the
Vine leighton buzzard
Issue 5 Dec/Jan 13
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from the vine
Enter the SF Digital Cute Baby Competition. Exclusive to The Vine Magazine. Page 16
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Content 6
Traveller’s Tale
28 Puzzles
8
Natural Health
30
Divorce Law
10
Hangover Cure
32
Book Review
12
Fairy Light Safety
34
Surviving Christmas
16
Cute Baby Competition
36
Recipe
18
Alternative Bank Loans
38
What’s On
20
Winter Skin
40
Hair Couture
22
Domestic Goddess
42
NSPCC letter to Santa
26
In the Garden
44
Save Money on Energy
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Dear All Welcome to another packed issue and as well as many of my usual features, there are plenty of tips about not just surviving Christmas safely but enjoying it too! The 3 day Christmas Festival Weekend at the beginning of December (30 November – 2 December) starts off a whole month of Christmas shopping in Leighton Buzzard - shops in the town centre will be open every day (that includes Sundays) in December until Christmas day. This will give Leighton Buzzard shoppers full opportunity to take advantage of all the interesting and varied shops in the town. There will also be an extra Sunday market, offering a range of different stalls, open from 10am until 4pm. On Sundays, car parking is absolutely free so no need to hurry back to the car, you can stop for a cup of tea and a cake at one of the many lovely cafe's that are open! Don’t forget if you want more from your Vine magazine following on Facebook and Twitter will give you updates on What’s On in you area and also a chance to promote your own event. If you are not in our regular distribution area you can still receive The Vine Magazine by subscribing online, just email “subscribe” to info@thevinemagazine.com I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Andrena
Editor Andrena Carden-White Advertising & Editorial for The Vine Magazines, Leighton Buzzard and Bletchley 0797 155 4604info@thevineleightonbuzzard.co.uk www.thevineleightonbuzzard.com
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A Traveller’s Tale By Paul Heley
Castles, Cathedrals & other Antiquities,
No.3 A quick look at
Geddington and its Eleanor Cross
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ou've most likely heard about the twelve original Eleanor Crosses erected by King Edward I in the early 1290s - but perhaps you don't know how and why they came into being nor what happened to the one which stood on Dunstable's crossroads for something like 350 years. For starters, only three remain:- at Geddington in Northamptonshire, at Hardingstone just outside Northampton, at Waltham Cross in Hertfordshire. Of these, the one at Geddington is in the best condition. Edward was born in 1239 the son of Henry III and, when only 15 years old, was married to Eleanor of Castile for purely political reasons (as was customary at the time). However, and rather surprisingly, this arranged marriage developed into a genuine love match and they were rarely separated - Eleanor even accompanying her husband on one of the Crusades to the Holy Land. Edward was a fine figure of a man, exceptionally tall (nicknamed "Longshanks"), athletic, sporting, and fond of tournaments. After he was crowned in 1272, he typified the image of the medieval warrior king and brought the rebellious Welsh and, in particular the Scots, to heel. For this he earned the extra soubriquet "The hammer of the Scots". He was on his way to sort the Scots out once more in 1290 when he heard that his beloved Eleanor had been taken sick of "a slow fever" near Lincoln and so he abandoned his latest plans and rushed to her bedside. But it was all in vain and Eleanor died on the 28th November, 1290, at Harby. Edward was devastated and he is quoted as saying "my harp is turned to mourning. In life I loved her dearly, nor can I cease to love her in death". Although it was assumed that Eleanor would be buried in nearby Lincoln cathedral, Edward would not hear of it and insisted that she should be buried at Westminster Abbey, and further stated that he would accompany her coffin and would walk every step of the way. Remember that this was December with its attendant rain, snow, fog and mud; so we can appreciate that this was a genuine and heart felt gesture of true love and showed a more gentle side
to Edward's character. The journey took 12 days with 11 overnight resting places, either at prestigious religious houses or royal manors/hunting lodges. Starting with Lincoln, the other stops were at Grantham, Stamford, Geddington, Hardingstone, Stony Stratford, Woburn, Dunstable, St Albans, Waltham and Charing. The coffin rested at Dunstable on the night of the 11th/12th December, 1290, during which a mass was conducted by the then Prior, William de Wederow. At each of the resting places, Edward instructed that a cross be erected in Eleanor's memory so that the people could pray for her soul and speed its way through purgatory to paradise. These crosses were erected in the early 1290s and the one at Dunstable stood in the centre of the crossroads until it was destroyed - as were many of the others - by Parliamentary troops (who hated anything remotely ornate or "papist") in 1643 roughly 350 years later. The one at Geddington is complete apart from the small cross which originally surmounted the structure. The edifice is triangular in design and separate effigies of Eleanor (together with the arms of Castile, Leon and Ponthieu) are found on each side. And underneath the cross is a spring whose water might have been chosen for religious significance. A mass is still conducted annually in the village in Eleanor's continued memory. Geddington is a stone village situated between Kettering and Corby, built from the local ironstone and limestone and is full of charming old houses together with the parish church of St Mary Magdalene. The river Ise runs through the centre and one can either drive through the ford or, if small enough (as on a motorbike), ride across the old stone bridge which dates from c.1250. Just to the north of Corby is Rockingham Castle whose original was built by William the Conqueror over 900 years ago. It has been in private hands for the last 500 years but is occasionally open to the public. So, if you can find a suitable day when it is open, you could have a veritable historyfest at Geddington and Rockingham without having to travel too far!
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Health
natural Health natural H Stocking up for Winter
Squirrels burying their acorns on Autumn Watch and thoughts of millions of people in New York without lights and heating set me thinking, as I began writing this article, about stocking up rather than Christmas shopping. So here are some of my suggestions By Sue Blain
Naturopathic Practitioner
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Keeping Warm
Most of us have loft insulation so why not boost your own inner central heating by adding warming spices such as cayenne, chilli, turmeric, ginger, cumin and various herbs to soups, casseroles and hot drinks? But don’t just add herbs to soups, antiseptic Thyme is great for gargling sore throats, garlic too! Sprinkle cinnamon on porridge and sweeten with anti-bacterial Manuka honey. Use effective insulation to conserve your heat by wearing thermals! They’re quite popular now, not just for hikers and the elderly. And don’t lose all that heat through the top of your head by not wearing a hat!
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Stock Up On Supplements
Vitamin D3 1000iu to boost your mood and immune system, found in oily fish and eggs but mainly obtained from sunshine on your skin. A good reason to exercise outdoors but, given the sun is now in short supply, most people become deficient, hence the abundance of winter colds and flu. Vitamin C 1000mg to help mop up the toxins should you come down with a cold or flu, found in fruit and veg. Ester-C is best. Homeopathic remedies, a must this time of year; Aconite 30c if you feel really chilled and can’t seem to warm up, perhaps the first sign of a cold, and Gelsemium 30c if suffering muscular
aches and pains associated with the early signs of flu. Echinacea, to boost the immune system.
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Essential Oils
Pine, Tea Tree, Eucalyptus, Lavender, Lemon and Thyme have marked anti-microbial effects and some can stimulate an immune response. They can be used to clear airborne germs by adding them to an oil burner or a room spray, in steam inhalations or applied to the skin (all, except Lavender and Tea tree, will need to be diluted with a carrier oil first, such grapeseed oil). Do a patch test first.
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‘Feel-Good’ Foods
Reduced light levels can cause a decrease in the ‘feel-good’ brain chemical serotonin, which can make us crave sugary carbohydrates. The best way to boost levels of serotonin is by eating foods such as turkey, chicken, fish, cottage cheese, bananas, eggs, nuts, avocados and legumes, together with small amounts of wholemeal bread, pasta, brown rice or root vegetables.
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Light Candles
Candles brighten gloomy afternoons, create a warming Christmas atmosphere and of course are perfect in case of power cuts. Oh and don’t forget the matches! Wishing you a healthy, happy Christmas, from Sue Blain.
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The Nutrition Coach
Banish The
Hangover
Was your Christmas a little too merry? Get a bit too happy at new year? Did you wake up with a throbbing headache, a general feeling of physical misery, a tiger in your bathroom and a bit of left over turkey stuck somewhere on your shirt? Before you choose to finish that cold turkey or opt for the Bloody Mary, try these tips instead.
Rehydrate Alcohol is a diuretic – a chemical that kicks your urinary system into overdrive, and unless you managed to alternate your alcoholic beverages with water in between (which never works does it?), your post-drinking symptoms are most likely due to dehydration. Rehydrating is key when it comes to recovering from a hangover and cannot be stressed enough. But I’m not talking coffee, Red Bull or hair-of-the-dog here. Caffeine is an acknowledged stimulant, and while you might hope caffeine can perform its miracles of giving some much needed focus and alertness, it’s another diuretic. Red Bull isn’t much better (and requires another column), and choosing the hairof-the-dog option would only be advisable if you want to pass out to forget what you’ve done the night before. Coffee will not help your stomach either, so the best option is water at room temperature. You may add some fresh lemon or fresh orange juice to give you additional Vitamin C for energy, and for soothing your upset tummy.
Top Up When you drink excessively, you lose a lot of key minerals and vitamins including potassium, magnesium and B-Vitamins, all of which need to be topped up. Bananas are a great hangover food; they are like nature’s own little hangover cures. Not only are they full of fructose (natural fruit sugar) to help with energy, they contain a nice amount of potassium. Bananas are also natural antacids – which will help your nausea and stomach pain – and they also contain magnesium, which helps to relax pounding blood vessels in your head. Have a banana on toasted
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wholegrain bread (for the carbohydrates and B-Vitamins) with organic peanut or almond butter (great sources of magnesium and protein), and you get a good dose of all those key minerals and vitamins you lost the night before. Drinking vegetable bouillon soup or coconut water are two other good sources of vitamins and minerals, and easy for a fragile stomach to digest.
Eat Do eat. Yes, it might be the last thing you want to do, but you will feel a lot better the minute you get your blood sugar levels up after having had some food. There is no one-and-only hangover food cure, but you can’t beat a good fry-up. It gives you the greasy fat to coat your stomach, and the bread and eggs will give you the carbohydrates and protein for energy and blood sugar support. All I can say there is no perfect food cure for a hangover, so if you’ve found one that works for you, stick to it. My advice, though, would be to opt for a well-balanced meal, including all groups of macronutrients: complex carbohydrate, lean protein and healthy unsaturated fats. A toasted wholegrain bagel with cream cheese and salmon is another good option, and so is porridge with natural yoghurt and strawberries, giving you enough fibre for blood sugar balance, selenium to boost liver function, and Vitamin C for energy and soothing your tummy.
Sleep But for the best cure of all (and if you have the luxury of not having to get up), go back to bed after your breakfast and sleep it off!
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Have a Safe and Twinkly Christmas by Steven McGiff With Christmas on our doorstep, blowing the dust off the old storage boxes and starti ng to embellish our homes with beauti ful and twinkly decorati ons, will already be well underway in most UK homes… as will be the last minute ransacking of socket extenders and adapters from every room, having realised there aren’t nearly enough sockets in the house for the multi tude of lighti ng strings and dancing snowmen we plan to display this year… followed by the ritual crossing of everything (that can be crossed) as we plead for the lights to come on at the fi rst fl ick of the switch… but … without wishing to dampen the excitement, we would ask you to keep one thing in mind, before you start plugging anything in… stay ‘electrically safe’ this Christmas. Alarming fi gures published by the Government and HSE reveal: • Electrical accidents are responsible for 70 deaths and 350,000 injuries every year in the UK. • Approximately 4,000 house fi res caused by electricity could have been prevented if the fuse board had been fi tt ed with RCD protecti on. Despite this, over half of UK homes (13 million) have very limited protecti on (if any). • Fires caused by Christmas trees and festi ve lights are responsible for the loss of an average of 500 homes each year. We use electricity every day. Don’t take it for granted as it can be dangerous. Treat it with respect and follow these simple checks to keep yourselves safe this Christmas:
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To protect yourself from electric shock, think about using a portable plug-in RCD, if your fuse board doesn’t have one built in. Alternati vely consider upgrading your fuse board to make sure your property is fully protected. • •
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Check you have working smoke alarms on each level of your home. If your fairy lights are old, consider replacing them with new ones that meet safety standards (eg. look out for the BS Kitemark). For added safety, new lights will be double insulated or transformed down to 24 volts. If you are using fairy lights that have been in storage, check the cables for wear and tear and the bulbs for signs of damage, before you plug them in. Don’t ever remove or replace bulbs whilst the power is switched on. Be carefully that any excess cable is neatly tucked out of the way, to keep them out of children and pets way and prevent tripping hazards. Avoid running the cables under rugs or carpets where they can easily become damaged. If you need to use extension leads or adapters, make sure that they are not overloaded and pulling more power than they are designed to. Whilst the twinkly fairy lights might look beautiful and we can all get caught up in the excitement of Christmas, don’t allow children to play with Christmas lights. Turn off Christmas lights and other electrical equipment you are not using at night, fire can spread quickly while you sleep. Steven McGiff Electrical Services www.smelectrical.com 07930399102 / 01525 636 138
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What’sBestForYou
By Andrew Hagger – Money expert from www.Moneycomms.co.uk
A Good Deal... Don’t Bank On It! Part II
Just because you know the names Why not give the high street banks a miss if you’re looking for a loan of £5,000 or less Despite bank base rates being stuck fast at 0.5%, some lenders are still charging interest at a staggering 20% APR plus if you want a personal loan of £5,000 or less. The battle for our personal loan custom is as intense as it’s ever been, but the problem is that many lenders are cherry picking and concentrating on the higher value end of the market. Five lenders currently fighting to be top dog and advertising record low interest rates of between 5.6% APR and 5.9% APR, but only for sums of £7,500 and above. For lower value loans it’s a very different story, with the majority of lenders charging double digit rates on a £3,000 advance and NatWest and Halifax amongst the most expensive at 20.9% APR and 24.9% APR respectively. There are cheaper options available, but my research shows you’ do well to steer clear of the established providers if you want get the best deals.
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Just because you’re not familiar with the names, it doesn’t mean you should discount them – the peer to peer market has quickly established itself as a credible alternative to the big banks – and the low interest rates are much better than you’ll find on the high street. Another option to consider is the Rate for Life card from MBNA, although this isn’t strictly a personal loan, there’s nothing to stop you using this long term fixed rate credit card in the same way you would as a loan. If you transfer your balance to the card and set up a monthly standing order for your current account, it works exactly the same as a personal loan. The interest rate is 5.9% APR for as long as it takes you to clear the balance and even including the one off 1.5% balance transfer fee, it remains one of the cheapest ways to borrow. The potential cost savings on a loan of £3,000 with the low rate options mentioned here could save you up to £22.79 per month and as much as £821 in total over a three year term when compared with the personal loan with Halifax, charging 24.9% APR.
There are three borrowing options that stand out, if you want to borrow £5,000 or less, as follows:
For £3,000 over five years the cost savings are even greater at up to £24.88 per month and more than £1400 over the full term.
Zopa, the first peer to peer lender in the UK is now in its eighth year and RateSetter one of the more recent lenders in the peer to peer market both offer some of the best value deals at 9.5% APR and 9.7% APR respectively for a £3,000 loan over 3 years.
Shop around for the lowest rate, as there are some cheaper options out there and by thinking outside the box or taking advantage of deals from new lenders you can save yourself a small fortune in interest charges. For more information or advice go to www.Moneycomms.co.uk
Wake Up Winter Skin Louise Cooper-Barnes
Winter is truly upon us and with Christmas hurtling towards us at what seems to be the speed of light, our bodies, skin and general well-being (not to menti on our mental states) are likely to take a batt ering. But fear not, there are simple and aff ordable ways of making it through the harsh winter weather, the stress of festi viti es & perhaps the odd ti pple of festi ve cheer without our skin showing the signs. With the build up to Christmas getti ng earlier and earlier, the party season already appears to be in full swing and with it brings late nights and perhaps a spot of over indulgence of an assortment of alcoholic beverages (usually accompanied with the excuse, “Oh go on then, it is Christmas”). Sound familiar? Well worry not, help is at hand. Drinking plenty of water daily can aid hydrati on that can be sorely needed aft er excess alcohol but the best way to hydrate your skin is to stop epidermal water loss with a decent moisturiser. Rich moisturising creams and emollients can act as a barrier to prevent water loss through the skin and therefore retain moisture to prevent ti ght, dry and fl aky skin. Remembering ones’ own name can be a challenge aft er a night of revelling however if you remember one thing this year it is to remove make up before bed. Not only will this prevent you waking up looking like something akin to Alice Cooper meets night of the living dead, it will also prevent pores
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from becoming blocked which can lead to spots and a dull complexion. Make up removal and applicati on of moisturiser before bed can take just a few minutes and leave you with great results. A regular facial is somewhat regarded as a treat for many of us but there’s no bett er ti me to treat yourself than at Christmas or, bett er sti ll, have someone buy vouchers or a treatment for you. A facial is the perfect way to relax your mind and body and receive a deep cleanse and moisturise, leaving your skin hydrated and radiant. Vitamins C, B6 and E are great for keeping the skin healthy and supple and these can be found in foods such as dark green vegetables, kiwi fruit, cod, salmon, trout, almonds, pine nuts and spinach. So no need to change your whole beauty routi ne, just work a few of these foods in to your diet instead. And what about those aching feet ladies? It’s no fun waking up feeling like your feet have been trampled over by a small herd of elephants but there is a way to relieve this. Soaking feet for a few minutes in warm water can sti mulate blood fl ow to sore and aching muscles in the feet and provide relief. This can be coupled with a foot massage which is also an excellent way of boosti ng and balancing the body’s energy. Thai foot massage in parti cular treats the feet, lower legs and the refl ex points. So here’s wishing you a wonderfully stress free and pain less festi ve season and a healthy and bright new year! Louise Cooper-Barnes www.requiescence.co.uk 07789 074758
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A moment of tranquility to rest your mind and body Holistic therapies care for your well-being. Treatments at Requiescence are designed to help you feel restored, rejuvenated and ready to face the world. Book some “me time” and allow anxieties, stress and tension to melt away. Relaxation is the ultimate gift to show you care. Vouchers available
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or ol f desses o h Sc od ic G t s e Dom
Andrena Carden-White
It was a sad day when I gave up my dream of becoming a domestic goddess. My visions of wowing friends with intimate dinner parties died with the snorts of derisory laughter as I served up a potato and leek soup starter that even with my, more optimistic, eyes closely resembled poly-filler. Optimism has always been my modus operandi in the kitchen and even when I somehow caused my blender to burst into flames whilst making soup (yes more soup) and ended up hurling the entire machine out of the back door, I didn’t give up hope. Other equipment had preceded the flight of the blender; the toaster, grill pan (x3) one of which caused my children to run down the garden shouting “fire fire” and a saucepan that appeared to be melting, a witness asked “how can you burn steamed vegetables?”
I also threw a victoria sponge because it was clear it would make a better frisby. Victoria sponge version 2 was presented to a friend for her birthday liberally smothered in glittery decorations, and those who were present that night generously stated that Victoria Sponge was actually quite nice when a little crunchy! If, unlike me, you have not yet given up hope then Christine at Cooking Confidence is the perfect answer, she comes to your kitchen, only uses the equipment you have in your cupboards and teaches you at whatever level you need... from boiling an egg right up to the fancy stuff. With her advice I can now make a Yorkshire Pudding to rival my grandmother’s. Most importantly she is kind, calm and very patient! That’s not all; right in Leighton Buzzard High Street is Allan at Appletree Cake Designs and he can teach you how decorate cakes and muffins so they look as good as the shop bought ones, Allan holds regular workshops and pop into his shop because the cakes are gorgeous.
Cooking Confidence
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CHRISTMAS AT THE CARPENTERS ARMS
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Sweet Potato Soup Freshly made with chunky bread
Mushroom Tamarind
Flat mushrooms cooked in a mixture of herbs & spices
Cumberland Sausage Pate & Cider Apple Brandy Pate served on toast & chutney
Salt & Pepper Dusted Calamari Served with Dill & Lemon mayonnaise
Prawn Cocktail
Classic Prawn Cocktail served with toasted rustic bread -----------------------------------
Freshen your pallet with a Champagne or Blackcurrant Sorbet -----------------------------------
Turkey Balontine
Stuffed with fresh Sage & Garlic
Sea Bass Fillets
Pan fried on a herb risotto, Cherry tomatoes & Pesto
Beef en Croute
Beef tender loin seasoned with Duxelle wrapped in puff pastry served with Bearnaise sauce
Fennel & Rosemary Crusted Roasted Rack of Lamb Lamb rack cooked to your preference
Root Vegetable Nut Roast All served with Seasonal Vegetables ------------------------------
Jingle Berry Pie
Chocolate cookie pastry filled with rich chocolate fudge, raspberry mousse, decorated with mixed winter berries
Irish Cream Cheese Cake
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Topped with Irish cream syllabub finished with lattice chocolate sauce and shavings
Christmas Pudding a traditional favourite
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Warm Mince Pie Chocolate Mint
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Come and try our Sausage of the Week Sunday Roasts Selection of meats and children under 12 eat for FREE (one child per paying adult). Book in Advance call 01525 220563. Quiz Night Every First Sunday
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throughout the growing season, eventually using the earth from the sides to form a long heap. This way the potatoes should always be well underground. In containers, fill with soil/compost to about a third full and plant the potatoes half way down. As the foliage grows add more compost to nearly cover the leaves and so
In The Garden
Growing Your Own Veg Fancy a bit of ‘The Good Life’?
tray in a light, well v the eyes (small sho about 3/4 inch. I’ve using thick potato s t a rt e d t o the kitchen!
A beginners guide to...
Potatoes
There’s nothing quite like the taste of fresh, home grown produce or the satisfaction you get watching it grow from seed. With prices soaring, more people are opting to grow their own veg no matter how big their plot. This is the ideal time to start planning for the year ahead. Gardening may be the last thing on your mind in the cold weather but if you’re thinking of starting your own veg garden, no matter how big or small, then this is the perfect time to plan what to grow and where. It’s easy to get carried away when looking at catalogues or impressive displays of seed packets - but remember that it only makes sense to grow what you are likely to eat! If that still leaves you with a list that exceeds the space available then it may be wise to trim back on crops that take up a lot of space or are easily and cheaply available from local sources. Think about concentrating on plants that will crop quickly allowing the space to be used again. Remember also that you can use patio containers and grow bags if that’s all you have room for or to add extra growing space. Once you have your list split your available space into 3 (or 4) areas and then group your crops together by family so that they can be rotated around the areas in a 3 or 4 year cycle. Group the cabbage family together, then the onion family along with the pea and bean family, and finally potatoes, tomatoes and the carrot family. I would seriously consider making some raised beds, if you don’t already have them, and this is the perfect time of year to do it. Make sure that they are not too wide for you to easily reach the middle from either side and that there is sufficient room for easy access all the way around. The deeper you can
26
make them the better and higher beds will mean less bending when you are planting out seedlings, harvesting or weeding. If you have large areas of bare soil, awaiting planting, then you may like to think about covering them with black plastic, or cardboard, to protect the soil against the harsh January weather. If you already have crops that are still growing, such as purple sprouting broccoli, these will benefit from protection against hungry pigeons - try covering with wire mesh, fleece, or some homemade bird scarers (try stringing up some old CD’s). For those who are keen to get sowing, you can try a few lettuces. Start off on a bright, sunny windowsill, thinning down when they are large enough to handle. Grow on in frost free conditions such as a shed, or polytunnel before finishing off under cloches. If you haven’t already planted shallots then it’s not too late to think about that either, but don’t put them in when the ground is too wet or they may rot. It’s also worth saving empty egg boxes ready to chit your seed potatoes before planting. Just pop them into the egg boxes, sprout end up in a cool but frost free place and wait for the shoots to appear. You’ll also find the boxes useful for starting tiny seedlings off in months to come - as they grow they can be planted straight out with no disruption as the box will simply rot down. And finally, if you have space, think about starting off some new rhubarb crowns towards the end of January.
Potatoes can take up a lot of room in a garden but you can get quite a sizeable crop in even the smallest area if you use deep containers. The idea is to keep the new potatoes (tubers) away from the light or they will be green and inedible. There are several ways of doing this. In the vegetable garden, prepare the ground by digging trenches, with the earth piled up each side. The seed potatoes should be planted a few inches deep in the trench and as the foliage grows to about 9 inches nearly cover it with soil. Keep doing this throughout the growing season, eventually using the earth from the sides to form a long heap. This way the potatoes should always be well underground. In containers, fill with soil/compost to about a third full and plant the potatoes half way down. As the foliage grows add more compost to nearly cover the leaves and so on, as above, until the pot is full. Another method, particularly for early potatoes, is to plant under black plastic sheeting, which cuts out the light and makes ‘earthing up’ unnecessary. Pin down the edges of the plastic in the soil and cut cross shaped slits where the spuds are to be planted. Pull the greenery through as it starts to grow. The potato crop will be near the surface, ready for gathering. Potatoes for planting should be started off indoors. Place seed potatoes in a shallow tray in a light, well ventilated place until the eyes (small shoots) have grown to about 3/4 inch. I’ve even had success using thick potato peelings that have started to sprout in the kitchen!
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Puzzles Puzzles Puzzles Puzzles Puzzles Puzzles Puzzles Puzzles Puzzles Puzzles Puzzles Puzzles
3 5 8 3 7 9 8
Answers on page 46 9 7 1 6 3 6 9 8
Puzzled Page....
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Crossword
ump suddenly (7)
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onal (9)
Step from the bottom to the top rung by changing one letter at a time DAMES
20. Enjoy to excess (7) 21. Temporary (7) 23. Exculpation (5)
SPOT THE ADVERT What advert Is This? >>>> Across
Down
1. Involving the entire Earth (9) 6. Blunder (5) 9. To that extent (7) 10. Songbird (7) 11. Penitence (7) 12. No longer in existence (7) 13. Negated (9) 15. Lacquer ingredient (5) 16. H2O (5) 19. Parachuting (9) 22. Expressing deep emotion (7) 23. Examined (financials) (7) 25. Craftsperson (7) 26. Rude (7) 27. Inhabit (5) 28. The outer layer of the skin (9)
1. Preen (5) 2. Armory (7) 3. A former Turkish term of respect (7) 4. Concur (5) 5. The day before (9) 6. Move or jump suddenly (7) 7. Set up (7) 8. Unintentional (9) 13. It might sell The Times (9) 14. Impertinence (9) 17. Member of a governing board (7)
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Sheena Munraknah, leading matrimonial lawyers explains why divorce may be the best option Charles Dickens once said that he thought of Christmas, “when it has come round…. as a good time; a kind, forgiving, charitable, pleasant time; the only time I know of, in the long calendar of the year, when men and women seem by one consent to open their shut up hearts freely”. However, for many men and women Christmas time, when it comes around, is an unhappy reminder that their relationships are no longer working and can often be the breaking point to ending a marriage. For many people this may be the first Christmas that they are spending alone and all in all it can be a very uncertain time. It is important for anyone, man or woman to be aware of their rights and also what they may need to do in order to take the next steps in the new year. For married couples, a divorce petition must be issued based on one of five legal “facts”. Divorce is not for everyone however and some people cannot divorce, for example due to religious reasons. In these circumstances a Judicial Separation may be appropriate, as this will release the parties from their obligation to reside with one another, but will not dissolve the marriage. For unmarried couples, the law does not recognise cohabitees as having any legal tie to each other and there are therefore no formalities that need to be put into place to legally end a relationship.
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The question is why divorce? The main and most important reason aside from the emotional tie is in respect of the matrimonial finances. Although many couples reach a direct agreement after separation, this is not a legally binding agreement and it is open for either party to change their minds at any time. This is particularly important in the case of the matrimonial home and where there may be young children resident; as the primary carer of any children will want to ensure that they have a secure place to live, at least until the children attain the age of majority. One of the biggest advantages in obtaining a divorce, as opposed to a more casual separation is that a “Clean Break” Order can be obtained. A “Clean Break” is divided into Income, Pension and Property claims and will mean, if ordered by the Court, that there will be a complete financial cut between each spouse, in other words should one spouse later on purchase another property, win the lottery, gain a promotion (and therefore increase their income), their ex-spouse will not be able to lay claim to any of their new assets. It is important for people to realise that without a “Clean Break,” possible claims including those of an inheritance nature are still open. On the point of inheritance, a person’s spouse is the first person legally entitled to receive their deceased’s spouse’s Estate if there is no Will. In other words, if a couple have separated, but have decided not to formally divorce and one of the spouses dies, the other
will automatically inherit the first chunk of the deceased’s Estate. It is therefore very important for separated couples to ensure that they have a valid Will put into place, particularly where there are children.
inherit assets from members of their family, again, it is worth bearing in mind that their spouse will potentially also have a claim to these, as inherited assets can still potentially be classed as a matrimonial asset. All in all there are many things that need to be considered and separation is not a decision that can be made lightly. It can be a painful time, but there is hope and sometimes finality needs to be achieved. As Dickens once said, “suffering has been stronger than all other teaching, and has taught me to understand what your heart used to be. I have been bent and broken, but - I hope - into a better shape.”
From a health and general safety point of view, a person’s spouse is also always treated as their immediate “Next of Kin”. This means that should one party fall critically ill, their spouse will have a say in any treatment that they may receive. If one spouse is about to
Sheena is Head of the Family & Matrimonial Department at Osborne Morris & Morgan Solicitors who have offices in Milton Keynes and Leighton Buzzard. 01525 378177 info@ommlaw.co.uk
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A Good Christmas Read
Kath Bennett
So, it’s Christmas – time to curl up with a good book. But what to read? The newspapers are full of recommendations of which books to buy for your mum, your brother, your second – cousin-twice-removed... probably even your dog! Here are a few alternative suggestions.
For You Want nostalgia and a lyrical description of times gone by, when ‘December was as white as Lapland though there were no reindeers’? Then dig out ‘A Child’s Christmas in Wales’ by Dylan Thomas, preferably with Edward Ardizzone’s illustrations. Short, simple and beautiful, it sums up Christmas with the Uncles, snow on the ground and the myriad delights for a small boy on the best day of the year. If, however, you are feeling slightly less full of cheer and goodwill, Jilly Cooper might be more to your taste. The Christmas scene in ‘Appassionata’ is one of my favourite ever depictions of the holiday, but every December I find myself turning first to ‘How to Survive Christmas’ – bleak, witty and sometimes crushingly accurate, it is Cooper’s account of how to get through a typical festive season. Another excellent book with a brief but memorable Christmas sequence, is ‘Angels and Men’ by Catherine Fox. It is hard to get hold of, but I promise you, Mara’s Christmas with her grandmother is not one you will forget – and the rest of the book is beautifully written, too. Finally, from the realms of fantasy, why not try Christmas Discworld style in ‘Hogfather’ by Terry Pratchett? As you might expect, this Santa is very different – for a start, those are pigs, not reindeer pulling his sleigh. And he seems a little on the bony side. What does Death have to do with Christmas? More than you might think....
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For The Kids For many, ‘The Snowman’ by Raymond Briggs is their Christmas classic of choice. I much prefer ‘Father Christmas’ – eloquently told by pictures and relatively few words, it follows a curmudgeonly Santa on his journey around the globe, dropping off presents, struggling down chimneys, trudging up stairs, through all kinds of weather...Merry Bloomin’ Christmas! Another favourite is ‘Dear Father Christmas’ by Jeanne Willis and Rosie Reeve. This picture book follows Mary as she writes her Christmas letter. Her wishes are rather different, as she doesn’t need any more toys – but an everlasting hamster and self tying shoelaces would come in rather handy. Of course, there is a twist in the tale, but we certainly didn’t see it coming, and it has been read over and over again – even at the height of summer. And, if you like the Jolly Postman, then you will love ‘The Jolly Christmas Postman’ by Janet and Allan Ahlberg. As you might expect, there are a range of letters to be opened, with cards, games and even a jigsaw puzzle for the lucky nursery rhyme characters on his rounds. An absolute delight.
For Everyone
And finally... How could we look at Christmas without mentioning the two biggest Christmas classics ever? I mean of course, ‘A Christmas Carol’ by Charles Dickens and ‘The Night Before Christmas’ by Clement C Moore. I know you have seen a million and one adaptations of the former (The Muppets do it best!), but the book really is worth a read. Be honest, when else are you going to curl up by the fire with a Dickens novel if not during a long snowy holiday? Give it a try. As for the latter we read it out loud every Christmas Eve, just before the lights go out. I stole this tradition from a friend, and I am passing it on to you. How can you refuse? Merry Christmas!
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Give Yourself the Gift of a Happy Christmas
Christmas is a special ti me of year to be a parent. It’s a year’s worth of love in a day. If however, like a growing number of people, you don’t live with the other parent, you may be facing Christmas without them. People will tell you it gets easier with ti me. I’m not sure that’s true. I do think however that you can make it easier if you want to – and really, why wouldn’t you? To punish yourself out of guilt? To feel sorry for yourself? To show the world that you miss them? Try as I might, I can’t think of one good reason why you would not choose to make the best of Christmas! So why not make this, the year that you do things diff erently? It comes down to a very simple choice. You can either be miserable because they’re not there, or you can have a good ti me despite it. How far you take this is up to you. You might use it as an opportunity to do things you couldn’t normally – go out on Christmas Eve or lie in on Christmas day perhaps? Have lunch out, or with friends?
•
Force yourself to think of the things you have to be grateful for, write them down and enjoy looking over the list, read it out loud and allow yourself to really feel that grati tude
•
Start working on your goals for next year.
•
Plan what you’ll do with the children when you have them.
•
Call up that friend you’ve been meaning to speak to for ages just to wish them a Happy Christmas.
•
Do that job you’ve been putti ng off – you know you’ll feel bett er when it’s done!
•
Stop yourself every ti me you start to feel sad and think about something that makes you feel good.
•
If you really feel you want to have a cry/moan/wallow, do it, BUT make it fi nite.
You could spend it with people who have good reason to be down – help out at a soup kitchen Making the most of the situati on is absolutely for example or visit an old people’s home. the best thing for your children and will ensure you all have a Christmas to remember. Or, you can just postpone Christmas all together! You can actually decide to have your whole Christmas late (or early) if you want to! Santa is very fl exible and you can have Christmas day any day! The children will get just as excited for another date as they do for the 25th! If you focus on the positi ves, so will they. If they can see you coping with the separati on they will too. You can’t undo what is done, but you can make a bett er future despite the less than perfect bits and using what the past has taught you. If you want practi cal things to do, here are some suggesti ons;
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Amanda is a coach and the author of the best selling personal development series, “The Self Help Bible”. To find out more about the books, please visit www.theselfhelpbible.com’
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Pizza
novers tur
Recipe
Very easy & perfect for any party Prep time: 20 mins Cooking time: 20 mins Serves: 12
Method One flat tray covered with baking parchment Oven gas 4-5 190c To make the pizza sauce, chop the onion and pepper finely put in a pan with the oil on a medium heat. When the onion is soft add the passata and the tomato puree, stir in well, add the oregano and salt and pepper and leave to simmer for 5 minutes. When cooked take off the stove and leave to cool. Take the puff pastry and roll onto a floured surface about 3-4 mm thick. Cut into 12 equal squares. Beat the egg in a cup and brush the squares. Spoon the tomato sauce diagonally along each square, place on the sliced mushrooms and the chopped ham. Place a handful of mozzarella cheese on each square and in the opposite corners and squeeze them to seal in the filling. Place on a baking sheet. Brush the outside with egg and bake on the middle shelf in the oven until pastry is golden brown and cooked underneath.
Ingredients 500g packet ready roll puff pastry 1 egg 1 onion 400g tub passata ½ green pepper 2 tablespoons cooking oil 2 tablespoons tomato puree Pepper and salt Teaspoon oregano 5 thinly sliced mushrooms 4 slices of ham chopped 250g Grated Mozzerella cheese
Why not... Customise your own individual pizzas, the kids can help too! Try adding your own favourite toppings... Salami, bacon, chillis & pineapple would all work.
k! Great as part of a party buffet or as an easy & tasty snac 36
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WHAT’S ON December 1st Leighton Fun Runners Santa Dash in aid of Kids out, 11am Church Square LB. www,leightonfunrunners.org.uk 1st St Barnabas Church, Linslade, 7.30pm Christmas Concert proceeds towards Linslade Community Hall restoration project. Call Carolyn Birch 01525 756874 1st & 2nd Leighton Buzzard Christmas Shopping Weekend. See details in my editor’s letter page 3. 1st and 2nd Christmas Fair Rushmere Country Park, Linslade Road, Heath & Reach, LU7 0EB 11.00am - 3.00pm! FREE ENTRY, normal car parking charges will apply (£2 per vehicle) 1st Curry and Elvis - Fundraising Auction 7:30pm at the Drayton Parslow Sports and Social Club. Auction - Curry from Lassan Restaurant in Stewkley - Spectacular performance from our very own G-Elvis! Tickets are priced at £12 and are available from Claire on 07585 604661. 8th December @ 7.30 pm - Christmas Wine Tasting at Longueville Hall, Newton Longville £7.50 over 18s only , contact 07528 550506 or 01908 367788 for tickets, event run by Newton Longville Community Ass 8th The Heath Band and Grand Union Community Choir - CHRISTMAS SPECTACULAR Tickets will be available from the, Heath Band Members or the Grand Union Community Choir. The concert will start at 7.30 p.m. Ticket Prices are £5 with Concessions at £4 All Saints Church Church Square Leighton Buzzard LU7 1AE Bedfordshire LU7 1AE Saturday 8 Dec 2012 11th Waitrose Christmas Open Evening 13th Senior Citizens Tea Dance 2pm-4.30 Memorial Hall, Grovebury Road, LB 01525 631996. 15th Linslade Wood Action Day; volunteers required for path clearing, coppicing and wildlife monitoring. Contact John Creasey, Greensand Trust on 01525 237760, john.
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creasey@greensandtrust.org 15th Mayors Carol Concert, All Saints Church Leighton Buzzard 16th 2-4pm Christmas Market followed by 4pm Carols in the Wood, Tree Cathedral, Newlands MK Join us for our annual festive afternoon of carol singing with musical accompaniment from MK Youth Brass courtesy of MK Music Service. Price: Free. Meeting Place:Park in the car park off Livingstone Drive, Newlands adajcent to Gulliver’s Land. 17th Leighton Buzzard Theatre, The Nutcracker Box Office 0300 300 8125. 21st 2pm Leighton Buzzard Theatre screen a Muppet Christmas Carol www. leightonbuzzardtheatre.co.uk 21st Christmas Charity Music night at Brooklands Social Club, Leighton Buzzard 7:30 11:30. tickets £10 , supports 3 charities. infomike@bluesbeforemidnight.co.uk 23rd Christmas Carol Concert Holy Trinity Church, Drayton Parslow with Drayton Parslow Singers 24th 10am The Muppet Christmas Carol, Leighton Buzzard Theatre 0300 300 8125 January 1st Join Leighton Buzzard Canal Society for 2013, includes newsletter and regular activities. All memberships are only £5. Contact Andrew MG Robinson on 01525 378656 5th-19th The Leighton Buzzard Drama Group’s production of Dick Whittington and His Cat is going to be fantastic fun for everyone and real value for money, with tickets starting at 8.50. details www.lbdg.org.uk tickets from LB Theatre box office 0300 300 8125 Book your tickets now for 9 February, 2:30pm CHILDREN’S PROM St Mary’s Church, Eaton Bray: featuring Aylesbury Concert Band. Featuring many Prom favourites. FREE TICKETS for accompanied children. Tickets for adults £7.50 from the Box Office - 01525 222283
WHAT’S ON
WANTED! OLD BIKES
The Rotary Clubs of Dunstable and Dunstable Downs are collecting adult bikes from the community which are sent to the Bikes4Africa hub in Swindon. The bikes are then sent on to UK prisons for refurbishment and ultimately to the Gambia in containers of 300 bikes at a time. Once in the Gambia they are allocated to schools who lend them to students that may have as much as 10 miles to commute daily to their lessons. The cost of transporting the bikes to the Gambia is met by Rotary. But they need bikes please! So now is the chance to clear out your garage / shed! If you can help please call Chris on 01582 668727 or Julian on 01582 664491
FOOD FOR CHRISTMAS Bedfordshire Food Aid Network (BFAN) and Preen CIC co-ordinate the distrubtion of food parcels by assisting
existing organisations by , reducing administration, collecting food, providing storage and publicising their work. There is an urgent need for many items:- tinned meat, fish, fruit and vegetables, pasta, cereals, tinned rice pudding, jelly, custard, fruit juice, squash, long life milk. The also need donations of toiletries, house cleaning products, and basics such as toilet roll and nappies. As well as donations they would like other organisations to become involved. Contact Sharon Warboys - Food Aid Network Co-ordinator Preen CIC on 0844 99 343 99, Mob 07531 185 000, foodaid@ preencic.org
Try Archery
tasters, coaching, beginners courses, equipment, parties, arrow and bow making
for all ages and abilities Sparrow Hall Farm Edlesborough LU6 2ES 01525 229374
www.silverarrowarchery.co.uk info@silverarrowarchery.co.uk
HaIR Couture ----------
Hair Now celebrity hairdresser Richard Ward gives his hair tips on reviving tired, winter hair.
---------In winter, we need to repair hair damage and nurture it back into good condition. Hair is more likely to naturally shed in winter time (like animals losing their coats) as new hair is growing in its place, many clients rejuvenate their hair by coming in for a good blunt, thickening cut after the ravages of the beach. If you do opt to change your hairstyle during winter months, lustrous locks need to follow a maintenance programme and home-care regime such as my Couture Hair Seasons Winter/Hydrate Treatment Programme to keep them looking perfectly groomed and keep straggly ends at bay. Long hair and extensions only look great when moving and swingy - too straight and ends look frazzled and splintered. Ditch the styling irons and keep chunky by regular trimming to make hair look and feel full and bouncy. Going for a darker colour winter is a great way to revive hair and reflect the key fashion trends. Darker, richer hair reflects light better, so going for a deeper take on your current tone and a chunky cut to get rid of your aged summer beach hair will make hair feel healthier and revived. Go for a clear colour gloss to add shine and lustre or a vegetable colour glaze. To get the most out of your hair there are certain things you can change in your daily routine to make hair healthier and shinier. For example, when
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Richard Ward Couture Hair is available from QVC www.qvcuk.com or call 0800 50 40 30 www.mycouturehair.com or www.mycouturehair.com
----------
washing your hair, use the flats of your fingers (the spongy pads) not your fingertips or nails, which is more beneficial for scalp and blood flow stimulation. Rinse your hair for 2 minutes – time yourself. Hair will shine if rinsed really well. Avoid excessive heat damage – don’t use the straighteners every day when you do use a protective product such as my Couture Hair Memoriser Holding Serum. Get in the habit of holding your dryer at least 5 inches away from your hair. If you hold it any closer it will damage your hair – test it on your hand and see how fast you pull away when holding it close to your skin!
Make the most of steam! Steamy hot baths and showers are great for leaving on a regular conditioning treatment. The steam and moisture opens the cuticle to allow the product to be penetrated into the cortex (internal structure) where hair can be most seriously damaged.
HAIR REVIVING TRUTHS
• 100 brushes per day will make hair healthier. There is some fact in this, as brushing this much would stimulate the scalp therefore stimulating blood production and encouraging faster growth. • Eating gelatine will strengthen hair and nails. Gelatine is protein rich and is actually made from collagen which is proven to encourage healthy new growth. • A cold rinse will make hair shine. Actually lukewarm water is what we advise for oily hair so as not to stimulate the scalp, so any extreme of temperature will stimulate the blood vessels encouraging healthy hair growth. For appointments at the Richard Ward Hair & Metrospa, call 020 7730 1222 or visit www.richardward.co.uk.
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Send a Letter from Santa Make Christmas magical with a personalised Letter from Santa and help the NSPCC support children all year round.
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Happy ‘new’ New Year
LFS_PROMO_A5 advert_Landscape_2012 NSPCC.indd 1
The celebration of New Year is the oldest of holidays, starting in Ancient Babylon 4000 years ago. Although they had no written calendar, Babylonians celebrated the beginning of the new year on what is now March 23rd. The Romans have a lot to be responsible for and indeed the changing of the beginning of the year from March to January is totally down to them! It could be argued that late March is actually a better time for new year - spring begins, crops are planted and January has little significance other than an arbitrary date.
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03/09/2012 11:2
However, January gets its name from Janus, the two-faced god who looks backwards into the old year, and forwards into the new year. The Romans chose to celebrate it at midnight on December 31st and this tradition has continued to today. As well as the change of date, the Romans began a tradition of exchanging gifts on New Year’s Eve by giving one another branches from sacred trees for good fortune. Later, nuts or coins imprinted with the god Janus became more common New Year’s gifts.
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TIME TO MEET LOCAL BUSINESS PEOPLE DOG GROOMING
AND HELP Have a happier, healthier & EACH OTHER GROW Bletchley visually stunning dog that Leighton Buzzard looks good and feels great Monday 3rd December • Individual Requirements Catered For 10:00 am • 17 years Experience • Designer Perfumes Dobbies Watling Street Bletchley
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At Home In The Garden Save Money On Energy British Gas has warned customers the price it pays will go up by 15%, and this could push up folks’ bills by £50 come Christmas. Act NOW and many could cut £100s off their bills and prevent hikes.
Here are 10 things you need to know.
1 Take two minutes to check what you can save
– often more than £250. Millions of people are overpaying. A typical home on a standard tariff pays £1,320, the same home on the cheapest pays £1,030. Not checking's like chucking a wad of tenners on the fire to keep warm.
2 Compare, switch, get cashback, save £100s.
Your cheapest deal depends on the tariff, region and usage. The easy way to find what you can save is plugging your details into a www.consumerfocus.org. uk approved comparison site. Do this via the links on www.moneysavingexpert.com/gaselec and if they switch you, after three months you get cashback or freebies. Energyhelpline pays £15 per gas, electricity or dual switch. For dual fuel deals, MoneySupermarket pays £30 cash and uSwitch a crate of wine – you don’t get these going direct. Those not online can these to compare: Energy Lynx 0800 849 7077 and Uswitch 0800 0515493.
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How to guarantee no price hikes. A clever tariff launched last month. EDF’s Blue is nearly, but not quite, the cheapest, so most customers save large amounts, but it's easy to miss in comparison results. I’m highlighting it as it has three big advantages. The rate's fixed until Sept 2013, so it guarantees no hikes. There are slightly cheaper fixes, but the key's there's no exit penalty for leaving before the fix ends. Finally, it promises to email you if anyone launches a tariff that saves the average user over £1 a week (£52 a year).
4 Fix NOW if you can't afford rises. With price
hikes predicted, locking in to a cheap fixed tariff insures you against rises. So if a rise would be unaffordable, you should do it. Better still, EDF's fix above and Sainsbury's Online Price Freeze have no exit penalties. If other prices fall, you can ditch them.
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5 If possible, pay by direct debit to save an ad-
ditional 5% to 10%. Paying by direct debt gives a further discount. Although dual fuel deals (gas and electricity from one supplier) are usually cheapest, it’s not always the case. So, when doing comparisons, check the cheapest separate suppliers too.
6 FREE insulation - energy efficiency can seriously
cut bills. Installing loft and cavity wall insulation can cut £300 a year from bills. Each normally costs around £175, but currently EDF and Tesco Energy are giving and installing it free to anyone with a suitable home, not just their own customers. Other suppliers will even pay you £200 to get insulation if you’re on certain benefits, including pension credit.
7 Got electricity only? If you don’t have gas, don’t think the rules are any different – you can still save. Use the comparisons above.
8 What if you're on a prepay meter? Over three
million UK homes use prepayment meters that allow you to pay for your gas or electricity on a pay-as-yougo basis. You top up your energy via a key or card, which you can credit at newsagents, post offices and garages or, sometimes, online. They can help to budget, but you usually pay more for energy, so if you want to ditch them, follow these steps. Step 1: A credit meter (where you get bills) is cheaper, so see if you can convert. Some allow it for free. See www.moneysavingexpert.com/prepayenergy for a list and more help Step 2: If it's unaffordable, compare and switch. Energyhelpline, uSwitch and Moneysupermarket all let you do comparisons for prepayment tariffs. Step 3: When switching, favour companies that may convert you to bills for free.
9 Fight unfair energy direct debits. Direct debits
are the cheapest way to pay, but they're based on estimated usage. Providers can get them wrong, or hike them unnecessarily. If that happens, you've a right to know why your direct debit is set at the level it is, and if inappropriate, get it changed. If the company won’t play ball, you can take it to the energy ombudsman.
10 Eon has promised not to hike prices this year.
Eon promises it will keep its tariffs where they are now until the end of the year (though if others do hike prices, I suspect it’ll follow suit in early Jan). Don’t assume that means you should stick with it. If you’re already paying over the odds, why lock yourself in? It's worth doing a comparison to see where the land lies. If you really want fixed prices, switch to a cheap fixed deal instead, as the guarantee will be longer.
festive mood?
Big Garden Birdwatch
SANTA RUNS Help us bring some Christmas cheer to Keech by taking part in one of our fantastic Santa Runs held all around the 3 counties that we support.
Take pa rt on Januar success of last y 26th-27t The year’s events had over h
Did you know that British gardens occupy twice the area set aside for nature reserves? This means they play a vital role in wildlife conservation.
How you can help? Put up nest boxes and roosting pockets. These provide places for birds to breed and sleep.
Set up feeding stations High energy foods like stale cake, biscuits, pastry, pasta and po tato are enjoyed by many birds. Raisins and other dried fruit are welcomed by Blackbirds
800 Santas sprinting their way around the 5k routes, which are all based around water, putting a smile on everyone’s faces that they passed. With a giant snow machine and some festive cheer what more could get you in the
Entry is £15 an adult and £5 per child, with each entry receiving something festive to wear and of course the important finishers medal and goodie bag! Sunday 2nd December 2012 - Stevenage Sunday 9th December 2012 - Bedford Sunday 16th December 2012 - Luton Sign up online using the links below or for more information contact the events team on 01582 707940 or email events@ keech.org.uk.
and Thrushes. Most garden centres stock a variety of proprietary bird seed and nuts which appeal across the species but don’t forget to scatter some under hedges for shy birds like Dunnocks and Wrens who prefer
to feed on the ground. Make sure fresh water is available It’s impor tant for drinking and bathing.
Once you’ve created a welcoming environ ment it’s time to sit back and take part in
The Big Garden Birdwatch run by the RSPB (Royal Society for the Protection of Birds). Simply spend an hour recording how many
birds and which species visit your garden on either the 26th or 27th of January and submit your results online at the address below. Not only will the results will be analysed and published on the site but you’ll get the warm glow that comes from knowing you’ve done your bit for bird conservation. Visit www.rspb.org.uk/birdwatch
Keech is holding a very special service on Sunday 2nd and 9th December as a way to remember someone special. The Light up a Life service is a way for local people who have experienced a loss to come together and remember the life of a friend or relative. The service include-s carols, readings, music and the ceremony culminates in the switching on of lights of remembrance on the hospice’s beautiful tree. 14.45-17.00 at Keech Hospice Care, Luton www.keech.org.uk
December 2012 W H P K
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Q What does Santa suffer from if he gets stuck in a chimney? A Claustrophobia!
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Q What does Santa do with fat elves? A He sends them to an Elf Farm!
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Improve your odds of a better divorce settlement with help from Osborne Morris & Morgan
At Osborne Morris & Morgan we understand the challenges couples and families face during the unfortunate breakdown of a relationship. Our highly experienced team is ideally placed
to help you achieve the best possible outcome. To find out how we can help you, call us now or alternatively drop into one our offices and ask to speak to a member of our Family Law team.
Peace of mind for you is just a phonecall away Telephone: 01525 378177
Osborne Morris & Morgan Offices located in Leighton Buzzard and Milton Keynes email: sheena.munraknah@ommlaw.co.uk @ommlaw www.ommlaw.co.uk
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