st albans now jan 13

january 2013

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welcome to the new year

With the festivities nearly all wrapped up, we march full steam ahead into the New Year...and what will that hold for you?

New job, new business, new hobby, new you, or simply a new way of doing things, even if it only lasts a few weeks, it’s always good to try something new. If it’s a new business then give us a call so we can tell everyone about it.

Radlett ArtExpo Residents First Weekend

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free fun for everyone

Party at Westminster Lodge

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party, party, party

Calling All Artists 18 the garden & beyond

NOW at the Hawthorne 20

Don’t forget you can see ‘the NOW magazines’ each month online at www.harpendennow.com

comedy, jazz & theatre

NOW at the Cathedral 22 music, organs, tours & trails

We wish you all a Very Happy and Healthy 2013

Wrap up for Winter 28

jane & wendy to advertise call us now 07983 588291 07983 588313

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Rolf, Beryl & more

keep your garden cosy

New Year, New You 36 get fit & healthy

NOW at The Alban Arena 38

cover picture courtesy of Ben Parker

rock, theatre, comedy & films

What’s on in January 40 & February 42 local events for everyone

The Snow Queen 44 classic fairy tale

for February editions harpenden NOW & st albans NOW

New Year new clients?

Index of Businesses 46 accountants to tv repairs

let people know what your business can do for them in ’the NOW magazines’ call Wendy or Jane 07983 588313 07983 588291

view ‘the NOW magazines’ online TO ADVERTISE CONTACT 07983 588291 or jane@stalbansnow.com

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recycle your Christmas Cards... ...at Marks and Spencer this month Last year 8.3 million cards were dropped off at local stores. M & S planted 1 native tree for every 1000 cards collected which means an extra 8308 trees were planted around the country this year.

Northern Ireland - 5.5% Wales - 5.5% Scotland - 12% South West - 11% Midlands - 14% North - 20% South East - 32% www.woodlandtrust.org.uk

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Rolf, Beryl and more.... at radlett artexpo An opportunity to view a wide variety of original artworks and to ‘Meet the Artists’ on Sunday 20th January at The Radlett Centre.

Bringing together a wide collection of paintings, pottery, sculptures and ceramics with collectable signed prints by Rolf Harris and Beryl Cook this promises to be a very interesting and colourful event.

Many exhibitors are from the Hertfordshire area, including

painter and printmaker, Dione Verulam ‘Flying Flora at Gorhambury’ (pictured), and St Albans based mixed media artist Ben Askem who will be showing some of his contemporary style landscapes and portraits on canvas.

Examples of each of the 30 exhibitors work can be viewed at www.artexporadlett.co.uk All exhibits will be available to purchase on the day.

TO ADVERTISE CONTACT 07983 588291 or jane@stalbansnow.com

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Here are just a few of the events taking place:

Residents First Weekend 26th - 27th January Residents First Weekend provides residents with the opportunity to sample some of the highlights in the area with attractions, local businesses, hotels and restaurants providing exclusive offers.

Tourism is vital for the local economy and this initiative encourages residents to try something new and recommend it to friends and relatives who may come to visit St Albans during the year.

This year a number of new attractions and local businesses will be taking part.

For more information or to see the deals on offer visit www.stalbans.gov.uk/residents-first Call 01727 819311 or email jo.howlett@stalbans.gov.uk

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Butterfly World will exclusively open for this weekend offering free entry to all residents Museum of St Albans is inviting people to occupy the Museum on Friday 25th January from 6pm until midnight to take over and decide what they like and what they don’t like in the museum Redbourn Village Museum will be open for the weekend St Albans Architectural and Archaeological Society is hosting St Albans ‘Seen and Unseen’ exhibition St Albans Arts Development Team will be hosting the ‘Shelter in the Storm’ exhibition see page 32 St Albans Cathedral Tower Tours, Family Trails, Textile Exhibition and Ecclesiastical Catwalk see page 22 St Albans and District Talking Newspapers will be opening their doors for people to see what has happened in the local area St Albans Organ Theatre will open for people to see their collection of organs and more

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we just wanna have fun... at Westminster Lodge Westminster Lodge offers a great selection of Party Packages catering for all ages Tots Party For the younger ones 3-4 years, arts and crafts, sticky fingers, followed by traditional party games, musical bumps, statues, pin the tail etc, finished with dancing to the Birdie Song, Hokie Cokie and more, held in the Crèche; traditional, but the kids still love it!

one happy party girl tells all I went to my friends sports birthday party on a Saturday afternoon at Westminster Lodge, nearly all my class went, and I wanted to tell you all about what we did at the party and what the adult coaches do.

The sports we did were football with a penalty shootout and also basketball. I enjoyed the party and I would love to go to another one there. I would recommend the party to all ages, both girls and boys, and I would love to go with the football team I play for.

Parents can watch the whole party by looking over a balcony at the side of the hall. They supply drinks and a whole range of food including hot dogs, chicken nuggets, lunch boxes and also jacket potatoes with tuna or cheese. The coaches and helpers are really kind and always care for you while you are there. I can’t wait for my next birthday so I can have my party there too!

Mollie aged 11 Disco / Dance Popular with the girls, an hour of dance; street, disco, pop and cheerleading – either with our staff or a specialist coach at extra cost.

Pool Party With or without our amazing new inflatable in the main pool. The children love it, it’s mainly for those aged 8 and over but under 8’s can give it a go if their parents are in the water. The noninflatable party comprises of water games, polo, big floats, races, dive sticks and more.

Climbing Wall Party This is a franchise and all climbing wall parties are organised with the company directly, via the number below.

Active Antz Sports Hall Party for little ones with a bouncy castle and sports games, hoops, bean bags and more.

Soft Play Party For 3-8 years, an hour of exclusive fun and games in the soft play area, with some great games thrown in too!

Sports Party Held in the Sports Hall, a mixture of sports, football, basketball, badminton, circuits or just one sport, usually football.

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All Party Costs range from £8 to £12.50 per child, which includes invitations, party tea and host. The parties last for 2 hours and the menu choice includes a great selection of either hot or cold food, to be pre booked before the party. Party food is usually served in the lovely new bistro where parents can also enjoy a bite to eat at the same time.

Tots parties are for a minimum of 8 children, for all other parties a minimum of 15 is required.

Let us make your next party a really special one, just give us a call.

Westminster Lodge Leisure Centre Holywell Hill St Albans

Provided by St Albans City and District Council Managed in partnership with Everyone Active

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A Year of Celebration for Abbot’s Hill School In 2012 Abbot’s Hill School in Hemel Hempstead celebrated its centenary. It was another busy and successful year for the school. The drama department excelled with three stunning performances across the Junior and Senior Schools, the Lacrosse team became District Small School Champions and the Junior Ski team triumphed in the SATIPSKI Prep School’s ski competition. Year 9 pupils made front page news on the BBC’s live School Report and the Chamber Choir went on a successful tour to Holland.

2012 also saw the the quality of get to know each pupil so that teaching retirement of Headmistress Mrs is focused and effective. This ethos Kerstin Lewis who has led the pupils’ was noted by Inspectors during the school for 16 years during which personal recent Independent Schools time it has grown considerably, (ISI) report which states invested in new facilities and development Inspectorate that “small classes, in which pupils produced excellent academic is outstanding feel well known and supported, results. Mrs Lewis is succeeded enable them to fulfil their potential.”

by Mrs Elizabeth Thomas who As well as academic success, great was previously Head of Stonar School in importance is placed in developing the individual Wiltshire. and giving every pupil the opportunity to shine.

The GCSE results in the Centenary year The ISI report noted that “the quality of pupils’ continued the school’s excellent academic record. 69.7 per cent of grades were at A*-A and personal development is outstanding” and also commented on the varied extra-curricular the school achieved a 98.8 per cent pass rate at programme which “offers opportunity and A*-C. choice for all”.

The results reflect the school’s commitment to The school will be holding a Working Open ensuring that every pupil achieves her full Afternoon on Friday 1st February 2013 potential. Throughout their school life pupils are and a Whole School Open Day on taught in small classes and teachers are able to Saturday 9th March 2013.

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Let florist Anita Lindeman teach you how to make stunning arrangements with beautiful flowers and foliages, in a calm relaxed atmosphere. Delicious refreshments, lunch included on Childwickbury workshops.

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Other Workshops for 2013 25th Jan 10am - 12 noon The Perfect Vase The Flower School 7th Feb 7.30pm - 9.30pm Hand-tieds Made Easy Childwickbury 21st Feb 7.30pm - 9.30pm Vintage Flowers Childwickbury

Create your own wedding flowers!

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Also Available Flower Parties - Host a party in your home with friends and make something gorgeous!

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sheer shutter delight Drapemasters’ Shutter Delight promotion provides an excellent opportunity to purchase the UK’s premier Shutter brand at amazing prices. They are offering an alluring 15% off their full collection of superb wooden Blinds and Shutters purchased between the 26th December and 31st January 2013.

They can be fitted to practically any window or door and can even be used as a room divider.

Each material has its own standard range of finishes and a custom colour option is available on selected ranges, providing you with an almost unlimited array of colour finishes.

Shutters are economical, need little maintenance, provide an additional layer of heat and sound insulation and look fantastic!

Additional benefits include unrivalled control of natural light by each slat on each panel as well as providing a greater selection of the levels of Drapemasters are professionally trained to privacy. Don’t settle for anything less, see their assist you at every step of the process, from contact details below and remember all choosing the right colours from an on-trend palette, to deciding the best configuration for shutters come with a 3 year guarantee. your window. This ensures that the shutters Drapemasters Interior Furnishers also you choose meet your requirements exactly design, supply and fit an amazing range of and that you are satisfied every step of venetian, vertical, roller and roman blinds the way. along with beautifully made bespoke curtains and upholstery.

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According to uSwitch.com, energy bills have more than doubled over the last five years. This is adding pressure to many households, especially those who are on lower incomes or living in homes that are hard to keep warm. It is estimated that about 13% of households in the St Albans district have to decide between turning the heating on or paying other essential bills.

Living in a cold home can have serious impacts on a persons health and wellbeing.

This is an issue that affects the elderly, who are especially vulnerable. But those who live in isolated rural settings, live alone, have young children or are unwell are just as much at risk. An estimated 478 deaths last winter in Hertfordshire were associated with the cold weather.

St Albans City and District Council, in partnership with Herts County Council and the voluntary sector, are working together to deliver a government funded scheme to support anyone who may need help to keep warm this winter.

a range of help is available including: √ √ √ √ √ √

Home energy checks Draught proofing Radiator reflectors Emergency blankets and heating Home security checks Grants from the Community Foundation

√ √ √ √ √

Referrals to free insulation schemes Meals on wheels services Advice and support on bills and fuel tariffs Bulk buying scheme for those on oil And lots more….

If you, or anyone you know, is concerned about staying warm or paying your energy bills this winter please call Herts Help on 0300 123 4044. You can call on behalf of neighbours, friends and relatives.

Herts Help on 0300 123 4044

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Winston Churchill and David Lloyd George Some self-employed people are really organised and keep their receipts and invoices in a safe place, file them properly and do their books every month. Not me.

And quite possibly not you either.

Everything related to income tax goes into a big box, and at the end of the year I spend days arranging it in some sort of order and turning it into a spreadsheet that bears at least a passing resemblance to what I’ve actually earned and what I’ve actually spent. Then I send it all off to my accountant, who is the rampart that stands between me and HMRC. Income tax was invented in 1799 along with window tax, hearth tax, clock tax and all those other weird taxes that paid for the Napoleonic Wars. At first it was fairly mild,10% of all incomes above £60 a year, and as soon as the war was over it was scrapped like all the others.

Even when it was reintroduced in 1842 to recover from a

financial crisis - a bit like today - it wasn’t expected to be permanent. But it turned out to be one of the easiest of taxes to collect because, in the eyes of the voters (most of whom still didn’t have to pay it), it was the fairest, and, well, we still have it.

But it was only about 100 years ago that Lloyd George’s Liberal government really started giving it some ‘wellie’.

In 1874, for instance, it yielded less than 10% of all government income. Then in 1918 Lloyd George whacked the rate up to 30% to pay for World War I, and even though Mrs Thatcher slashed it to 22% it’s still the mainstay of the Treasury’s revenues.

For those of us lucky enough to have a job, or unlucky enough to be chained to a desk, depending on how you look at it, income tax is something that can be taken for granted because since 1944, when PAYE was invented, it’s been docked from your wages before you can take it down the bookie’s. For the rest of us, well, it’s not something you want to get wrong. HMRC is actually amazingly patient with dysfunctional arithmophobics like me. They’re always very cheery and patient on the odd occasions when I have to ring them, and although I’m sure they wouldn’t ‘chuck me in the clinker’ for an error of a few quid, they do quite reasonably expect to receive any underpayment back as quickly as they refund overpayments (which I’ve always found to be pleasingly quickly). And that can blow quite a hole in my none-toocareful budgeting.

Which is why I have an accountant, who is as comforting as a favourite armchair. No shocks, no surprises, nothing to worry about – and occasionally you even find a 50p stuck down the side!

by Ted Bruning

Mike Greer Painter & Decorator Established in this area since 1998

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new years past

self-portrait of Matthew Paris

calling all artists for entries to be displayed in

The Luton Hoo Walled Garden Open Art Exhibition 22nd - 24th March The theme this year is

The Garden and Beyond closing date for entries 24th February download an application from www.lhwg.org.uk Luton Hoo Walled Garden plays host to its fourth Annual Art Exhibition, furthering its mission to promote this wonderful setting as an inspirational arts centre and creative haven.

The Luton Hoo Walled Garden project was set up in 2001 to restore the garden back to a place of beauty to be enjoyed by all. It is an ideal subject for visually creative people who may wish to record its many stages of transformation. It is hoped that this evolving setting will become a location to continually inspire and encourage artists/photographers and more.

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At New Year many of us review the old year and wonder what the New Year will bring.

Matthew Paris the 13th century chronicler of St Albans Abbey was no exception. In his chronicle he always began his account of the year with a report on the King’s Christmas.

It seems that as a young king Henry III was an admirer of the Christian practice of ‘swift giving’. This meant that the gifts the King received were almost immediately passed on to a noble or churchman. But as time went on his relationship with the church deteriorated and Matthew tells how one year gifts were only forthcoming after Henry dropped heavy hints to the nobles and clerics.

As Henry grew older he grew more churlish.

In 1263 he celebrated Christmas at Winchester with a great nativity feast.

According to Matthew the citizens of Winchester had sent Henry a handsome present of food and drinks which ‘excited the admiration of all beholders’. But not Henry, who obliged them to pay him two hundred marks in a short space of time.

The turn of the year was also when people looked to see what direction the wind blew to see what the New Year would bring. So if the wind blew from the south it meant warmth and growth. From the west it signified much milk, and fish in the sea. A northerly wind foretold cold and storms, while an easterly wind meant much fruit. As part of his end of year account Matthew recorded the strange events and weather of the previous year.

One New Year’s Eve he says the monks saw a vision of a ship in the sky. Matthew describes it as a ship of remarkable design and colour, painted and looking as though it was built of planks. As the monks gazed, it faded and disappeared prompting some monks to think it was a cloud, but all were agreed that it was ill omen for bad weather.

They were to be proved right as a year of severe cold followed.

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Museum of St Albans

NOW at the museums

9a Hatfield Road 01727 819340

Verulamium Museum St Michaels' Street

www.stalbansmuseums.org.uk Wednesday 9th January Verulamium Museum Talk: ‘Self-exposed: the intensity and variety of self-portraiture’ by Liz Rideal (National Portrait Gallery) 7pm, £2 Wednesday 16th January Verulamium Museum Talk: ‘Animal Communication’ by Paul Kitching (Natural History Museum, Tring) 7pm, £2

NOW at the Hawthorne The House that Rocked Blood

by Johnny Tait Sunday 13th January 7pm A new gothic comedy spoof horror from local comedian and author of’ Conscience’, Johnny Tait. Make a night of it; come dressed for the occasion in your best Goth look! Contains strong language, £9

Wednesday 23rd January Verulamium Museum Talk: ‘Through the mind's eye: The psychology of self image’ by Karen Pine (University of Hertfordshire) 7pm, £2 Friday, 25th January Museum of St Albans Residents First Weekend Event, ‘Occupy the Museum’, this is an opportunity for young and old to leave post it notes around the museum to share what they like, what they don’t like, what they think we should talk about, what their own stories are… starting at 6pm until midnight. Visitors will be able to view the contributions for the rest of the weekend.

Romeo and Juliet Icarus Theatre Monday 21st January 7.30pm In defiance of their families and in secrecy from their closest friends, hopeful young lives burn amidst a celestial and cataclysmic backdrop.

Sun and moon shine down on star-crossed lovers as they hide their passion and sexuality from their warring families and their closest friends.

Misadventure, family pride, and ancient quarrels abort and bury the most joyous of beginnings, the most hopeful of love stories as Romeo and Juliet, driven apart, find their world becoming a constricting, single mausoleum of fate and death. adult £16.50, concs £13.50

Swinging at the Cotton Club featuring The Jiving Lindy Hoppers & Harry Strutters Hot Rhythm Orchestra Friday 25th January 7.30pm Take a step back into 1920’s New York City and through the doors of Harlem's hottest nightclub, The Cotton Club!

Performances by Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, Cab Calloway, Lena Horne and Fats Waller would have had the Club swinging, whilst dancers such as Bojangles Robinson and the incredible Nicholas Brothers lit-up the stage with their breathtaking routines.

In this show, the exciting music and dance routines are recreated by the fabulous Jiving Lindy Hoppers, the world’s premier jazz dance company and the exciting Harry Strutters Hot rhythm Orchestra - who together communicate the exuberance of the music and dance of the Cotton Club! adult £18.50 concs £15.50 Hawthorne Theatre, The Campus, Welwyn Garden City 01707 357117 www.hawthornetheatre.co.uk

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Milton Jones ‘On the Road’ 22nd - 23rd January The Alban Arena www.miltonjones.com ‘King of the surreal one-liners' The Times

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NOW at the Cathedral St Albans Symphony Orchestra A Romantic New Year Concert Tuesday 1st January 7pm Conductor: Bjorn Bantock Leader: Jennifer Wigram Welcome the New Year with some of the most beautiful music ever written including Tchaikovsky, Verdi and Gershwin.

Tickets: £8 - £20, students £5, under 18’s £1 01727 867422 or tickets@saso.org.uk www.saso.org.uk St Albans International Organ Festival Organ Recital Saturday 12th January 5.30pm Olivier Latry, Notre Dame, Paris Retiring collection in aid of the IOFS. Free Lunchtime Organ Recital Wednesday 16th January 12.30pm Oliver Brett, Assistant Director of Music, St Mary’s Cathedral, Sydney Retiring collection in aid of Cathedral music funds.

Free

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Residents First Weekend 26th- 27th January From Tower Tours to an Ecclesiastical Catwalk, a great programme of events awaits you at the Cathedral for Residents First Weekend.

Tower Tours take place at the following times: Saturday: 10am, 11.30am, 1pm & 2.30pm Sunday: 1.30pm, 2.45pm & 4pm Minimum age 11. Restrictions apply. Vouchers available on the day from the Residents First Information Point at The Old Town Hall, St Albans.

Family Trail Come to Your Senses!

Saturday: 11am - 3pm Sunday: 1pm - 3.30pm Enjoy fun activities as you follow a trail of clues around the Cathedral.

Textiles Exhibition & Ecclesiastical Catwalk See the exquisite work of the Cathedral’s Textile Guild with our special Ecclesiastical Catwalk on Saturday at 11am and 2pm in the Lady Chapel.

There will be textile displays on show throughout the weekend.

Arc and Arc Exhibition Saturday: 10am -4pm Sunday: 1pm -5.45pm A fascinating exhibition on the buildings of St Albans.

All Residents First events are free, for more information visit www.stalbanscathedral.org

01727 860780 St Albans Cathedral www.stalbanscathedral.org

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TO ADVERTISE CONTACT 07983 588291 or jane@stalbansnow.com

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dear diary...

Imagine 365 blank pages: a brand new year of opportunity stretching before you. 2013 will be full of ‘dear diary’ moments and to kick-start your new year’s resolutions of self-improvement and examination (until February at least) here are some of the best, and most amusing slants on, and windows into other characters’ lives. They’re best when read in secret, by torchlight, and under the covers.

Diary of a Nobody

by George & Weedon Grossmith

Don’t let the fact that this book was first published in 1892 put you off. It may be a year and a half in the life of a lower-middle class Victorian clerk but there are so many parallels with modern life that you can’t fail to be touched by its humour. Fundamentally flawed by his own over-inflated sense of worth and his desire to climb the social ladder, Charles Pooter’s observations, wit and snobbery will have you laughing out loud.

Bridget Jones’s Diary

by Helen Fielding

With her constant calorie-counting, lusting after her bounder of a boss and remorse over binge-drinking sessions and social faux pas, how can we not love Bridget Jones?

She’s a champion for ‘normals’, torn between family life in a suburbia that’s reminiscent of the 1970’s and the fast-paced world of publishing, where her biggest challenge is making sure the length of her skirt right. We love Bridget Jones…just as she is.

Secret Diary of a Call Girl

by Belle De Jour

It’s a growing problem: graduate unemployment. What do you do when university loans and soaring rent become too much and you need to find a way to make ends meet? Belle hits on a new and rather unorthodox get-rich-quickscheme that fits perfectly in with her London lifestyle. Naturally, it’s

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I Capture the Castle

by Dodie Smith

not really something you want to tell your mother…so Belle’s diary was first published anonymously. It’s a window on a world that most of us will never experience. It’s jampacked with insights into clients and boyfriends alike. It’s not for the faint-hearted but if it’s titillation you’re after then there are observations and shock events that will have you laughing your fishnets off.

The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole aged 13 ¾

by Sue Townsend

The teenage Adrian Mole is unfailingly satirical, tremendously funny and completely loveable.

This is one of the most memorable diaries ever and it’s oozing with teenage angst. Will he ever discover the delights that lie hidden under Pandora’s Janet Reager slip? Will his mother manage to defrost the turkey under the hot tap in time for Christmas? Children will read this and both look forward to and dread adolescence in equal measures, whilst adults will be able to reminisce over first having a girl in their bedroom. I’d insist the door’s propped open if I were you.

Cassandra Mortmain’s family is poor. They live in a castle that’s crumbling around them and this is her story, written while she’s sat ‘at the kitchen sink’. So begins the endearing and warming tale of the children, living under the burden of their novelist father’s writer’s block.

Cassandra’s journal charts the change and disruption that breaks out when heirs to the family home come to claim it.

Read this as a teenager and you will have a lifelong friend in the story.

Read it as an adult and you will immediately be transported back to the heady throes of first love.

Dream-like and highly memorable, it’s a diary to be treasured.

Diary

by Chuck Palahniuk

Told in diary form and mainly through the eyes of hotel maid and self-confessed ‘white trash’ woman, Misty Mary Wilmot, this is a thought-provoking novel from the author of Fight Club. Misty was once a bohemian art student who met the wealthy and enigmatic Peter, so unlike the other students that she thought all her prayers had been answered. Now she lives in a world she doesn’t recognise and her husband lies comatose after a suicide attempt.

Uncovering his unusual behaviour and secret life, she is forced to contend with personal injury and gradually attempts to salvage a career, a lifestyle and a sense of self. This is for those of us in a period of self-reflection and examination. If it tells us anything it’s to be true to ourselves.

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wrap up for winter

Winter is upon us and even if you think it can’t get any colder, the lowest temperatures are probably yet to come. Most plants in British gardens are hardy, but even these can suffer. So whether your garden is already covered in snow and ice, or simply suffering from a slight frosting, it’s time to make sure that it’s wrapped up warm.

Plants in containers are particularly vulnerable to winter damage as their roots are not protected beneath the soil. This leaves the roots in serious danger so, if the garden soil is not frozen solid, plunge into the soil any pot that you can. If it’s too heavy to move then wrap it up well in several layers of bubble wrap polythene or old curtains – it may not look pretty but it’ll do the job.

If there has been a spell of mild weather this may have encouraged some soft, new growth, so drape a double layer of horticultural fleece over the top growth of the plants and anchor it well.

A double fleece layer can of course be used on plants in beds and borders too. Make sure you weigh down the edges of the fleece well with bricks, or use metal pegs at intervals along its length. Larger individual plants in borders can be given good, protection if you use four sturdy canes to create a framework, wrap with netting or chicken wire and fill the central space around the plant with dry bracken, straw or leaves.

Many wall shrubs are grown in relatively sheltered spots because they aren’t the hardiest. To reduce any risk of cold damage you can make a similar ‘cage’ of mesh around these and again fill it with dry material so that the plant inside remains snug. It is essential 28 with any protection that you use materials

that can ‘breathe’ otherwise it may become damp inside and the plants will deteriorate.

Evergreens in containers and open ground may suffer from drought as well as foliage or stem growth – during the cold weather they continue to need a fair amount of water and if this is frozen solid in the soil, they soon suffer. Deep mulch applied to the soil surface on the root area before the ground becomes frosted will help. During milder spells, if the soil is dry, give them a drink too.

Although most fruit trees such as apples, pears, cherries and plums are definitely hardy, they are also prone to damage.

Although quite tough, the newly opened blossom and the buds themselves may be damaged, with late frosts being most harmful because the buds are further developed. A fleece cover will help here too.

If your garden is inclined to be a bit windswept, it may be worth investing in some fleecy jackets for your favourite shrubs.

These are made from fleece and are like massive bags, complete with a drawstring at the open end. Just pop them over the plant and tighten the drawstring. Alternatively use a double layer of ordinary fleece, wrap it around and cut to size before clipping or tying in place.

Outdoor taps and pipework are likely to need protection too, and if left open to the elements could result in burst pipes and expensive bills. Outside taps should be turned off at the mains, but if this isn’t feasible make sure any exposed pipework is properly insulated, well insulated pipes and garden taps could save you a fortune.

by Pippa Greenwood

TO ADVERTISE CONTACT 07983 588291 or jane@stalbansnow.com

29

life's a puzzle! general knowledge crossword across 1. Tube which conveys air in and out of the lungs (7) 5. Mike ___, former heavyweight champion boxer (5) 8. Person skilled in telling anecdotes (9) 9. Public transport vehicle (3) 10. Residence of a clergyman (5) 12. Prehistoric metalworking period (4,3) 13. Penetrating examination of one's own beliefs and motives (4-9) 15. Struck with fear or apprehension (7) 17. Representative who buys or sells for another person (5) 19. Type of Russian

30

fighter aircraft (3) 20. Financial officer (9) 22. Welsh town to the east of Swansea (5) 23. Small or minor detail (7)

down 1. Make a rhythmic sound with the fingers (5) 2. Continuous portion of a circle (3) 3. People engaged in the pursuit of wild animals or game (7) 4. Ideal of a democratic and prosperous society, regarded as the aim of US citizens (8,5) 5. Main part of the human body (5) 6. Underwater warship (9) 7. Fund of money put by as a reserve (4,3)

11. Acute spasmodic nerve pain (9) 13. Itinerant Australian labourer (7) 14. Make less subtle or refined (7)

16. Chemically-tipped strip of wood used to light a fire (5) 18. ___ firma, solid ground (5) 21. Common type of rodent (3)

see answers on page 46

Nick The Handyman All aspects of Property Maintenance ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦

Kitchen Fitter Tiling & Carpentry Fencing & Roofing General Brickwork Patios & Driveways Electrical Repairs Painting & Decorating, Inside & Outside No Job too Small Free Estimates References Available Friendly & Reliable Service 07737 284711 nick.morgan87@googlemail.com

DJ&M Plumbing Services Ltd We care about your small jobs too! ● Electric and Power Showers Fitted ● Ball Valves and Overflows ● Blocked WC’s, Sinks, Baths and Basins ● Repair/Renew Stopcocks and Taps ● Plumb in Washing Machines

and Dishwashers ● Repair Leaking Pipes ● Outside Taps

Dean Herrington 01727 764217 07830 159010 info@djmplumbing.co.uk www.djmplumbing.co.uk see our main advert on the inside back cover

TO ADVERTISE CONTACT 07983 588291 or jane@stalbansnow.com

31

photos, stories and art Zöld Lencse - Green Lenses 16th January - 20th March Trestle Arts Base, Russet Drive, St Albans An exhibition of photographs on a green and environmental theme by young photographers from the Districts of St Albans and Nyíregyháza (Hungary). The photographs from St Albans include pictures taken by students from Batchwood and Watling View schools during outings to Heartwood Forest with professional photographer Pete Stevens. Free Heartwood Forest, in late Spring by Reece, student at Batchwood School (pictured above) grae.wall@leisureconnection.co.uk 01727 819203

Shelter in the Storm Exhibition 26th - 27th January Saturday 10am - 4pm Sunday 1pm - 4pm St Luke’s Church, 46 Cell Barnes Lane, St Albans The Sharing Stories Group at St Luke’s has been reliving memories of WWII with an exhibition showing how ordinary women cope in extraordinary times. Artist, Flea Cooke, in conjunction with the Museum Service and SAASH Arts worked with them and a group from the women’s refuge to create ‘memory pockets’, charms and poignant postcards. This is another chance to see these touchingly beautiful pieces. Free

‘Make Do and Mend’ Workshop Sunday 27th January 1.30 - 3.30pm The Log Cabin, St Luke’s Church, 46 Cell Barnes Lane, St Albans To complement the ‘Shelter in the Storm Exhibition’ there will be a ‘Make Do and Mend’ workshop, making quirky tea cosies in two hours! Working with local Artist and University Lecturer, Flea Cooke, you will need only basic sewing skills to produce a fantastic felted cover to keep your teapot warm this winter! £5, OAP’s £3 chris.blanch@leisureconnection.co.uk 01727 819469 Spaces are limited to 20 so please book early, some materials will be provided, but please bring a pair of sharp scissors and a sewing kit.

Arts for Autism Project February onwards A project for people on the autistic spectrum is being organised by St Albans Arts, Sports & Health, for those who may already be practising artists or who would like to take part in arts workshops to learn new skills.

They will be looking at the theme ‘Gestures for Freedom’ and exploring feelings around sensory factors such as sound, light and space through art. The group will produce an art installation which will be part of an exhibition at the Museum of St Albans entitled ‘1213: The Journey Starts Here’ from June to September. Attendees will also have the opportunity to create a performance to be showcased during Magna Carta weekend in August.

If you are a group or individual interested in taking part, please contact Melissa Melissa.cannepele@leisureconnection.co.uk or 01727 819203

32

UR Crew St Albans most eclectic and electric (and accessible) DJ night will be back at The Farmers Boy, London Road on 18th February All are welcome and admission is free.

For details of future events contact Grae Wall St Albans Arts Development Team grae.wall@leisureconnection.co.uk, 01727 819203

TO ADVERTISE CONTACT 07983 588291 or jane@stalbansnow.com

33

January 6th is traditionally known as Twelfth Night, Christians celebrate it as Epiphany, and others use it to mark the last of the twelve days of Christmas festivities.

Many English speaking countries use the date to take down Christmas decorations believing it to be bad luck to leave them up after that date. One tradition is to have a final Christmas get together with friends and family. A ‘Twelfth Night’ cake is served; containing a silver charm, dried bean or whole almond, whoever finds this in their piece of cake will have good luck for the coming year.

traditional Twelfth Night cake 300g / 12oz softened butter 300g / 12oz caster sugar 6 eggs, beaten 5 tblsp brandy 300g / 12oz plain flour 1tsp each of ground allspice, ground ginger, ground coriander and ground cinnamon 675g / 1½1b dried mixed fruit 50g / 2oz blanched almonds, chopped 3 tblsps apricot jam

900g / 2lb marzipan 4 egg whites 1 tblsp lemon juice 2 tblsp liquid glycerine 1 whole dried bean or whole blanched almond (for luck) 1 x 32cm/12’’ round cake board selection of glace fruit, angelica and edible silver balls to decorate

Pre-heat the oven to 150C / 300F / gas mark 2.

Grease and line a 25cm/10’’ round 12cm/4’’ round cake tin.

Cream the butter and sugar together until pale and fluffy, gradually add the beaten eggs and brandy, beating well after each addition. Fold in the fruit, nuts, flour and spices. Gently stir in the whole bean or nut and turn into the prepared cake tin, levelling off the top.

Bake for 2½ hours or until a skewer comes out clean. If the top starts to brown cover before the cake is cooked with greaseproof paper to prevent this.

Leave to cool for 30 minutes and turn out to cool on a wire rack. When the cake is cold, heat the apricot jam in a saucepan until melted and coat the top and sides of the cake. Roll out the marzipan and cover the cakes top and sides, place the cake into the centre of the cake board leave to dry for 24 hours.

Whisk the egg whites to soft peaks and gradually fold in the icing sugar, when completely mixed beat in the lemon juice, then stir in the glycerine.

Cover the top and sides of the cake with the icing leaving the top with soft peaks but the sides smooth. Decorate with the glace fruits, angelica and silver balls and leave to set for a minimum of 12 hours before serving.

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Abbots Kitchen Cathedral & Abbey Church of St Alban Mon - Sat 10 - 4.30pm / Sun 12.30 - 4.30pm www.abbotskitchen.org

Gelous Nails

From London’s King’s Road and the celebrity island of Mustique, high profile hairdresser Emma Boucher is now available for appointments.

Specialising in cutting and colour work, and bridal hair all enjoyed in the comfort of your home.

Emma 07539 228 331 emmaboucher99@hotmail.com

First full set of gel overlays just £20

Bio Sculpture Gel is an exceptionally durable gel treatment that nurtures the nail bed while allowing the nail to look immaculate Fully Qualified Mobile Nail Technician Group/Wedding bookings available SPECIAL OFFER book a party of 5+ and the host gets a full set for £15 07812 555310 mcordes77@hotmail.co.uk

Fun, informal, hands-on classes designed to make you feel at home with Asian cooking

Just £40 per 3 hour session Includes: Lunch Copies of recipes A package of spices / unusual ingredients

Contact Nosheen Yunis 07722 253972 info@apinchofspice.co.uk www.apinchofspice.co.uk

TO ADVERTISE CONTACT 07983 588291 or jane@stalbansnow.com

35

There are a variety of different kinds of yoga, some of which are really quite challenging for a beginner, so do have a chat with the instructor before booking your course.

New Year, new you It’s January, and you’re feeling the need to get healthy again. But how do you decide on a suitable exercise regime to help you lose weight and regain vitality?

Working out at home with the help of a DVD is still a popular alternative to going out to a dance class or a gym. The great advantage is that it allows you to design a programme to suit your own needs and preferences.

However if, like me, you’re not a great self-motivator, you may find it hard to keep going without a real instructor to give encouragement. After several attempts to follow an aerobic routine in my lounge I decided to join a regular exercise class.

A quick browse round the websites of local clubs brings up an array of exercise styles with exotic-sounding names such as Zumba, Pilates, Ashtanga Yoga, Hatha Yoga and Tai Chi.

make sure the New Year really does mean a new you!

It’s nice to be spoiled for choice, but there are a few things to consider before you start.

How old are you?

Do you have any medical conditions?

How much exercise do you normally take?

If a leisurely stroll round the supermarket is your main form of exercise then a cardiovascular workout is probably not the place to start. You need to build your programme slowly, so you could begin with a beginners’ yoga class where you will be concentrating on breathing and stretching.

If you’re new to structured exercise you will be glad to know that yoga is about doing as much as you feel your own body can manage. Its emphasis on slow movements, posture and deep breathing really helps to build muscular strength and improve balance.

36

Pilates borrows heavily from yoga and was originally devised to help injured dancers and athletes. Once again there is an emphasis on good posture and exercises are designed to strengthen the spine, improve circulation and open up the joints.

As with Yoga you can look forward to a fantastic sense of release and revitalisation at the end of each class.

A fitness programme currently enjoying huge success in this country is Zumba.

Invented by Columbian choreographer Alberto Perez in the 1990’s, Zumba combines exercise with dance. Unlike conventional dance classes where the instructor faces the class and teaches a series of steps, Zumba is a continuous series of free-flowing moves, the instructor stands with his or her back to the class, demonstrating actions for the students to follow.

If you enjoy dancing to music then this might be a good choice, but do think twice if your movement is restricted or if you suffer from high blood pressure.

However you decide to pursue your new exercise regime, make a promise to yourself to keep it up.

After a few weeks you’ll be surprised to find how much better you feel, both physically and mentally.

It may take a few attempts before you find a class that suits you, but it will be worth it in the end. Make sure the New Year really does mean a new you!

by Claudia Leaf

TO ADVERTISE CONTACT 07983 588291 or jane@stalbansnow.com

37

NOW at the Alban Arena

Chiltern Model Railway Exhibition Sat 12th January 10 - 6pm Sun 13th January 10 - 5pm Another year, another model railway exhibition! With more than twenty working layouts and in many scales, enjoy the fascinating world of railways in model form. All in all it will be an enthralling day out for both railway enthusiasts and those with an eye for making things in miniature. adult £7 inc programme, 2 children (5-16) free with each adult, additional children £3

The Band And Corps Of Drums H.M Royal Marines Portsmouth Fri 25th January 7.30pm A spectacular concert featuring classical, popular and military music performed by the world famous Royal Marine Band and Corps of Drums, Portsmouth.

The concert is in aid of local and other charities by the local Rotary Clubs and sells out quickly, so book your seats early. £23, £19 from 01727 865547 until 17th January and The Alban Arena thereafter.

The Classic Rock Show Fri 18th January 7.30pm “The classic rock fan’s ultimate live juke box!”

Featuring the music of The Eagles, Led Zeppelin, Dire Straits, Pink Floyd, Bruce Springsteen, Meat Loaf and much, much more! £29.50

The Billy Fury Show Sat 26th January 7.30pm Hailed as “the best Fury since Fury”, Michael King and his fantastic collection of musicians take you on a journey through the musical career of Britain’s best loved rock n roll legend.

This is a night of pure breathtaking Billy Fury entertainment plus the best Fury sound you will ever hear! £16

American Superslam Wrestling Sat 19th January 7.30pm Fans can look forward to a thrilling 2 hour all star line up of top talent from around the world tasking on the best of British in action from the sound of the first bell. adult £15, under 16’s £10 Milton Jones Tues 22nd January 8pm Wed 23rd January 8pm Milton Jones is back on the road with another tour, hundreds of his celebrated one-liners.

Clever, surreal but mainly just stupid stupid stupid! £20 Guinness World Records Officially Amazing Science Live Thurs 24th January 7pm Ever wanted to be a World Record holder? This explosive spectacular will show you the best, the wackiest and the officially amazing attempts and records from around the world. As well as inviting the audience to participate in genuine live record attempts our cast of fully trained Guinness World Records adjudicators will be on hand to authenticate and award genuine records on the night should they be broken! adult £17, under 16’s £15

38

Films Skyfall (12A) 8th & 10th January 7.30pm 9th January 1.30pm & 7.30pm Bond’s loyalty to M is tested as her past comes back to haunt her. As MI6 comes under attack, 007 must track down and destroy the threat, no matter how personal the cost. matinee’s £5, evening £7 Gambit (PG) 15th & 17th January 7.30pm A British thief (Colin Firth) discovers that no plan is infallible when he recruits a beautiful woman (Cameron Diaz) to help him steal a priceless statue from an impossibly wealthy widower (Alan Rickman).

Great Expectations (12A) 16th January 1.30pm & 7.30pm A humble orphan suddenly becomes a gentleman with the help of an unknown benefactor. Starring Helena Bonham Carter, Ralph Fiennes and Jeremy Irvine The Alban Arena www.alban-arena.co.uk 01727 844488

TO ADVERTISE CONTACT 07983 588291 or jane@stalbansnow.com

39

what’s on in January 40

1st Walk: The History of St Albans meet outside the Old Town Hall, 11am, adult £4, child £2, from the guide on the day or the Tourist Information Centre, 01727 864511 New Year's Day Opening Redbournbury Mill, 01582 792874, 11am - 4.30pm, refreshments, free New Years Resolution Walk see page 44 3rd Winter Festival: Family Activities Hertford Museum www.hertfordmuseum.org New Year Activities Mill Green Museum, Hatfield, make a scrap book for all your memories, £3 per child 3rd - 6th The Snow Queen presented by Foot in the Door Theatre, The Maltings Arts Theatre, St Albans, adult £10, concs £7.50, times vary 5th Johnny Cash Roadshow Aylesbury Waterside Theatre, 0844 871 7607, 7.30pm, £17 - £18 9th The Handcrafted & Vintage Market Old Town Hall, St Peters Street, 10 - 4pm 12th London Welsh Male Voice Choir High Street Methodist Church, Harpenden, 01582 766797, 7pm, £18 www.ticketsource.co.uk Lawson Trio Chamber Music Concert The Hawthorne Theatre, Welwyn Garden City, 01707 357117, 7.45pm, £16, £5 13th The House That Rocked Blood The Hawthorne Theatre, Welwyn Garden City, 01707 357117, 7pm, £9 14th An Evening of Gilbert & Sullivan St Albans Chamber Opera, St Stephens Church, St Albans, 01727 858307, 7.30pm 16th Meeting: St Albans, Harpenden & District Philatelic Society - Display: ‘Neil Russell entertains’ School Room, St Mary's Church, Childwickbury, 01582 762284, visitors welcome, 8pm 16th Jan - 20th March Zold Lencse-Green Lenses see page 32 18th - 26th Table Manners Barn Theatre, Welwyn Garden City, 01707 324300, 8pm

19th From The Jam UTC, The Centre for Carnival Arts, St Mary's Street, Luton, 9.30pm - 1am Brambleton Model Railway Exhibition Harpenden Public Halls, 10.30 - 5.30pm, £3.50 / £2.50 19th - 20th South East of England Championships The Lea Valley Athletics Centre, Picketts Lock, London, watch some of the country’s best athletes compete www.visitleavalley.org.uk 10 - 6pm 20th Radlett ArtExpo see page 5 21st Romeo and Juliet The Hawthorne Theatre, Welwyn Garden City, 01707 357117, 7.30pm, £16.50, £13.50 22nd - 23rd Milton Jones - ‘On The Road’ see page 38 23rd - 26th The Ladykillers Milton Keynes Theatre, 0844 871 7652, £12 - £29.50, times vary 23rd - 27th Babes in the Wood Harpenden Public Halls, 07568 363104, Hurst Children's Theatre 25th Jan - 2nd Feb The Shape of Things Abbey Theatre, St Albans, 01727 857861 25th HM Royal Marines The Band and Corps of Drums HM Royal Marines Portsmouth, The Alban Arena, St Albans, 01727 844488 / 01727 86554, concert featuring classical, popular & military music, £23, £19 Swinging at the Cotton Club see page 20 26th - 27th Residents First Weekend an opportunity for residents to sample highlights of the City & District for free or try leisure activities or new restaurants at a discount cost, see page 6 27th Hawkwind & Maria Daines Band Bedford Corn Exchange, 01234 269519 stalwarts of the UK festival scene Hawkwind return with their unique brand of ‘Space-Rock’, 7.30pm, £20 28th Talk: ‘History of John Lewis and its Women’ Greenwood Park Community Centre, St Albans, 07944 725226, Soroptomotistrists meeting, 7.45pm sistalbans@hotmail.com

TO ADVERTISE CONTACT 07983 588291 or jane@stalbansnow.com

41

what’s on in february NOW at the abbey theatre 42

1st Abbots Hill School Open Afternoon see page 11 2nd How to Catch a Star The Radlett Centre, 01923 859291, a blend of music, puppetry & story telling 6th Jane Eyre Hawthorne Theatre, Welwyn Garden City, 7.30pm, £16.50 / £13.50 7th The Barron Knights Harpenden Public Halls, 7.30pm, £15 / £17 13th Elvis The Ultimate Performance Watford Colosseum, 8pm, £18 www.watfordcolosseum.co.uk 14th Boogie Nights Watford Colosseum, The 70’s Musical in Concert, 7.30pm, £32.50 / £35.50 www.watfordcolosseum.co.uk 15th The New Four Poofs & A Piano: Bigger, Louder, Harder, Longer! Hawthorne Theatre, Welwyn Garden City, 7.30pm £15 / £12 16th - 24th February Frolics Lambing Event Willows Farm Village, 0870 129 9718, come & see the newborn lambs 17th Little Red Riding Hood & Friends Harpenden Public Halls, 01582 767525, 3pm

18th - 22nd RollerCity: Holiday Skates Hawthorne Theatre, Welwyn Garden City 1pm - 2.30pm: 11’s & under 3pm - 4.30pm: all ages, £5.25 19th Have a Go Session - Screen Printing Stockwood Discovery Centre, 01582 548600, 2 - 4.30pm, adult £5, concs £3 19th - 21st Half Term Craft Activities Buckinghamshire County Museum, 01296 331441, 10 - 12 noon & 1 - 3pm, £2.50 per child 20th Meeting: ‘Something Beginning With A or B’ St Albans, Harpenden & District Philatelic Society - School Room, St Mary's Church, Childwickbury, 01582 762284, visitors welcome, 8pm 21st St Albans Pancake Race St Peters Street Have a Go Session - Vardo Art Stockwood Discovery Centre, 01582 548600, 2 - 4.30pm, adult £5, concs £3 25th Louise Raw - author of ‘Striking a Light’ a fascinating insights into women's social history, Greenwood Park Community Centre, Chiswell Green, 7.45pm - 9.30pm, 07944 725226

The Shape of Things by Neil Labute 25th January - 2nd February 8pm matineé: 27th January 2.30pm Art student Evelyn is preparing her thesis when she meets nerdy student Adam. As their relationship develops, so does Adam; losing his glasses, losing weight and losing his friends. Love and loyalty, appearance and perception, artistically and morally where do you draw the line? This is vibrant contemporary theatre, and Labute delivers a twist that packs a real, lasting punch.

Calendar Girls by Tim Firth 28th February - 9th March, 8pm matineé: 3rd March 2.30pm The funny, feel-good true story of how that famous WI calendar came to be published. The play has become the fastest selling in British theatrical history. Catch it while you can.

Abbey Theatre Westminster Lodge, St Albans Box Office 01727 857861 www.abbeytheatre.org.uk

TO ADVERTISE CONTACT 07983 588291 or jane@stalbansnow.com

43

the annual bird watch

NOW at the Maltings The Snow Queen

3rd, 4th & 6th January, 6pm 5th January, 1pm & 5pm Foot in the Door Theatre performs a beautiful re-telling of the classic fairy tale

by Hans Christian Andersen.

Kai has been stolen away by the Snow Queen, and the only one who can save him is Gerda, a little girl with a big heart.

This fabulous spectacle serves up an exciting feast of dance, animation and traditional storytelling that will appeal to children and adults alike.

Come with us on a journey to the Land of Winter... and back again. ages 6+ adult £9, child £7, family £30 0844 8700 887 www.ticketsource.co.uk/ovo

New Year’s Resolution Walk Tuesday 1st January, 11am - 12.30pm Start the New Year with your best foot forward.

Walking route will be decided on the day depending on the weather £2 per person, booking advisable, plus car parking charge of £2.

Dunstable Downs, Chilterns Gateway Centre, Dunstable, Beds 01582 500920 dunstabledowns@nationaltrust.org.uk www.nationaltrust.org.uk/dunstabledowns

44

26th January 10 - 11am Join the ‘annual bird watch and recording event’ this year at Stockwood to discover and learn about the different birds that share their gardens.

All equipment and resources will be provided, suitable for all ages and levels of experience.

RSPB staff will be on-hand throughout the day to give information, help and advice about bird identification.

Children’s activities will also be available. £1.50, booking essential 01582 548600 Stockwood Discovery Centre, Luton

walking the streets of St Albans

local walks planned for this month by the St Albans Tour Guides Tues 1st January 11am The History of St Albans Weds 9th January 8pm Ghost Walk Weds 23rd January 8pm Ghost Walk Meet at the Tourist Information Centre The Old Town Hall www.stalbanstourguides.co.uk

NOW at the TIC Booking national express coach tickets and nationwide train tickets Including the special offer day return to Brighton Local travel information Local and national accommodation booking service A wide selection of holiday brochures Public internet access (fee applicable) St Albans Souvenirs and Books Giftware range of green glass recycled bottles made into drinking glasses Map Guides, local and London St Albans City Football Club merchandise and match tickets Theatre Vouchers and postage stamps Photocopying & faxing service Local Postcards and a selection of greetings cards Tickets for some local events Free copies of St Albans Now! Tourist & Information Centre Old Town Hall, St Peters Street Monday - Saturday 10am - 4.30pm 01727 864511

music for the New Year Amadeus Chamber Orchestra conducted

by Simon Thompson with Jennifer Wigram (Leader) Ellie Fagg (violin) Sarah Devonald (oboe & recorder) Hannah Grant (oboe) Colin Beak (bassoon) Boyce J.S.Bach Vivaldi J.S.Bach Albinoni Handel

Symphony no.3 Brandenburg concerto no.4 Bassoon concerto “La Notte” Violin concerto in A minor Concerto for 2 oboes Op.9 no.9 Concerto Grosso Op.6 no.1

adult £12, concs £9, child £3 From St Albans Tourist Information Centre 01727 864511, or on the door www.amadeuschamberorchestra.org.uk 26th January 7.30pm St Peters Church, St Peters Street

TO ADVERTISE CONTACT 07983 588291 or jane@stalbansnow.com

45

index of businesses

Accountants Ann Coleman TaxAssist Accountants

back cover 16

Aerial Installations Concorde Aerials Appliance Repairs / Sales Appliance Refrigeration Leigh Hibon Beauty Gelous Nails Sesi Whitening Skin & Tonic Bicycle Repairs Cycletech Hertfordshire Cabinet Makers Sequoia Bespoke Carpentry & Joinery Chris Smyth

15 47 47 35 41 41 33 4 4

Children’s Development Classes Gymboree Play & Music 9 Cleaning Big Yellow Cleaning Company Daily Poppins Domestique Linda & Karen Cleaning Services Mobile Maid Services Murray’s Cleaning Services

19 21 23

Cookery Classes A Pinch of Spice

35

Counselling / Sex Therapy Michael Stock

life’s a puzzle!

Dance Penny Waterman School of Dance

19 19 21

43

Electricians Alban Electrical Services I & B Electrical MLC Electrical Flooring Creative Wood Flooring LP Flooring Flower Arranging The Flower School

14 14 15 7 7 12

Furniture Restoration Brendon Burns

4

Garden Centre Burston Garden Centre

29

Garden Landscaping Garden Life Landscapes Justin Leon Lanwarne Landscapes

27 27 29

Gas K25

31

Glassware Repairs Chipped Glassware

23

Hairdresser Emma Boucher

35

Health & Fitness Health Performance Centre Intelligent Pilates Classes Rosemary Conley Diet & Fitness Classes Verulamium Spa Hearing Services The Hearing Healthcare Practice

43 24 37 2

39

9

general knowledge crossword across: 1 Trachea, 5 Tyson, 8 Raconteur, 9 Bus, 10 Manse, 12 Iron Age, 13 Soul-searching, 15 Alarmed, 17 Agent, 19 MiG, 20 Treasurer, 22 Neath, 23 Minutia. down: 1 Thrum, 2 Arc, 3 Hunters, 4 American dream, 5 Torso, 6 Submarine, 7 Nest egg, 11 Neuralgia, 13 Swagman, 14 Coarsen, 16 Match, 18 Terra, 21 Rat. wordsearch: ‘Winter is not a season, it is an occupation’ - Sinclair Lewis

Home Help Extra Help

12

Interior Furnishers Drapemasters

13

Oven Cleaning Ovenmaster

23

Painters & Decorators CB Decorators M & M Decorating Mike Greer

17 17 17

Personal Trainer Alice Harvey

43

Plumber DJ&M Plumbing Services Ltd

31 & 47

Pond Maintenance Women With Waders

27

Property Maintenance Mr Handyman Nick The Handyman

33 31

Pub / Restaurant The Cricketers of Redbourn School Abbot’s Hill School

7 11

Security Maximum Security Systems back cover Shutters The Harpenden Shutter Company

12

Tiling Cedar Ceramics

31

Tree Surgeons Fircroft Tree Services.co.uk

27

TV Repairs JB TV Services

23

we have made every effort to ensure that any material published in st albans now is correct and can accept no liability for any errors or delays in publication or distribution, st albans now accepts no responsibility for its advertisers.

DJ&M PLUMBING SERVICES LTD ●

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Honest and Reliable Service Free Consultation/ Quotation for all Enquiries

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Discounts On All Bathrooms Supplied

Electric and Power Showers Ball Valves and Overflows Blocked WC’s, Sinks, Baths and Basins Repair/Renew Stopcocks and Taps Plumb in Washing Machines and Dishwashers Repair Leaking Pipes Outside Taps

Dean Herrington 07830 159010

info@djmplumbing.co.uk

01727 764217 www.djmplumbing.co.uk

A Happy New Year to all our Clients

Domestic Appliance Repairs Washing Machines ● Dishwashers Tumble Driers ● Electric Ovens * No Callout Charges * * All Makes Repaired * * Honest & Reliable Advice * * Full Electrical Safety Tests * * Evening & Weekend Appointments * * All Work Guaranteed *

Leigh Hibon daytime 07841 652496 evening 01582 842764 www.ldhdomesticappliancesrepairs.co.uk 90 Trowley Hill Road, Flamstead AL3

TO ADVERTISE CONTACT 07983 588291 or jane@stalbansnow.com

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AXIM UM SECURITY SYSTEMS LTD.

We are a family run business with over 35 years experience in home security and crime prevention.

We treat all our customers with respect and a level of service that ensures they are 100% happy with the commitment given by us.

SPECIALISTS in the installation of •

Burglar Alarms wireless or wired systems, with alerts to your mobile

CCTV can be linked to mobiles or laptops giving you total access • Access Control Systems to flats and gated entrances •

We also service, upgrade and maintain existing alarm systems For a free estimate and consultation please contact us -

sales@maximumsecuritysystems.co.uk

01582 864138 / 07720 089269