chester & wirral issue 34

Retired& living in Chester & Wirral

THE LOCAL MAGAZINE FOR THE OVER 55s WWW.RETIREDMAGAZINES.CO.UK

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2011

RICK STEINShares his favourite dishesinspired by Flavours of the Med

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FREEPlease take one

Inside ...

MICHAEL ASPELOn how he stepped up to the mike

Affordable peace of mind ..... Holidays

Est.1923

COACH TOURS 2012

1501

Freephone : 0800 0839086

Abbey Lawn Hotel, Torquay AAHHHTorquay is most certainly one of the UK’s Finest resorts and the heart of the English Riviera.

If you are looking to unwind in style, this elegant Georgian hotel is the place to stay. Located in the grounds of the former Torre Abbey, overlooking Torbay, there are superb facilities. These include indoor and outdoor swimming pools, gym, steam room, sauna and a spacious conservatory. As with all our own hotels a night porter ensures 24 hour reception service.

Imperial Hotel, Eastbourne Robinsons HHHEastbourne is an ideal holiday destination, it has one of the top sunshine records in the UK and has been awarded the Seaside Award for its clean safe beaches for the past eight years.

An impressive Victorian hotel, situated at the seaward end of Devonshire place, less than a hundred yards from the seafront, on a delightful tree-lined boulevard less than five minutes walk from the main facilities and town centre amenities. A night porter ensures 24 hour reception service.

Ocean View Hotel, Shanklin Robinsons HHHTake a short boat ride across the Solent and discover the Isle of Wight, an island of great natural beauty and superb weather, with a wealth of attractions for visitors of all ages. Shanklin, on the south coast of the island, is home to a variety of safe, golden beaches and a quaint collection of shops housed in traditional thatched cottages.

An elegant hotel commanding magnificent views across Sandown Bay, the balconies provide the perfect place to enjoy the sunset on summer evenings. Guests can unwind in the piano lounge before enjoying an evning meal in the spacious restaurant. A night porter ensures 24 hour reception service.

ABBEY LAWN HOTEL, TORQUAY IMPERIAL HOTEL, EASTBOURNE OCEAN VIEW HOTEL, ISLE OF WIGHT

LOCAL PICK UP POINTS

FULL 2012 BROCHURE COMING SOON

www.robinsons-holidays.co.ukPark Garage, Great Harwood, Blackburn BB6 7SP.

8 Days/ 7 Nights Dinner Bed & Breakfast, includes at least 2 Excursions and FREE Insurance

Abbey Lawn Imperial Ocean View Mystery Tour

Sat/Sun 28/29 Apr £345 £345 £345 £299 05/06 May £355 £355 £355 £31512/13 May £365 £365 £365 £32519/20 May £375 £375 £375 £33526/27 May £385 £385 £385 £34502/03 Jun £389 £389 £389 £34909/10 Jun £399 £399 £399 £35916/17 Jun £399 £399 £399 £35923/24 Jun £399 £399 £399 £35930 Jun/01 Jul £399 £399 £399 £35907/08 Jul £399 £399 £399 £35914/15 Jul £399 £399 £399 £35921/22 Jul £399 £399 £399 £35928/29 Jul £399 £399 £399 £35904/05 Aug £399 £399 £399 £35911/12 Aug £399 £399 £399 £35918/19 Aug £399 £399 £399 £35925/26 Aug £399 £399 £399 £35901/02 Sept £399 £399 £399 £35908/09 Sept £389 £389 £389 £34915/16 Sept £379 £379 £379 £33922/23 Sept £359 £359 £359 £31929/30 Sept £339 £339 £339 £299

7 Days/ 6 Nights Dinner Bed & Breakfast, includes at least 2 Excursions and FREE Insurance


Monday05-Mar £219 £219 £219 £19512-Mar £229 £229 £229 £20519-Mar £239 £239 £239 £21526-Mar £249 £249 £249 £22516-Apr £275 £275 £275 £24923-Apr £285 £285 £285 £25508-Oct £279 £279 £279 £24915-Oct £269 £269 £269 £24522-Oct £259 £259 £259 £23529-Oct £249 £249 £249 £225

Turkey and Tinsel05-Nov £249 £249 £249 £225 12-Nov £245 £245 £245 £21919-Nov £239 £239 £239 £21526-Nov £235 £235 £235 £20903-Dec £229 £229 £229 £20510-Dec £225 £225 £225 £199

Abbey Lawn and Ocean View Hotels - Front facing/seaview supplements -7 Days £13 per person. 8 Days £15 per person. 5 Days £10 per person


Monday06-Feb £139 £139 £139 £12913-Feb £145 £145 £145 £13320-Feb £149 £149 £149 £13527-Feb £155 £155 £155 £13905-Mar £159 £159 £159 £14512-Mar £165 £165 £165 £14919-Mar £169 £169 £169 £15526-Mar £175 £175 £175 £15902-Apr £175 £175 £175 £15506-Apr £185 £185 £185 £16511-Apr £185 £185 £185 £16516-Apr £189 £189 £189 £16923-Apr £195 £195 £195 £17530-Apr - £199 £199 £17907-May - £209 £209 £18914-May - £215 £215 £19521-May - £219 £219 £19928-May - £225 £225 £20504-Jun - £229 £229 £20911-Jun - £239 £239 £21518-Jun - £249 £249 £22525-Jun - £249 £249 £22502-Jul - £249 £249 £22509-Jul - £249 £249 £22516-Jul - £249 £249 £22523-Jul - £249 £249 £22530-Jul - £249 £249 £22506-Aug - £249 £249 £22513-Aug - £249 £249 £22520-Aug - £249 £249 £22527-Aug - £249 £249 £22503-Sept - £249 £249 £22510-Sept - £245 £245 £21917-Sept - £239 £239 £21524-Sept - £235 £235 £20901-Oct £225 £225 £225 £19908-Oct £215 £215 £215 £18915-Oct £209 £209 £209 £18522-Oct £205 £205 £205 £17929-Oct £199 £199 £199 £175

Turkey and Tinsel05-Nov £199 £199 £199 £179 12-Nov £195 £195 £195 £17519-Nov £189 £189 £189 £16926-Nov £185 £185 £185 £16503-Dec £179 £179 £179 £16510-Dec £175* £175* £175* £165*17-Dec £169* £169* £169* £165*23-Dec £395 £395 £395 £35529-Dec £375 £375 £375 £335

* Unlimited Singles

5 Days/ 4 Nights Dinner Bed & Breakfast, includes 2 Excursions and FREE Insurance

Freephone: 0800 0839086 Park Garage, Great Harwood, Blackburn BB6 7SP www.robinsons-holidays.co.uk

Book any tour from this magazine before 31st December 2011 and receive 12 month membership

to our TRAVEL CLUB**Current Travel Club members will receive a free 12 month Travel Club membership when their present membership expires

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Repeat Prescription Collection ServiceDelivery for the Housebound and ElderlyEmergency ContraceptionSmoking CessationWeight ManagementAlcohol Advice and GuidanceBlood Pressure MonitoringMedicine Use Reviews

Pharmacies

Healthcare services in your community

Manor Pharmacy - Hoylake/MeolsTel: 632 0070Vittoria Pharmacy - BirkenheadTel: 647 8679Birkenhead Pharmacy - BirkenheadTel: 653 7720Egremont Pharmacy - WalleseyTel: 639 5016Willaston Pharmacy - South WirralTel: 327 5110Irby Pharmacy - IrbyTel: 648 1498Victoria Central Pharmacy - LiscardTel: 639 0732Greasby Pharmacy - GreasbyTel: 678 3350Blackheath Pharmacy - LeasoweTel: 604 1600Wallasey Village Pharmacy - WalleseyTel: 638 2392Westminster Park Pharmacy - Westminster ParkTel: 01244 677000Owens Chemist - SaltneyTel: 01244 680410Also pharmacies inCheshire, Merseyside and North Wales.

C O N T E N T S

Welcome toRetired Magazine

Dear Reader

Welcome to the latest local Retired magazine which we hope you will sit back and enjoy at your leisure. Our journalists Angela Kelly, Graham Smith and Sheila Alcock are continuing to keep you well informed with their celebrity interviews and up to date household tips.

We know you will also be left with a smile on your face after reading Graham’s observations on life!

If you know of an event which would benefi t from free publicity please feel free to let us know and we can consider including it in

TRAVEL & LEISURE2-3 Coach Tours 2012 From Robinsons Holidays.

6-7 Tuscany Discover one of Italy's treasures.

REGULARS5 Graham Smith Twittering on.

10-11 Interview Michael Aspel talks to Retired.

HEALTH4 Healthcare in your community Repeat Prescription Collection Service.

19 Bathing Solutions The ultimate answer to bathing solutions.

McGrath Media.Unit 6 | Moses Gate Workshops Gladys Street | Bolton | BL3 2QG.T: (01204) 796 494 | F: (01204) 791594e: [email protected]

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Health and Safety and Hot Air!Reading the entire collection of Health and Safety rules which dictate our lives today would be a suitable prison sentence for murder. New ones are added daily by some overpaid barmpot in Whitehall and two I came across recently are worthy of mention.

In the beautiful Bronte village of Haworth there is an annual event in June to celebrate the 1940s. Everyone and their granny descends on the village, some villagers have been known to move out for the weekend to avoid the crush, and many dress in period costume singing “We’ll Meet Again” increasingly loudly as the local brew takes effect.

Until three years ago part of the spectacle was a fl y past by retired World War Two aeroplanes, usually a Spitfi re, a Hurricane or a Lancaster Bomber. Now these planes are still air worthy after seventy years but some clown in Bradford Council’s Health and Safety asylum decided there was a problem.

The Spitfi re won the Battle of Britain. Hitler and his army eventually chucked the towel in because they couldn’t down enough of the planes to win. It’s a good job Bradford Council wasn’t on his side or he’d have won.

The organisers of the Forties Weekend had to conduct a Health and Safety and feasibility study and here was one of the questions:-

“What was the likelihood of one of the planes crashing onto the village during the fl ypast?”

Now we don’t see many Fokkers or Messerschmitts over Haworth these days and the Home Guard was disbanded some years ago. The only aerial threat we have is from rooks and the occasional duck with a dicky tummy, which might necessitate wearing a tin helmet on windy days.

I think we had the greatest confi dence that the pilots would have successfully cleared the village without a mass slaughter of the population, but, no, we couldn’t have a fl y past.

10,000 people squeezed onto our tiny cobbled streets that weekend. Traffi c management had a pink fi t as the hordes parked their cars anywhere and everywhere. Hermann Goerring was spotted having a pint in The

Fleece but we couldn’t have aeroplanes using the only empty space in the valley…the sky.

Were all fl ights from Leeds-Bradford airport suspended for the day in case the lunch time Ireland plane crashed in Central Park? They were not.

There was a famous wartime phrase which said, “Your country needs you”. I suggest the same does not apply to the Health and Safety nitwits of today.

Graham Smith has a TwitterBut is he right or wrong?

www.airogym.comMovement for life

Airogym™ is a portable, infl atable excerciser that provides a resistance-based excercise to help encourage blood fl ow in the lower legs.

Airogym™ is ideal for anyone who is unable to exercise as much as they used to or would like. It provides a great alternative to help stay active as well as help to reduce swollen joints and muscles.

“My daughter bought an Airogym for me four months ago and I use the Airogym every day and my improvement has been miraculous.”

HOW TO ORDER Telephone: 01488 73848Order online: www.airogym.comOrder by post: Airogym, Membury Logistics Centre, Unit 3 Ramsbury Road, Berkshire RG17 7TJCheques payable to Walker 37£11.99 per item + £2.50 P&P for up to 3

Movement for life

37WALKER

6 www.retiredmagazines.co.uk

Strung along 18km of serrated cliffs between Levanto and La Spezia, the Cinque Terre is one of Italy’s treasures. These five higgledy-piggledy

villages Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore are cut off by mountains, choked with olive groves and dry-stone-walled vineyards, where farmers have eked out a living over the centuries. The Cinque Terre became a Unesco World Heritage site in 1997, which includes a protected marine area, and became a national park (Parco Nazionale delle Cinque Terre) in 1999. Wine growers still use monorail mechanisms to ferry themselves up and the grapes down these unique lands, and in some cases have to harvest by boat as access is restricted. If the terraced hillsides are not worked, they will quite literally slide into the sea.

National park status has spared the area from a propagation of tourism and the tacky souvenir stands that come with it and saved it from environmental destruction. Cars and motorbikes are not allowed in the villages, instead they are connected by train. In the villages, electric buses scale the sheer streets. Park authorities close walking paths when numbers become too great, so it�s best to arrive in the cool and relative calm of the early morning.

EATING/DRINKINGGrapevines and olive trees cover the hillsides, so wine and oil are a must on the restaurant tables. They prove excellent companions for the salted anchovies of Monterosso served in olive oil as well as the many specialty fish dishes and authentic gastronomic delights.

The cuisine of the Cinque Terre almost perfectly conserves the characteristics of yesteryear; the respect for the flavours and fragrances of the primary ingredients. Trofie is a kind of pasta made from chestnut or wheat flour, It’s condiment is still pesto sauce, an original Ligurian sauce made from basil leaves, extra virgin olive oil, grated parmesan cheese and pine nuts. Torte di verdura - vegetable pies -are prepared with a stuffing containing parsley, marjoram, wild local herbs, artichokes, zucchini, potatoes and leeks, combined with egg and ricotta cheese or with stale bread soaked in milk or béchamel sauce and parmesan cheese. The pie crust is very thin, because flour was a very precious commodity. Torta di riso - rice pie - is a specialty of every Italian grandma in the region. Frittate - flat omelettes - are popular today as the ‘frittata’ has been rediscovered as a tasty antipasto. Another important dish on the tables of the Cinque Terre population was cotoletta di acciuga, anchovies stuffed with a breadcrumb based filling and then fried. The fritelle di bianchetti, fritters made from tiny newborn anchovies or sardines, were also highly appreciated. Following the seamen’s gastronomic traditions, other dishes included stewed cuttlefish, stuffed calamari and spiced octopus.

SLEEPINGNumerous villagers have rooms to rent: look for signs reading camere (rooms) or affittacamere (rooms for rent). Accommodation booking offices in Riomaggiore are really helpful and can help you organise a room ahead of time. The town of Levanto is bigger and has a lot of accommodation including hotels, bed & breakfasts

Under the Tuscan Sun


and even camping areas where you can rent a tent with two beds and linens for very low prices!

Note: Breakfast in an Italian hotel or B&B will be some slices of bread and a croissant, butter, jam and coffee with orange juice if you are lucky. This is a typical Italian breakfast so if you can get a room without breakfast and head down to the nearest cafe where there is a larger choice.

GETTING AROUNDTake the train to La Spezia and change onto the regional (“Regionale”) train that makes all the local stops in the Cinque Terre mostly through tunnels. All the Cinque Terre towns have their own train station. Almost all the trains from La Spezia stop in Levanto. The train represents the best way to visit all the villages of the Cinque Terre. Until the end of the 19th Century these towns were completely isolated and reachable just on foot or by sea. In 1860 (works ended in 1874) the first tunnel of this track was built connecting Genoa with La Spezia and crossing almost entirely all this territory through tunnels (32 tunnels were built here!). This means of transportation gives you the possibility to visit the villages in a discreet and easy way and as the train emerges from another tunnel you are treated to another stunning view of one of the best secrets in Italy.

DONT LEAVE WITHOUT The Cinque Terre boasts some of the best coastline hiking trails in the world. The path from Riomaggiore to Manarola is called the Via Dell’Amore - or �Lovers Walk. The beautiful trail along the shore is very easy to hike.

Along the way, you’ll witness where lovers have written their names on the rocks and trees surrounding the walk. In the middle of Riomaggiore and Manarola you will come across ‘The Lover’s Lock’ which is a place to seal your eternal love. At this point there is a concrete throne in the shape of a male and female locked in a kiss, where many people duplicate this creating a lovely photographic opportunity.

The next hike from Manarola to Corniglia is also easy. However, there is an up hill hike and a large zigzag shaped staircase with 385 steps which can be quite a mission in the midday sun! The trail from Corniglia to Vernazza offers incredible views of shore and is only steep at certain places.

The trail from Vernazza to Monterosso is the steepest (you need a reasonably good level of fitness - there is over 250m of climbing over very uneven rocks, totalling approx. 750 ‘steps’ - not easy!), winding through olive orchards and vineyards and offering dramatic ocean views. The paths are narrow, with a very real danger of falling 12 to 15 feet if you lose your footing. If you attempt this hike, take some water, and be prepared to build up a sweat.

The walk between all the villages takes the better part of a day. For those that would rather not walk (or not walk the entire trail), a pedestrian ferry service runs seasonally to all five villages, plus Lerici. The price is reasonable, and gives a nice view of the villages from the water. The milk train that connect all the villages is also a quick way to hop among towns.

It is advised that you attempt the walk as early as possible to avoid the hottest part of the day during the summer period. Sneakers or suitable walking shoes are essential. You must purchase a pass for the hike. It is also possible to purchase a hiking and train pass in one if you wish to catch a train to the next town.

Hiking Times around the Cinque Terre:Monterosso - Vernazza: 90 minutes.Vernazza - Corniglia: 90 minutes.Corniglia - Manarola: 45 minutes.Manarola - Riomaggiore: 20 minutes.Manarola also has its own beautiful vineyard walk.

Language:Italian and although English is spoken widely, the locals always appreciate your small efforts to communicate in their language.Currency: Euro (EUR) Time zone: GMT + 2

Monarola at Sunset

T R AV E L


Personalised Legal Services (a Tesco Law Caution!)

While reading your daily papers recently, you may have come across reports of changes to the provision of legal services which have been dubbed “Tesco Law” as apparently it is meant to make buying legal services as easy as buying a tin of beans. The changes in the law will allow non lawyer companies, such as supermarket chains, to provide legal services. This begs the question. Do you really want to buy legal advice in the same place as you buy your tin of beans?

Take Probate work for example.

There are already several fi rms linked to banks, and fi rms of undertakers, sending sales people into your homes, in the guise of providing you with some “free advice”. These people are rarely qualifi ed lawyers able to provide you with legal advice. You do not need pressure sales tactics when you are vulnerable and have lost a loved one.

What happens at the moment, when you instruct one of these large organisations is that you are unlikely to meet the fee earner dealing with your matter, as often the work is undertaken at distance. When you call their offi ce for advice, you talk to a call centre, and rarely the same person twice!

How about DIY? It is entirely possible to apply for probate and deal with an estate, without seeing a lawyer, but it’s not without risks. Many professionally drafted wills contain trusts to save tax, to avoid

those who inherit paying care fees and to reduce the likelihood of potential disputes. All too often people come to seek advice when they have made a mistake or fi nd the paperwork too tricky. For example, Mrs X’s will had included a tax saving trust, but when her husband administered the estate, he paid the whole estate to himself, effectively undoing the benefi cial effects of the trust drafted into the Will. In Mr A’s case, he sold some shares that had made a gain during the administration of his late sister’s estate and had to pay tax. If he had transferred the shares to himself fi rst, before selling them, he could have avoided the tax.

In all but the most straightforward cases, it is important to seek timely specialist legal advice, as that can actually save you money and worry.

At Canter Levin & Berg, we ensure personal contact with the fee earner dealing with your matter. Our Dawn Joughin and Robert Lee, are members of Solicitors for the Elderly, and work in partnership with the deceased’s family to help and support them with the legal and technical work. As elder law specialists, they can even add value to their work, for example by identifying cases where money is owed to the estate for care funding, which should have been met by the NHS and assist you in making a no win no fee claim.

Call us for a personal service. You may be surprised to fi nd our costs are often lower than many would have you believe!

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Our experience makes yours better

0844 875 6200

Recent cases include backdated payments of up to

£165,000 where the family home was sold to help

pay for care. Others included a refund of £130,000

because the NHS deemed the problems ‘social’

rather than ‘health’ related.

If you feel that you have been incorrectly charged,

speak to one of our specialists on:

You could claim a refund for fees paid for care that should have been provided free!

Claims backdated to 2004Review current assessment Save £1000’s on care home feesWe fight your case for youStress free consultationSpecialists in care home refunds

CARE HOME NHS REFUNDS!

It is estimated that about two thirds of the 150,000 in nursing homes who pay for their own care should be funded by the NHS -

that's around 100,000 paying unnecessarily

We can also help you save on inheritance tax by

guiding you through the most tax efficient methods

of estate planning and the writing of a will which

ensures that your estate passes to those you intend

to receive it.

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CLB CARE AD ARTWORK.pdf 10/11/10 15:10:22


Who would expect a highly experienced broadcaster like Michael Aspel to be dogged by moments of doubt?

“For some years I was very cocky and full of myself, yet I’ve always been very nervous,” he tells Retired. “Luckily I was able to handle awkward situations, but you get less and less confident as you grow older.”

Such feelings are not helped by television’s fondness for young faces, and Michael is now a well-preserved 78. But when the 100 Years of Us series earlier this year highlighted changes in society during the first century of the National Census, he was “well qualified to be the front man, having been around for most of that time”. Indeed, for many of us, Michael has always been on the airwaves, but he was a teaboy for a London publisher before National Service in the King’s Royal Rifle Corps in the early 1950s.

“When I came out of the Army, I wanted to be an actor,” he recalls. “My father was very sympathetic. He said: “Get a job or get out’. I took a job with a bedding firm that had contacts in Cardiff with a big store there. I went down there ostensibly to learn the bedding trade and the sales business, but that wasn’t my intention at all. I auditioned for radio drama at the BBC in Cardiff, and they gave me occasional work while I waited for a place to come up on the BBC drama repertory company. I did all sorts of jobs – including drainpipe-layer and gardener – that I could drop at a moment’s notice when they required me for a freelance broadcast. I would rush straight from the building site and be in things like the Children’s Hour serial.

“I intended to pursue acting and in the mid-50s I was on the radio in London, but then someone told me they were looking for continuity announcers at the BBC TV’s Lime Grove Studios.

“There was just this one gigantic dinner suit between all of us. We wore whatever we liked below – it could be tennis shorts or whatever, because the picture never cut below the waist.

Lime Grove was the BBC TV’s main London base, but the news department was at Alexandra Palace. When Richard Baker was indisposed, Michael was drafted in to read one weekend’s bulletins and ended up staying for eight years.

“That was a wonderfully happy time. It was quite different from Lime Grove or the later Television Centre – partly because it was news only and partly because it was such a historic place, where television began, and physically

cut off from the rest of the BBC, and you could not get a better bunch of workmates.”

Michael remembers a time he made news himself. “I went on one night with a black eye. I’d been playing in a charity cricket match the day before and got the ball in my eye. The response was incredible – it was even in the papers in France and America.”

Michael never did become an actor – except that “occasionally theatres let people from the telly do plays, to put bums on seats, and I’ve done a few”. He hosted Ask Aspel, Crackerjack, Aspel and Company, Miss World, Come Dancing, Give Us a Clue, The Six o’Clock Show, This is Your Life and Antiques Roadshow and his mellow tones were also heard on the radio.

On the Light Programme’s Family Favourites sound engineers were at the controls, but Michael learnt to self-operate a studio as part of the launch team of London commercial station Capital Radio.

“When I did something for the BBC after that, they asked if I’d like to self-op and I said I would – but their controls worked the other way round and I said

How Michael stepped up to the mikeWhen the young Michael Aspel headed for Cardiff, his father thought it was to develop his career with a bedding company, but Michael had other ideas, as James Pringle discovered

Michael joins Lance England in the studio of community station Brooklands Radio


Feeling festive in a good causeThe Parkinson’s UK Christmas Concert is at 7pm on December 9 at Central Hall, Westminster, with music, poetry and celebrity guests including Michael Aspel, Jane Asher and singer Paul Potts, first winner of Britain’s Got Talent.

‘Good morning’ and switched myself off.

“Capital was exciting and I did things I never dreamt I would do. There was a brilliant young producer called Simon Booker and the station’s chairman was Richard Attenborough, who would get us tremendous guests with his contacts.

“That kept going with the television chat show, although, to be honest, that was a great disappointment to me. It didn’t compare with the shows I did on Capital, because there were various restrictions and I wasn’t as confident.

“At the radio station my researcher – a woman who had a PhD in mediaeval French – provided me with information on people and I would then prepare the interview. When I started the chat show on Thames, I found there was an agreement between representatives of the guest and our people as to what line the interview would take.”

Who were the most difficult people to interview? “Actors like Elliott Gould – he was utterly impossible – and others just weren’t very good at it.

“Tony Curtis was every interviewer’s gift most of the time, but occasionally he would lose interest and he did that on one of my shows. When I said: ‘Did this make you the happy man you are today?’ his reply was: “Who said I was happy?’ Then he said: ‘And with that, I bid you goodnight’ when we’d only had about three minutes. He walked off and we had to fill in.”

Another live show guest was an inebriated Oliver Reed. “I wasn’t as horrified as I was reported to be,” Michael points out. Always at the back of your mind, in a situation like that, is that ‘This is good telly’.

“The worst experience was the very last chat show we did. It was taken over by Sylvester Stallone, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Bruce Willis, who’d put money into opening a restaurant in the West End. The whole thing became an advert for that and it was just ghastly. I lost control of it and felt very low by the end.”

When Michael hosted Crackerjack and This is Your Life, his laid-back style contrasted the anxious manner of his predecessor, Eamonn Andrews.

“For a big burly man and an ex-boxer, he was amazingly sensitive and easily embarrassed,” says Michael. “When This Your Life and guests wandered from the point, I tried to laugh it off. But it was the most silly, unnatural arrangement. Someone would originally come in with a good anecdote and tell it

I N T E RV I E W

to the researcher, who would type it out and give it back to the person as a script.

“They would then try to learn it, and come stumbling on, trying to remember the script of their own story. That didn’t always work, so you would have to gently nudge them, hopefully without giving away the joke.”

Michael lives near Weybridge, Surrey, with his partner Irene Clark. Retirement has never figured in his plans. He will be among the stars at this year’s Parkinson’s UK charity Christmas Concert at Central Hall, Westminster.

Recent years have seen him guest hosting Have I Got News for You and making a documentary about his wartime evacuee experiences. He has taken to the stage in a Rocky Horror Show tour, as well as appearing in several pantomimes.

“Because of some kind of imaginary gravitas that you bring to the stage, the thing works and you can still have the time of your life while being this old codger.”

Tickets available from September, via www.parkinsons.org.uk/carolconcert or by calling 020 7963 9319.


Quality of Life ...How do you view your bathroom? A place to relax, dream, and recharge. Or as a purely functional place to shower and get set for the day. Either way, there are so many innovations now in bathroom design, that the avocado suite and those depressing shower curtains are as old hat as the tin bath by the kitchen fi re.

For the purely functional bathroom, but with a 2lst century look, there are the wet rooms. Wet rooms take up about the same space as a bath, but allow much more space than a shower.

Going a stage further, you can now install a steam shower with bath, combined with chromotherapy lighting to match your mood, hydro massage jets and whirlpool bath combination. If you’re feeling sociable, you can go for a two person steam shower with folding seats and glass back panels. Features include body massage jets and an FM radio. Or how about a sauna and steam shower combination unit, with body jets, FM radio, hands free telephone and CD input.

But maybe you’re one of those people who like to relax and dream in your bath, or watch your favourite TV programme as you lie back in your favourite scented bubbles, gently massaged by whirlpool jets.

Hand basins have come a long way – basins are available which look like works of art, in clear glass, or bronze, in round or rectangular shapes and wall mounted, leaving fl oor space clear.

For a wet room or shower, water tiles are an innovation. This new system of body sprays and showerheads can be fi tted into a shower wall or ceiling to create a customised shower. The number of jets, the height and position can be fi tted to the customers’ requirements.

Wirral Wetrooms will transform your Bathroom into your own personal haven

Designed to match your lifestyle and taste - from the ultimate in minimalist, hi-tech bathrooms to stylish en-suites - we can offer our expertise and services to help you plan and select the bathroom for you.

We pride ourselves on providing our clients with bathroom products manufactured to the highest standards of engineering.

Installed by our own fi tters using the fi nest quality materials, to deliver unrivalled design, aesthetic appeal and function.

Wetroom installations create a bathroom with a sense of spaciousness and style. With a room tailor-made to your requirements:

• With or without glass screens.• Overhead, wall mounted or combination shower heads.• Floor level or raised.• Electric, pumped, thermostatic and digital shower options.• Replace an existing bath without sacrifi cing space.

Wirral Wetrooms have experience in the design and installation of wetrooms for all scenarios, to fi t with modern contemporary and traditional designs.

A wetroom will enhance the quality of your bathing needs whilst creating a contemporary look to your room.

Mobility Wetrooms

Wet rooms are the ideal solution for the mobility restricted. A mobility wet room allows completely level access for wheelchair users and is more spacious than an enclosed shower trays.

Wet rooms are not just for the mobility restricted, they offer a very modern alternative to the standard enclosed shower tray, and are rapidly becoming the “must have” accessory in contemporary bathroom design.

Modern designs mean that we can create luxurious rooms which function as good as they look.

Advantages of such systems include:

• Complete level access.• Large spacious showering area.• Perfect solution for wheelchair users.• Fully slip resistant surface.• No shower tray required.

A beautiful bathroom enhances your home and provides a bolthole to relax and unwind, so go for it, and enjoy it for years to come.


Wirral Wetrooms

Wirrals leading Wetroom Specialist - we design, supply & install

Bespoke Bathrooms and En-suites

Our professional team will be on hand at every step from design, through installation to the completed, working bathroom.

We pride ourselves in being one of the only showrooms in the UK that design, supply and install primarily using our own employed staff.

We bring attention to detail to create the perfect blend of asthetics and functionality.

Wirral Wetrooms is the perfect answer in response to the growing demand for a tailored bathroom.

5 Thingwall Road, Irby, Wirral CH61 3UA | Telephone: 0151 648 5564Visit our website www.wirralwetroom.co.uk

Opening hours Monday - Saturday 8.30am - 5pm

Offering a range of sophisticated international products to produce a bathroom unique to you, the customer, which will look as good in 10 years time as it does on day one.

At Wirral Wetrooms we never forget that we don’t choose you - you choose us!

Your complete satisfaction is our number one priority.

Wirral Wetrooms have a reputation for providing top class service. Visit our website to read just a few testimonials from satisfied customers.

Choosing a new bathroom can be a potentially daunting task. With so many products available it can also be difficult to get value for money in a market filled with hundreds of white ceramic clones. In our showroom we display over 45 bathroom ranges from quality brands the likes of Twyford, Imperial, Lakes, Siadaw, Matrix, Eco kitchen and bathrooms and Vitra. These are some of the best manufacturers & suppliers in the business offering quality products backed up with the reassurance of superior after sales support.

Whether it’s a new toilet seat or a full designer bathroom we aim to ensure you get exactly what you want to suit you and your budget. We spend time with each customer right from the start of your bathroom search

which is vital to ensure that what you require will be not only suitable, but fit perfectly and hopefully exceed your specific needs.

Our friendly staff have together over 25 years combined experience in the trade which also includes bathroom and kitchen fitting. This coupled with a number of preferred local installers, plumbers & electricians on hand ensure you can have the bathroom of your dreams

without necessarily needing a dream budget. So feel free to drop in and browse our showroom & experience our unique customer service.

We are also a plumbing / heating and electrical & lighting wholesaler and have a new kitchen and bedroom showroom so all your needs can be met at one location.

Here at Chester Electrical & Plumbing Supplies we are an independent company who pride ourselves on our customer service.

chester electrical & plumbing supplies

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Our customer service is second to none

electrical l plumbing l bathrooms l kitchens l bedrooms

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We have now opened a bespoke kitchen / bedroom furniture department and offer over 40 different kitchen and 20 bedroom styles, 6 of which are on display. There are ranges to suit all budgets whether if it’s for your first home or something you have been planning to do for years, you will get the same easy to understand guidance.

We offer clear no nonsense advice from the planning stage as you will be talking to our sales staff who have over 10 years experience of installing kitchens. We conduct an onsite consultation to ensure you get the kitchen or bedroom that suits you, your home and your budget. After this is done we issue a clear and concise quote with a detailed auto cad drawing so you can see the layout of your new kitchen or bedroom.

Once you have chosen your kitchen we can assist you in choosing your work surfaces be it laminate, composite, or granite, as well as appliances, tiles, sockets and lighting.

We have a large number of each on display as it is our intention to make the choosing of your new kitchen or bedroom a pleasurable stress free experience.

We are main dealers for Neff appliances and in 90% of cases can beat internet prices so you can purchase with no risk. We also are very competitive on all the best ranges of kitchen appliances and taps, such as Abode, Franke, Gorenge, Caple, Luxair, Bosch, Belling, Stoves, Rangemaster and Smeg to name just a few of the better market brands.

Once you have chosen your kitchen we can assist you with your kitchen fitter, electrician and plumber and tiler. Then deliver it for free within a 20 mile radius at a time that suits

you, so no more waiting in all day!

Is it possible to have all your needs professionally dealt with in just one place? It is now!

So call into our showroom now and let your new kitchen or bedroom become a reality.

Visit our showroom at: Bumpers Lane, Sealand Industrial Estate, Chester CH1 4LT.

t: 01244 383323e: [email protected]

Shopping for good Christmas presents can be a mammoth task! But luckily for us, the fabulous FESTIVE GIFTFAIR is returning to the NEC Birmingham from17-20th November and we have ten pairs of ticketsto give away in our prize draw.

Ding Dong, Christmas is calling!

There is something about browsing round lots of interesting stalls that makes Christmas shopping seem far more enjoyable than a visit to a familiar store.

Each year, the fabulous Festive Gift Fair gives us inspiration and thousands upon thousands of new, clever and affordable gift ideas. With 350 stalls brought together from all over the country, the variety of gifts is amazing and so there is always a surprise around every corner! No wonder, it’s considered the most popular Christmas Shopping event in the Midlands.

Get together your friends and family for a fun day out - browse, shop and enjoy the Christmassy atmosphere

created by musicians and entertainers. With so many bargains to be found, drop your full bags at the Present Crèche while you continue shopping.

The 16th Festive Gift Fair promises to be a Showstopper of an event, so head along to Birmingham’s NEC to do all your Christmas Shopping in one fell swoop.

• Arts and Crafts• Christmas Decorations, Cards and Ribbon• Festive Food and Drink• Handbags, Jewellery and Fashion• Gifts for Cooks• Gifts for Gardeners• Games, Toys, Stocking Fillers• Beauty and Health Products• Baby gifts• Gadgets• And much, much more!

Prepare for some GREAT Christmas Shopping at The Festive Gift Fair open9.30 – 17.00 from Thursday 17- Sunday 20 November, NEC. For more information on

exhibitors and visiting the Fair, visit www.festivegiftfair.co.uk. Save money by booking in advance – adult tickets are just £8.50.

Book by phone by calling The Ticket Factory on0844 581 0808/0809 or Book online at www.theticketfactory.com.

We have ten pairs of tickets to give away, just fi ll in your detailsto be entered into our prize draw.

WIN Tickets to the Festive Gift Fair, NEC Birmingham17-20 November 2011

Post to :

McGrath Media: Unit 6,

Moses Gate Workshops,

Gladys Street, Bolton BL3 2QG.

Draw will take place on 31.10.11. Winners will be notifi ed by telephone and receive their tickets by post.

Name: .......................................................................................................................................

Address: ....................................................................................................................................

..................................................................Poscode: ...........................................................

Tel: .............................................................................................................................................

✁


A focus on renting in retirement in Chester and The Wirral

Choosing the perfect location in which to settle during retirement can often be a challenge, particularly when trying to find the right property that offers long-term security, comfort, and a host of friendly neighbours.

Chester and The Wirral are both attractive locations for property buyers, they are also becoming hotspots for a growing number of retired people deciding to move against the home ownership grain and soak up the benefits of renting in retirement.

Contrary to popular opinion, there are clear benefits to renting in retirement. Residents are not constricted by house prices and are free to move wherever they like, whether it’s closer to family and friends or to another part of the country. Renting also allows homeowners to sell their property outright in order to release capital. By avoiding equity release schemes and selling on the open market, retired property owners can ensure they receive the full market value for their home.

Many retired people choose to invest the money gained from the sale of their home in saving funds and to support themselves financially during their retirement. Others choose to gift family and friends during their lifetime, instead of leaving a will, thereby avoiding inheritance tax.

The current recession has had a detrimental effect upon house sales and now savvy retirees are finding alternative ways to move into the retirement property of their dreams by simply letting out their larger homes, either privately or through a social housing provider, thus creating an income to enable them to rent a more manageable, purpose built, energy efficient retirement property

For retired residents living in and around Chester and The Wirral and exploring the possibility of renting a property, there are a number of rental options available throughout the area including Homebank House, Oxton.

Homebank House has 60 apartments each comprising one or two bedrooms, bathroom, kitchen, and a cosy sitting room. The development features a communal residents’ lounge in which residents are welcome to socialise and relax. The lounge can also be used as an extension to a residents’ home to entertain guests, offering both companionship and independence.

Girlings lets its properties out on a life-long (assured) tenancy basis, which allows the tenant to stay in the property for as long as they wish, providing great security and peace of mind.

For more information, please visit www.girlings.co.uk or contact the lettings team on 0800 525 184.

0800 525 184 www.girlings.co.uk

Homebank House, Oxton Thursday, 20 October 2011

11:00am to 3:00pm Retirement property to rent on life-long tenancies, inclusive service charge and

maintenance.


Most of last week was spent in my garden. Clipping, weeding, dead heading and mowing. I’d taken a hard look at my plot, trying to see it through other people’s eyes, and decided it needed some work. The reason for all this concentration was because of the garden club. My garden was on the list for a visit this month, and I needed to make it look as good as possible.

I joined this small group at the beginning of the year. It’s fun, it’s sociable, and best of all, we all get to visit each other’s gardens. The gardens range from small and exquisite, to large and ambitious, and it’s a joy to be able to wander, admire, and swap stories of failures and successes.

The thing I love most about this group is the way shared interests unite us all. We have a keen

herbalist, a bank manager, a couple of primary school teachers and one fantastic cook. And the styles of the gardens sometimes reflect this, and sometimes veer off into sheer fantasy.

THE GARDEN CLUB by Shelia Alcock

A collection of lavender and foliage plants

Hanging Baskets on a Patio

To receive the next two issues of Retired Magazine hot off the press, either for yourself or to treat a friend, please fill in the form below and post with a cheque for £3.40 made payable to McGrath Media: Unit 6, Moses Gate Workshops, Manchester Road, Bolton BL3 2QG.

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The first garden we visited together belonged to a widow. It was a small plot, but there was so much crammed into it, it seemed much bigger, and we spent a long time admiring the huge variety of plants. At the shady end of the garden there was decking, with a couple of garden seats under the trees. This area was fenced off and gated. “Charlie, my dog likes burying things in the grass”, she explained, “so I put him in here with his bone”. The lawn beyond had stepping stones leading towards this area, and closer to the house, a huge tree trunk had been utilised to show off pot plants of geraniums, interspersed with the flowing lines of white cosmos and scabious. Hanging baskets, a huge urn containing fennel, and other pots with roses and flowering shrubs produced an effect of sheer exuberance. As an example of how to turn a tiny garden into a haven of colour and form, this would be hard to beat.

The next garden was one which belonged to a man who loved his veg. Immaculate rows of lettuce, leeks and cabbages, together with a lush looking patch of potatoes, took up half the garden, enlivened by patches of blue from chives and the electric red of runner beans. His wife had the other half, and she was into herbs. She showed us her store of mint jellies, elderflower cordial, and elderberry wine, and we enjoyed the scent of lavender as we looked at her herb collection of mints, rosemary, lemon thyme, oregano, sage, marjoram and tarragon. She grew nasturtiums and rocket to enliven her salads. Two bay trees clipped into lollipop shapes stood guard over a garden bench, and it all combined to make this a garden as attractive as it was productive.


Tea that day included delicious homemade scones with cream and home grown strawberry jam.

The next garden took us to fantasy land. The front hedge was clipped into the shape of an enormous snail, drift wood was carved into the shapes of various animals from crocodiles to rabbits and there were two solar powered water features. One of these was an old grinding stone, set into a larger stone trough. The water bubbled through the central hole in the water wheel and collected in the trough. The whole was surrounded by yellow iris. The other water feature was a huge rock. Water cascaded over it into a sealed pool. Dragonfl ies hovered, and the sound of water splashing over stones gave an added dimension.

The primary school teacher’s garden was a trip back into childhood. She was experimenting so that she could encourage the children to grow seeds in the plot they had at the school. Radishes were quick growing she told us, and the children loved to watch them growing. There were rows of carrots, lettuces and marigolds, all with large labels and pictures of the produce. She had also reproduced the nursery rhyme of Mary Mary, Quite Contrary, with a bed of marigolds surrounded with shells, and wind chimes in the trees to reproduce the silver bells.

So far this year, we’ve seen six of the gardens, and we’ll be meeting twice a month between now and October, to fi t in the ones remaining. At every garden we visit, there’s a table outside with numerous

Aquarius Wet Roomthe ultimate answer to bathing difficulties exclusively available from Bathing Solutions

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Please send me a brochure on your range of easy-access showers and walk-in baths.

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Tel No.

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Postcode Bathing Solutions and other group companies may send you information and offers in the future. Please tick box if you do not wish to receive information from us or third parties in the future.

Post coupon to: Bathing Solutions, FREEPOST SWC3136, Ledbury, HR8 2ZZ

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cuttings, potted up and carefully labelled, for us to take home. We sit in the gardens over tea, comparing notes on successes and failures, we talk of gardens we’ve visited, and we’re already planning visits to National Trust gardens for late autumn. I’ve learned so much from these fellow gardeners, and made new friends. Joining the garden club has given me new ideas for changing odd corners, made me realise how different gardens and gardeners can be. I’ve acquired lots of different varieties of plants, I’ve laughed a lot, and I’ve loved every minute. Now I’m off to whip up a sponge for our tea.

A shady corner for a hot day

Exhibitions at the WILLIAMSON ART GALLERY & MUSEUM, BIRKENHEAD

15 October – 20 November

Wirral Society of ArtsMembers’ exhibitionWirral Art School Fellowships

25-27 November

Oxton Art FairA chance to buy art or craft by local artists – perfect for Christmas

3 December – 15 January 2012

Nicholas HorsfieldA memorial exhibitionNational Acrylic Painters Association

Early 2012Bengali Story Scrolls, a National Museums Liverpool touring exhibitionGraham Dean, a return to Birkenhead for a 60th birthday exhibitionEdward Walker, Maritime PainterA special exhibition marking the centenary of the sinking of theTitanic and the 150th anniversary of the launch of the Alabama

centenary of the sinking of the

anniversary of the launch

Williamson Art Gallery & MuseumSlatey Road, Birkenhead CH43 4UE

Tel: 0151 652 4177Open Tuesday – Sunday 10am – 5pmClosed Monday (Except Bank Holidays)

Please note, building work has begun to improve the facilities at the Williamson. Periodic room and building closures will be required throughout 2012, but these will be kept to an absolute minimum.

WIRRALHave you visitedBirkenhead Priory?

A site now wholly enclosed by modern Birkenhead, the Priory is a haven of tranquillity and has the oldest standing buildings in Merseyside.

The Undercroft Museum tells the story of the Priory and the Chapter House dates back to 1150, in use as a church since St Mary’s parish church closed forty years ago. Upstairs is the chapel dedicated to HMS Conway, the training ship stationed on the River Mersey off Rock Ferry for many years. The chapel is open by arrangement.

Open Wednesday – Friday pm, Saturday & Sunday all day.

Telephone (0151) 666 1249 or 652 4177to check times, which vary with the season.

Please note: Birkenhead Priory will be undergoing building and repair work during 2012. There may be parts of the Priory that are inaccessible at different times.

Please telephone before a visit if you are hoping to see something specific.


Is your hard earned cash going through the roof, or down the drain?Last winter was one of the coldest we’ve had in the UK for twenty years and we paid the price in hugely infl ated heating bills. To make matters worse, these are expected to rise even higher over the next few years. Unfortunately, human nature being what it is, as the weather gets warmer, its all too easy to forget winter chills and put off the moment when we need to take a good look at ways of keeping those heating costs down.

Is your home insulated?And if not, would you qualify for free loft and cavity wall insulation?

There can’t be many of us who don’t know that up to a quarter of the heat we pay for, goes straight through the roof. Yet we could remedy that quite easily. Have you checked your loft recently. Is it properly insulated? Maybe you had your loft insulated when you moved into your home, but how long ago was that? It could be that the depth of the insulation was considered less important then. These days, the recommended depth of the most common insulating material, Rock Wool, is 270mm.

If you’re a home owner or renting and are on eligible benefi ts or tax credits, or if you are over 70, or if the state pension is your main source of income, you could well qualify for loft or cavity wall insulation installed free of charge. For more information on this, go to http://www.government-grants.org.uk or contact your local Age Concern organisation.

Solar Power

With the introduction of the Feed In Tariff, solar electricity is now a viable option to reduce your electricity bill and receive an annual payment from the government for doing this.

Solar electricity systems use photovoltaic (PV) cells to capture the energy from the sun and convert it into electricity. There are two ways of installing Solar PV, by fi tting panels to your existing roof or if your roof needs repairing anyway, replace some of the tiles with PV tiles. Solar photovoltaic panels have a long life expectancy of around 50 years and most systems having a 25 year warranty and little or no maintenance they will give you peace of mind whilst generating your electricity.

Savings can be considerable and a basic 2 kWp systems could provide around 40% of a household’s annual electricity. The more it generates the more you save as any excess electricity can be sold back into the grid.

Wall-Lag Wales Ltd., Bromfield Industrial Estate, MoldTHE AREAS NUMBER ONE INSULATION SPECIALIST

01352 758812TO ARRANGE A FREE SURVEY PLEASE CALL:

Wall-Lag is an established family-run business, which has been trading for 37 yearsspecialising in supplying Cavity Wall and Loft Insulation. Our proven system can reducefuel bills, reduce condensation and greenhouse gases, whilst keeping your home warmer.

The speed and efficiency of our specially designed system, means: no mess, no fuss, nowaste, no health risk, a warmer home, reduced energy bills and immediate paybackreturns, and is COMPLETELY FREE.

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FREE CAVITY WALL INSULATIONGRANT FUNDED, NO CATCHES

Wall-Lag’s cavity wall insulation uses the industry’s leading ‘Polypearl’ bonded bead injection system. A fully guaranteed, highly modern and energy efficient insulation solution.

START SAVING SERIOUS MONEY INSTANTLY

THE FACTSAn average 3 bed detached property that has cavity wall and 250mm - 270mm of loft insulation installed can save up to 35% off its annual energy bills, equating to between £300.00 to £400.00 per annum.

This is based on the homeowner being educated on turning down / off their thermostat as shown by the wall-lag technician.

Wall-Lag is an established family-run business, which has been trading for 37 years specialising in supplying Cavity Wall and Loft Insulation. Our proven system can reduce fuel bills, reduce condensation and greenhouse gases, whilst keeping your home warmer.

The speed and efficiency of our specially designed system, means: no mess, no fuss, no waste, no health risk, a warmer home, reduced energy bills and immediate payback returns, and is COMPLETELY FREE.


25%

35%10%

THROUGHROOF

THROUGHWINDOWS

THROUGHFLOOR

THROUGHWALLS

INDRAUGHTS

15% 15%

01352 758812TO ARRANGE A FREE SURVEY PLEASE CALL:

...

Wall-Lag is an established family-run business, which has been trading for 37 yearsspecialising in supplying Cavity Wall and Loft Insulation. Our proven system can reducefuel bills, reduce condensation and greenhouse gases, whilst keeping your home warmer.

The speed and efficiency of our specially designed system, means: no mess, no fuss, nowaste, no health risk, a warmer home, reduced energy bills and immediate paybackreturns, and is COMPLETELY FREE.

HOW HEAT IS WASTED FROM OUR HOMES


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FREECAVITY WALL INSULATION

GRANT FUNDEDNO CATCHES


SAVING ENERGY FOR A BRIGHTER FUTURE




TO ARRANGE A FREE SURVEY CALL: 01352 758812

WINDOWS | DOORS | CONSERVATORIES | SOFFITS | FASCIA | CLADDING

Call now - 01352 758812 Or visit our large showroom on Bromfield Ind Est, Mold, CH7 1HA

OPEN MON - FRI 9AM - 5PM. SAT - SUN 10AM - 4PM

www.snowdoniawindows.co.uk

We have been awarded various industry accreditations and are the only company in North Wales to hold the prestigious Secured by Design licence. We are committed to provide high quality Conservatories, Windows and Doors, unrivalled customer care both during and after the installation and a non pressure sales approach - but don't just take our word for it, ask to take a look at our customer testimonials.


THE BEST INVESTMENTYOU WILL EVER MAKE!!!!!!

With the price of energy (Electricity, Gas and Oil) increasing andOFGEM recently announcing that it predicts electricity prices to riseby as much as 60% in the next 7 years now is the time to act andhelp keep your energy costs down.

THE RENEWABLE ENERGY COMPANY

The Renewable energy company, part of the Wall-Lag group

of companies established 1974 and sister company of

Snowdonia Windows (the largest manufacturer of windows

& Doors) and (Cavity wall, Loft and Insulation products) in

North Wales has been involved with the installation of Solar

energy systems (including PV) for a number of years and is

the partner of choice for many Social Housing Providers and

Local authorities.

With respect to Solar

Photo-Voltaic systems, we deliver

all installation works in-house, having built

up a team of specialist installers covering the

roofing works, panel fitting, electrical installation and also

the Installation Certification. We have also developed our

own design capability using state of art 3D simulation

software enabling us to further manage the control of all

projects that we are involved in.

By taking advantage of our free no obligation survey service,

one of our experienced surveyors will attend your property

at your convenience, and will give advice on the options

available so you can take advantage of the generous

government feed-in-tariff scheme by having a Solar PV

system installed to your property or out buildings.

Our Solar PV panels produce electricity that you can utilise

for free (making savings on your current electricity bill) and

as well as this you get paid up to 43.3p for every Kw you

produce even if you have used it.

What’s more you can also sell surplus electricity back to

your utility company at a minimum rate of 3p per Kw.

Also on top of these amazing benefits the Feed-in-tarrif

is guaranteed by the government for 25 years and will

rise with inflation and are all tax free.

Bromfield Industrial Estate, Mold, Flintshire CH7 1HA Tel: 01352 758 812 Email: [email protected]

www.infoenergy.co.uk

PART OF THE WALL-LAG GROUP OF COMPANIES

ACT NOW GIVE US A CALL TODAYand we will let you know how you are able to benefitfrom this amazing offer please don’t delay as thesegenerous feed-in-tarrifs are scheduled to be reviewed and possibly lowered next year.

WALL-LAG

12494_Editorial.qxd 23/9/11 13:50 Page 1

THE BEST INVESTMENTYOU WILL EVER MAKE!!!!!!

With the price of energy (Electricity, Gas and Oil) increasing andOFGEM recently announcing that it predicts electricity prices to riseby as much as 60% in the next 7 years now is the time to act andhelp keep your energy costs down.


The Renewable energy company, part of the Wall-Lag group

of companies established 1974 and sister company of

Snowdonia Windows (the largest manufacturer of windows

& Doors) and (Cavity wall, Loft and Insulation products) in

North Wales has been involved with the installation of Solar

energy systems (including PV) for a number of years and is

the partner of choice for many Social Housing Providers and

Local authorities.

With respect to Solar

Photo-Voltaic systems, we deliver

all installation works in-house, having built

up a team of specialist installers covering the

roofing works, panel fitting, electrical installation and also

the Installation Certification. We have also developed our

own design capability using state of art 3D simulation

software enabling us to further manage the control of all

projects that we are involved in.

By taking advantage of our free no obligation survey service,

one of our experienced surveyors will attend your property

at your convenience, and will give advice on the options

available so you can take advantage of the generous

government feed-in-tariff scheme by having a Solar PV

system installed to your property or out buildings.

Our Solar PV panels produce electricity that you can utilise

for free (making savings on your current electricity bill) and

as well as this you get paid up to 43.3p for every Kw you

produce even if you have used it.

What’s more you can also sell surplus electricity back to

your utility company at a minimum rate of 3p per Kw.

Also on top of these amazing benefits the Feed-in-tarrif

is guaranteed by the government for 25 years and will

rise with inflation and are all tax free.

Bromfield Industrial Estate, Mold, Flintshire CH7 1HA Tel: 01352 758 812 Email: [email protected]

www.infoenergy.co.uk

PART OF THE WALL-LAG GROUP OF COMPANIES

ACT NOW GIVE US A CALL TODAYand we will let you know how you are able to benefitfrom this amazing offer please don’t delay as thesegenerous feed-in-tarrifs are scheduled to be reviewed and possibly lowered next year.

WALL-LAG

12494_Editorial.qxd 23/9/11 13:50 Page 1

Bromfield Industrial Estate, Mold, Flintshire CH7 1HA

Tel: 01352 758 812 www.infoenergy.co.ukEmail: [email protected] PART OF THE WALL-LAG GROUP OF COMPANIES

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BASED ON A 4Kw ARRAY

THE ENERGY COMPANY Tax Free Cash Incentive

ACT NOW WHILEFUNDING IS

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Get paid for generatingyour own electricity

SAVE UP TO

50%ON YOUR

ENERGY BILLS

FREEELECTRICITY

OBTAIN CASH INCENTIVE YEAR ON YEAR FOR 25 YEARS

Are an efficient and clean way of generating yourown electricity year on year, saving you money andprotecting you from ever increasing fuel costs,while providing you with a cash incentive.

Solar panels

GOVERNMENT SUPPORTED TAX FREE CASH INCENTIVE SCHEME

Call your local experts on:

01352 758 812to arrange a free survey

12494_Full Page.qxd 23/9/11 13:49 Page 1

F O O D & D R I N K

Rick Stein’s passion for fresh well-sourced food has taken him from continent to continent, across magnificent shorelines and to the very best produce the coast has to offer. Rick remarks “My greatest enthusiasm in life has been finding dishes that change my perception of cooking, that reveal a whole new vista of flavour combination. I think we all enjoy that. I’m just someone with an enthusiasm for food and a curiosity that’s sent me sniffing around all over the place looking for lovely dishes in all corners of the globe”

Taken from his book ‘Mediterranean Escapes’ (BBC Books, £20) here are two of Rick’s favourite recipes inspired by flavours of the Med.

Rick Stein's Mediterranean Escapes Recipes

Bring 4.5 litres water to the boil in a large saucepan with 8 teaspoon salt. Meanwhile, put the oil and garlic into a deep sauté or frying pan and place it over a medium heat. As soon as the garlic begins to sizzle round the edges, add the crushed chillies, green chilli and sliced porcini and cook briskly for 2-3 minutes. Add the tomatoes and cook for another minute or two. Set to one side and keep hot.

Add the pasta to the pan of boiling water and cook for 9 minutes or until al dente. Heat another large pan over a high heat. Add the clams and the wine, cover and cook over a high heat for 2-3 minutes until they have all just opened. (Discard any that stay closed.) Tip them into a colander set over a bowl to collect the clam juices.

Add all but the last tablespoon or two of the clam cooking liquor (which might be gritty) to the porcini sauce, return to the heat and simmer rapidly until it has reduced by half to a well-flavoured sauce.

Drain the pasta and return to the pan with the cooked clams, the porcini sauce and parsley and toss together well. Serve immediately.

5 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil4 garlic cloves, thinly sliced 1/4 teaspoon crushed dried chillies1 mild green chilli, stalk removed and thinly sliced225g fresh porcini mushrooms, cleaned and thickly sliced2 large, ripe vine tomatoes, skinned, seeded and sliced400 g dried spaghetti1 kg small clams, such as carpet-shell, washed60 ml dry white wineA large handful flat-leaf parsley, leaves finely choppedSalt

SERVES 4Vittorio’s Pastawith Clams and Porcini

26

SERVES 8-10

500 g tubular pasta, such as rigatoni, tubetti or tortiglioni2 eggs, lightly beaten50 g finely grated Greek kefalotiricheese or parmesan cheese2 tablespoons melted butter 10 g fresh white breadcrumbs

For the white sauce115 g butter115 g plain flour1.2 litres full-cream milk, plus a little extra1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg

For the meat sauce4 tablespoons olive oil1 medium onion, finely chopped4 garlic cloves, finely chopped 2 celery sticks, finely chopped1kg lean minced beef200 ml red wine400-g can chopped tomatoes2 tablespoons tomato purée10-cm piece cinnamon stick1/4 teaspoon ground cloves1 tablespoon dried oregano, Greek if possible2 tablespoons fresh copped oregano3 fresh bay leavesSalt and freshly ground black pepper

Pastitsio: Beef and Macaroni Piewith Cinnamon, Red Wine and Kefalotiri Cheese

For the meat sauce, heat the olive oil in a medium-sized pan, add the onion, garlic and celery and fry until just beginning to brown. Add the minced beef and fry over a high heat for 3-4 minutes, breaking up any lumps with the wooden spoon as it browns. Add the red wine, tomatoes, tomato purée, cinnamon stick, ground cloves, dried cloves, dried and fresh oregano, bay leaves, 100ml water, 11/2 teaspoons salt and some black pepper, and simmer for 30-40 minutes, stirring now and then, until the sauce has thickened but is still nicely moist. Remove and discard the cinnamon stick and bay leaves.

Bring 4.5 litres water to boil in a large saucepan with 8 teaspoons salt. Add the pasta and cook until a al dente - about 13 mins, but take care not to overcook as it will cook a little further in the oven. Drain well, transfer to a large bowl and leave to cool slightly.

For the white sauce, melt the butter in a medium-sized non-stick saucepan, add the flour and cook, stirring, over a medium heat, for 1 minute. Gradually beat in the milk, then bring to the boil, stirring, lower the heat and leave to simmer for 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally. Season with the nutmeg and some salt and pepper to taste.

Preheat the over to 1800C/Gas Mark 4. Stir 250ml (about one-fifth) of the white sauce into the warm pasta with the beaten eggs and half the grated cheese. Keep the remaining sauce warm over a low heat, stirring now and then and adding more milk if it begins to get a little thick.

Use the melted butter to grease a large, shallow ovenproof dish that measures about 23 x 33 cm across and 7cm deep. Spread one-third of the pasta over the base of the dish and cover with half the meat sauce. Add another third of the pasta and then the rest of the meat sauce, then cover with a final layer of pasta. Spoon over the remaining white sauce. Mix the remaining grated cheese with the breadcrumbs and sprinkle them over the top. Bake for 40 minutes until bubbling and golden brown.

WILLS

A Will is probably one of the most important documents you will ever sign.

By making a Will you not only control how your estate is distributed but it also helps to make things easier for those who are left behind.

If you die without a Will then you are treated as having died “Intestate” and it is the law – rather than you – that decides how your estate is distributed. This can result in various problems particularly for those who are co-habiting as your partner will have no legal rights to your estate and even a spouse or civil partner can fi nd that they are not legally entitled to all your estate

Other problems caused by not having a Will are potential confl ict between family members; individuals being disinherited; soaring legal costs in trying to resolve disputes and further upset for your loved ones.

As well as making sure your estateis divided in accordance with your wishes a Will can help to reduce your potential Inheritance Tax Liability and even safe-guard assets against potential Care Fees in the future.

Ensuring that your Will is prepared correctly is just as important as having one in place. Why would you therefore place the responsibility of drafting such an important document with someone who is unregulated.

For a professional service from solicitors who specialise in the preparation of Wills and who are

also members of the Solicitors for the Elderly please contact Sally Johnson or Paul Armstrong,

LASTING POWER OF ATTORNEY

Whilst ensuring your estate is distributed in accordance with your wishes on death it is as important to ensure that your affairs are managed correctly during your lifetime should you no longer have the capacity to do so yourself.

In situations where you have lost the capacity to manage your own affairs and you have not prepared a Lasting Power of Attorney you may fi nd that strangers will take over the decision making process for you as it is a misconception that such rights automatically pass to your next of kin.

To ensure that you retain the fi nal decision it is essential that you plan ahead by making a Lasting Power of Attorney as this will ensure that YOU chose the person or persons to manage your affairs e.g. your Attorney(s).

There are two types of Lasting Powers of Attorney and both are very useful. The fi rst is known as a Property and Financial Affairs Power and this allows your appointed Attorney(s) to deal with your fi nancial affairs and even the sale of your property. The second is known as a Health and Welfare Power and this allows your appointed Attorney to answer questions concerning your welfare and life-sustaining medical treatment and even the refusal of the same.

In cases of a sudden and unexpected accident or illness

having a Lasting Power of Attorney in place can alleviate some of the stress and administrative burden faced by your family. Your Attorney can begin acting immediately and it avoids the need for a lengthy and costly application to the Court of Protection for a person to be appointed to act.

As Members of Solicitors for the Elderly both Paul Armstrong and Sally Johnson are very much aware of the importance and sensitive nature of preparing Lasting Powers of Attorney and making a Court of Protection Application. Both are highly experienced and can guide you through the procedures.

LONG TERM CARE

As people are living longer more and more of us face the possibility of full time care and the worry of who will pay for our care.

Consider for a moment that the average cost of a weeks stay in a nursing home is £600. It is therefore very easy to see how the cost can quickly escalate into thousands of pounds however taking positive steps now by seeking the advice of a specialist solicitor may help to preserve your assets in the future.

Provided it can be shown that a person’s primary need is a health need when being admitted to a nursing home due to physical or mental health problems they may be eligible for fully funded NHS care.

However it has been largely documented that the assessment criteria applied by Local Authorities and Primary Care Trusts are not always applied lawfully resulting in residents being wrongfully charged for their care. A specialist solicitor can help to guide you through the complex appeals process and ensure that your rights and that of the patient are respected.

Not all people admitted into a nursing home have a primary health

care need. In certain situations the person’s main need may be one of ‘social care’ and in these cases that person would be required to fund their care package in full provided the total value of their savings and any property exceeded £23,500. Once the value of their estate fell below this fi gure a reassessment of their fi nancial needs and eligibility would need to be carried out.

To discuss any concerns you have regarding a family member; the decision of a Local Authority / Primary Care Trust as to a person’s eligibility to fully funded care or the preservation of your own assets please contact Paul Armstrong, solicitor or Sally Johnson, solicitor and members of the Solicitors for the Elderly

ADMINISTRATION OF ESTATES

If a person dies leaving a Will then an Executor would be appointed and would be legally responsible for winding up the estate. If a person dies without a Will the Court will nominate an individual and they are known as an Administrator. Both can be referred to as Personal Representatives and their duties include:

❖ To register the death and arrange the funeral

❖ To identify the assets and obtain probate valuations

❖ Identify and settle all the liabilities in the estate

❖ Calculate and discharge inheritance tax liability and complete the HMRC Accounts

❖ Apply for Grant of Probate (if there is a Will) or Letters of Administration if no Will.

❖ Clear the deceased personal tax matters

❖ Prepare a detailed estate accounts and distribute the estate to those entitled.

A Personal Representative must act with due diligence otherwise they can be personally liable for any loss which the estate may suffer. Examples include distributing the estate to the wrong benefi ciaries; failing to discharge the Inheritance Tax Liability or distributing before ascertaining the full extent of the liabilities in the estate.

Our Private Client department can help to relieve some of the administrative burden by taking on the day to day management of the estate. Our solicitors will ensure that all your duties are complied with and their costs are settled from the estate. We can also advise as to whether care fees were incorrectly claimed and prepare a claim on behalf of the estate.

CONTACT

For specialist advice and guidance on any of the above issues please contact our Private Client solicitors and Professional members of the Solicitors for the Elderly, Sally Johnson and Paul Armstrong on 01244 354651 / 354654.

QualitySolicitors Oliver & Co are different. We promise:

nature of preparing Lasting Powers of Attorney and making a Court of Protection Application. Both are highly experienced and can guide you through the procedures. LONG TERM CARE As people are living longer more and more of us face the possibility of full time care and the worry of who will pay for our care. Consider for a moment that the average cost of a weeks stay in a nursing home is £600. It is therefore very easy to see how the cost can quickly escalate into thousands of pounds however taking positive steps now by seeking the advice of a specialist solicitor may help to preserve your assets in the future. Provided it can be shown that a person’s primary need is a health need when being admitted to a nursing home due to physical or mental health problems they may be eligible for fully funded NHS care.


Not all people admitted into a nursing home have a primary health care need. In certain situations the person’s main need may be one of 'social care' and in these cases that person would be required to fund their care package in full provided the total value of their savings and any property exceeded £23,500. Once the value of their estate fell below this figure a reassessment of their financial needs and eligibility would need to be carried out.




v To register the death and arrange the funeral

v To identify the assets and obtain probate valuations

v Identify and settle all the liabilities in the estate

v Calculate and discharge inheritance tax liability and complete the HMRC Accounts

v Apply for Grant of Probate (if there is a Will) or Letters of Administration if no Will.

v Clear the deceased personal tax matters

v Prepare a detailed estate accounts and distribute the estate to those entitled

A Personal Representative must act with due diligence otherwise they can be personally liable for any loss which the estate may suffer. Examples include distributing the estate to the wrong beneficiaries; failing to discharge the Inheritance Tax Liability or distributing before ascertaining the full extent of the liabilities in the estate. Our Private Client department can help to relieve some of the administrative burden by taking on the day to day management of the estate. Our solicitors will ensure that all your duties are complied with and their costs are settled from the estate. We can also advise as to whether care fees were

incorrectly claimed and prepare a claim on behalf of the estate CONTACT For specialist advice and guidance on any of the above issues please contact our Private Client solicitors and Professional members of the Solicitors for the Elderly, Sally Johnson and Paul Armstrong on 01244 354651 / 354654


Direct Lawyer Contact Same Day Response

Free First Consultation No Hidden Costs

Call us today on:

01244 312306



















Call us today on:

01244 312306



















Call us today on:

01244 312306



















Call us today on:

01244 312306



01244 312306


Retirement from the racing track is the start of an exciting new life for greyhounds. The Retired Greyhound Trust takes these wonderful dogs and helps to transform them into the perfect pet. But, the Trust is only able to continue its great work to find homes for retired greyhounds with kind donations from its supporters.

Some donations are made by people when they pass on. It is their way to give something back with the money they can’t take with them. Have you ever thought about leaving a legacy?

The Retired Greyhound Trust is the national charity dedicated to finding homes for greyhounds at the end of their racing careers and there are hundreds of dogs across the country in need of loving owners.

Peter Laurie, Chief Executive of the Retired Greyhound Trust, said: “It costs around £4m a year to keep the dogs in kennels until new homes can be found for them. Legacy donations help us to ensure every greyhound is vaccinated, neutered and given a health check by the vet before it moves in with its new family. We also provide collars, leads and muzzles for every dog.

“These are costly for the charity, but we feel they are essential services to ensure both the greyhound and its new family get the best possible start to their new lives,” he added.

A greyhound is a trusty companion for all ages who will fit in easily with its new owners or family. After finishing on the track, they undergo a remarkable transformation. They change from being the fastest breed of dog to ‘couch potatoes’ that love lolling around and sleeping in comfy places. Despite their well-deserved reputation as formidable athletes, they do not require large amounts of exercise and are easy to look after. The vast majority of greyhounds are perfectly content with two 20 minute walks a day.

The Retired Greyhound Trust has 72 branches across the country who look after the dogs in their kennels until homes can be found. Many of these branches are raising funds and showing off the dogs who need homes at dog shows, fetes, carnivals and summer shows throughout the Spring and Summer.

There are all sorts of ways to get involved with the charity as well as leaving a legacy – from adopting a greyhound or sponsoring a dog in kennels, to helping their local branches with fundraising or volunteering.

Without funds or volunteers to help, the charity will struggle to continue its great work in finding homes for more than 4,000 retired greyhounds with caring owners every year.

For more information about the work of the Retired Greyhound Trust or to discuss leaving a legacy, please contact our head office on 029 8335 3016.

Make a Donation

There are lots of ways to make donations to the Retired Greyhound Trust. You can donate online through Just Giving - http://www.justgiving.com/greyhounds/donate/, you can send a cheque to The Retired Greyhound Trust, 2nd Floor, Park House, Park Terrace, Worcester Park, Surrey, KT4 7JZ or call our office on 0844 826 8424. The Trust has also launched a new texting donation service - just text RGTD04 £10 (or other amount) to 70070.

Greyhound Factfile

• Greyhoundsareoneoftheoldestbreedsin existence and have been traced back thousands of years to the early cave drawings.• HarryPotterauthorJKRowlingownsaretired greyhound called Sapphire.• TheGreyhoundistheonlybreedofdog mentioned in the Bible. Proverbs 30, verses 29-31.• ThegreyhoundwasthedogofthePharaohsin Ancient Egypt, the dog of the kings of Ancient Greece and of the landed gentry and nobles in England.• AccordingtoHEdwardClarke,greyhoundscanbe traced back 4,000 years.

Find out more about retired greyhounds from your local branch:

Graham AuldMerseyside Retired Greyhound Trust01925 [email protected]

Jan de WittNorth West Retired Greyhound Trust 01270 [email protected]

Make a Difference – Leave a Legacy

Give an old athletethe will to live.

There’s a hopeful, trusting look in the eyes ofmost retired greyhounds. They’re hoping for acomfortable retirement home, and they trust us toprovide it for them!How can you help? With the best will in the world,

you may not be able to either adopt or sponsor agreyhound right now.

But a legacy could be the answer; remember the

RGT in your Will and you’ll be sure of a place indoggy heaven!

For more information on how to leave a legacyto The Retired Greyhound Trust, simply fill in thecoupon or phone us on:

0844 826 8424You’ll be doing us all a big favour.

Retired Greyhound Trust2nd Floor, Park House,1-4 Park Terrace, Worcester ParkSurrey KT4 7JZwww.retiredgreyhounds.co.ukemail:[email protected]

I’d like more information on leaving a legacy to RGT.

I enclose a donation £

Name:

Address:

Postcode:

Tel: RT/June/2011

Charity no. 269668

�

GT936_Retirement_Mag_2011_Layout 1 22/06/2011 17:03 Page 1


Local builder receives Wirral Trading Standards Approval

O & J MAINTENANCE

l All plumbingl Minor Drainagel Electrics & Re-wiring (Fully Certified Electrician)l Joineryl Gas and Central Heatingl Tilingl Window Fittingl All Drainagel Plasteringl Domestic Cleaningl Partition Walls

O & J Maintenance is a family run business and unlike all other companies we take on the smallest home improvement to building a brand new house. Customers can be guaranteed of a professional and efficient job.

l Kitchen Fittingl Gardeningl Buildingl Flaggingl Roofingl Soffit & Fascia cleaningl Damp Proofing & Wood Rot Specialists (30 year guarantee accepted by Banks and Building Societies)l Wet Room... and much, much more

We have a tradesman for every job:

l No Job Too Small l No Job Too Large l We Will Beat All Genuine Quotes l No Call Out Charge l Free Quotes

l Expert Advice l Quick & Efficient service

Call Now 0151 201 1708www.oandjmaintenance.co.uk

Now that the Government has announced final details for its new Junior ISA scheme, what does this mean for grandparents who’d previously put away lump sums and contributed to Child Trust Funds (CTFs)? And what impact, if any, will the new initiative have on their grand-children’s financial future? David Dawson, Sales and Marketing Director at www.thechildrensisa.com, explains CTFs, a Government savings and investment scheme that started in 2002, was abolished on 2 January. Recently, the Treasury amended the existing ISA guidelines to enable the establishment of Junior ISAs, which provides a more clear and simple way of saving for a child’s financial future.

Effective from November 1, it is estimated that around six million children are eligible, with a further 800,000 becoming eligible each year. The Government has

raised the limit of annual investment into the Junior ISA to £3,600 from £3,000. A move that grandparents will welcome as it means, potentially, they could help their grandchildren save an additional £19,000.

With the main benefit of the new saving scheme being that it is tax free, paying-in up to £3600 per tax year in a Junior ISA could achieve a pot of almost £115,000 by the time the child is 18 (based on growth of 5% net per annum). This enormous figure will be a hefty sum that grown-up grand children are sure to appreciate given the rising cost of higher education

and the difficulty of homeownership.

Unlike CTFs, there is no Government contribution to Junior ISAs and each child is limited to one cash ISA and stocks and shares ISA. Any UK resident child under 18, who is not eligible for a CTF, is eligible for a Children’s ISA. This includes children who were born before the CTF eligibility in September 2002. A child born between September 1, 2002 and January 2, 2011 was eligible for the CTF, at this time, if a child has a CTF they cannot have a Junior ISA.

Any parent or guardian can open an account and anyone can make contributions to it. The management of the ISA passes to the child when they reach 16 and they can only access funds when they turn 18 when it becomes an adult ISA.

At that time, it is anticipated that any responsible ISA provider will advise on alternative saving options available to encourage grandchildren to continue saving.

Soon, many high street banks and building societies will market products. www.thechildrensisa.com in particular is offering Cautious, Balanced and Adventurous options which will include low cost, actively managed, ethical and sharia funds, which can be opened with a minimum investment of £10 The ISA is operated by Avalon Investment Services who administer £300m invested primarily through Independent Financial Advisers.

Grandparents can now confidently look to start saving for their grand-children’s future when it comes to gifting, instead of, perhaps, previously giving them lump sums over their lifetime.

Sweets, toys, or save for a more secure financial future for your grandchildren...


Housing Benefi tThis is fi nancial help towards paying your rent. Retired people who have savings of less than £16,000 can claim it. If you are receiving Pension Credit (Guarantee Credit) you can have more than £16,000 and still qualify for help. We will ignore the fi rst £10,000 of your capital.

Council Tax Benefi tThis is fi nancial help towards paying your Council Tax bill. Retired people who are liable to pay Council Tax can apply. Couples make one claim based on both their incomes.

Each year in Wirral thousands of ££££’s go unclaimed!

Did you know:• Youdon’thavetoreceiveanyotherstate benefi ts to claim it.

• Youmaystillbeentitledevenifyoualready receive a discount on your Council Tax.

• Ifyouhaveover£16,000,buthavean adult living with you, (other than your partner) who is on a low income, you may still qualify for help. This is called Second Adult Rebate.

• Ifyoudecidetotakealumpsumas your pension, you may still be able to get help.

• IfyoureceivePensionCredit(SavingsCredit) you may also get help.

WIRRAL

If you think you might qualify please telephone our Call Centre on 0151-606 2002 or see a member of staff in any of our One Stop Shops. If you are a pensioner your claim may be treated as being made earlier, up to a maximum of 3 months.

You can fi nd out if you qualify by trying the Benefi t Calculator on our website @ www.wirral.gov.uk Or email us at housingbenefi [email protected]

E- CitizenIf you have access to the internet from your home or local library, you can view your Council Tax account details for instalments, payments and any Council Tax Benefi t you are receiving. See our website at www.wirral.gov.uk

This is fi nancial help towards paying your Council Tax bill. Retired people who are liable to pay Council Tax can apply. Couples make one

Each year in Wirral thousands

Help with Rent and Council Tax Payments

If you are in any doubt – apply! It won’t costyou anything and it could save you money


Capricorn Animal Rescue has been established in Flintshire since 1983, it is a family based charity and was formed to provide sanctuary for wildlife that could not be returned to the wild; domestic animals that could not be re-homed; to rescue, rehabilitate, rehome or release orphaned, injured, abandoned, unwanted animals and birds of all types. Our policy is to educate in the care of animals both wild and domestic. Capricorn has a non euthanasia policy.

We are self supporting, which means that we raise all our own funding, we receive no government grants.

Capricorn Animal Rescue is run by volunteers, a hard working, dedicated team who always go just that little bit further to help with the care of the animals.

Our services have never been in such demand, we receive over 100 calls daily, from people asking for our help with animals. People who are being evicted and need somewhere for their pet to go, people who are going into care, people who are having to give up their home and go into rented ‘no pet’ accommodation, people whose partner has left and cannot cope alone, as well as those who just don’t want their pet because they are now fed up with it.

We also take in the used up, bred out dogs from puppy farms, those who are unwanted because money can no longer be made from them.

Quite often when someone dies the pet is left, the family does not want it, so we are asked to take it in. Sometimes these are elderly pets and have no chance of being re- homed, so they live their life out with us at Capricorn.

Animals also come in to Capricorn from dog wardens, social services, police, park wardens etc. We are on call 24 hours a day, taking in, caring for all of these used and abused animals.

All domestic pet animals, rabbits, dogs, cats, ferrets are neutered, identity chipped, wormed, flea treated and all dogs and cats are inoculated and insured before re homing.

Home checks are carried out, and criteria must be met, we do not re-home where there are children under five years of age, someone must be at home during the day, and access to a secure garden or yard is a must.

Our volunteers, carry out the home checks, the runs to the veterinary surgery with the animals for health checks, surgery, inoculations etc., as well as helping with the fund raising, and work at the sanctuary.

Since opening, Carpricorn Animal Rescue has saved the lives of over 56,000 animals and birds, and by helping save them, we have also helped that many people, families who had now where else to turn to.

We cater for a wide variety of animals and birds including:

Chinchilla, Mice, Guinea Pigs, Squirrels, Dogs, Sheep, Hedgehogs, Barn Owls, Buzzards, Pigeons, African Grey Parrots, Tortoise, Ducks, Hens, Lovebirds, Rooks, Crows, Thrushes, Pheasants, Gerbils, Rats, Hamsters, Rabbits, Horses & Ponies, Cats, Goats, Ferrets, Tawny Owls, Peacocks, Doves, Green Amazon Parrots, Cockatiels,

Geese, Quaker Parakeet, Seagulls, Jackdaws, Blackbirds, Wood Pigeons, Rosella Parakeet and Sparrow Hawks.

Capricorn Animal Rescue

This cat was abandoned by his owner when she moved away, he is about 10 \ 12 years old.

Baby hedgehog, one of four abandoned by their mother when their nest was destroyed during a garden clear up.

We are in the process of rebuilding and refurbishing the sanctuary and it is our aim to have animal housing to cater for each type of animal or bird. We have over 40 different types of animals and birds at the sanctuary, and all have different needs.

So far we have new kennels, top of the range, to house 16 dogs, and the new cattery with 8 units, to house 16 cats. These two units have cost £117,000 and has taken most of our sanctuary fund. Capricorn has raised all the funding for these projects. We are still fund raising for other units, we have approximately two years work still to do until the sanctuary is completed.

A ‘Wish List’ has been drawn up, showing what we still need and the costs of the various units.

This is wherewe need your help ...

What can you do, as an individual?

You can ....

Sponsor, for a year, a permanent resident animal or a kennel as a gift, you will receive quarterly letters about your sponsored animal or kennel, a certificate picturing the animal and his/her story.

I’d like more information on leaving a legacy to Capricorn Animal Rescue.

Luke came in to us after being dumped and picked up by the dog warden.

He was covered in scars, partially healed wounds and he was so emaciated he could hardly stand up.

After weeks of careful regulated feeding, regular light exercise, he came on so well that we have been able to have him vaccinated and he now has been placed in a caring loving home with people who are going to keep on with the regulated feeding and exercise.

I enclose a donation £

Cheques payable to : CAPRICORN ANIMAL RESCUE

I would like more information on the “301” Club.

Name:-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Address: ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Postcode: ---------------------------------------------------------Tel: ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Post to: Capricorn Animal Rescue, Padeswood Lake Road, Padeswood, Mold, Flintshire CH7 4HZ.Registered Charity No. 1048511

Organise a fund raiser, come up with an idea of a fund raiser, get together with friends, neighbours, relatives - car boot sales, sponsored walk, ride, swim etc., stall at local fete/carnival etc. We can give you posters, story boards, newsletters and publicity if needed.

Volunteer either at our charity shop or at the sanctuary, both of these help the animals in our care.

Collect and donate goods for our shop. Jumble sales or book sales, collect and donate food for the animals, donate money.

Join the “301” club, annual membership paid by direct debit from as little as £2 per month, or as much as you wish. Members receive quarterly newsletters about the work that Capricorn has undertaken, lists of fund raising events. We can Gift Aid your donations.

You can be remembered by leaving a legacy in your Will. This will help care for the animals that come into the sanctuary. Enabling us to give them the treatment, food, care and love that they so desperately need from us.

If you would like to help Capricorn Animal Rescuse please fill in the slip below.

Luke before

Luke after

Help us to help them ...


OUT & ABOUT

Celebrity Chef drawscrowd at Clarendon CourtMore than 100 people flocked to Nantwich's Clarendon Court Care Home to catch celebrity chef James Martin in action. As part of an open day to promote the fact the home currently has room for new residents, the star gave live cookery demonstrations, met fans and passed on some top culinary tips.

The Healthy Eating Living event was a chance for guests to tour the stylish facilities, meet friendly staff and to book in and sample the luxurious living standards offered by Clarendon Court.

James gave two demonstrations, one in the morning and a second in the afternoon. Dishes produced included Welsh rarebit on smoked haddock, summer pudding, haddock omelette, home-made ice cream and butternut squash and lemon soup. Throughout the day guests were treated to canapes, tea and coffee, and in the afternoon, Champagne or orange juice with fresh fruit.

For more information about Clarendon Court, please phone 0113 238 2690 email [email protected] or visit www.mmcgcarehomes.co.uk

Heswall Arts FestivalHeswall, WirralSaturday 15 - Saturday 29 October: over this period various venues in Heswall and the surroundings areas will be the home for music, comedy, drama, literature, dance, art and a range of other activities.

This two-week celebration will offer a wide range of Arts activities and will provide an excellent showcase for talented individuals and groups throughout West Wirral

For further details and a full programme of events go towww.visitwirral.com/site/whats-on/heswall-arts-festival. Tel: 0151 336 3618.

Halloween Ghostly Ball28 October 2011Doubletree by HiltonWarrington Road, Hoole, Chester, CH2 3PD.

Event Organiser: 01244 408 800

Prepare to be spooked at the Doubletreeby Hilton in Chester.

An evening of frightening proportions and A Tribute to Lady Gaga too - Wow !!

All for the not so frightening price of £35 per person.


OF OUR WATERWAYSUNLOCK THE WONDERS

Call. 0151 355 5017South Pier Road, Ellesmere Port, CH65 4FW2 mins from M53, Jnct 9. Chester 15 mins & Liverpool 25 mins

www.nwm.org.uk

Flotillas of boats, historic canal docks and fascinating collections and displays.

PLUS waterside café, boat trips and loads for all the family to do.

National Waterways MuseumSouth Pier Road, Ellesmere Port,Cheshire CH65 4FWOpen; daily April to Oct, 10am to 5pm.Nov to March, Weekends only, 10am to 5pm weekends and school holidays, other days museum partially open.Closed Dec 25 to Jan 1.Shop and Café open all year, daily 10am to 4pm.

Prices: Adult £6, conc £5, child (5-16) £4, under 5s and Season Ticket holders free

With its delightful waterside setting, fl otillas of historic boats and fascinating displays housed in a fi ne collection of Victorian buildings, the National Waterways Museum is a great day out whatever the weather.

Walk across towering locks, watch swans and wagtails beside the canal basin and explore a world of warehouses, docks, stables and pump houses. Our collection of narrow boats, barges, ice breakers and more is the best in the world.

Find out about the entrepreneurs, engineers and navvies who created the world’s fi rst great man-made transport network and uncover Ellesmere Port’s pivotal role in the North West’s great industrial revolution

Take a boat trip, pay a visit to our blacksmith, watch a narrow boat come in to moor and swop stories later in the Waterside Café. There’s lots for all the family to enjoy at National Waterways Museum, plus check our website for details of special events and school holiday family fun activities.

• BeerFestival-October7th,8thand9th(weare aiming to see 500 visitors over the event), • FamilyHalloweenevent-October31st(includinga trick or treating in Porters Row)• FendermakingandRosesandCastlestraining courses – November • SantaCruises–December

And 2012• BWOpenDayMarch4th2012• ModelBoatShow–March3rdand4th2012• EasterBoatGathering-April6th-9th2012• SeaShantyFestival-April6th-9th2012• HistoryFair-May2012• CraftandClassicCarFair-June16and172012• Queen’sDiamondJubileeStreetParty–June5th

www.nwm.org.uk

Craft Fair29 October 2011Grosvenor Garden CentreWrexham Road, Belgrave, Chester, CH4 9EB. Event Organiser 01244 625 200

Visit our Craft Marquee on the car park, packed with unique gift ideas.

Start your Christmas shopping now with special handmade gifts aplenty.

Times: Friday & Saturday 10am - 5pm

Sunday 10am - 4pm.

Festive Lunch in the Oakfield ManorThursday 1st December 2011 - Saturday 24th December 2011

Chester ZooChester, Cheshire, CH2 1LHTelephone No: 01244 380 280.

Opening times: The Zoo is open all year from 10.00am except Christmas Day & Boxing Day.

[email protected]

Eat, drink and be merry at Port Sunlight Christmas Food FayreA food festival with added yuletide charm this December

Take a turn around the snow-dusted Village and make your way into Port Sunlight’s very own winter wonderland this December 3rd & 4th at Hulme Hall. The yuletide delights on offer at Port Sunlight Christmas Food Fayre would set even Rudolf’s tail wagging and you can stock up your Santa sack for those who have been naughty and nice all throughout the weekend.

Thoma s Mc MullanFa mily Fu ner al Services

Serving the Community Since 19 81

We ar e av ailable 24 Hours a7 Da ys a we ek forand personal atte

01 51

The Va lle y Lo dgeFu ner al Home,

Bor ough Roa d,Birk enhea d, Wirr al

www .thomasmcmullanf uner alservices.co.uk

family through the most diff icult time.

E very detail of the servicesmoo thly and ex actly

Thomas McMullan

Family Funeral Services“Providing Service Beyond Expectations with Integrity,

Honour and Respect”~

Personal Attention

Our experience can guide you indetermining which service suits your family’s needs. We are committed to

arranging a funeral that is most befi tting to your loved one, and we strive to celebrate

their life in a meaningful way.

Our telephone is always answered personally and we

are available 24 hoursa day, every day.

Valley Lodge Funeral Home

Tel: 0151 653 4173The Valley Lodge Funeral Home

Borough Road, Birkenhead CH42 9JE.www.thomasmcmullanfuneralservices.co.uk

For years, Families have trusted Thomas McMullan’s to serve and care for their loved ones, we promise to provide excellence in service and compassion during this most diffi cult time of loss.

Serving the Community Since 1981

Appointed contract Funeral Director for Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and Wirral Borough Council Social Services

Funeral Plans fromThomas McMullan Funeral Services

Peace ofmind for youand yourloved ones

To find out more about Golden Charter funeral plans from Thomas McMullan Funeral Services, please return thecoupon below, phone us, or call in.

Mr/Mrs/Ms Initial: Surname:

Address:

Postcode: Tel no:

Send to: Thomas McMullan Funeral Services, Valley Lodge, Borough Road, BIRKENHEAD, Merseyside CH42 9JE

(0151) 653 4173

A funeral plan provides peace of mind for you and those you care about.You make the arrangements in advance, specify your wishes and takecare of the costs.

We recommend funeral plans from Golden Charter, the UK’s largestindependent plan provider. With a Golden Charter plan you’ll benefit from:

• Paying at today’s prices for a service you may not require for many years• A guarantee of nothing more to pay for our services• A choice of a range of plans – with the option to personalise your own• The reassurance that your wishes will be carried out, sparing your loved ones

uncertainty and distress

Taking out a funeral plan is one of the mostthoughtful decisions you could make.

www.floralpavilion.com0151 666 0000

SAT 10th DECEMBER 2011to MON 2nd JANUARY 2012

chester & wirral issue 34

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