On Our Doorstep Baldock December 2025 by onourdoorstepbaldock

Cover photo by Jane Evans

Photography

Welcome

We can't quite believe that's another year almost over! The last few months of the year always seem to ﬂy by in the run up to Christmas. The dark evenings have closed in and made nightly dog walk a little less scenic, and the frosty weather has us all scraping ice oﬀ the cars every morning.

The local festivities are already underway, Father Christmas and his team of merry helpers, (Baldock Rotary) have already begun making their rounds through the streets of Baldock and the surrounding villages. If you do spot him on his travels, don’t forget to take a photo for next months Gallery page,

You may have spotted the Christmas lights going up around town recently. The big tree will have been installed just before this issue reaches your doorstep, as always huge thanks to Stuart & Katie Matthews (Mr & Mrs Christmas) and their team for organising the tree and decorations again this year. The decorations include personalised baubles sponsored by local businesses and families wishing you a Merry Christmas.

This year Baldock's Christmas Fayre is kicking oﬀ with the ‘Warm Up Party’ on Friday 5th December with live music arranged by Gee La Roche, food stalls, a mini fun fair for the little ones and of course a bar

The main fayre will take place from 11am on Saturday 6th and will feature plenty of stalls selling unique Christmas gifts and treats. Our own Baked By Blondies will be in the Church Hall with her delicious brownies. This all leads up to the big light switch on at 6pm. Please spare a thought for all the volunteers who give up their time, and especially the local businesses who sponsor and support these events. Without them, these events simply wouldn't happen. Remember to support our town businesses to help keep them alive

Talking local Tapps has a fantastic array of Christmas trees and decorations again this year, and Oakleys Farm are now taking orders for their fresh farm reared turkeys, be sure to get your order in early to secure yours for the big day.

As always, a huge thank you to all of the lovely businesses that have helped to support the magazine again this year and our brilliant delivery team.

Happy Christmas to you all.

info@onourdoorstepbaldock.co.uk or 07973

StMary'sJuniorSchool –SportsReport:

It's been a fantasc term of sport at St Mary's Junior School. We've taken part in a whole host of events already, with even more acon sll to come before Christmas. Football, netball, tag rugby, cross-country… you name it, we've probably played it. And if that wasn't enough, we've got dance and dodgeball on the horizon too, as well as a few more football and netball ﬁxtures scheduled before we break up.

The best part? Loads of our children have already represented the school, and they've all done us proud with brilliant eﬀort, teamwork and smiles that lasted longer than some of the matches.

Our netball teams have been one of the standout stories this term. They've impressed at friendly fesvals and shown huge promise as we head towards the tournaments of 2026. If they keep improving at this rate, we may need to build a bigger trophy cabinet.

In football, our girls made their debut as a brand-new team and what a debut it was. They were superb all day, playing with real determinaon and teamwork, and ﬁnished an incredible third place, just one point behind the eventual winners.

Meanwhile, our cross-country squads connued their tradion of turning up, running well, and collecng medals like they're going out of fashion. Many of our children earned individual and team medals. The performance of the term came from our Year 5 boys, who, out of 60 runners, ﬁnished 1st, 2nd and 9th – a phenomenal team eﬀort that earned them gold with one of the highest points totals in the compeon's history. Their success means several children will now go on to compete at the county event in January, which we're already excited for.

Inside the school, sport is thriving too. Our intra-house compeons have been full of energy, friendly rivalry and plenty

of brilliant moments – and every child has thrown themselves into PE this term (somemes literally). The enthusiasm from all year groups shows that 2026 is shaping up to be a very promising year for St Mary's sport.

So whether it's football boots, netball bibs, running spikes or dodgeballs ﬂying through the air, St Mary's is on ﬁne form. And we're only just geng started.

Sco Hagland - PE Coordinator

Sandon JMI School, a unique rural primary school founded in 1835 in the heart of Sandon, has won the ﬁght to stop Herordshire County Council proceeding to closure consultaon, much to the relief of the whole community.

Following a passionate campaign from governors, parents and residents, Herordshire County Council has conﬁrmed that Sandon JMI School will be open for the academic year 2026-27, giving valuable me to secure the school's long-term future.

Over 300 parents, staﬀ and villagers signed a peon and wrote leers to the Council, highlighng the unique oﬀering that a village school like Sandon provides.

They also submied a comprehensive recovery plan, demonstrang that the school was already on the road to recovery.

Local MP Chris Hinchliﬀ also backed the campaign.

“This is a real victory for Sandon and the future of our village schools,” said Mr Hinchliﬀ. “Sandon JMI is more than a place of educaon—it's a vital part of the community. I'm proud to have stood with parents, staﬀ, and governors in making the case for its future.”

Under Sandon JMI's new Headteacher, Ricky Boxall, the school is already seeing a rise in pupil numbers with growing demand from families parcularly from surrounding towns seeking a choice from the larger mainstream oﬀering.

“We are hearted by the immediate and passionate response and it's clear how much this school means to everyone. Our school offers a truly special environment. We're proud to offer fully accredited Forest School lessons in a unique rural seng and with our small class sizes and dedicated inspiring staff, every child is celebrated and thrives.” said headteacher, Ricky Boxall.

Part of the recovery plan includes the reopening the Cygnets preschool and welcoming new children from April 2026.

Get ready to wrap up warm and hit your local high street - the Farmers on Christmas Lights Tour is back for its ﬁh year! For one night only, the tractor rally will see over 100 fesve farm vehicles hit the roads of Baldock, Letchworth and Hitchin, bringing the magic a few days before Christmas. It's the biggest free, family-friendly event of its kind in Herordshire and is certain to put a smile on the faces of all who stop to watch.

This wonderful event is organised by local farmers in aid of Garden House Hospice Care, with every penny raised in donaons directly supporng our cause. At a me where we need our community to gather around us most, the Farmers on Christmas Lights Tour cannot be missed!

Ÿ 6pm – Baldock

Ÿ 6.45pm – Letchworth

Ÿ 7.30pm – Hitchin

Ÿ Our aim is to raise £50,000 in donaons, which will pay for one week of care for all paents on our Inpaent Unit over the fesve season, including the cost of nursing and our doctors, and running costs like water and keeping the unit clean. Every pound raised really will make a diﬀerence.

Ÿ Volunteers will be visible with collecon ns on the night, or you can donate via hps://justgiving.com/campaign/xm astractors25 or by texng TRACTOR to 70460 to donate £5. Texts will cost the donaon amount plus one standard network rate message.

Letchworth on the International Stage

A huge weekend of rugby as Bombay Gymkhana Rugby Club celebrates its incredible 150th anniversary, with vising internaonal teams - and several of our own Letchworth Rugby Club players proudly represenng!

The men took to the ﬁeld with the Brish Asian Rugby Associaon (BARA) team, while Lioness Vic Sparkes lined up for the Wooden Spoon Women’s team

We’re thrilled to share that the BARA team performed fantascally throughout the tournament and took the Champion tle in style, with a brilliant 57–12 win in the ﬁnal!

A fantasc achievement and an unforgeable experiencecongratulaons to everyone involved!

What a day for the Lionesses What a day for the Lionesses

– Women & Girls Rugby!

Saturday 15th was one to remember as the Lioness Academy girls headed to the iconic StoneX Stadium, home of Saracens, for a brilliant fesval of rugby on the main pitch

Not only did they play their hearts out, they also had the privilege of forming the guard of honour for the Saracens vs Leicester Tigers Women match! And a huge moment of pride as two of our younger Lionesses were selected as mascots, running out with Loe Sharp, who captained the side for the day

A superb experience for everyone involved - memories made, conﬁdence boosted, and inspiraon all around.

Does your want daughter to give rugby a try?

- The perfect chanceto get involved, make friends, build conﬁdence, and discover the joy of rugby.

No experience needed. Just enthusiasm.

School Years 3–13

Thursdays, 6.30–7.30pm Letchworth Rugby Football Club Come join the pride and see what rugby is all about!

It might seem a lile early to be thinking about geng rid of your Christmas tree – especially if you haven’t even bought it yet – but it’s something we can help you ck oﬀ your list well in advance!

Aer all the fesvies are over, we’re on hand to take away the hassle for you. We’ll have a team out and about North Herts collecng your trees for recycling between 4th and 9th January 2025. All we ask for in exchange is a donaon to the Hospice.

We are hoping to raise around £30,000 from our Christmas Treecycling scheme this year, which could fund our enre services for two days.

Ÿ Book your Christmas Treecycling collecon here: hps://www.ghhospicecare.org.uk/e vent/christmas-treecycling

Ÿ We can collect Christmas trees from postcodes SG1-9, SG15-18 and Al6

Peace of Mind with Exceptional Range

New Citroen e-C5 Aircross e-C5

The Citroën C5 Aircross has been relaunched, providing a signiﬁcant makeover for an SUV crossover that had been on the market for eight years.

Alongside the new second-generaon model, an all-electric variant, the e-C5 Aircross, has been introduced. This marks the ﬁrst Citroën built on Stellans' STLA Medium plaorm, which is also shared with models like Peugeot's e-3008 and e-5008.

The Standard Range e-C5 Aircross can accelerate from 0-62mph in 8.9 seconds, while the Extended Range version I'm tesng achieves this in a marginally quicker 8.8 seconds. However, both are slower than the C5 Aircross PHEV, which reaches 62mph in just 8.3 seconds.

Sll, the e-C5 Aircross feels robust, delivering a brisk burst of speed oﬀ the line that's suitable for overtaking on motorways, with the roughness typically associated with the standard C5 Aircross engines pleasantly absent here.

Citroëns are designed more for comfort than thrills, and this is evident in the e-C5 Aircross, which exhibits limited agility. While the steering lacks

feedback, it's precise, making manoeuvres much easier. The French car is comfortable and ultra-so, making city driving a pleasure, although it can jiggle about on uneven surfaces at higher speeds.

Inside, Citroën has made substanal improvements compared with the outgoing model. My ﬂagship Max test car features aracve black and grey upholstery, with a stylish two-er dashboard design. The upper part is black, while the lower secon is clad in light grey suede fabric, extending to the doors and the lid of the central cubby.

The infotainment screen, designed in a unique portrait orientaon, leans against the fabric and is striking. It seamlessly connects to a raised centre console that includes a tray, various buons, and a cupholder. Citroën refers to it as the 'Waterfall' screen, as its cascading appearance resembles ﬂowing water.

The steering wheel has a stylish design with a ﬂat top and boom and only two spokes. The infotainment system impresses with modern graphics and a sharp 13.0-inch

touchscreen. Addionally, a separate 10.0-inch digital instrument display behind the wheel features graphics that are easy to read.

If you're seeking a comfy electric car that remains budget-friendly, the e-C5 Aircross is compelling. It oﬀers aracve looks, an improved interior, good infotainment, and sasfactory performance.

The Extended Range model oﬀers the capability for long trips on a single charge, making it best suited for regular, substanal journeys or for those who prefer fewer charging interrupons.

Fast Facts

Citroën e-C5 Aircross Extended Range – Max Trim:

Ÿ Max speed: 106 mph

Ÿ 0-62 mph: 8.8 secs

Ÿ Electric Range: 422

Ÿ Powerplant: Single electric motor & 97kWh lithium-ion baery pack

Ÿ Power (PS): 230

Ÿ CO2: 0 g/km

Ÿ Price from: £39,345

Dept Q: – Nelix

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!

Mahew Goode steps into the role of detecve Carl Morck in this superb adaptaon by Sco Frank (best known for The Queen’s Gambit and countless acclaimed screenplays) of Jussi Adler-Olsen’s bestselling Department Q novels. Morck is brilliant at his job but catastrophically bad as a human being. His arrogance leads to tragedy: a young uniformed oﬃcer is killed, his partner le paralysed, and Morck himself narrowly survives with only a bullet wound. Forced onto long-term leave, he is confronted, perhaps for the ﬁrst me, with his own mortality and a creeping sense of guilt that he resists at every turn. Watching that guilt seep into his soul across nine episodes is as compelling as the dark, intricate plot unfolding above it.

When Morck returns, unwelcome, to duty, he is banished to the basement and tasked with heading up a new unit, Department Q, set up to invesgate cold cases. In reality, it’s a PR exercise for a beleaguered Edinburgh police force (granite and gothic replacing Nordic snow to striking eﬀect), and Morck is the department’s sole member aer its budget is siphoned oﬀ elsewhere. Gradually, he assembles a ragtag team: cadet Rose (Leah Byrne), recovering from a breakdown and desperate to escape desk duty; DI James Hardy (Jamie Sives), contribung from his

Thank you

hospital bed; and Akram Salim (Alexej Manvelov), a refugee and former Syrian police officer, who selects their first case, the disappearance of ambious young advocate Merri Linguard (Chloe Pirrie) four years earlier. Her story runs in parallel, occasionally veering into claustrophobic territory that some viewers may find hard to watch. The series is meculously craed. Its deliberate pacing may feel slow to some, but it allows for a character-first approach that richly rewards paence. Soon, we’re drawn into a web of missing jewellery, brutal past violence, rural isolaon, urban horrors, and instuonal failings, from incompetence to outright corrupon, all laced with the mental, emoonal and physical suffering people inflict on one another for love, revenge, or sheer malice.

Performances are uniformly excellent: Mark Bonnar as Linguard’s unseling boss, Kelly Macdonald as Morck’s mandated therapist, and Goode himself as the gaunt, haunted centrepiece. The script, by Chandni Lakhani and Stephen Greenhorn, is razor-sharp, capturing Morck’s bing sarcasm while making us sympathise with colleagues who’d happily see him tossed over the same ferry rail from which Linguard supposedly fell. A grim, gripping treat – but a treat nonetheless.

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!!

Centre Hitchin Ltd

Podiatry is back at Amber Health!

We are delighted to say that we are once have a Podiatrist as part of our team. Lilian Caxton has joined us and oﬀers a wide range of roune treatments (see our advert), as well as custom orthocs. No maer what age you are it is important to look aer your feet. Your feet are complex made up of 26 bones, 33 joints, 9 muscles and 57 ligaments. They may take you 100,000 miles, in your lifeme so it's deﬁnitely worth looking aer them. Are you tying your shoes correctly?

Tying your laces with your foot flat on the floor does not create a good fit. Flex your foot up towards your shin bone. This will mean your feet will move around less in your shoes, prevenng blisters, dry and hard skin.

Verrucae are just bad luck?

Not really! The virus that causes a verruca gets implanted through breaks in the skin.

If your soles are dry and cracked, the risk of geng verrucae is more likely. To avoid this, keep your feet well moisturised and wear ﬂip ﬂops at the pool.

Is it an in-growing toenail?

Many paents believe they have an in-growing toenail. The term usually refers to nails that have pierced the skin causing a wound. Involuted nails are caused when the edge of your nail is curling inwards but has not penetrated the skin.

Not all heel pain is related to the plantar fascia.

While the majority of heel pain aﬀecng the heel are plantar fasciis related, this is only the case if the pain is on sole of your foot, where the plantar fascia is located, and even then, somemes it isn't plantar fasciis. Heel pain on the sides and back of the heel

is likely some other condion. The Importance of your ankles 85% of ankle injuries are sprains. Sprains can lead to ankle sffness with reduced co-ordinaon of your ankle and lower limbs – walking becomes compromised and other joints further up your body compensate for these changes leading to imbalances elsewhere. For good balance, your brain relies on signals from your inner ear, vision and receptors in your muscles. Taking one of these away has a dramac effect of your balance. Try standing on one foot with your eyes open, then with your eyes closed, you will noce the difference. Good mobility in your feet is important as they are your body's connecon to the ground.

Amber Health 01462 490141

Baldock Gardens

By Graham Tapp

December is here, and so is winter. As I write this piece, I have the news and weather on television. It's Monday, November 17th, the first really cold day of the year. I've already had thermals and gloves on. The news is that the wind is shifting to come from the north, and it's going to get significantly colder. Snow is on the way. I am not amused by the thought of the days of cold to come. November 19th, woke up to snow. Don't get me wrong, I love snow for skiing and winter sports, but only in the right places, not here; all we get is cold, slushy stuff, not suitable for sledging, but slippery enough to stop our highways and railways. Back in the 1960s and 70s, I was living on the North Downs in Kent. We used to get weeks of snow, days off school, and sometimes our village would be completely cut off. What else would a young boy want? I used to love it then, but not so much these days.

Cold weather does have its benefits, though. Take apple trees, for example, they need a certain number of hours below a specific temperature to bear fruit. Most apple trees need 700 hours of cold, but some need 1000 hours. Pear trees need 200 to 500 hours, plums need 600 to 1000. all at 7 degrees centigrade or lower. If this is not achieved, then breaking dormancy will be delayed, and leafing and flowering will be delayed, causing poor fruit quality, if any fruit at all.

Some of our ornamental and woodland trees also need a cold spell, or they will break leaf later than they should. Sometimes you might see large beech or oak trees with one part of the tree still dormant while the rest is starting to show signs of leafing. This is known as unfulfillment, and is caused by part of the tree being sheltered from some of the cold. We have three beech trees at the back of our house, two copper beech and one green. This unfulfillment event is often seen in them, but you have to be very observant and quick to see it. When we moved here 39 years ago, I took photographs ofthe strange event because I had no idea what it was, nor did

anyone else I spoke to. I thought the trees were dying. Many years later, we now know exactly what it is.

Cold weather is very often the best way to break up clumpy ground in the garden or allotment. The soil is usually dug over in the autumn and left untouched through the winter, allowing frost and cold to break it down into a finer tilth. This is especially good for clay soils and saves hours of hard work.

An old housewife's tale holds that Brussels sprouts need days of frost to make them taste better. I disagree with many on that, but I do agree that it changes the texture. I eat any variety of Brussels sprouts any time of the year, even raw in salads.

Many seeds require a period of cold to germinate, and some bulbs need a cold spell to initiate flowering. Treated hyacinths for Christmas flowering are held in a cold store (a large commercial fridge) at a preset low temperature for a set time, mimicking winter but over a shorter period.

Christmas trees need to be grown in a colder climate than we have in Hertfordshire, or they will grow to fast and soft with unintentional gaps and maybe twists; more importantly, they need some deep cold ( frost ) once cut to help fix the needles, so once they are cut they are left laying out for about a week before they are netted and palletised. We generally don't get enough cold in the south of England to keep them fixed for the long term once taken indoors, so some may drop prematurely.

Sometimes, and I say this with caution, you may sometimes get uninvited visitors arriving on/in your Christmas tree. They will usually be in a state of dormancy when they come in due to the cold, but will soon wake up from the warmth of Christmas lights on the tree and the warmth and lighting of your house. Fortunately, they have not evolved over thousands of years to cope with our type of house environment, so they will not harm you or your home; they will die, dry up, and drop to the floor. You probably won't even see them or know they were there; they will just get sucked into your vacuum cleaner the next time you put it around the tree. They are, of course, what our house Robin is looking for when our delivery of trees arrives; the minute we start unwrapping them, he will turn up, flitting around our feet, pecking up the insects that fall out of the Christmas trees.

If you are brave enough, bring some robin feed or bread along when buying your tree from us and see if he will eat it out of your hand. You will have to be very still and quiet. Quite often, customers see our robin flitting in and out of the trees at floor level and mistake it for a mouse, making them jump when we hear a squeak, we know someone has seen the robin.

Screen

The story follows Joan, who, shortly aer dying, arrives in a whimsical aerlife called the “Juncon". There, she is reunited with two men: the man she spent her life with and her ﬁrst love, who died young and has waited decades for her to arrive. In the Juncon, people revert to the age they were when they were happiest. Joan has to choose between them and commit to an eternal future with one of them.

Doug (Jack Black) and Griff (Paul Rudd) have been best friends since they were kids, and have always dreamed of remaking their all-me favorite movie: the cinemac "classic" Anaconda. When a midlife crisis pushes them to finally go for it, they head deep into the Amazon to start filming. But things get real when an actual giant anaconda appears, turning their comically chaoc movie set into a deadly situaon.

Set about a year aer the events of Avatar: The Way of Water, the story follows Jake Sully, Neyri, and their family as they grapple with the grief of losing their eldest son, Neteyam. The conﬂict on Pandora escalates as the Resources Development Administraon (RDA) connues its aggressive colonizaon eﬀorts, this me focusing on the volcanic regions of the planet.

marty supreme Out 26th December Certiﬁcate RunningTime 18 179 mins

This is a ﬁctionalized sports comedydrama set in 1950s NewYork, loosely inspired by real-life table tennis champion Marty Reisman. The story follows the ambitious Marty Mauser, a young man with dreams of becoming a world-class ping-pong player and transforming the sport into a respected cultural force. Facing skepticism from his loved ones, Marty goes "to hell and back in pursuit of greatness,

5 minutes with... Emma from

*HowdidEmmaFletcherHandmadeJewellerybegin?

IﬁrststudiedsilversmithingatSirJohnCassinLondonwhenIwas 16, and the jewellery bug never really le me. I reignited that passion six years ago and set up my Baldock studio with the intenon of creang meaningful, hearelt pieces people can cherish. Everypiecestartsatmybenchandendswithsomeone's storywovenin.

*Whatmakesyoudiﬀerentfromotherjewellers?

I'm very hands-on and when someone trusts me with a bespoke commission, an heirloom piece, or a simple repair, I make the whole experience personal. Jewellery carries emoon so I take me to understand the story behind each piece. I work exclusively with recycled precious metals and ethically sourced diamonds and gemstones, so the jewellery doesn't just look beauful-itfeelsgoodtoo.

*Tellusaboutyourbespokecommissionservice?

Ikeeptheprocessrelaxedandenjoyable,buildingagenuinebond with each client so the final piece truly reflects them. We chat through ideas and refine the design together. Keeping clients updated throughout ensures they feel part of the journey - from thefirstsparktothefinalpolish.

*Doyoucompleterepairsandalteraonstoo?

Yes - I believe jewellery should be worn and enjoyed, not le in a drawer broken or unworn. I handle all repairs, alteraons and refurbishment works with great care, bringing pieces back to their best.

* You oen work with clients' own gold or gemstones - how doesthatwork?

I love working with heirlooms because they retain the emoonal value, while giving pieces a fresh, modern feel. Upcycling client's gold or re-using their gemstones is a real passion of mine - it's sustainable, deeply meaningful, and gives treasuredpiecesanewleaseoflifeinmyclient'suniquestyle.

*Tell us about your memorial jewellery and the meaning behindit.

Memorial pieces are some of the most meaningful works I do, having lost my own mum at 11. They allow us to keep a loved one close in a way that feels gentle and personal. Whether using precious ashes or hair, I approach each piece with the care and respect it deserves. It's not just jewellery - it's a story, aconnecon,andamomentofcomfortpeoplecankeepclose.

* How do you ensure clients feel conﬁdent trusng you with theirpreciouspieces?

I know how much trust it takes handing over something senmental, so I treat every piece with the same care I'd give my own. Everything is handled securely, and I'm honest and transparent. My aim is for people to feel reassured every step oftheway,knowingtheirjewelleryisinsafe,skilledhands.

*Howcouldwemakeanenquiry?

It's simple, call or send a message to book an appointment, we can then have a relaxed consultaon in my studio based in Baldock.There'snopressureorobligaon.

Lookmeintheeye

Having had one of those moments at the self-checkout recently, I got to pondering on how we communicate, the way my mind works is quite baﬄing really.

I'm not a fan of the self-checkout, but I'm not a fan of people in general either, so it's the lesser of two evils for me. Its all very well unl you hear those words, 'unexplained Item in the bagging area'. Its not unexplained at all, I know it's a banana, I can see it. Its there, right in front of me, just because the checkout bot can't tell the difference between a banana and a pot noodle doesn't mean it has to make my life difficult. It defeats the object of using the thing in the first place, because it then throws a hissy fit and gets Dean the checkout guy involved, which then means I have to be pleasant to Dean whilst he informs the bot that it's an idiot, which I've already done, I may have sworn a lile too. Dean scowls at me for geng in the way of him chang up Daisy and waves his 'magic' card in front of the bots beady eye and off I go again as Dean saunters back to Daisy to giggle together at my ineptude.

I believe myself to be much like a lot of people in the modern world. Why talk to someone and have to look at them when we can send a text or DM.

Modern communicaon has become a glorious, convenient crutch. We are fluent in acronyms and emojis. We can express the complex emoon of "mild, slightly hungry confusion" with a simple combinaon of the thinking face and the taco emoji. It's efficient! It's silent! It requires zero effort in posture or actual human vocal cords.

The problem arises when the digital world collides with the physical one. I've become a conversaonal agoraphobic. Pick up the phone or email? No contest. The downside to all of this is that it's fed my ansocial side. I've outsourced my social graces to predicve text. The art of the awkward pause has been replaced by the sasfying thud of a "sent" message. I can edit my thoughts, delete a typo, or cra the perfect opening line for twenty minutes before deployment. Real life oﬀers no backspace buon. When I say something clumsy, the cringe is immediate and permanent. Unfortunately, the more I retreat into the world of digital conversaon, the less I know what to do when I actually have to converse in real me. It's become more obvious to me that my brain needs a pause/edit buon and when I'm able to think before I open my mouth, my face says what I'm really thinking.

As you all well know by now, I cannot bring myself to talk about the C word before December, but as I have to write this in advance, I have lile choice. It's that me again. Neighbours are already decking the halls, and the annual pilgrimage to see who has the worst house decoraons is creeping up on me, it's a guilty pleasure, but pleasure it is indeed.

So, imagine if you will that I'm wring this in December and I'm now oﬃcially Christmassy.

I do wish you all a wonderful Christmas, however you chose to celebrate, or not. Thank you so much for reading my ridiculous ramblings, even if I do end up at the boom of the budgie cage on a monthly basis, I appreciate it and so does the bird. Take care of yourself, be safe, drink lots and most of all, don't get caught.

Nicky

ItsAlmost Time… Christmas Hampers

Wednesday the 10th of December is the date that the hampers are needed by. So its not too late, there's sll me to make one.

Every single one is massively appreciated by the recipients. The hamper can be as big or as small as you want to make it. If you don't or cant make a full hamper that's ok too. I'm more than happy to make hampers up from items that have been donated. So please don't think that because you cant put a full hamper together (for whatever reason) that you cant help in this. As a certain supermarket says ' EVERY LITTLE HELPS!' So just give me a call/text to say that you can help and I will send you the details about where to drop oﬀ.

As always, if you are in need of a hamper or know someone who would appreciate one, let me know and I'll make sure I get one to you. And please don't worry about people ﬁnding out. Its completely conﬁdenal.

Christmas should be a me, where people are happy and not worrying so if we can take a lile bit of the worry away, please let me know.

Hopefully see you on the 10th of December!!

Karen Stephens - 07901821403

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Christmas Dinner Made Easy

As we reach the end of 2025, I can't help but look back and reﬂect on the year. On the 8th of December, Eight celebrates its third birthday, a real pinch-me moment. We opened our small neighbourhood restaurant during one of the most challenging periods for hospitality, yet we've continued to grow.

We've trained some wonderful young people who have since headed oﬀ to university to begin the next chapters of their lives. But more than anything, we've stayed true to what we believe in: great quality local produce, a warm welcome, and fair prices. That ethos, along with the unwavering support of our community, is exactly why we've made it to our third birthday. I say it often, but it's true: had we opened Eight in any other town in North Hertfordshire, I'm not sure we'd have reached this milestone. So thank you.

This month's recipe is dedicated to those of you tasked with cooking Christmas dinner. The aim is simple: make life easier without sacrificing flavour or quality. These tips are the same hacks chefs use to take pressure off while still delivering restaurantstandard results.

Buy Your Ingredients Early

Half the stress of Christmas cooking comes from lastminute shopping. Most ingredients will be absolutely ﬁne if bought two or three days before the big day.

Marinate Your Turkey on Christmas Eve

For deeper ﬂavour, marinate your turkey the night before. Use garlic, thyme, sage, peppercorns, citrus, whatever you enjoy.

* For crowns or breasts: Make a marinade of olive oil, herbs, garlic and lemon zest and massage it in.

* For whole birds: Rub the marinade over the turkey and ﬁll the cavity with a whole bulb of garlic, a whole lemon, half a bunch of thyme and half an onion.

A slightly controversial addition: paprika. It adds warmth, depth and a subtle smokiness that my family loves.

Peel & Boil Your Potatoes the Night Before You lose almost nothing in flavour or texture by boiling them ahead of time. Just cool them fully before chilling. For the crispiest roasties, make sure each potato has at least two cut sides.To get them fluffy inside, simmer from cold water for about 25 minutes until they're just about to fall apart.

Make Your Yorkshire Pudding Batter Before Bed Mix it the night before and leave it covered in a cold place. That's one less job in the morning.

Buy Your Pigs in Blankets Ready-Made

You won't taste any diﬀerence, and the time saved is well worth it.

Use a Quality Stock for Your Gravy

Add veal or chicken stock to your shopping list. It elevates your gravy instantly, you'll feel like James Martin in the kitchen!

Save Any Oxidised Red Wine throughout December, a splash of red wine adds depth and body to your gravy, so don't waste opened bottles that have gone past their best.

Prep Your Veg First Thing

Chop your root vegetables in the morning and place them straight into roasting trays with oil, whole garlic cloves and a few sprigs of thyme. Prep your Brussels too. If you're frying bacon for breakfast, save the fat, it transforms sprouts later.

Plan Your Oven Space

In the restaurant, we cook items that deteriorate the least ﬁrst — carrots, parsnips and joints of meat, as they reheat beautifully. Plus, the resting juices enrich your gravy.

Roast potatoes and Yorkshire puddings go in later so they can head straight from oven to table. While they cook, steam your greens on the hob and ﬁnish your gravy.

Put Some Love Into Your Gravy.

* Reduce 500ml red wine by half.

* Add 1.5 litres of stock plus any resting juices from your roasted meat.

* Reduce by one third, taste and adjust.

You shouldn't need to thicken it, but if you do, a tablespoon of gravy granules works. For a chef's ﬁnish, whisk in 100g cold diced butter oﬀ the heat, then strain through a sieve for a silky-smooth result.

The Most Important Tip

Don't rush special meals. Christmas dinner is about joy — about creating moments you'll look back on fondly. As a good friend of the restaurant always says: “You're here for a good time, not necessarily a long time — so make each moment count.”

I hope these tips help make your Christmas dinner a little easier and a lot more enjoyable. Thank you for supporting us throughout the year — for reading our recipes, trying new ingredients and stepping outside your culinary comfort zone.

From all of us at Eight, we wish you a very Merry Christmas and a happy, healthy New Year. We're especially holding in our thoughts those who aren't able to spend the season with loved ones.

, Chef patron of

Step into Freemasonry

Integrity

Rather than working on buildings like the Masons of old, today's Freemasons focus on building themselves as people of integrity, and membership provides the structure to help achieve that goal.

Friendship

One of the oldest social organisations in the world, Freemasonry is not deﬁned by an ideology. It is open to people from all religions and political persuasionand provides the common foundation for friendship between members many of which will last for life

Respect

With a membership of more than 4000 people in Hertfordshire, Freemasonry brings people together irrespective of their race, religion or any other perceived diﬀerences that can divide us as a society.

Service

Whether participating in events, fundraisingfor a charitable cause or volunteering for public or community organisations, service is at the very heart of Freemasonry. Our members make valuable contributions by donating time, resources and skills.

OperationChristmasChild

Body & Soul, a Baldock group for older people, has sent 15 shoeboxes full of Christmas gis to children across the world. Organised as part of the Operaon Christmas Child appeal, the gis include praccal items such as toothbrushes, warm hats and gloves, and fun treats such as colouring pencils, toy cars and cuddly toys. Last year's boxes were received by children in Malawi, Moldova, Nigeria and across West Africa and the group are looking forward to hearing where this year's donaons will go.

Run by Christchurch Baldock, Body & Soul meets at the Baldock Community Centre on Tuesday mornings from 9.4511.15. The group oﬀers chair-based exercises, singing, games, a thought for the day and - perhaps most importantly - fun and friendship. All are welcome.