On Our Doorstep Baldock August by onourdoorstepbaldock

Welcome

Welcome to Your August Edition!

Summer is in full swing, and there's so much happening in and around Baldock to enjoy with family and friends.

We're kicking off the season with the Open Air Cinema at Bakers Close Field (Buffs), a FREE community event for all ages. Bring a blanket and a picnic. They will be showing a children's film in the afternoon, followed by a PG-rated screening in the early evening. It's the perfect way to enjoy a summer's day outdoors!

Back by popular demand, Baldock's Beer Festival returns to the Community Centre this month! It's a fantastic opportunity to sample local brews and soak up the lively atmosphere. Tickets are available now, check out page 16 for all the details.

Abbas from the Chilli Lounge is oﬀering a delicious 3course summer special for just £12.99! Either bring in his advert or simply mention the magazine.

It's been a tough month in our house after losing a close family member. With the emotional task of arranging his funeral, we want to express our heartfelt thanks to Claire from Crouch's Funeral Directors. In such a diﬃcult time, they handled everything with genuine compassion and professionalism, we truly can't praise them highly enough.

We had the pleasure of watching Archie Davis race last weekend at Snetterton and take a podium ﬁnish! Incredible to think, with 29 drivers on the grid he's up there ﬁghting in the top three. Archie's next race is at Silverstone, and it's a brilliant day out for anyone interested in motorsport.

Meanwhile, over at Hype Gym on the industrial area in Baldock. The team have been working around the clock to get everything ready for the grand opening on August 2nd. We had a sneak peek inside this week and we were seriously impressed! Apparently there will be some exciting opening oﬀers, so it's well worth popping in to meet the team.

Finally, if you're heading oﬀ on holiday, don't forget to pack your copy of the magazine! Snap a photo holding it in the most unusual location you can ﬁnd and you could win a £20 voucher!

Enjoy the Summer holidays, until next month...

Paul & Jacqui

info@onourdoorstepbaldock.co.uk or 07973 788418

Herordshire’s biggest free music fesval will be celebrang “20 years of Balstock” on September the 12th, 13th and 14th. The ‘Town-wide, knees-up’ takes place in Pubs, cafes, restaurants, on the High Street, outside the Community Centre and even in St Mary’s Church, ALL FREE ENTRY and all in the name of charity. Punters are asked to donate whatever they can, so that Balstock CIC can divide money raised between the following 5 causes:

1. Angels Support Group (supports families of ausc children and/or children who have ADHD)

2. POhWER Herordshire (informaon, and advice services to people who experience disability, vulnerability, distress, and social exclusion)

3. Hitchin Pantry (oﬀering people in North Herts good quality food at prices that won’t break the bank)

4. Luna Animal Rescue (rescue and rehabilitate animals and then rehome them)

5. St Mary's Church Hall, Baldock (repairs for the Church Hall and many gravestones that were defaced)

On top of that the Baldock Events forum (BEF) have oﬀered to match the individual amount raised and donate that to, The Living Room Herts (absnencebased group therapy for all alcohol, substance and behavioural addicons)

Balstock’s 20th year boasts over 170 acts, including DJs at the Community Centre and St Mary’s Church Hall, Stand Up comedy at the Hen & Chickens, Hard Rock and metal at The Old White Horse, Choirs in St Mary’s Church, London Road Studios at the Buﬀs Club, Rock at The Orange Tree, Pop and Punk at The Victoria, Acousc music at The Cock and Eight Restaurant and Burlesque at The White Lion (aka The Phil Hall Memorial Stage).

But the jewel in the Balstock crown is the High Street- Elaine LaRoche stage, hosng tribute acts, Covers bands and the Balstock Air Guitar Compeon.

As well as a bar, street food, a funfair and stalls.

Balstock organiser G LaRoche has said “I’m absolutely buzzing for this year’s Balstock! Loads of brand new stages, alongside old favourites. I would strongly urge all in aendance to give generously to the bucket shakers, card machines and QR codes. This way it’ll be worth it for all the Commiee’s hard work, the army of volunteers and the bands giving their me FOR FREE!”

This year's fesval is dedicated to the memory of Dan Coeral-Clark (aka The Guvnor) who sadly passed away a few short weeks ago. He was landlord of the Engine pub, co-founder of Balstock music fesval and much loved by his regulars and friends.

GRANDOPENING 2NDAUGUST

Local hospice offers exceptional clinical training for healthcare professionals

Garden House Hospice Care, based in Letchworth, are expanding their provision to support health and social care careers. Since July of this year, they have extended their internal training to external delegates who provide end of life and palliave care.

Garden House pride themselves on being an 'educaon provider of choice', with each course designed to equip professionals with the knowledge and skills they need to provide a high standard of palliave and end of life care. Alison Hailes, the Hospice's Learning and Development Clinical Specialist, is leading the training:

“I'm a 'general specialist' so aendees can expect all sorts of topics – from Palliave Care Study Days and Medicines Management, to Observaons and Glucometer training and Infecon Control. I also deliver training on topics like Safeguarding and Mental Capacity, Cultural, Religious and Spiritual Beliefs

at End of Life, and long term condions including respiratory, heart and Motor Neurone Disease (MND). But my favourite topic to teach is Essenal Communicaon Skills as it's the heart of everything we do.”Alison is a Registered Nurse and has also completed a Specialist District Nursing Postgraduate Diploma. Her further accolades include a Mentorship and Preceptorship qualiﬁcaon, Independent Nurse Prescribing qualiﬁcaon, Minor Illness and Professional Nurse Advocate training.

“One of my proudest moments was receiving my Queens Nurse Award during COVID for my work promong learning, leadership and quality in paent care. My passion now is to connue using my experience and the knowledge I've gained to manage and inspire others working in health and social care to achieve great results.” Here is some feedback from courses

Alison has delivered for the University of Herordshire:

“One student told me she feels more conﬁdent in end of life care delivery, and three others said they are now considering end of life care as their future career path.”

“The students said that they have not found an educaon day as interesng as that in a long me.”

Are you a healthcare professional looking for development opportunies?

The Learning and Development Team at Garden House Hospice Care run regular clinical training courses, and they can also deliver bespoke courses. You can ﬁnd out more and book on their website: www.ghhospicecare.org.uk/courses Email any quesons to the team at edducaon@ghhospicecare.org.uk

Heading into Sneerton it was a big week for Archie, already working on his 2026 plans. A stop at Pembrey in wales with CDR from the Brish f4 championship for a two day test & leaving the day lapping within 4 tenths of current top 5 runners.

Straight from Wales on Thursday evening to Sneerton & Archie wasted no me switching back to the FJC car for Friday pracce.

Saturday qualiﬁng, was torrenal rain

Full Throttle Weekend

where Archie managed to bag p3 with no tow & just over a tenth oﬀ pole.

Race 1: p3 start p4 ﬁnish. Aer choosing to sck with a slightly more wet set up with rain on its way it slightly hampered the rear of the car leaving it very loose & loosing valuable me on exits of corners. With this being said Archie had broke away from the ﬁeld with the top pack who were swapping posions throughout the race.

Race 2: p4 start p3 ﬁnish. Aer making changes to the car for race 2 Archie hit the ground running & jumped into p3 from the lights. Again another race

distance with constant baling and sat atp2 for most of the race. Going 3 wide on the last lap while pushing for p1 put Archie back to p3 across the line but another podium in the bag. Race 3: The rain was back for race 3 & Archie was more than ready for this one.

Lights out & again Archie jumping into p2. Within two laps the top 3 had completely pulled away from the pursuing pack unl a safety car was deployed. Aer the restart it was a straight shoot out to the line with minutes of the session remaining. Again ﬁghng for p1 side by side through turns 2/3 & 4 turn 5 proved to be too much for Archie's rival who took too much kerb losing the rear of the car and pushing Archie onto the grass, dropping him down the order to p6. With some valuable points lost in race 3 Archie is sll in the hunt for the championship crown sing in p3 currently & only a race 3rd place seles them in points.

Next up Silverstone on the 15th 16th & 17th of august 2025.

If you'd like to become a partner/sponsor for Archie's 2026 F4 season then please contact redlihire@mail.com

What's On in Baldock This August

Community, Cinema & Cra Beer August in Baldock is shaping up to be a month of sunshine, celebraon, and community spirit.

Whether you're a ﬁlm buﬀ, a beer enthusiast, or just looking for a great way to spend me with friends and family, there's something for everyone right on our doorstep!

Independent Baldock Beer

Fesval

Back for another year, the Independent Baldock Beer Fesval returns to the Community Centre over the bank holiday weekend and it's more than just a good pint. All proﬁts go directly back, into

, into supporng local causes, so every sip helps the community thrive, to date over £100,000 has been distributed. The Beer fesval will run on Thursday 21st August: 6pm–11pm – £3 entry, Friday 22nd August: 4pm–11pm – £5 entry and Saturday 23rd August: 12pm–11pm –£5. Early bird weekend passes are sll available for just £8, oﬀering access to all three days, a bargain for beer lovers and community champions alike. Expect over 40 cask ales, 24 real ciders, 21 keg beers, plus a wine and gin bar, live music, and kids' acvies on the Saturday. Children are free when with a paying adult.

Free Cinema on the Buﬀs Field

The Baldock Events Forum is bringing the big screen outdoors with a free BaldockBuster cinema event on the 9th August on Buffs Field — perfect for families and film fans alike. For the Children we will be showing Finding Nemo at 2:30pm and then at 6pm sing along to The Greatest Showman. No ckets required — just bring a blanket, grab a drink from the Buffs Football club, and enjoy the show. There'll be a BBQ, and sweets concession to keep everyone happy while the sun shines.

Whether you're raising a glass or

singing along under the stars, Baldock's August events are a reminder of what makes our town so special. See you there!

Baldock Rotary Club has welcomed its new President for the 2025-2026 year beginning on 1st July. Thirty-two Rotary members, wives, partners and guests aended a hand-over dinner at Letchworth Golf Club.

Aer an excellent meal outgoing President for 2024 - 2025 Garry Blyth reviewed acvies undertaken over the last twelve months which included the long-standing tradion of supporng the town's Christmas lights and taking Father Christmas and the sleigh around the streets of Baldock and surrounding villages, organising Open Gardens and connuing the establishment of the second Rotary Wood in grounds adjacent to the Equestrian Centre. Garry went on to say that on the fundraising front the Christmas sleigh street collecon and Open Gardens had

Baldock Rotary’s New President

generated signiﬁcant funds from which charitable donaons have been made. He thanked those who had organised fundraising and social events throughout the year and everyone who had supported Rotary's acvies both those who are members of Rotary and all those people from within our community who gave their me and eﬀort to make our Rotary events such a success. Garry commented on how being a member of Rotary provided fellowship and companionship in a world that can somemes feel unforgiving.

During the past year donaons have been made to numerous charitable causes. Internaonal charies have included ShelterBox, Mercy Ships, Convoy4Ukraine and Village Water (in Pakistan). Closer to home some examples of donaons made were to Motor Neurone Disease Associaon, Herts & Essex Air Ambulance and to the Teenager Cancer Trust. Locally donaons were made to schools and nurseries, churches, Baldock Museum, Scouts and Guides and Garden House Hospice.

Outgoing President Garry Blyth then handed the Presidenal chain of oﬃce to new President Paul Brown who thanked Garry for his year of oﬃce and went on to outline his hopes and vision for the club in an ever-changing world.

President Paul went on to say that we will connue to do the things that we do well and we will introduce new ventures and acvies to improve the appeal of the club in an eﬀort to aract new members, which remains one of our biggest challenges.

President Paul then welcomed Dean Howard, Vice President for the coming year, to give the ﬁnal toast of “Rotary and peace the world over” Baldock Rotary is always looking to aract new members, so if you are the type of person who is in a posion to “give something back” and is interested in any aspect of what Rotary has to oﬀer, please contact us on our website, Baldock Rotary Club, or contact our Membership Secretary, Michael Muir, tel. no. 07909 002631, e-mail michael.muir@herordshire.gov.uk

Mix Tape – BBC iPlayer:

Too much choice out there?

Spend more time deciding what to watch than actually watching something? LET BALDOCK'S RESiDENT TV GLUTTON HELP YOU ON YOUR MiSSiON!

This summerme easy to watch romanc drama, just landed on iPlayer, is most definitely from Sheffield with Love. Adapted by Jo Spain from Jane Sanderson's novel and directed by Lucy Gaffy, Mix Tape opens in 1989 Sheffield, where teenagers Daniel and Alison, fall in earnest love via homemade mixtapes, playing New Order, Jesus & Mary Chain and The Cure at house pares and school discos; increasingly inseparable. All seems to be going well, though Daniel is suspicious as to why Alison never lets him to visit her at her house. Then one day Alison suddenly disappears and leaves a broken-hearted Daniel. Why did she go without a word of warning? Where did she go?

Fast-forward to the mid-2010s: Daniel is now a Sheﬃeld-based freelance music writer , married with children. While Alison, now a successful author in Sydney, also married with children (this won't end well, will it?) receives a nostalgic song link on Spofy over Facebook from Daniel and the past comes crashing back through nostalgia-nged pangs of love long since lost. They say nostalgia is just a memory of something you never had – but that's not the case here for our star-crossed lovers. Problem is, they have around 10,000 miles separang them from Sheﬃeld to Sydney.

Sturgess, who charmed audiences as Dex in the ﬁlm One Day, steps eﬀortlessly into biersweet introspecon here; Palmer brings layered longing to Alison, with a careful distance between her past and present selves.

They're present selves are well grounded by the young duo—Hunt's dreamy awkwardness and Walton-Smith's emoonal sincerity—which balances the adult storyline beaufully. The show dely stches together two melines. Scenes from 1989 flash into modern-day Sheffield or Sydney with fluid eding that feels more musical mash-up than jarring flashback . The soundtrack is simply chef's kiss: expect classics like Love Will Tear Us Apart, selecons from Arcc Monkeys and Nick Drake—songs that act like emoonal code for our lovers across me.

There's plenty to love: the nostalgic heartache, the clever use of music as memory triggers, and the biersweet chemistry between adult Daniel and Alison, even if it's nged with regret and distance.

We know Alison le Sheffield in a hurry and the drama does well to untangle why that was. Visually, Gaffy's direcon captures Sheffield's grit and warmth and the eding by Katrina Barker and Chrisne Cheung gives the series a gently rhythmic flow.

Mix Tape isn't perfect. It leans heavily on the nostalgic tropes of One Day and High Fidelity, and doesn't hit the heights of Normal People, at one point feeling more homage than revelaon. Yet for anyone who ever made (or received) a mixtape, the series hits familiar emoonal cues with sincerity and style.

While it may not deeply reinvent romance on screen, Mix Tape does what it sets out to: remind us how music can be our heart's me machine—not because the story is completely original, but because it feels personal.

So, cue the tape deck— press play and sit back this summer.

With 20 years experience selling homes locally

Thank you

all the people that have recommended me as their personal estate agent in Baldock. I love working here and the town has always held a special place in my heart, it's just great!!

6pm-11pm Thurs 4pm-11pm Fri 12pm-11pm Sat

TICKETS

Back Care

Many of us take me to focus on our diet, exercise, and mental health, but what do you do to take care of your back and other joints?

When you hear the phrase 'back care', you think about focusing on how you are bending down or bending your knees when liing. We all have moments where we forget to take care and decide to join the kids on the trampoline to perform some manoeuvre that we could do as a child!

The reality is that joint and muscle pain, are not only caused by physical acvity. They can also be caused by sneezing, coughing, sing, or standing for prolonged periods or poor working ergonomics.

Your back is a complex structure which consists of:

Ÿ 24 vertebra (bones) which are separated by discs, which act as shock absorbers for the forces which your body encounters during movement.

Ÿ Ligaments which hold the vertebra together, stabilise the spine and protect the discs.

Ÿ 40 muscles which work together to allow us to bend, twist and turn, they also play an essenal role in supporng your spine and helping you breathe. All these structures work together to act as the body's central support structure, it keeps us upright and connects the various parts of our skeleton to each other: our head, chest, pelvis, shoulders, arms, and legs.

It is esmated that 8 million adults in the UK live with chronic back pain, and it can aﬀect many people of diﬀerent ages for

varied reasons - strained muscles or ligaments, a muscle spasm, muscle tension, damaged discs and underlying medical condions.

The good news is that you do not have to live with back pain! The body is a connually repairing itself and given me the right environment and by changing our habits we can reduce the strain on our back. Maintaining good flexibility, a healthy weight, watching your posture when sing and standing, taking regular breaks from sing and being careful when liing objects and not liing and twisng at the same me can all aid the prevenon of back pain. If you are one of the 8 million suffers of back pain, one of our Osteopaths could help you to find the underlying cause of it and how to manage and prevent it.

Baldock Gardens

By Graham Tapp

It's July 21st, and I'm sitting in the Garden Centre Cafe, looking across Wallington Road to the Allotments, and it's already looking autumnal. It's been unseasonably hot over the last few months, with no significant rain, and everything has dried out. Some very dedicated holders have been watering and tending their allotments day and night, some even venturing out with head torches, looking like little fireflies dashing about in the darkness. The trend among allotment holders across the Country is to decorate their sheds with solar lights, as some have here, some flashing, some static, so that, with the head torch wearers, it makes night time look like Christmas already.

Further to the hot weather, we are witnessing a record-breaking early harvest. Farmers in Lincolnshire are reporting that they have started combining fourteen days earlier than usual. This early start, a result of the unseasonably hot weather, is a surprising turn of events. Further north, farmers have commented on combining winter barley at the end of June, a good ten days earlier than their average start date.

Vegetable crops are also early. Vegetable growers are also forecasting a very early start. In the West Country, growers are due to start harvesting broccoli three weeks earlier than the average date. Peas, although early, are only about a week ahead of schedule. They appear to be able to resist drought and heat for several weeks. The crop weight will be lower but not by much, as they have the ability to shorten plant height in exchange for protection of crop weight when under drought stress.

As you may recall, May had the hottest start on record, allowing planting to proceed early and in prime conditions, setting up crops like strawberries and Mediterranean vegetables for an exceptionally early and heavy harvest. Some organisations, including Kew Gardens in London, are quoted as saying they have been picking strawberries since April. Our ever-warming climate is causing headaches for our growers, professionals, and amateur gardeners alike.

A big worry is that humidity will increase within the overly hot air mass, then be overridden by a cold airflow from the northwest, causing it to condense, giving thunderstorms, rain, large hailstones and high winds that will destroy delicate crops, flatten cereal crops and make top fruit such as Apples and pears unsalable, even inedible. When we farmed in Kent before moving to Baldock, from June to August, we would be concerned about this very thing. In early to mid-June, we would be picking outdoor strawberries. These would be mulched with barley straw so that the ripening strawberries would be kept above the soil. In good warm weather, this would help keep them disease-free, but in prolonged wet weather, it would spell disaster as the straw would collapse into a soggy mess and botrytis mould would spread among the berries, making them unsaleable. From mid-June to the end of July, it would be cherry-picking season, and any sign of rain would make the cherries smile, an old Kent expression for split cherries, so no rain, please.

Mid-July to the first week of August was typically the time for blackcurrant picking. Dry weather was necessary for picking black currants, as they were all handpicked. The bushes would be up to two metres high and the same wide. Hence, you had to get underneath to pick the strigs of currants. Most people used stools to sit and pick. Even wearing waterproofs, you would still get soaking wet because to be able to pick them, your arms would have to be vertical from the elbows, and rain would always run down inside your sleeves. Currants were picked into trugs, each holding 6 pounds of fruit. The pickers would then bring them to our weighing station, where we would carefully tip them into large wooden trays holding 14 pounds, one stone (6.36 kg) of currants. Each trug would earn the picker 3d, or thrupence (three old pennies). The weekly wage for farm workers in 1963 was under £10.00 for a 45-hour week. Casual workers would be paid far less, around £5.00, on a piecework basis. Some would work 9 or 10 hours a day, 7 days a week, over the picking season, and would often pick 500

trugs a week to earn top money. Many good pickers earned well over their weekly wage. The trays would be stacked onto a trailer and transported to the farmyard, where they would be hand-stacked onto a shunt lorry (a small lorry used for transporting to the distribution company). Once the shunt lorry arrived at the distribution yard, we would have to transfer the trays to the main transport lorry (trunk lorry) that would take the fruit to the London or Provincial markets. Once loaded, it had to be covered with a tarpaulin and tied down with ropes using a lorry driver's knot called a doofer (that'll do fer now). It was my job to help, holding the rope tight under the hooks while the driver did the doofer on the other side.

On holidays and non-school days, I was allowed to go with the drivers up to the London markets, leaving at 5:30 at the latest, and arriving at the old Covent Garden market after trundling up the old A2, with no motorways in those days. Two hours up, two hours to unload and reload the empty exchange trays and two hours back, we would be back at the yard by 11 pm, back home to bed, ready to start again in the morning if I could get up. Some of the market porters were nice, and they would club together and pay me a shilling a week for helping them, which was equivalent to picking four trugs. Some of the porters were, in my eyes, not so lovely, in fact, scary East End boys. I didn't have to worry, though, as my drivers, coincidentally, were Kenny and Ray Baldock, two of our local tough boys, known jocularly as the rent collectors, so I always felt safe. Even so, sometimes I refused to get out of the lorry. One day, in a moment of haste, I ran one of my Dad's tractors into Ray's lorry, scratching the chrome bumper. In fear that something nasty was about to happen, I was going to hide somewhere, but he caught me. He put his hand on my head, gave me a sixpence and said that it was payment, so I didn't do it again.

ASHWELL WESTON

5 minutes with... Cory Kattenhorn from

*TellusabitaboutD&HVehicleDefence?

D&Hisyourlocalprofessionalsupplierandinstallerofaermarket securitytovehicles,runbyCory,assistedbyhispartnerLaura.

*Howdidyoustartyourbusiness?

In late 2022, whilst working on a proacve policing team I was dealingwiththeshockinglevelofthesofRangeRoversandother keyless vehicles, around South Herordshire and Bedfordshire. I was speaking to a resident who'd not had their vehicle stolen and they were explaining to me about a Ghost Immobiliser, which preventsthevehiclefrombeingstolen.Theyexplainedtheprocess ofsengtheimmobiliseranddemonstratedhowitworked,which led me to contacng Autowatch to learn more about their productssothatIcouldinformothersoftheirsuccess.'Prevenon First' is a term thrown about by Herordshire Constabulary, so it appeared to me a 'no-brainer' that devices like the Ghost would preventthetheintheﬁrstplace,regardlessofwhetherpotenal thieveshadduplicatedthevehicleskey.

It dawned on me that I could supply and ﬁt these devices, instead ofpurelyjustreferringotherstothem.

In my spare me I took on numerous training courses so that I too would be able to install those devices as well as others, thus leadingmetostarngD&HVehicleDefenceandgengourTASSA accreditaon.

*WhatproductsdoD&HVehicleDefenceOﬀer?

We're incredibly picky with our products, we only supply products that we have ourselves seen work; if we lose faith or doubtaproduct,weremoveitfromourstockimmediatelyunl we are sasﬁed that it works as expected. Based on that, we supply the Autowatch Ghost Immobiliser which is the original Can-Bus immobiliser. This device is concealed within a wiring loom within the vehicle and prevents the vehicle from driving awaywithoutausercreatedpincodebeingenteredﬁrstofall.

We then oﬀer insurance approved trackers from MetaTrak and Global Telemetrics, both oﬀer Thatcham category 7, 5 and 5+ devices which are insurance approved and can lead to lower premiumswhenrenewingyourinsurance.

*Whatvehiclesdotheseproductsworkon?

These products work on everything from Motorcycles, campervans, normal cars and your more execuve vehicle. Unfortunately, when it comes to vehicle the, thieves are not picky and will oen be stealing a vehicle for it to be stripped for parts. So anything with keyless entry and start are incredibly vulnerable as well as desired; it's oen a misconcepon that only 'higher end' vehicles are stolen. Quite oen it's vehicles such as Ford or Toyota that are taken as spare parts are oen needed.

WithvehiclessuchasCampervanswerecommenddevicessuch astheMetaTrakS5Deadlock,whichallowsforthevehicletobe remotely immobilised via an app. This will prevent the vehicle from starng, allowing you to safely store it unl you're ready foryournextholiday.

*You'vemenonedTASSA,whoisthisandwhatdoesitmean?

The Tracking and Aermarket Security System Associaon (TASSA) was established by VSST Ltd with the goal to become the foremost innovaon accreding body for aermarket securitysystemsintheUK.

It is important that consumers are empowered with the knowledge that the aermarket products they choose meet stringentstandards.

Highly respected within the industry, we independently set such standards. Our standards are informed by decades of experience, in combinaon with connued learnings from analysis, tesng, research, and collaboraons with the wider industry,

However,wedon'tjustsetthestandard,wecompleterigorous veriﬁcaon checks against them and provide tools such as the TASSA Database to migate risk even further. This provides consumers and industry stakeholders including, Insurers, Law Enforcement and Industry Associaons, with reassurance and conﬁdence.

Youcanlearnmoreatwww.TASSA.pro

*Howdowebookanappointment?

Simply get in touch with us, we'll be more than happy to help guide you in the right direcon to protect your vehicle from the. Email us on info@dandhsoluons.co.uk or call us on 07984034633 , you can also visit our website www.dandhsoluons.co.uk

Sporty Meets Elegant

Mercedes-AMG E 53

HYBRID 4MATIC Saloon

By Tim Barnes-Clay - Follow on Instagram @tbarnsclay

The Mercedes E 53 HYBRID 4MATIC+ showcases disncve design features, including an AMG-specific luminous radiator grille with vercal louvres and broader front wings that enhance the track width. Its aggressive front apron boasts air inlets with vercal fins, while flowing side surfaces lead to recessed door handles.

AMG side skirt panels visually connect the wheel arches, and the ﬂat LED taillights emphasise its solid rear design, enhancing the vehicle's presence. A stylish AMG spoiler lip and a rear apron with a diﬀuser complete the sporty aesthec, complemented by standard 19-inch light-alloy wheels and oponal larger sizes. Inside, the E 53 HYBRID features exclusive grey open-pore ash wood trim accented with an AMG emblem and electrically adjustable sports seats.

On the road, its all-wheel-drive system ensures excellent tracon and driving safety. The AMG RIDE CONTROL suspension with adapve damping provides a remarkable blend of noise insulaon during electric driving and sporty agility.

This suspension system adjusts to various road condions and oﬀers three modes: "Comfort," "Sport," and "Sport+."

The AMG DYNAMIC SELECT driving modes cater speciﬁcally to the hybrid technology, allowing tailored adjustments in drive response, steering, chassis damping, and acouscs. In addion to the standard modes, there are unique hybrid sengs: "Electric" and "Baery Hold."

My recent drive at the Millbrook Proving Ground in Bedfordshire was exhilarang. On the Hill Route, the car thrived as it eﬀortlessly tackled inclines ranging from 6.5% to a massive 26%. Despite its hybrid weight, the brakes remained highly responsive, allowing for smooth navigaon through ght turns. The steering was precise, enhancing my control during every bend and establishing a seamless connecon with the car.

Accelerang to 62mph takes only 3.8 seconds, and it reaches a top speed of 155mph, or 168mph with the oponal Pro Performance Package. Under the bonnet, a 3.0-litre six-cylinder engine

paired with an electric motor provides abundant power. This luxurious saloon comfortably seats ﬁve, boasng highend materials and a reﬁned design.

The E 53 HYBRID is also engineered for eﬃciency, with a 120 kW (163hp) electric motor oﬀering a range of 58 miles for electric-only driving - ideal for urban commutes.

The E-Class has long been a favourite among Mercedes-Benz models, and the E 53 HYBRID further solidiﬁes its legacy as a joy to drive, sure to inspire envy among enthusiasts.

Fast Facts

Mercedes-AMG E 53 HYBRID 4MATIC Saloon -as tested:

Ÿ Max speed: 155 mph

Ÿ 0-62 mph: 3.8 secs

Ÿ Fuel economy: 282.5 mpg

Ÿ Engine layout: V6 3.0-litre + electric

Ÿ Max. power (PS): 593

Ÿ CO2: 22 g/km

Ÿ Price from: £100,855

Formed in 2011 by a group of like-minded individuals from North Hertfordshire, Prince Hamlet Lodge is a modern expression of an ancient tradition. We meet atThe Cloisters in Letchworth, where our formal lodge meetings are followed by a relaxed dinner known as the Festive Board, a time for good food, good conversation, and shared values.

Freemasonry is about friendship, integrity, and making a positive diﬀerence, both in ourselves and in our communities.Alongside our regular meetings, we also host social events and interest groups open to all.

OurAviation Interest Group met on the 2nd July at ShuttleworthAirﬁeld and Museum to attend a talk on the 110 years of aviation manufacturing and history in Hertfordshire.There is always the opportunity to have a lunch in the cafeteria and engage in conversation with both Freemasons and guests alike.

We also proudly support local charities, including Stevenage and North HertsTalking News.They help blind and visually impaired people with audio readings from local newspapers and items of general interest 0

If you're curious about Freemasonry and want to learn more, we'd love to hear from you. Email us at ph9864@gmail.com for a friendly and informal chat.

weapons

Aﬁlm that appears to be a Pied Piper myth retelling, when all but one child from Justine Gandy's classroom mysteriously vanish on the same night at exactly the same time, Justine and the rest of the community are left questioning who or what is behind the children's disappearance.This isn’t random madness. It’s coordinated. It feels like mass psychosis,or more terrifyingly, induced behavior.

materialists

Freakier Friday

8th August Out 15th August

In a world increasingly shaped by consumerism and external validation

Ayoung, ambitious NewYork City matchmaker (Dakota Johnson) ﬁnds herself torn between the perfect match (Pedro Pascal) and her imperfect ex (Chris Evans). From AcademyAward-nominee Celine Song, this sharp, sexy romance exposes the ugly truth of modern dating and how the chase can cost us what matters most.

“Freakier Friday,” a sequel to the beloved 2003 ﬁlm with a multigenerational twist starring Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan, 22 years afterTess andAnna endured an identity crisis,Anna now has a daughter and a soon-to-be stepdaughter.As they navigate the challenges that come when two families merge,Tess andAnna discover that lightning might strike twice.

nobody 2

Out 15th August

Bob Odenkirk returns as workaholic ex-assassin Hutch Mansell.To reconnect with his wife Becca (Connie Nielsen) and their kids, Hutch agrees to a good oldfashioned family trip to Wild Bill’s Majestic Midway. But what’s meant to be a wholesome escape in the sunny little tourist town of Plummerville turns into a full-scale bloodbath, after a minor run-in with some local thugs.

Certiﬁcate RunningTime 18 90 mins 07572 532618

The WI is an organisaon for all women with no polical or religious aﬃliaon.

Baldock and Clothall WI meet in the evening of the second Thursday of the month in the United Reformaon Church. We hold a variety of meengs, some social, some with speakers. In May we held a cake stall at the Fesval Street Fair, raising £437.67 for our nominated charity.

In June as well as our normal meeng we held a more informal evening in the Orange Tree for current and new members to get to know each other, this was very successful so we will repeat it in the future. (Photo)Our August meeng is a garden party (weather perming), as this year marks the 105th anniversary of our WI we are going to have a 1920s theme so are busy researching recipes and music, dressing up is oponal!

We are looking forward to some oungs, including the popular Ladies Day at Newmarket races, and a trip to Burghley house.

Why not drop in to ﬁnd out more, you can aend as a visitor 3 mes, or message us at baldockandclothallwi@gmail.com to ﬁnd out more.

Saturday 9th August

Baldock’s 1st Free Outdoor Cinema

Bakers Close Playing Field

Finding Nemo The Greatest Showman

Roast Chicken & Panzanella

It's August! The kids are on holiday, and many of us are taking a little break (and a well-deserved one at that). We'll be closed for two weeks from Monday, 11th August, for our summer holidays, reopening on Thursday, 28th August.

So, this month's recipe is a nice, simple one that adds a bit of restaurant ﬁnesse using humble ingredients. It's quick and easy to make, comes in at under £3 per head, and is ideal for a relaxed summer evening.

Panzanella is one of those beautiful dishes that tastes like summer in a bowl. It's rustic, honest, and packed with ﬂavour—and best of all, it celebrates the simplest ingredients. Traditionally made to use up stale bread, this Tuscan classic has become a ﬁrm favourite on our menu, especially when tomatoes are at their best: fresh, vibrant, and full of zing.

As always, buy the best ingredients you're comfortable with, and try to shop local if you can. Marinate the Chicken

Ingredients:

Ÿ 4 chicken supremes (wing bone attached)

Ÿ 250ml extra virgin olive oil

Ÿ ½ bunch lemon thyme (or regular thyme)

Ÿ 4 garlic cloves, crushed and peeled

Ÿ Zest of 1 lemon

Ÿ 1 tsp paprika (optional)

Method:

Mix everything except the chicken in a bowl. Once combined, add the chicken and ensure each piece is well-coated. Cover with cling ﬁlm and marinate in the fridge for a few hours—or overnight if you've got time. Let's Cook

Preheat your oven to 190°C.

Place a metal-handled frying pan on a medium-high heat. Add 2 tablespoons of cooking oil, then carefully lay each chicken breast in the pan skin side down, away from you. Let them caramelise for 1 minute, then reduce to a medium heat and cook for another 3 minutes.

Transfer the pan directly into the oven and roast for 8 to 10 minutes. Check that the internal temperature reaches at least 72°C. If it's below that, pop it back in for another 3–5 minutes.

Once cooked, rest the chicken skin side up for at least 5 minutes before serving.

Let's Make the Panzanella

Ingredients:

Ÿ 350g sourdough bread (ideally 3–4 days old)

Ÿ 600g ripe tomatoes (a mix of colours & varieties works best)

Ÿ 120g cucumber (about half a medium one)

Ÿ 60g red onion

Ÿ 15g capers (drained)

Ÿ 12g fresh basil (about a small handful)

Method:

Tear the sourdough into rustic, bite-sized chunks. If it's not very stale, pop it in the oven at 160°C for 10–15 minutes until dry but not coloured. Let it cool.

Roughly chop the tomatoes and keep all the juices—they're full of ﬂavour. Thinly slice the cucumber and red onion. If the onion is strong, soak it in cold water for 10 minutes and drain.

For the Dressing:

Ÿ 60ml extra virgin olive oil

Ÿ 20ml red wine vinegar (Use a good quality one, it makes all the diﬀerence!)

Ÿ 1 small garlic clove (crushed)

Ÿ 5g Dijon mustard

Ÿ Sea salt & cracked black pepper, to taste Whisk together the dressing ingredients. Taste and tweak—it should be bold and well-balanced.

Let's Plate Up

In a large bowl, toss the bread with the tomatoes and their juices, cucumber, onion, capers, and most of the basil (tear the leaves for the best ﬂavour). Add the dressing and mix well, letting the bread soak up all that deliciousness.

Leave the salad to sit at room temperature for at least 30 minutes before serving. This gives the bread time to soften just enough while keeping a bit of bite.

Finish with a few extra basil leaves and a ﬁnal drizzle of olive oil if you fancy.

Place the bowl in the middle of the table. Plate up the chicken on individual plates and let everyone help themselves to the Panzanella. Don't forget to spoon some of those juices over your salad!

Tip from the Kitchen:

This salad is only as good as your tomatoes, so use the ripest, juiciest ones you can ﬁnd. And don't worry about making it perfect—Panzanella was born out of thrift, not ﬁne dining.

Pair it with a glass of chilled Vermentino or go bold with a Tuscan Sangiovese—either way, you won't be disappointed.

Let me know how you get on with this one. Even if you're new to cooking, this recipe should be a breeze.

Buon appetito! Kish

, Chef patron of

Eight.

DON'TLOOKATTHESUN!

Is the cry we always hear whenever anyone suggests it may be an interesng object to look at. NEVER POINT A CAMERA, BINOCULARS, or TELESCOPE AT THE SUN it will blind you is the next safety cry. But that isn't quite true. Read on….

The Sun, our star, is about 152,000,000 km away and 120 Earths across, prey big eh? It goes through an 11 year cycle with really low acvity at the beginning (not many sun spots of ﬂares) to a solar maximum usually between years 9 and 11 when there is lots of acvity. The kind of acvity that causes the Northern Lights and produces Mass Solar Ejecons (really big ﬂares) that threaten our satellites and Earth electronics if they come the right way. So probably prey interesng to have a look at?

A quick aside, everyone has looked up at the night sky and marvelled at its vastness, the fascinang stars and the planetary target, the moon. Easy eh?

The same is not true of the Sun. It's really diﬃcult to look at it without blinding yourself so not many people

have actually manage to look up at our star and witness what goes on. UNLESS you have access to some specialist equipment, like those who came to the LDAS stand at the recent Baldock Street Fair and looked at the Sun through special solar scopes. There were 2 types available. White light: which lets you see the whole disc with sun spots picked out as black dots against the brightness of the sun and hydrogen alpha (a ﬁlter that only lets very speciﬁc wavelengths of light through) which lets you look at the bubbling surface, detail of sun spots, and solar prominences squirng out from the edge

A sunspots are temporary areas on the surface where gas is being squirted out forming loops as it is

dragged back by the Suns gravity. They are usually several “Earths” across and when you see them at the edge of the disc they are prominences where you can see the gas squirng into space, the ones you see are 5 or six “Earths” from edge to p. When the gas that creates these prominences is moving fast enough it breaks away from the suns gravity and hurtles into space. This is a Mass Coronal Ejecon, BEWARE!

Want to know more? Interested in the stars? Have a look at the Letchworth & District Astronomical Society website www.LDAS.org.uk or ﬁnd us on Facebook

Baldock’s favourite for 33 years

Rob met Jess at the boot sale, later got down on one knee, A passing wag shouted: “Oﬀer him 50p!” I

still see them occasionally, She calls him 'Her 50p!'

While pushing a

pram with triplets, “Got a bargain - they were free!” Baldock Bard

We're back 6.30 sellers, 7 am buyers See you there!

‘WE GUARANTEE TO BEAT* your existing home insurance renewal quote in the SG postcode.’

For most people their home is the biggest investment they will ever make and the things they keep in it are their most prized possessions.

As your local broker our role is to select the policy most suited to your individual needs. Ensuring peace of mind for our customers is at the heart of what we do.

To make sure your most treasured possessions are properly covered contact the Emperor of insurance

Squid Game - Young-Hee Mini Holdem

Unboxing EXG Pro's Young-Hee Holdem feels a bit like stepping into Nelix's surreal arena. The miniature stand is a cheeky homage to the giant doll from Squid Game, right down to the orange dress, yellow blouse and that fixed, almost eerie stare. At just under four inches tall, it's smaller than you might expect, but the sculpt and paintwork are sharp enough that fans will recognise Young-Hee instantly. Because this is officially licensed Squid Game merchandise, there's comfort in knowing it's not a knock-off – the details are straight from the show.

Funconally, the ﬁgure is as simple as it looks. Her outstretched arms cradle your phone or earbuds and will happily hold onto pocketable gadgets or jewellery. A concave plaorm on her skirt stops things sliding around and the weighty base keeps it upright. Set a regular-sized smartphone in portrait or landscape and she grips it without complaint. Anything bigger will overhang and look precarious,

so your iPad Pro or Switch belongs elsewhere. As a cradle for a pair of AirPods or keys, though, it's a dy lile organiser.

Young-Hee is part of EXG Pro's “Holdems” line of Mini Cable Guys, so if you've collected others there's fun in lining them up on a shelf. The price point of £17.99 feels reasonable for an oﬃcially licensed collecble. The moulded plasc doesn't have a premium he and there's no built-in cable management, so you're not buying engineering genius here – you're buying the novelty. The point isn't producvity; it's that lile smile you get every me you glance over and remember the series.

What about desk footprint? Because the doll stands just over four inches, she occupies roughly the same space as a mug. For me, that meant she sat happily alongside my monitor and acted as a playful paperweight when she wasn't holding my phone. I did wish for a so

rubber pad where the phone rests to prevent scratches, but a quick DIY soluon solved that. The bright colours aract dust, yet a gentle wipe keeps her looking fresh.

My me with Young-Hee was less about crical tesng and more about enjoying a quirky piece of pop-culture tech. If you love Squid Game and appreciate desktop oddies, this mini stand oﬀers a charming way to prop up your phone and bring a slice of K-drama weirdness into your everyday setup.

Available from Amazon via this link hps://amzn.to/40D6iLj

Or scan the QR Code

A Short Stay in Girona

We arrived at Girona airport and caught the No.63 bus to Girona bus staon. Then a short €10 taxi ride to our hotel and wow what a great surprise! The URH Palau de Bellavista hotel - The name of the hotel lived up to its translaon in Catalan. The Palace of a beauful view.

The hotel's posion is just out of town and on a hill side with a great view over the city of Girona and surrounding area, a small pool on a picturesque terrace with a well stocked bar. The room was larger than the norm with a spacious bathroom and a very eﬃcient air condioner.

Just outside the hotel is the number 7 bus stop. For just €1.40 it takes you to the City Centre. Walking back over river and to your le is the tourist informaon oﬃce.

Staff are very helpful to point out places to visit: the historic Jewish quarter, the Cathedral with it 89 steps up to the entrance and the oldest church in Girona close by. There are numerous museums too-and some free for over 65s (like me). Lots of lile Tapas bars and coffee shops line the narrow cobbled streets where you can try delicious local cakes and fine seafood. One place that I would recommend is the exceponal burger at Eat Sleep Cycle Cafe at Carrer Del Vern.

In the evening, we either ate at the Hotel a la carte restaurant or bused into the centre to eat at a restaurant or bar. The one that stood out for us was the restaurant Francine where we enjoyed an exceponal Seafood Paella. On one of these nights, we were lucky to see a group of musicians and dancers with paper mâché heads known locally as Gegants perform - a local cultural and vibrant tradion where these characters take centre stage. They are a visual spectacle, adding colour, movement, and a sense of fesvity to the city.

All in all, somewhere diﬀerent, weather 30°, friendly helpful Catalan people, only 2 hrs from Stanstead. The hotel B&B in June cost around £500 per person for 5 nights, including ﬂight, booked with Jet 2 (the Taxi from Hotel to Girona Airport €37) was great value. You get an exceponal hotel at a good price and a great place to recharge your baeries.

What are you waing for?

Les Wilsher

UNIT 12 BONDOR BUSINESS CENTRE, LONDON ROAD, BALDOCK. SG76HP

Please send your local snaps new or old to our facebook page or email info@onourdoorstepbaldock.co.uk

The Virgin hot air balloon over Baldock -Della Potter

Long Horn cows -Sarah Bennett

Badock ladies braving the weather enroute to Hitchin Priory Music event

Baldock Run Talk Run group

Baldock Town FC U18's Womens team after winning their throphy

Great shot from the Ashwell annual Sports Day

Claire looking after the Hospice stall at the Folk Festival

Buff tailed Bumblebee Clothall - Amy Felce

Kevin Thompson

Tony’s CamperVan Tips

If you've booked a campervan with Baldock’s, Kerb 2 Coast or another hire company, and you're now pondering what special places to go and what memorable sites you should stay at - have no fear as help is at hand from our resident campervan trip expert, Tony!

For a small fee, and aer a 30 minute consultaon, Tony will produce a carefully curated suggeson sheet for you which will plot the sites you could stay at, what is on oﬀer there and the price points you will be looking at in order to reserve your spot. This will take into consideraon the type of break you are looking for in your campervan and what sort of amenies you would like to have to hand.

Tony can lean on his years of camper van knowledge and experse in order to curate for you a handpicked shortlist of suggested sites to stay and places to visit whilst on your trip across the UK, France, Belgium and The Netherlands. All this will leave you more me to decide which drinks and food you want to take for that true outdoors campervan al fresco dining experience and make memories for a lifeme!

If you would like to ﬁnd out more, drop Tony's T6 Tips a line at streetspiritcic@icloud.com and we can start making those campervan memories together!