therapy

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Baldock Beast Half Marathon

The very popular Baldock Beast half marathon is back.

Star ng at 10am on Sunday 25th February 2018 from the Wallington Road, Baldock the challenging but immensely enjoyable race will see almost 500 runners of all abili es take on the toughest hills of North Her ordshire.

This is the 7th year of this community focussed events with many members of the Baldock Community running, marshalling, helping with baggage, cooking burgers or just cheering the runners on.

The 13 mile race is all on quiet country lanes taking in the villages of Wallington, Roe Green and Sandon before returning to Baldock. If you are not running but out about please take me to cheer the runners on. If you are driving on the course, please watch out for the runners.

If you would like to run, please enter soon as it is ďŹ lling fast.

If you can ďŹ nd me to help out, please contact Richard Harbon on 07496 367275.

For more informa on go to. www.baldockeventsforum.org.uk/baldockbeast

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Busy Baldock Beavers The Beavers have returned from their Christmas break, ready and raring to go for to get stuck into the new spring term.

Before we broke up for the holidays the beavers were ge ng ready for the fes ve season. Over two evenings the Beavers made their wonderful Christmas-tree decora ons - brussel sprouts!! These were done using layers of felt squashed into a ball. The Beavers then expertly gave the sprouts a crown and a pair of googly eyes. The sprouts looked very 'unique' amongst the trees in St.Mary's Church Christmas tree fes val.

The Beavers also had their annual Christmas party on the last evening before we broke up. Like every year, they all enjoyed themselves singing Christmas songs and beaver songs. The infamous snowball (scrunched up pieces of newspaper) game made its return much to the delight of the beavers. The refreshing snack of jelly and whipped cream was also well received away from the blood, sweat and tears of the games and the fes ve singing.

Another highlight from last term was the evening when the Beavers drew upon their inner 'Mary Berry' to skilfully make some delicious fridge cake as part of their cookery badge.

However, it is probably safe to say that the leaders and helpers didn't appreciate the state of the tables a er the beavers had ďŹ nished their baking!!

John Goward, D of E helper

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Keeping your pets in shape

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We all love our pets and we like to give them li le treats, but this does not help with their weight. (As just like us they can put it on easily) and being overweight can have las ng consequences and in some case's can be fatal.

There are studies that show overweight dogs do not live as long and are more prone to illnesses, it changes their quality of life and they can get condi ons such as arthri s, heart problems, breathing diďŹƒcul es and diabetes, so you have to be aware of all this and be cruel to be kind as they say as we all want our pets to live for ever.

If you start when they are young, and not give lots of treats and s ck to their food rou ne it will help with their joints as they are growing up, always give your pet the minimum amount for their body weight as directed on the packet.

Try not to keep changing their foods or give them human food or this might turn them in to fussy eaters which can be a problem long term. If your pet is pu ng on weight you can always call in to the vets and ask for a calorie controlled food which they will be happy to advise you on.

Exercise is always good for animals, whether it be going for walks, or buying toys such as balls, laser pointers or s cks to keep them interested and ac ve, and also just simply stroking your pet and giving them your a en on, as this lasts longer than food and strengthens your rela onship with them.

'Help your pets stay in shape for 2018'

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a p p s Our pick of this month’s must have downloads Scrubbies - IOS & Android An experimental app by Google, that lets you easily manipulate the speed and direc on of video playback to produce amazing video loops that highlight ac ons, capture funny faces, and replay moments.

Mirror Emoji Keyboard logo - IOS & Android Want your own personal emoji? It’s easy and faster with Mirror Emoji. Take one selfie and the app does the rest! You can post it anywhere facebook, whatsapp, snapchat, instagram, or even iMessage!

SnapCalc - IOS & Android Just snap a picture of a math problem, and voila — the answer is displayed on your screen. From algebra to calculus, the app has solu ons to a wide range of topics - and it recognizes handwri en problems too!

Cinegraph - Living Photos - IOS A cinemagraph is a s ll photo that has a part of it moving, crea ng that trippy “it's a clip but it's not” effect. This app lets you quickly and easily create such media.

Haven: Keep Watch - Android Haven turns any Android phone into a mo on, sound, vibra on and light detector. For people who need a way to protect their personal spaces and possessions without compromising their own privacy

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Transcend DrivePro 230

A superior dash-cam packed with features This type of device demands simplicity of use, and the DrivePro 230 excels in this area. It simply is a 'plug-in and go' solu on which aside from the obvious safety and legal comforts provides a vast amount of other features which make driving that li le bit less stressful.

At around £136, the Transcend DrivePro 230 is excellent value for money, with a high quality device providing excellent video quality with an enormous amount of added features.

For more tech news, reviews and comment visit Ma Porter - The Gadget Man www.thegadgetman.org.uk

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It's been a while since I ventured to Scotland and back in the Tesla Model S. During the trip we had the opportunity to test lots of technology.

It was par cularly comfor ng to have the DrivePro 230 in car camera along for the trip, providing us with the added comfort that should anything unpleasant happen during our 1200 mile trip, we would have full audio-video documenta on to refer to.

Dash-cam's have become an essen al gadget for drivers over the last few years, providing evidence in road traffic accidents and thus being referred as an IEW or Independent Eye Witness by the Police, but also by providing addi onal features to make the drivers experience safer and legal.

The Transcend DrivePro 230 is as feature packed as any Dash-cam currently available currently. Aside from packing at Sony Exmor™ image sensor to capture 1920x1080 video at 30FPS which offers excellent lowlight video capture with the able assistance of the F/2.0 wide angle lens.

A aching the camera to your windscreen using either suc on or adhesive mounts. The camera also packs a GPS receiver and synchronises your geographical posi on to the video using Transcends PC, Mac and Phone Apps.

On the rear of the camera is a 2.4" colour LCD screen and remote display is also possible via Wi-Fi to phone app.

Obviously, this is targeted for use by passengers of the car.

The package comes with a very long MicroUSB to 12v car power adapter which charges the camera whilst driving and with the on-board ba ery, it can be configured to con nue to monitor the car in 'Parking Mode'. silently monitoring it's field of view for movement and then recording this movement for later review.

Aside from the 'quick record' bu on, the camera also packs an emergency recording feature which also prevents overwri ng of recorded video when the included 16GB MicroSD card fills up. In normal mode the camera records in chunks of video and gradually overwrites the oldest video files enabling con nuous recording for as long as your journey takes. Other safety features included are Lane Departure Warning System (LDWS), Forward Collision Warning System (FCWS), driver fa gue alert and headlight warning system (when light condi ons begin fail.

The camera also comes with speed warning se ngs which will audibly warn you when you exceed the set speed limits set within the camera.

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Fireside Fes val is an event of storytelling, drama, comedy and spoken word. Born from a desire to bring the best of Edinburgh Fringe and London theatres to North Herts for our community to enjoy, Fireside's mission is to delight, surprise and entertain through accessible live performance for all ages, at really reasonable cket prices. The majority of Fireside events take place in the Baldock Arts and Heritage Centre, Baldock Town Hall which only seats 120 people so the experience is in mate.

This year we have booked two family shows from the fringe fes val, Tales of the Cockatrice and for the nies, Oskar's Amazing Adventure.

For those of you who are interested in Climate Change, David Woollcombe, who has worked with Al Gore's founda on will be giving a talk.

There is a free event for children being held in Baldock Library where storyteller Nell Phoenix will tell a cracking tale. And later at The Red Lion, Weston she will host an event where any of you who want to have a go can spin a yarn. Local students from North Herts College are pu ng on a show called Blank about the effects on children who have a parent in prison.

And for those of you who want Comedy, George Egg is returning with another sell-out show and Tom Neenan is bringing a hilarious piece in which he plays David A enburgh on a hunt for Big Foot. Also you can catch a new double-act, Siblings (who are actually Ruby Wax's daughters), with a very funny sketch show.

Finally there are two plays, one about Be e Davis performed by Chris ne St John, and an award winning two-hander which took Edinburgh by storm from In Tandem theatre company.

Tickets are available from www.firesidefes val.org Please come and support this annual fes val and enjoy ….

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Every Wednesday 10-11am at the Community Centre

Forty Plus Cycling Club Thursday 1st February. A Ride Out To Harpenden Followed By Lunch For More Info Contact Geoff on 01582-618196

LIVE MUSIC - Bean & Biscuits Sunday 11th February 3.30pm - 6pm, Hen & Chickens

Half-Term Football Fun Tue 13th - Thu 15th February. Super fun football courses on fantastic 3G pitch at The Arena, Norton Road, Baldock

The Soul Man Saturday 17th February 7pm - 10.30pm at the Broadway Hotel & Restaurant, Letchworth.

The Premier Knebworth Barns Wedding Fair Sunday 18th February from 12.30pm and 2pm Held in the historic and contemporary Barns at Knebworth. A wonderful Wedding Fair that brings together over 50 leading wedding professionals.

KIDVENTURE Monday 12th- 16th February at Knights Sports Centre.

During school holidays enrol your children on our Kidventure. Full day or half day places available. There are a variety of sports and activities being played each day..

LIVE MUSIC - The Dukes Of Earl Sunday 18th February 3.30pm - 6pm, Hen & Chickens

Fireside Festival Wednesday 21st February - Saturday 3rd March.

Fireside Festival is an event of storytelling, drama, comedy and spoken word, which brings the best of Edinburgh Fringe and London theaters to North Herts for our community to enjoy. The majority of Fireside events take place in the Baldock Arts and Heritage Centre, Baldock Town Hall which only seats 120 people so the experience is intimate.

George Egg - DIY Chef (Comedy/Standup) Saturday 24th February, Baldock Arts and Heritage Centre, Baldock Town Hall. Part of the Fireside Festival, following 2 sell out years at the Edinburgh Fringe with his first show Anarchist Cook.

Baldock Beast Half Marathon Sunday 25th February, Old Wallington Road. Start Time 10am. For More Details Contact Richard Harbon 07496367275 or www.baldockeventsforum.org.uk

Baldock Town Youth Football Club - Quiz Night Friday 2nd March At St Mary's Church Hall 7.30pm 11.30pm £10 Per Person. Trophy And Prizes For The Winners Teams Of Up To 6 People Please Contact Kerry Thrower For Details Kerrythrower@hotmail.co.uk If you would like to have your event included FREE in the next issue please email us at info@onourdoorstepbaldock.co.uk by 16th Feb 2018.

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Spring and Beer Cans Two sides to the same picture : nature and human impact.

At the Friends of Baldock Green Spaces conserva on task on 14 January, we discovered signs of spring: snowdrops in bud near the carpark and beau ful hazel catkins in the laid hedge overlooking the springs but also 4 sacks of rubbish – 2 being full of recyclable material such as cans and plas c bo les – and scores of bags of dog poo le around .

But FOBGS want to show human impact doesn't always have to be nega ve to the environment– I suppose that's what makes our volunteers turn out- though the social meet up is good fun too! As we plant trees, repair no ceboards, install benches and bird boxes, li er pick , thin woodland and maintain hedges and keep paths clear by hand, we spot li le things in nature – eg the hidden snowdrops, the giant reeds, dark red catkins as well as usual yellow catkins, the evidence of deer, the flee ng sight of a bu erfly or a buzzard – and recover our sense of wonder and desire to know more about the nature around us, plus it's great being outdoors!

Maybe you'd like to join us on a task – every 2nd Sunday of the month from 10am-3:30pm for a couple of hours stepping outside your day to day life? All are welcome (children with adults please): our next task is 11 February at Weston Hills, meet Woodland Way at 10am.

More info on our FB page Friends of Baldock Green Spaces or from Phil 07817 801616 Katrina Nice

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Spruce Up Your Home in 2018 with a New Carpet New Year - New Décor

They say knowledge is power. Perhaps. But most certainly, when it comes to But most certainly, when it comes to carpet styles, knowledge is in valuable, because the number of carpet choices, pa erns, colours, textures and price points can in midate even the most experienced shopper. Knowing the basic styles can provide you with a firm founda on upon which to begin your carpet-shopping journey. The bo om line is this: choosing the ideal carpet style is all about knowing the right combina on of aesthe cs, performance and budget that meets the needs of your lifestyle – emphasis on you. So check out the following and let us help you learn all about the carpet styles that will be right at home in your home Carpet Pile Carpet pile is broken down into the type of pile and the length – roughly into deep and short pile to describe long fibres or shorter ones. However, length isn't the only key factor in deciding on the pile of your carpet because the construc on of that pile can also affect the so and snuggly feel of the carpet.

To choose the right carpet for your home, you need to understand what the features of the most common piles are and how they work in prac cal terms in the home. Both deep and short pile carpets come in different types that are be er suited for different purposes.

Cut Pile Carpets This is generally a short pile where each fibre is slightly twisted and is some mes known as velvet or velour carpet. It has a more luxurious feel than some piles but can also leave marks where regular foot traffic or vacuum cleaners move.

Cut Twist Pile Carpets This is a twisted pile that heads in different direc ons and is generally a short length. It is very hardwearing and keeps its finish well so is ideal for areas where there is a lot of foot traffic while the textured finish means it is less likely to show signs of tracking or shading.

Loop Pile Carpets As the name suggests, the fibres are looped rather than straight and this is a very hardy style of carpet with short fibres that makes it ideal for high traffic spots as it doesn't show footprints. You can also get mul -level loop pile that has various heights and some mes pa erns that is also extremely durable.

Luxury in the right places While you can put deep pile carpets in high traffic areas of the home, you will always want to remember that over me, they can fla en somewhat with the pressure being applied to them.

However, for less high traffic areas such as bedrooms and dining rooms, deep pile carpets offer an excellent degree of luxury and comfort. You will want to walk around barefoot to feel these carpets beneath your feet!

Bleach cleanable carpets Some carpets are just made for modern life! There are few great manufacturers of carpets out there that really understand that life happens, spills happen, and they have created these

amazing bleach cleanable carpets that are incredibly resistant to stains making them extremely good value for money and incredibly easy to look a er. The great news is that these stain resistant carpets come in a range of colours and styles so can be used in any room in the home. But beware of choosing a deep pile in high traffic areas as they tend to fla en.

Beautiful Wool Carpets Wool carpet have always been the so est and most durable carpets on the market for a great many reasons. Along with its natural so ness, and warmth did you know that a wool carpet is also naturally stain resilient?

In today's modern world where stains and spills are common in busy family life, having a wool carpet means stains can be quickly dealt with, with items you have to hand in your home with no coverings available as they are great quality, stain resistant and last a long me in any home, while s ll looking and feeling great.

Underlay Finally choose the very best underlay you can afford. A high quality underlay will not only give a real so feeling and bounce underfoot it will last the life me of your carpet. Don't be fooled by a cheap alterna ve they can vary so much.

For more advice on choosing the best carpets for your home call into FINESSE INTERIORS 41 High Street, Baldock. SG7 6BG. Tel. 01462 896046

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FEBRUARY MOVIES FEBRUARY 2nd - DEN OF THIEVES A Los Angeles crime saga in the vein of "Heat", Den of Thieves follows the intersecting and often personally connected lives of most feared elite unit of the LA County Sheriff's Dept. and the state's most successful bank robbery crew as the outlaws plan a seemingly impossible $120 million heist on the Federal Reserve Bank of downtown Los Angeles.

You choose a side.... the Outlaws or the Regulators

FEBRUARY 2nd - WINCHESTER Dame Helen Mirren is dipping her foot in the horror genre After the sudden death of her family, firearms heiress Sarah Winchester becomes convinced that she's haunted by the souls of those killed by guns. Winchester then decides to build an enormous mansion that's designed to keep the evil spirits at bay. When skeptical psychiatrist Eric Price visits the estate to evaluate her state of mind, he soon discovers that her obsession may not be so far-fetched after all.

FEBRUARY 2nd - ROMAN J. ISRAEL, ESQ. Set in the underbelly of the overburdened Los Angeles criminal court system. Denzel Washington stars as a driven, idealistic defense attorney whose life is upended when his mentor, a civil rights icon, dies. When he is recruited to join a firm led by an ambitious lawyer George Pierce (Colin Farrell) and begins a friendship with a young champion of equal rights (Carmen Ejogo), a turbulent series of events ensue that will put the activism that has defined his career to the test.

FEBRUARY 9th - THE 15:17 TO PARIS This is the latest movie from Clint Eastwood, which tells the story of real-life heroes — and this time he’s got the actual men playing themselves. On August 21, 2015, Anthony Sadler, Oregon National Guardsman Alek Skarlatos, and U.S. Air Force Airman First Class Spencer Stone thwarted a terrorist attack on a Thalys train bound for Paris from Brussels. Their friendship never wavers allowing them to save the lives of the more than 500 passengers on board

FEBRUARY 14th - THE SHAPE OF WATER Elisa is a mute, isolated woman who works as a cleaning lady in a hidden, high-security government laboratory in 1962 Baltimore. Her life changes forever when she discovers the lab's classified secret -- a mysterious, scaled creature from South America that lives in a water tank. As Elisa develops a unique bond with her new friend, she soon learns that its fate and very survival lies in the hands of a hostile government agent and a marine biologist.

FEBRUARY 16th - FATHER FIGURES Owen Wilson and Ed Helms are fraternal twins Kyle and Pete Reynolds, whose self-identities are thrown for a loop when their eccentric mum (Glenn Close) tells them the truth.

As it turns out, their dad actually didn’t die when they were youngsters. Having been a free spirit in the ‘70s, though, she’s not able to provide a true reveal of dear old pop. So the dynamic duo set out on a cross-country odyssey to find out which of three likely candidates is their father.

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Baldock Gardens

By Graham Tapp

Tapps, The Baldock Garden Centre

February 2018.

I am asked time and time again, what is a rotation? In simple terms it is a process used in the garden, allotment or indeed at a very large scale on the farm. In the average garden environment where we have a relatively small scale production of everything we might use a simple three year rotation, we would split our growing area into three equal beds, one for root vegetables, one for brassicas and the remaining bed for all other crops you desire to grow.

If you want to grow potatoes you would work out how much of the root crop area you think will give you the overall weight you want, mark this out and then cover with a well rotted farm yard manure, there are two views on when you dig this in some say before winter some say in the spring, I was always taught to dig it in before winter, but we had very heavy clay soil and we couldn't always get onto the ground as early as we wanted in the spring, potatoes are gross feeders and will demand much more feeding and watering than you would think. Having decided on the area for potatoes you can use the balance of the root veg area for your carrots parsnips, turnips etc. Don’t be tempted to put a heavy Farm yard manure on the part of the bed you want to grow the other roots on or they will become split or have badly cankered skin.

Your second bed is for the Brassicas, cabbage, Sprouts, broccoli etc, in a three bed rotation and where you are short of ground you can mix your legumes beans etc, into the bed, in a four or five bed or year rotation you would give them a bed of their own. It is important to spread a good covering of lime onto this bed before digging it over as the P,H needs to be raised to help prevent club root, fortunately we don’t have a big problem with it locally, on the north downs in Kent there are areas of low P,H and liming was something we had to do as a matter of course.

The third bed in your system can be used for what ever else you fancy growing, salad crops, tomato’s lettuce , marrow, courgette etc ,etc.

Now just to confuse you a bit, if you want to grow runner beans and most people do, they can be grown on the same piece of ground for several years so you can actually install a permanent frame work to hold what ever system you choose to grow your beans on. You may also want to grow soft fruit, strawberries , raspberries etc I would suggest you use these as the permanent divider to your beds, now I would suggest that your rows of strawberries will need to be replaced after four years maximum but if you replace them after three years that will fit in nicely with your three year three bed rotation, taking your own runners is ok but it is always advisable to buy in new virus free stock and you can always try some of the new varieties available.

The Idea of any rotation is to prevent the build up of pests and diseases and the inevitable running out of nutrients. The more usable area you have such as an allotment our commercial garden will make it easier to plan and indeed use a four or five year / bed rotation, there are all sorts of very complicated plans that have been developed over the years but we don’t need to be concerned with these as they are only really for those who grow commercially and need high returns.

If you are going to grow organically you really need as much room as you can afford as the four and five year rotations will avoid unwanted pest and disease build up and will give economy of scale for compost production you may even be able to fit in a fallow or green manure bed, this being one of your beds that you grow no crops on for a season, this will give you the luxury of double digging your green manure in along with the farm yard manure, double digging will give you the extra depth of friable soil enabling you to get some good potato crops, recommended for late and baking potato crops that need large high ridges, unfortunately with the very high rents for allotments these days fallowing is probably an unfordable luxury.

If you have a small garden you can still grow good crops you just have to use your cropping area skilfully you can grow potato's in containers or bags as you can strawberries, you will probably have a south facing fence or wall that you can grow salad crops up or on, you can use grow bags or wall baskets, massive crops of tomatoes or strawberries can be grown in well positioned wall baskets, big crops of cucumbers can be grown in grow bags and lovely lettuce can be grown in pots and remember you don’t have to replant every time you cut one as they will regrow a number of times, radish and spring onions grow very well in small pots, why not grow your salads amongst your flower beds, I've grown all sorts of veg in between the flowers, how about some sprouts for Christmas in your flower beds, all you have to remember is to feed and water and this is as important for the big grower as it is for the small first time grower with the smallest garden.

If all you have is a couple of window sills in your house you can still grow something useful such as a pepper, spring onions or radish its quite possible to win prizes at flower shows with just a window sill. If all else fails you can always grow a mushroom kit in your airing cupboard.

If becoming a horticulturalist wasn't in your new years resolution perhaps I may have tempted you into giving it a go, even a little go at it will get you hooked and perhaps it may be you that I present with a cup or award at one of the summer shows, go on it only costs a few pence to enter, try one chili plant for starters. What ever you decide to grow enjoy it. Cheers Graham.

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Baldock Town FC News Baldock Town FC are halfway through the season and are s ll serious contenders to win the league and gain promo on.

Bea ng Enfield 4-0 and Ampthill 2-0 saw the Reds move up to sit in 2nd place in the league.

It is all to play for now, with 3 Saturdays in a row without a game and having midweek games instead Luke really has his work cut out for the next month to keep that posi on and get to the final of the Herts Senior Centenary Trophy, to win his first piece of silverware since taking on the Manager's posi on.

February brings a semi final at the County Ground in Letchworth on 10th at 3.00pm - everyone welcome! As usual our prices are very cheap - adults £5 concessions £3 U16's free! The Red Army will be out in force and they would love you to go and stand with them and sing some songs!

So dates for your diary - Home matches are at Arlesey Town FC - New Lambs Meadow, Arlesey Saturday 3rd February - Home to Bedford (KO 3.00pm) Tuesday 6th February - Away to Broadfields (KO 7,45pm) Saturday 10th February - Semi Final at the County Ground against Lemsford (KO 3.00pm) Saturday 17th February - Home to London Lions (KO 3.00pm) Saturday 24th February - Away to Wodson Park (KO 3.00pm) Wednesday 28th February - Home to Codicote (KO 19.45pm) Baldock s ll have to play Winslow home and away, Winslow are currently third in the league but Baldock have a couple of games in hand so it is definitely all to play for!

Come along and support your local team, the more support we can get the nearer we can be to ge ng our own ground back in Baldock.

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SAME PHONE NUMBER SAME GREAT SERVICE JUST A DIFFERENT ADDRESS Please call....

01767 317429 acorngaragedoors@btconnect.com www.acorn-garagedoors.co.uk

5 minutes with... ... Karen Greenall from *Tell us a bit about yourself: I had a long career as a civil servant un l 9 years ago; when I retrained in the world of Wills. I love spending me with my husband and two grown up sons; I love holidays and I love my rock and pop choir (Alive & Singing) – I've been a member for 4 years. *Tell us a bit about why you started the business: In the year that I was fi y I realised it was now or never! I had the skills and qualifica ons to start my own business, and I decided to be brave. I've now been lucky enough to help hundreds of people protect themselves and their families.

Exactly as I intended! *Tell us a bit about the A.R.K. team: Myself and my colleague Julie look a er all our clients. Jo, my sister-in-law, helps with admin and my son's girlfriend set up and maintains the website. My husband is part of the team too – constantly suppor ng and offering prac cal help. It's a real family affair! *Will you visit us at home?

We will happily travel to most places in Herts and Beds to visit people in their own homes (this is generally where our clients feel most comfortable discussing the sensi ve ma ers we deal with). *Under what circumstances should you make a Will?

There are many circumstances when a Will is vital; too many to list here. Have a look at our website for details www.arkpowers.com

*Why do you recommend everyone making a Las ng Power of A orney, whatever their age?

An LPA allows nominated people to help should you be unable to deal with financial ma ers. Accidents and illnesses like Demen a can make decisions impossible - you may struggle to pay bills or to manage your bank accounts. LPAs shouldn't just be associated with old age; none of us know when an accident or stroke might leave us unable to manage our own affairs. The A.R.K. message is make an LPA now, while you're well enough - the alterna ve is a long, expensive court process! *Why is it a good idea to have a Pre-Paid Funeral Plan?

It will protect you against ever rising funeral costs. It will also give you peace of mind - knowing that your family will be aware of your wishes, and that they'll have no worries about finding the money to pay for your funeral when the me comes. *Why should we use A.R.K? Because we are a family company - and we want to help you protect your family! We do that by offering flexible appointment mes (day me or evening); by being upfront with our fees – there are no hidden extras and there's no pressure to buy; by offering a professional, friendly, jargonfree service. *How do we contact A.R.K. Las ng Powers & Wills?

By phone – 01438 746977 or 07926 339934, or by email – info@arkpowers.com

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2018

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01438 355121

Courtlands Riding Stables, Old Chanrty Lane, Todds Green, Stevenage, Herts, Sg1 2JE

Sandon JMI School News The children have se led into school well a er the Christmas break. We are all very excited about our new topic 'Space' and our journey of explora on has already begun. We are learning about the solar system, we are reading lots of books about space and we will be wri ng space themed stories. We are very lucky to have an astrophysicist as part of our school community who has offered to come and talk to the children!

Our Forest School is almost up and running and we have been overwhelmed by the amount of resources donated by our pupils and their families.

Along with our PTA – FOSS, we hold regular Saturday morning sessions where we invite children and their families to come and help maintain our schools and grounds. This helps to teach the children to be responsible for their surroundings and also helps to build community spirit.

This term the focus of these sessions will be to prepare our Forest School base camp and also to create a 'fedge'. This is a combina on of a fence and a hedge that we are going to plant using off-cuts from our willow doom. Watch this space for more details of our Forest School.

We are a very ac ve school and love to get out and about to meet others and compete in spor ng events. The beginning of January saw a super performance at the Bun ngford Swimming our Year 3&4 team shown in the photograph.

Enthusias c swimming by all meant we achieved second place.

Well done team!

Emma McGill - Headteacher

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What is a Sports Massage?

What is sports massage?

Sports massage is a form of massage that uses the manipula on of so ssue to achieve pain relief, treatment for injury, balance of muscles, increased blood flow and general wellbeing. Sports therapists will use several techniques to achieve manipula on and relaxa on of the muscle to aid healing and recovery. Common techniques such as trigger point therapy and kneading are usual household terms associated with massage.

Physiological and psychological effects Sports massage is a key treatment for all individuals, injured or not, sports person or anyone experiencing general discomforts. We can ALL benefit from sports massage, physiologically and mentally. It can enhance mobility, improve general performance in a spor ng environment and of course, everyday life! The main physical benefit is improving blood circula on around the body to muscles in need of nutrients and oxygen to give us the ability to perform at our best! Along with breaking down scar ssue, stretching so ssue and ssue elas city.

O en when pain occurs in the muscles, this is due to tension and waste products being present, one of the physiological benefits present with massage is reducing this ma er. By reducing these tensions, we induce a 'feel good factor' from the release. This includes reduc on of anxiety and has been proven to help the body feel relaxed and therefore relieve the body of anxious feelings in prepara on for events or, just in every life. This day and age is full of stress and the constant need to do and be be er, have you ever thought of having a sports massage to help relieve these issues? Do you think sports massage will relieve your stresses?

Research shows that it is highly possible!

Who does it benet?

Sports massage DOES NOT mean you need to do sport or the injury you may have has come from sports! Sports massage benefits all that experience aches, pains, injuries or just need to FEEL GOOD and want to PREVENT ge ng injured in the first place!!

But what if I don't like it?

Why not give it a try? Use the a ached coupon to receive your discount and see if sports massage can help you be the person you want to be! Whether you want to improve your PB or just be a be er you. Research has proven over and over again that it is a valuable technique to make you feel your best.

S ck at a dead end? Try it now, you may be surprised

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2018

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s ’ r e d a e A RSlimming World Story Dear OnOurDoorstep, I joined Slimming World in January last year a er giving birth to my second child just 8 weeks before. I had two children in a year and a half which had taken a toll on my weight and in turn my confidence. I had seen banners around town about Slimming World and also adverts and stories in the Baldock OnOurDoorstep Magazine which comes through my door. I knew I wanted to make changes and that I needed some help and support, so I made the decision to go along and I am so glad I did.

I was so warmly welcomed into Sandra's group, not just by herself but also everyone else that was there. We were all in the same boat and everyone was so friendly. The Food Op mising plan which we all follow was adapted to suit me as I was breas eeding my daughter, and I had so much help and support whether that be in group from other members, speaking to Sandra directly or on our members Facebook Group.

A month a er joining it became apparent that my daughter had mul ple food allergies.

As I was s ll breast feeding her this meant that my diet had to undergo some dras c changes. I was worried this would really restrict me, but at Slimming World there are so many op ons for food choices, it really does suit and work for everyone, so I s ll had a really varied diet

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I now love to cook and enjoy cooking Slimming World meals for my whole family, so we all eat the same healthy tasty food and they all love the food too! This means my husband and children also now eat so much healthier which I love, and there are no family favourites we miss out on. Roasts, curries, chilles or fajitas, its all on the menu!

It hasn't always been plain sailing, with a baby and a toddler in the mix there's been plenty of sleepless nights thrown in, but instead of calling for a takeaway I've tried to make sure I have batch cooked healthy meals in the freezer or fridge ready to grab in an emergency and the Slimming World frozen meals that you can buy at Iceland are perfect for that too.

I can't recommend joining to anyone who wants to lose weight enough! It has absolutely changed my life.

I am now slimmer than before I had any children! My confidence has taken a massive boost and I am loving life!

Thank you Sandra.

Thank you Slimming World.

Thank you OnOurDoorstep, Stacy x Stacy is a target member of the Wednesday 9.30am group.

She has lost a total of 3st 5lbs. If you would like any more informa on about Slimming World you can call Sandra on 07716 761610, alterna vely just pop along to any of the sessions, there is no obliga on to join.

Slimming Sandra World Recipe Lloyd Supplied by

Minced Beef Hash A modern twist on traditional corned-beef hash, a family favourite and simple cooking at its best.

Serves 4 ready in 30 minutes

Ingredients Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ

Low calorie cooking spray 2 onions, peeled and finely diced 2 garlic cloves, peeled and crushed 1 tsp cumin 1 green chilli, de-seeded and finely diced 450g lean beef mince (5% fat or less) 1 carrot, peeled and diced 300g potatoes, peeled and diced approx 1.5cm 400g can plum tomatoes 100ml beef stock 1 tsp oregano 4 tbsp finely chopped flat-leaf parsley Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Method 1. Spray a large frying pan with low calorie cooking spray and place over a medium heat. Add the onions and stir-fry for 2-3 minutes.

2. Add the garlic, cumin and green chilli, stirrin for a few moments to release the flavours.

3. Add the beef mince and cook on high, stirring all the time and breaking up any lumps, until all the meat is sealed and brown.

4. Add the carrot, potatoes, tomatoes, stock and oregano and bring to the boil. Reduce the heat to medium and simmer, covered, for 12-15 minutes.

5. Remove from the heat, stir in the parsley and season to taste before serving

MOT

£29.99 FREE RE-TEST

Baldock MOT Centre 01462 895933 FEBRUARY

2018

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Baldoctoberfest The people have spoken!!

Given the high amount of posi ve feedback and interest from the followers of the Independent Baldock Beer Fes val they are planning an October Baldoctoberfest with 3 sessions over 26/27 October with an Oompah band.

It will be a cket only event price yet to be confirmed!! So put the dates in your diary as well as the May 4/5/6 dates for the 11th fes val and start planning your October ou its!

Keep your eyes peeled for further updates. You can follow the ‘Baldock Beer Fes val’ Face Book page and we will print any informa on as it becomes available.

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Hopes Happy Hounds 07949002515

hopeshappyhounds@outlook.com

www.hopeshappyhounds.co.uk

www.facebook.com/hopeshappyhounds

“See The Person First Not The Dementia” Life as a care home manager, my mo o “See the person first not the demen a” Providence Court in Baldock is managed by not for profit care provider Quantum Care and has recently had a change in management. Avaline Budram-Lee joined Providence Court in December 2017. Avaline talks about her role as home manager at Providence Court.

“I love my role as a home manager and I wouldn't change my career to do anything else. Yes it is hard work and yes I do work long hours, but I don't count them. I take full responsibility for all my staff and residents; a er all they are my extended family. I am responsible for se ng the tone and the standards of the home and I need to inspire my team of staff to ensure that they support me.

When I arrive for my shi every day the first thing I do is a walk round the whole home and during this me I am con nuously audi ng as I go. This is a very rewarding part of the day as I usually have me to talk to staff and residents and

find out if there are any problems or possible problems developing. If I can intervene at an early stage it allows me to deal with small things before they develop into big things.

Being new to Providence Court means I need to spend a lot of me providing direct care to the residents so that I become a familiar face and so that they can see my presence is one they can trust and feel comfortable and safe with. I treat every resident with dignity and respect at all mes. They have lived a lot longer than me, and have a huge amount of life experience and advice to offer me. Knowing how much I love and worry about my parents who live in another country, makes me feel very privileged to be looking a er someone else's parent/s.

I am introducing Namaste to residents and staff at Providence Court. This helps reduce the stress and anxiety some mes displayed with people living with advanced demen a or those that are with us on end of life care. Namaste is about caring with compassion and includes music, ther apeu c touch, colour, food treats and the use of essen al oils. Namaste is an ac vity that all residents can benefit from. A relaxing hand massage, cuddling a so blanket or teddy or feeling the closeness of another person in a peaceful delivers priceless benefits.

I enjoy working for Quantum Care and that's why I have been here now for over ten years. People that are passionate about working in care need to feel confident that the organisa on they work for, has their residents at the heart of all they do, 'always seeing the person first and not the demen a'.”

The copy deadline for the March issue is 14th February

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BALDOCK GALLERY Station Road taken by young Wil Tomlin

dio

View from St Marys Church Tower by Chris Slack

Black squirrel eating lunch in Jeve Close - Amy Felce

View over the town from Weston Woods - Laurence Brown

Barker Bakers 27 Church St, now Grizzly Ink Tattoo Stu

Starling waiting for meal worms - Margaret Dellar

Radwell Church - Kim Wardel

Drone picture of the Church - Wil Tomlin

Chapman & Sons family butchers

Daniel Loriot’s little puppy at the entrance to Weston Woods on his first snow day!

Red sky at night - Gemma Chapman

Sharleen Harlow’s 2 year old catching up on local news

Welcome to February’s Baldock Gallery Hopefully with you r help thi s will become a regular monthly fea ture.

Please send you r local snaps new or old to our facebook pag e or email info@o nou rdoors tepbaldoc k.co.uk

Ruby taken by Margaret Dellar

The Baldock Ballads One of the most intriguing aspects of this months Fireside Fes val ( Feb 21to 3 March ) is the musical story telling event or Baldock Ballads that returns for a second airing this year .

Local musician and song writer Brian Burke has now penned twenty ballads for our li le town ... or extraordinary songs for an extraordinary town . Subjects as diverse as The Fair, Balstock , and Kayser Bondor are all covered as well as the mythical Jack O Legs and local characters such as Bob the Butcher. It all began with the tongue in cheek In Praise of Baldock... outlining the quali es of our small town and why it is the best in North Herts ... so as he says Why not write a few more?

This year there are two new ballads , the first dealing with a case of arson in Weston which saw the hanging of William Moles ... the last public execu on in this area ... and the second about a mythical monster dwelling in Ivel Springs known as the BALDERCOCK. Brian explains “I have based this Ballad on Lewis Carroll's Jabberwock in Alice in Wonderland .... just as Carroll used made up words to tell his story so I too have used words rela ng to Baldock businesses past and present , solicitors , doctors , den sts and barbers , restaurants ( but no pubs !) and one local event . There are over 80 of these hidden in the

Ballad and as a bit of fun we are running a compe on to see which person can guess the most . There will be a Ballad Sheet for sale on the night with a charge of £2 for people to take away and guess as many as they can , what they did and whether they are s ll in existence . The winner will receive a bo le of champagne and all proceeds will go to the Garden House Hospice . Instruc ons for returning the answers etc will be given on the night. So to see how you may get on here is the first verse of 8 ...

“It is Geary on the Birks at Ivel Spring, Where rusted lucases tapp crump galory In Balderstons Warren Simpsons in bunches sing O Pater , son do no blank our story “ ...... and the best of Baldock luck to you all !

The Baldock Ballads are on Sunday 25 February at 7pm .Tickets £6 from the Fireside fes val office (TownHall) .

Contact Phil Allen on 01462 834411 or 07909 716631 or email allentrees@btinternet.com

01462 892041 FEBRUARY

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LAWN CUTTING HEDGE CUTTING LANDSCAPING PATIOS

ASHWELL

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WESTON

Sunday Music Sessions If you enjoy a decent pint , good company , and some really cracking music on a Sunday a ernoon then the Boot in the High Street Baldock is the place to be.

New landlord Tony English is keen to develop the premises as a real Music and family oriented place to be.

Tony said” Over the next year we have plans to radically revitalise this locals pub and eventually provide some really decent food. I've asked local musician Brian Burke to get a group of talented acous c musicians together to develop a really good and friendly atmosphere on late Sunday a ernoons between 4:30 and and 7 o'clock”.

Brian added “ This started as just a tradi onal music session that has developed into much more with singers and musicians from both folk and country coming together to produce a great sound over the few hours that we play at the Boot. We have award winning musicians who travel from Luton and Cambridge as well as some great country and bluegrass players . There are also some great singers ranging from our own Dorrie Randall to youngsters in their teens . Everyone is welcome to come and play or sing and it is a great atmosphere for any one to get started singing or playing in public . There is nothing like it in this area so why not come along and enjoy the experience“ THE NEXT SESSIONS ARE AS FOLLOWS SUNDAY 28 JAN ... Drive the Cold ❄winter away session SUNDAY. 18 FEB .... Spread the love session SUNDAY. 4 MARCH .. Mad March Musician session SUNDAY 18 MARCH ... St Patrick's Hungover session THE BOOT, HIGH ST, BALDOCK PHONE 01462893160 www. thebootbaldock.co.uk

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Save Your Stamps These days we all receive lots of post. Just send us your used postage stamps - we’ll convert them to cash, and together we can save albatrosses.

It’s really easy to do and here’s how: Ÿ Send us your used stamps Ÿ We use stamp dealers and auc on houses to get the best price Ÿ The money helps save albatrosses out at sea.

Each year, your stamps help us to raise thousands of pounds for albatross conserva on. Not bad for some li le bits of paper that would end up in the bin!

15 out of 22 albatross species are threatened with ex nc on.

The main threat to albatrosses is death on a hook at the end of a fishing long-line.

The Albatross Task Force is helping to save albatrosses from ex nc on both at sea and on land. They show fishing crews how to stop albatrosses from being killed and share the best techniques and tools.

With BirdLife Interna onal partners and other organisa ons, we're working to stop the needless slaughter of these amazing birds and bring them back from the brink of ex nc on.

Working with stamp dealers and specialist auc on houses, we can raise money for this vital work. Each stamp has a very small value, but in large quan es they're s ll valuable. When you send in your stamps, you're helping give albatrosses a brighter future.

Louise Jutsum has a collec ng box for stamps at the Community Centre

Fizzy Fridays this February Receive a complimentary glass of Prosecco with any treatment worth £20 and over, every Friday, throughout February We’re spreading the love this month...

Pro 30 Facial, a Back, Neck & Shoulder Massage and a Hand Treat for only £60!

Helping you look and feel Bee - a - u - tiful x

Tel: 01462 894050 36

FEBRUARY

2018

Planning for Baldock's future neighbourhood plan update Simon Holtom

The survey by Baldock, Bygrave and Clothall Planning Group is in full swing. We have received a good number of responses online and via our survey boxes (in the Community Centre, the Whitehorse St Post Office, Clothall Common Shop, Weston Way Post Office, and Bygrave and Clothall parish churches We have added a box in the entrance to Tesco and one in Tapps).

IF YOU HAVE NOT YET MADE YOUR RESPONSE PLEASE DO SO AS THE MORE PEOPLE WE HEAR FROM THE BETTER and we want to hear from people of all ages!

We're very pleased that pupils at Knights Templar School are really ge ng involved by carrying out their own research and comple ng the survey, and we will be showcasing some of this work at our next public mee ng in March. More news about that in the next On Our Doorstep!

If you want to respond to the survey please find it at www.bbplan.co.uk or ask at the Community Centre for another copy of the sheet previously in OOD then fill it in and pop it into one of our collec on boxes.

Are things a little slow?

Its easy to advertise in On Our Doorstep

Call Jacqui 07973 788 418 or

info@onourdoorstepbaldock.co.uk

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Useful numbers Advice Citizen’s Advice Bureau Trading Standards Advice

03444 111444 0300 300 8136

Telephone: 01438 729052 Vacuum Cleaners

Churches St Marys the Virgin Baptist church Roman Catholic Methodist Christchurch United Reformed Church

01462 892838 01462 893203 01462 893127 01462 895052 01462 232005 01462 619350

Vacuum Bags

stevenagespares@yahoo.com Spare parts for household appliances Spare parts for household appliances

Cookers, Washing machines, Dryers, Dishwashers, Lighting, Refridgeration & Electrics

Carpet Shapooers

Lighting

Vacuum sales & repairs repairs

Dyson, Henry, Hoover & much more Vacuum Spares

Appliance Spares

Councils North Hertfordshire District

Doctors Baldock Surgery

01462 474000 01462 892458

Dentist Victoria Place Dental Surgery

01763 313869

Emergency Utilities Gas Emergency Electric power cut

0800 111999 0800 7838838

Hospitals Lister Hospital Queen Elizabeth 2 EMERGENCY HEALTH

01438 314333 01707 328111 111

Library Baldock Library

0300 123 4049

Police Police

01707 354000

Public Houses Engine The Cock The Old White Horse The Orange Tree The Victoria The White Lion

01462 896111 01462 892366 01462 893168 01462 892341 01462 893153 01462 893134

Schools Knights Templar Hartseld St Johns St Marys Brandles

01462 620700 01462 895267 01462 892478 01462 892347 01462 892189

Travel Taxi - A2B Taxis Arriva Buses National Rail Enquires National Bus line

01462 228765 08701 201088 03457 484950 0870 6082608

Vets Baldock Veterinary Centre

07980 400690 01462 896322

Plumbers A.P Hughes

07949 120911

Window & Door repairs JML Windows Repairs Warrens Windows

Baldock Car Sales Ÿ Ÿ

01462 892172 01462 896322

Play Groups Magic Moments Merry Go Round

If so, please take advantage of our Special New Year reduced rate Wills offer.

Reduced rate wills will be available every week day from 8.00am until 6.00pm (Tuesdays until 8.00 pm) by appointment only.

Also on the Saturday mornings of 3rd and 17th FEBRUARY again by appointment only.

Reduced rates are:Double Wills - £250.00 plus VAT Single Will - £130.00 plus VAT HOME VISITS ARE ALSO AVAILABLE AT NO EXTRA CHARGE WITHIN A 5 MILE RADIUS OF BALDOCK. For more information please contact: Fish Hill Chambers, 2-3 Fish Hill, Royston, Herts, SG8 9JY Tel: 01763 241121 Email : t.donnellan@walkerspartnership.co.uk

Ÿ

01462 895579

Nurseries Weston Way Nursery Merry Go Round

Is it your New Year's Resolution to make a Will or revise your existing Will?

01438 906300 01462 261401

Ÿ

Quality Used Car Sales Finance Available Part Exchange Welcome We buy cars for cash

01462 757 344 www.baldockcarsales.co.uk

Find us behind Tescos

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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