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VILLAGERThe

and Town Life

Issue 68 - November 2017

Bringing Local Business to Local People in Alconbury, Grafham, Kimbolton, The Stukeleys and all surrounding areas every month

LOCAL NEWS • LOCAL PEOPLE • LOCAL SERVICES • LOCAL CHARITIES • LOCAL PRODUCTS

Your

FREEcopy

In this issueThe History of

ChocolateWin tickets to the

Festive Gift FairWin £25

in our Prize Crossword

Kids menu available for under 13’s £9.95 for three courses or £7.95 for two course

Discounted bedroom rates available throughout the festive season for those visiting friends and family

A1

A1

A14

A14

A141

A14

A14

B1514

Thrapston Road

Huntingdon RacecouRse

Holiday Inn Huntingdon Racecourse

to book call the hotel direct on 01480 277 277 or email

[email protected]

Book our Gourmet Christmas Day Lunch and let us do the cooking whilst you and

your loved one enjoy the day!

Celebrate Christmas

with

Spoil yourself with our 3 Course

for only £39.95 per personOur Christmas Day lunch is served between 12 noon and 3pm.

Christmas Day Gourmet Menu

Thrapston Road, BramptonHuntingdon, Cambridgeshire PE28 4NL

www.holidayinn.com/huntingdonrc

Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts2

To advertise in The Villager and Town Life please call 01767 261122 3

PublishersVillager Publications Ltd

24 Market Square, Potton, Bedfordshire SG19 2NPTel: 01767 261122

[email protected]

Disclaimer - All adverts and editorial are printed in good faith, however, Villager Publications Ltd can not take any responsibility for the

content of the adverts, the services provided by the advertisers or any statements given in the editorial. No part of this publication may be

reproduced or stored without the express permission of the publisher.

Editorial - Catherine Rose, Tracey Anderson, Abby Smith, Trevor Langley, Jennie Billings, Hannah Byatt, Tony Larkins,

Pippa Greenwood, RSPCA, Nick Coffer, Emily Kench,There’s a Beer for That, Louisa Nevard, Trevor Sunton,

Martin Runchman and Kate Duggan

Advertising Sales/Local EditorialNigel Frost - 01767 261122 [email protected]

Photography Matthew Gibson and Darren Harbar Photography

Design and Artwork - Design 9 Tel 07762 969460

The History of Chocolate ..................................................4The Poppy Factory ...........................................................8Mixed Wine Matters ......................................................10Win Tickets to the Festive Gift Fair .................................12Make MOR Part of your Autumn Plan ............................14How to Choose your Winter Coat ...................................17Volunteers Needed at RSPB The Lodge Shop .................20It’s Never Too Early to Think About Christmas ................23Christmas Planning Advice ............................................24Final Salary Pensions .....................................................25A Busy November ..........................................................27

Animal Know-How ........................................................28Nick Coffer’s Weekend Recipe ........................................31Cosy Nights in with Beer and Food ................................32Feeding Garden Birds this Winter ..................................35Puzzle Page ...................................................................36What’s On ......................................................................38November at Paxton Pits Reserve ..................................40Fun Quiz ........................................................................41Prize Crossword .............................................................42Nature on Prescription.... Doctor’s Orders ......................45Book Review .................................................................47

Contents VILLAGERTh e

and Town Life

Issue 68 - November 2017

Bringing Local Business to Local People in Alconbury, Grafham, Kimbolton, The Stukeleys and all surrounding areas every month

LOCAL NEWS • LOCAL PEOPLE • LOCAL SERVICES • LOCAL CHARITIES • LOCAL PRODUCTS

Your

FREEcopy

In this issueThe History of

ChocolateWin tickets to the

Festive Gift FairWin £25

in our Prize Crossword

11,000 copies delivered free of charge in the following areas: Abbots Ripton, Alconbury, Brington, Buckworth, Bythorn, Catworth, Covington, Dillington, Grafham, Great Staughton, Hail Weston,

Keyston, Kimbolton, Kings Ripton, Leighton Bromswold, Little Staughton, Lower Dean, Molesworth, Old Weston, Perry, Pertenhall, Ramsey, Riseley, Sawtry, Shelton, Stonley, Stow Longa, Swineshead, The Stukeleys, Tillbrook, Upper Dean and Warboys

(We also have over 150 distribution points, including pubs, garages, most shops, post offices, Supermarket Chains in all of the above as well as in Huntingdon, Lt Staughton, Grafham Water Visitor Centre’s and Kimbolton)

Advert Booking and Artwork Deadline: Thursday 9th November for the DECEMBER edition

Kids menu available for under 13’s £9.95 for three courses or £7.95 for two course

Discounted bedroom rates available throughout the festive season for those visiting friends and family

A1

A1

A14

A14

A141

A14

A14

B1514

Thrapston Road

Huntingdon RacecouRse

Holiday Inn Huntingdon Racecourse

to book call the hotel direct on 01480 277 277 or email

[email protected]

Book our Gourmet Christmas Day Lunch and let us do the cooking whilst you and

your loved one enjoy the day!

Celebrate Christmas

with

Spoil yourself with our 3 Course

for only £39.95 per personOur Christmas Day lunch is served between 12 noon and 3pm.

Christmas Day Gourmet Menu

Thrapston Road, BramptonHuntingdon, Cambridgeshire PE28 4NL

www.holidayinn.com/huntingdonrc

Cosy Nights with Beer and Food

32

Feeding Garden Birdsthis Winter

35


History

Our favourite confectionary, chocolate dates back four thousand years. Originating in Central America, indigenous Indian tribes first produced an antecedent very different to today’s.Although debated, the word chocolate is said to come from the Mayan term ‘xocalatl’ meaning ‘bitter water’. It was the Mayans who first cultivated the cacao plant that grew in the rainforests of Mesoamerica - an area that today encompasses Mexico, Belize, El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras. They fermented, roasted and ground the beans of the plant into a paste that they would mix with water and spices to produce a potent frothy bitter liquor. Drunk cold, it was used as an aphrodisiac and believed to have magical mood-enhancing properties. On conquering the Mayans, the Aztecs - who lived in the mountains where cacao did not grow naturally - demanded a tax in cacao seeds so

that they could control and cultivate the beans themselves. Cacao seeds became a currency for the Aztecs and were used to buy everything from produce to prostitutes! The Aztecs believed that the cacao plant was a gift from their god Quetzalcoatl - the god of creation and wisdom. Their chocolate and chilli drink was so precious, it was reserved for those of importance such as rulers, warriors and priests, and often drunk from gold vessels during religious ceremonies. Women were not permitted to partake as the effects were considered too potent. When the Spanish conquered the region in the 1500s, one Jesuit missionary described it as follows:“…Loathsome to such as are not acquainted with it, having a scum or froth that is very unpleasant to taste. Yet it is a drink very much esteemed among the Indians, where with they feast noble men who

The History of Chocolate

By Catherine Rose

pass through their country… which they say is good for the stomach and against the catarrh.”Because it was so valued, the Spanish conquistadors took chocolate back to Spain where they added sugar to sweeten the fermented drink and it was enjoyed by nobility. Soon the custom of drinking chocolate had spread to the rest of Europe. Chocolate houses sprang up and cocoa plantations were grown in tropical regions of the various colonies.It wasn’t until 1828 that the solid sweet chocolate we know and love today was invented. Casparus van Houten, who had a factory in Amsterdam producing drinking chocolate, invented the hydraulic cocoa press which separated the cocoa butter (contained in the bean’s nib) from the cocoa mass. This mass was then ground to produce cocoa powder which became the basis for modern chocolate. Casparus’ son Coenraad van Houten, a chemist, continued his father’s work, adding alkaline salts to remove the naturally bitter taste. By using the ‘Dutching method’ that combined the cocoa powder with water, cocoa butter and sugar and then heating it, Coenraad could produce a thick chocolate paste that was poured into moulds where it hardened into a delicious confectionary.Van Houten’s patent expired in 1836, allowing other companies to start manufacturing their own brands of edible chocolate. In 1847 J.S. Fry & Sons produced the first commercial solid chocolate bar in England. Although it was not as palatable as the chocolate we eat today (it would have been more bitter and slightly gritty), people were enthralled by the new confectionary. Meanwhile John Cadbury had opened a small shop in Birmingham selling cocoa powder in 1824. A Quaker, he believed cocoa was a healthy

alternative to alcohol. Six years later he set up his first factory producing 16 diverse types of drinking chocolate in both powder and pressed cake form. In 1866, the year that Fry’s started marketing their eponymous Fry’s Chocolate Cream, Cadbury’s sons Richard and George, philanthropists who had inherited their father’s business, purchased one of van Houten’s cocoa presses. They began producing boxes of chocolates, although these were expensive and only bought by the well-off or for special occasions. In 1875, Cadbury’s unveiled its dark chocolate Easter egg filled with chocolate dragees, and towards the end of the century began to produce its first chocolate bars.The Swiss have long been at the forefront of chocolate-making and in the same year that Cadbury’s launched its Easter egg, the first milk chocolate bar was made by a Swiss confectioner named Daniel Peter after he added condensed milk to the chocolate-making process. Then in 1879, Rodolphe Lindt invented the conching machine in Switzerland. The machine agitated the chocolate mixture and revolutionised the texture of chocolate, making a much smoother, more velvety paste.The early part of the 20th century saw an explosion in the availability of chocolate to the public with names that are still popular 100 years later. Cadbury’s Dairy Milk was launched in 1905 with the claim that it had more milk in it than any other chocolate bar. In 1914, Fry’s Turkish Delight was launched. Then in 1915, Milk Tray came onto the market, aiming to be the first box of chocolates to be readily affordable. Four years later, Cadbury’s bought out Fry’s and has since gone on to become a market leader in chocolate manufacture, research and development. Today, chocolate-making has become an art.


Time of Year

The Poppy FactoryMajor George Howson was an engineer. He was a man of great energy and determination. He won the military cross in WWl. He was addicted to strong Turkish cigarettes and bought them 10000 at a time. He was also the founder of The Royal British Legion Poppy factory!Through the work of Anna Guerin of France and Moina Michael of the USA, both very practical women who took Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae’s famous poem, “In Flanders Fields”, and devised a way of raising vital funds for wartime charities. The British Legion had been set up the year before and the very first French Poppy Appeal – using silk poppies made by widows - had raised £106,000. In 1921 the first British Poppy appeal was held. In the first year the poppies were imported from France and there was huge demand as poppies quickly became the icons of remembrance. The Major made a connection; Remembrance Day needed poppies and wounded ex-soldiers needed work. In a letter to his parents he spoke of using a £2000 cheque he had been given to set up a factory to, ‘…give the disabled their chance.’ He wrote that he felt the project would probably not be successful but that he ought to attempt it anyway. He set up The Disabled Society in London with just five injured ex-servicemen, and in spite of his initial lack of optimism, in few years that had grown to 350 men. He set up a sister factory in Edinburgh to supply poppies to Scotland, and the London factory moved to larger premises near the Thames in Richmond and was renamed The Poppy Factory.As time went on the needs of veterans changed. They wanted to work in their own communities, closer to their families and to use the many and varied skills they had acquired during their careers in the armed services, prior to becoming injured.

In 2010, The Poppy Factory began to actively help disabled ex-Service find the work they wanted in the places they wanted to be. It continues to build on its strong historical foundations to provide an employability service that supports hundreds of ex-Service personnel with varying health challenges into meaningful employment with businesses across the country every year.

By Tracey Anderson

Moina Michael was an American

professor. She wrote a response to McCrae’s poem

in 1918 entitled We Shall Keep The Faith. She vowed to always wear a

poppy as a symbol of Remembrance for those who served in the war.

She realised the need to provide financial and occupational support for

ex-Servicemen after teaching a class of disabled veterans at the University of

Georgia, and so she pursued the idea of selling silk poppies to raise funds for them.

8 Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts


Food and Drink

Mixed Wine Matters

As a convenience retailer, the Co-op is relied upon to provide food, beverages and household requirements at a moment’s notice, whilst offering other services, too. For many, many years, the Co-op has satisfied millions and millions of delighted customers. Now, the Co-op is showing real commitment to being a leading retailer of beers, wines and spirits, several of which are award-winning. From Portugal Escudo Real Vinho Verde regularly pleases wine lovers. The white wine is great to drink on its own and to accompany many dishes, also. If al fresco dining is an option, this slightly sparkling production will not disappoint.Spain has many wines, too. I located Marqués de Valido Gran Reserva Rioja. This wine has a lot of devotees and, as a matured red, from the region, is extremely popular for numerous dining occasions. Wonderful to accompany a good number of dishes, including Sunday roasts.France has been a favoured wine producer for centuries and I am very much impressed with the Les Launes Delas Crozes-Hermitage wine production. This is a regular choice for many, with dark fruits being very apparent on the nose, mouthfeel and palate.For Italy’s wines I do like Chianti and Villa Boscorotondo Chianti Classico Riserva impresses me. This much loved wine adorns many dining tables and accompanies numerous dishes of cuisine, superbly.

Good for ageing.For Germany, for me, it has to be riesling. The Reichsgraf von Kesselstatt Riesling Kabinett receives my vote. A most pleasant bouquet leads, enticingly, to the mouthfeel and palate sensations. Wonderful to pair with white meats, fish, seafood and many other dishes.Champagne is always a favourite, to add that extra ‘something’ to a dining occasion or event. Les Pionniers Vintage Champagne is, I find, a most splendid blend of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grape varieties. On its own or to accompany cuisine, with its long finish, this is one for the ‘top table’.As part of the membership promotion customers can be rewarded for buying own label beers, wines and spirits. The Co-op is committed to supporting global communities via Fairtrade. These selections are just some of the many choices available. Please visit the website for all details. www.coop.co.uk

As always, Enjoy!

Trevor Langley


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COMPETITION

Simply send your name and address by Friday 10th Nov 2017 to:Villager Publications Ltd, 24 Market Square, Potton, Beds SG19 2NPThe winner will be drawn at random.If you are not a lucky winner, adult tickets are priced from just £8.50.Book now by calling The Ticket Factory on 0844 581 0808/0809 or online at www.theticketfactory.com (£2.50 fulfilment fee, for postal bookings. £1.50 for E-tickets)

Christmas is just around the cornerMore to see, try, touch, taste, enjoy and buy

at The Festive Gift Fair16-19 November 2017 NEC

Christmas means gifts for your loved ones, hanging decorations on the tree, excitement on children’s faces, party games, movies by the fire and a table fit for a festive feast…! All of which can be found as this fabulous

Christmas Shopping Fair returns to the NEC, 16-19 NOVEMBER, with loads of new and exciting stalls.Often the most time-consuming part is finding clever presents. There’s no need to be stuck for ideas,

start with a trip to THE FESTIVE GIFT FAIR and you’ll see how fun and easy Christmas shopping can be!From the moment you arrive, you’ll be caught up in the excitement of the day, exploring 350 stalls

overflowing with thousands upon thousands of CRACKING GIFT IDEAS and DECORATIONS that don’t cost the earth. The variety is HUGE, with presents for all ages – from babies to teenagers,

and parents to grandparents.When your bags are full, you can drop them off at the Present crèche

and continue to shop, or stop for a bite to eat in one of the FOUR sparkly catering/entertainment areas, where you can ENJOY watching a

great line-up of live musical acts – to get you rocking round the Christmas Tree!

COME ARMED WITH YOUR CHRISTMAS LIST AND EXPECT TO GO HOME TRIUMPHANT.

There’s something for everyone at the FESTIVE GIFT FAIR

CHRISTMAS STARTS AT THE FESTIVE GIFT FAIR! 16 – 19 November 2017 at NEC, Birmingham

For more information on Exhibitors and Visiting the Fair, visit www.festivegiftfair.co.uk



COMPETITION


Adorn Jewellery

We are a local company providing the very best in jewellery quality, range and value. Including wedding rings, engagements rings, cocktail and fashion jewellery.

We offer a huge range of mens and ladies gold and silver chains up to 50% of normal shop prices.

All jewellery is fully certified and Hallmark stamped.

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Get in touch to discuss your needs.

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Adorn Jewellery HP advert.indd 1 14/07/2017 11:03

Local News

Falling leaves and cool, dark nights mean pumpkin spiced lattes, cosy knitwear, and your favourite comfort foods. As the calendar slips from August into September you gleefully fling the cool, refreshing salads and light meals of summer out the window, swapping them for the comfort of hot, fluffy potatoes, filling pasta, and rich stews. But before long those meals get a bit samey, and by the time we’ve turned the clocks back (goodbye, sunshine!) you’d happily never see another jacket potato for the rest of your life. Fortunately, MOR has you covered. Using our unique MOR Sausage range, we’ve created four original, affordable autumnal recipes that balance gorgeous flavours and fresh, nutrient-rich vegetables with some of the indulgent, comforting ingredients you love. And seeing as we make our lower fat sausages with delicious blends of great quality meat, vegetables, grains, herbs and spices, we’ve even managed to sneak in a little extra goodness. We’ve something for every autumn moment. Whip up our Spiced Sausage Shakshuka for brunch. Bake

the Sausage, Beetroot & Goat’s Cheese Tart on a midweek evening, or make it the centrepiece of a buffet dinner with friends. Throw together our Sausage & Super Green Veg Cassoulet on Bonfire Night, served with beautifully fresh bread to mop up the sauce. Then, finally, make time for our Mediterranean Chicken Chipolata Gnocchi, perfect for dark nights relaxing by the fire. Oh, and every delicious recipe’s between £1 and £3.50 per serving. Just what you need in the run-up to another pricey Christmas. To learn more about our range of sausages, available in Tesco, visit www.morfood.co.uk

Cosy up with four brand new recipes Make MOR part of your autumn meal plan


Fiddle Daemons Violins, Violas, Cellos, Bass

Contact: Jackie@� ddledaemons.com01767682693 or 07814970635

Professional repairs, restorations and set ups

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Part exchanges possible and instruments

purchased

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89 High StreetHuntingdonPE29 3DP01480 [email protected]

FREE LOCAL DELIVERY

Your local independent electrical retailer

Internet prices with local store service


We are wearing our winter coats for a significant part of the year so they are worth spending more on. We live in a variable and often cold environment so they need to be able to withstand the British weather! There are a number of things to think about when considering what to buy…• Choose a winter coat in a great neutral colour –

this will ensure it works really well with the rest of your wardrobe. Try and avoid black as this only works for a few skin tones. Pale grey, navy and camel are better choices.

• Think about your lifestyle – are you working in a formal environment and need to be dressed smartly? Then a formal coat is a must. If you’re a Mum on the run consider shorter options in great shapes with more informal feel.

• Spend time in a car? If you spend hours of your day in a car a long coat can be impractical. It will end up really creased and is less likely to wear well. Shorter lengths would work really well.

• The right coat style is a great way to make an impact – make sure it gives you a fabulous feeling when you wear it. That’s when the compliments flow.

• Scarves – use a scarf near your face in one of your wow colours to lift your neutral coat. If you know your clothing personality you’ll know if you need delicate lace, ruffles or luxury.

• Check the lining and hems to make sure the coat is well made. The lining should be generous to allow for movement. You want your coat to last for a number of seasons without needing a replacement lining which can be costly.

• Is this a timeless style for you? Anything that is the right style for you will last beyond the changes in fashion and ensure your investment will be worth it.

• Always dry clean a coat. This will ensure it stands the test of time. Using a domestic washing machine is liable to make it shrink or change the texture of the fabric.

• Will you be wearing a jumper underneath your coat? It’s easy to forget what we might be wearing with our coat when we try it on in the shop but think about when you’re likely to wear it and how much space there is for extra layers.

By Jennie Billingswww.houseofcolour.co.uk/

jenniebillings

How to choose and make the most of your Winter Coat

House of Colour


At Oakleigh Residential Home we take great pride in maintaining the highest standards of care for our residents. Our home is set out in large gardens with easy access, 24 bright and comfortable, single-occupancy rooms and in-house cooks who create appetising and varied menu’s.

We provide 24 hour care and can accommodate clients who require dementia care.

22 North Road, Alconbury Weston, Huntingdon, PE28 4JR.

www.oakleighresidentailhome.co.uk

01480 [email protected]

ESTABLISHED AND TRUSTED SINCE 1988

Oakleigh Residential half page.indd 1 05/12/2016 11:03


BUYING & SELLING A BUSINESSBUYING & SELLING YOUR HOME

COMMERCIAL PROPERTYDIVORCE AND FAMILY

EMPLOYMENTLANDLORD AND TENANT

WILLS, TRUST & ESTATES PLANNING

Call our approachable team to discuss your issue. Our offices are located in the centre of Huntingdon and St. Ives to make your visit as easy as possible.

HUNTINGDON OFFICE: 28 High Street • Huntingdon • Cambs PE29 3TH t: 01480 456191 email: [email protected]

ST. IVES OFFICE: Red House • 10 Market Hill • St Ives • Cambs PE27 5AW

t: 01480 464515 email: [email protected]

Excellence throughExperience

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Solicitors


Local News

The RSPB is holding a recruitment day for volunteers to join our friendly shop team at The Lodge nature reserve at Sandy, on Saturday 25 November, between 11:30 am and 2:00 pm. The RSPB is the largest conservation charity in Europe. We have over 13,000 fantastic volunteers across the country, and they come from all walks of life. Between them, they contribute over a million hours each year. The Lodge shop is one of most popular and busy on our reserves, and we would like more volunteers to join us to help give our customers an excellent service. If you are friendly, live locally, are confident talking to the public, and able to inspire our visitors about the work of the RSPB, then we want to hear from you. Hours can be flexible, and various options of full days or half days and lunch-time cover over both week days and weekends are available.Full training will be given and a uniform supplied for the role.

Pop in and meet us at the shop, near the reserve entrance, anytime between 11:30 and 2:00 on the 25 November and have a chat with us over a cuppa and biscuit to find out more. If you can’t make this date but are interested in volunteering at The Lodge (or for other visitor engagement roles above), please contact Mark Brandon, Visitor Experience Manager, The Lodge nature reserve; 01767 [email protected] The Lodge nature reserve and gardensPotton Road, Sandy, Beds SG19 2DL01767 693333

Would you like to help us by giving some of your time to help our friendly team at the RSPB The Lodge shop?


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Support Workers £8.85 per hour

Team Leaders £11.00 per hour

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Visit www.marbrook.co.uk/recruitmentor call 01480 273 273

23To advertise in The Villager and Town Life please call 01767 261122

Family Law

If you are separated and need to agree where and with whom the children are spending the holidays it’s never too early to start thinking ahead.When parents separate one of the main issues of conflict often relates to arrangements for the children. I am regularly contacted by distressed parents who are unable to reach an agreement with their former partner as to the weekly arrangements for their children and, often disputes flare up around annual events especially Christmas.Both parents are likely to want to spend time with their children on special occasions, and many have the outside influence of other family members to contend with, or the worry of breaking family traditions. The stress and uncertainty can and does lead to arguments but it is possible to avoid the worst of the upset and disappointment. From my experience as a family lawyer working with couples over many years, the approach below can really help.Plan aheadLeaving arrangements to the last minute will cause upset and stress for all involved, but most importantly your children. It is understandable that each parent wants to spend the special day with their children, especially if this is the first year where the family will be apart. However, if parents really think about how their children feel and put themselves in their child’s shoes they commonly agree that children are often happy to have two “special days” whether that is an extra birthday celebration or a second Christmas Day. All they want is to enjoy a happy day with mum, and a happy day with dad.Keep the children informedOnce you have given thought to and agreed the best plan for the children, tell them. Research has confirmed that children are most upset when they do not know what is happening during the midst of their parent’s divorce or separation, or they are not told about the agreed arrangements. The children need to be involved and know exactly what is planned so they worry less. It also helps for them to know the arrangements are agreed – they are then less likely to worry about either parent being sad or unhappy.Come to an agreementIf you are struggling to reach agreements which

allow you to spend time with your children on a regular basis or at special times during the year, then you can act to resolve this. The best way is always to try to communicate with the other parent to see if you can reach an agreement by mutual consent. As your child’s parents, you know better than anyone what is best for them. However, if communication has broken down and an agreement cannot be reached then a Resolution accredited lawyer may be able to assist you to negotiate an agreement fairly and amicably via correspondence and this is the best way to resolve matters so you get to spend time with your child quickly. If agreement is impossible, either with the help of your lawyer or a mediator, you can ask the court to decide. This should be seen as a last resort as it takes a long time, is costly and can be a very stressful experience for all involved. Of course, if you feel you have not choice, we can help.For any Family Law queries please contact Abby Smith for a FREE initial telephone consultation. Thereafter meetings can be arranged at a time and venue convenient to you. For any Family Law queries contact Abby Smith for a FREE initial telephone consultation. Thereafter meetings can be arranged at a time and venue convenient to you. Call 01480 270499 or email [email protected]

Call now: Abby Smith01480 270499 or 07948 533610

[email protected]

It’s never too early to think about ChristmasBy family lawyer Abby Smith of Woolley & Co, Solicitors www.family-lawfirm.co.uk


Garden

root plants are not feasible once the leaves start to appear next year.Use seed catalogues and websites to help decide what you want to grow next year. Many suppliers offer seeds and young plants of many vegetables, so order now and you can relax, knowing that you have got your first choice selection. Check out my website, www.pippagreenwood.com/grow-your-own, for a Grow Your Own package perfect for the less experienced vegetable grower - the plants you choose come with weekly advice emails telling you exactly what you need to be doing. Established clumps of bamboo should be thinned out now. The extra space that the remaining canes will have will allow them to grow away better, and also gives them more freedom to move about in that way which makes bamboos so very appealing.Less tender bulbs e.g. nerines and many of the agapanthus, will winter better if you give them protection now. Mound dry chipped bark or other mulch over the area in which they are planted.And last but not least, before water butts fill up with autumn rain grab a sturdy brush and clean each one out thoroughly, removing deposits of algae, soggy bits of plant and general gunge! Rinse out and then re-install ready to collect some rain.Visit Pippa’s website www.pippagreenwood.com for a gorgeous selection of useful gardening items, perfect for gifts too, including growing frames, SpeedHoes, SpeedWeeders, fleece jackets, cloches, fruit cages, raised bed kits, Nemaslug and other nematode controls, copper tape, pull-out EasyTunnels, signed books and lots more besides.

Despite the seasonal slowdown there are lots of jobs which, if done now, could end up saving you time and money later on - so here are the top November gardening tasks to get to grips with.Hoe off weeds that are around now, as some might still set seed during mild, damp periods. Provided they have no seed pods their top-growth can safely be composted, but bin, burn or rot down fleshy weed roots to prevent them growing in the compost heap!Cut back or pick off obviously diseased leaves and stems to neaten flower beds and borders, and remove some of the foliage that is dying back purely due to the time of year. Leave some deteriorating but healthy foliage in place to provide protection for the crowns of more fragile plants.Rabbits become more of a menace as natural food supplies reduce, so make sure that rabbit netting is not damaged and that trees, especially those that have been planted recently, are fitted with tree guards.If there is a sizeable tree near your lawn, rake up fallen leaves on a regular basis to prevent damage to the grass beneath.Trees, shrubs, climbers that have been planted recently may need protection from frost and cold winds over their first winter. Use a layer of horticultural fleece draped over the plant and pegged; it can be removed on warmer days. If you’re planning on hedge-planting, remember that many hedging plants are cheaper if bought ‘bare root field grown’, meaning lifted from their nursery field without being potted on. Order now to make sure you get the pick of the bunch. Bare

By Pippa Greenwood www.pippagreenwood.com

A Busy November


Pets

Fireworks are enjoyed year-round by lots of people, but many animals are frightened by them. It doesn’t have to be that way though, so if your pet is scared, there are lots of things you can do to help. • Make sure your dog or cat always has

somewhere to hide if they want to and has access to this place at all times. For example, this may be under some furniture or in a cupboard.

• Make sure your cat or dog is always kept in a safe and secure environment and can’t escape if there’s a sudden noise.

• Have your pets microchipped in case they do escape – by law, your dog should already be microchipped.

• During fireworks seasons, walk dogs during daylight hours and keep cats and dogs indoors when fireworks are likely to be set off.

• At nightfall, close windows and curtains and put on music to mask and muffle the sound of fireworks.

• Never punish your pets when they are scared as this will only make things worse in the long run.

Also, please don’t forget smaller animals! If your pets live outside, partly cover cages, pens and

aviaries with blankets so that one area is well soundproofed.Make sure that your pets are still able to look out, but provide lots of extra bedding so your pets have something to burrow in.Perhaps, consider bringing them indoors. This should be done gradually, so you will need to plan ahead so they aren’t frightened.The RSPCA suggests choosing lower-noise fireworks so that they reduce the stress to animals. Also, they suggest only using fireworks on traditional celebration dates (such as New Year’s Eve or Bonfire Night). Most owners will already know to expect fireworks on these dates, and should have prepared accordingly to help their animals cope.Having a pet comes with responsibilities – so please check that your animal is happy before you have fun with fireworks.

ANIMAL KNOW-HOW is one of a series of articles brought to you by the RSPCA Bedfordshire North branch

www.rspca-bedfordshirenorth.org.uk

Animal Know-HowFireworks frighten animals – help them feel safe


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Chorizo crusted cod fillets with saffron potatoes and pepperade

Hear wonderful recipes on Nick Coffer’s Weekend Kitchen every Sunday morning on BBC Three Counties radio at 11am. You can

also join Nick every weekday afternoon at midday for brilliant local guests with great stories to tell and all the music you want for your early afternoon.

This is a real dinner party dish. Take a simple fillet of cod, top it with a perfect chorizo crust and serve it with delicately flavoured saffron potatoes and a lovely sweet pepper and shallot ‘pepperade’. Created by Ivor Morgan, head chef at the SG4 Brasserie at

the Needham House Hotel in Hitchin, this is a great example of how restaurant quality food can be recreated at home…

You’ll need:4 x 180g cod fillets.The thicker the better.

Crust 100g finely chopped chorizo

75g breadcrumbs200g unsalted butter

30g chopped tarragon Zest of 1 lemon

Pepperade 4 roasted red peppers

2 banana shallots ( cut into long slices) 6 plum tomatoes (roughly chopped)

2 cloves chopped garlicPinch of saffronCapers to finish

Potatoes3 peeled new potatoes per portion

Good pinch of saffronSpring of thyme

1. Firstly sweat the chorizo in a medium hot pan with a little oil and cook until the chorizo starts to release its own oils.

2. Add the butter and breadcrumbs and continue to cook out until the butter has melted and is well mixed through.

3. Place the mix onto some greaseproof paper then place another piece on top of that and roll out to your required thickness (3mm or so).

4. Pop it into the fridge and allow it to set before cutting to the size required (you will cut it to the

exact size of each of the fish fillets you will be cooking).

5. To make the pepperade, grill the red peppers until charred. Peel, deseed and finely slice. Sweat off the garlic in a good amount of olive oil then add the shallots and cook until cooked with very little colour.

6. Add the peppers, saffron and a little sugar and salt to taste and cook until you see some juice being released.

7. In go the chopped tomatoes and continue to cook until the sauce starts to naturally thicken. It is then ready and can be quickly reheated when ready to serve.

8. Cook the potatoes in well salted water, adding in the saffron and thyme too.

9. Once cooked, leave the potatoes to cool down in the water the potatoes were cooked in to allow the saffron to marinade into the potatoes. When ready to use, you’ll just need to simply reheat them gently.

10. To cook the fish, place the fillets into a hot frying pan with a little oil. Cook until the fish has got a nice caramelised bottom and you can see that the fish is 3⁄4 cooked.

11. Now turn it over and the place the pre-cut crust on top, then put the fish under the grill so you can toast the crust until a golden colour.The fish will continue to cook while under the grill.

12. Once the fish is cooked, you are then ready to serve the dish. Put the fish on a dollop of pepperade and serve with the potatoes. Lovely.

Three Counties Radio

Food and Drink

Cosy Nights In with Beer and FoodIt’s November, it’s cold and it gets darker earlier. So, at this time of year there are few things more welcome than a cosy night in. Wholesome food, good telly to relax in front of and, of course, the right drink - that’s where beer comes in. Beer is your perfect partner for snug evenings at home. Imagine, you’ve lovingly cooked a steak pie, what better way to bring out the best in it than with a sturdy bitter. Bitters possess just the right flavour intensity to match the rich, dense flavours of a pie. They’re often well balanced between malt sweetness and hop bitterness, perhaps leaning more heavily on the former. The caramel taste will pick out the sweetness in the meat and the pastry and complement it beautifully. There’s also enough carbonation in the bottled version of these beers to cut through the texture of the pie and refresh the palate. Some to look out for: Fuller’s ESB, Sharp’s Doom Bar, Adnams Southwold and Marston’s Pedigree. A comforting fish pie is fresh out of the oven and you’re ready to tuck in. There’s only one drink that can marry perfectly with all those fishy flavours - beer is best! Here you have a couple of options, both of which match the intensity of a fish pie: lager and wheat beer. Lagers are crisp, clean and offer a bready sweetness and some subtle citrus which are going to complement the fish very well. They’re also well carbonated so they’re great palate cleansers. Look out for Mahou, Pravha and

Five Points Pils. Wheat beers are light, spritzy and fruity so also do a superb job of complementing the fish and refreshing the mouth in between bites, but they have a creamy mouthfeel which melds well with the creaminess of the pie.If you want something easy and hassle-free it doesn’t come much simpler than cheese on toast. Here a pale ale makes a perfect cheesy partner. Classic English pales like Timothy Taylor’s Landlord have a subtle caramel sweetness and fruity tang from the hops. Both characteristics are going to spike some fruity sweetness in the cheese and really lift the flavour. American pale ales also work wondrously well and the flavour intensity is often turned up a notch or two. Try Lagunitas IPA, Goose Island IPA or Thornbridge Jaipur. For ultimate ease on a cosy night-in there’s nothing quite like a takeaway, particularly an Indian curry. For the perfect beer match focus on the intensity of the heat in your chosen dish. If you like a mild curry, pale ales and IPAs are great and will add some depth of flavour. If you prefer a medium spiced dish a bitter is a good option, where the beer will temper the heat and bring out the sweetness in the food. Or if you like the heat turned all the way up, reach for a temperature dampening wheat beer and then put your feet up.Staying in has never been more delicious.

Discover more at www.beerforthat.com



Local & ReliableEBAY COLLECTIONS

Book an appointment with your local consultant, Dan Martin on: 0330 22 111 24 or via email: [email protected]

Warmer, Quieter and More Secure...

RSPB

by Emily Kench

Feeding garden birds this winterAs the nights draw in, the weather turns, and the days shorten, life becomes even more challenging for our garden birds. Food in the wider countryside dampens in abundance, as the buds of berries and seeds shut down until spring. Blackbirds, sparrows and robins amongst others make their way to our gardens in hope of finding a winter feast, relying on our generosity and appreciation to see them through colder climes.Putting food out is a fantastic way of seeing birds up close, but if you want to help - make sure you’re giving them the right diet. These are the top five foods to feed your garden birds:Peanuts - Tits, finches and great spotted woodpeckers are just some of the birds that love peanuts. Peanuts are a bird superfood: full of energy. If you’re lucky you may even see nuthatches stealing them and burying these snacks in your flowerbed for later. Bird seed mixtures - These are great for many different birds. Get a mix with small seeds for

dunnocks, sparrows, finches and collared doves. Mixtures that use wheat, barley, beans, lentils or dried rice should be avoided. They only attract the bigger birds, like pigeons, which will scare off the smaller guys.Black sunflower seeds - These great all-year-round, but with a high-oil content they’re perfect for helping birds build up fat to keep warm over winter. The hearts (the seeds without the hard outer coating) are a popular no-mess food and will attract colourful siskins and chaffinches. Birds cake and food bars - Fat balls or suet bars are excellent winter food and easy to make. Leave suet or lard in a room to warm up, then cut up into chunks in a bowl. Throw in bird seed, raisins, peanuts, a little grated cheese, and mix with your fingertips. Keep squidging until the fat holds it together, then stick into half a coconut or an empty yoghurt pot. Hang upside down from your bird table or tree and watch the greenfinches and tits

squabble over the last delicious scraps.Leftovers - Some leftovers from your Sunday roast can go straight onto the bird table. Chopped unsalted bacon rind, dried fruit, old apples, pears and crumbled cheese will all be enjoyed by your garden visitors. However some foods should be avoided, like cooking fat from roasts and Christmas turkey mixes with meat juices which have a runny, greasy mixture and stick to birds’ feathers stopping them from being waterproof. Other foods to avoid are dried coconut, cooked porridge oats, milk and mouldy food.Don’t forget! All birds need fresh water for bathing and drinking but it can be difficult with many ponds freezing over. Keep your bird bath topped up, and float a ball on the surface to stop the water from turning into ice.If you want to learn more about how to attract wildlife to your garden click rspb.org.uk/homes , and to purchase bird feeders and tables visit shopping.rspb.org.uk

We will also be hosting a ‘Giving Nature a Home’ event at The Lodge on 12 November, where visitors can make bird cakes, fill up their feeders and see their favourite garden birds close up during ringing demonstrations. Details can be found athttps://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves-and-events/events-dates-and-inspiration/events/details.aspx?id=tcm:9-446900

Photography by Chris Gomersall



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.

1 2

3 4

5 6

7 8

9 10

11 12

13 14

15 16

17 18

19 20

21 22

23 24

25 26

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

Codeword

Easy Suduko Hard Suduko


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Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts3838 Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts38 Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts383838383838 Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts3838 Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts38383838 Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts38 Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts38 Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts383838383838 Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts3838 Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts3838383838 Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts38 Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts383838383838 Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts3838 Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts38383838 Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts38 Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts38 Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts383838383838 Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts3838 Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts38383838

1 NovemberGodmanchester Senior Citizens Club

Coffee Morning & Raffle10am-12 noon Godmanchester Town HallMonthly coffee morning and raffle. Annual

membership fee is £10. Tel: Geoff 01480 434697

1 NovemberHedge Laying at Coton Countryside Reserve

10am-3pmCambridgePPF event. Enjoy learning this ancient practice of partially cutting through stems, laying

and weaving them together to produce a thick living barrier and wildlife ‘corridor’. Wear warm, waterproof clothing and tough shoes, and bring a packed lunch and drink.Meet at Martin car park notice board. All

instruction, equipment and tools provided.Tel: 01223 243830 extension 207

Email: email [email protected]: www.cambridgeppf.org/whats-on

1 NovemberLittle Paxton Gardening Club

8pm Little Paxton Village HallMembers £1, Guests £2

Speaker will be Bev Bond explaining ‘Woodland Edge Gardening’. Everyone welcome. Refreshments.

1 NovemberBlack Cat WI 7.30pm Wyboston Village Hall

The group meets on the first Wednesday of each month. Tel: Susie Woodman 01234 376098

3 NovemberSt Neots Local History Society

7.30pm Eynesbury Junior SchoolJonathan House will give an update on the Little End

excavations (Eaton Socon).

4 NovemberArt & Craft Fair 9.30am-4pm

Free Church Hall, St Ives Free admissionQuality handmade art and craft stalls and tombola.

4 NovemberA Masked Ball

7.30pm St Thomas a Becket Church, RamseyTickets £5-14

Peterborough Opera performs their production of Giuseppe Verdi’s A Masked Ball.

Tel: Box Office 01832 274734

5 NovemberCraft & Gift Fair

Comrades Club, GodmanchesterBrowse a wide selection of unique handmade crafts

and gifts not found in the High Street.Tel: 01536 675000 for stallholder enquiries


8 NovemberThe Wildlife Trust 7.30-9pmBrampton Memorial Centre, Thrapston Road, Brampton

Entrance £2.50, accompanied children freeJo Thomas will be talking about ‘Wild Sri Lanka: the Pearl of the Indian Ocean’. Jo Thomas is the

Director of Wild About Travel and she has travelled extensively, particularly across India, for 25 years. Jo recently added Sri Lanka to her growing list of destinations and her talk today will show us that

this truly is the Pearl of the Indian Ocean. Booking is not necessary. Tel: Tim 01480 457795


9-11 NovemberThe Offord Players Present Murder with Ghosts

Curtain up 7.30pm Offord Village HallTickets £8-£9

By Simon Brett. Set ‘between the wars’ in the library of a Manor House’, this amusing play is a parody of a typical Murder Mystery. No-one is safe and the

library conceals many hidden dangers! All seats are now numbered and allocated at time of booking. Tel: 01480 811798 www.theoffordplayers.org.uk

10 NovemberChristmas Shopping Evening

7-9pm Alconbury Primary SchoolWhy not join us for a festive evening of shopping

and get Christmas all wrapped up? Enjoy hot food, festive nibbles, hot beverages or even a glass

of Prosecco and browse the many stalls. If you would like to book a stall please contact the FACES

Committee. Tel: Mia 07912 852959 for stall enquiriesEmail: [email protected]

10 NovemberTrumpet Concert

7.30pm St Nicholas Church, Hail WestonTickets £12.50 inc. glass of wine

An evening with John Barker, professional trumpeter. Fundraising for St Nicolas Church

Restoration. Tel: Tickets Anne-Marie Hamilton 01480 212772 or Richard Winser 07885 931100

11 NovemberAutumn Fair 10am-2pm

Berkley Street Methodist Church, EynesburyAdmission 20p

Coffee, lunches, bric-a-brac, tombola, cakes, plants, Christmas, gifts, puzzles, toys and books and

children’s activities.

11 NovemberCraft and Christmas Fair 10am-4pm

Abbots Ripton Village Hall, The Green, Abbots Ripton

Refreshments available.

11 NovemberTable Top Sale 2pm

Great Stukeley Village Hall Admission 50pFundraising for roof fund at St. Bartholomew’s

Church, Great Stukeley. Refreshments available. Book a table £10 (set-up from 1pm) – advance

bookings only. Items for sale include crafts, jams, gifts, unwanted items. Tel: Colet 07796 676209


11 NovemberHuntingdonshire Philharmonic Orchestra 7.30pm

Hinchingbrooke Performing Arts Centre, Huntingdon £14/£12, Students/children £7/£6

Huntingdonshire Philharmonic Orchestra, conductor Bjorn Bantock perform Beethoven: Egmont

Overture, Schumann: Piano Concerto, soloist Stephen Meakins, Dvorak: Symphony No. 9 (From

the New World). Tickets are available by telephone online or on the door. Tel: Box Office 01480 375678www.huntsphil.org.uk or www.ticketsource.co.uk

11 & 12 NovemberHemingford Art Club Winter Exhibition

10am-4pm Hemingford Abbots Village HallPaintings framed and unframed also handmade

cards. Excellent refreshments, toilet facilities and wheel chair access.

12 NovemberFamily Volunteering 10am-12 noon

Ferry Meadows Country ParkFree event – suggested donation £2

Make a difference by helping the Rangers out in the Park. All tools and training will be provided, you just need to bring along lots of enthusiasm! Free car parking for all participants. Booking essential. Meeting place to be confirmed at time of booking.

Tel: 01733 234193 for further details

12 & 19 NovemberSamba Drumming Workshops

2pm St Neots Library, Priory Lane£3 per adult per session, concessions free

Admission by ticket only, available from St Neots Library. £3 per session per adult. Suitable for

adults and children from 8 years (under 12s must be accompanied by an adult).

14 NovemberKimbolton PPG 7-9pm

Mandeville Hall, KimboltonLiving With Cancer. Two speakers from Hunts Community Cancer Network (HCCN) will be

explaining the dual roles of this charity. They “take down the walls of the hospital” to bring care to

people in their homes and also develop and provide support programmes to put people back in control

of their diagnosis.

What’s OnIn November

Deadline for What’s On entries is the 12th of the previous

month.What’s on entries to

[email protected]

To advertise in The Villager and Town Life please call 01767 261122 3939To advertise in The Villager and Townlife please call 01767 261122 3939393939To advertise in The Villager and Townlife please call 01767 261122 39393939To advertise in The Villager and Townlife please call 01767 261122 3939393939To advertise in The Villager and Townlife please call 01767 261122 39393939To advertise in The Villager and Townlife please call 01767 261122 3939393939To advertise in The Villager and Townlife please call 01767 261122 39393939To advertise in The Villager and Townlife please call 01767 261122 3939393939To advertise in The Villager and Townlife please call 01767 261122 393939

14 NovemberSt Ives Sugarcraft Guild 7.30-9pm

Reading Room, Hemingford Grey Visitors £6Monthly meetings where you can learn, hands-on,

various cake decorating techniques and/or sugarcraft. The group meets on the second Tuesday

of the month. Tel: Shirley 01480 454616

15 NovemberOutdoor Craft and Storytelling for children10.30-11.30am Wandlebury Country Park

£8 per family (up to 3 children)This monthly event, perfect for pre-schoolers, children up to the age of six and young home-

schooled children, provides fun adventures in nature craft and storytelling in the Park and Stable Rooms. Meet at the stable rooms. Time will be spent outside regardless of weather so please dress appropriately.

Booking is essential. Children must remain accompanied throughout. Parking is available onsite - £3 or free for CambridgePPF members.


15 NovemberCarers Coffee Club

2.30-4pm The Royal Oak, Hail WestonAre you caring for a loved one with a memory loss? Come along and enjoy a cup of tea or coffee whilst

chatting with others in a similar situation. Our informal group meets on every third Wednesday of

the month. No need to book, just turn up.Tel: Neil Silby 07889 319888 for further details


15 NovemberHuntingdonshire Family History Society 7.30pm

Women’s Institute Centre, Waldon Road, Huntingdon

Huntingdonshire Family History Society talk on ‘Tracing Great War Ancestors – Part 2’ by Jonathan

Farmer. Non-members most welcome. £1 donation at the door appreciated. Please check website for

any last minute changes to programme.Tel: Caroline Kesseler 01480 390476 for more details

Email: [email protected]: www.huntsfhs.org.uk

16 NovemberLove’s Farm Women’s Institute8-10pm St Neots Football Club

Meeting on the third Thursday of the month. Come to make friends and do something new.

Tel: Nikki Jackson 07563 715043Email: [email protected]

16-18 NovemberSister Act Priory Centre, St Neots

Vamps of St Neots presents Sister Act, based on the 1992 film. Tel: Box Office 07857 912860

Web: thevamps.org

17 NovemberSt Neots TimeBank New Friends Group2-3.30pm The Priory Centre, St Neots

Come along and meet members of the TimeBank community. We’re a friendly team of people - learn

how the TimeBank can benefit so many in a multitude of ways, the list is never ending.

18 NovemberChristmas Fayre 10am-2pm

St Mary’s Church, Eaton SoconChristmas gifts, cards, crafts, books and jewellery,

plus much more. Have a family portrait taken, enter the raffle and finish the visit with a jacket potato.

Tel: 07899 856636

18 NovemberSt Neots Art Group Autumn Art Exhibition10am-4.30pm United Reformed Church,

High Street, St Neots Free admissionOriginal art at affordable prices. Christmas gift

ideas. Refreshments available.

18 NovemberThinking about getting a puppy?

3pm Queen’s Park, YaxleyOur ‘Your new puppy’ talk offers up-to- date advice

and a chance to quiz the experts! Refreshments provided. Telephone to reserve your free place.

Tel: 01480 277987 www.dogstrustschool.org.uk

20 NovemberSt Neots Royal Naval Association 8pm

The RAFA Club, 44 Huntingdon Street, St NeotsSt Neots & District Branch of the Royal Naval

Association meet on the third Monday of every month. Tel: Tony Webley 01480 215218


21 NovemberFamily Carers Hub Launch 10am-12.30pm

Meadow Community Centre, 1 St Catharine’s Road, Cambridge

Find out about the help and support available to family carers and the people they look after. Hear about workshops and learning opportunities. Find out about short breaks and activities in our Hubs. Meet other organisations and groups who work to support carers and their families in the Cambridge

area. Light lunch and refreshments provided.Tel: 01480 499090 Web: www.carerstrustcpn.org

21 NovemberKimbolton Flower Club

7pm for 7.30pm Mandeville Hall, KimboltonMembers £3, Visitors £12.50 inc. wine/mince pies

Open Christmas meeting ‘In Festive Mood’ with National Demonstrator John Chennell. Sales

table, Charity parcels for sale and a raffle of the arrangements. All welcome.

23 NovemberSt Neots & District Gardening Club

8pm St Mary’s Church Hall, St NeotsMembers £2, Non-members £2.50 inc. refreshments

Social evening. Competition is ‘A Christmas Table Decoration’.

24 NovemberThe Hinchingbrooke Bösendorfer Piano Concerts

– Nicholas Daniel & Paul Turner7.30pm Hinchingbrooke Performing Arts Centre,

Hinchingbrooke Park Road, HuntingdonThe eleventh series of Hinchingbrooke Bösendorfer Piano Concerts brings an impressive array of artists using the Bösendorfer concert grand piano donated

to Hinchingbrooke School. Nicholas Daniel, oboe; Paul Turner, piano. Their programme will include music by Handel, Bowen, Musgrave and Arnold.

Tel: Box Office 01480 375678Web: www.ticketsource.co.uk/hinchingbrookepac

25 NovemberMeditation and Mindfulness Course:

Freedom of letting go10.30am-1pm £15 Huntingdon LibraryWith Meditation Teacher Sara Molyneux.

Learn to let go of the painful emotions related to the past and find freedom from everyday feelings of frustration and dissatisfaction. Everyone is welcome.

Two one-hour sessions with a coffee break.Tel: 01733 755444

Web: www.meditateinpeterborough.org.uk

25 NovemberLatin Music Evening 7.30pm

St Botolph’s Church, Stow LongaTickets main aisle £20, chancel and side aisles

(limited vision) £12.50Laura Mitchell, an operatic soprano, has very

generously offered to put on a recital in St Botolph’s church for no fee in order to raise funds for badly

needed repairs to the church windows. The programme will be a combination of Spanish, South

American and Cuban music together with some better known contemporary songs.

This should be an amazing evening so please book early to avoid disappointment.

Please dress warmly and bring a torch.Tel: Tickets Christine Hayes 01480 860519

25-26 NovemberChristmas Fair

11am-4pmFerry Meadows Country Park

Free admissionCraft and gift stalls, music entertainment from

local choirs and bands, a children’s craft area and refreshments, children activities, plus more to be

confirmed.

What’s OnIn November

This is a small selection of the What’s On for the full listing please go to

our website www.villagermag.com


Local News

November at Paxton Pits Nature Reserve

By Louisa Nevard, Trevor Gunton and Martin Runchman

As the leaves started to fall this autumn, migratory birds have also signaled the change in seasons. The Greylag and Canada Geese have banded together to form spectacular V shaped formations in the sky, as they settle here ready for winter. Around four thousand species of birds migrate globally on an annual basis, with many arriving and leaving in different seasons so there is always something different to see at Paxton Pits Nature Reserve. The ground is easy underfoot, tyre or dogs paw, with plenty of routes to choose from our 6 miles of nature trails. The volunteers have been slowly making their way around the Reserve, over the last few years laying tyre friendly tracks for wheelchair, buggy or bike. Try the route along the Heron Trail to the Kingfisher hide (pictured), one of three hides, if you like a little adventure. It’s a short walk from our free car park and inspires the imagination. The wide boarded path takes you over a bridge before snaking through the trees. Seated viewing points tease you with glimpses of the lake as you make your way towards the hide. Your final position allows you a look out from the centre of a great lake where the Heronry North and South lakes meet. The Kingfisher hide refurbishment was completed in September by the sterling effort of volunteers from Friends of Paxton Pits Nature Reserve. An impressive feat of cooperation and determination lead by Ranger Matt Hall (HDC).This year the low water levels have exposed the many sandbanks which have provided feeding grounds for many wildfowl species. Strangers have included Bar Headed goose, Barnacle geese and the naturalised Egyptian geese. A large Great White Egret (pictured) has also graced us with its brilliant white plumage. It’s an easy spot for any novice and I do hope it will stay or return again to the Reserve for next year’s summer.

This winter, direct from Iceland, the noisy whistling Wigeon ducks arrive for a holiday. Our Reserve is so popular, the numbers can build up to around 100 birds. Here as many as 6 species of duck are found on the Nature Reserve in winter (Wigeon, Gadwell, Teal (pictured), Mallard, Shoveller, Tufted). Why not take the spot the duck challenge? With the absence of leaves and the winter chill, a warm drink can be provided by friendly volunteers at our café, located at the Visitors Centre. Finally, this photo of a cheeky Barn Owl is kindly provided by Mr. Mike Anderson-Brown. Please could you provide a caption to share on our Facebook page (Paxton Pits Nature Reserve)? The winning caption will be announced on our website. If you want to know more about Paxton Pits Nature Reserve visit our website www.paxton-pits.org.uk or why not wander through our Reserve and make your own adventure.Friends of Paxton Pits Nature Reserve is a charity registered in England and Wales, No.112522 and is funded entirely by its membership and fundraising activities.

Great White Egret by Mick Housden

Owl by Mike Anderson-Brown

Teal by Martin Runchman

Kingfisher Hide by Louisa Nevard


1. Does the Statue of Liberty hold a torch in her left or right hand?2. In tennis, if the score is “advantage”, will the player serving be serving

from the left side or the right side of the court?3. On the TV show The Simpsons, who opened a store in the Springfield

Mall called The Leftorium, specialising in products designed for left-handed people?

4. On a standard UK keyboard, left and right brackets feature on which two number keys?

5. What was Right Said Fred’s only UK number one single?6. With which arm did Diego Maradona score his famous “hand of God”

goal against England in the 1986 World Cup?... his left or his right?7. Which Irish comedian was famous for wearing wellington boots, one labelled “L” for left, and one labelled “R” for right?8. In 2003, who became the first ever left-handed golfer to win the US

Masters?9. If an actor is facing the audience and needs to follow the instruction

“exit stage left”, should they turn to their left or their right?10. What is the most populated

Fun Quiz - Left and Right

1. Her right hand 2. The left side 3. Ned Flanders 4. 9 and 0 5. Deeply Dippy 6. His left 7. Jimmy Cricket 8. Mike Weir 9. Their left 10. India

October’s Puzzle Solutions and Winners

Last Month’s Crossword WinnerJennifer Burns – Kimbolton

Easy

Hard


Name:

Address:

Tel:

Prize£25

The Villager Prize Crossword

Complete the crossword, fill in your details below,

cut out this page and send to the address below before

16th November 2017 Prize Crossword, Villager Publications Ltd

24 Market Square, Potton, Beds SG19 2NP

Across7 Type of fruit (6)8 Opulence (6)9 Touch (4)10 Start (8)11 Modified (7)13 Impede (5)15 Remove from home (5)17 Water closets (7)20 Calculation (8)21 Horrid (4)23 Male relatives (6)24 Snub (6)

Down1 Manufactured (4)2 Horse’s fastest pace (6)3 Observed (7)4 Chubby (5)5 Specialist (6)6 Piece of jewellery (8)12 Splitting (8)14 Advisory group (7)16 Cold (6)18 Caring (6)19 Slightly drunk (5)22 Lie in wait (4)

42


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Local News

We all know that nature and wildlife is good for our health, but a new report makes it official and underlines that if the medical profession could prescribe nature in a tablet form they would - that’s a pill not an electrical device! The Wildlife Trust’s survey (conducted by the University of Essex) shows how health and wellbeing are significantly boosted by spending time exercising outdoors – and especially by volunteering. Put simply, working outside with a group of like-minded people is really good for all of us, making us feel better, happier and more connected to others. Of the volunteers who took part in the Wildlife Trusts survey, more than two thirds had a greater sense of wellbeing within six weeks, with overwhelmingly positive feedback quotes ranging from: “I feel more connected to nature and my environment and have developed interests in this area,” to “It’s restoring my faith in human nature.” Read more here www.wildlifebcn.org/news/2017/10/08/nature-prescription-doctors-ordersThe Wildlife Trust BCN run regular weekly work parties on Cambridgeshire nature reserves www.wildlifebcn.org/work-parties and, along with the exercise, bring a sense of fun and engagement, typically accompanied by an outdoor slice of cake and a cuppa.

Nature on prescription doctor’s orders...


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Gift InspirationBooks make great gifts. If you’re stuck for inspiration or looking for some ideas for your own Christmas wish list, check out this month’s recommendations.

The Gender Game by Bella ForrestIn Violet Bates’s world, women rule. Men have few rights and boys can be sent away if they’re deemed capable of aggression. Across the river it’s another story – in Patrus men have the power. Violet is serving time in a detention facility when she’s offered the chance to have her slate wiped clean, in return for completing a mission in Patrus. An enjoyable, easy read.

The Stolen Child by Sanjida Kay Without giving too much away, The Stolen Child centres around Zoe, Ollie and their daughter, Evie. Evie was adopted by the couple from birth, but starts to receive letters and gifts from a man claiming to be her father. A man who says he wants her back. Full of twists and turns that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very end.

Book ReviewBy Kate Duggan

Books

v the illager · other companies to start manufacturing their own brands of edible chocolate. in...

Documents