Henlow January 2023

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Best destinations in Europe for a walking holiday

Let’s face it, there’s nothing quite like soaking up the views from a mountain summit, or stumbling upon a hidden waterfall when you least expect it – and it’s all the more rewarding when you’ve got there on your own two feet.

Walking holidays are a fantastic opportunity to venture off the beaten track and see a different side to the country you’re visiting. But with so many to choose from, where do you start? From world famous pilgrimages to secluded alpine mountain trails, we’ve compiled a list of some of the best walking holiday destinations in Europe, so you can start planning your next adventure.

Albania

With a rich heritage that can trace its influences back to the Macedonians, the Greeks and the Ottoman Turks, Albania is an often overlooked

corner of Europe that’s perfect for trekkers who want to escape the typical tourist trails. Boasting alpine mountain valleys, emerald-green lakes, rustic highland villages and snow-capped peaks, this is a land of pure, untouched beauty. Mountains make up 70% of Albania’s terrain, so it’s no surprise that they form the basis for most of the walking tours here. Book a tour within the Albanian Alps, the country’s star attraction, to discover towering waterfalls, meadows of wildflowers and charming mountain villages. Or venture into the south to soak up the coastal charms of the ‘Albanian Riviera’ – home to some of the best beaches in Europe.

Amalfi Coast, Italy

If you’re looking for drop-dead gorgeous scenery, a combination of sun, sea and sand, and a seemingly endless number of walking trails to choose from, Italy’s Amalfi Coast is the answer to all your prayers. Covering a stretch of coastline from Punta Campanella to Salerno, taking in the hilltop towns of Positano, Amalfi and Ravello, the trails here are truly out of this world. Carved out by Greek settlers as early as the eighth century BC, the mythical Sentiero degli Dei (Path of the Gods) is perhaps the coastline’s most famous. You’ll truly feel as though you’re walking in the heavens as you explore this skyhigh coastal path, drinking in the far-reaching ocean views. Stretching for five miles from start to finish, the walk culminates in a breathtaking 1,500-step staircase that leads to the village of Arienzo.

Camino de Santiago, Spain

Culminating in a visit to the spectacular Santiago Cathedral, this 155km pilgrimage in northern Spain is a unique journey of holy significance that dates back over 1,000 years.

Travelling through undulating countryside, rural farmland and medieval villages, what makes the Camino de Santiago so popular is its variety. There are at least seven verified routes, running through multiple different countries, but the beauty is that you can walk as much or as little as you like. Spend weeks walking from Le Puy to Santiago, one month walking from St Jean Pied de Port, or just a few days trekking the final stretch. If you commit to walking the last 100km, you’ll even receive your very own Compostela pilgrim certificate.

Madeira, Portugal

Hiking Madeira’s levadas is an experience not to be missed, with thousands of people lacing up their hiking boots here each year. These irrigation canals were built to bring water from the northern slopes to the south side of the island. Although still in use, they now have another purpose, giving hikers a way to explore the island’s secret interior and dramatic landscapes.

With more than 2,000km to explore at heights reaching 1,861m, this Portuguese island has trails to suit all experience levels. Whichever you choose, you can expect spectacular scenery at every turn. If you’re up for a challenge, why not take on the island’s highest peak, Pico Ruivo?

La Gomera, Canary Islands

The Canary Island that time forgot, La Gomera is a hiker’s paradise. This volcanic land is shaped by cloud forests, steep-sided valleys and ancient hiking paths

Albania

– the most famous of which wind their way through the UNESCO-listed Garajonay National Park. Ascend to the summit of Garajonay, the highest point on the island, or follow the island’s network of stunning footpaths and historic mule trails. Around 25% of the flora and fauna found here are endemic to the island, but what makes La Gomera all the more fascinating is its very own whistling language, ‘el silbo gomero’, which dates back over 500 years.

By Solange Hando

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Amalfi Coast

Camino de Santiago

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Drinks: Red, White, Something Later

Many people like to have a glass of wine by itself – nothing wrong with that. Others obtain great enjoyment in finding wines that accompany a lot of cuisine and foods. It is true to say that certain wines (and other beverages) pair with numerous dishes, particularly well. White wines accompany fish, seafood, plus a good number of other foods. Reds are very much favoured towards red meats, steaks and casseroles, amongst many more dishes.

AMANDLA SAUVIGNON BLANC (12% vol), from South Africa, I found to be crisp, with an enticing bouquet and very good flavours of fruits coming through, for the mouthfeel and palate’s delight. A most popular white wine.

SAUVIGNON GRIS (12% vol), from France, is a further, impressive white wine production. Refreshing and most acceptable, using the lesser-known grape, Sauvignon Gris, this wine gives white fruits, for the mouth’s pleasures. Staying with white wines, LOIN de L’OEIL (12% vol) I class as an excellent ‘pleaser’. This French wine has a good bouquet, which leads to flavours of juicy fruits (hint: tropical), for the tastebuds. Red wines hold a very much respectful position, with wine lovers. ALBAROSSA (13% vol) originates from Italy and the grape variety (from 1938) is named after the town of Alba, Piemonte. This smooth production has an abundance of juicy and ripe red fruit flavours. AMANDLA SHIRAZ-ZINFANDEL (14% vol) has arrived from South Africa. A new favourite, with many, this has a hint of spiciness, with its flavour of juicy red and dark fruits. Powerful and rich, for mouthfeel and palate. If rum is a favourite? Certainly, a great number of spirits are hugely popular. DOORLY’S FINE OLD BARBADOS RUM (40% vol) is aged for 5 years. This is ‘classic’. Aged in American white oak casks, the expert method and process of production shows through, to give a splendid, pleasurable nose, which is followed by the wonderful taste. Wallow in the aroma, colour and rich flavour of this delectation.

I located these productions at a Waitrose store. Some are in their ‘Loved & Found’ range, which utilises lesser-known grape varieties, to great advantage and are very much worthwhile seeking out. www.waitrose.com

How to save money on your mobile

Stick with your existing phone

If you’re coming to the end of a mobile phone contract, don’t keep it going: you can almost certainly save money by switching to a month-tomonth SIM-only plan, and you can still keep your existing phone number even if you’re moving to a different network.

Don’t buy more than you need

A deal with 150GB of mobile data every month sounds brilliant, but do you need it? Even if you use mobile data every day of the week you’ll rarely exceed 10GB in a month. You should be able to check how much data you’ve been using in your current provider’s website or app.

Buy a new phone separately

Need a new phone too? Buy it outright and then go shopping for a suitable mobile phone plan to use it with. It does mean having to pay the price of the phone up front, but you’ll be able to get a much better deal by taking out a SIM-only contract.

Little pick-me-ups

It’s cold and dark, and most of us are trying to tighten already tight belts. So this month, we’re focusing on little pick-me-ups to lighten the grey days.

Time to breathe

Aromatherapy has been used for centuries to ease stress and anxiety, boost energy and aid sleep. You can buy ready-made blends or make your own. For uplifting scents, try blending lemon, sweet orange and cedarwood, or sweet orange and bergamot. For stress-relief, blend neroli with a few drops of bergamot and clary sage, or neroli with ylang ylang and lavender. Need a restful scent to help you sleep? You can’t beat lavender. If you find it too strong on its own, combine it with vetiver and camomile. Why not make a home-made bath oil? Just add forty drops of your chosen essential oils to half a cup of a base oil, such as olive, jojoba, apricot kernel, grapeseed or sweet almond. You can use the oil straight away, but the aroma will get stronger if you leave it to sit for a couple of weeks. Just store it somewhere dark, like a cupboard. Add a tablespoon of the oil to your bath while the water is running to release the scent and leave your skin soft and smooth.

Time to focus

Try combining mindfulness with your daily skincare routine. Put some calming music on. Slow down and focus on the sensation of cleansing and moisturising. Breathe in through your nose and out through your

mouth. Appreciate the fragrance of any scented products. Consciously unclench your jaw and relax your muscles.

Time to move Numerous studies have shown what most of us already know – time in nature is hugely beneficial for mental health and wellbeing. It’s hard to drag yourself outside when the weather is miserable, but you will feel better for it. Try to take at least a short walk outside every day. Ideally, aim for the morning, as that supports your natural circadian rhythm so can help you sleep better. If you live in a town or city, make time to be in nature at least once a week, whether you head to the woods, a beach, a riverside path or just your local park.

Time to treat

Little luxuries boost our spirits, and they don’t need to be expensive. Ideally, choose something you’ll appreciate every day. A new nail polish is a good choice. Leighton Denny’s are easy to apply and stay chip-free for ages. Plus, they’re vegan and free from formaldehyde and other harsh chemicals. Jungle Juice is a gorgeous rich plum that really ‘pops’ (£12.50, www.leightondenny.com).

Hand creams, fragranced shower gels and lipsticks also make ideal little luxuries. Why not team up with a friend to gift each other one small treat a month? You could set a budget of £10 or less, and some treats could be home-made or free.

What do cuticles do?

The cuticle is the layer of clear skin located along the bottom edge of your finger or toenail. The function of a cuticle is to protect bacteria from entering at the nail root.

Our nails are made from keratin protein that is secreted by a layer of living tissue called the nail matrix situated at the base of the fingernail. The pale pink half-moon shape that pokes out from under the flesh of your finger is called the lunula and part of that matrix. It’s most clearly visible on the thumbs but isn’t visible on everyone.

Cuticles are delicate and they can get dry, damaged, and infected. Caring for the nail area and keeping it clean will ensure that your nails stay healthy. The easiest way to do this is to soak your hands and feet in soapy, warm water for around 10 minutes every few days. This helps to soften the cuticle and keeps your nails clean. Applying a moisturiser will help prevent dryness and cracking. Because of their protective function it is inadvisable to cut cuticles as it makes it easier for bacteria to get inside which can lead to an infection. A better

By Kate McCarthy

approach is to push the cuticle back gently and only and trim loose skin and hangnails.

It’s tempting to pick at cuticles, but this should be avoided, as should using harsh nail polish removers. Stick to an acetone-free formula.

If you use a nail salon, ask the technician not to cut your cuticles, and make sure that they sanitize their instruments.

If you notice signs or symptoms of infection at the base of your nail, talk to your pharmacist or doctor.

By Jamie Maxfield

Win While You Save

Do you own any Premium Bonds? More than 21 million of us own at least one, and their history dates back to the 19th century.

By 1861 the British Empire was wealthy but ordinary citizens were not. They had little opportunity to save. A Huddersfield banker called Charles Sikes wanted to change this. He proposed a scheme to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, William Gladstone. Gladstone approved and decided there should be a savings bank within, “...an hour’s walk of every working man’s fireside.”.

The Post Office Savings Bank was established to provide cheap funding to the Government, and the Ordinary Savings Account was born. Because the funds were secured by the Government people felt it was a safe way to invest so the project was a success with 2500 branches opening within two years.

During the First World War, the Government needed to borrow more money, so in 1916 it launched War Savings Certificates in 1916 and followed those with National War Bonds in 1917. These raised £433m (around £24 billion based on today’s values).

During the Second World War there was a similar National Savings campaign and deposits rose from £509m to £1,982m between 1939 and 1946.

After the war the Government wanted to encourage people to save again and on November 1st 1956, Premium Savings Bonds went on sale. These didn’t earn interest, instead each £1 bond received a unique number and had an equal chance to win a prize in a monthly draw. £5 million worth of bonds were sold on the first day (about £121 million today).

So that each £1 bond had an equal chance of winning a prize, the draw needed to be truly random. Because of the complexity of the task, the Government used the team behind the Second World War code breaker, Colossus, to build a piece of Electronic

Random Number Indicator Equipment, dubbed ERNIE. This machine generated bond numbers based on the signal noise created by gas neon diodes. The original ERNIE was the size of a van and took 10 days to complete a draw. Over the past several decades ERNIE has been through several iterations the current machine is ERNIE 5, which was introduced in 2019. ERNIE 5 is powered by quantum technology which uses light rather than thermal noise to generate random numbers and takes just 12 minutes to complete a draw.

Back in 1956 you had to own a bond for six months to be entered into the draw, now it’s one full calendar month. Initially you could only invest £500 maximum, and the biggest prize was £1000. In a time when the average weekly pay was £10 per week, and average house prices were just under £2000, it must have seemed like a huge sum.

Today, you can hold up to £50,000 worth of Premium Bonds, and the maximum prize is £1 million with two chances to win the jackpot each month. There are also many smaller prizes down to a modest £25. 82 billion bonds go into the draw each month so the odds of any individual bond winning a prize (no matter how small) is 24500 to 1. More than £350 000 of bonds from 1956 are still active today and eligible for entry into the monthly draw.

Believe it or not, even in the present economic climate there are currently over 1.6 million prizes worth more than £63 million which have not been claimed. Perhaps now might be a good time to check to see whether you have any old Premium Bonds in your name, which have been forgotten about. You might get lucky!

NOTE: Before making any financial decisions you are advised to consult a professional. financial adviser.

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I Want a Divorce

Christmas is often a time when problems already present within a marriage come to a head. January is often when people decide they want to make a break. Divorce is a scary word, but if approached correctly the outcome can be positive for both parties.

What do you want from your settlement?

Think about your children, the house, and any shared finances. Try to remove emotion from the equation and be clear and realistic. Courts are not interested in why a relationship broke down and will try to be fair to both parties regardless. The fact your partner cheated will not mean that you get more money. It’s good to talk.

A divorce will be quicker, cheaper and less destructive if both parties co-operate and behave with maturity. Even if you can’t agree everything, try to remain civil because if you fall out and the divorce become acrimonious and prolonged, savings and any equity in your house will get eaten up very quickly.

Discuss things like who will petition who for the divorce and what grounds they will cite e.g. infidelity, unreasonable behaviour, or separation. Having a

Mediation is not marriage counselling. It is there to help both parties agree on the key issues such as childcare arrangements, what happens to the house, what happens to savings, pensions and investments. If you can agree on these matters than all the lawyers really have to do is draw up the agreements. In this way and the need for an expensive court hearing is avoided.

Mediation works best if both parties commit to find a solution that works best for everyone. It is not always free, but it is much less expensive than legal fees.

clear, uncontested plan will keep costs down. Consider mediation

House of Colour

Need a New Year Refresh? Accessories Re-boot

I’ve said it before but updating your accessories is one of the fastest and sometimes cheapest ways to update your look. There are some easy looks to jump on and ones to find in the local shops too. The ideas below aren’t all new so you may have items already that can be worked afresh. It may also be the time to re-assess those items that don’t get worn anymore, have they lost their shine or look a little dated? I’m also a big fan of getting items re-designed if they hold sentimental value too.

Trends:

Layering continues to be an easy way to add contemporary feel to your look. What do I mean by this? Adding two or three necklaces and wearing them together. To make the best of this they need to be at differing lengths so that they can easily be seen as individual pieces. This is not new but it’s become a rather more refined smoother feel. This is particularly good news if shiny rather than matte materials are your best look. It’s also great for those who look best in smaller scale pieces. Look for chains that are slinky shiny pieces rather than chunkier for this look. It’s also worth noting that this can be added over the top of knitwear/collar necklines too. Don’t think this has to be something requiring an open neckline. Chunkier chains are still very much to the fore and there is a huge variety of options to go for from coloured to rounded links in varying sizes. Those who know medium to larger scale options look best can take up the rounded larger scale. These need to sit higher, slightly closer to the neck to look their best. Hoops – hooped earrings have been more and more popular in the last few seasons. They aren’t everyone’s favourite, (they are far more refined than the 80s 90s variations) but again there is a huge range of options from the larger to the ‘huggie’ option, giving everyone something to go for. Many incorporate a gemstone or two or are even crafted from a semi precious stones as found in Shyla London.

Embellishment – adding more bling to your look is a great way to update. Adding multiple brooches with some sparkle to a lapel is a great way to enliven existing blazers or knitwear. Handbags – small or large, play with the proportions. Add in some padding or look for luxurious fabrics if it’s a non-leather version you’re interested in but leather never dates if you’re looking for an investment piece. Detailing on leather either in the form of texture or chains continue to be a good option but if you’re in the market for a serious investment make sure it really is a classic for you and your clothing personality. Belts – make sure your belts are great quality, in a neutral or a wow colour. Think about buckles with some interest, sparkle or animal inspired, so that they add something to your outfit. Always wear a belt where you have belt loops so you have completed your look! If you can take a wider belt now is the time to capitalise on the corset style belt trends, with dresses or even cinching in a longer tunic jumper for definition. If you’re not sure of the best position for your belt, taking your proportions into account ask your stylist for assistance.

Article by Jennie Billings – House of Colour House of Colour has a network of stylists to help you update your look – find your nearest at houseofcolour.co.uk/find-a-stylist

Oxygen Therapy: How it helps…

It’s amazing how many people feel better through breathing pure oxygen – sometimes helping with serious medical conditions they’ve had for years. Hertfordshire Multiple Sclerosis Therapy Centre in Letchworth has been doing oxygen therapy for 33 years and has helped thousands of people with MS, Parkinson’s, chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, leg ulcers, diabetic foot ulcers, and cancer. People visit the centre in Letchworth from far and wide, including from overseas, to be treated for many of these conditions. More recently, oxygen therapy is being used to fight the long-lasting effects that some people experience after Covid19. Known as ‘Long Covid’, the symptoms include extreme fatigue, brain fog (struggling to think clearly), breathlessness, anxiety and PTSD.

What is oxygen therapy?

During oxygen therapy, people breathe pure oxygen under gentle pressure. This is almost five times as much oxygen as usual. Often that extra oxygen helps to reduce pain, fight infection, increase energy levels and speed up the body’s natural healing processes. It can accelerate recovery from an operation and is used by athletes to improve performance too.

Give it a go!

The team at the centre is delighted to see oxygen helping so many people but is clear that it does not work for everyone. It is a natural therapy, without the side effects of prescription drugs, complementing conventional medicine. You do not need a referral from the NHS to use oxygen therapy, you can just contact the centre direct by email oxygen@hmstc.net or calling 01462 684 214

Taxing Times

We’re rapidly approaching the annual self-assessment deadline. If you’re self-employed or in a partnership, you’ll need to file your return by 31st January. These are some top tips to make life simple and (legally) cut your tax bill.

Use an expert. If you have very simple business affairs accounts, you may be able to complete the return yourself, but for everyone else, using a tax professional could make sense. Don’t forget accountancy fees are an allowable business expense.

Remember to claim for every allowable expense, which covers most spending that’s ‘wholly and exclusively’ for business purposes. Most office supplies and equipment are allowable expenses, as is software that you use for a short time or on a subscription basis.

You can claim your actual business-related travel expenses, including parking and a proportion of repairs and servicing on your car. Alternatively, you can claim a flat rate of 45 pence a mile for the first 10,000 miles of business driving and 25 pence a mile after that, though this doesn’t cover a regular commute. If you are going to designate some of your driving as a business activity, check how this affects your car insurance.

You can even claim business costs that aren’t for goods or services. For example, you can claim the cost of any interest or fees on business account overdrafts, loans and credit cards. This is limited to £500 if you use the cash basis for your accounts,

meaning you list costs and expenses when payment is made rather than at the point of invoicing.

If you use a room exclusively for your business, you can claim a proportion of your household bills. The standard formula is that you base the proportion on the number of rooms in your house, not counting bathrooms or kitchens.

If you only work part-time or the room serves another purpose (e.g. spare bedroom) you’ll need to reduce the proportion in a ‘fair and reasonable’ way. This is often a better option, as designating a room as being solely for business could have capital gains tax implications if you sell your property.

As well as energy, broadband and other utility bills, you can claim the relevant share of council tax and even rent or the interest part of your mortgage payments.

You can instead claim a flat rate of expenses: £10 for each month with 25 to 50 hours of business use; £18 for 51 to 100 hours; and £26 for more than 100 hours. This replaces your claim for actual household costs other than phone and broadband, so you’ll need to calculate if it works out better for you.

Watch out for things you aren’t allowed to claim for, as this could bring extra hassle, delay and potential financial penalties if you include them in your self-employment expenses. Examples include: most clothing other than uniforms or protective gear; legal fees that came about because of your wrongdoing; and most food and drink, including hospitality for clients.

Disclaimer: Nothing in this article is intended to constitute legal or financial advice.

Prints Charming Technology

There are inkjets and lasers, photo printers and portable printers, printers that scan and printers that photocopy. But what should you actually buy?

The short answer is that it depends on what you want to do, because different kinds of printers are designed for different things. Laser printers are fast and typically designed for very high volumes and are more expensive to buy, but for a busy office they’re brilliant.

For home use, inkjets are much cheaper, and many of them can print in colour and produce very impressive photo prints too.

Great value is the HP DeskJet 2710e. It’s £49 and includes a six-month subscription for HP’s Instant Ink, which delivers new ink cartridges when you’re running low. If you don’t use Instant Ink, replacement cartridges are £11 for a black one and the same for a colour one, but they don’t last long: the black one is good for around 120 pages and the colour 100 pages. That’s based on printing documents - colour photos will use up the colour cartridge much more quickly.

Ink costs are the Achilles heel of inkjet printers, so if you’re going to print a lot of documents you should look for ones that use high-capacity cartridges: they’re better value in the long run. Another option is to use services such as HP’s Instant Ink (other firms have their own versions). This is pay as you go printing: you pay a set fee for a set number of pages – at the time of writing, £0.99 a month for 15 pages, rising to £22.49 for 700 – and £1 for every 10 pages over that limit. When you run low, new ink cartridges are automatically sent to you. If you only print black documents, it works out more expensive than shopping around for good deals on cartridges, but if you print a lot of photos it can save you money.

HP DeskJet 2710e

The cheaper the printer, the smaller its ink cartridges. As a home printer though it’s not bad, and the six months free Instant Ink makes it ideal for casual printing.

£49, hp.com

HP LaserJet Pro 3002dwe

With wireless printing, cloud-based printing, automatic double-sided printing and fast printing speeds this is an excellent all-rounder for black and white printing. It’s compatible with high-yield laser cartridges. £220, hp.com

Epson EcoTank ET-3850

This is a high volume inkjet printers designed for lots of colour prints. The ET-3850 comes with enough ink for 14,000 black and 5,200 colour pages; a fourpack of replacement ink bottles is £36 for 6,000 to 7,500 pages of printing.

£349, currys.co.uk

HP OfficeJet Pro 7720

Most printers are designed to take A4 paper, but this HP can print in on poster-sized A3 paper too. It’s an all-in-one device with scanner and a fax, and can print as much as 30,000 pages per month. £187, currys.co.uk

HP Colour Laser 150nw

You don’t need to spend a fortune to get colour laser printing, but the running costs do add up: each of the four toner cartridges this printer uses has an RRP of £48.99 and is rated for around 700 pages of printed documents. £229, currys.co.uk

Caroline Knight: Gardendesignideas.co.uk

Longer days are coming

Beautiful bloomers and bark

The shortest day has passed, so don’t assume that everything in the soil is dormant. Winters are generally warmer than they used to be and you will find glorious snowdrops, winter aconites, crocuses, tiny irises and even early narcissi. These are plants with short stems, protecting their flowers from chilling winds. Look above the ground level and you’ll be delighted to find winter honeysuckle, Viburnum bodnantense and witch hazel with its spidery flowers, all blooming in January. Don’t miss the chance to indulge in a heavenly intake of sweet fragrance.

It’s also the very best time of year to appreciate tree bark. You need look no further than the popular cherry family to find one of the best displays imaginable. Prunus serrula, or the ‘birch-barked cherry’, looks as if it is on fire during winter when its horizontally striped, mahogany-red bark shines like a beacon. Notice, also, beautiful members of the silver birch family with stunning white stems. Betula utilis var. jacquemontii and various cultivars provide ghostly, atmospheric charm. Some people actually wash the bark in order to obtain the best display. Not only are birch trees the source for traditional witches’ brooms, but bark oil can be used to treat skin conditions.

Acer griseum, the paperbark maple, is also showing its true splendour this month. The cinnamoncoloured bark peels, or exfoliates, as it grows. The thin, papery layers shed to reveal smooth, orange bark underneath. This winter interest is highlighted

at a time of year when there is little undergrowth competing for attention.

Protect tender plants

We all know that January weather can bring snow, heavy frosts, rain, strong winds and very low temperatures. Tender garden specimens will therefore benefit from protection. It’s often the chilling winds that do the most damage. If you wrap horticultural fleece around their shivering forms, it will help to prevent serious damage. Shake off snow from limbs of shrubs and trees in order to release the heavy burden. You will notice the shape begins to splay as the boughs bend, and this is the moment to act.

There are few plants than can tolerate vigorous pruning at this point in the year, so leave the matted hydrangeas and fuchsias but turn instead to the tough climbing roses, wisteria and definitely the grape or ornamental vine such as Vitis coignetiae. All new vine growth can be cut back to within two buds of the main woody framework from which it sprouted. You can be pretty ruthless – it will be sprouting again as soon as the sap starts rising.

Longer days

Rumour has it that January 12th is the magical date when the day length becomes noticeably longer and outdoor plants soon recognise the subtle change. Nature’s force is truly remarkable and it seems that however cold above the soil, there are always things happening beneath. Most plants are poised ready for action, their buds just awaiting a silent signal before a new dawn.

Winter Scent

By Rachael Leverton

I love a garden planted for winter. There are so many plants with wonderful shape and interesting evergreen foliage. But the thing that draws me out into any garden is scent, and fragrance is particularly uplifting in the depths of winter.

Getting outdoors into natural daylight, even on a cold, dank day is a mood booster. If you need an excuse to don woolly hat and gloves then what better than winter-flowering shrubs. Even better if you can cut a few sprigs to take back indoors.

Chimonanthus praecox, known as Wintersweet is the type of shrub that looks rather unexciting in spring and summer, but in winter once established (which may take a couple of years) the bare branches erupt with lovely waxy yellow flowers which have an intense sweet and spicy scent.#

For a little spot near the front or back door, think about Daphne bholua, a shade-loving, tiny, evergreen shrub which produces delicate pink or white blooms that look like they are made from fondant icing. They have a rich floral, old-fashioned scent. If space is limited you also try Sarcococca hookeriana. This is also a shade-lover and produced a very powerful jasmine-like scent which carries well on the breeze.

If you have more space and would like something

more robust then plant Viburnum x bodnantense. It produces pom-poms of flowers in pastel pink or white which smell of warm vanilla and lilac. It also has an extremely long flowering season, starting in mid-autumn and going right through until early spring.

All of the above flowers can be cut, and will last for several days in a vase in the house. But January is also the perfect time to enjoy gardening indoors. My teenage son collects cacti and was gifted a striking, ornamental cactus with funky foliage a couple of years ago, called Epiphyllum anguliger. The wavyedge leaves which oscillate along the stem give rise to its more common name, the Fishbone Cactus. As well as looking handsome all year round it has the delightful bonus of producing large creamy white flowers in winter which emit a wonderful scent in the evening, just one bloom can fill a room with a sweet fragrance.

You don’t have to be deprived of scent in the winter months. Make a New Year’s resolution to bring some fragrance into your garden, and your home.

Happy Gardening

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GreenFingers

The Alan Titchmarsh column

He’s a brilliant presenter, accomplished gardener, talented novelist, and all-round horticultural inspiration. This month, Alan Titchmarsh discusses his move to incorporate horticulture into the National Curriculum, and a sidestep into novels. I’ve written three autobiographies and people have expressed surprise that I do sometimes, even now, lack confidence in my work. I always wonder if it stems from my childhood and my parents who were very much realists. I wouldn’t swap them for the world, but in their very blunt Yorkshire way they would say ‘he’s not that bright,’ and I wasn’t then. I suppose it has been a bit of a curse and given my success I probably should have more confidence, but then again it has made me who I am. When you’re not that good when you’re young, there is the fear that you won’t get better, and it came as a kind of revelation when I did.

Even in the 11 novels I’ve penned, I’ve never had faith in my prose; in secondary school I remember doing ‘when composition becomes essays’. I don’t think my English teacher was particularly convinced about my capabilities; I’ve still got my essay book and it’s got some very harsh comments at the bottom in red ink. Yet my English teacher, bless her, I was in touch with her a few years ago and she said she felt she hadn’t been a particularly good teacher, and I wrote back

saying ‘well whatever it is you did, I’ve ended up doing the job I do now, writing pretty much for a living, so you can’t have got it all wrong’. I thought it was terribly generously spirited of her to admit that she was wrong. I think my point here is that I was no more a gardener at school than I was a novelist, and I became both; but I did that through exposure and opportunity, and this is what we need to give our children.

And in my mind, there is no greater exposure to the world than you will find in the garden on a frosty Sunday morning, so get your kids and grandkids out there, and let’s really inspire the next generation!

Nurturing a garden can give you a real sense of achievement, and connection to the earth; I always say it is an escape to reality, or a different reality… and for our young people, that’s where real inspiration can emerge.

Get Beds Buzzing!

Have you considered a hobby that provides plenty of opportunity for fresh air, exercise and, at the end of summer, a sweet reward? Have you considered beekeeping? In recent years, beekeeping has become a popular pastime across the country with many people taking up this fascinating craft. Keeping bees is a great way to get away from the busy lives we lead and relax with nature; a great stress buster!

Demand for local honey has increased recently as people realise that buying locally produced food benefits the environment. Many also find eating local honey helps to reduce hay fever symptoms. Your county needs you!

Keeping bees is of huge environmental benefit. Up to a third of our food depends on or benefits from insect pollination – and honey bees are a major pollinator. But bees do not just pollinate the crops we eat. They also pollinate hedgerow plants that produce fruit and berries. Many birds and small mammals depend on this food source to survive the winter.

Bedfordshire Beekeepers Association are running two courses for beginners starting in February

2023. One will be held at the Discovery Centre, Stockwood Park, Luton on Sunday mornings (6 sessions from 19th February to 26th March TBC) and the other at Moggerhanger village hall (near Bedford) on Wednesday evenings (6 sessions over the period 8th February to 29th March TBC).

These courses cover the theoretical aspects of beekeeping. Practical experience in handling and managing bees is important and following the course, attendees will be offered the opportunity of hands-on experience at the Association apiaries through the beekeeping season, places and weather permitting.

The cost of the course (including any practical experience) is £72 which includes a year’s membership with Beds BKA

So, if you are interested follow the link below to contact Beds BKA and register your interest: https://www.bedsbka.org.uk/contact-us/

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RSPCA Bedforshire North Branch

Ways to support local pets in need

As we enter a new year, especially one of uncertainty as we are facing, as a Branch we want to help where we can during the cost of living crisis. In January last year we started a veterinary help scheme where we would support pet owners facing financial difficulty by paying towards emergency and unexpected vet bills.

Throughout the year requests for help of this nature increased significantly, especially as the cost of living was becoming more of an issue, with September alone accounting for over a third of our annual contributions. In 2023 with the country’s economic state potentially set to worsen, we want to ensure we are still able to offer this lifeline to people who need it most.

Contributing to urgent vet bills alleviates animal suffering, ensuring pets receive urgent treatment they need; keeps much loved pets in family homes; and in turn prevents ever increasing pet neglect and abandonment.

We are a small Branch covering the area of North Bedfordshire who work under the umbrella of the National RSPCA, therefore are run by a small team and almost entirely self funded, so we largely rely on our supporters to continue schemes such as this.

There are many ways to donate to our Branch, the easiest is to donate to our charity shop. The majority of our funding comes from our charity shop located in Bedford Bus Station and although we are very lucky with our donations, we are always in need of more donated goods. The shop accepts anything from unwanted clothes, shoes, handbags, books DVDs, CDs and toys to household goods,

bric-a-brac and even electricals. With Christmas now over and one with, if you have any unwanted gifts or having a new year’s clear out – the shop would be extremely grateful for any donated goods. If you are unsure of anything or have any queries, please give the shop a call on 01234 930304.

Another easy way to support our cause is by popping into Biggleswade ASDA throughout January, as we are part of their green token scheme. We will receive a sum of money for coming first second or third in green token votes, which is funding that will go straight towards our veterinary help scheme. We are also part of the same token scheme throughout the Bedford Tesco stores from January until March this year.

Our Branch is also an Amazon Smile charity. This means if Amazon shoppers change their settings to Amazon Smile, when they spend Amazon donates a small percentage to the charity of their choice. A very easy way to fundraise, and you can search for us by our name or charity number – RSPCA Bedfordshire North Branch / 202037.

We are always so appreciative of any fundraising support we receive, as its means we can help more animals in our area, stopping any animal from suffering needlessly. For more information or any questions about fundraising, our veterinary help scheme or anything else, please email us info@rspcabedfordshirenorth.org.uk or phone 01234 266965.

Help Woodgreen provide miracles for homeless pets

Woodgreen rehomes thousands of pets every year. With more and more being handed in due to the cost of living crisis, the charity is appealing for local volunteers who can offer their hearts and homes to a temporary furry friend.

Fostering is a hugely rewarding way to help pets in need – meaning you can enjoy their company without the long-term commitment and without the price tag. It doesn’t cost you a penny! When you become a volunteer foster carer, Woodgreen will provide everything you need and cover all expenses, as well as providing you with full training and round-the-clock support. You’ll make friends with the volunteers that are already enjoying fostering too. You can apply to foster dogs, cats and/or small pets (like rabbits and guinea pigs), and take care of them until they find a loving new home. This could take weeks or months, but Woodgreen are flexible around holidays and any commitments you have. Some pets might be recovering from operations, be pregnant or too young to rehome, need further training and support, or just feel happier in a home environment. By opening your door to a homeless pet, it will make space for Woodgreen to help another pet who needs them.

The pets looking for fosterers are best suited to homes without any other animals or small children, but anyone can volunteer – whether you’re an experienced pet owner or you’ve never had a pet. All Woodgreen asks is that you’re aged over 18, you live within 40 minutes of the charity’s centre in Cambridgeshire, and you have the time and love to give to pets like Nugget and Freddie (pictured above). To find out more and to apply, please visit woodgreen.org.uk/foster

A thoroughly modern royal

As Catherine Elizabeth Middleton – AKA the Princess of Wales, Duchess of Cambridge, Countess of Strathearn, Baroness Carrickfergus, Duchess of Cornwall, Duchess of Rothesay and one day likely Queen Consort – turns 41 on 9th January, we look at how she has evolved.

Kate Middleton became known as the girl who was dating the nation’s most eligible bachelor: her future husband and future king, Prince William. They met as students in 2001 during their first year at the University of St Andrews in Scotland and went on to graduate in 2005.

Styling a future

Noticeable changes in Kate’s appearance started taking place, presumably in order to fit in with the royal family. Her clothing almost began to reflect what people saw in her character. It was Kate starting to behave in ways that would be seen as more appropriate for a future Queen. William proposed to Kate in October 2010 while the couple holidayed in Kenya.

Following in Diana’s footsteps Fast forward to 2022. In his first speech as King Charles III last September, Charles confirmed he was handing his previous title of Prince of Wales to Prince William, making Kate the new Princess of Wales.

Like the late Princess of Wales before her, Kate too has clearly won the hearts of the nation with her natural human approach. She is also following in Diana’s fashion-forward footsteps. While with her own unique sense of style, she also appears to take outfit inspiration from her mother-in-law. From her formal outfits for official engagements to glamorous evening wear, Kate often pays more than a passing nod to the women she succeeded as a royal fashion icon.

In front of and behind the camera

To mark her milestone fortieth last year, Kate posed for a set of official portraits in which she looked every inch the high-fashion model. Taken by acclaimed photographer Paolo Roversi, they were a far cry from the informal shots taken by keen amateur photographer Kate of George, Charlotte and Louis that have graced the front pages of newspapers and magazines across the globe.

Family first Back in 2011, the newlyweds decided to postpone their honeymoon so that Prince William could return to his duties with the Search and Rescue Squadron at RAF Anglesey Valley. Now titled the Prince and Princess of Wales, the country has a special place in the couple’s hearts – rooted in their first home where they lived when Prince George was born and reflected in their decision to take George and Charlotte to Cardiff during the late Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations.

Like other working parents, Kate has admitted to suffering mum guilt, saying: “I’m such a hands-on mum and whatever you’re doing you want to make sure you’re doing the utmost best job you can for your children.”

Recalling her own childhood, she added: “I had a very happy childhood. I think the things that really resonate with me most are the simple things and I see that now with my own children. Life is so busy, so distracting and sometimes the simple things like watching a fire on a really rainy day provides such enjoyment. I remember that from my childhood –doing simple things, going for a walk together – and that’s what I try and do with my children because it strips away all the complications, all the pressures as a parent.”

Photo credit: Paolo Roversi

Review of 2022

1. Who scored England’s winning goal when they won the UEFA Women’s Euro 2022 final against Germany? 2. In May, what did a band called Kalush Orchestra sell for 900,000 dollars? 3. Who became Chancellor of the Exchequer in July after the resignation of Rishi Sunak, but was replaced by Kwasi Kwarteng just nine weeks later? 4. Which month of 2022 saw the death of Queen Elizabeth II?

5. In February, who rowed, cycled, swam and ran his way from the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in Stratford to his hometown of Plymouth to raise money for Comic Relief?

6. Name the two singers who, in the same weekend, became the youngest-ever and oldest-ever headliners of the Glastonbury Festival.

7. In January, the first successful heart transplant from what type of animal to a human patient took place in Baltimore?

8. Which 2022 film was banned in 14 Middle Eastern and Asian countries due to a same sex kiss between characters called Alisha and Kiko?

9. Which country topped the medal table at the 2022 Commonwealth Games?

10. In June, which song set a new Guinness World Record for the longest time for a track to reach number one on the UK’s official singles chart?

1. Chloe Kelly 2. The Eurovision Song Contest trophy (the Ukrainian winners sold it raise money for the war in Ukraine) . Nadhim Zahawi 4. September 5. Tom Daley 6. Billie Eilish and Paul McCartney 7. A pig 8. Lightyear 9. Australia 10. Running Up The Hill (by Kate Bush)

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Easy Sudoku Hard Sudoku

Fill in the grid so that each row, column and 3x3 box, contains the digits 1 through to 9 with no repetition. Use your logic to solve the puzzles.

What's On WHAT’S ON IN JANUARY

2,

9, 16, 23 & 30 JANUARY

Branch Out Social Club for Single People

8.30-10.30pm. Cromwell Bar, The Sun Hotel, Hitchin

Medium-sized social club for single people aged 50 upwards. Meets every Monday night. Tel: Lorna 01438 233657 Web: www.branch-out.org.uk

3, 6, 10, 13, 17, 20, 24, 27

JANUARY

& 31

Bridge Club. 1pm Howgills, South View, Letchworth £3. Tuesdays and Fridays. Play from 1pm but do come earlier. Beginners and improvers welcome – we play very friendly Rubber Bridge. Tel: Gill Cheaney 01462 686806 Email: bridgeclub@lalg.org.uk

3, 10, 17, 24 & 31 JANUARY

Craftea

10.30am-12pm Baldock Library A great way to meet new people, get craft advice, chat and relax. Web: www.hertfordshire.gov.uk

4 JANUARY

Pic-n-Mix Social Group 10.30am-12pm Letchworth Library Meets the first Wednesday of every month. Each session has a theme or activity. Drop in for a cuppa, a chat and make some new friends!

4 JANUARY

Aircraft Enthusiasts’ Group 1pm Shuttleworth

Members Remembers. Meets first Wednesday of every month. Entry to Shuttleworth £19.50 or email to book free entry ticket. Email: 99aegr@gmail.com Web: www.a-e-g.org.uk

4 JANUARY

North Herts Association of the National Trust 7.30pm Christchurch, Bedford Road, Hitchin

Non-members £3 on the door ‘More Lost Palaces’. Tel: Mrs Colette House 07831 111062 Email: colettehouse@gmail.com www.facebook.com/nhertsant/

4, 11, 18 & 25 JANUARY

Hinxworth Art Society 10am-12pm. Hinxworth Village Hall Drawing, painting, coffee and chat. No need to book. Occasional oneday courses and demonstrations. Email: 99aegr@gmail.com

4, 11, 18 & 25 JANUARY

Baby Rhyme Time

10.30am-11am Baldock Library Free - donations welcome Fun session of songs and rhymes to help your child learn language skills.

4, 11, 18 & 25 JANUARY

Storytime 10.30-11am Stevenage Library

Free - donations welcome Interactive story sessions. Web: www.hertfordshire.gov.uk

5, 9, 12, 16, 19, 23, 26 & 30 JANUARY

Retired Persons Table Tennis Club Mondays 11am-1.30pm, Thursdays 1.30-4pm Memorial Hall, Stotfold The club plays both doubles and singles. Monthly subscription payable. Vacancies for new members (but not beginners). Email: terrygriffiths50@gmail.com

5, 12, 19 & 26 JANUARY

Hitchin Thursday Art Club 9.30am-12pm. St. John’s Community Centre, St. John’s Road, Hitchin We meet every Thursday for painting and drawing, etc. We are a friendly group who enjoy art and chatting. Tel: Mike 07977 347707

5, 12, 19 & 26 JANUARY

Storytime 2.15-2.45pm Baldock Library Free - donations welcome Interactive story sessions for preschool children.

5, 12, 19 & 26 JANUARY

Sapphire Social Singles Club 8pm The Orange Tree, Hitchin Meet every Thursday. A friendly social group for single people to meet and make new friendsgenerally 50+ age group. Tel/text: Ian 07900 890583 for info sapphiresocialsinglesclub.co.uk

6 JANUARY Beds Family History Society 7pm and 7.30pm on Zoom Drama Theatre, Mark Rutherford School, Bedford ‘Foster Hill Cemetery’ with Bob Ricketts. Web: www.bfhs.org.uk

6 JANUARY

Hitchin & Letchworth RSPB Local Group Meeting 7.30pm. The Settlement, 229 Nevells Road, Letchworth Members free, visitors £4 ‘Gough Island Eradication. What now?’ by Andrew Callender, RSPB Head of Global Policy.

6, 13, 20 & 27 JANUARY Storytime 10.30-11am Letchworth Library Free - donations welcome Interactive story sessions. Web: www.hertfordshire.gov.uk

6, 13, 20 & 27 JANUARY Bridge Club 1.30-4.30pm. Springfield House, Old Stevenage Community Centre Play social cut-in Chicago Bridge. Play is informal and friendly. Tel: Richard Bean 01438 221517

6, 13, 20 & 27 JANUARY Rainmakers International Folk Dance Group 8-10pm. ilbury Hall, Bedford Road, Letchworth New members welcome Tel: Mark 01462 454210 Web: rainmakers.org.uk

9 JANUARY

Icknield Quilters 7.45pm Meets second Monday of the month. Visitors welcome. icknieldquilters.weebly.com/

9, 16, 23 & 30 JANUARY Monday Painting Group 9am-12pm Letchworth Corner Sports Club, Whitethorn Lane Meets every Monday. Each term we choose a selection of subjects to paint. Tel: Valerie Williams 01462 624439 Email: mondaypainting@lalg.org.uk

WHAT’S ON IN JANUARY

9, 16, 23 & 30 JANUARY

Stevenage Singers 7.30pm for 7.45pm

The Music Centre, The Nobel School, Mobbsbury Way, Stevenage Stevenage Singers are ready to welcome new voices!

Tel: Heather 01438 365769 Email: Info@stevenagesingers.org.uk Web: www.stevenagesingers.org.uk

9, 16, 23 & 30 JANUARY

Staplers Folk Dance Club 8-10pm St Johns Community Hall, St John’s Road, Hitchin Members £3, guests £4 Meets Monday evenings. Dance a wide variety of styles. Everyone welcome. Web: www.staplers.org.uk

9, 16, 23 & 30 JANUARY

Stevenage Choral Society 7.45pm

Stevenage Music Centre, Mobbsbury, Stevenage Meets every Monday during term time. No audition necessary. Tel: 01438 365769 Email: info@stevenagechoral.org.uk Web: www.stevenagechoral.org.uk

11 JANUARY

Bedford Local Group of The Wildlife Trust 7.15pm for 7.30pm

Priory Methodist Church Hall, Newnham Avenue, Bedford

An illustrated talk ‘Wildlife Trust Communities Work in Bedfordshire’ by Ruth Sneath. Ample parking. All welcome. No charge but voluntary contributions appreciated. Tel: 01234 266057 wildlifebcn.org

11 JANUARY

Letchworth Music Concert 7.45pm

Howgills, 42 South View, Letchworth

Tickets £15, under 18/students £7.50 Emma Halnan on flute and Jaynne Baley on piano. Tickets available at the door.

15 JANUARY

Not Strictly Jazz 5-7pm

Tickets £20, 10-18 years £10 Fairfield House, Fairfield Road, Biggleswade

Live music performed by exceptional musicians. Tel: 01767 312176 Email: sarahwiggs@hotmail.co.uk

17 JANUARY

Greensands Writers’ Group 7-9pm

Free event. Enjoy writing? Join Greensands Writers’ Group for a monthly Zoom meeting. Web: greensandswriters.wixsite. com/website for info

20 JANUARY

Concert by Coull Quartet 8pm. Benslow Music, Benslow Lane, Hitchin

Tickets £20, under 27s free Formed in 1974, the quartet has performed and broadcast extensively throughout the UK, and has made tours of Western Europe, the Americas, Australia, China, India and the Far East. https://benslowmusic.org

22 JANUARY

Hitchin & Letchworth RSPB Local Group coach trip to Fen Drayton and WWT Welney

Various pick-up times. Coach fare £25 per adult, entry fees may apply Morning at Fen Drayton looking for waders, wildfowl and passerines, afternoon at Welney to enjoy the swan spectacular.

Leader Jane Havercroft. Tel: Malcolm 01462 451320

22 JANUARY

Stevenage RSPB Local Group Trip to Rainham Marshes. Meet 10am All-day visit to Rainham Marshes. Meet in the carpark at grid ref 177/ TQ 551790 postcode RM19 1SZ. Leader Graham Beevor. Email: trevorstorey54@gmail.com

26 JANUARY

Stevenage RSPB Local Group Trip to Lemford Springs. Meet 9.30am Morning visit to this H&MWT site which never freezes, for Water Rail, Green Sandpiper and other winter visitors. Meet at reserve gates 166/TL 222123 postcode AL8 7TN. Leader Trevor Storey. Donations requested.

Email: trevorstorey54@gmail.com

27-29 JANUARY AND 3-4 FEBRUARY

The New Adventures of Robinson Crusoe. Meppershall Village Hall Adults £13, Child £8, family of 4 £36 HATS present their annual family panto. Evening and matinée performances. www.ticketsource.co.uk/hats-drama

28 JANUARY

Dreamcatchers

10am-4pm Letchworth Library £2 per person

Explore the meaning of dreams and create your own dreamcatcher. Fun drop-in session for the whole family. Under 8s must be accompanied by an adult

UNTIL 16 APRIL

Changing Times: A Century of Modern British Art Exhibition The Higgins, Bedford Free entry

Visitors will find sculpture, paintings and works on paper by some of the best-known and well-loved names in British art.

Web: www.thehigginsbedford.org.uk

EVERY WEEKDAY

Clifton Walking Group

Meets on weekdays at 8.30am and in the afternoon for an hour. A friendly bunch of people of various ages and abilities. Monthly weekend walk of 6-8 miles. Group meets for coffee once a month.

Tel: Suzanne I’ons 07933 709006 Email: ionssuzanne@gmail.com

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The Bullet that Missed Richard Osman

The Thursday Murder Club is back. As usual, they’re investigating an unsolved murder. But this time, there’s no body, and the chief suspect is hidden behind a complex paper trail. As they get closer to finding out the truth, Elizabeth’s past comes back to haunt her. Can she commit her own murder to save a friend? Cosy crime at its best.

The Long Call Ann Cleeves

Detective Matthew Venn is estranged from his family and the community he grew up in. But now he’s back to investigate the murder of a man with an albatross tattoo. It’s not surprising that The Long Call got made into a TV series. It’s a slow burner, but well worth sticking with. And once you reach the end, there’s already a second book in the series to order.

The Family Game Catherine Steadman

Harriet’s fiancé Edward is heir to a small fortune. And with wealth often comes power and entitlement, as Harriet soon discovers when she meets his family. They like to play games. Dangerous games. Games that end up with her lying on the floor bleeding from a head wound. But just how far will they go to protect their secrets?

By Kate Duggan

winter days call for tales of mystery, intrigue and maybe a murder or two…