Happy Birthday to:

Jack Holden Postles whose birthday is on the 10^th February,

Victoria Beardow who will be 12 on the 22^nd and to

Charlotte Lloyd who was 6 on the 24^th January.

We hope you all have wonderful birthdays….and of course happy birthday wishes to everyone with a birthday in February!

Most of us have suffered the odd sleepless night, tossing and turning and moaning about how our lack of sleep will affect the following day. Some unlucky souls suffer more than others! Interrupted sleep is one of the most common complaints aired in the G.P's surgery and millions of pounds are spent on sleeping pills to help those having difficulty in dropping off at night.  The British Association of Counselling has been reported as saying that 12m people have at least 3 bad nights sleep a week.  Indeed, a lack of sleep is fast becoming a major health obsession with the British public.

Science tells us that what may seem to us to be a continuous night's sleep is actually broken into 90 minute spells.  Upon falling asleep most people go into a period of deep slumber which will take up between 10% and 20% of a night's sleep.  Following this first period comes the dream period - a time for memory storage.   So, what is this thing called sleep?  It is far more than just closing the eyes and an absence of body movement.  It is to do with profound changes that take place in the cortex - that part of the brain that controls such functions as intellect, imagination, social responsibilities and love.

We are all governed by our own inborn "time clock".  This timepiece, in early days, was in synch with sunrise and sunset, enabling primitive man to rise early ensuring a better chance of survival and success at hunting.  Our time clock is, however, highly adaptable, as our experiences with world travel and jet lag illustrates.  Many people worry when they find themselves tired in the afternoon and fall asleep, but this is a normal phenomenon in most people.  The afternoon sees a natural "dip" in our day's energy pattern.  The afternoon siesta is still quite common in many countries.

Winston Churchill was very keen on his afternoon sleep.  Five centuries ago Britons enjoyed a "fyrst slepe", or an early evening nap, followed by supper and a period for prayers.  People would stay up into the early hours and then retire for 5 or 6 hours sleep.  I imagine, however, that this was a luxury for the more leisured people.  I'll be bound the poor wretched peasant didn't share such a privilege.

The night of a regular 7 to 8 hour sleep is quite a modern practice, and is most likely linked to industrialisation and the requirement of working regular hours.  However, just think back to Dickens’ times.  People worked a 14 hour day, six days a week and with no lie-in on a Sunday as this was a day for attendance at church.  At night people returned from their labours to a home of cramped conditions where parents and children shared the same bedroom, sometimes the same bed.  This was a noisy, often flea-infested environment where I doubt if anybody had 8 hours of uninterrupted sleep.  However, this was considered normal and no-one complained about lack of sleep.

What is more, the human being’s ability to sleep in virtually any circumstances is well documented.  We have all dropped off in uncomfortable situations, like in a chair or on the beach and who hasn't slept on a long bus or train journey, but this does not even begin to compare with those who lived in the Victorian workhouse.   The phrase "hangover" is not a modern one and has no association with alcohol.  Instead it relates to a workhouse tradition, although for the life of me I cannot understand how they achieved any rest.  Workers lined up along a bench (presumably they sat on it) and a rope was strung from one end to the other, allowing them to sleep by draping their arms over the rope which they "hung over" as it supported them. 

In future, therefore, when remarking light-heartedly, about a sleeping companion that "he/she could even sleep in a clothes line" ...give pause and think of just how that saying may have originated ... and then see who is hung over!

Barbara Corley

Odell W.I. welcomed the New Year in ‘In the Pink’. (see pic at top of page)  Our party had a pink theme and all the members were asked to wear something pink. Rachel had decorated the tables and anything else she could find with fushia pink. Even the quiz had a pink theme with all the questions somehow relating to the colour. We had joint winning couples Joyce and Christine and Roberta and Jill: congratulations to them. The meal was a bring and share and was greatly enjoyed by all.

This will be held on Tuesday 12^th at 7.30 in the Village Hall. Our speaker will be Sorrel Pinder, her topic ‘Balance and Flexibility’.

Poem on Balance and Flexibility

Christine Clarke and Lynette Hall

I recently received this request about the ‘Norman’ family. Is there anyone who can give some information?

And can anyone help with this enquiry about the whereabouts of Shirley and Mark Stratton, formerly of Odell?

If you can help with either of these enquiries please e-mail the magazine or contact me. (See the inside front cover of the magazine for addresses).

Thank you, Tricia Hudson

Kathy & George Dunn and Sid & Betty Clark are delighted to announce the engagement of Gillian and Gary on Christmas Day.  A long awaited lovely surprise for all.  " LET THE STRESS BEGIN"!

The annual Senior Citizens Fish and Chip lunch will take place on

Wednesday 5^th March

at 12.30 for 1.00pm

in the Village Hall.

Carlton Road, Harrold, Bedford MK43 7DS

Website: www.hocp.net

Using materials from the Park make an obelisk for your garden. It will help support your plants and flowers or just use it as an architectural statement!

Colour in a butterfly or a fish. Prizes for the best ones at the end of the holiday.

Come and join in with practical work to enhance the park for wildlife and visitors on the following dates:

Monday 25 February and/or Monday 31 March

10am – 3pm

Wear warm clothing and footwear.

Hot drinks provided.

Come for an hour or two or stay as long as you like.

All the events are free but donations are welcome.

Please contact us for further details

Tel: 01234 720016

If you have an idea or can help with these let us know, and if you would like a venue for a private function, the very reasonable hire fee helps us maintain the hall.

By the time the magazine is printed the Burns Night will have taken place in the Village Hall on Saturday 26^th January. A full write-up of the event will appear in the March magazine.

Date: 16^th February 2008, time: 8:00pm.

Tickets: £5 including a glass of wine and cheese buffet (bread, crackers, pâté, chutneys, cheese and nibbles). Licensed bar.

Tickets from Nicki-720893 & Karen-721590

Waste Paper Collection - Thank you for bringing your waste paper to the bins. Though the return is small, every little bit helps financially and of course the waste is recycled.

Do please support our events, and do suggest to us your ideas for alternative activities. Rob Lee (720730) on behalf of the Village Hall Committee.

Reg. Charity No 242164

Definitely not to be missed!

Sharnbrook Post Office (in person)

& Bedford Central Box Office 269519

Advance Booking for our Regional Première of the musical

will be available, only at Theatre, during The Importance of Being Earnest

Bedfordshire Libraries

The mobile library will visit fortnightly on Thursdays as follows:

(Jan 31^st),

Feb 14^th, 28^th.

Mar 13^th, 27^th.

The Green 13.50 – 14.05

Pinchmill Close 14.15 – 14.30

Loring Rd/Lodge Rd 14.45 – 14.55

Home Close 15.00 – 15.55

Stileman Way/

Grange Gardens 16.00 – 16.40

100% grant funded loft and cavity wall insulation is now available to all residents aged 70 years and above. This offer, which became available earlier this year, is made irrespective of your income and savings and whether or not you are in receipt of benefits. In fact, the only requirement is proof of age and name and address.

For most households, insulating has never made better financial sense. Following autumn’s record oil prices and surging wholesale gas and electricity prices, insulation could be our last best defence against rising energy bills in 2008. All homeowners and private tenants qualify for discounted loft and cavity wall insulation. Fully insulating your home could easily reduce your fuel bills by £100 a year. The payback time is typically short and the long term financial and environmental benefits are high.

For more information, contact the Energy Efficiency Advice Centre on 0800 512 012.

4^th 7.30pm Alpha course with supper; meet at Rectory

6^th 10.30am Meeting Point at Catherine’s, Manor Cottage, Harrold

12^th, 19^th, 26^th 10.30am Lent Group, 1 Carlton Rd., Harrold

12^th 7.30pm W.I. Village Hall

12^th, 19^th, 26^th 8.00pm Lent Group 40 High St., Harrold

12^th,20^th, 27^th 8.00pm Lent Group 15 Beeby Way Carlton

14^th,21st^, 28^th 10.30am Lent Group 23 Pavenham Rd Carlton

14^th,21st^, 28^th 1.30pm Lent Group 46 Harewell Way, Harrold

16^th 9.45am All Saints’ Amblers meet outside The Bell

18^th 7.30pm Alpha course with supper; meet at Rectory

20^th 10.30am Meeting Point at Sarah’s, 9 Horsefair Lane

25^th 10am HOCP Conservation Tasks

25^th 7.30pm Alpha course with supper; meet at Rectory

Please send all entries for the March 2008 magazine to Tricia Hudson (mag1@odellbeds.net) or Catherine Corkery by February 12^th 2008 at the latest. May we remind you that the editorial team exercises the right to edit, shorten or alter any items that are submitted. Also, the opinions expressed in the articles are those of the contributors and are not the responsibility of the editorial team.