V The ILLAGER

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Your

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VILLAGERThe

and Town Life

March 2017

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

Bringing Local Business to Local People in the Stevenage Area every month

In this issueMake a Willand Help Local Hospice

Ovarian CancerAwareness Month

Win £25in our Prize Crossword

Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts2

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Glazed Extensions • Orangeries • Conservatories • Tiled Roof ConversionsBi-Folding doors • A Rated Windows & Doors

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BEFORE AFTER

Liv-In Space Solutions FP advert.indd 1 04/12/2016 13:17

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

Editorial: Catherine Rose, Solange Hando, Kate Duggan,There’s A Beer For That, Jennie Billings, Katherine Sorrell, Trevor

Langley, Carol H Scott, Alison Runham, Pippa Greenwood, James Baggott, RSPCA, Nick Coffer

and Sarah Davey.

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Contents

Happy New March! ..................................................4Angkor Wat - Cambodia ..........................................8Beer and Desserts .................................................10Make a Will and Help Local Hospice .......................12Mother’s Little Helpers ..........................................15Yellow: Clothes to Enjoy - House of Colour .............16Playtime ................................................................18Wine: Choice Desserts ...........................................21Employment Matters ............................................22

Ovarian Cancer Awareness Week ...........................24Fun Quiz ................................................................25How to Hedge .......................................................27Honda VFR1200F GT DCT .......................................29Animal Queries ......................................................30Nick Coffer’s Weekend Recipe ................................32Puzzle Page ...........................................................36What’s On ..............................................................38Prize Crossword .....................................................42Book Review .........................................................47

1

Your

FREEcopy

VILLAGERTh e

and Town Life

March 2017

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

Bringing Local Business to Local People in the Stevenage Area every month

In this issueMake aWillOvarian CancerAwareness Month

Win £25in our Prize Crossword

Advert Booking Deadline Thursday 9th March 2017 Artwork Deadline Thursday 9th March 2017

Nick Coffer’s Recipe 32

Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month

24

All seasons habitable use with solar controlled self cleaningenergy glazed sealed units to the roof

A rated multi section Pvcu frames & energy glazed sealed units

Insulated tiled roof replacements for existing or new conversions

Thermally more e� cient than traditional building materials therefore saving money on heating costs and adding value to your home

LIV-IN SPACE SOLUTIONS

Your Local Business providing Local Peoples needs. Call us today for free friendly advice and a no obligation quotation

Tel : 01438 55 36 86 Mob: 07557 65 93 00

WE NOT ONLY REFURBISH CONSERVATORIESWE BUILD THEM FROM DESIGN TO COMPLETION TOO

Glazed Extensions • Orangeries • Conservatories • Tiled Roof ConversionsBi-Folding doors • A Rated Windows & Doors

IF YOU HAVE THE SPACE THEN WE HAVE THE SOLUTION

With over 35 years experience within the conservatory and window industry, bring your room back to life, take advantage of the latest technology to

create a hassle free glazed/tiled extension built within weeks.

BEFORE AFTER

Liv-In Space Solutions FP advert.indd 1 04/12/2016 13:17


History

Happy New March!The month of March sweeps in on the coat tails of winter and it is not unknown for it to snow at this time of year. I recall my mother telling me how she had to push my pram through drifts of it during the harsh winter of ‘63. Despite this, 1st March is meteorologically the first day of spring (or autumn if you happen to live in the Southern Hemisphere). The old saying that ‘March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb’ is perhaps appropriate. Dubbed ‘Hlyd’ by the Anglo-Saxons for ‘loud’ or ‘rugged’ (thought to refer to March winds), it is the month of the vernal equinox when the hours of day and night are split equally. By the end of March, spring is truly in the air and whatever its placement in our planet’s orbit around the sun, it remains the herald of longer, warmer days with its bright yellow daffodils and narcissi so beloved by Wordsworth.March is also a first for another reason. Its name comes from the Latin Martius, the Roman God of War, and it was actually the first month in the Roman calendar. This was traditionally a time for

the preparation of war campaigns and invasions. It was also a time for festivities, with a feast known as Tibilustrium to celebrate the end of winter when farming could begin again. Some believe this Roman military precedent has endured into our modern times. US NATO military planners and the Pentagon chose March to go to war in several campaigns including Vietnam, Libya, Syria and Iraq. March can be an ominous month in other ways. The well-known Shakespearean quote from his play Julius Caesar “Beware the Ides of March” refers to the mid-point (or 15th) of March, when the first full moon of the Roman year appeared. It was famously the date on which Caesar was assassinated at a meeting of the Senate. There is also an old superstition that if Easter falls on 25th March or Lady Day (the Feast of the Annunciation in the Christian Church calendar), then disaster for England will follow:

‘When my Lord falls in my Lady’s lapEngland beware of some mishap.’

By Catherine Rose


Visit our showroom: Unit E, Gateway 1000, Whittle Way, Arlington Business Park, Stevenage SG1 2FP Tel: 01438 222929

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Interestingly, Good Friday was on 25th March last year and many consider 2016 to have been an unhappy one for England, and indeed the UK, not only politically with Brexit and the US election results but also with the untimely deaths of a larger than usual number of British icons.Following in Roman footsteps, Britain continued to use 25th March as the first day of the year until the introduction of the Gregorian calendar in 1752. But even today, March remains the first month in other cultural and religious calendars.It is the lively March mating rituals of the hare, which include boxing and leaping, that apparently led to the phrase ‘mad as a March hare’ mentioned in literature as early as 1500. The Victorian author Lewis Carroll subsequently used the March Hare for a character in his book Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland - a cohort of the Mad Hatter at a never-ending tea party. The concept of the March Hare has become so popular that it lends its name to contemporary events too. In Swindon, the Mad March Hare is a charity run for varying abilities to raise money for breast cancer; and in Canada, the March Hare is a poetry festival, said to be an auditory pun on the word ‘hear’.Most people born in the month of March will fall under the zodiac sign Pisces: the final sign that is

said to be the most intuitive of all, capturing the traits of all the eleven that precede it. Pisceans are known for being creative, imaginative, sensitive and compassionate, so it is rather a revelation to learn that more British Prime Ministers were born in March than in any other month, including John Major, James Callaghan, Harold Wilson and Neville Chamberlain amongst others.Recognised across the globe, and not only by those born in the Emerald Isle, March also brings the Feast of St Patrick on 17th - a lively celebration of Irish culture. A missionary and bishop during the 5th century, St Patrick is the Patron Saint of Ireland and his designated day is a national holiday there, as well as a good excuse for drinking, partying and “the wearing of the green”. The Irish shamrock emblem with its three leaves is said to have been adopted as an explanation of the Holy Trinity when missionaries were converting the pagan Irish to Christianity. With St Patrick’s Day growing in popularity year by year, 2017 will see a parade, festival and other events in London to mark the event.In celebrating the advent of March, perhaps we should take a shamrock leaf out of Ireland’s book rather than following the Roman example. But whatever you do this month, try not to be a mad March hare!


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Angkor Wat Cambodia

Travel

From the 9th to the 15th century, the Khmer dynasty ruled one of the largest kingdoms in south-east Asia. Today Angkor, their ‘capital city’, is a unique history book highlighting the different styles and cultures which evolved over the 300 years it took to complete. It’s a World Heritage site, a ‘lost city’ claiming hundreds of temples and ruins scattered in a vast archaeological park. Most iconic is Angkor Wat, the best preserved temple and the largest religious structure in the world. It was built in the 12th century to honour the Hindu god Vishnu, was later used for Buddhist worship, and is featured on the national flag.Rising like a dream above the plain, it’s the finest example of Khmer classical architecture, stylish and harmonious with towers and colonnades reflected in a lotus pond. It’s a breathtaking sight, especially in the soft light of dawn tinged in silver and gold. The sandstone glows, almost surreal, birds stir in the trees and monks in saffron robes meditate at the water’s edge. The causeway leading to the entrance is still deserted and for the early pilgrims, this is a sublime vision of heaven as lotus-shaped towers mirror the five peaks of Mount Meru, the home of the gods.The first westerner to set eyes on Angkor Wat was a Portuguese monk in the 16th century, who spoke of ‘a building like no other in the world…with all the refinements the human genius could conceive.’ But the gods must have played a part for whatever the time of day, the temple is pure magic, shimmering in the cool of the morning, burning in the midday heat, silhouetted against the darkening sky in the last rays of the setting sun.

So from morning to dusk, the visitors pour in, spellbound as they shuffle around the lower gallery, marvelling at the bas-reliefs stretching for 800 metres around the central temple and regarded as the greatest artistic legacy in Angkor. There are epic legends and battle scenes but most highly praised is ‘The Churning of the Ocean Milk’, where devils and gods fight for immortality, the latter led to victory by some of the 3,000 heavenly nymphs, or apsara, found in Angkor Wat. They also line the walls on the second level, encouraging meditation before the near vertical climb to the top, an act which requires unflinching concentration and a very slow descent. Visitors clamber down backwards and one can’t help wondering how the high priest ever managed to preserve his dignity. But when you’re up there, the world is at your feet, the courtyards, the galleries, the entrance gates at each cardinal point, two of them large enough to accommodate elephants. The oversized moats glisten like oceans, the outer walls mark the edge of the world and the forest spreads as far as you can see, hiding more vestiges from a glorious past. It’s a sacred replica of the universe, they say, and you can feel the vibes in the air.Back on the ground where city and palace once stood, cicadas whir in the trees and lizards bask in the hot sun. ‘Close your eyes’, whisper the guides, ‘and feel the past clinging to the stones.’ Then for a moment or two, you step back in time, sitting in the Royal Court, bewitched by the wonderful apsara and dreaming of the legendary seven-headed snake who built a rainbow bridge to link heaven and earth by the lofty towers of Angkor Wat.

By Solange Hando



Food and Drink

Beer and Desserts A mouth-watering match from There’s A Beer For That

Did you know that there’s never been a better time to enjoy beer? In Britain alone there are 17,000 breweries producing 12,300 beers across 140 different styles. The resurgence in beer is being driven by innovative breweries of all shapes and sizes using the best natural ingredients to produce beers of unrivalled quality and goodness that are exported all over the world. Intro to Beer and FoodWith such an amazing array of beers to choose from where do you start? That’s where we come in. We believe the only thing to make beer taste even better is to pair it with food. Beer is a perfect partner for food because of its diversity of aroma, flavour, texture and body. With far more flavours than those in wine the dexterousness of beer ensures that there’s no food that’s out of bounds. Flavours vary from beer to beer and include everything from light citrus to dark chocolate and everything else in between. At the start of the year, you might have tried to be more health-conscious, started a diet or cut down on alcohol. But now you can start to enjoy the finer things in life... and things don’t get much finer than beer and dessert. Though not a pairing that naturally springs to mind, beer and dessert are great friends. The malt used to brew beer provides sweetness and flavours including bread, toffee, caramel, chocolate, vanilla and coffee. Then there’s yeast, another key ingredient in beer, that can impart flavours such as raisins, plums, apple, peach and

pear – all welcome flavours in lots of puddings. These characteristics of beer ensures there’s no other alcoholic drink better suited to desserts. Trust us.Picking the right beer - IntensityAs with beer and food matching generally, a good rule to follow is to pair the intensity of the beer with the intensity of the dessert. The chocolate and coffee notes of porters and stouts are heaven sent with chocolate desserts. The tropical fruit notes of an IPA beautifully complement the citrus, spice and carrot in an iced carrot cake. A wheat beer and a banana split sit very comfortably together, with the creamy body of the beer melding perfectly with the creaminess of the dessert. Or the sweet and sour of a cherry beer such as a Kriek will contrast the sweetness of a dark chocolate mousse, with some flavours coming to the fore that are greater than the sum of their parts. A fluffy lemon meringue pie will benefit from the gentle touch of light lager or wheat beer, with its delicate body and citrus notes not overwhelming the pudding and complementing it too.So the next time you’re planning the pudding make sure you finish with a flourish by choosing the right beer to match.

There’s A Beer For That

For more details and to find your perfect match,

visit www.beerforthat.com


Has Your Double Glazing Steamed Up?

advertorial

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Established for over a decade Cloudy2Clear windows have become a leading company for glass replacement. Issues with double glazing can often be gradual and may only be noticed during a clear sunny day or during the winter. A failed glass unit may no longer provide you with the protection you need or be energy efficient. Why not spend a few minutes checking your home to see if you have any failed double glazing? If you act now you can avoid these problems. Now, you may think you need to replace the whole window including

the frames and all the hardware, however Cloudy2Clear have come up with a simple and cost saving solution… Just replace the glass!! If you see condensation in your windows just visit our website or give us a call on 0800 61 21 118. We will send out our highly experienced engineers for a free no obligation quote. A Cloudy2Clear quote takes on average no longer than 20 minutes. Once the quote is completed, we will sit down with you and explain the problem and tell you how we can fix it.

With years of experience Cloudy2Clear have a wealth of knowledge and are recognised as a Which Trusted Trader, plus our work is backed by an industry leading 25 year guarantee. Cloudy2Clear also replace faulty locks handles and hinges on all windows and doors. Your friendly local Cloudy2Clear specialist is Tom Bliss and he services the Luton, Stevenage, Letchworth, Dunstable & surrounding areas. So, if your windows are steamed up, broken or damaged give Tom a call for a free quotation on 0800 61 21 118.

Local News

to make a difference to your local hospiceLetchworth-based Garden House Hospice Care has once again teamed up with local solicitors for its “Make a Will Week” campaign. From 20th to 24th March participating solicitors will waiver their usual fees so that supporters can get a basic Will for a donation instead. The campaign raised over £8,000 in 2015.It’s great value for money and couldn’t be simpler to get involved. All you need to do is book an appointment with one of the participating solicitors and donate a suggested minimum amount of £100 for a basic Will or £150 for pair of basic Mirror Wills.More complex Wills need to be discussed on a case by case basis with the solicitor and may incur an additional charge. Updates to existing Wills are also possible. Katy Terry, Development Manager at the hospice said “Thanks to all the participating solicitors for giving people this fantastic opportunity to get an affordable, professional Will written whilst supporting local patients and families who are facing a life-limiting illness. There are limited appointments though so please book now”.Firms taking part are:

BBW, Letchworth and Stevenage (01462 482248 or 01438 359311)Tollers, Stevenage (01438 901095)

Friis & Radstone, Letchworth and Stevenage (01462 486654 or 01438 312525)Heckford Norton, Stevenage (01438 312211) HRJ Foreman Laws, Hitchin (01462 458711)

Penn Sassoli, Royston (01763 245234) Ross Williams, Hitchin (01462 636666)

Make a Will

Visit www.ghhospicecare.org.uk/wills for more information



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Tel: 01438 317 482

REDUCED WAITING TIMES NOWWith seven team members at BLADES BARBERS


Health & Beauty

Mother’s Little Helpers

By Kate Dugganwww.easilyeco.co.uk

You might want to think about signing up for a mystery beauty box. Priced from around £9 per box, they’re filled with a selection of luxury beauty goodies, from makeup to moisturiser, and usually worth at least twice what you’ve paid. Normally, you won’t find out what you’re getting until the box arrives, but contents can often be personalised to suit your skin’s needs and your personal tastes. Beauty boxes are delivered to your house monthly, and you can choose whether to sign up for one, three, six or 12 months. Try www.glossybox.co.uk, www.lovelula.com, www.birchbox.co.uk, www.lookfantastic.com and www.notanotherbill.com. If you don’t have time for body lotion, the new Dr Do Good In-Shower Moisturiser could be for you. Just spray it on in the shower and rinse. Simple. There’s no need to massage it in, and you don’t need to wait for it to soak in before you get dressed. It leaves skin feeling soft and hydrated, and is ideal for popping in your gym bag. Ingredients include extracts of five superfoods, including Vitamin A-rich carrot. £15, www.drdogood.co.uk.

Time, space and sanity savers to see you through spring If it’s been ‘one of those’ mornings, and you just haven’t had a minute to wash your hair, a dry shampoo can come in very handy. Philip Kingsley’s One More Day Dry Shampoo is a light spray that keeps excess oil at bay. Unlike some dry shampoos, this one doesn’t feel sticky or leave a powdery residue. It also helps to keep your scalp happy, so minimises flaking and irritation. And, as an added bonus, it gives your hair some extra oomph and helps it to hold a style better. Priced at £14.50, the dry shampoo is available from www.philipkingsley.co.uk.I do love a good multi-tasker, especially one that smells as good as Darphin’s Revitalising Oil. I keep a bottle by my desk for a quick daily mini-facial. I also use it as a body oil, straight after a bath. It feels lovely and leaves skin much smoother. Finally, I work a few drops of the oil through my hair when it’s damp, to add a bit of extra shine. A little goes a long way, so the Revitalising Oil is

actually not bad value for money at £25. Available from Space NK, House of Fraser, John Lewis and www.darphin.co.uk.

Bee Good’s NectaPerfecta Beautifying Mask is another multi-tasker, and top of my wish list at the moment. It’s packed with 15 natural ingredients, including beeswax, honey, bilberry fruit extract, jojoba and wheatgerm oil, and can be used from head to toe. Use it as a face mask, weekly scalp treatment, or as an intensive treatment for dry patches on elbows, heels and hands. It can help to lock in moisture, improve elasticity, minimise fine lines and stimulate cell renewal. £39.95 from Waitrose or www.beegood.co.uk.Love trying new products?

With the start of spring, daffodils and bright tulips are about to appear; and the new collections in the shops will turn thoughts to wearing lighter clothing. This may be a vain hope at this time of year, but instinctively we feel the need for change, and often reflect this in the clothing we wear.Yellow may not be high on your list of colours. It may even feel like a bold step too far, but the colour has been racing off the retail shelves since January. Why? Well, the Oscar favourite film Lala Land has induced a newfound love affair with yellow. As one of the keys this spring, it’s only right to take another look.Many dismiss yellow as too bright, too unwearable and generally too much. However, yellow has many beneficial properties. It’s uplifting, it’s illuminating - offering hope and happiness. And, it’s proven to stimulate the left side of the brain (encouraging mental agility). Get the perfect shade, and yellow can make you look healthier, more alive and even slimmer. With so many tones to choose, whether warm mustard, cheeky canary yellow or shocking acid yellow, reassuringly there’s a perfect shade for everyone.

So, don’t give up hope, if your past experiences of yellow haven’t been a good, there are many more options that will complement your natural skin tone beautifully.And, if the thought of a yellow dress seems too much, there are many more creative ways to brighten your look this season. Add a yellow scarf, a necklace or a bangle. Accessories will lift and brighten your overall appearance. They can also give you increased authority, and help you to appear more interesting.Pair the right shade with neutrals (blacks, greys, browns and navy’s) and you’ll soon discover a wonderful, seasonal joie de vivre.

Yellow: Clothes to enjoy

House of Colour

By Jennie Billings



HAIRWORKS

Combining over 20 years industry experience, Hairworks continues to offer a full range of hair salon services in the beautiful village of Weston and is now delighted to introduce, exclusive to the area one of the worlds leading aromatherapy skin care brands.

Gift vouchers available. Hairworks, Fore Street Weston, SG4 7AS, Tel: 01462 790122

HAIR, NAILS& BEAUTY

HEALS. SEALS. PROTECTS

Hairworks half page advert.indd 1 14/02/2017 16:28

PlaytimeHome

If you space for a dedicated playroom, or can allocate a section of another room, you can keep toys contained and your children happy – and it’s a great opportunity for imaginative decorating.The key to designing a playroom is flexibility. Keep the basics plain and simple – neutral walls, floor and major items of furniture, with only the less expensive and easily changed items (such as blinds, cushions or storage boxes) themed to colours or characters.Start by considering the major factors. Is the room just going to be a playroom, or will it double as another, such as a child’s bedroom? How much space do you have and who will use it? How old are your children? What is your budget? Sketching a floor plan on graph paper will help, as you may need to include one or more beds, a desk, seating, a music system and clothes storage, as well as space for books and toys, plus free floor space in which to play. Place and space The more space you can allocate to a playroom the better, not to mention the storage requirements (see below). A light, bright room is ideal, preferably not far from a toilet or from the kitchen or living room, so you know what they’re up to. Direct access to outside space would, again, be ideal. A space with interesting nooks and crannies, perhaps even different floor levels (within reason), will feed the imagination.Design basics Floors should be non-slip,easily cleanable, hard-wearing and not too hard underfoot.

Wooden or laminate boards plus a soft rug (with an anti-slip mat beneath), vinyl or linoleum are all ideal. If you must choose carpet, go for an inexpensive one and have a stain-resistant treatment applied before installation.Inset ceiling lights and high-up wall lights are better than floor or table lamps that could be knocked over. That said, decorative lighting looks lovely, but choose one designed for children and position it so that there are no trailing flexes.You may choose to keep walls plain, or make them the focal point of the room in the form of a specially painted mural - an internet search will produce plenty of companies that will create one for you, but be careful that it won’t date. Alternatively, use framed pictures, removable stickers, artists’ canvases painted in bright blocks of colour, a camouflage net, flags, maps, blackboard or magnetic paint, or an entire wall of good-looking storage. Furniture and fun When furnishing a playroom you can let your imagination run riot, but note that floor cushions and bean bags are better than miniature children’s sofas and chairs, which are quickly outgrown. Storage Always ensure that toys are easily accessible. Cheap and colourful plastic tubs are ideal for many toys, while Lego, plastic people, farmyard animals and other small things can go in appropriately sized storage boxes (perhaps recycled ice cream tubs or takeaway cartons). You may also need storage/display space for elaborate railway or racing tracks, craft activities, pretend kitchens and shops, teddies, dolls and action figures and, for older kids, technology such as laptops and tablets. Last of all don’t forget peg rails, hooks and hanging fabric organisers – all invaluable space savers.

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Food and DrinkWine:

Choice DessertsDessert wines have been very popular through the ages and are generally a sweet wine that is enjoyed with, or after a meal. Sometimes served with the dessert of a meal, and afterwards, also, these productions continue to be chosen regularly and form part of the highlight of a dining occasion. Various well-known dessert wines, that are ‘late harvested’, incorporate ‘noble rot’ (Botrytis cinerea). Differing variations of dessert wines can be light in texture and others more powerful. The dessert wines can be sparkling and fortified, also.Castelnau de Suduiraut (France) is a serious production. Fresh and with good balance, this is a very popular dessert wine. Intense fruits, for the mouthfeel, make this exceptional production very popular, for many dining occasions.Late Harvest Vistamar Moscatel (Chile) is a splendid wine from the Limarí Valley, which has perfect conditions for Moscatel grapes. This straw-yellow production has an excellent bouquet, plus a wonderful mouthfeel and palate of juicy fruits. A long finish adds to the pleasures of this very balanced wine.Royal Tokaji (Hungary) is extremely popular. Tokaji dessert wines have been a favourite from the 17th century, the indigenous grape varieties, combined with the hot summers

and, of course, volcanic soils, plus expertise, come together to produce exceptional wines.Torres Floralis (Spain) is a further popular dessert wine. The Torres family has, since 1946, been making Floralis-Moscatel Oro. This is reputedly one of the most charismatic dessert wines of the Mediterranean. The floral bouquet leads perfectly to the mouthfeel and sensual palate sensations.I located these productions and many more, at the award-winning Majestic Wine Company, which is dedicated and committed to customer satisfaction. Great advice, if required, from the very knowledgeable staff, about their wines, spirits, beers, ciders and non-alcoholic beverages, etc., is always available, plus free glass hire and delivery, with free tastings and discounts, also. There are opportunities to meet wine producers at the free tasting events. Online ordering is available, too. www.majestic.co.uk

As always, Enjoy!

Trevor Langley


Employment

Employment Matters Flexible Working Arrangements

Carol H Scott HR and Business Consulting Ltd

At the end of 2016 the British Chambers of Commerce published the results of their survey of more than 1,600 UK business leaders about the impact of child care costs to their employees and their business. More than one in four said that employees have cut their hours because of the high cost of childcare, and nearly 10% said some staff had to leave altogether because of childcare costs.The government plans to double the entitlement to free early education and childcare for three- and four-year-olds by September this year which will probably lead to an increase in flexible working requests from parents who may have otherwise decided to cut hours or leave work entirely.Every employee with more than 26 weeks’ continuous employment has a statutory right to request flexible working for any reason and we have a Flexible Working Request procedure in this country to allow employees to request changes to their working hours, working times or location which do not have to be related only to child care.Employers must consider every request reasonably and the ACAS Code of Practice on Handling in a Reasonable Manner Requests to Work Flexibly will employers to comply with the requirements and reduce the risk of claims for compensation if they handle a request unreasonably. The employee’s course of action is to:1. Make their application in writing and date it.2. State that it is an application under the

statutory right to apply for flexible working arrangements.

3. State whether a previous application has been made by you to the Company and when.

4. Set out the details of the change applied for and the date on which it is proposed that the change should become effective.

5. Explain what effect, if any, you think making the requested change applied for would have on the Company and how, in your opinion, such effects might be dealt with.

The employer’s course of action is to:1. Arrange to meet with the employee on receipt

of a written request - giving the right to be accompanied - to discuss it as soon as possible.

2. Requests can only be rejected for one or more of eight specific business reasons: • burden of additional costs, • inability to reorganise work among existing

staff, • inability to recruit additional staff, • detrimental impact on quality, • detrimental impact on performance, • detrimental effect on ability to meet

customer demand, • insufficient work for the periods the

employee proposes to work, • or a planned structural change to your

business.3. After the meeting and careful consideration,

inform the employee of the decision in writing as soon as possible. If the request is accepted (or accepted with adaptions) discuss with them when and how the changes should be implemented.

4. If rejecting the request, the employer must give the reasons in writing, allow the employee to appeal and give them the right to be accompanied.

5. The time from receipt of the request to completion of the process, including any appeal, must be no longer than three months.

All employers are required to advise their employees of how to make a flexible working request and provide the information, so it is time for every company to get their written policy in place.


Answer: HINDER

WORDWHEELUsing only the letters in the Wordwheel, you have ten minutes to find as many words as possible, none of which may be plurals, foreign words or proper nouns. Each word must be of three letters or more, all must contain the central letter and letters can only be used once in every word. There is at least one word that uses all of the letters in the wheel.

IRD

TARGET Excellent: 17 or more words Good: 15 words Fair: 12 words

NH E

Health

Ovarian Cancer Awareness MonthAround 7,300 UK women are diagnosed with ovarian cancer annually and less than half are alive 5 years later. Yet early diagnosis can increase 5-year survival to 90%. That’s why March’s Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month is vital.Reducing Risk: Taking the contraceptive pill, having children and breastfeeding are all proven to reduce ovarian cancer risk.Types of Ovarian Cancer - About 90% of ovarian tumours are epithelial ovarian cancer, starting in the layer covering the ovary. Around 1 to 2% of ovarian cancers are germ cell cancers, formed in the ovary’s egg making cells. Rare stromal tumours and sarcomas can also affect the ovary and a few ovarian cancers are primary peritoneal carcinomas, which develop in the membrane around abdominal organs. Slow-growing borderline ovarian tumours do not grow into the stroma (supportive tissue of the ovary). Risk FactorsIncreasing age: Most ovarian cancer sufferers are post-menopause.Faulty genes: 5 to 15% of ovarian cancers are thought to be caused by an inherited faulty gene, including BRCA1 and BRCA2, which also increase breast cancer risk.Previous breast cancer doubles the risk, and pushes it even higher if you were diagnosed before age 40.Infertility may increase risk, but fertility treatments

are no longer believed to do so. There may be an increased risk of borderline ovarian tumours in infertile women treated with IVF. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is linked to less than 1% of ovarian cancers.Being overweight or tall: A BMI of 28 or over increases risk in premenopausal women but has no effect on risk in postmenopausal women. Taller women also have a higher risk.Endometriosis: Using talcum powder between your legs is thought to increase ovarian cancer risk due to its irritant effect. Smoking: The longer you’ve smoked, the greater the risk increase for certain ovarian cancers. Symptoms - Ovarian cancer symptoms aren’t always easy to identify and may be mistaken for IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) or PMS (Premenstrual Syndrome) symptoms in the early stages. However, if symptoms are new, severe, frequent or persistent (occurring most days for three weeks or more), you should see your GP immediately, although often, a less serious condition is to blame. Look out for:• Abdominal swelling and persistent bloating.• Persistent pelvic and abdominal pain.• Difficulty eating, nausea and feeling full

unusually quickly.• Back pain.• Needing to urinate more frequently.• Pain during sex.



Remember that ovarian cancer is rare in women under 40, but that you should be particularly cautious if you are over 50 or have a family history of breast or ovarian cancer.DiagnosisYour GP may do some tests themselves or refer you straight to a specialist. You will be examined externally and internally to check for any lumps or swelling and will then have an abdominal or transvaginal ultrasound scan. They’ll also do a blood test for CA125, a protein that’s elevated in half of women with early stage ovarian cancer and 90% of women with advanced ovarian cancer (although other pelvic conditions and pregnancy can cause elevated levels too). They may also order a CT or MRI scan. However, sometimes it’s impossible to diagnose ovarian cancer definitively without surgery.TreatmentMost women with ovarian cancer will require surgery. If your cancer is diagnosed early, you may only need the affected ovary and fallopian tube removed. More advanced cancers may need more extensive surgery, plus chemotherapy before and after, to treat cancerous cells and reduce reoccurrence risk.

Alison Runham - ww.alison.runham.co.uk

1. What drink was first produced in Somerset in the 1930s and was named after the scientific name for the blackcurrant?

2. The Coca-Cola Company is headquartered in which American state?3. How many units of alcohol are there in total in a bottle of wine that has

an alcohol volume of 12%?4. What liqueur shares its name with the Dutch word for “lawyer”?5. What drink is sometime’s referred to as “Adam’s ale”?6. What drinks brand originated in the 19th century when the owner of an

oyster bar in London began offering a gin-based drink with a mixture of herbs and liqueurs as an aid to digestion, serving it in a small tankard known as a “number one cup”?

7. In the first chapter of Alice’s Adventures In Wonderland, what happens to Alice when she drinks from a bottle labelled “drink me”?

8. What are the four types of alcoholic drink mentioned in the lyrics of the 1997 hit single Tubthumping by Chumbawumba?

9. Best known for their machines that allow people to make their own carbonated drinks at home, what company reintroduced their slogan “get busy with the fizzy” in 2010?

10. Which cocktail is reportedly named after a surfer who, after losing a contest, had too many drinks and kept bumping into furniture?

Fun Quiz - Drink Up

1. Ribena 2. Georgia (in the city of Atlanta) 3. 9 (calculated as the volume in litres, 0.75, multiplied by the alcohol volume) 4. Advocaat 5. Water 6. Pimm’s (Pimm’s Number One Cup is the most popular Pimm’s drink) 7. She shrinks

8. Whiskey, lager, cider, vodka (“He drinks a whiskey drink, he drinks a vodka drink, he drinks a lager drink, he drinks a cider drink”) 9. Soda Stream 10. Harvey Wallbanger (after Tom Harvey)

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Garden

It is essential to plant and space the plants correctly, to both achieve the desired effect and ensure the plants establish well. Once out of the pot, position the plant in the prepared soil at the same depth as it was in the pot; for bare-root plants only the roots should be beneath the soil. Firm the soil around each so that it is in good contact with the roots.Hedging plants should generally be spaced about 30-45cm apart. For a thicker or denser hedge, plant two parallel rows, each with a 45cm spacing between the plants, but positioned so that the planting is staggered like bricks in a wall. Once the whole hedge is planted, water the soil thoroughly to help settle the soil around the roots and so allow the plants to establish. On windy sites or with larger plants use small, temporary stakes such as bamboo canes to stabilise the plants. Keep the hedge well watered, especially during dry or windy weather. The first 18 months is the most vital period.Some great hedging plants:

There is nothing better than a living boundary around or within your garden, and it is difficult to beat a hedge. Hedges can be smart or informal, neat and compact or thicker and sturdier, evergreen or deciduous and can even have pretty flowers - and now is an ideal time to plant a new hedge.First, prepare the area by forking the soil over thoroughly and remove large stones, debris and pernicious weeds. This also helps to break up any compaction and to aerate the soil, making it a better place for plant roots. You should fork in well-rotted garden compost, manure or proprietary compost if the soil is either very sandy and light or very heavy with clay, and at the same time incorporate a complete fertilizer. Don’t plant right up against an existing fence, as the plants won’t grow well.At this time of year you can create a hedge very effectively using ‘bare-root’ plants, but if you want to plant a hedge at any other time you will need container-grown plants. If using pot-grown plants, water them thoroughly and then carefully remove each plant from its pot. If the roots are tightly packed, tease them out firmly before planting. If you’re using bare-root plants, plant them immediately.

By Pippa Greenwood www.pippagreenwood.com How To Hedge

• Yew - a formal, evergreen hedge. • Thuja - a stunning conifer hedge for year

round colour.• Beech - a deciduous plant that gives a good

effect for much of the year. Both purple and green-leafed forms.

• Hornbeam - great as a neatly clipped hedge, but more prone to mildew than beech.

• Cypress – excellent if kept well clipped and cut back regularly.

• Pyracantha - spiny evergreen with pretty creamy-white flowers and red-orange or yellow berries.

• Privet - the classic town hedge.• Euonymus - evergreen, some variegated

green and cream, others green and yellow.• Hawthorn - deciduous and potentially

thorny, good for wildlife.• Blackthorn - deciduous and very thorny,

with pretty white flowers followed by sloes – but can easily get too vigorous!

Visit Pippa’s website www.pippagreenwood.com

to buy gorgeous UK grown vegetable plants accompanied by weekly advice emails from

Pippa, or to peruse the useful selection of Pippa’s favourite gardening items and lots

more besides.


Stevenage airport taxiS

Stevenage Airport Taxis offer the most reliable and professional airport transfer service in and around the

Stevenage area. We have several licensed vehicles that can cater for up to 8 passengers. We also provide a

transport service for weddings, long distance journeysand any occasion day or night leisure trips.

Please visit our website for any bookings or quotations

www.stevenageairporttaxis.co.ukor call

01438 420420

Online Bookings • Credit Cards Accepted

Motoring

First Ride: Honda VFR1200F GT DCT Glance at the handlebars of this Honda VFR1200F and it can take a while to notice something is missing – even hard-nosed bikers will struggle to spot that this sports tourer is lacking a clutch lever.You see, this is Honda’s DCT automatic model, a sort of giant, grown-up twist and go scooter that’s not nearly as horrifying to ride as it might sound. Most bikers will find the idea of losing control of the gears and letting a computer do the shifting for them a cardinal sin – and I’ll happily admit I was one of them – but then I learned to live with the Honda, and you know what: I think most riders will find it hard to go back to a ‘normal’ bike again.Hop on board the Honda and you’ll find the semi-automatic transmission doesn’t feel as far removed from a standard gearbox after all. The rider selects drive at the push of a button on the handlebars and that familiar ‘clonk’ of a bike’s gear being engaged is still apparent. However, pulling away requires no slipping of the clutch or fumbling with your feet – you simply let the bike take care of swapping cogs and concentrate on riding. You can do it yourself via buttons on the handlebars, but chances are you probably won’t.That paragraph won’t convince many bikers to change to a DCT any time soon, but I can assure you as a devout gear shifter I’ve quickly learned to love it.In fact, the VFR1200F has won me over in more ways than one. It helps that it’s got a glorious engine. The liquid cooled V4 lump produces 173bhp and is good for 165mph. It sounds wonderful and as the revs increase your helmet is

filled with an intoxicating warble. You’ll find it quite addictive.On the road it feels stable and solid to ride. The confidence it inspires in the corners right from the off makes it an easy bike to get on with, and one you’ll want to use whatever the weather. Rarely do you ride a bike that feels as stable in the wet as it does in the dry, but this Honda certainly does. The VFR is practical too. Our test model features luggage that comes as standard on the GT model, which consists of a top box and panniers (£725 optional extra on other models). These are easy to operate with the ignition key and fit everything you’ll need for a weekend away, or will cope admirably with an ad-hoc trip to the supermarket. The heated grips (costing £250 usually but standard on this GT) are a welcome addition too. They warm up quickly and lightly toast your fingers on colder morning rides.

The usual excellent Honda build quality is very much apparent. The fit and finish of the switchgear is beautiful and feels like it justifies the £14,599 price tag. The shaft drive is refined and convenient, reducing on cleaning rituals and cuts down on the need for maintenance.There’s a lot to love about the VFR1200F. Once you get over the initial shock of not having to grab a clutch, the VFR really is easy to fall for. Practical, comfortable, incredibly swift and great fun – it’s very close to being the perfect all-rounder you’ve always promised yourself.

Honda VFR1200F GT DCTPrice: £14,599

Engine: 1,237cc, V4Power: 173bhp, 128Nm

Top speed: 165mphMPG: 42mpg



Pets

Dear RSPCA vet,I’ve recently got two gorgeous kittens – a brother and a sister. They are growing up now and are very playful. However, they’re beginning to stay away from home for longer periods of time. The boy has obviously been fighting as he came home with a nasty scratch on his face. My wife thinks that neutering them both will help – but surely, as they are brother and sister we don’t need to do that?Hashir, Bedford

Dear Hashir,Neutering (males) or spaying (females) would have a number of positive effects for both of your cats. If he was neutered, your male cat would be 80 percent less likely to get into fights with other cats, reducing the number of injuries he receives, and lowering the risk of picking up Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV). Partly as a result of these factors, neutered male cats live for longer than unneutered males. While neutering, in itself, will not make him more docile or friendlier to humans, he will spend more time around one home base, and so he should become more familiar with the people feeding him. So, if you neuter your male cat your neighbourhood will become a calmer place and your cat will be more relaxed and happier to spend time with you.Another huge benefit is that neutering/spaying prevents unwanted kittens being born. Unfortunately, animals don’t respect family relationships – siblings will mate. This increases the

risk of offspring being born with birth defects and deformities.Neutering prevents female animals coming into season, when they may attract unwanted male attention, become pregnant or have false pregnancies. Unneutered female animals can be messy when they come into season – during this time, females can bleed for up to three weeks. Think also of how many unwanted pregnancies your male cat could create in your neighbourhood. Animal charities, such as the RSPCA Bedfordshire North branch, struggle to cope with the unmanageable number of kittens being abandoned and neglected in Bedfordshire each year. Neutering your cats will make you part of a solution, not part of the problem – so thank you!

Animal Queries

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

www.rspca-bedfordshirenorth.org.uk


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Great Ashby

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Traditional Sticky Toffee Pudding with Butterscotch Sauce

Three Counties Radio

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.

There was a time when no self-respecting restaurant or gastropub would dare to not have sticky toffee pudding on its menu. Luckily, this classic dessert has survived being so ubiquitous and remains one of my

absolute personal favourites. This version has been created by chef Adam Whitlock, who holds two AA Rosettes at Gilbey’s Restaurant in Amersham. His pudding is bouncy and fluffy and sits in the moreish butterscotch

sauce. Plus with all those dates, surely it can count as one of our five-a-day? You can make everything in advance if you want and just give the pudding and sauce a quick blitz in the microwave before serving.

This will serve 4 and a few more so freeze any that you have left over.

2. Melt the butter on a low heat in a pan or in a microwave and mix all the cake ingredients, including the dates.

3. Prepare a large square baking tin by lining it with greaseproof paper, pour in the cake mix and bake in a pre-heated oven at 150C/ Gas Mark 3 for around 35-30 minutes. You’ll know it’s ready when it is nice and golden, risen and a skewer comes out of it clean.

3. To make the butterscotch sauce, mix together 1 tablespoon of black treacle, 1 pint of double cream and 55g light brown sugar. Bring to a gentle boil and leave it to simmer until it starts to thicken. When the right consistency is reached, pass it through a sieve to take out any impurities.

4.Cut the sponge into rectangles and serve them on top of a really good drizzle of the sauce in deep bowls.

Ingredients

225g butter225g soft brown sugar225g self-raising flour

225g pitted dates4 eggs

290ml boiling water2tsp bicarbonate of soda

1. First, rehydrate the pitted dates in the boiling water. Once they have plumped up, pop them in a food processor to chop them up. Failing that, chop them finely with a sharp knife.


Call Richard on 01438 813492

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©P

uzzlepress.co.uk

Word LadderChange one letter at a time (but not the position of any letter) to make a new word - and move from the word at the top of the ladder to the word at the bottom, using the exact number of rungs provided.

F I S H

F O W L


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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


1 MarchNorth Herts Association

of the National Trust7.30pm

Christchurch, Bedford Road, HitchinNon-members £2 on the door

‘How Not to Dispose of a Body’, a talk by Doug Newlyn. Non-members welcome.

Membership of National Trust not necessary.

2, 9, 16 & 23 MarchSapphire Social Club

8.30pmThe Orange Tree, Hitchin

We are a small and friendly group for single people generally aged 50 and above. We offer

a variety of social events during the month and the opportunity to meet and make new friends. Potential new members are warmly welcome to come along and meet us with no

joining fee for the first two months.Tel: Joyce 07952 678021 or Ian 07900 890583

for informationWeb: www.sapphiresocialsinglesclub.co.uk

4 MarchCambridgeshire and Bedfordshire Hardy

Plant Society2pm

Weatherley Centre, Eagle Farm Road, Biggleswade

Helen Picton ‘It’s Not Time for Bed Yet - rethinking autumn in the garden’. Helen is the owner of Old Court Nursery. Plants for

sale. Visitors welcome - small charge which includes refreshments.

Web: www.hpscambsandbeds.co.uk

6, 13, 20 & 27 MarchStevenage Choral Society

7.30-9.45pmStevenage Music Centre, Nobel School,

Mobbsbury Way, StevenageEvery Monday. Try our friendly choir with a

FREE session. No audition necessary! We are inviting you to meet like-minded people of

all ages and abilities, to try out a wide range of music from the classics to show songs

and be part of our friendly and supportive team, putting on excellent performances

whilst having fun... We’re looking forward to singing with you! The repertoire for our Spring concert is the Vaughan Williams Sea

Symphony. Tel: 01438 365769Email: [email protected]: www.stevenagechoral.org.uk

6, 13, 20 & 27 MarchBranch Out Social Club

for Single People8.30-11pm

Cromwell Bar, The Sun Hotel, HitchinBranch Out meets every Monday night and is a medium-sized Social Club for single people.

It was formed in 1995 to bring together single, divorced, widowed and separated people, aged 40 upwards, from the Herts,

Beds and Bucks area, to socialise and enjoy one another’s company. The club organises

regular events, such as dinners, discos, meals, parties, Sunday walks, theatre and concert visits, day and weekend trips and holidays.

Tel: Lorna 01438 233657Web: www.branch-out.org.uk

8 MarchHenlow Branch R N A

7.30pm Community Centre, The Gardens, Henlow

The Henlow Branch of The Royal Naval Association meets on the second Wednesday

of each month.Tel: Les Dessent 01767 223212 for further

information

9 MarchStevenage RSPB

9.30amA morning walk around Sandy Lodge. Meet

in the car park. Grid Ref TL 192486.

9 MarchBaldock & Clothall WI

7.30pmUnited Reformed Church,

Whitehorse Street, BaldockVisitors £3 including refreshment and raffle

ticketThe WI has all sorts of good things lined up

for 2017 and lots of other things you might be interested in - a book club, a walking group, a craft club, a knitting and crochet group, a cinema group and a supper club. Hopefully

there is something for everyone.Facebook: www.facebook.com/

baldockclothallwi

13 MarchIcknield Quilters

7.30pm for 7.45pm startBaldock Community Centre

Members only AGM and sewing evening.Web: www.icknieldquilters.co.uk for more

information15 March

Herts at War TalkDoors open 7pm for 7.30pm

Free admission - donations welcomeThe Large Lecture Theatre (adjacent

to Western Auditorium), University of Hertfordshire, De Havilland Campus, Hatfield.

Return of the successful series of military talks. Richard Van Emden will talk about Meeting the Enemy. Please book tickets

online.Web: http://hertsatwar.co.uk/talks

What’s OnIn March

What’s on entries to [email protected]

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

month.What’s on entries to

[email protected]


18 March16th Ashwell Flea Market

9.30am-1.00pmSt. Mary’s Church, Ashwell

Many interesting, wonderful and useful items for sale at knock-down prices. Come

and browse and pick up some bargains! Tea and coffee available. Proceeds to the Church

Restoration Appeal.

18 MarchMuddy Meyhem 5K Obstacle Race

12.00 noonKnebworth Park

Adults £20, Children 14-17 years £12Garden House Hospice Care is proud to

present its very first exciting 5K obstacle race set in the wonderful grounds of Knebworth Park. All muddy runners get on your marks and get ready to clamber, climb, scramble

and crawl your way around this fantastic fun obstacle course. So get down and dirty and

get fit for 2017! This is a sponsored event and as a guide we encourage everyone taking part

to raise a minimum of £50, however every £ makes a difference.Tel: 01462 679540

Web: www.ghhospicecare.org.uk to sign up

18 MarchWeston Music Society

7.30pmWeston Parish Church, SG4 7DJ

Clive Carroll on Acoustic guitar. Clive’s repertoire ranges from 16th and 17th century

lute music to jazz standards, blues, Irish reels and his own compositions. His most

recent CD ‘The Furthest Tree’, issued last year, includes a duet with the eminent guitarist

John Williams. Our website has full details of our activities, including how to order tickets (not always available on the door) and how

to find us.Web: www.westonmusicsociety.org.uk

18 MarchVivace Choir - The Magic of Singing

Workshop1-5.30pm

Edgeworth House, 121 High Street, Arlesey£15 per person inc. music hire and

refreshmentsIf you used to enjoy singing with others and feel you’d like to rediscover the magic - or if you already sing and would like to expand

your musical horizons - but are not sure where to start, this workshop is for you.

Combining a light-hearted approach with a focus on sound technique, it will build your confidence and open the doors to whatever

kind of vocal group you are interested in. Activities will be closely matched to your

individual needs, including some small-group sessions. We will explore a wide range of

music, from gospel through Gershwin to some easy bits of Handel’s Messiah. The workshop

is hosted by Vivace Choir; members of the choir will take part to provide support.

Tel: 01462 730022 for more informationEmail: [email protected]

18 & 19 March12th Mimram Quilters Patchwork and

Quilting ExhibitionSat 10am-5pm, Sun 10am-4pm

Welwyn Civic Centre, Prospect Place, Old Welwyn

Admission £3.50, Children freeExhibition of quilts and wall hangings.

Open competition ‘Journal’ quilt (theme of ‘Celebration’). Sales table. Traders. Raffles

including two quilts as prizes. Refreshments available.

Tel: Michèle Clarke 01462 790577 for more information

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

19 MarchBiggleswade Antiques Fair

9.30am-4pmThe Weatherley Centre, Eagle Farm Road,

BiggleswadeEntrance £1.50

This antiques fair offers a diverse range of antiques and collectables so whether you are a professional dealer, an avid collector or just looking for something special, this

monthly fair is the place to visit. Café serving breakfast, lunch and afternoon tea.Tel: 01480 382432 or 07906 647346

Web: www.madisonevents.co.uk

21 MarchStevenage RSPB

7.30pmThe Friends Meeting House, Cutty’s Lane,

StevenageMembers £3, Non-members £4, Under 16s

50pAnn and Phil Farrer present a talk entitled

“South East Australia – Tasmania – Sydney”.

25 MarchChoral Concert

7.30pmCoptic Orthodox Church Centre, Broadhall

Way, StevenageAdvance tickets £11, On the door £13, Children/Student £5, Programmes £2

Stevenage & Harpenden Choral Societies with Kings Sinfonietta, Soprano: Sally Silver and Baritone: Grant Doyle. Ralph Vaughan Williams “A Sea Symphony” Conductor John Andrews. Benjamin Britten “Sea Interludes”

Conductor Robin Osterley. Tickets available by telephone, email or online.

Tel: Gill Brown 07734 420323Email: [email protected]

Web: www.wegottickets.com

What’s OnIn March

What’s on entries to [email protected]

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

our website www.villagermag.com


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Easy

Hard

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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 March 2017 Prize Crossword, Villager Publications Ltd

24 Market Square, Potton, Beds SG19 2NP

Across7 Stylish (13)8 Talking (8)9 Remove (4)10 Soaked (7)12 Attacks with knife (5)14 Crawled (5)16 Scratched (7)19 Female sheep (4)20 Ten hundred (8)22 Support (13)

Down1 Wealthy (4)2 Sculpture (6)3 Motors (7)4 Protrude (5)5 Accompany (6)6 Achievable (8)11 Slinging (8)13 Dicken’s character (7)15 Type of gun (6)17 Presume (6)18 Mixes (5)21 Zero (4)

42


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Premier

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Premier Painters and Decorators are a professional, punctual and hard working company delivering outstanding quality of work to our clients in and around StevenageFrom wallpaper hanging, feature walls, coving and cornice work. We even clean facias, soffits and guttering. (PVC or Wood)If you would like to take advantage of our services, require a quote or advise please do not hesitate to contact us. Be assured when Premier quote a job there are NO HIDDEN EXTRAS. Private and commercial, exterior and interior painting services.


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Gifts for Mum. Looking for the perfect present for Mother’s Day? Maybe we can help…

Elizabeth: The Forgotten Years by John Guy John Guy is one of the most respected Tudor historians of our times. Here he reveals aspects of Elizabeth I’s later life previously lost in time. Painstakingly researched, the biography includes extracts from numerous letters from Elizabeth herself and details of both her private and public life. A must for fans of historical biographies.

Paris for One and Other Stories by Jojo Moyes These 11 short stories are filled with romance, humour and charm. As we’ve come to expect from Moyes, great plots and believable characters make this a really enjoyable read. The title story follows Nell as she finds herself alone in Paris and has to break out of her comfort zone. Perfect for mums who sometimes only have 10 minutes to relax with a book and a cuppa.

Book ReviewBy Kate Duggan

Books

V The ILLAGER

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Transcript of V The ILLAGER