Author: bacaadmin

Could you offer a spare room at home?

~ bacaadmin

Ukrainian families living in the Chilterns seek new hosts.

By Christmas, many local Ukrainian guests will have been with their families for a little over 6 months – the agreed time commitment. Whilst some hosts are happy to continue into 2023, many guests are already needing to look for more permanent accommodation. But will they manage it?

The private rental market is under huge pressure, particularly in our area. Talking the other day with a local estate agent, we discovered that almost every rental on offer is snapped up within days, if not hours, with landlords able to pick and choose from several possible tenants. Using criteria such as a good credit history and an established UK employment record, it is hard for recently arrived Ukrainians to be top of the list.

So, the poster below is part of a campaign by our local support group, collaborating with Bucks Council, to find ‘second wave’ hosts to take over while guests continue to improve their English and establish themselves in employment. Unless this happens, a potential crisis is looming. If Ukrainians are unable to secure a second host or find a suitable rental soon, then they will be declared homeless and offered only B&B accommodation or worse.

Our community has done a huge amount to welcome Ukrainian families made homeless by a horrific war. And, if we may add a personal note, the last few months have been a rewarding eye-opener for us both. We have learned about a different culture and been privileged to support some vulnerable people though the toughest time of their lives. We have also made three very good friends.

All our guests have already been through so much – it would be truly tragic for them to be made homeless again. Please consider whether you are able to offer a Ukrainian family a temporary refuge, either now or after Christmas. Even if it’s a ‘maybe’, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us to learn more, either at: ddennis48@outlook.com or by using the phone number on the poster – 07494 427355. David Dennis and Lesley Paton 

New art classes for adults at the hall!

~ bacaadmin

We will be commencing our weekly art Classes at the Bellingdon and Asheridge Village Hall on Tuesday 10th January and will run for 13 weeks to Tuesday 4th April.

We have already started to receive bookings –hooray!  two of which are Christmas Presents……so a great idea for those struggling to come up with innovative Christmas present ideas.  

A bit about our classes:

Classes are fun and friendly, a place to learn and make new friends. We offer two 3 hour classes, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. You receive tuition and guidance from our excellent tutor Jo allowing you to produce beautiful art using a variety of media over a 13 week period such as charcoal, coloured inks, pastels, watercolours and acrylic and other media.

The principles of drawing and painting are progressively practiced with techniques and subjects such as landscapes, still life, figure drawing and portrait. We use a variation of images, props & life models as inspiration for our tasks ( see brief facebook video) https://fb.watch/gXduzA2-CK/

Classes are suitable for beginners and more experienced artists. Our classes are immensely popular with over 90% of students choosing to return to do another course, hone and learn new skills, chat with friends & enjoy some ‘me time’. We provide well organised, well prepared, fun classes, nothing is too much trouble! We pride ourselves on creating a sense of community in our classes, we believe the social aspect of art class compliments the tuition to create the perfect environment for creativity and friendship. Not only do you receive tuition throughout the course but all materials, art supplies and refreshments are provided. This means you need bring nothing but yourself to class?

The website page is:

Art Classes nr Chesham – ColourWheel Art Classes

Our face book page is:

ColourWheel Butlers Cross & Chesham | Facebook

On the facebook page is a brief video of what students can expect

https://fb.watch/gXduzA2-CK/

Contact Details:

Stacey Lyons 01494 972384

stacey@colourwheelartclass.co.uk

Hort Soc Autumn Show: Saturday 3rd September

~ bacaadmin

A reminder that this coming Saturday, 3rd September, is our Autumn Show in Bellingdon & Asheridge Village Hall. We do hope you will consider exhibiting, even if just in one class, as it is such fun.

Set up of exhibits is between 9.30am – 11am, and we open the doors in the afternoon from 2.30pm until 4.30pm, giving you a chance to view the exhibits, see who has been awarded the trophies, join in our raffle with a filled picnic hamper as the main prize, and enjoy refreshments with a slice of wonderful homemade cake.

Autumn-Show-Schedule-2022Download
Entry-Form-Single-2022Download

Curvaceous cook

~ bacaadmin

Miso Aubergine
I always buy aubergines, and then am never quite sure what to do with them apart from curry and chilli, but these are so quick and easy on the BBQ. Maybe you have grown some this year, they do really well in our gardens and greenhouses.

  • 1 fat aubergine, sliced across (rather than lengthwise) in about 1cm slices. It doesn’t really matter how you cut them, but I find this easiest
  • 1 heaped tbs each of white miso, tahini and apple cider vinegar, all whisked together
  • Good pinch of chipotle or other chilli flakes if you like them, still good without
  • Black pepper
  • Oil

Rub each side of the aubergine slices with a little oil
Grill or BBQ one side till just colouring, then turn over and grill the other side until just colouring. It should be starting to soften.
Turn back and spread the top with the miso mix
If you are grilling them, grill until just bubbling. On the BBQ, just until it melts a bit.
These are lovely on their own, perhaps with some rice or flatbread, or with a salad. Good hot or cold.

Really Easy and Quick Flatbreads

  • 4 heaped tbs self raising flour
  • 1 level tsp baking powder
  • Good pinch salt
  • 2 tbs (maybe more) plain yoghurt

Simply mix all together, till a smooth ball.

Leave to rest for 10 minutes or so

Divide into 4 and flatten to thin shapes with rolling pin

Heat heavy pan (no oil) and spread the thin slices on top, turning when they puff up.

When both sides look cooked, take them out, brush with butter, and sprinkle on some zataar or dukkah or whatever you fancy, or just have plain

Cover until all are ready

These are good toasted the next day if there are any leftovers….not a problem I have ever had!

Georgina Hayden has lovely recipes for Dukkah and zataar, or you can buy them everywhere these days

Bellingdon Full Fibre Broadband Update

~ bacaadmin

Hi all, I’m delighted to announce that Openreach have finally completed the Bellingdon Two Gates Full Fibre broadband project and you (129 households) should be able to place orders with your Service Provider of choice (it may take a couple of days to trickle through to some Service Provider ordering systems – Vodafone and Talktalk are lagging behind for example). 

If you are currently locked in a contract, your supplier will allow you to upgrade but they will restart the contract term. I have found that the best policy is to call them, threaten to leave (regardless of contract penalties) and they will put you through to the ‘contract retention team’ who are able to negotiate a deal and will usually match competitive offers in order to retain your business. 

Here’s a sample of the best deals I’ve been able to find at the time of writing – It seems there are two clear frontrunners! (data sourced from broadbandchoices.co.uk, moneysupermarket.com, comparethemarket.com)

Provider Speed (Mb) Price Product Name
Plusnet 74 £24.99 Full Fibre 74
Vodafone 100 £25.00 Superfast 100
Plusnet 145 £29.99 Full Fibre 145
Vodafone 500 £35.00 Ultrafast 500
Vodafone 910 £38.00 Gigafast 900

All the best and good luck in getting those deals!!

Tony Orr, on behalf of BAACA