OVL Magazine AprMay16

Ouse Valley Living April / May 2016

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Gardens Outdoors

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OUSE VALLEY’S NO.1 LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE EST 2005 • 16,000 COPIES HAND DELIVERED

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19 Gardens & Outdoors 17 STEVINGTON natural history 22 GARDENING new products 28 GARDENS Rosemary’s tips 32 NATURE the great outdoors 34 WIN! open air theatre tickets 36 WIN! Bedford proms tickets

Lifestyle

April / May 2016 Issue 108

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Meet the OVL writers...

Rosemary Heatley

Feature: R osemary‘s Garden and Ex Libris

Rosemary started her career in journalism, later becoming an English teacher at a college of further education and then a college manager. Now retired, she leads a busy life in the Ouse valley. Her loves are gardening, reading – she writes our book review under her maiden name, Roz Masters - and spending time with her family which includes 10 grandchildren.

31 FOOD asparagus wraps 38 PETS vaccination advice 43 HEALTH the Zika virus 44 BEAUTY top 10 questions 48 STYLE spring’s hottest prints 62 MOTORS old car tales 66 MUSIC Milky’s live scene 68 BOOKS Sebastian Faulks 69 FILMS Disney’s Zootropolis

Ant Hagen

OVL Magazine photography

Ant Hagen is a professional television cameraman and keen amateur photographer.

He has worked all over the world including Afghanistan, Peru and India for Sky News, Sky Sports and ITN. A lover of the natural world he considers living in the Ouse valley a great privilege. His favourite insects are damselflies.

And more…

35 WIN! £100 at John Medhurst 58 HISTORY King of Mercia 60 SCIENCE did you know?

70 OVL where you read yours 72 ASTROLOGY in the stars 74 DIARY DATES what’s on 79 PUZZLES brain teasers 81 MUSINGS recently I…

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Anthony Lowery

Feature: F ilms - review of the month

A born polymath, Anthony juggles writing films, plays, books and journalism. He learned his craft from those educated folk at the University of Kent and from watching more movies than there are extras in Ben Hur. HIs debut novel ‘The Man in My Footsteps’ is a mystery suspense and will be released in 2016. For more information, please visit anthonylowery.co.uk

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April / May 2016

Our Gardens and Outdoor Living edition celebrates the arrival of spring. And, after one of the wettest winters on record, the first signs of the new season are a truly uplifting sight.

Gardens, bleak and bare for months, are now bursting into life and demanding attention. Don’t worry, Rosemary is here to help with her top ten jobs on page 28. Our green-fingered readers can learn about new garden products on the market as garden designers Christine and Graham Pavey are back with their favourites for 2016 on page 22.

Ouse Valley Living

We are delighted to feature Stevington Historical Trust’s in-depth study of local flora and fauna. Their fascinating book Stevington: The Natural History of a Bedfordshire Parish is the culmination of an impressive eight years’ intensive work. Read all about it and enjoy a selection of Jacqueline Gooding’s intricate illustrations and Roger Day’s stunning photography on page 17.

April/ May 2016

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Front cover image with thanks to Roger Day

THE OUSE VALLEY’S NO.1 LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE • 16,000 COPIES HAND DELIVERED

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EARLY YEARS 3-5 YEARS

KEY STAGE 2 7-9 YEARS

Your Letters Dear OVL I am just writing to thank you for putting our advert in the December magazine for our Charity Burns Night Supper in Odell Village Hall on Saturday 30 January.

We would like to thank everyone who helped to make this our best fundraiser ever and we are pleased to announce that we raised £1069 of which £969 will be donated to the village hall.

We are also donating £100 to the Primrose Cancer Unit in memory of Martin Cameron who supported this event for over 10 years and will be greatly missed.

Once again, many thanks.

Doreen Wheeler & Leslie Knowles Dear OVL I just wanted to say thank you for the write-up in the FebMar edition about Della Mabbutt’s achievements at the WNBF (World Natural Bodybuilding Federation) World Championships in Los Angeles. It looks great. It’s fab.

Kind regards Helena Rea Personal Trainer, Paula Radcliffe Sports Centre in Sharnbrook Dear OVL Many thanks once again for OVL. Great reading and a

really useful source of local information.

Debby Horsman Chairman, Hardy Plant Society Cambs & Beds Dear OVL I personally thank you on behalf of the Star Juniors for all the work you do in publicising us in this manner. It really does go a long way.

Ally Satchwill Star Club - Head Junior Coach Dear OVL I really admire the way you manage to produce a very classy magazine every two months. Long may you continue to do so!

It would be lovely if you could mention the forthcoming Georgian Day at The Higgins on Saturday 7 May in your Diary Dates. It will feature Georgian dances and original Georgian music (performed in Georgian costume), a Georgian trail around the museum and a lecture on Elizabeth Snitch’s 1779 map sampler of Bedfordshire.

Kind regards Marion Maule We love to hear from you: OVL Magazine Barnholme Cottage 7 High Street, Sharnbrook Bedfordshire MK44 1PG info@ousevalleyliving.com

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Jungle Book.

The remake of Disney’s 1967 classic, combining live action with CGI animation, is due for release on 15 April. The film stars some big names - Scarlett Johansson, Idris Elba and more who tell the story in a new and exciting way. There are some great Disney films out this year and this one shouldn’t be missed.

Pyjamas.

Now that winter has gone we can (hopefully!) ditch the jumpers and the coats for a new style. Catwalks for Spring/Summer ‘16 included one of the best trends yet – pyjamas! Calvin Klein, Givenchy and Dolce & Gabbana showcased silk and floral pyjama-style shirts, nighties and trousers.

These loungewear styles are now available on the high street without the designer price tag.

London Marathon. One of the biggest sporting events in the UK is upon us this month. Why not join in the fun and take a trip to London to cheer on the runners on 24 April? And if you feel inspired by the 26-mile race, local running clubs are a good place to start for the journey to fitness and to get that summer body.

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edfordshire Young Farmers is celebrating its 70th year with their 69th Annual Show and Rally hosted by North Beds Young Farmers at Manor Farm in Pertenhall by kind permission of the Bates family on Saturday 21 May 2016.

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The Making of Natural History

Roger Day, a professional photographer and trustee, and the latter by Jacqueline Gooding who teaches art.

It went without saying that the Study Group could not themselves carry out all the investigation which such an enterprise entailed. A village meeting was held to which all interested in natural history were invited. As a result of that meeting 18 volunteered as recorders for the Field Survey and 30 for the Garden Watch. The recognition skills of the recorders varied considerably and we provided training in the form of regular workshops and access to the courses run by the Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire. We took out corporate membership of the Bedfordshire Natural History Society and established a small reference library in the Church Room.

I

n early 2006 the trustees of the Stevington Historical Trust were pondering what to do next.

They had already published a successful village history of Stevington and a picture book of the parish and its people. The natural history project was inspired by a visit one of our trustees made to Selborne, the home of the great Gilbert White. We found that since he published his seminal work, The Natural History of Selborne (1788-9), there had been few natural histories of a single parish. The snag was that none of our trustees were naturalists.

However, we knew that since 2001 two village residents, Jacqueline Gooding and Bob Poulter, had been systematically recording the flora of the Stevington Country Walk, a disused section of the old Bedford to Northampton railway line. They considered our project was a runner and that gave us the encouragement to launch the project. Another villager, Susan Young, a head gardener and garden designer, volunteered to help and she suggested that gardens should be included in the study. These three formed the nucleus of the Study Group which organised the research.

The group divided the project into a Field Survey and a Garden Watch and decided that the study period would run for three years from January 2007.

The aim was to produce an in-depth investigation of the flora and fauna of the parish over the study period but at the same time to make the published work accessible with high quality photographs and illustrations. The former were provided by

Despite all these efforts there was considerable wastage. Only about half a dozen recorders stayed the course within the Field Survey but some 21 volunteers contributed at various times to the Garden Watch.

For the purposes of the Field Survey we divided the parish into six study areas. The recording was conducted largely from Stevington’s extensive patchwork of footpaths and bridleways although landowners generously gave us access to most of the land in the parish. We produced forms for fieldwork recording but in practice these proved rather constricting. However, forms were essential for the Garden Watch; recorders were asked to record sightings week by week, quarter by quarter.

The records for birds were especially fruitful; there were over 30,000 recorded sightings over the three years.

As one might expect, three years proved insufficient to do justice to the task, particularly in the case of the Field Survey and it was not until 2012 that any serious writing-up was attempted. Even then, after producing drafts, much of the information had to be checked on the ground, often against

different climatic conditions from the time of the first recording. Only the recorders can tell one how many hours they spent tramping the fields and footpaths.

Translating this work into a book was an altogether different challenge. We had had some experience in producing the village history and the picture book.

We started out with the idea of producing a slim volume of some 100 pages of text and 100 pages of illustrations and photographs. As good quality text began to appear in 2014 it became apparent that we were looking at a more considerable work as the copy was very detailed.

At this point we set up a small editorial team. As they received the emerging text it became clear that with Jacqueline’s illustrations and Roger’s photographs we could be looking at a book of over 400 to 500 pages. So we had to establish a benchmark and eventually settled on 350 pages.

It was on that basis that we started to obtain quotations from printers. However, the other imponderable was how to quantify likely demand.

We had printed 600 copies of the village history and the picture book but our general feeling was that natural history was a more specialised interest.

The next issue was whether to publish ourselves or to find a publisher. We decided on the former as one of our trustees, Paul Middleton, had a background in publishing. The fact that he lived in Spain seemed at first to be a problem but our early experiments showed that the technology was well up to the task even though, in order to send large files to Roger Day, Paul had to visit an internet café late at night. There are worse places to be than in Granada in the late evening. However, it worked most of the time. The two of them liaised to design the book, a process which continued as text was signed off by the editors.

The other important issue was finance. We knew from experience that we could probably raise half

the printing cost by way of advance subscriptions provided we offered a modest discount on the eventual price. Stevington Parish Council generously made us a grant and a loan, which covered the balance. Accordingly, we felt able to set a date for the launch of the book on 14 November last year.

Meanwhile, the edited text was submitted to proofreaders and we set a target of the end of August for submitting the book to the printer.

There was some slippage but the finished article, Stevington: The Natural History of a Bedfordshire Parish, arrived in the week before the launch. This was held in our parish church of St Mary to which all the advance subscribers and others who had helped us were invited; over 150 came to the party.

The good news is that at the time of writing, the book is practically sold out. We covered our costs, paid our debts and restored the Trust’s financial position to how it stood before the study commenced. It was a community project and although hard work it was very rewarding for those involved; the learning curve for most of us was immense. Others can judge the value of what we did.

Peter Hart stevingtonhistoricaltrust.org.uk

Photos - Roger Day Illustrations - Jacqueline Gooding

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How to choose a Tree Surgeon you can Trust

T

ree Surgery companies seem to offer the same services, so how do you know who to trust with the management of your trees and hedges?

An arborist (a good tree surgeon) will have numerous qualifications that allow them, and you, to make educated decisions regarding an important feature of your home. It is likely that you may find someone ‘whose son has a chainsaw’ or a gardener who claims to ‘work on trees’. However, the work they complete may not be suitable for that tree, or indeed any tree which you want to retain long term.

So… look them up, visit websites, ask for recommendations from friends and neighbours, read reviews and make an informed decision.

A ‘just passing’ unsolicited visit should immediately set off alarm bells. Equally, someone offering to ‘lop’ or ‘top’ your trees should definitely be avoided. They clearly do not have the expertise to care for what remains, and quality of work is key.

Always obtain a couple of quotes and try to test them on the species of tree, whether they know the Latin name or which disease may be affecting it. This will provide you with a more informed decision on their expertise. Discuss your aims, the health of the tree/ hedge, aesthetics and what they would recommend.

A good arborist/ tree surgeon: • will offer advice on any required planning permissions (should this apply).

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21

New Garden Products for 2016

G

ardening is now more popular than ever. This was clear to see at the recent annual gardens show at The Barbican where there was an abundance of new products on display. Here are the favourites...

Fuchsia Berry Have you ever noticed the small sausage-shaped black fruits which follow the flowers on a fuchsia bush? You may have noticed them but not realised that they are edible. Wait until they are very dark in colour then try one. You will find they are sweet and juicy with a curious peppery aftertaste, but so small that it’s hardly worth the effort. Not any more‌ Thompson and Morgan have bred a new fuchsia for 2016 with larger, sweeter fruits. Now you can have a beautiful flowering plant on your patio or in a hanging basket which is productive too. The berries, high in vitamin C, can be made into jam, used in baking or eaten straight from the plant.

Available from www.thompson-morgan.com Indigo Garden Spray Spraying in the garden can be a hazardous job and often a failure if the application goes awry and ends up in the wrong place.

Indigo Garden Spray could be the answer. It consists of granules that you mix into a garden sprayer with your chosen treatment.

Then, when you spray, you will see a temporary dye showing you where you have been and which areas you still need to do. Perfect for applying a systemic weedkiller like Roundup to avoid getting spray on the wrong leaves and a boon when applying fertiliser to a lawn. You can also see if you have contaminated yourself!

I like this. It will save time and waste and be better for the environment as it will avoid using more chemical than is necessary.

Available from The Lawn Company www.spraydye.co.uk

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Bulb & Bedding Plant Auger When this was demonstrated to me it was as an alternative to using a garden trowel to plant bulbs. At the time I couldn’t see how it was an improvement over a trowel. However, having tried it, I can now see the benefits. It ploughs through heavy soil easily and, by going a little deeper, you can break up the soil below the bulb helping it get established. I also see it as useful in breaking up large clods when raking and planting seed potatoes.

A problem is that you have to guess the depth of the bulb but this is only a minor problem as a blob of paint on the auger at the depth needed will solve the issue.

It comes in three different sizes making it useful for small bulbs like crocus right up to large lily bulbs.

Available from www.crocus.co.uk HotBin Composting Making good compost has always needed care and attention to detail.

Too often the compost heap is regarded as a waste area in the garden to chuck weeds and grass cuttings – out of sight out of mind. Care is needed in selecting what goes on the heap and how the layers are built up. It’s also important to turn it over and mix it up periodically; this is done because the material is only broken down in the centre of the heap where the temperature reaches the optimum conditions. Without this the outside material will not break down fully, allowing weed seeds to survive.

There are many bins on sale which claim to produce good compost but I doubt they produce enough heat. If using them, I recommend not putting weed seeds in and only very soft vegetable material. This is the first bin that I genuinely believe will produce compost regardless of what you put in it. The HotBin system generates up to 60 degrees of heat throughout and maintains it during the whole process. That means everything is rotted down and any weed seeds are destroyed – without the need for mixing.

Available from www.hotbincomposting.com Pelargonium (geranium) ‘Appleblossom Improved’ As a designer I tend to have little to do with bedding plants and nonhardy perennials but was attracted to this pelargonium (mistakenly called geranium) with its rosebud-shaped and blushed pink-margined flowers. It will flower all summer if fed and deadheaded regularly and copes well with drought conditions. Try growing one in a container with trailing lobelia and bacopa around the edges.

Although half-hardy, pelargoniums can be brought into a frost-free outbuilding for the winter. I have even seen them come through the winter outside in the centre of Bedford where it is a little warmer.

Available from www.vernonplants.com Christine and Graham Pavey Graham A.Pavey is a garden designer and horticultural consultant.

Trained at the English Gardening School at Chelsea 25 years ago, he has designed more than 1000 gardens.

For more information: www.grahamapavey.co.uk or telephone 07950 923051.

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RAIN AND WET

Garden Design

IS YOUR GARDEN DESIGNED TO COPE?

We have had a very wet winter with heavy downpours breaking records and turning some of our gardens into a soggy mess.

The saturated ground is going to take months to dry out and for the water to percolate down into streams and rivers.

Meanwhile the wet hangs around and causes problems.

SIGNS

• Puddles which remain on patios and paths.

• Soggy, spongy wet or puddled lawn, with bright green mossy patches.

• Symptoms of plant stress and injury.

When the ground remains waterlogged, anaerobic respiration occurs in the soil causing toxicity to plants and drowning the organisms which keep soil healthy.

SYDOVL20142Ad_75x106_Layout 1 16/11/2015 13:35 Page 1

SITES

• Where soil is predominately clay.

• Where there are natural springs or a pond.

• Where standing water is too close to the house.

• Where the structure of the garden does not cope with an excess of water.

These are some of the signs of a waterlogged garden. If the climate change prognosis is correct, such weeks of rain could be expected at any time in the future.

If your garden is suffering from two or more of the above, remedial action needs to be taken.

To discuss the options, please call Susan Young at Susan Young Garden Design on 07787 158288 or 01234 826430.

• Garden Design • Landscaping and Garden Restoration • Border Design and Planting Susan Young Dip.Hort.(RHS) Garden Designer and Head Gardener

info@susanyoungdesign.co.uk

Tel: 01234 826430 & 07787 158288

SEE LATEST WORK ON WEBSITE

www.susanyoungdesign.co.uk

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The Hardy Plant Society

C

hristmas has been and gone and a new year has brought named storms – Gertrude, Henry and then Imogen between spells of unusually mild weather. Writing in early February, many of the usual spring flowers have appeared at least a month early. The garden is visibly changing every day. Some seeds are already sown, there’s pruning to be done and new plants to consider.

Maybe this year I will try something new.

The Hardy Plant Society (HPS) is a national organisation that helps gardeners to develop their skills and increase their enjoyment of gardening.

Hardy plants are those which can survive outdoors in the UK and reappear year after year. They include trees, shrubs, bulbs and pretty much anything that doesn’t need replacing each summer. The central hub of the HPS links a large number of regional and specialist groups and also supports the conservation of worthwhile cultivated plants that are in danger of disappearing due to changing fashions.

Our local group, the Cambs and Beds HPS meets monthly between September and April and has done so for over 25 years. We are a friendly group with nearly 100 members with a wide range of age, interest, experience. Most of us garden, others just like learning about plants. We meet in Biggleswade on the first Saturday of the month with a visiting speaker who is an expert in their field, often a professional nurseryman bringing plants for us to buy. We also have a garden sundries stall. Some of our speakers are well known from television, some travel many miles to join us. They all give expert advice and share their passion for plants.

customers and regularly raises a four figure sum.

The plants sold are all raised by our members in their own gardens. During the rest of the summer we make visits to gardens in other areas. There is always a residential trip, last year to Herefordshire, this year to France, and a number of other visits, usually by coach, to different areas to see gardens, many of which are not open to the general public. They all allow us to see interesting design and unusual plants which are well grown. We sometimes visit specialist nurseries on these trips and our return requires much happy sorting of purchases. These outings are very popular and many friendships develop during our enjoyment of our shared hobby.

You can learn more about us on our website www. hpscambsandbeds.co.uk where there is information about future events and a gallery of photographs of visits. Our speaker in April is Des Martin who runs a nursery in Leicestershire. He is speaking on ‘Plants for damp places’. Why not come and buy a plant from him? You are always most welcome whether you come alone or with a friend.

Debby Horsman

We start in May with our annual Plant Sale, also held in Biggleswade. This attracts hundreds of Follow us on twitter @OVLMagazine Find us on Facebook OVL Magazine

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GARDENS

Rosemary’s

Garden Bring some brightness into shady areas of your spring garden with the delicate dicentra or bleeding heart

D

icentra spectabilis, or bleeding heart, produces arching stems of heartshaped blooms in various shades of red, pink or reddish pink, some with white tips, or white. A hardy perennial, this shade-loving woodland plant bursts into flower for several weeks in the coolness of spring.

Dicentra performs best in rich, moist soil with partial shade and benefits from protection from the hot afternoon sun. Although it looks beautiful brightening up shady areas amongst shrubs, it can also flourish in the morning sun as long as the soil stays moist.

Clumps of dicentra remain compact for many years and, luckily, do not need dividing as they have brittle roots and do not like being disturbed. The seeds that are spread may add more plants to your garden to enjoy next spring. Like other smaller varieties, spectabalis provides excellent cut flowers.

After flowering, spectabalis should be cut back to about 15cm tall to rejuvenate the foliage. As this begins to yellow and wither, foliage may be cut

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back to the ground. However, do not remove the foliage until it turns yellow or brown as this is the time when the plant is storing food reserves for next year’s growth. Dicentra will often become completely dormant by midsummer but, thankfully, return the following spring. They are surprisingly tough despite their delicate appearance.

So it is important to care for dicentra by keeping the soil consistently moist. Also, dig in some compost before planting them. Potted dicentra should be placed with the crown at soil level, bareroot dicentra spectabalis with the crown 5cm below soil level but the crown of smaller bareroot varieties 2-3cm below the soil level.

If you would like to enjoy dicentra throughout the summer you could try dicentra luxuriant.

Unlike spectabalis, luxuriant does not become dormant. Red buds which open into reddishpink pendant flowers arch above spreading mounds of ferny, blue-green foliage. This variety carries on flowering, most freely in spring but continuing throughout the summer and into

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the autumn. It does not selfseed but tolerates sun and summer heat more than other varieties.

Dicentra is native to Siberia, northern China, Korea and Japan. It is from Japan that the legend behind the name bleeding heart originates: A young man was trying to win the heart of the girl he loved.

He gave her a pair of rabbits, representing the first two petals of the flower. She was unimpressed but he persisted by giving her a pair of slippers representing the next two petals of the flower. Again she rejected him and as one last attempt to win her he gave her a pair of earrings - the last two petals of the flower. She still refused him and, heartbroken, the young man pierced his heart with his sword, depicted by the centre of the flower.

TOP TEN

Jobs for April & May Remove daffodil and tulip flowers as they fade, taking off the head and seed pod at the same time.

Lightly cut back lavenders to prevent leggy growth and also prune rosemary and sage, avoiding cutting into the old wood.

Plant ground cover such as aubrietia, violas, hardy geraniums and dwarf lavender.

Keep deadheading your pansies as they will flower until early summer.

Keep the soil around them moist.

In April or May, cut penstemons down to the base to encourage fresh new growth.

In late April and early May plant summer-flowering bulbs: anemone coronaria, canna, crocosmia, galtonia, gladiolus and nerine.

In May plant some perennials, for example, delphiniums, helianthus, phlox and foxgloves.

Prune shrubs that have flowered, like forsythia and flowering currant, by cutting out a third of the oldest shoots. Lightly trim the rest by cutting off the flowered tips.

By the end of May some roses could be open. Apply a rose fertiliser to moist soil around the plants and gently rake it in.

As May ends and the risk of frost has passed, plant summer bedding in tubs, troughs and baskets. Include plants such as fuchsias, petunias and begonias interspersed with lobelia.

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"Shape up for summer"

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NE W

NO SEAS O W AV N LAM AIL AB B LE

FOOD

Asparagus Wraps

Tasty treats for a picnic or garden party 300g sheet puff pastry 70g parma ham 100g cream cheese 18 asparagus spears 1 egg, beaten Preheat oven to 190°C and line a baking tray with parchment.

Lightly dust the work surface with flour and unroll the pastry. Spread the cream cheese all over and cut into 9 squares. Place a piece of parma ham on each square and top with two asparagus spears. Fold two opposing corners over each other using the beaten egg to seal.

Transfer to the baking tray and brush the pastry with more egg.

Bake for 20-25 mins until the pastry is cooked, golden and puffed, and the asparagus is tender.

NATURE

The Great Outdoors Will Anthony on spring’s flora and fauna

Photography by Ant Hagen

I

t’s been a wet couple of months (especially down Riseley High Street) and now we’re heading into perhaps the most exciting part of the year in terms of Ouse valley wildlife. The signs of new life are everywhere now as trees and shrubs burst into leaf with new, fresh, vibrant green foliage. These young leaves are susceptible to attack from insects or frost but are so beautiful in their first flush of life.

stem while the false ones have a cotton-wool like substance inside. Again, please take care before you eat any foraged mushrooms.

The floor of our woodlands can be carpeted by masses of gentle white wood anemone and spikier white ramsons flowers. Ramsons is also known as wild garlic, which goes spectacularly well in pasta dishes. Here at OVL we tried this out a few years ago in a dish with foraged morels and it remains one of our favourites. Morels are notoriously elusive which gives them an air of mystique and makes them even more desirable. True morels (morchella esculenta) are delicious and can be found from the end of March through to the middle of May. Look in grassy areas of woodland, particularly where fires have occurred. Also in bark chippings and mulch beds in gardens. It’s unlikely that other foragers will tell you where to find morels. You’ll have to search them out for yourselves! Please be wary if you are going to eat foraged fungi; don’t try it unless an expert has identified them for you. There are false morels too which can be very poisonous.

They look very similar to the edible ones but the caps are often more wrinkly or “brain-like” than the honeycomb or net-like look of the true morel.

More particularly, the true morel has a totally hollow

Summer migrants like swifts and swallows will be here by now, as will cuckoos. Many garden birds will have chicks and will be eating frantically in order to keep them fed. Blue tits especially start to look straggly and frazzled once they are into their second brood. If you usually feed the birds keep doing so now as they need to keep their strength up.

The hedgerows of blackthorn and hawthorn will have become green again with full leaf, then white with blossom. We’re lucky to have some amazing hedges criss-crossing the Ouse valley, quite a sight to behold in spring.

May is a great month to get out for a stroll along some of our many footpaths or around one of the many local Wildlife Trust sites. Look out for birds like chiffchaffs. You might be able to see and hear some at the Felmersham Gravel Pits.

Don’t get them confused with the similar willow warbler; tell the difference by looking at their legs.

Willow warblers have pale legs while those of the chiffchaff are dark grey. You should also look out for England’s earliest-flying dragonfly, the Hairy dragonfly. If you can get close the small hairs all over the black body are a giveaway to its identity.

I’ll be out looking for damselflies too, my favourites, with their delicate flight and tiny intricate bodies.

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WIN! WIN! WIN! Tickets to see a Stunning Open-air Show this Summer This summer Chapterhouse Theatre Company will be entering its 16th year with stunning open-air adaptations of classic novels in beautiful settings across the UK and Ireland from June until September with four performances at two local beauty spots:

The Swiss Garden: A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM - Saturday 25 June

Wrest Park: THE RAILWAY CHILDREN - Thursday 16 June

Wrest Park: SENSE AND SENSIBILITY - Wednesday 20 July

The Swiss Garden: PETER PAN - Thursday 25 August

2016 marks the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death and in honour of this Chapterhouse is touring a special rendition of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and Jane Austen fans will not be disappointed with the return of Sense and Sensibility.

Chapterhouse is also performing two children’s classics, The Railway Children and Peter Pan, adapted for the stage by award-winning writer Laura Turner. Peter Pan is being presented by special arrangement with Samuel French Ltd and Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity.

All of Chapterhouse’s shows are presented in stunning period costume, and audiences are invited to bring along picnics and chairs for the perfect evening of summer entertainment.

Chapterhouse is offering OVL readers the chance to win a Family Ticket (2 adults and 2 children) to see a show of your choice this summer.

To enter our competitions:

Email your details to info@ousevalleyliving.com quoting Chapterhouse or John Medhurst or Bedford Proms in the subject box and we will enter you into the prize draw. The winners will be drawn at random and notified by Friday 20 May. Closing date Friday 13 May.

OVL brings you FANTASTIC prizes every issue!

WIN! WIN! WIN! FAMILY JEWELLERS OF BEDFORD

Two £100 Gift Vouchers to be won

Bedford’s premier independent family jewellers is giving OVL readers the chance to win one of TWO £100 gift vouchers to spend in store.

Established in 2002, John Medhurst pride themselves on outstanding service and fine quality jewellery. It is almost impossible to walk past their Mill Street showroom without stopping to admire the beautiful collections and you will always be greeted by knowledgeable and helpful staff.

The lucky OVL winners will have many exquisite collections to choose from including Endless, Nomination, Hot Diamonds and Emozioni. Or perhaps a stunning item from Kit Heath, Antica Murrina, Sif Jakobs, Chrysalis or D for Diamonds jewellery collections? Not forgetting the finest Italian Fope 18ct gold pieces.

Their extensive range of wrist watches includes Daniel Wellington, Henry of London, Junkers, Michel Herbelin, Morellato, Orla Kiely, Rodania, and Zeppelin.

John Medhurst offer jewellery for all budgets, successfully adding contemporary designs to sit alongside classics so there really is something for everyone.

John Medhurst Ltd 10 Mill Street Bedford MK40 3HD 01234 351458 info@johnmedhurst.co.uk Opening Times: Monday to Saturday, 9.30 to 17.30 LAST ISSUE’S COMPETITION WINNERS

Congratulations to Alison Puddefoot, Dee Royston, Caroline Guthrie, Jenny Ellard and Imogen Rowe who all won a pair of tickets to the Ideal Home Show and Claire and Gary Innes who won a free place on a Bedford Modern School Holiday Activity Course.

Entrants’ contact details will only be given to the provider of the prize and will not be passed on to any third party.

WIN! WIN! WIN!

Two Pairs of Tickets Bedford Proms in The Park Bedford Park Concerts has announced that their much loved event, The Bedford Park Proms, will take place on 6 August 2016. This year is set to be even more special as the Proms will celebrate its 20th anniversary and the audience will be treated to a spectacular night of music, fireworks and the famous laser show as well as some other surprises on the night.

The concert will feature the renowned London Gala Orchestra and The Bedford Choral Society will be back performing popular classics and film scores. There will also be some very special guest soloists.

Classical Brit Award winning Blake will be the headline act. The classical super group has sold over a million albums, toured extensively all over the world and are firm favourites with Royalty, performing several times for the Queen at Buckingham Palace.

To enter our competitions:

prize includes a brochure

Blake will be joined by singer-songwriter Rebecca Newman, affectionately named ‘The People’s Soprano’, who stormed to number one in the Official UK Classical Albums Chart with her debut album release.

The night will conclude with a spectacular firework finale, choreographed to music. In true Proms style, the audience is encouraged to bring picnics, table and chairs or rugs and enjoy the amazing family friendly atmosphere.

Tickets are on sale at www.bedfordparkconcerts.co.uk and an early bird offer will apply for tickets purchased before 30 April: adults £24.50, children 5 and over £5. Under 5s are free.

From 1 May adult tickets will be £31.

Email your details to info@ousevalleyliving.com quoting Chapterhouse or John Medhurst or Bedford Proms in the subject box and we will enter you into the prize draw. The winners will be drawn at random and notified by Friday 20 May. Closing date Friday 13 May.

OVL brings you FANTASTIC prizes every issue!

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PETS

Pet Vaccinations

V

Zoe Shelton-Smith

accination is an important component in keeping our pets healthy, not only for the individual animal but for the general pet population as well. In this first part of a two part article, I’ll explain why you should have your pets vaccinated, the vaccination protocol and which diseases the vaccines protect against in cats and rabbits.

What is vaccination?

Just like people, animals have an immune system which fights off infection on a daily basis. The immune system identifies foreign substances (pathogens) such as bacteria and viruses so our white blood cells can remove them from our system. The immune system does this by producing antibodies once it has identified a pathogen in order to identify them more quickly and in turn eradicate them more quickly if they were to be infected by this same pathogen again.

Sometimes though the immune system is not fast enough to fight off an infection before symptoms show, and this is most often when it comes across a new pathogen. There are diseases which can really debilitate a person or animal, sometimes permanently, before their immune system has produced the numbers in white blood cells to remove the infection. This is where vaccination becomes important! A vaccine is a small injection that contains dead or inactivated pathogen material to stimulate the immune response to produce antibodies. So if we were to ever encounter this disease the immune system can contain and remove the virus or bacteria before severe symptoms develop.

Essentially, there is an army ready and waiting! However, research has shown that the high levels of antibodies aren’t for ever and thus the need for boosters.

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Cat Vaccination Protocol

Kittens receiving their first ever vaccination will have it given on two occasions. The first injection will generally be at about 9 weeks old with the second injection 3-4 weeks later. This need for two injections is due to the potential presence of antibodies within the kittens that were passed down from the mother through the colostrum in her milk. These maternal antibodies are only temporary but whilst they are present within the kitten, the kitten can’t produce its own antibodies. So the two injections a month apart ensure there is antibody production resulting in the kitten being fully covered 1-2 weeks after the second injection. They then require an annual booster to keep their antibody levels high.

This protocol also applies to cats that may have not been initially vaccinated as a kitten, or missed their booster. They may not have the maternal antibodies in their system, but the two injections ensure maximal antibody production. This is because a second exposure to a pathogen will produce a much greater response in antibody production than if there were to be only one injection and thus one exposure.

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Rabbit Vaccines

Cat Vaccines

It is important not to forget that rabbits should be vaccinated, particularly in rural areas such as the Ouse valley. Infectious diseases in rabbits are often fatal so please get them vaccinated regardless as here’s why: •M yxomatosis is a virus spread between rabbits and by insects – so you can’t think your rabbit is safe wherever you live. The disease causes conjunctivitis, facial swelling followed by a thick pus and difficulty breathing. Most rabbits will die within two weeks.

•V iral haemorrhagic disease is highly contagious where infection results in the bleeding out of several internal organs. The rabbit shows no sign of the disease, often dying within 24 hours of contracting the disease.

If you would like to get your animal vaccinated, or just find out more about the vaccines available and the diseases they protect against, please get in touch with your veterinarian. Look out for the next issue of OVL where I will discuss canine and ferret vaccinations.

• Feline panleucopenia (aka feline parvovirus or feline infectious enteritis) is a severe and often fatal disease. This disease is caused by a virus that infects the gut which causes bloody diarrhoea but by this point it may be too late, especially in kittens.

The virus is associated with poor hygiene as it is transmitted by faeces and is very difficult to get rid of, but with vaccination this is becoming increasingly controlled in the UK. • Feline herpesvirus (FHV) and feline calicivirus (FCV) are always combined in vaccines as they are the viruses which are the main causes of upper respiratory tract infections i.e. cat flu. Both viruses are widespread in the cat population making it important our cats are protected. The disease can cause conjunctivitis, oral ulcers, sneezing and nasal discharge. These two viruses can remain in the body for life as a carrier status which means they may not be ill themselves but can still transmit the disease.

• Feline leukaemia virus (FeLV) is often cited as the most common infectious cause of death in young adult cats. This virus causes damage to the immune system where anaemia and lymphoma are commonly seen.

• Feline chlamydophilosis and Bordetella bronchiseptica are bacterial infections that contribute to or cause cat flu producing similar symptoms like sneezing, coughing and nasal discharge. Bordetella has been reported to cause pneumonia and death in kittens.

Zoe is a final year veterinary student at the University of Liverpool Follow us on twitter @OVLMagazine Find us on Facebook OVL Magazine

39

Sharnbrook House

Sharnbrook House is owned and operated by Greensleeves Homes Trust, a ‘not for profit’ charitable organisation providing care and accommodation for older people.

Our aim at Sharnbrook House is to provide comfort and companionship in a supportive environment by our qualified and experienced staff.

Sharnbrook House, High Street, Sharnbrook, Bedfordshire MK44 1PB Tel: 01234 781294 Email: sharnbrook@greensleeves.org.uk

Can you spare time to help a hound?

G

reyhound Rescue West of England (GRWE) is desperately seeking volunteers in the Bedfordshire area to assist with various tasks to support their work and to help them celebrate their 20th birthday.

Despite their name suggesting otherwise, the charity operates on a national basis, covering nine key regions, including the East. Formed in 1996,

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GRWE’s core areas of work focus on the rescue and rehoming of sighthound breeds, including greyhounds, lurchers and whippets, while also campaigning for better welfare for these often misunderstood dogs. In the Eastern region, the need is greatest for assistance with PR and marketing but all offers of help are welcome.

Anna Claxton, Volunteer Coordinator, said: ‘GRWE relies heavily on the kindness and dedication of our volunteers. There is support in place for all people donating their time to ensure an enjoyable volunteering experience. We hope to raise more awareness of our work in our 20th birthday year so really value anyone who can help us achieve that.’

For more information about volunteering for GRWE, please contact Anna at volunteering@grwe.com

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Do Your Feet Often Hurt?

Our foot clinic specialises in painful conditions in the feet and lower limb. For over 15 years we have achieved success with ‘difficult to treat’ ailments such as heel spur, plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendonitis, metatarsalgia, Morton’s neuroma, bunion pain, repeated ankle sprains and shin splints.

We aim to treat the underlying cause of the problem as well as the painful symptoms. We have treated thousands of people successfully and prevented some from having surgery.

At the Bedford Clinic, we always take a full case history so we know all about you. We then do a full structural examination of the spine, legs and feet, taking precise measurements of the bones in the feet and examining how they work. If the feet are not working in a mechanically ideal fashion they can transmit all types of strain, pain and problems and can be the underlying cause of back, sacroiliac problems and arthritis.

Once we have established a structural ‘snapshot’ of you, we can treat the underlying cause of your problems and help rid you of the painful symptoms. Moreover, we can help prevent further damage, arthritic changes and pain.

I had Achilles pain in both feet for most of my adult life and had operations on both Achilles tendons to help relieve the pain. These operations were not successful and if anything made the problem worse. My heels hurt in normal walking. I am really pleased I went to the Bedford Clinic as I am now pain free. I recently joined a hiking club and regularly do 10 km hikes without pain.

Ms A Armstrong, Milton Keynes I am a keen hill walker and developed terrible pain in my feet, which prevented me from walking. My GP diagnosed metatarsalgia and I consulted various practitioners and for three years no one could rid me of the pain. I visited the Bedford Clinic and I am now pain free. I have returned to hill walking and if I ever suffer any more problems I won’t walk to the Bedford Clinic I shall run there!

Mr J Harford, High Wycombe

Wendy Russell-Rayner BSC(Hons) BA(Hons) Wini Thomas BSC(Hons) BA(Hons) 220 Castle Road, Bedford MK40 3TY

01234 294954

www.achingback.co.uk

Foot Clinic : Osteopathy : Sports Injuries Clinic

Your local osteopaths in North Beds Osteopaths is a well established practice located in Bromham and Sharnbrook.

We are experienced in treating both adults and children. We specialise in maintenance check-ups to help keep your spine healthy and flexible so you can enjoy an active lifestyle.

Bromham and Sharnbrook Jason D. Pinny ND, DO Joanne E. Pinny ND, DO & Associates 2a Grange Lane, Bromham, Bedford, MK43 8NP and Millhouse Hotel, Mill Road, Sharnbrook, MK44 1NP Phone:

01234 823621

www.northbedsosteos.co.uk

Problems we can help include: Back, neck, joint & muscular problems Sports injuries & work strains Headaches Back pain, etc during pregnancy Cranial osteopathy available We are open Monday to Saturday and have both male and female practitioners.

All our osteopaths are experienced in practice, have completed a four year full-time course in Osteopathy and are registered with the General Osteopathic Council.

Call us to find out how we can help

Charge into Spring with Bedford Race for Life

B

edford women fired up by the arrival of spring are being urged to channel their energy into training for Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life.

With lighter evenings on the horizon, and with warmer weather on its way, women of all ages, shapes and sizes have the perfect opportunity to kick-start a healthier lifestyle by preparing for their 5k, 10k or Pretty Muddy Race for Life events.

By taking on Race for Life, and encouraging their mums, daughters, sisters and friends to join them, participants can improve their fitness as well as help to raise money for life-saving research.

And that’s why Cancer Research UK is calling on women in Bedford to get moving, lace up their trainers and sign up now for the events over the weekend of the 2nd and 3rd of July at Priory Park.

Cara Waller, Cancer Research UK’s Bedford’s Manager, said: “It’s a great way for women of all ages to get a little more active this spring. Race for Life events are non-competitive. Participants can choose to walk, jog, or run around the course. The atmosphere is incredibly supportive.”

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More than one in two people in the UK will be diagnosed with cancer at some stage in their lives, but the good news is more people are surviving the disease now than ever before. Survival rates have doubled since the early 1970s.

Free training plans for different levels of ability are available on the Race for Life website. The six-week training plans are designed for walkers, joggers or runners. They feature guidance on warming up and stretching, as well as motivation.

To enter Race for Life today go to raceforlife.org or call 0300 123 0770.

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HEALTH

The Zika Virus Olivia Waker

B

What is it?

y now everyone has probably heard of the Zika virus; it is all over the news. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared Zika a global, public health emergency and some have even brandished it the ‘next ebola’. But what is it?

Zika is a mosquito-borne virus first recognised in the 50s in Nigeria. Since then there have been outbreaks in Africa, the Americas, Asia and the Pacific but most of these were small and until recently Zika was not thought to be a major threat to humans.

Zika is spread through the bite of an infected Aedes mosquito, mainly found in tropical regions. These mosquitoes drink the blood of an infected person and then go on to infect subsequent people they bite. Although unconfirmed it is strongly suspected that Zika can also be passed mother to child during pregnancy; additionally, there is increasing anecdotal evidence of sexual transmission of the virus. The incubation period of Zika is thought to be a few days which means people are infectious a few days before the onset of their symptoms.

However, only one in five of those infected is thought to go on to develop symptoms which include: • Fever • Skin rash • Conjunctivitis • Muscle and joint pain • Malaise • Headache Symptoms usually last for 2-7 days and are quite mild; deaths due to Zika are extremely rare.

Diagnosis is based on the presence of symptoms and recent exposure (travel to affected areas) alongside laboratory testing of blood or other body fluids.

There is no specific treatment or vaccine for Zika yet. Its management is symptomatic with simple paracetamol to relieve pain and fevers, rest and plenty of fluids. It is important for those infected to try to prevent further mosquito bites to avoid spreading the virus to others.

It is the complications of the Zika virus which are worrying not its symptoms. Brazil has identified

an increase in the number of cases of GuillainBarré syndrome coinciding with the Zika virus outbreak. Guillain-Barré syndrome is a rare disorder that affects peripheral nerves causing paralysis of the arms, legs and face, blurred vision and difficulty speaking and swallowing. Luckily, most people make a full recovery although this can take up to a few months. A more widely reported association of Zika is with microcephaly in newborn babies. Microcephaly is an abnormally small head caused by delayed growth of the brain; there is huge variance in the severity of symptoms of microcephaly from developmental delay and learning difficulties to death. The link between microcephaly and Zika has not yet been confirmed but is strongly suspected.

Current affected areas include Brazil, Barbados, the Dominican Republic, Mexico and Saint Martin amongst others but the virus is expected to spread throughout North, Central and South America.

There have not yet been any travel bans. So far only pregnant women have been advised to reconsider their plans to visit countries affected by Zika.

Women trying to get pregnant are advised to speak with their doctor prior to travel. The US Centre for Disease Control states that Zika is cleared from the blood after around a week and the virus will not cause infections in a baby conceived after it has cleared. Therefore there is currently no evidence that it poses any risk to future pregnancies.

If visiting affected areas prevention is through avoiding mosquito bites: • Wear light-coloured clothes covering as much skin as possible • Use DEET-containing repellents • Keep windows and doors closed • Unlike the mosquitoes that spread malaria the Aedes mosquitoes are mostly active during the day so bed nets give minimal protection Once home On returning home safe sex (condoms) is advised and a ban on blood donations for around a month.

All information correct at time of writing - February 2016

Olivia Waker is a 4th Year Medical Student at Leeds University

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43

BEAUTY

The 10 most-asked beauty questions,

answered

Naomi Jones shares more Secrets from the Salon....

1. Some creams come with a thin plastic lid under the cover. Should I keep it?

Yes keep it. Exposure to light and air breaks down many of the active ingredients that you have spent your hardearned money on! Also, store these products in a cool, dark place to help maintain their efficacy.

2. How often do I need to wash my make-up brushes?

Most experts agree that once a month is fine. Dip the brush in warm, soapy water, use a mild shampoo and then rinse well. Blot the brush with a clean towel, then leave to dry with the bristles facing downwards to avoid excess water lingering in the barrel of the brush.

3. Is it safe to line the inner rims of your eyes?

Two things to keep in mind: a steady hand is essential so you don’t poke yourself in the eye and you can contaminate your liner if you have a nascent eye infection and don’t realise it. Once you put the cap back on, the bacteria can grow and thrive. Sharpening the pencil after use helps to keep it in pristine condition. If you have a full-blown eye infection, throw out the liner to avoid recontamination.

4. Is it OK to store sunscreen in the car?

This is a big no, especially during summer. Once the car heats up in the sun, high temperatures can cause the sunscreen’s active ingredients to degrade in the container.

When you apply a degraded sunscreen to your skin, you’re not getting the SPF (sun protection factor) that’s indicated on the bottle, In fact, you might be applying nothing more than a thick moisturiser.

5. What’s the cause of under-eye dark circles?

Occasional dark circles under the eyes can be caused by factors as simple as lack of sleep, dehydration or an allergy - particularly congestion in the central facial and nasal area. Dark circles can also be hereditary and are more likely to occur in certain ethnic groups. But for many folks, dark circles are simply a sign of the ageing process at work. As we age, the fat pad under the eye thins, allowing blood vessels underneath to show through.

Moreover, as we age, blood flow to the skin beneath the eye becomes sluggish, further increasing the darkness in this area.

6. If I use make-up with sunscreen do I still have to apply sunscreen separately?

This depends totally on the SPF rating of your make-up.

If it’s 15 or more then it is likely to be enough - as long as you apply it properly and in a thick enough layer to get maximum protection. If your make-up contains less than a 15 SPF, then you need a layer of sunscreen as well.

7. What’s the best way to deal with age spots - and prevent hands from ageing?

These brown spots (also known as ‘sun spots’ or ‘liver spots’) are actually the result of sun exposure. So the best way to avoid them is to protect your hands from the sun.

Doing so will not only reduce the risk of these annoying brown marks but will also reduce collagen breakdown so your hands will wrinkle less.

8. Should you wash your face when you get up in the morning even if you cleansed right before bed, or is a quick rinse enough?

You’d think it would be hard to attract dirt, oil and dead skin on your face during that all-too-brief period between hitting the hay and greeting the day. But sadly, you’d be wrong. Almost everyone’s skin accumulates some oil overnight, and although the oil itself isn’t necessarily bad, applying moisturiser and make-up directly on top of it is. Plus, if you use any treatment products at night, their residue, however invisible, could mess with your daytime make-up. Of course, you don’t want to overcleanse either, because that can lead to parched, tight skin. But cleansing your face both morning and evening is essential, using a gentle cleanser and toner or facial wash.

9. D oes shaving make your hair grow back darker or coarser, and does waxing make it grow back more slowly?

A razor has no magical powers! It can neither fatten nor darken hairs; however, what it can do is create the illusion of coarser, darker regrowth because shaving produces blunt ends. This is because you’re simply cutting the hair not pulling it from its roots as you do with waxing, and these blunt ends may be thicker than natural ends would be. Waxing doesn’t slow hair’s speed of growth; it just appears to do so because waxing removes hairs at the root, so you don’t see them again until they grow to skin level and longer. But as a razor cuts hairs at skin level you see regrowth right away. Although speaking from experience, with long term waxing the hairs definitely become sparse.

10. Can you over-tweeze your brows to the point where they don’t grow back?

The repetitive trauma that’s produced by tweezing can scar your follicles and a scarred follicle will produce either an unruly curly hair or no hair at all. If you’re waiting for your over-tweezed brows to fill out there are many balms and oils available claiming to stimulate growth. To avoid this problem in the future, have your brows waxed professionally, then tweeze only the hairs that grow way out of bounds. This way, if the hair doesn’t grow back, it’ll only be hairs you didn’t want in the first place!

Roz Lee

Super Star Girls

S

tar Club had a unique moment in its history at the recent Bedford Head of the River Race when its first ever girls’ ‘state eight’ raced and not only raced but also won their event, beating more established school crews and rowing clubs in the process.

Club juniors, not least because young people are the future for all of us, be it at a sports club like this or at firms like ours”. He added, “The girls also helped us support Bedford Daycare Hospice on the day which is our adopted charity this year. They are a real credit to themselves and winning was the icing on the cake.”

The Junior programme is led by Head Coach Ally Satchwill in partnership with a number of forward looking local businesses and charities and is breaking down the stereotype of rowing being the preserve of private schools.

Ally Satchwill concluded, “The Junior programme has a great profile and is doing genuinely good work. We look forward to celebrating this at the next Woodfines Business Lunch on the 3rd of March and would love to see other local businesses come along to find out more.”

Instrumental in this is The Harpur Trust which has supported the Juniors for six years whilst Star Club itself has benefited from the generosity and vision of club Vice President Ray Baron through his company Ceetak Sealing Solutions. The junior coach is also largely funded by the Poynter Trust. In turn, other companies and supporters have come on board including The Gale Family Trust, HayMax, LWS Group, TBS, Edmondsdale and Capita.

For more details please visit: www.fit4fun.org

The state eight was specifically supported by Woodfines Solicitors and partner David Webster commented, “We are very pleased to support the Star

46

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STYLE Stephanie

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Spring’s Hottest Prints Long Tall Sally

Check

Floral Florals are a staple all year round, however this spring we look to the opposite ends of the floral spectrum from dainty romantic buds to bold, Warholesque blooms.

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The checks of winter were rich and dense but for spring windowpane and gingham bring a fresh, gentle look to shirt dresses and tailored trousers.

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1. F&F Mustard Floral Print Trouser, £16 2. Glamorous Poppy Print Cross Over Crop Top, £20 3. JOY Louche Kami Print Dress, £59 4. M&Co Citrine Floral Print Shutter Dress, £42 5. New Look Floral Print Split Side Maxi, £22.99 6. Simply Be Printed Ruffle Blouse, £39

1. Marks & Spencer Best Of British Dress, £149 2. Jaeger Check Tabard Gilet, £250 3. Lookagain.co.uk Shirt Dress, £55 4. Marks & Spencer Gingham Skirt, £35 5. Simply Be White Check Blouse, £35 6. Zalando Check Trousers, £120

With the beginning of spring comes a vibrancy of colour as well as some eye-catching, statement patterns. Here’s a run down of the top prints for your spring wardrobe.

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Stripes Always a classic, use this print to stand out from the crowd. Bold, thick multi-colour stripes are fun whilst monochrome brings a touch of elegance.

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A very basic yet powerful print.

Contrasting and even clashing colours together in simple blocks are an easy way of brightening up an outfit.

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1. New Look Stripe Shirt Dress, £24.99 2. Phase Eight Montana Linen Shirt, £59 3. Primark Multi Stripe Shirt Dress, £13 4. River Island Stripe Pencil Skirt, £35 5. River Island Midi Dress, £36 6. Simply Be Wide Leg Jersey Trousers, £24

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6 1. River Island Mixed Fabric Panel Tote Bag, £56 2. Oliver Bonas Sabine Midi Tunic, £69.50 3. People Tree Colour Block Clutch, £38 4. River Island Colour Block Jumper, £36 5. Top Shop Colour Block Jumper 6. Top Shop Shopper Bag

STYLE Stephanie

Sofokleous

Animal Print The big cats ruled the prints during autumn and winter but for spring we’re seeing an emergence of zebra and snake.

Monochromatic zebra is a contemporary colour block twist, whilst snake and croc print in rich, juicy tones or classy neutrals make timeless accessory pieces.

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House of Fraser

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5 1. House of Fraser Linea Snakeskin Tailored Trousers, £79 2. Jaeger Croc Marylebone Tote, £299 3. Marks & Spencer Snake Print Shoe 4. New Look Stone Snakeskin Mini Bag, £12.99 5. Debenhams Star by Julien MacDonald Zebra Clutch, £25 6. Debenhams J by Jasper Conran Croc Bag, £110

More insights from Stephanie can be found on her fashion, beauty and lifestyle blog http://blood-sweat-and-heels.blogspot.co.uk/

Stunning new looks and stylish new brands for 2016.

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Chrome Towel Rails from £49.99 Square shower trays from just £74.99 Quadrant shower trays 4 Piece Set from £84.99 including soft close seat Rectangle shower from just £99.99 trays WC Set including soft from £108.99 close seat from £74.99

Beautiful bathrooms, showers, taps, and radiators. A huge range, under one roof. Come and visit us at Unit 1 Manton Centre, Manton Lane, Bedford MK41 7PX. Call us on 01234 212377. Retail and trade customers welcome. Open Monday to Saturday 9am - 5.30pm.

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Take a look at Bedford’s E.Y.E Charity

T

he E.Y.E Charity (Enterprising Youth Education) was set up six years ago to help people in Bedford of all ages find worthwhile employment through courses aimed at providing skills, training and job opportunities.

This winter the charity also donated jackets to the Prebend St Project, the Kings Rd project and two other local charities to help the homeless in Bedford during the bitter cold.

The trustees are very grateful for the support that they have received from local businesses, including Bawa Engineering and the Community Champion at Tesco Riverside Drive.

To fund their enterprise E.Y.E run a second-hand furniture and clothing warehouse where you can find items in excellent condition at bargain prices and refreshments in their customer cafe.

The Unit is E.Y.E’s business space where conference and meeting rooms are available for hire on an hourly basis and an online radio station for budding presenters and DJs. IT and

54

other courses are offered regularly in their training rooms.

The Unit also boasts gym facilities with personal trainers available for one-to-one sessions and a dance studio where you can join in the classes or hire the space for your own use.

For more details call 07958 601148 or come and see for yourself at Unit 12A Fenlake Business Park, Bedford MK42 0HB www.secondhandfurnitureandclothing.co.uk

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Close Shave for Sharnbrook Salon!

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ocal business owner Lorna Brawn is celebrating a fresh look for her hairdressing salon after disaster struck at the end of last year.

Lorna’s Salon in Sharnbrook high street was hit by a car before Christmas which left a gaping hole in the front of the building.

Fortunately no one was hurt in the accident.

“It was lucky that no one was having their hair washed at the time as the 56

sink collapsed along with the wall. But now everything has been refitted and replaced and I would like to thank all our customers for sticking by us throughout the clear up,” said Lorna.

Helped by stylist Kym and Saturday girl Holly, Lorna managed to keep the doors open for her loyal customers throughout the refurbishment. She added, “We dusted ourselves down and carried on in style!”

Find Lorna’s Salon on Facebook for opening times and latest offers.

Please remember to mention OVL when responding to adverts

Smaller and independent local businesses now have access to a specialist business accountant

P

hilippa Scobie has become the latest local accountant with the nationwide AIMS Accountants for Business to set up practice in the area. Joining over 200 professionally qualified accountants in the group who work with the small business community, Philippa has opened her practice and is covering Bedford, Kempston, Olney, Newport Pagnell, Northampton, Wellingborough, Lavendon and Yardley Hastings.

A qualified Accountant and Chartered Tax Advisor, Philippa will do more than crunch the numbers and will help clients develop their business and achieve their objectives. Having a qualified accountant as a member of their team ensures that small businesses can concentrate on running and developing their business and Philippa’s extensive experience of working with the small business community means she can offer her clients the proactive and personal service they should expect. She also believes in straight and direct communication – so no jargon!

AIMS offers the technical expertise of a large practice through the backup of the head office in London, at no extra cost, whilst maintaining its absolute commitment to a very keen pricing policy with the accountants based firmly in their local community. All fees are agreed in advance – with no hidden charges and as Philippa is locally based she will come to your premises at your convenience at no charge.

Philippa states that her goal is to “minimise your tax liability and relieve you of the worries of dealing with the accounting and tax issues relating to you and your business”.

Philippa is looking forward to working with members of the local Bedford business community.

For further information, please contact: Philippa Scobie, ACMA, CTA on 01234 480850 philippa.scobie@aims.co.uk www.philippascobie.aims.co.uk

No hourly charges, all fees agreed in advance and your initial meeting is FREE with no obligation on your part.

Leave it to me to deal with the numbers so that you can focus on running and developing your business.

Tax Advice & Tax Planning Accounting & Bookkeeping Regulation & Compliance Business Advice & Support Your initial consultation is free and without obligation Philippa Scobie ACMA, CGMA, CTA T: 01234 480850 M: 07725 165357 E: philippa.scobie@aims.co.uk W: www.philippascobie.aims.co.uk

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57

HISTORY

Offa, King of Mercia, 757-796 Ann Hagen

W

hat possible connection has Offa, the powerful leader who made his kingdom of Mercia supreme in Anglo-Saxon England and caused the construction of the very substantial earthwork of Offa’s dyke along the Welsh boundary, with Bedford?

Let’s start with the background. ‘Mercia’ means borders and as the Anglo-Saxon settlers came across the North Sea from the east, from the fifth century onwards, the ‘borders’ were on the west of the land where they settled. By the eighth century they had reached Wales and met serious resistance. Later this contested area was known as the Welsh Marches. Mercia in Offa’s day reached from London to the Bristol Channel, north to the Dee, north-east to the mouth of the Humber, then from the Wash south to London.

Offa came to power in a civil war and to avoid disorder on his death and on his thirtieth anniversary he held the first ever English coronation service to make his son his successor, though his son did not live many months after his father’s death. For almost 40 years Offa gave a degree of peace and prosperity to his kingdom. He made alliances with Northumbria and Wessex by marrying his daughters to their kings and planned to marry a third daughter to Aethelberht II, prince of East Anglia, but had him killed instead. He may be the Saint Aethelberht who is recorded as having his resting place at Bedford. When Offa could not make peace with the Welsh kingdom of Powys on his western border he caused 65 miles of bank and ditch to be constructed. This connected with other, almost certainly older, defences to the north and south to run a total of 150 miles from the Dee estuary to the Wye, the fortification known as Offa’s Dyke.

Bedford was an important settlement towards the border with East Anglia with a strategic position as the crossing point of a major river. By the eighth century the ford had almost certainly been replaced by a bridge. The Anglo-Saxons were master builders in wood, ‘timbran’ being their verb ‘to build’. Building and maintaining bridges was the duty of landowners. By the time of Offa, grants of

land sometimes freed the recipient from all public duties, except the building/maintenance of bridges and fortresses. Bedford was probably fortified

by Offa, as were Northampton and Stamford, as these too were towards the eastern borders of his territory. Offa fortified Oxford and Hereford to safeguard his south and western boundaries.

Offa established a standardised coinage, which compared well with continental examples and on which he is portrayed with various striking hairstyles. His wife, Cynethryth, was evidently a powerful woman. She was the only Saxon queen whose portrait appeared on coins, following the example of Roman empresses. Offa corresponded as an equal with Charlemagne. Subjects discussed included the passage of pilgrims from England to Rome. They did not have to pay tolls, but apparently merchants mingled with them to evade the taxes. In reply to one letter where Offa asked for black stones, almost certainly of Neidermendig lava from the Eiffel region, ideal for grinding corn, Charlemagne asks for a messenger to be sent to identify them and refers to Offa’s wishes as to their size. In return he requests that the woollen cloaks/lengths of fabric the English sent should be the same size as before - perhaps there had been some scrimping. Charlemagne sent Offa the kingly gifts of a belt, a Hunnish sword (from his recently defeated enemies) and two silk palls.

So where does a close connection with Bedford come in? Roger of Wendover states that Offa was buried at Bedford and Matthew Paris, a monk at the Benedictine abbey of St Albans (c.120059) which Offa had founded in 793, repeats this.

Offa died at Offley near Hitchin on 29 July 796, and his body was brought to Bedford ‘because the urgency of the occasion demanded it’ - a decomposing body in the heat of summer or political unrest with unfriendly forces moving up from the south? It was ‘buried in royal manner in a certain chapel within the city on the banks of the River Ouse’. Paris criticises Abbot Paul of St Albans (1077-93) for failing to obtain Offa’s remains for reburial when he rebuilt the abbey church. This suggests the chapel was still standing then, but

by Paris’s time the sepulchre (a tomb of lead? of stone?) was sometimes seen by bathers in summer but never when it was searched for.

St Paul’s was an ancient minster, established by Offa’s time. Anglo-Saxon Christian burials were discovered on the north side of St Paul’s Square.

A sherd of Tating-type ware dating to the late eighth-early ninth century and usually taken as an indicator of high status royal or ecclesiastical sites was found during excavations in Midland Road. A council at Clofesho (possibly Brixworth, Northants) in 799 records that Offa had consigned lands to the church at Bedeford. The Abbess Cynethryth mentioned in this connection was probably Offa’s widow, so in that case there would be nothing improbable in the selection of Bedford for Offa’s burial. Since it was ‘within the city’ the chapel must have been on the north bank of the Ouse. It was probably a timber construction, and could have been washed away in floods. Serious floods were recorded for 1240 and 1280 and there were almost certainly earlier ones. A lead or stone coffin is likely to have sunk down through the silt.

following a track had to sound a horn or shout or he would be assumed to be a thief.

The town and minster continued to be important.

Late Saxon Bedford had its own mint. In 971 the body of Oscetel, Archbishop of York, was taken for burial at Bedford by his brother Thurcetel, because he was abbot there. In 990 the lady Aethelgifu, who held land around Clifton and Henlow, left 30 sheep to Bedford, which suggests a significant monastic settlement.

King Alfred states he studied Offa’s laws (now lost) before drawing up his own law code, and the churchman Alcuin speaks of Offa’s excellent customs, referring to him as ‘of blessed memory’ although he was generally regarded as ruthless.

But the 40 relatively stable years of Offa’s rule at the end of the eighth century leave us a legacy of artefacts from this region, some of which can be seen in The Higgins.

Repton, where there was a mausoleum to a previous Mercian king, Aethelbald, has not laid claim to Offa’s body, nor has Tamworth, where Offa had a palace. If the Bedeford of the sources isn’t Bedford, then where on the River Ouse?

On a probable/possible scale I think it is probable that Offa’s body was deposited at Bedford. So should we look for Offa’s ‘sepulchre’? A sub aqua archaeological excavation might uncover something, but at a considerable depth. However, the river was up to 30 metres wider than at present with small islets and creeks. Excavations in 1887, before the malting was built, found ninth/tenthcentury bone combs ten feet from the surface in a thick deposit of black mud on peat. Any remains may be under the Shire Hall/Law Courts, or the site of the 1960s’ Town Hall or under the roadway or - since land that had been sanctified tended to be kept clear - the old cattle market area. So finding any remains must be at the ‘not possible’ end of the scale.

A detective tale usually includes a red herring - the finding of a horn cut at either end in the river was cited as possible evidence for Offa. However, horns were relatively common and used for centuries as signalling devices and could be owned by almost anyone even Little Boy Blue, urged to blow his when the sheep were ‘in the meadow, the cows in the corn’. According to Anglo-Saxon laws, a stranger making his way through a wood and not

Period artefacts found in Bedfordshire Images: The Higgins Art Gallery and Museum Bedford

SCIENCE

Stelios Mores

Star Trek, Tractor Beams and Levitation

It seems that Gene Roddenberry’s imagination has inspired and influenced many a scientist and engineer, and that this is slowly bringing about a ‘Star Trek revolution’. Apart from the obvious similarity between a mobile phone and a Star Trek communicator, physicists have already teleported photons using what is described as quantum teleportation, and the advent of the 3D printer has allowed technologists to predict that we are on the cusp of witnessing the development of the Replicator, a device which can produce anything from an engine part to a cappuccino with extra chocolate sprinkles on top. The most recent impact of Roddenberry’s concepts on technology has come from researchers in the UK and Spain who have announced that they have been looking at another of the series’ techno-fantasies, the Tractor Beam.

Based on developments in acoustics conducted at the Universities of Dundee and Bristol, the teams have created a sonic device made from an array of 64 off-the-shelf speakers that enable the user to levitate, rotate and generally move objects about.

This ‘sonic array’ creates acoustic holograms from high-pressure sound waves constructing sonic tools such as tweezers, funnels and traps that are used to manipulate the object being handled. Currently the size of the objects which can be handled ranges from 0.6mm to 3.1mm due to the 40 kHz frequency of the ultrasound that is being used. It is envisaged that by altering this frequency the ‘Tractor Beam’ will be able to manipulate objects with a different range of sizes, and so the research teams are currently looking at using this sonic tractor beam to move medicinal capsules within the human body for targeted drug release and delivery, or to manipulate miniature surgical instruments for carrying out microsurgical procedures that could render many of the current surgical practices inefficient and obsolete.

Back to The Future Staying with the subject of levitation... The hoverboard scene from the Hollywood blockbuster ‘Back to The Future II’ is one of the film’s high points as McFly outwits Griff’s gang by forcing them to crash through the Hill Valley clock tower. Since the film’s release in 1989, the idea of the hoverboard has not gone away and not one but

two companies have set their engineers the task of making fiction a reality. A US-based company Hendo Hover has developed a hoverboard based on powerful electromagnets whilst the car manufacturer Lexus has joined in the quest of making the dream a reality by developing a hoverboard using superconducting magnets which require liquid nitrogen (which I guess you can buy at any local hardware store in the 23rd century). Although these boards don’t move the rider through time in a way a DeLorean can, no doubt “Doc” Brown would give both these designs the thumbs up, especially as their

‘hover mechanisms’ look uncannily similar to the one portrayed in the film 25 years ago. So perhaps this is an actual case of Back to The Future, although there still does remain one constraint, this being that these boards can only hover over specially constructed non-ferromagnetic metal

Origami-bots

teins’ n er or

Little

s in

based on the use of paper formed over layers of ultra-thin graphene-oxide nanosheets and incorporating a polydopamine polymer which is deposited at the points where bending is desired.

Bending and unbending can be controlled by changing the moisture content of the polymer and is achieved by using an infrared laser. The researchers have used this behaviour to create simple paper origami-bots which can be made to move forwards, backwards and also turn corners.

The two researchers have also constructed an origami hand that can grasp and release objects, no doubt to save themselves the effort of switching the laser on and off.

C

E

Origami is a traditional Japanese art form founded in the early 1600s during the Edo period which uses various folding techniques to create three dimensional models of objects from a single flat sheet of material (typically paper - “kami” in Japanese).

Recently these paper-folding techniques have been adopted by a couple of Chinese researchers at Donghua University to create self-folding structures

skating areas. As such, for the boards to hover, skateboard parks will have to be clad in aluminium or copper sheet instead of the steel sheet that is often used but, in any case, whatever the technology... it sounds like great fun!

Excellent Eggs

For this experiment you will need the following: 1 raw egg 2 large drinking glasses 5 to 10 teaspoons of salt A couple of cups of hot water Fill both glasses with hot water that has been previously boiled (ask a grown-up) and allowed to cool down enough so that you can safely use it.

In one of the glasses add a teaspoon of salt and stir until it has dissolved completely.

Keep adding salt by the spoonful, each time stirring it to dissolve it all. If you cannot get the salt to

dissolve entirely you will have added enough salt and the water is now saturated with salt.

Take the raw egg and place it in the glass with the salty water. What does it do?

Next take the same egg and place it in the glass with the fresh water. What happens to it now?

You can move the egg between the glasses to see the effect again.

Why does the egg behave so differently? Remember that the salt in the salty water makes the water heavier or denser when compared with the fresh water.

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61

MOTORS

I

’ve yet to find anyone who has been around cars for a few years who doesn’t have a tale to tell. It might be of things Richard McCann your father told you (both wisdom and rubbish!) or your own skinned knuckles and dropped spanners trying to get the thing fixed so you could get yourself to work or college.

Indeed, it’s appropriate that this issue is all about the great outdoors, since – in common with most of us back then - much of my early car maintenance was done al fresco, often with a biting north wind as accompaniment.

I may not have had a very good heater but, believe me, when I got that engine started and slipped behind the wheel it felt like a toasty reward!

I’m compiling a little book of car tales – adventures in buying, fixing, breaking down, travelling, selling – you name it. Anyone remember setting out on a trip to Scotland, Cornwall or even the Continent in an old ‘beater’ car that we shouldn’t have trusted

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Old Car Tales to get us 25 miles? Ignorance is bliss eh?

Please let me have your old car tale.

And here’s a recent one from me to get us started. I was at a race event many years ago, with a single seater car, when ‘an old boy’ shuffled up to me. “That’s the wrong engine in that car y’know,” he piped up.

“Hello,” I said. “Yes, it would have originally been a small Ford engine from an Anglia, like in the Harry Potter film, but it’s been uprated.” The old chap chatted amiably for a few minutes and then moved on to share his knowledge with the next driver.

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A month later, my ‘phone rang. “Hello,” came the broad Gloucestershire accent. “I’ve got that engine for you. Give me the money when you can, OK?” “I’m sorry, who is this?” “We met a while ago boy, and I told you that you had the wrong engine. Well I’ve sorted it for you. I met a bloke with the engine so I bought it for you. No need to thank me, that’s OK.” I came off the ‘phone a bit shocked. What was that all about?

A few months went by and the ‘phone rang again. “You need to pick up that engine. The bloke wants it gone.” “Hello, who’s this…?

Oh yes, I remember. Ummm, can I just send you the money and whatever you want for yourself please?” “It’s not that simple,” he said. “I have a bad back, you’ll have to get it yourself.” “OK,” I sighed. “I’ll come down with a friend and a car with a big boot. Where is it please?”

“It’s not that simple,” he said again.

“The engine is still in the car.”

What???? “You’re kidding me.

Where is it?” “Abergavenny.”

And so it was that I set out early the following day, having booked a day’s precious holiday, in a 4X4 with a car trailer en route to Wales. When I arrived, there was the rusty old Anglia about 100 yards along a grassy track

accessed through a field gate. It was on four flat tyres and looked as if it hadn’t moved since the ‘70s. How could this nightmare be happening? I winched the wreck on to the trailer and off I went again towards home.

After an hour or so I stopped for fuel, and realised that this thing was never going to look good on my lawn. So I called my local garage.

“Please help me,” I begged. “I’ll explain later but I need to drop off a Ford Anglia in your yard while we sort out getting it scrapped.”

The kind garage man agreed to wait for me and at 7pm I rolled into the yard with the wreck. “Why on earth have you bought this?” was the obvious question. “It’s a long story,” I started, “but essentially it’s all about the original engine which is apparently fairly rare these days.”

“Forget that,” said the garage man, lifting the bonnet. “The original engine has gone. This is a bigger engine like the one you already have.

Didn’t you check when you picked it up?”

Well, of course I hadn’t, had I? Ever had a bad day suddenly get worse?

Don’t forget – I’d love to hear YOUR old car tale please!

Send your old car tales to Richard at: OVL Magazine, Barnholme Cottage, 7 High Street, Sharnbrook MK44 1PG info@ousevalleyliving.com Follow us on twitter @OVLMagazine Find us on Facebook OVL Magazine

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Thank you to the lady who stopped David in Olney High Street for a business card for her husband.

David can see why he was not happy with his previous accountants.

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Outside Edge A comedy by Richard Harris Wednesday 25 to Saturday 28 May The Place Theatre, Bradgate Road, Bedford

A hilarious combination of cricket & infidelity!

Picture the scene: the neatly mowed village green, clear blue skies, a cricket team in their perfectly pressed whites, tea and sandwiches waiting in the pavilion, loyal wives and girlfriends looking on. Sound perfect? Think again… there are storm clouds gathering, and not just in the sky! Watch the hilarious sparks begin to fly as the team foolishly try to solve their various marital problems at the same time as winning the game.

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Bob is having marriage troubles, so is Dennis. Maggie is embarrassing Kevin – and Alex’s new girlfriend is teetering on hysterics. At least Roger and Miriam have a perfect marriage … don’t they?

Come and find out with Bedford Drama Company’s cracking comedy this May.

The show is suitable for ages 16+.

All performances are at 7.30pm.

Tickets are £9.50 & £8.00 from www.theplacebedford.org.uk or 01234 354321.

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Concerts at St Andrew’s celebrate their 11th Season!

I

n 2004 a concert series was established in Bedford to give young professional musicians a venue in which to perform with an inexpensive audience ticket price.

Concerts at St Andrew’s are delighted to have entered their 11th Year of running the concert series and have an exciting programme ahead for 2016.

The final weekend in January saw the youngest ever BBC Young Musician of the Year winner perform at St Andrew’s - Peter Moore was joined by pianist Joseph Middleton who not only is a regular performer with Concerts at St Andrew’s but is one of the founding members.

The remainder of the year sees a variety of performers so there really is something for all tastes and styles.

Saturday 3 December, 7.30pm - Julian Bliss & Joseph Middleton (one of the world’s finest solo clarinettists with Joseph Middleton on piano) We look forward to welcoming you to the series.

Previous artists include: Nishat Khan, The King’s Men, O Duo, Crispian Steele-Perkins, Sir Thomas Allen, Dame Felicity Lott, Natalie Klein, Roderick Williams and The Cavaleri Quartet.

Tickets: £10 / £8 concessions / £4 students (16-21 yrs) Tickets are available from St Andrew’s Church Centre Office by phone, email or in person.

St Andrew’s Church, Kimbolton Rd, Bedford, MK40 2PF Email: centremanager@standrewsbedford.org Phone: 01234 216881

Saturday 23 April, 7.30pm - Albion Choir (British songs with a contemporary reworking)

Saturday 4 June, 7.30pm - Tim Thornton Jazz Quartet (regulars at Ronnie Scott’s in London)

Saturday 15 October, 7.30pm - Annual Bring & Sing (Conducted by Ian Smith)

Call for Free Consultation and Quote

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MUSIC

Milky’s Music s M atters... t Matters...

H

oly Esque is a band that push the boundaries, combining an unorthodox strangled shriek of a vocal alongside mammoth riffs and a sense of the cryptic; they’re creating music on their own terms. Ahead of their debut Bedford show (see gig guide below), OVL sought some band info from Pat Hynes…

I think it’s fair to say you have quite a distinctive sound. Did it come organically from the four of you getting together?

There are two sides to this answer. The first being yes, in a way the sound was formed very early on as the bones of what we had then in comparison to what we have now; those foundations are still very much in place and are formed from a similar basis. The other side is that in a creative environment you are always trying to move forward and progress so, that being said, naturally with the band we too have progressed and one of the main components of that progression has been our sound.

You’ll probably be asked frequently about the uniqueness of the vocal and I guess it might be quite a divisive thing. Do you have to employ a technique to summon the shriek?

If you can call it that, yes, there is a technique I apply to control it. It’s something that I’ve had to work on considerably over the years but I’m thankful for the ability; thankful for the ability and thankful for the ability to divide.

Has the album changed much from the original ideas you had way back when you started? Were

new songs written, older ones rejected…?

The album has grown more than changed. It is a direct end result of our trajectory over the last few years. A long and difficult path but I feel that is reflected in the music. There are both old and new songs. We worked hard to deliver and a good balance of both seemed right.

The album has a quite intensive feel to it, not angry, just full of passion and grit. Are you the type of band that all have to be 100% in and committed otherwise it goes in the bin?

I’d say that we were very committed, yes, but it doesn’t seem forced; we go in, rehearse, have a laugh and continue with whatever task is next at hand. It’s a relaxed and enjoyable atmosphere. It’s motivational and easier to remain focused while still having fun.

Have you since written further songs and now have album no.2 in the melting pot?

Yes, we have already begun writing for album two.

Whenever we find time in between everything else we focus on new material. It’s a good way to reinvest and refocus in creating something new again. It can really offer you a spark at times, especially after playing the same songs continuously.

Is the artwork of big importance? Do you retain all control in house?

Very much so; from the beginning of Holy Esque we have always approached our visuals and aesthetic with careful hands, preferring a DIY approach with everything the artwork and visuals entail. We control all artistic output within the band, sound and vision.

What can we expect when you grace the Bedford Esquires stage?

A raw and explosive introduction to Holy Esque and At Hope’s Ravine; I’d encourage anyone in Bedford

to take a chance and experience Holy Esque in a live setting. The album is great but live it is a different machine.

I’m guessing 2016 will be filled with touring and promotional work [festivals?]; how have you prepared for what will be a very busy year?

We are always in the studio writing or rehearsing so we are always ready. In a sense, we stay ready. We are prepared to give this year everything we have.

Personally, I think we are just getting started.

MILKY’S ALBUM REVIEWS Shonen Knife - Adventure Cult Japanese trio return with a record full of joyful bursts of pop-punk and if you haven’t got any of their previous 18 albums then Adventure is a good introduction. Hailed by the likes of Nirvana, Sonic Youth and the late John Peel they have a quirkiness and innocence allied to a machine-precision delivered sound. Album highlight ImI rocks like Motorhead on bubblegum and it’s this hard edge backed up by their infectious trilling that ultimately proves irresistible.

The Coral – Distance Inbetween The Coral is one of those bands that appear omnipresent and yet this record (their eighth) arrives after a five year hiatus, FIVE?!! What a cracking record to come back with though, probably their best in OVL’s opinion, brimming as it is with a heady mix of dreamy layered vocals (White Bird), fuzzbox funk (Holy Revelation) and cut-throat menace (Fear Machine). That signature woozy 60s-influenced psychedelia sound backed with a scouse croon is still present and shuffles across 12 sublime tracks which leads to excellent correlation.

Lucius – Good Grief Appropriately titled.

Dull.

No stars.

Avoid.

Man Made - TV Broke My Brain Radiant debut from a Manchester 3-piece who are fronted by Nile Marr (yes he’s Johnny’s son). A strong melancholic flavour permeates the 11 tracks which have silky yet at the same time rocking characteristics, recalling the likes of The Verve and REM. A record filled with light and dark shades as towering choruses and raucous guitars (Bring Some, Raining In My Head) nuzzle down with the twangy gentler fare of Everything We Miss and Slowdance. Assured and full of surprises, it’s time to switch the TV off and tune in to Man Made’s channel.

SUPPORT THE BEDFORD LIVE SCENE - UPCOMING BEDFORD GIGS FOR YOUR DIARY Friday 8 April – Masakichi / Broken DC / Thousand Suns @ Esquires Friday 15 April – Man Made (see glowing album review above) @ Esquires Friday 22 April – Holy Esque (see interview above) @ Esquires Sunday 24 April – The Songbook Collective (Paul Weller’s backing band) @ Esquires Thursday 28 April – Estrons / The Pearl Harts / Near Moments @ Esquires Friday 29 April – The BellRays (USA’s finest garage-soul-rock band) / The Zipheads @ Esquires Saturday 7 May – Shonen Knife (Cult stars, album review above) @ Esquires Saturday 14 May – Deadcuts (ex-Gorillaz/Wildhearts/Senseless Things) / S*M*A*S*H /Metatrons @ Esquires Sunday 22 May – Yuck @ Esquires Wednesday 15 June – Daddy Long Legs (New York’s deadliest blues-punk trio) / Broadway Twisters @ Esquires Friday 17 June – The Smyths (The Smiths band of Smiths fans for Smiths fans) @ Esquires Friday 18 November – Jesus Jones (Indie dance legends - rare appearance at an intimate venue) @ Esquires Tickets from: www.wegottickets.com / www.seetickets.com / Danny’s Bar (Esquires) / Corn Exchange Box Office / Boutique Planet

BOOKS Chart Topping Author Releases Latest Smash Hit

Ex Libris

Where My Heart Used to Beat is Sebastian Faulks’s 13th novel. The story, concerning events in England, France and Italy in the twentieth century, is told in a series of flashbacks. The themes are war, memory, love, death, loss and mental illness, the author’s recurring concerns.

The narrator is Dr Robert Hendricks, a 64-year-old psychiatrist, who, when the story opens in 1980, is taking a flight back to England from New York after an unpleasant incident with a prostitute.

Not a particularly likeable character, he is alone and ageing; his mother is dead and he did not know his father who was killed in the first world war. He has not married and has no children nor friends. He does have a dog that is cared for by his cleaner and which he takes for walks when he is in London.

On his return from New York Hendricks comes across a letter he had forgotten about from Dr Alexander Pereira, a retired neuroscientist researching diseases associated with old age and memory, who writes that he was impressed by a book written by Hendricks and is interested in him becoming his literary executor. He also reveals that he was Robert’s father’s commanding officer.

Intrigued, Hendricks accepts Pereira’s invitation to his island home off the south of France. As Pereira describes events involving Robert’s father during the first world war Robert relives his own traumatic experiences in the second world war - reminiscent of Faulks’ bestselling novel Birdsong - and also his passionate love affair with Luisa whose betrayal left him desolate and alone.

This is a complex, often harrowing, yet moving novel which the reader will find both emotionally and intellectually challenging as we share Robert’s attempt to understand and come to terms with his past.

Reviewed by Roz Masters

Local author and entrepreneur Adam Croft is on course for yet another successful book launch with his latest book, Her Last Tomorrow, clocking up 20,000 sales in just under a month.

Adam Croft has sold almost half a million books through self-publishing. He has had four Amazon best sellers and many number 1 best sellers on other platforms.

In just five years he has become widely respected and recognised as one of a new generation of talented young authors taking an independent route.

Adam principally writes crime fiction and is best known for the Kempston Hardwick mysteries and Knight & Culverhouse thrillers; his Kempston Hardwick books have been adapted as audio plays, starring some of the biggest names in British TV. Her Last Tomorrow, a psychological thriller, has become a worldwide bestseller and has attracted attention from a number of television networks. The book has regularly been in the top 5 charts for Amazon and iBooks as well as other platforms. The fastpaced thriller tells the story of Nick Connor, whose life is thrown into a tailspin after his 5-year-old daughter is kidnapped. In exchange for his daughter’s safe return, the kidnapper demands that Nick do the unthinkable: he must murder his wife.

Adam commented: “I’m always inspired by hooks.

For thrillers, the impossible choice (wife or daughter?) and increasing tension is what tends to inspire a story. I’m fascinated by the idea of ordinary worlds being turned upside down and unthinkable things happening to perfectly normal people.”

FILMS

Film Review

Zootropolis Certificate: PG

Directors: Byron Howard, Rich Moore In cinemas March 25

Buddy cop movies are big business.

And they don’t necessarily need Bruce Willis to triumph. In fact, Disney’s animated Zootropolis proves they don’t need people at all.

Judy Hopps (voiced by Ginnifer Goodwin) is a bunny with big Anthony Lowery dreams. Throughout a trier, she leaves her overprotective, carrotfarming parents to become a police officer in the handsomely detailed Zootropolis, a human-free melting pot of anthropomorphised animals.

Although the film invites connotations of immigration, amongst other diplomatic agendas, the political metaphors here will likely evade its pre-teens demographic, leaving such pleasures for its adult audiences.

Employing a familiar formula, one that worked wonders for box-office sensation Inside Out, Zootropolis fuses grown-up themes with child-friendly aesthetics to excite filmgoers of all ages. Here’s where the cute and cuddly parody The Godfather and where there really are elephants in the room.

Hopps arrives in Zootropolis as a shade of Monsters’ Mike Wazowski. She’s the heroic underdog determined to break through societal, and physical, boundaries in order to fulfil her dreams. “It’s not about how badly you want something. It’s about what you are capable of,” says Idris Elba’s buffalo police chief to a deflated bunny in the big city. But like all mammals, Hopps adapts and becomes the first rabbit cop to grace the mammal metropolis, growing into a remarkable, post-Frozen, heroine, whose image will soon hop around the globe in the form of stuffed toys and t-shirts.

Determined to prove more than just a token fur ball, Hopps finds an unlikely partner in Jason Bateman’s hustling fox, Nick Wilde, and together they seek to uncover a conspiracy that is rapidly taking hold of the city.

Zootropolis is easily one of the smartest, and funniest, animations to come out of the Disney canon. The universe here is charming, the plot unpredictable with a feel-good score by Shakira that’ll have you bouncing like our big-hearted bunny.

More reviews from Anthony can be found at http://anthonylowery.co.uk/

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Thank you for your many entries. If your picture isn’t here check the next issue of OVL. Email your pictures to info@ousevalleyliving.com and show us who’s been reading your OVL and where they were. Pictures will be printed in each issue and our favourite entry us on twitter @OVLMagazine Find us on Facebook OVL Magazine 71 of the year will win £50 toFollow be announced in the December/January edition.

HOROSCOPES

IN THE STARS with Howard Parker, the Astro-guide

For guidance on any aspect of your life, career and relationship, contact Howard on 07866 727743 or howpark@aol.com. You can also book a consultation with him direct at www.astroguidance.co.uk.

Aries

mar21-apr20

Spring is definitely in the air so you will be shedding the old and springing into the new with your usual enthusiasm.

The full moon on 22 April may threaten to burst your bubble as you struggle with unexpected developments that may involve deep matters such as sexuality or even issues around birth or death. May begins feeling like hard work but the holiday you dream of later in the month makes it feel worth it.

Taurus

apr21-may21

It may feel as if someone is shouting loudly in your ear from behind early in April but sooner or later you are going to have to listen to things you may not wish to hear. These may be about deep and intense issues arising in your relationship. Whenever the date actually is, think of the new moon on 6 May as your cosmic birthday as it sets in motion things that could get sexy and pleasantly intense later in the month.

Gemini

may22-jun21 Don’t deny it: you like sounding off with your opinions and, of course, talking is what you do best. Make sure you pay attention to issues at work – is your listening as good as your talking, I wonder? In early May you could feel frustrated that some people just don’t ‘get’ you and you are being held back by old-fashioned ideas and people but it all comes good at the end of the month when conditions are perfect for a romantic trip together and you can let it all go.

Cancer

jun22-jul23

Frustrations about your career will make you angry but is speaking your mind really working for you right now? Later on in April you will probably feel more in your element when your intuitive ability to make deep, meaningful connections and your emotional, nurturing nature really shines through.

In May it’s now time to stand up for what you believe in but craft what you say so that it meets the demands of the situation for maximum effectiveness.

Leo

jul24-aug23 Get out there and learn something – a new sport, activity, anything that allows you to challenge yourself! The trouble is that angry events at home around 22 April may bring you down to earth with a bump. Don’t be a victim though as May brings in a much better energy and a chance to show just how committed you can be to getting something done properly. By the end of the month, hard work may be rewarded with a sense of some welcome romance in the air.

Virgo

aug24-sep23

April begins with what might feel like some almost life and death situations (or maybe it’s an inheritance?) but things are relieved by a nice party atmosphere later on and a chance to gossip proves to be fun. You may well be studying hard at home in May but don’t let your need for intense concentration keep you too desk-bound. You need to get out now and again just to recharge your energies.

Libra

Capricorn

sep24-oct23

Someone is being far too pushy for your liking and rocking your relationship boat but a money windfall may turn out to be a nice distraction from this. The flavour of May is more serious with some deep and meaningful connections being made but this is lightened a lot by the prospect of a great time socialising and having fun. It’s a good time for using social media and good communication too.

Scorpio

oct24-nov22

The start of April may feel a bit crazy for someone deep like you. Things feel as if they are moving much too fast for your liking before the full moon on the 22nd ushers in some hidden intrigues with all sorts of skeletons coming out of the closet! In May it looks as if you will either get married or be jilted. Or something like that. Who knows? Later in the month, you might just have a genius idea for making money but, of course, there may be complications.

Sagittarius nov23-dec22

April starts just as you like it with a real holiday atmosphere, perhaps in the form of a weekend break when you can really let go. But things get a lot more serious later on in the month as secrets emerge that might leave you feeling pretty confused about where you stand. May teaches you that if you focus, get your daily routines right and do things properly, the rewards are there just the way you want them. Enjoy!

dec23-jan20

A bad atmosphere at home may feel like it’s draining you and taking over your life in early April but there are things that need to be said. It’s just about finding the right moment.

Take your time deciding when that is. May finds you a lot happier as new projects start up but there will need to be some adjustments along the way before everything is structured right.

Aquarius jan21-feb19

Lots of new stuff is going on in your world. Maybe it’s all about politics, the state of the planet and campaigning on matters that you feel strongly about? Don’t get too uptight at work about perceived injustices and resign in haste over something that makes you angry. You may live to regret it. You may feel bored at home in early May but your strong beliefs may lure you out onto the streets in protest at something. Fight for what you believe in!

Pisces

feb20-mar20

You may find yourself receiving money from an unexpected source. Work is going well but there is always the temptation to just drop everything and get away from it all. Resist this and show how committed you really are! In May you may come to appreciate the joys of everyday life of your local neighbourhood while later in the month you face some career challenges to put your money where your mouth is and show what you are made of.

Astro-guidance Tip: With Jupiter opposing Neptune for all this period, you may struggle to be clear whether you are deluded or inspired in a number of situations. Things have a tendency to get blown out of proportion so it’s best to take things very slowly and try to be as logical as is possible.

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diarydates Friday 1 April Bedford Art Society Putnoe Heights Church, 7.15 for 7.30 Tara Tate - New Voices & Guises of Contemporary Art. £5 visitors. Jean Paterson 01234 307210 or www.bedsartsociety.co.uk

Saturday 2 April Cambs & Beds Hardy Plant Society Weatherley Centre, Eagle Farm Rd, Biggleswade, 2pm Des Martin, Leicestershire nursery owner and lecturer on Plants for Damp Places.

Plant sale.

Monday 4 April Alpine Garden Society, Bedfordshire Group Wilstead Village Hall, 7.30 for 8pm The Beauties and Mysteries of the Burren.

Plant sale, plant exhibits. Visitors, £3.

Tuesday 5 April Bedford Floral Art Society Addison Centre, Kempston, 7.30pm Daphne Grant - Old Friends and New Faces.

Raffle of arrangements. Visitors £7. www.bedfordfloralartsociety.co.uk Wednesday 6 April Bedford Local Group of The Wildlife Trust, 7.30pm Priory Methodist Church Hall, Newnham Avenue Gardening for Wildlife - illustrated talk

by Betty Cooke. Voluntary contributions appreciated. www.wildlifebcn.org or at 01234 266057.

Stevington Cinema Club Stevington Village Hall Live broadcast of the Royal Ballet’s Giselle from Covent Garden. Tickets from www.stevingtoncinemaclub.uk

Thursday 7 April Knit & Knatter Thursdays 9.30-11.30am Riseley Village Hall Coffee shop, knitting, crocheting, beading, kneedlework and plenty of Knattering.

Wendy 01234709083 ronandwendy@ btinternet.com Stevington Cinema Club Stevington Village Hall, 7.30pm Showing the classic film, The Ladykillers.

Details, trailer and tickets www.stevingtoncinemaclub.uk

Fri 8 to Sun 10 April Bedford Art Society Exhibition MS Therapy Centre, Bradbury House, Barkers Lane Fri 7-8.30pm, Sat 10am-5pm, Sun 10am3pm. www.bedsartsociety.co.uk

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Saturday 9 April Biddenham Handbell Ringers 25th Anniversary Concert St Peter de Merton Church, De Parys Avenue, 7pm £8, u16s free includes refreshments. Anthea Slark 01234 350644 or Paul Fricker 01234 342843.

Sat 9 & Sun 10 April Mixed Traction Weekend Rushden Station Heritage traction, home fleet locomotives and the Blue Circle makes its debut! Fares apply. www.rhts.co.uk/events

Sunday 10 April Rotary Club of Bedford Fun Run on the Western Bypass Proceeds to Sue Ryder St John’s Hospice and Rotary charities. Prizes for best fancy dress and fund raisers. Adults £15, juniors £10, families, £25. www.bedfordrotary.org. uk/funrun.html

Monday 11 April The Royal British Legion WW1 Commemorative Lecture Series Harpur Suite, 7.30pm Trench Warfare - Richard Knight. Illustrated talk with artefacts.

Tea Dance, 2-4.30pm Addison Centre, Kempston £2.50 includes cuppa. Tel: 01234 851877 or 01234 340997.

Thursday 14 April Bedford Music Club Bunyan Meeting Joshua Ellicott, tenor and James Boyd, guitar. Songs by Dowland, Jones, Giuliani, Britten and Lennox Berkeley. Tickets on door or 01234 261811, enquiries@ bedfordmusicclub.co.uk or Central Box Office.

Saturday 16 April Willington Village Market Village Hall, 10am-12 noon Buy fresh and local. More info from Julia Buckroyd 01234 831316.

NCT Nearly New Sale, 12 noon Bedford Athletics Stadium Sponsored by Viking Self Storage. £1 entrance. 11.30am entry to members.

Fish & Chip Supper, 7pm Rushden Station Ride behind our Class 31 diesel locomotive. £10 pp. www.rhts.co.uk/events Sat 16 April & Sun 17 April Cowslip & Fritillary Weekend, 2-4pm St. Peter’s Church, Newton Bromswold Plants for sale and cream teas.

Tuesday 19 April Biddenham Gardeners’ Association

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Biddenham Village Hall, 8pm Restoration of The Swiss Garden by Corinne Price. Visitors, £4 includes raffle and refreshments. www. biddenhamgardenersassociation.org.uk

Kimbolton Flower Club AGM Mandeville Hall, Kimbolton, 7.30pm Followed by talk, ‘Death in the Garden’ by Michael Brown. Visitors £6, includes light refreshments.

Wednesday 20 April Carlton & Chellington Historical Society Coach outing to Canons Ashby, an Elizabethan manor house in 18th-century gardens. For details 01234 720689.

Thursday 21 April Embroiderers’ Guild, Bedford Branch St Mark’s Church, Brickhill, 7.30 for 7.45pm Talk on ‘Souvenirs of the First World War’.

Visitors, £4.

Friday 22 April Great Barford Community Quiz Village Hall, 7.30pm Bar open 7pm. Teams of 4. £7pp includes supper. Register with Louise 01234 870443.

Fund raising for our Annual Fun Day. Saturday 23 April The Village Show at Keysoe Annual Plant Sale Keysoe Village Hall, 10am to noon Plants, bric a brac, books, cakes, raffle and free teas/coffee. Free entry, ample parking.

Kempston Musical Society St. Mark’s Church, Brickhill, 7.30pm Concert of sacred and light music in aid of Cancer Research UK. Tickets £9 includes refreshments.

Albion Choir, 7.30pm St Andrew’s Church, Kimbolton Road, Bedford Tickets £10/£8/£4. Full details www.standrewsbedford.org

Sunday 24 April Plant Sale Bletsoe Village Hall, 11-3pm Entrance £1, refreshments. Small nurserymen and specialist growers. In aid of St. Mary’s Church restoration fund.

National Trust Dovecote & Stables Church End, Willington, Beds,1-5pm Guided tours of the Tudor buildings and village. Refreshments in the church.

Organ music by Peter Twitchin of Southill, 3-3.45pm.

Monday 25 April The Royal British Legion WW1 Commemorative Lecture Series Harpur Suite, 7.30pm Codebreakers in the shadow - MI1(b) in

WW1 - Mike Chapman and Sarah Ralph from Bletchley Park.

Wednesday 27 April Bedford Branch of the Historical Association Bedford School Library, 7.30pm The British Citizen Army in World War II - talk

by Professor Gary Sheffield, well known historian and author. Visitors welcome with donation. Details 01234 266839 james@ simla.org.uk

Thursday 28 April Rushden Flower Arrangement Club, 7 for 7.30pm The Full Gospel Church Hall, 60 High Street South Spring Flowers. Practical evening with advice. New members £30 per year. Visitors, £6.

Sat 30 April to Mon 2 May Cavalcade of Historical Transport & Country Show Off the A6, Bedford Road, South of Rushden, NN10 0SN See www.cavalcade.org.uk for details.

Sun 1 May to Thu 30 June £50 Prize Treasure Trail Clues £2 from Blunham Supermarket, The Horseshoes pub or Great Barford Post Office. Suitable for adults and children.

Proceeds to Blunham Village Hall.

Monday 2 May Open Afternoon Sharnbrook Bowls Club Lodge Road, Sharnbrook from 2pm Call Penny Mann on 01234 781660.

Alpine Garden Society, Bedfordshire Wilstead Village Hall, 7.30 for 8pm Talks by members. Plant sales, plant exhibits.

Visitors, £3.

Tuesday 3 May Bedford Floral Art Society Addison Centre, Kempston, 7.30pm Irene Bowkett (NAFAS) presenting ‘Curtain Up’. Raffle of arrangements. Visitors, £7. www.bedfordfloralartsociety.co.uk Monday 4 May Cream Teas, 3.30-5.30pm All Saints’ Church, Turvey All proceeds to Church funds.

Friday 6 May Bedford Art Society 7.15 for 7.30 Putnoe Heights Church Linda Travers Smith uses watercolour and ink. Visitors £5. Jean Paterson 01234 307210 or www.bedsartsociety.co.uk

Saturday 7 May Georgian Day The Higgins Dancing and music in period costume, museum trail and lecture. www. thehigginsbedford.org.uk

diarydates

Norway & Bedford Choirs in Concert St Paul’s Church, Bedford, 7pm Kongsberg Kantori and St Paul’s Church Choir perform Bach cantatas and other works. Tickets £10 (£5 students and u18) from 01234 340163 or on door.

Sunday 8 May Cambs & Beds Hardy Plant Society Annual Plant Sale at Stratton School Farm Open Day Eagle Farm Road, Biggleswade, 10am Unusual hardy perennial plants for sale.

British Red Cross Bedfordshire Open Gardens, 1.30-5pm Gardens of Westoning MK45 5JW, Teas, toilets, plants, parking.

Saturday 14 May Nursery Plant Sale Pavenham Village Hall, 10.30-2.30pm 10 nurseries from 6 counties. Plant sale, free parking, refreshments. Entry £1.20. In aid of The Friends of St Peter’s Pavenham.

Community Herb Garden Open Day Victorian roundabout where Castle Rd and Rothsay Rd meet 10.30-3pm Herbs, honey and cakes for sale. Plant swap.

Demonstration by Jane Perrone, Gardening Editor at The Guardian. 07914 606816 or Abundance Bedford on Facebook.

Chamber Music Recital St Paul’s Church, Bedford, 7.30pm Local and international artists: guitar, voice, piano duets and solos by Tamara McCoy and Valerie Hartzell. Works by Carulli, Liszt, Dyens, Albeniz, Boccherini, and de Falla. Tickets £12 (£10 concessions) from 01234 340163 or on door. http://www. stpaulschurchbedford.org.uk/index.shtml

Sunday 15 May Stevington 12k Road Race, 11am 1 lap through Oakley and Pavenham, starting and finishing in Stevington Village Hall. Min age 17. Changing facilities and refreshments.

An affiliated UK Athletics Race. http:// stevingtonroadrace.co.uk British Red Cross Bedfordshire Open Gardens Milton House, Milton Ernest, 1.30-5pm Teas, toilets, plants, parking.

Tuesday 17 May Biddenham Gardeners’ Association

Biddenham Village Hall, 8pm History of English Gardens by Ursula Buchan. Visitors, £4 includes raffle and refreshments. www. biddenhamgardenersassociation.org.uk

Kimbolton Flower Club, 7.30pm Mandeville Hall, Kimbolton Demonstration by Linda Seabrook ‘Twn Fion Cali’ (The Welsh Highway). Visitors £6, including light refreshments.

Thursday 19 May Embroiderers’ Guild, Bedford Branch St Mark’s Church, Brickhill, 7.30 for 7.45pm Talk on ‘Smocking’. Sales table. Visitors, £4.

Carlton & Chellington Historical Society Carlton Village Hall, 7.15 pm AGM followed by talk at 8pm by Sarah Bridges on the Chester Farm Project at Irchester.

Saturday 21 May Willington Village Market Village Hall, 10am-12 noon Buy fresh and local. More info from Julia Buckroyd 01234 831316.

Woody Mann in Concert Pavenham Village Hall, 7.30pm Jazz, Blues and American Roots music.

Licensed bar. Tickets £12.50 from http:// stevingtonguitarconcerts.co.uk or Debby Horsman 01234 825711.

Wed 25 to Sat 28 May Outside Edge, 7.30pm The Place Theatre, Bedford Bedford Drama Company’s comedy by Richard Harris. Suitable for 16+. Tickets £9.50 & £8 from www.theplacebedford.org. uk or 01234 354321.

Saturday 28 May St Owen’s Church Coffee Morning Bromham Village Hall, 10am Grand Draw, stalls, refreshments. Free entry.

Sat 28 & Sun 29 May Cowboys & Indians Weekend Rushden Station Dress in Wild West theme and travel on our diesel hauled train. Games and activities.

Fares apply. www.rhts.co.uk/events Monday 30 May British Red Cross Bedfordshire Open Gardens Tofte Manor, Sharnbrook, 1.30-5pm Teas, toilets, plants, parking.

Cream Teas, 3.30-5.30pm.

All Saints’ Church, Turvey All proceeds to Church funds.

Charity and fundraising events for the June/July edition to be supplied by 10 May to info@ousevalleyliving.com Please email your entry with a maximum of 40 words and quote Diary Dates in the subject box.

Follow us on twitter @OVLMagazine Find us on Facebook OVL Magazine

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77

SPEECH THERAPISTS

Blunham’s Treasure Trail Everyone enjoys a mystery, being puzzled, solving clues and competing to answer questions.

Blunham’s Village Hall Committee has devised a 95-clue Treasure Trail around the village with a £50 prize. The set of clues costs £2 from Blunham Supermarket or The Horseshoes pub or the shop at Great Barford Post Office. Taking place for the whole of May and June the deadline for the submission of answers is 30 June.

The Treasure Trail is suitable for everyone - adults, children and families.

TUITION

Here are a few examples of the devious clues:

What is looking up at the two boys?

In what habitat do the two pigs live?

What meal is the absentee probably eating?

Do join in the fun and, perhaps, win £50

Sharnbrook Playing Field Association – Charity no. 300062

MONDAY 30th May 2016

2.00 – 5 pm on the Playing Fields, Lodge Road

DOG SHOW, FARM ANIMALS, STILT WALKERS

BBQ, REFRESHMENTS, ICE CREAMS

LOTS OF GAMES AND STALLS FOR ALL THE FAMILY RAFFLE, BOUNCY CASTLE AND MORE!

If you would like to have a Stall please contact Kathryn White for information kathrynwwhite@hotmail.co.uk or Tel 781968

78

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Whose Ad is it?

T

his image is part of an advert which can be found somewhere in this edition of OVL. Do you know whose ad it is?

Email your answer to info@ousevalleyliving.com quoting Whose Ad in the subject box. The winner will be drawn at random and notified by Friday 20 May. Closing date Friday 13 May.

WIN!

Two day passes for Bodyflight Leisure Centre Twinwoods Adventure Twinwoods Business Park Clapham 0845 200 2960 www.bodyflight.co.uk

Answer to last issue’s Whose Ad is it? Cambridge Weight Plan Congratulations to Mitch Crook who won a 45-minute golf lesson with PGA professional Sam Smith at The Bedford Golf Club

Sudoku Fill in the grid so that every row, every column and every 3 x 3 box contains the digits from 1 to 9, with no repetition!

Answers in the next issue Last issue’s answers

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79

CHILDHOOD COMMUNICATION Independent Speech and Language Therapist Jacqui Wright answers your questions about childhood communication

emily johnston

Dear Jacqui I have been told that my child has difficulties with his executive function. Please can you explain what this is?

Executive function is like the manager of the brain. It ensures that tasks are achieved from the planning stage to the final outcome. When a child has issues with executive functioning, any task that requires planning, organisation, memory, time management and flexible thinking becomes a challenge. These issues are common in children with learning and attention issues often related to ADHD, Autism Spectrum and Learning Difficulties.

Depending on their age, and usually by 7 years, a child will be able to: 1. Work out what needs to be done on a task 2. Plan how to handle the task 3. Get organised. Break down the plan into a series of steps 4. Assess how much time is needed to carry out the plan, and set aside the time 5. Make adjustments as needed 6. Finish the task in the time allotted

Bright, bold artwork for licensing.

Projects and commissions undertaken. www.emilyillustrates.co.uk www.facebook.com/JeSuisEmilyIllustration

If executive functioning is working well and the task is fairly simple, the brain may go through these steps rapidly. If a child has weak executive skills, though, performing even a simple task can be challenging. This starts to become apparent from age 7.

Executive functioning difficulties can lead to problems with: • Keeping track of time • Making plans • Making sure work is finished on time • Multitasking • Applying previously learned information to solve problems • Analysing ideas • Looking for help or more information when it is needed

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Jacqui Wright Childhood Communication Consultant www.childhoodcommunication.co.uk info@childhoodcommunication.co.uk 01234 721 775 / 079 566 855 81 Find us on Facebook: Childhood Communication Consultancy Twitter: @JacquiSLT If you have any questions for Jacqui please email info@ousevalleyliving.com and she will endeavour to answer your concerns in this column

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Meet Emily who doodles a cartoon diary of her musings and chaotic life

www.EmilyIllustrates.co.uk and www.facebook.com/JeSuisEmilyIllustration

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