On Our Doorstep Baldock November by onourdoorstepbaldock

Welcome

Welcome to November!

The clocks have gone back, the evenings are drawing in, and autumn is deﬁnitely making itself at home. But there's plenty to look forward to this month around town.

Baldock Fireworks returns to Hartsfield School this year, on Saturday the 8th November. As always, there will be plenty of stalls, entertainment, food vans, fairground rides and more Tickets are available online or at the gate on the night, for more details check out page 10. If you're planning your own fireworks display, Tapps Garden Centre has an impressive selection this year. Spend over £100 and use the code SPARK10 for 10% off.

As we move into this reﬂective time of year, the Poppy Appeal runs from 26th October to 8th November, with volunteers collecting at Tesco from 10am to 6pm. A Remembrance Service will be held in town at the War Memorial on 9th November it's always lovely to see so many people coming together to honour the armed forces members who have died in the line of duty.

The Baldock Rotary Club will once again be helping Father Christmas make his rounds, see the list of streets he'll be visiting on page 14. Don't forget to send in your photos of your little ones meeting Santa and we’ll print them on our Christmas gallery page.

Preparations are well under way for this years Christmas Fayre, another fantastic event organised by the Baldock Events Forum. Unlike Letchworth and Hitchin, Baldock receives very little funding for Christmas and the fayre. The event could not take place without the local businesses that sponsor the fayre or the volunteers that give up their time to help make the weekend a huge success. Proceedings kick oﬀ with the Warm Up Party on Friday 5th December, on the High Street in the beer tent, with live music. Followed by the main event on Saturday the 6th with over 50 stalls spanning the High Street, St Mary's Church Hall, The Baldock Arts and Heritage Centre, as well as a family fun fair, heated beer marquee and live music.

Looking forward to seeing you all down there, and celebrate in true Baldock Style! 5

info@onourdoorstepbaldock.co.uk or 07973 788418

BALSTOCK FINAL TOTAL BALDOCK BEAST HAS A NEW BEAST

The Balstock Commiee have ﬁnished gathering funds, counng donaons and have announced the record-breaking sum for Balstock Music Fesval 2025.

This year saw '20 years of Balstock' as Herordshire's biggest free music fesval ﬁlled pubs, venues, the church and community centre with over 200 bands, DJs, stand up comics, dancers and various forms of entertainment, throughout the historic market town of Baldock Five local charies and causes were selected at the start of the year, plus an added 6th charity for the Baldock Events Forum (BEF) to match the individual charity amount. Balstock Music Fesval raised an astonishing £15,000!!!

Meaning £3000 goes towards each of the following: Angles Ausm and ADHD support, Luna Animal Resue, St Marys Church Baldock, Powher Herordshire and The Hitchin Pantry.

The BEF have donated a further £3000 towards The Living Room, Stevenage (adults in Herordshire living with addicon, and their families).

Balstock head honcho G LaRoche said “This is the icing on a parcularly loud and brightly decorated cake. All round this has been one of the most successful fesvals in Baldock's enre history! We need a massive pat on the back for every Balstock rep, volunteer, photographer, musician and staﬀ member. If you see any of Balstock's 8 commiee members out in the town – make sure you buy them a drink.”

Over it's 20 year reign, Balstock music fesval has raised over £100,000 for charies, trusts, local causes and cultural centres. Thank you to every single person who donated.

Balstock will be taking a fallow year in 2026, but will be back in September 2027

Many of you may or may not be aware, but for a cold Sunday morning in February each year there has been a half marathon happening in Baldock, which winds it’s way through all the small local villages in the area.

If you were aware of it then you will know that Richard Harbon from North Herts Road Runners has organised it on behalf of the Baldock Events forum for many years and aer doing it for so long has decided to pass the baton….TO ME!!!

This is a fantasc event which raises money for the community of Baldock and enables the Events Forum to organise other events such as the Big Lunch and free outdoor cinema event which happened earlier this year.

This years Baldock Beast will be run on Sunday the 22nd of February 2026.

If you have the slightest interest in running or know someone who does, then please tell them about it. The registraon details will be out soon.and will be posted on the local towns Facebook pages and the Baldock Beast half marathon oﬃcial FB page too.

If you are not on FB then contact me on 07901 821403 and when the registraon opens I will send you the link.

If you're not a runner or are injured and would like to volunteer, please contact me. Anyone who has ever put on any events knows they can only happen with amazing people who volunteer, so I look forward to hearing from you!

And don't worry Richard will sll be on hand to guide and help us so you will sll see his happy face around.

AnEveningofTimelessJazz

Baldock Rotary recently held its tradional Jazz Concert, this year, in aid of the Brish Heart Foundaon and other charitable causes. Since 1961 the Brish Heart Foundaon has been at the forefront of research that has helped to halve annual deaths from cardiovascular disease in the UK.

The concert held at Knight's Templar School aracted an audience of 110 people who came to enjoy jazz played by the excellent Apex Jazz band and the evening was complemented with a ﬁsh and chip supper and extensive raﬄe.

The band comprised Peter Chapman clarinet, Andy Moran trumpet, Adrian Cosker tenor sax, Marn Ley trombone, Mike O'Neill piano, Len Crawley percussion, Tomas Pederson bass. The band opened the concert with We Shall Walk Through the Streets of the City and played a variety of favourite jazz numbers including All of Me, Carry Me Back to Old Virginia, Maggie, Bugle Boy March, Raining in My Heart, Sheik of Araby, and ended the concert with China Town.

Overall, it was an extremely entertaining evening, complemented by Peter's humorous repartee between the musical numbers, although it was generally agreed that Peter shouldn't give up his day job!!

The evening, expertly organised by Carol and Keith Brier, provided another example of Baldock Rotary Club working in and with the community to provide funds which will be donated to the most deserving charitable causes.

Keith in thanking everyone for their support, be it from aending the concert, helping to stage the evening or donang raﬄe prizes, also thanked everyone for their generosity in making the evening such a success. Parcularly the raﬄe which raised close to £500.

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” to the Community, we would love to hear from you. Our acvies and aims can be summarised as;

Fundraising for charitable causes

Support for the local Community Aid for internaonal disasters

Make new friends and have fun at our organised social events

If you are 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, or email michael.muir@north-herts.gov.uk

Rotarian - Paul Lucke

BALDOCK

FAYRE Christmas

FRIDAY 5TH DECEMBER

WARM UP PARTY

SATRUDAY 6TH DECEMBER THE FAYRE

How are Finances Split in a Divorce?

For families in our community, navigang the end of a marriage can feel overwhelming, especially when it comes to sorng out finances. The decisions made during this difficult me will shape your future, from securing a home to ensuring the financial stability of your children. That's why we've partnered with Katharine Scoot, a Family Solicitor and partner at HRJ Foreman Laws Solicitors in Hitchin, to answer some of the most common quesons about dividing finances in a divorce. Her insights will help you understand the process and provide clarity on a path forward.

Obtaining a Financial Consent Order

Let's start with the end goal which is to reach an agreement about the division of ﬁnances. When this is achieved it's important to make it legally binding with a Financial Consent Order. The selement will consider all the assets and debts of the pares. Pensions are oen one of the largest, yet most overlooked, assets – their valuaon and how they should be divided oen require specialist advice. Businesses, trusts, and inherited wealth are also included.

Without a Consent Order approved by the court, an ex-partner could potenally make a ﬁnancial claim against you in the future, even years aer your divorce is ﬁnalised. This is why obtaining a Financial Consent Order is the only way to ensure a clean break and provide true peace of mind about your future.

Full and frank ﬁnancial disclosure

Before you negoate a selement you need to have a clear understanding of each other's ﬁnances. This means disclosing everything – assets (property, pensions, savings, investments, businesses, vehicles, inheritances) and liabilies (mortgages, loans, credit card debts). Failure to provide full disclosure can lead to signiﬁcant delays, increased legal costs, and potenally penales from the court.

Are pre-marital assets included in a divorce selement?

If there isn't a pre-nupal or postnupal agreement in place, then yes, they can be. While assets you brought into the marriage are inially considered separate, the court will consider all the assets and debts of both pares, regardless of when they were acquired.

Whether a pre-marital asset is included in a divorce selement oen depends on:

How the asset has been used – If a premarital asset has been “mingled” with matrimonial assets (e.g., a pre-marital savings account was used for a house deposit or to fund family life), it can be treated as part of the total matrimonial pot.

The needs of the pares – The court's priority is ensuring the ﬁnancial needs of each party and any children are met. If the total matrimonial assets are not suﬃcient to achieve this, the court can use pre-marital assets to make a fair provision.

Does everything get split 50/50 in a divorce?

While the starng point for asset division may be 50/50, the court will always seek to ﬁnd a 'fair' outcome, for all pares. A range of factors are considered, including:

Ÿ The needs of any children.

Ÿ The income, earning capacity, property, and ﬁnancial resources of each party.

Ÿ The ﬁnancial needs, obligaons, and responsibilies each party has or is likely to have.

Ÿ The standard of living enjoyed during the marriage.

Ÿ The age of each party and the duraon of the marriage.

Ÿ Any physical or mental disability.

Ÿ Contribuons made by each party (ﬁnancial or non-ﬁnancial, e.g. childcare).

Ÿ The conduct of each party (only in very exceponal circumstances).

Ÿ What is spousal maintenance vs. child maintenance?

Child Maintenance is a regular payment from one parent to the other for a child's everyday living costs and is oen calculated by the Child Maintenance Service (CMS).

Spousal Maintenance is paid by one exspouse to the other if there is a significant difference in income and one party cannot meet their reasonable needs. Unlike child maintenance, there is no set formula for its calculaon. Instead, a judge looks at the overall circumstances of the case to decide how much should be paid and for how long. Payments are usually for a defined period or unl a trigger event, . When making a decision, a judge will consider a wide range of factors. These

include each person's needs and ﬁnancial resources, their income and earning potenal, along with the standard of living they enjoyed during the marriage. A judge also considers the age and length of the marriage, the contribuons each person made, and the welfare of any children under 18. The behaviour of each party may also be considered, but this is only in very rare and exceponal cases where it would be unfair to ignore it.

Reaching an agreement through negoaon or through the Court There are several ways to agree on financial maers, with the aim of resolving things as amicably and efficiently as possible. The first route is to seek an agreement through negoaons outside the court, which can take several forms.

You and your ex-partner can negoate through your solicitors, who will provide professional advice and work to ﬁnd a fair soluon on your behalf.

Another opon is mediaon, where a neutral third party helps to facilitate discussions between you, enabling you to work together to reach an agreement.

A third choice is collaborave law, which involves a series of face-to-face meengs with both you and your expartner, all commied to resolving the issues without going to court.

If an agreement cannot be reached through any of these methods, the court can make a final financial order. However, this is always considered a last resort due to the significant me, cost, and stress involved, and because it takes the final decision out of your hands. Work with an experienced family law solicitor

Consulng a specialist solicitor is more than just a formality, it's about protecng the long-term interests of you and your family. Our experienced family law solicitors will ensure the terms are fair, that all legal requirements are met, and that your Financial Consent agreement is properly draed and approved by the court.

For more informaon: www.hrjforemanlaws.co.uk

Email: info@hrjforemanlaws.co.uk

Telephone: 01462 458711

Start Something Powerful New Bentley Connental GT Speed

The new Connental GT Speed carries forward key design elements from Bentley's heritage, dang back to the RType Connental of 1952. This fourth generaon showcases a muscular yet poised proﬁle, reminiscent of a resng ger, showcasing power beneath the surface

The overall design is streamlined with fewer surface interrupons for a more refined look. A significant update is the introducon of single front headlamps, a first for Bentley since the S2 of 1959.

As you take the wheel of the new Connental GT Speed, you're immediately capvated by its cungedge Ultra Performance Hybrid powertrain. The 4.0-litre V8 lump produces 600PS in conjuncon with a 190PS electric motor, resulng in a remarkable peak output of 782 horses. You feel the thrill and hear the snarl as you shoot from zero to 60mph in just 3.1 seconds. And if you keep going without any care for the law, or you're somewhere where the speed limit doesn't maer, then you can reach a top speed of 208mph.

By Tim Barnes-Clay - Follow on Instagram @tbarnsclay

With various driving modes at your disposal - pure electric, electric boost, and a charge mode - you can tailor your experience on the road.

You can feel it's a heavy car, but with a near-perfect weight distribuon of 49:51, thanks to where the hybrid baery is housed, the Bentley maintains stability and accommodates a wide range of driving styles.

Within the cabin, mood lighng beaufully highlights the sculptural design of the seats and doors, oﬀering a choice of diﬀerent colours to create the perfect ambience for any occasion.

In terms of space and praccality, the Connental GT Speed oﬀers a truly luxurious experience for the front seat occupants. The Bentley provides a generous amount of room for two-up, but rear space is more limited, typical of a coupe.

If you're aer a luxury grand tourer, the GT Speed is uerly worthy of consideraon, oﬀering the agility of a sports car while maintaining fabulously reﬁned levels of comfort.

This Bentley is a car that meets and surpasses expectaons - and the cherry on top is its resonant growl, which is simply intoxicang when you put your foot down.

Fast Facts

New Bentley Connental GT Speed:

Ÿ Max speed: 208 mph

Ÿ 0-62 mph: 3.1 secs

Ÿ Fuel economy: 217 mpg

Ÿ Engine layout: The 4.0-litre V8 + electric

Ÿ Max. power (PS): 782

Ÿ CO2: 29 g/km

Ÿ Price from: £236,000

Screen

Set in the near-future, "The Running Man" is the top-rated TV show, a deadly compeon where contestants must survive 30 days while being hunted by professional assassins. Desperate for money to save his sick daughter, Ben Richards is convinced by the show's producer to enter the game as a last resort. Rangs soon skyrocket as Ben becomes unexpected fan favourite.

1916. As war rages on the Western Front, the Choral Society in Ramsden, Yorkshire has lost most of its men to the army. The Choral's ambious commiee must engage a new chorus master, and despite their suspicions that he has something to hide, their best bet seems to be Dr. Henry Guthrie (Ralph Fiennes) -- driven, uncompromising, and recently returned from a career in Germany.

The ﬁnal chapter of the untold story witchs of Oz. Now demonized as the Wicked Witch of the West, Elphaba lives in exile in the Ozian forest, while Glinda resides at the palace in Emerald City, reveling in the perks of fame and popularity. As an angry mob rises against the Wicked Witch, she'll need to reunite with Glinda one last me and see each other, with honesty and empathy to transform herself, and all of Oz.

Returning to the house where his family was brutally murdered during the war, "the man who refuses to die" dismantles it, loads it on a truck, and is determined to rebuild it somewhere safe in their honour. When the Red Army commander, who killed his family, comes back hellbent on ﬁnishing the job, a relentless cross-country chase ensues, full of clever, unbelievable acon set pieces.

‘Hip, Hip, Hooray, Santa Claus is comming to town He would love to see you to say hello’

Father Christmas assisted by Baldock Rotary Club will once again be visiting the streets of Baldock and surrounding villages during December and making a collection for local charities

& Date

Baldock Rotary Club Christmas Sleigh 2025 Route

Common) Baldock (Clothall Common) Baldock (Clothall Common)

Wayward: – 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!

Wayward is the kind of show that makes you wonder if your streaming service has started microdosing. Created by Mae Marn, this genre-bending thriller is equal parts psychological drama, cult exposé, and small-town fever dream. It's like Midsommar met Girl, Interrupted at a farmer's market and decided to raise troubled teens together.

Set in the eerily idyllic town of Tall Pines, Vermont, Wayward follows transgender cop Alex and his pregnant wife Laura as they sele into a small community so regressive and backward looking it praccally composts its own secrets, buried in the deep for evermore. Precisely the sort of place to not open its arms to a transgender cop! At the heart of the town is the eerie Tall Pines Academy, a therapeuc boarding school run by Evelyn (the everengaging Toni Collee), who rides a tricycle and delivers hugs with the same intensity as her icy stares and pours tea which you may want to give a miss. Collee is magnec, unseling, and somehow makes oversized nted glasses look like a genuine threat. She is the common hook and thread through the whole series. Tall Pines Academy is one of those boarding schools which American parents send their troubled teens to – the type that kidnaps them from their beds at night, bundles them into a van and drives them hundreds of miles to the middle of nowhere to 'save' them.

When they arrive, they are fed a healthy dose of self-help crypc

mystery – or are there wider powers at play which change the troubled teens personas?

Visually, Wayward is stunning. The contrast between lush forests and instuonal dread is striking, and the recurring door mof is haunng, unl it isn't. That's the rub: Wayward is brilliant at building suspense but occasionally trips over its own ambion. The pacing wobbles at mes, the dialogue sﬀens, and the mystery somemes feels like it's playing hide-and-seek with itself. There are elements of Twin Peaks here, which I loved, and elevate it's potenal cult like status – this really is a genre cocktail of a series from one episode to the next.

Sll, the show's commitment to exploring generaonal trauma, identy, and the dark underbelly of “healing” instuons is commendable. Wayward is a slow burn that occasionally ﬂares into full-blown madness. The show's real strength lies in its characters, each wrestling with identy, trauma, and the seducve pull of belonging to something, with a compelling vision, which Evelyn provides in buckets. The teen duo of Abbie and Leila, who ﬁnd themselves against their will at Tall Pines Academy, amongst a great ensemble of other ' inmates' steal scenes with a friendship that's intense, messy, and heartbreakingly real. Their rooop rebellions and emoonal entanglement are the heart of the series, even as the plot spirals into culsh rituals and weaponized therapy-speak.

With 20 years experience selling homes locally

Thank you to 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!!

I richmonds-coaches.co.uk

GoodfortheSoul

For my landmark birthday, I received a gi more profound than any item I could have imagined: an excess of moments that are truly "good for the soul." I want to share two of them with you. In the months leading up to my birthday, friends and family began to give themselves away. Colleagues at work would greet me with jokes like, “You don't look that old!” or say, “It's not so bad being a pensioner!” I knew my sneaky family was plong. Dread ﬁlled my heart, as they are well aware of my dislike for surprise pares. By August, the hints and slips from everyone around me conﬁrmed it: a surprise was coming. My dearest friend, whom I rarely see, texted to tell me to get “proper posh” as she was treang me to dinner for my birthday, and a musician friend of mine let slip he'd rewrien a song for me before awkwardly leaving the room. The jig was up.

The night before my birthday, I was picked up and told we had to visit my daughter in the pub before dinner. Yeah, right. Nothing, however, could prepare me for the absolute shock of walking into the Cock, the pub and hearing everyone "sing" Happy Birthday. Trying to take in everyone who was there, seeing so many people genuinely happy to see and celebrate with me, completely blew me away.

Somemes I forget that I'm a good person and that people actually like and love me. Being reminded in such a brilliant way was truly amazing.

My fantasc children's present to me was a weekend in Poland, with all of them. They are the absolute best people to be around, they really are so much fun when we are together, and I knew it would be an epic weekend. A few weeks ago, we set oﬀ, Obviously I had an oversized bag (which I had measured carefully to ensure that I was fully compliant, and they charged me sixty squid for the privilege, what a con that its, my bag was no bigger than many of the rucksacks and even some handbags, but of course it was me that was done for it.

What an amazing and thoughtprovoking weekend it turned out to be. Krakow is beauful, and I felt completely safe wandering around with no need to cling to my belongings. The people are so friendly, despite our stubborn Brish refusal to accept that English isn't the only language spoken in this rather large world. On the Sunday, we visited Auschwitz and Birkenau. Any hubris I was carrying was lost there. I was truly humbled by the experience.

I can't describe it; I just cannot ﬁnd the right words.

I walked around with a limp for three hours (the night before I had stumbled oﬀ a pavement and twisted my ankle, I may have been a lile drunk at the me), my back hurt, my feet hurt, knees hurt. But how could I moan about it, what possible excuse could I make to moan about what ailed me in a place where millions were systemacally and with breathtaking eﬃciency, tortured and put to death. It broke me, I walked out of that gas chamber and sobbed. Aer that, we spent the evening geng drunk again. That's privilege for you.

My typical "good for the soul" moments sll include a summer aernoon in the pub with friends or laughing with the rugby balcony crew. These moments were always cherished, but now, they feel immeasurably more precious. That trip showed me the stark contrast of living a full life, where simple joys are a given, versus the unimaginable suﬀering of those who were never allowed them.

The birthday party taught me I am loved; the visit to Auschwitz taught me the profound value of simply being alive to enjoy it.

Baldock Gardens

By Graham Tapp

Autumn time, I have so many customers who, when buying bulbs at this time of year, ask why their daffodils often come up blind (no flowers). There are a number of reasons why this happens.

Firstly, bulbs are drying out due to climate change; the hotter and drier weather we are now getting is causing the top three to four inches of soil to become drier than it used to be. We used to recommend planting bulbs three times as deep as their height, but this is no longer a viable recommendation. Four times is now a likely recommendation, but with a note of caution: if you bury the bulbs too deep, they may struggle and take too long to reach the soil surface, using valuable energy in the process and leaving very little for flower production. Baldock has, as you all know, a high chalk percentage loam, sitting on top of a very deep chalk subsoil, varying from a few inches to a few feet before hitting the chalk.

So, you see that planting has to be on an individual garden basis. If you have very little soil depth, you will need to dig down into the chalk, mix in some sand, compost, and a bit of grit, and then plant into that. If you are lucky and have something a bit deeper, you'll only need to add some compost. Also, if you plan to water regularly and we don't have a hosepipe ban, you should stick to the three times depth rule.

Secondly, a reason for blind daffs is purchasing and planting bulbs that are too small they will not have formed the flower inside the bulb, so they will not flower in their first year, then with them being planted too high in the available soil, (three times the hight of a small bulb will never be planted as deep as three times the hight of a larger bulb) It is false economy to purchase cheap small daffs unless you are prepared to wait a few years for them to flower properly.

Thirdly, daffodils look terrible once they have flowered, and some people

still cut them down to the ground as soon as they have finished flowering. We now know that to get the best, beautiful flower heads, the green leaves need to be kept intact for as long as possible, even a few weeks extra will help. What you must do is snap or clip the seed heads off as soon as you can, diverting the energy that would have been used to produce seed back into producing flower buds inside the bulb. The secret is time; don't get impatient with them.

Lastly, do you feed your daffodil bulbs? Most people don't even consider it when asked; the answer usually is "I didn't know I had to", well, you don't have to, but you will never get quality flowers if you don't.

Daffodils naturalising under your grass will have most of their nutrients used up by your lawn, and will get very little of what's available.

Feeding a little extra where the bulbs are growing will pay dividends in the way of flowers.

If you grow daffodils in your borders, be sure to add a bit of extra manure or fertiliser for them. Not only will it give better flower heads for the daffodils, but it will also provide better flowers in the border plants.

Daffodils grown in pots or planters will suffer from all of the above, as well as the effects of overcrowding. If you leave your bulbs in their pots for year after year, even with regular watering and feeding, the flowers will start to become smaller, and the plant may become blind due to the bulbs multiplying and taking all of the spare space in the pot. It is well worth tipping them out every other year and splitting the bulbs, increasing the number of your pots and planters at minimal cost.

The planting season, for want of a better description, is from September through to the end of November; any later than that will not allow the bulbs enough time to establish a sound root system before starting to flower, and then you will end up with all the problems above.

Grading of bulbs is something else that is unknown to most purchasers. Bulbs in a bag are bulbs in a bag; what's the difference? A question asked very rarely; let me explain. Bulbs are graded in metric sizes, daffodils are sized from 10 to 16, which is the circumference in centimetres.

For planting in pots, try to get the larger grade; for naturalising under grass or other mass planting, it is acceptable to use the smaller end of the grade. Everything in between is fine for casual planting.

The fertilisers you need for good bulb flowers will be high-phosphorus, say 510-5 at planting or just as the shoots show through the soil, then move onto a high potassium type like tomato feed for the flowering stage.

Pests and diseases in garden-grown daffodils are fortunately rare for us living in North Herts; most of them are found in the West Country, where the climate is generally milder, but I'm going to say it again, the warming climate is allowing insects, viral, and fungal diseases to move eastwards across the country towards us, narcissus bulb fly (Merodon equestris) is one to wath out for, it generally lays its eggs amongst the lower foliage in the late spring early summer where they hatch out and dig their way into the bulb eating it away from the centre out killing it.

Rodents: mice, voles, and squirrels will all eat our bulbs, indication that they are all doing their devious work, will only be apparent when you notice there are gaps in your swathes of daffodil flowers.

The usual suspects will also be causing damage. Slugs and snails can inflict severe damage, but it won't be the larger ones we typically see around our plants. Instead, it will be the tiny, microscopic ones, so small that you won't notice them until it's too late.

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

Osteopathy is a form of manual therapy that focuses on the body's structure and funcon. For babies, it employs very gentle techniques to help alleviate discomfort and promote healthy development. Cranial osteopathy is parcularly recognised for its eﬀecveness in treang infants, as it focuses on the mobility of the cranial bones and the overall balance of the body. The Beneﬁts of Osteopathy for Babies

Relief from Birth-Related Tensions: All babies experience physical stress during birth, but especially if they have had assisted deliveries with forceps or ventouse, which may lead to issues such as muscle ghtness, cranial asymmetries, and diﬃculty latching on to feed. Osteopathy can help release these tensions and restore balance. Babies can be seen at any age and there is no minimum age.

Osteopathy for Babies and Infants

Osteopathy can assist with various symptoms, including:

Crying and Fussiness: If a baby is unusually fussy or has diﬃculty seling

Feeding Challenges: Issues with breaseeding or bole feeding

Sleep Disturbances: Osteopathy may help improve sleep paerns in unseled babies.

Signs of asymmetry: If you noce the baby is always looking to the right or not moving their arms and legs equally or have an irregular head shape. Mums who have brought their precious bundles to us gave us great feedback on treatment: -

“My daughter was a forceps delivery and as a result she was extremely uncomfortable and ght in her head with Hermione, this eased and breaseeding and latching on became beer.

She was calmer, her temperament improved as well as her sleep!”

“I saw Hermione for osteopathic treatment for my son. He was about 3-4 months old at the me and had some ghtness in his upper back and neck muscles causing him to lean and lt his head to one side. At his ﬁrst treatment, she gave great advice and reassurance and was incredible with him. Aer treatment and following her advice, I found his ghtness disappeared and he had managed to increase movement in his neck.”

If you would like any further informaon on osteopathy for babies or to book an appointment, please give the clinic a call on 01462 490141.

Hermione Halman, Registered Osteopath Amber Health

Crash Care Centre Hitchin Ltd

Europe’sMagicalChristmasMarkets

As the nights draw in and the air turns crisp, there’s nothing quite like a fesve getaway to reignite your Christmas spirit. While Herordshire’s towns sparkle with their own seasonal charm, a quick ﬂight (or train ride) across the Channel reveals a whole new level of winter wonder. Europe’s Christmas markets are brimming with twinkling lights, the scent of mulled wine, and a sense of tradion that feels meless. From Vienna’s grand boulevards to Copenhagen’s cosy corners, here are a few of the ﬁnest desnaons for a magical winter escape.

Vienna, Austria – A Symphony of Christmas CharmVienna does Christmas with all the grace and grandeur you’d expect from a city steeped in culture. Its Christkindlmarkt on Rathausplatz is a picture-perfect scene of glowing stalls, hand-carved decoraons, and steaming mugs of Glühwein. The scent of roasted chestnuts ﬁlls the air as classical music dris through the square. It’s fesve elegance at its best – and only a short ﬂight from Luton.

Nuremberg, Germany – The Original Christmas Market Step into the heart of holiday tradion at Nuremberg’s Christkindlesmarkt, one of the oldest in Europe. Wooden stalls spill across the old town square, selling everything from spiced Lebkuchen to handcraed toys.

The market opens each year with the appearance of the “Christkind” angel –a uniquely German tradion that sets the tone for the season. It’s oldfashioned, heart-warming, and guaranteed to leave you humming carols all the way home.

Strasbourg, France – The Capital of Christmas

With its storybook mbered houses and twinkling streets, Strasbourg could have stepped straight out of a Christmas ﬁlm. Known proudly as La Capitale de Noël, this Alsaan gem combines French ﬂair with German warmth. Wander among 300 wooden chalets, sip mulled Alsace wine, and snack on bredele biscuits – all under the shadow of a spectacular Gothic cathedral. It’s fesve perfecon, and an easy Eurostar connecon away.

Prague, Czech Republic – Fairytale Frost Prague in winter feels like a snowdusted dream. The Old Town Square comes alive with choirs, a towering Christmas tree, and wooden stalls selling hot mead and sweet trdelník pastries. Add in the city’s dramac skyline and medieval charm, and you’ve got one of Europe’s most romanc fesve sengs. It’s a great choice for couples looking for a short break full of atmosphere and twinkling lights.

Copenhagen, Denmark – A Scandinavian Winter Escape

For those who prefer a dose of hygge (that perfect blend of comfort and cosiness), Copenhagen’s Tivoli Gardens deliver in spades. The famous amusement park transforms into a wonderland of fairy lights, snow-dusted trees, and fesve treats. Try gløgg (Danish mulled wine) and take a spin on the vintage carousel before heading to one of the city’s many stylish cafés to warm up. Eﬀortlessly cool, warmly welcoming, and very Danish.

Geng There from Herordshire

With convenient connecons from nearby Luton and Stansted airports or even Eurostar from St Pancras, these markets are closer than you might think. Most desnaons make for a perfect long weekend, with direct ﬂights under two hours. Just pack your warmest coat, a good pair of boots, and an appete for fesve treats.

Final Thoughts

Whether you’re aer the grandeur of Vienna or the charm of a tradional German market, Europe’s Christmas desnaons oﬀer a dose of magic that’s hard to resist. And when you return to Herordshire, you’ll ﬁnd our local markets and fesve fairs feel even more special –perhaps with a lile connental sparkle of their own.

5 minutes with... Jordan from

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Poppy Appeal

Yes, it's that me of year again. It seems to come around quicker each year, or does that just mean I'm geng old?

In the background there has been a fantasc couple of people from the local Royal Brish Legion, geng the poppies ready to be sold. Adrian Allen and Colin Chambers, have been pung it all together so that the great volunteers can stand at Tescos, the train staon and the services and raise money for the RBL.

Many people wear the poppies and don't even think about why they are wearing them. Yes, it is because they want to help raise money for the great men and women who have served in the armed forces to protect our country. But it is also sending a huge message of gratude to those men and women to let them know that despite what goes on polically, ‘we’ the normal people of this country do support them and appreciate what they do by signing up to a job where they know they could pay the ulmate sacriﬁce.

This year's appeal starts on Sunday the 26th of October and goes on unl Saturday the 8th of November. We will be in Tescos 10:00hrs – 18:00hrs each day so when you go shopping, please come and say hello and if possible give a lile donaon. As the saying goes 'Every lile helps!'

This is obviously all leading up to Remembrance Sunday on the 9th November where as usual there will be service held at the War Memorial in the High Street. If you can join us there you would be more than welcome. And again on Tuesday the 11th November at 1100hrs there will be some members of the local RBL to remember those that have given their lives for their country and they should never be forgoen.

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ASHWELL WESTON

Venison Bourguignon

As the nights draw in and the air gets that bit crisper, there's nothing more comforting than a rich, slowcooked dish like this Venison Bourguignon. It's a hearty favourite in our home — one of the few ways I can get my two young daughters to embrace root veg without complaint!

Venison is such an underrated ingredient. It's lean, full of ﬂavour, and sourced right here in our local landscape.

I'm incredibly grateful for the continued support we've received from the local community — you've helped us weather storms and grow stronger. If you're keen to explore more of what local game has to oﬀer, join us for our Local Game Wine Supper Club on Thursday, 20th November. It's going to be a fantastic evening of food, wine, and good company — just what we all need before the festive madness begins.

This recipe serves four and pairs beautifully with some buttery new-season potatoes tossed with soft herbs. As always, try and buy the best quality ingredients you're comfortable with. If you're thinking, "Where can I buy venison from?" head straight to a local butcher. They'll probably have local venison as well.(Serves 4)

Ÿ *1kg diced venison shoulder

Ÿ Sea salt & cracked black pepper

Ÿ 2 tbsp plain ﬂour

Season the venison generously with salt and pepper, then dust lightly with ﬂour. In a large heavybased casserole dish, heat a splash of olive oil over medium-high heat and brown the venison in batches. Don't overcrowd the pan. Once browned, set the meat aside.

Ÿ 100g smoked pancetta or streaky bacon, diced

Ÿ 2 medium carrots, peeled and sliced

Ÿ 2 sticks of celery, ﬁnely chopped

Ÿ 1 large onion, ﬁnely diced

Ÿ 5 cloves garlic, minced

Ÿ 250g chestnut mushrooms, halved

Ÿ 2 tbsp tomato purée

In the same pan, add a touch more oil if needed and fry the pancetta until crisp. Add the onion, carrots, and celery, cooking gently for 5–7 minutes until softened. Stir in the garlic, mushrooms, and tomato purée, cooking for another 2 minutes.

Ÿ 500ml red wine (something bold and fruity)

Ÿ 500ml beef or game stock

Ÿ 2 sprigs of rosemary

Ÿ 2 bay leaves

Ÿ 1 tbsp redcurrant jelly (optional, but highly recommended)

Ÿ a jar of baby silverskin onions

Return the venison to the pot. Pour in the wine and bring to a simmer, scraping up all the lovely browned bits from the bottom. Add the stock, rosemary, bay leaves, and redcurrant jelly. Cover with a lid and simmer gently for 2–2.5 hours, stirring occasionally, until the meat is tender and the sauce has thickened beautifully. After cooking, add the silverskin onions and leave to warm through oﬀ the heat but with the lid on. Buttered New Season Potatoes with Soft Herbs

Ÿ 800g new season baby potatoes

Ÿ 50g unsalted butter

Ÿ 1 tbsp chopped ﬂat-leaf parsley

Ÿ 1 tbsp chopped chives

Ÿ Salt to taste

Place the new potatoes in a pan of cold, salted water. Bring to a boil and simmer for 15–20 minutes until just tender. Drain and let them steam dry for a minute.

Return the potatoes to the warm pan. Add the butter and chopped herbs, tossing gently to coat. Season to taste with salt. I'm a sucker for a touch of grated garlic in the butter. 1 clove is plenty.

Once cooked, adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper to taste. If you want a silkier sauce, remove the lid for the last 20 minutes to reduce it slightly.

To serve:

Ladle the venison bourguignon into deep bowls with a generous spoon of the buttered potatoes on the side. For a green element, steamed kale or cavolo nero would be perfect. A glass of the same red you used in the dish won't go amiss either! My favourite to go with this dish is a smooth Syrah.

As we head into the festive season, I hope this dish brings a bit of warmth and joy to your table. If you're planning a get-together or just fancy a night oﬀ from cooking, pop down and see us. We have a few exciting events coming up and we'd love to welcome you.