reading issue 32

READING & WEST BERKS

DECEMBER - FEBRUARY 2014EDITION 32

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THE LOCAL MAGAZINE FOR THE OVER 50s WWW.50PLUSMAGAZINE.CO.UK

Gloria HunnifordTalks of the early days, health & more...

Free Swimming Lessonat Bracknell Leisure Centre

Here for every generationHewetts Solicitors

CROWN’S KITCHENSby Jason

Crown Kitchens has been creating beautiful kitchens for over 60 years and get most of our work by referral. Perhaps it’s because we offer ranges to suit all tastes or maybe its the way we ‘walk’ our customers through the design process which enables us to understand and deliver to meet their expectations.

Whether it’s a traditional, bespoke or a sleek contemporary kitchen, Jason can advise you and help you to get the most from your budget. They also offer a large range of quality appliances from top kitchen manufacturer Crown Imperial and superb worktops in a choice of finishes.

We do full renovations as part of a complete project including all building works we can even take care of the electrical work, gas, plastering, tiling and more to assure a quality end result to your kitchen. With a dedicated work force all over seen by myself with 28 years experience and with a long list of very happy customers all willing to give referrals.

A new kitchen is an exciting project and we are confident that our experience and enthusiasm will help you make the right decisions along the way.

Unit 14, Robert Cort Industrial Estate,

Britten Road, Reading RG2 0AU

Tel: 0118 975 9366 | [email protected]

by JasonPUTTING THE HEART IN

YOUR HOME

Unit 14, Robert Cort Industrial Estate,

Britten Road, Reading RG2 0AU

Tel: 0118 975 9366 | [email protected] www.crowns-kitchens.com

4 www.50plusmagazine.co.uk

6-7 Free Adult Swimming Lesson/Swimfit Sesson ... At Bracknell Leisure Centre8-9 The Great British Holiday ... Discover wonders of the World on your doorstep9 WIN a Weeks Holiday for 2 ... At a Christian Guild Hotel of your choice 10-11 2014 Coach Holidays ... From Barnes Travel 12-13 Ancient Turkey... Discover the Great Empires of Caria and Lycia18-19 Gloria Hunniford ... talks of the early days, health & more22-23 Low Fat Winter Warmers ... Recipes from the Hairy Bikers24-25 Make 2014 your year ... Change those areas of your life your not happy with28-29 Keeping Ageing at Bay ... Stay Younger for Longer.

inside...

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

12-13 8-9

18-19 24-25

Make & Takes Tales for TotsMuseum Surgery Museum Tours

Roman Open Day Bayeux Tapestry Victorian Schoolroom Activity Cart

Xmas Family Workshop - and more!

Reading Museum & Town Hall,Blagrave St, Reading. RG1 1QH.Tel: 0118 937 3400 www.readingmuseum.org.uk

Take the kids toREADING MUSEUMfor some fantasticAUTUMN FUN

Your autobiography captured in a beautiful, illustrated volume for your family to treasure.

Complete with a web site of your pictures and recordings of your stories. Written in Haworth, home of the Brontes.

Haworth gave birth to the historic novels of the Bronte sisters and it can become the birthplace of your personal story. Makes a wonderful gift for loved ones.

Bronte Book will publish your personal autobiography, written and published in Haworth, to pass on as a living legacy after making detailed recordings.

Within the four month long process comes your own web site (also available separately) containing recordings, pictures and special stories. Your own living legacy which we know you will enjoy compiling.

You may choose a book and/or a web site and an e-book within the package which starts from £300 ranging to £2,750 for the full process, which can include up to 20 books. A deposit with instalment payments plan is available.

My Bronte Book

Details from www.brontebook.weebly.comor Bronte Media, [email protected]: 01535 959002, Mobile: 07866 626090

14-15

Bracknell Leisure CentreBagshot Road, Bracknell, Berkshire, RG12 9SE

Tel: 01344 454203 email: [email protected]

www.bracknell-forest.gov.uk/be

Can’t swim? Or just don’t swim?It’s never too late to learn how to swim, no matter how nervous or uncomfortable you may be in the water. Swimming a fantastic form of exercise:• It’s gentle on your joints• It aids flexibility• It’s great for your heart and lungs• It works all the major muscle groups• It burns lots of calories• It’s refreshing and relaxing• It’s a great way to meet new people

At Bracknell Leisure Centre we offer adult lessons which are devised to get you swimming as soon as possible. Held at convenient times in one of our two fantastic 25m pools our lessons will enable you to:• Learn how to swim• Improve technique• Gain confidence in the water• Be part of a small class of likeminded learners• Enjoy our friendly and qualified instructorsLearning to swim can help make holidays more enjoyable, give you the opportunity to swim with friends/family and give you a great, low-impact way to keep fit. So strip off (into appropriate attire!) and get into our pool!

FREE Swimming lesson at Bracknell Leisure CentreVoucher below

Maybe you can swim but feel uninspired? Don’t worry, we have plenty of different water-based activities that will remove the boredom of plodding up and down the lanes. Water can be used as a way to add resistance to movements whilst keeping your exercises low-impact. Why not challenge yourself with something a bit different?

FREE Swimfit session with this voucher!Tues 11.30am-12.45pm • Weds 9.15am-10.30am* • Thurs 11.30am-12.45pmSimply cut out this voucher and hand over to Reception at the above times. To get the most out of your workout arrive at the start of the session so you can talk to our Swimfit Activator. *Term-time only. Terms & Conditions apply. Offer valid until 30/03/2014.

�

Want to give it a try?Exclusive to 50 Plus readers (Reading & West Berks) we areoffering a FREE taster swim lesson voucher (see below) inorder for you to see what our exceptional adult classes are like.

L’eau RobicsL’eau Robics (or water aerobics) is a fun way to exercise in the water, using equipment and water as resistance. Listening to a wide range of music you will work at your own pace whilst supporting your joints in the water.

Swimming LessonsIf you’d like to be a better swimmer then look no further, we have plenty of courses for all levels so improve your skills which could help you go further much faster!

Swimfit (free voucher below!)

Bored of swimming your ‘usual’ 10/20/64 lengths? Try something different with Swimfit sessions. Pick a session card for the distance you would like to swim and allow our Swimfit Instructors to transform your pool time. They will keep an eye on your progress, provide motivation and support. Our Activator will show you how to use the provided training aids, and help you with invaluable tips on swimming for fitness. This social and fun workout will change your routine forever!

Over 50’s / Fit for Life SessionsIf you are one of our lovely visitors aged over 50 years then why not attend one of our Fit for Life Sessions? Not only do we offer swimming during Fit for Life but you can also take part in many other Activities such as Zumba, Yoga, Bowls, Tennis, Badminton or just a relaxing visit to our spa. These sessions are a great way to save money, socialise and keep active.

Flex Code: WRS

FREE adult swimming lesson(choose from daytime, evening or Saturday morning) at BLC subject to availability

Reception Flex code: WRP

�

Phone Sally Dawes on 01344 454203 before 14/03/2014 to book your space then bring this voucher to reception on the day of your lesson.

Terms & Conditions apply. Offer valid until 30/03/2014.

Bracknell Leisure CentreBagshot Road, Bracknell, Berkshire, RG12 9SE

Tel: 01344 454203 email: [email protected]

www.bracknell-forest.gov.uk/be

Can’t swim? Or just don’t swim?It’s never too late to learn how to swim, no matter how nervous or uncomfortable you may be in the water. Swimming a fantastic form of exercise:• It’s gentle on your joints• It aids flexibility• It’s great for your heart and lungs• It works all the major muscle groups• It burns lots of calories• It’s refreshing and relaxing• It’s a great way to meet new people

At Bracknell Leisure Centre we offer adult lessons which are devised to get you swimming as soon as possible. Held at convenient times in one of our two fantastic 25m pools our lessons will enable you to:• Learn how to swim• Improve technique• Gain confidence in the water• Be part of a small class of likeminded learners• Enjoy our friendly and qualified instructorsLearning to swim can help make holidays more enjoyable, give you the opportunity to swim with friends/family and give you a great, low-impact way to keep fit. So strip off (into appropriate attire!) and get into our pool!

FREE Swimming lesson at Bracknell Leisure CentreVoucher below

Maybe you can swim but feel uninspired? Don’t worry, we have plenty of different water-based activities that will remove the boredom of plodding up and down the lanes. Water can be used as a way to add resistance to movements whilst keeping your exercises low-impact. Why not challenge yourself with something a bit different?

FREE Swimfit session with this voucher!Tues 11.30am-12.45pm • Weds 9.15am-10.30am* • Thurs 11.30am-12.45pmSimply cut out this voucher and hand over to Reception at the above times. To get the most out of your workout arrive at the start of the session so you can talk to our Swimfit Activator. *Term-time only. Terms & Conditions apply. Offer valid until 20/11/2013

✃

Want to give it a try?Exclusive to 50 Plus readers we are offering a FREE taster swim lesson voucher (see below) in order for you to see what our exceptional adult classes are like.

L’eau RobicsL’eau Robics (or water aerobics) is a fun way to exercise in the water, using equipment and water as resistance. Listening to a wide range of music you will work at your own pace whilst supporting your joints in the water.

Swimming LessonsIf you’d like to be a better swimmer then look no further, we have plenty of courses for all levels so improve your skills which could help you go further much faster!

Swimfit (free voucher below!)

Bored of swimming your ‘usual’ 10/20/64 lengths? Try something different with Swimfit sessions. Pick a session card for the distance you would like to swim and allow our Swimfit Instructors to transform your pool time. They will keep an eye on your progress, provide motivation and support. Our Activator will show you how to use the provided training aids, and help you with invaluable tips on swimming for fitness. This social and fun workout will change your routine forever!

Over 50’s / Fit for Life SessionsIf you are one of our lovely visitors aged over 50 years then why not attend one of our Fit for Life Sessions? Not only do we offer swimming during Fit for Life but you can also take part in many other Activities such as Zumba, Yoga, Bowls, Tennis, Badminton or just a relaxing visit to our spa. These sessions are a great way to save money, socialise and keep active.

Flex Code: WRS

FREE adult swimming lesson(choose from daytime, evening or Saturday morning) at BLC subject to availability

Reception Flex code: WRP

✃

Phone Sally Dawes to book your space on 01344 454203 then bring this voucher to reception on the day of your lesson

Terms & Conditions apply. Offer valid until 31/12/2013


When it comes to choosing a break away many of us automatically go online or get brochures from the travel agent to look beyond our own shores to possibly sunnier climes in other parts of the world.

That blinkered approach to homegrown charms means we may not appreciate the best of what this country has to offer. But, for the discerning, The Great British Holiday has become THE way to enjoy time away from home.

Look at the basic reality: you don’t have to worry about changing money to a different currency or learning a foreign language, agonise over flight delays, spend long hours at the airport doing nothing or deal with the often baffling laws and customs of another country.

By discovering the genuine wonders of the world on your own doorstep, you plug into a much more relaxed holiday that can quickly awaken all of us to just why so many visitors from other countries converge on the UK each year as their destination of choice.

For a start, there are all kinds of holidays we can take in this country – ranging from active adventure holidays to tailor-made tourism around fascinating towns and villages, to ultra-relaxing breaks to allow mind and body to rest and re-charge to face the rest of life.

There are few countries in the world where so many holiday choices are available. You can hire a cottage in a remote rural spot, take over a country lodge for a family break, stay in a piece of English history, or just put your trust in a reliable travel company and let a coach whisk you away on a scenic route to a super hotel home-from-home.

When you’ve got past the family holiday style of seaside breaks or activity holiday parks, you may just love the luxury and sheer lack of responsibility of being taken on a coach tour holiday.

Matt Barnes - Barnes Coaches

“You don’t have to travel outside of the British Isles for holidays that are exciting and interesting, while still being relaxing; you just need to choose a holiday with plenty included. Most people have seen the Eden Project in Cornwall, but how about timing a trip here to coincide with the Cornwall Spring Flower Show? Everyone loves a journey by train or boat; how about a holiday combining both in Devon and Cornwall, Norfolk, the Pennines or even Scotland? If scenic ferry journeys are more your thing, there are some great circular holidays to be had in Scotland; taking in the Outer Hebrides, Orkney and Shetland or even all three.”

And there is just so much to see and do in this country! You can sample local ales in Devizes in Wiltshire, enjoy international arts in Salisbury and explore stone circles and Iron Age forts in the countryside.

Consider an escape to the country’s largest oak forest in the Forest of Dean in Gloucestershire, see Dover’s stunning white cliffs or visit the beautiful cathedrals of Rochester and Canterbury. Then there’s the glorious ancient woodland of the New Forest where William the Conqueror once hunted.

Our first National Park in the Peak District is the scenery which inspired the Brontes, or you can view Creswell Crag’s stunning Ice Age legacy. Little around the world is as beautiful as our own Lake District and Cumbria, while the Yorkshire Dales offer mile upon mile of unspoiled landscape as a feast for the eyes and the senses.

Explore the historic streets of Salisbury and Stonehenge and tuck into tasty local farmers’ produce, or wander the banks of the River Wear in Durham. Spare some time, too, to visit its iconic cathedral there before appreciating the wild and lovely countryside of the Durham Dales.

Our cities have much to fascinate – from stunning landmarks in Norwich spanning the Norman, Medieval, Georgian, Victorian and modern eras to Windsor Castle, bursting with a thousand years of history.

Soak up the atmosphere in Bath and visit the fascinating Roman baths or wonder at York’s remarkable old buildings and visit the Shambles, voted the country’s most picturesque street.

Make a pilgrimage to Canterbury and discover the bloody history behind Chaucer’s tales. Or travel to our historic seats of learning and culture to stimulate the intellect and the imagination. Stratford upon Avon is home to all things Shakespeare; see works by Michaelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci and Picasso at the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford,

TRAVEL AND LEISURE

The Great British Holiday

9www.50plusmagazine.co.uk

or study Charles Darwin’s specimens at the Zoology Museum in Cambridge.

Of course, holidays don’t all have to be about sitting around or simply strolling about looking at tourist spots. You might prefer your walks brisk, exploring the Cornish coast, or hiking over the many English hills and dales.

You might be one of the thousands of people who love caravan holidays, taking your accommodation with you to the hundreds of well-organised camp sites and their useful facilities to structure your own days. You might prefer to try out well-appointed static caravans at holiday parks which also offer entertainment on your independent holiday.

Boating holidays are more popular than ever, with the country’s wonderful network of canals and rivers introduced to new fans every year.

The Lancaster Canal, for example, is one of our most scenic and gentle waterways, running for 42 lock-free miles through pleasant pasturelands, overlooked for most of the way by the foothills of the Pennines.

Today’s narrowboats come fully-equipped, some with central heating,

full-size shower and TV, appealing to all.

As Robert Foulkes of Crabtree Narrowboat Hire explained: “Last year we had people in their early 20s, grandparents with their grandkids and 50-somethings whose children had left home and this was their first holiday on their own for 20 years.”

Christian Guild, the UK’s premier Christian holiday and hotel company, are excited to announce their brand new brochure for 2014, bringing you a range of inspiring ideas to help you choose the perfect holiday for you and your family.

The company boasts five high quality hotels, from an 18th century castle, to a classic Georgia mansion, providing high class service and a warm welcome to all their customers.

They have recently announced a partnership with Ramblers Worldwide Holidays, who are offering their expertise in great value walking holidays at two locations, giving customers the exciting opportunity to explore the world on foot and get out into the great

Christian Guild hotels provide the very best in Christian hospitality in some of the most beautiful parts of England.

Our five superb hotels o�er a warm welcome and are perfect places to get away from it all.

to

WIN A WEEKS HOLIDAY FOR 2AT A CHRISTIAN GUILD HOTEL OF

YOUR CHOICE

NAME: ...................................................................................

ADDRESS: ..............................................................................

..............................................................................................

POSTCODE: ...........................................................................

TEL: .......................................................................................

EMAIL: ...................................................................................

Closing Date for entries 28/2/14 and winner notified by email or post.

CHRISTIAN GUILD, 2ND FLOOR, BUILDING 10, CROMFORD MILLS, CROMFORD, DERBYSHIRE DE4 3RQ.

e: [email protected] www.christianguild.co.uk

SIMPLY FILL IN YOUR DETAILS TO BE ENTERED INTO OUR PRIZE DRAW TO WIN A HOLIDAY FOR 2 AT THE CHRISTIAN GUILD HOTEL OF YOUR CHOICE, PLUS EACH ENTRY WILL RECEIVE A £50 OFF VOUCHER ON ANY 2014 BREAK/HOLIDAY FOR 3 OR MORE DAYS.

outdoors. Discover the Wye Valley, where you can observe the breath-taking scenery, Offa’s Dyke, a walk through an ancient fortified borderland or St Ives and the Cornish Coast, with its rugged coastlines and long sandy beaches. All lead by Ramblers very own experienced leaders, you can be sure your holiday will be the best it can be.

If you’re looking for the perfect British holiday in 2014, then contact Christian Guild for a copy of their Holidays and Short Breaks brochure for details on hotels and all the activities on offer on 01629 826531 or visit www.christianguild.co.uk

The Great British Holiday – in all its forms, price-ranges and activities or lack of them - offers the freedom to choose exactly how YOU want to spend your break. And the bonus is that it’s often a brand new voyage of discovery of the fabulous place that is our country.

barnes

AND STILL AVAILABLE FROM OUR SUMMER BROCHUREJul 24 Eastbourne & the Sussex CoastJul 24 Sandown, Isle of WightJul 26 Looe & East CornwallJul 31 Llandudno & SnowdoniaJul 31 Scarborough & Yorkshire MoorsAug 1 Felixstowe, Suffolk SaunterAug 1 Torquay, English RivieraAug 6 Chatsworth House & Renishaw HallAug 6 Disneyland Paris by CoachAug 7 Trains & Boats of the TyrolAug 8 Rhyl, Bargain SnowdoniaAug 8 Skegness, inc Lincoln & WoldsAug 9 Morecambe, Lakes, Dales, MountainsAug 9 ButlinsAug 12 Northern Ireland & DublinAug 13 ButlinsAug 13 Gwbert, Cardigan Bay & West WaleAug 14 Jersey & Guernsey, Channel IslandsAug 16 Durham & BeamishAug 16 Pennines, Borders & Hadrians WallAug 17 Erskine Bridge, Edinburgh TattooAug 21 Eastbourne & the Sussex CoastAug 21 Port Erin, Isle of ManAug 22 Largs, Isles of Arran and ButeAug 22 Tenby & PembrokeshireAug 24 Erskine Bridge, Edinburgh TattooAug 27 Disneyland Paris by EurostarAug 28 The Black Forest, OberharmersbachAug 28 Weymouth, Delightful DorsetAug 29 Bargain Mystery TourAug 30 Gwbert, Cardigan Bay & West WalesAug 30 Criccieth, Lleyn Peninsula & SnowdoniaAug 30 Great Yarmouth, Coast & BroadsSep 3 YorkSep 3 Newquay, Atlantic Cornish CoastSep 3 Middlesborough, Where it all BeganSep 4 Paignton, English RivieraSep 5 Shanklin, Isle of WightSep 5 CliftonvilleSep 10 Babbacombe, S. Devon & DartmoorSep 10 Far North of ScotlandSep 10 Colchester, Constable CountrySep 10 Peak DistrictSep 11 Bantry Bay & Gulf Stream CoastSep 12 Grange Over Sands, Lakes & DalesSep 12 St Ives & Land’s EndSep 13 Scarborough & Yorkshire MoorsSep 13 Weymouth, Delightful DorsetSep 16 Douglas, Isle of ManSep 18 Jersey & Guernsey, Channel IslandsSep 18 Sandown, Isle of WightSep 19 Llandudno & SnowdoniaSep 20 Ilfracombe, North Devon & ExmoorSep 21 Sorrento & PompeiiSep 23 Newquay, Atlantic Cornish CoastSep 24 Tenby & PembrokeshireSep 25 Far North of Scotland, inc OrkneySep 25 Pennine ExplorerSep 27 Boats & Trains of NorfolkSep 27 Eastbourne & the Sussex CoastSep 27 Irvine, Singles in ScotlandOct 1 Blackpool IlluminationsOct 1 Eastbourne & the Sussex CoastOct 1 Patterdale, Lake District & PenninesOct 2 Killarney, The Kingdom of KerryOct 2 Tuscan Riviera, Forte dei MarmiOct 3 Gwbert, Cardigan Bay & West WalesOct 6 TenbyOct 8 Blackpool Illuminations

Constable Country10th Sept 4 Days £219

Bantry Bay & The Gulf Stream Coast11th Sept 7 Days £499

Sorrento & Pompeii21st Sept 10 Days £849

Ring for your copy!

01793 821303www.barnescoaches.co.uk

Book online or call: 01793 821303

The Shap Wells Hotel is situated in the secluded, wooded valley surrounded by mountain streams. There is entertainment on 3 nights so no need to leave the hotel in the evenings! This tour sold out in 2013, and was a great success, so book early.

Hotel Information

BEST WESTERN SHAP WELLS HOTEL3 star Hotel will great access to the lakes.

n LIFT n SATELLITE TV n BAR

Winter turns to Spring in the Lake District & Yorkshire Dales

Price Includes:3 Return Coach Travel3 Hotel Accommodation of Bed, Breakfast & Evening Meal3 Tours

5 DAYS/4 NIGHTS HALF BOARD

Date Price SS

10 Mar £279 NIL

We have been operating these tours for many years now and they are always popular and often sell out.

Hotel InformationPALACE HOTEL, PAIGNTON3 star period hotel has fantastic unspoilt views across Torbay.n SPA n SAUNA n LIFT n BAR n GYM n POOL

Cosy Breaks in the EnglishRiviera ~ Paignton



Date Price SS

13 Jan £239 NIL

10 Feb £249 NIL


07 Feb £199 NIL

14 Mar £199 NIL

One of our ever popular SINGLE ROOMS ONLY holidays visits Torquay to stay in one of its finest hotels. The Palace Hotel is 4 star and is situated among 25 acres of beautifully landscaped gardens extending to the sea. Our itinerary is also full of interest on each of the 4 days.

Hotel InformationPALACE HOTEL, TORQUAY4 star with comfortable lounges, beautiful surroundings and old-world charm. n BAR n LIFT n POOL

4 Star Single Rooms ~ Torquay



Date Price SS

16 Feb £239 NIL

GARDEN VIEW ROOM £45

Experience all that Cornwall has to offer whilst based in this lovely hotel in the unspoilt village of St Agnes. There is a sherry reception, a cream tea on arrival from an excursion and a glass of wine on the last evening.

Hotel InformationROSEMUNDY HOUSE HOTEL3 star property set in 4 acres of woodland and gardens. In the evening relax in the bar or cosy snug lounge.n BAR n GROUND FLOOR ROOMS

Cornwall Winter Warmer ~ St Agnes



Date Price SS

28 Feb £279 NIL

2014 UK & European Coach Holidays

Austrian Houseparty ~ Lake Achensee

With its peaks and meadows, lakes and fascinating traditions, Austria remains a favourite destination. Our hotel is a short stroll from the shores of Lake Achensee, a crystal-clear lake surrounded by beautiful mountains. Also included is a Gala Dinner with a glass of wine followed by live music, afternoon coffee or tea and cake, an Apfelstrudel baking demonstration and a guided walk of Achenkirch including a visit to the Folk Museum plus a snack and coffee. This tour was a great success in 2013, so we are returning to the same Austrian hotel with a new itinerary but the same great price!

Hotel Information

HOTEL FISCHERWIRT, LAKE ACHENSEE3 star traditional hotel that is very comfortable and located directly on the lake near a pier. There is a health spa available at extra cost payable locally.

n SATELLITE TV n BAR n SAUNA n STEAM ROOM

Price Includes:

3 Return Coach Travel3 Crossing3 Porterage and Hotel Accommodation of Bed, Breakfast & Evening Meal3 Tours (including guided walk, baking demonstrations etc.)


Date Price SS

15 Mar £449 35

For full details visit www.barnescoaches.co.uk

Based in Buxton and including Chatsworth House.

Explore the delights of Derbyshire’s Peak District, the highlight being a visit to the Palace of the Peak District, Chatsworth House. We are based at the 4 star Palace Hotel in Buxton where it is House Party Week! There will be scones with jam and cream on arrival, a Gala Regional Themed Dinner on one evening followed by lively entertainment! There will also be bingo and a quiz on the other nights.

Hotel Information

THE PALACE HOTEL, BUXTON4 star hotel located in the centre of the spa town of Buxton.n BAR n SWIMMING POOL n GYMn SATELLITE TV n LIFT n SAUNA n STEAM ROOM

The Cornwall Spring Flower Show takes place in the magical Boconnoc Estate near Lostwithiel and offers a sensory exploration and celebration of Cornish gardening where exuberant displays guarantee a brilliantly colourful spectacle. We also visit the world famous Eden Project and two delightful Cornish harbour villages.

Hotel Information

BEST WESTERN CLIFF HEAD HOTEL, CARLYON BAYEnjoys a stunning coastal location with sandy beaches and coves on the delightful doorstep.n SATELLITE TV n BAR

Riva del GardaLake Garda is one of the most stunning locations in Europe! The lake covers three regions and encompasses colourful and diverse lakeside towns, each offering a new experience. Riva del Garda sits on the lakeshore overshadowed by spectacular mountains. There is a pretty and historic centre, great shops and peaceful lakeside walks. This year we have included a cruise on Lake Garda and still reduced the price! Even the journey here and back is stunning as we pass through the Austrian Alps.

Hotel Information

HOTEL LA PERIA, RIVA DEL GARDA3 star hotel only 150m from the lake.

n SATELLITE TV n BAR

Lake Garda including Verona & Boat Cruise

FREE HOME PICKUPon tours 4 days and over

The Peak District & Palace House Party!

Price Includes:

3 Return Coach Travel3 Hotel Accommodation of Bed, Breakfast & Evening Meal3 Tours (including entrances to Chatsworth House)


Date Price SS

24 Mar £249 NIL

Cornwall Spring Flower Show, The Eden Project & Harbour Villages

Price Includes:

3 Return Coach Travel3 Hotel Accommodation of Bed, Breakfast & Evening Meal3 Tours (including entry to Eden Project and the Flower Show)


Date Price SS

04 Apr £325 NIL

River and Rail in IrelandWicklow & Dublin

This short break to the East Coast of Ireland is filled with treats including a guided rail tour, a scenic river cruise, plus tea and scones and 2 nights entertainment at the hotel.

Hotel Information

ROYAL HOTEL, BRAY3 star hotel with leisure facilities.n BAR n SATELLITE TV n GYM n POOL nSPA nSAUNA nSTEAM ROOM

Price Includes:

3 Return Coach Travel3 Ferry Crossings3 Hotel Accommodation of Bed, Breakfast (except on last morning when included on boat) & Evening Meal3 Tours (inc. guided train ride and boat trip)


Date Price SS

13 Apr £379 NIL

Price Includes:

3 Return Coach Travel3 Channel Crossings3 Hotel Accommodation of Bed, Breakfast & Evening Meal3 Tours (inc. lake cruise)


Date Price SS

20 Apr £519 98


50 Plus Travel sponsored by

Turkey is home to numerous ruins

dating back to ancient times and the

country’s south western coastline is

one of the most historically populated

areas. Dubbed as the ‘Turquoise

Coast’ for its stunning scenic colours,

this vast area spans two significant

and influential regions in antiquity,

namely Lycia and Caria. From

intricately carved tombs to underwater

towns, this area of Turkey has much to

explore!

The charming resort of Dalyan –

close to the regions’ main airport,

Dalaman – straddles the delta and

is an area rich in natural beauty and

historical attractions. Until the late

1980s, this traditional fishing area

remained somewhat undiscovered

by tourists, despite its impressive

landscape, diverse wildlife and ancient

ruins. However, the delta gained

international fame after developers

attempted to construct a luxury hotel

close to the breeding ground of the

endangered loggerhead turtles. As

a result, the Dalyan Delta became a

protected area, thereby maintaining

the unspoilt nature of the region.

Nowadays, visitors head to Dalyan

not just to observe this endangered

species, but also to see the other

impressive attractions the area has to

offer.

One such attraction is the Dalyan

Tombs that are set high up in the cliff

face above the Dalyan Delta. They

were constructed for the Carian city

of Caunos around 400BC to house the

bodies of deceased kings, providing

us with a fascinating insight into the

burial customs of the inhabitants of

this ancient city. The location of the

tombs also helps us to understand

the way of life in ancient Lycia and

Caria, as they believed that a winged

creature carried the deceased to

the after world, therefore the burial

chambers were constructed on a cliff

face. Whilst the entire landscape of

Lycia is scattered with a selection of

fascinating funeral monuments, it is

these on the Dalyan Delta that are

considered the most imposing and

awe-inspiring tombs of the ancient

region. At night time the tombs are lit

up creating a dramatic, atmospheric

backdrop to the delta which can be

seen for miles.

Caunos itself is another fascinating

attraction. The largest ancient city in

the Carian era, it was constructed,

according to Greek mythology, by

Apollo’s grandson. Those who visit

these iconic ruins can discover

remains of many different parts of

the old city which were uncovered

during an excavation, from the

ancient amphitheatre to the traditional

Hellenistic and Roman temples, to

name a few.

Further eastwards, Kalkan lies at the

heart of some of the most impressive

Lycian sites. Xanthos was a site of

exceptional importance in antiquity

as it is thought to have been a main

centre for culture and commerce.

Extensive excavations and research

of the area have led to the discovery

of a selection of texts in the Lycian

Ancient Turkey:Discover the Great Empires of Caria and Lycia

By Mathew Simpson

Simpson Travel

www.simpsontravel.com

Patara Ruins


Silver Travel Advisor is a travel review, information and advice website exclusively for over 50’s, packed with articles, suggestions, tips and ideas. For free and independent travel advice as well as reviews about holidays, hotels, restaurants and days out, please visit www.silvertraveladvisor.com or email [email protected]. It’s free to register as a member of Silver Travel Advisor, and you could win a fabulous holiday prize.

language and Greek, as well as a

considerable amount of artefacts.

The British Museum now houses

two tombs, the Nereid monument

and the Tomb of Payava, both

of which were discovered at the

ruins. Another tomb, known as

the Harpy Tomb, is still located at

the remains of the city. Only 4kms

south of Xanthos, positioned on

the banks of the Xanthos River, is

one of the most important religious

centres in the region – Letoon –

where the foundations of temples

can be seen. A further remain – the

ancient city of Patara – can also

be found in this historically rich

region. Excavated in the 1980s,

a magnificent Roman arch can

be admired, as well as an impressive theatre. Once a prosperous

commercial city, the ruins are positioned just a short distance

from Patara Beach – one of the most photographed beaches in the

Mediterranean.

There are also a number of other smaller sites and one of the more

interesting and unusual ones is nearby Kekova which is home to the

semi-sunken city of Simena. Originally a fishing village, a 2nd century

earthquake had devastating effects on Simena – however it left behind

an exceptional historical site. Half of the ancient houses have become

submerged, with staircases leading down underwater, where the

foundations of the buildings and an old harbour can be found. In 1990,

this region was declared a protected area, prohibiting swimming and

diving.

Further north and on its own peninsula lies the unspoilt rural region

of Bozburun, yet another area which is home to other interesting

historical settlements located in ancient Caria. From here, you can

explore the ancient Greek settlement of Knidos, located just a short

drive away on the nearby Datça Peninsula, a ruin that is built partly on

the mainland and partly on the Island of Triopion which, in antiquity,

was connected to the mainland by a bridge.

Iztuzu Beach

Bozburun Peninsula


Christian Guild hotels provide the very best in Christian hospitality in some of the most beautiful parts of England.

Our five superb hotels o�er a warm welcome and are perfect places to get away from it all.

to

2014 brings a range of inspiring ideas to help you choose the perfect holiday for you and your family.

Christian Guild boasts five high quality hotels with first class service, from an 18th century castle to a country house hotel and a classic Georgian mansion.

Abbot HAll HotelKents bank, Grange-over-Sands,

Cumbria lA11 7bGt: 015395 32896

e: [email protected]

SidHolme Hotelelysian Fields, Sidmouth,

devon eX10 8UJt: 01395 515104


lindorS CoUntry HoUSe Hotelthe Fence, St briavels, lydney,

Gloucestershire Gl15 6rbt: 01594 530283


treloyHAn mAnor HotelSt ives, Cornwall tr26 2Al

t: 01736 796240e: [email protected]

WillerSley CAStle HotelCromford, matlock

derbyshire de4 5JHt: 01629 582270


YOU will always receive a warm welcome at any one of our beautiful hotels. If you’re looking for a hotel that offers comfortable accommodation, character, style and great food, then look no further.

Head Office: Christian Guild, 2nd Floor, Building 10, Cromford Mills, Cromford, Derbyshire, DE4 3RQ.tel: 01629 826531 email: [email protected]

Our hotels have been chosen to offer you easy access to some of England’s most popular tourist areas. Whether you want to explore coast or country, we’ve a hotel for you. And once you’ve finished exploring and wandering around the wonderful surroundings of our hotels, sit back and relax and enjoy fine food and the very best in Christian hospitality at each venue.

THEMED BREAKSIf you have a hobby or want to try a new experience, then our themed breaks are renowned for offering a fun-packed holiday.

We have arranged a lot of new breaks for 2014, so there’s more chance for you to try a new hobby. Best of all you’ll meet like-minded people, and we’re sure you’ll make new friends.

Stay As You Please We are known for our fabulous breaks that offer a packed programme of activities. But we are now introducing our new concept Stay As You Please.

This gives you the flexibility to do whatever you want, but unlike other hotels, we have staff on hand to help you plan so you don’t miss out on any local attractions.

Stay as you please is more than just booking a hotel room - we can also help you with directions on local walks and give you contact information so you can take park in local activities, such as surfing, fishing or pony trekking.

Call 01629 826531 for a copy of our Holidays & Short Breaks brochure with details of the activities organised at each hotel.

NEW

BROCHURE

OUT NOW


We are pleased to announce that we will be working with Ramblers Worldwide Holidays to operate walking holidays at 2 of our fabulous locations - Treloyhan Manor Hotel in St Ives and Lindors Country House Hotel in the Wye Valley.

The original walking expertsSince 1946, Ramblers Worldwide Holidays have been providing great value guided walking holidays in spectacular locations.

They are dedicated to making exploring the world on foot a fantastic experience. If you love the great outdoors and exploring, then a Ramblers Walking Holiday at Christian Guild will be perfect for you!

Professional, passionate and experiencedEach holiday will be led by Ramblers Worldwide’s very own experienced Leaders. They are fully qualified with a fountain of knowledge so you can be sure your holiday will be the best it can be.

Experienced in leading, each has their own individual style and particular talents. All are first aid trained; hold walking leader qualifications commensurate with the grade of holidays.

The tour leaders turn a good holiday into a great one. Carefully selected, they are highly experienced, all holding walking qualifications, with specialist expertise ranging from botany to archaeology. Their skills and personalities mean that they will bring your trip alive, acting as a friend and a guide to the whole group.

Great NEW Guided Walking Holidays!

Fabulous NEW Coach Holidays!

New for 2014, Christian Guild is delighted to work in conjunction with Robinsons Holidays to offer you a range of coach holidays to our five hotels.

Robinsons Holidays have been providing affordable, quality coach holidays from its East Lancashire base for the past 90 years.

With Robinsons, passengers’ comfort and safety are a priority and their fleet of modern coaches all offer extra legroom, air-conditioning, washroom and WC facilities. All of their tours also have numerous and regular comfort stops en-route to their destination.

Robinsons have an extensive network of feeders which allow them to operate over a large geographical area, and currently pick-up in the following areas: Cumbria; Lancashire; Merseyside; Cheshire; North Wales; Greater Manchester; Staffordshire; Yorkshire; Derbyshire; Mansfield; and Nottingham.

Interchanges for Abbot Hall tours are Lymm Services (M6 J20), and Forton Services (near M6 J33). Interchanges for the other four hotels’ tours are Lymm Services and Hilton Park or Frankley Services.

Passengers can opt to join the tour coaches at the relevant interchange, but there is a car parking charge at Lymm. Robinsons operate a door-to-door service at a supplement, charged on a per-person, per-journey basis (minimum 2 people) for those who wish to be collected at home and taken directly to the relevant interchange.

Walking the Wye Valley - Lindors Country House HotelSecluded charm, ancient woodland and the majestic river Wye

22nd Feb - 1 mar - £465; 26 Apr - 2 may - £499; 21 - 28 Jun £575;30 Aug - 6 Sept - £575; 1-8 nov - £575.

Offa’s Dyke - Lindors Country House HotelA walk through an ancient fortified borderland from Kington to Chepstow

17 -24 may - £685; 2-9 Aug - £685; 27 Sept - 4 oct - £685

St Ives & the Cornish Coast - Treloyhan Manor HotelWalking the coast and countryside of the far west of england

21- 28 mar - £579; 2 - 9 may - £595; 14 - 21 June - £595; 12 - 19 July - £595; 23-30 Aug - £595; 25 Sept - 1 oct - £515; 10 - 17 oct - £585.

Abbot Hall Toursincludes 3 excursions

12th- 19th July (7 nights) - £47528th Sept - 2nd oct - (4 nights) - £267

Lindors Country House Toursincludes 2 excursions

14th - 18th July (4 nights) - £330; 5th - 10th oct (5 nights) £350

Sidholme Toursincludes 2 excursions

25th - 30th may (5 nights) £369 12th - 17th oct (5 nights) - £337

Treloyhan Manor Toursincludes 3 excursions

21st - 28th June (7 nights) - £6375th - 12th July (7 nights) - £6816th - 13th Sept (7 nights) - £68122nd - 29th nov (7 nights turkey & tinsel) - £565

Willersley Castle Toursincludes 2 excursions

25th - 30th may (5 nights) - £399 13th - 18th July (5 nights) - £4317th - 12th Sept 5 nights) - £399

All tours are at half board rates in ensuite accommodation

To book contact Robinsons on freephone0800 083 9900 or online at

www.robinsons-holidays.co.uk

01629 826531 www.christianguild.co.uk

For full details of any holidays or breaks please see brochure or visit the website.


Hearing loss is a common problem and many of us will experience hearing difficulties as we get older. But this isn’t something we have to suffer with and there are ways in which to seek help if you feel you need it.

Action On Hearing Loss estimate that, in the UK, around 10 million people have some degree of hearing impairment or deafness and 6.3 million of this total are of retirement age. The problem usually develops gradually over time, due to age or repeated exposure to loud noise, although a small group of people may experience sudden hearing loss.

Our hearing is a complicated process and the ear is made up of three different parts which help us do this; the outer ear, the middle ear and the inner ear.

The outer ear is the external part which we see on the side of our heads and the ear canal as far as the outer side of the eardrum.

The middle ear is a small cavity filled with air and contains a chain of three important bones called ossicles. These are connected to the eardrum at one end and the inner ear at the other. When sound hits the ear drum, it vibrates and the vibrations are passed across these bones to the inner ear.

The inner ear contains a vital part known as the cochlea. This is a coiled tube with two fluid filled chambers. Here there are thousands of hair cells, each with a structure known as stereocilia. The sound waves passed along the ear cause these to move which sends electrical signals down the auditory nerve to our brain, where it is recognised as sound.

Hearing loss is usually the result of some sound signals not being able to reach the brain. There are two types of hearing loss. The first is where there is damage to the sensitive hair cells in the inner ear caused by either age or injury, known as sensorineural hearing loss or there may be a problem with the auditory nerve or with the brain’s ability to interpret the signals received. The second is where sound cannot pass through the ear due to a blockage, such as those caused by a build-up of earwax or by an ear infection. This is called conductive hearing loss.

Some people may experience both of these types simultaneously and this is known as mixed hearing loss.

The main symptoms of hearing impairment are not hearing people speak clearly or misunderstanding what someone says, having to ask someone to repeat themselves several times and finding yourself needing music or the television on a high volume to be able to hear.

Experts say that age is the most common cause of hearing loss. Everyone will experience some form of this as they get older and by age 80 most people will have significant hearing problems.

However, noise induced hearing damage is very common. People who find themselves regularly exposed to very loud noises, usually at work, are most at risk, such as construction workers using pneumatic drills, or those who are employed in bars and nightclubs. Those regularly attending loud music concerts and events can also be at risk.

Hearing loss can also be associated with tinnitus, which is where a person experiences a constant noise, often ringing or buzzing, inside their ears.

If you think you are experiencing hearing loss, you should see your GP

HEALTH

Vastly improve your quality of life for years to come


CALL US NOW ON: (01635) 523343Mary Hare Hearing Centre, Weavers Walk,

Newbury, Berkshire, RG14 1AL

Avoiding social events?At the Mary Hare Hearing Centre, our aim is to get those events back in your diary..

Book your hearing test• Free hearing assessments• Free aftercare• Clean and check of your hearing aids• Repairs of all makes, all ages• Battery club - 6 for 99p

as soon as possible as there are many options out there to help. They will give you a simple hearing test and examine the inside of your ear to look for any problems. You may be referred to a specialist at the ear, nose and throat department at the hospital or to an audiologist.

The specialist will do further tests to determine what is causing your hearing loss and recommend the best form of treatment for you.

Mark Georgevic, former President at the British Society of Hearing Aid Audiologists says: “The average person will only request help 10 years after they first experience the symptoms of hearing loss, yet the earlier people recognise there is a problem and seek help the more they will benefit.”

In most cases, people who are experiencing hearing problems will be fitted with hearing aids. There are

many types available depending on the person and the problem.

The Mary Hare Hearing Centre provides free help and advice and hearing tests to those who are experiencing difficulties with hearing loss, as well as offering an extensive range of private hearing aids for sale.

Their latest technology includes an “invisible” hearing aid, which will help those who do have hearing issues and need a device to help them in their everyday lives but do not want it to be visible. This sits deeply within the ear canal and not all canals are of the right shape or size to accommodate such a fitting.

Figures show that around four million people in the UK could benefit from hearing aids but do not wear them.

Action On Hearing Loss audiology specialist, Crystal Rolfe, told NHS Choices: “Many people are put off

by the idea of wearing hearing aids because they think they are unsightly,”

“We need a new attitude to hearing aids. Wearing them should be as unremarkable as wearing glasses.”

Most people may be able to find the hearing aids for them on the NHS free of charge, as there is a wider range than there used to be. However, private hearing aids are available but can cost anything from £300 to £3000, depending on their style and how advanced they are.

It is important that if you are experiencing any issues with hearing loss that you get the necessary help you need. There are many options out there to make your hearing better and vastly improve your quality of life for years to come.

Written by Kelly Spencer50 Plus Magazine.


Gloria Hunniford was just enjoying a few weeks near Nice in France with her husband when we chatted.It marked a particularly busy time when she had been filming more programmes for the TV hit series Rip-off Britain, which had been extended

to cover rip-offs on holidays and on food. And Ms Hunniford, now a lovely 73 year-old with the beautiful skin and enduring looks typical of Irish people, always tries to look after herself.

“You need to keep balance, avoid being thrown off kilter,” she explains. “It’s very easy when you’re busy but I do try to take holidays and eat and sleep properly.”

She’s also a great fan of vitamins, which she takes each day, and admits

to “a certain amount of exercise”, usually walking the dogs or using her exercise bike in front of the TV.

“I’ve just lost two stone, though,” she states. “It wasn’t a vanity thing – my sister was diagnosed with diabetes and I asked the doctor what I should do to avoid it. Losing weight seemed a sensible idea so I cut out both sugar and carbohydrates and the weight just dropped off.”

It feels like the popular broadcaster has always been with us. Radio and TV audiences love her, and Gloria has the enduring charm that people of all ages and both sexes find attractive and easygoing.

I once stood next to her in an aiport queue as she took a flight to her native Ireland and her fellow travellers were plainly fascinated by the VIP in their

INTERVIEW: GLORIA HUNNIFORD

Gloria’s early days, health & more...By Angela Kelly


midst, but also very warm to her.She was named after the actress Gloria Swanson but early on she became a singer, entertaining at her dad’s concerts. He was a newspaper man by day and a magician by night.

She spent time in Canada, singing on TV and performing listeners’ Irish song requests on the radio, then returned home where she joined ITV’s new Ulster Television as a production assistant. She continued her singing, though, and got a record in the Ulster charts in 1969.

After she was interviewed on BBC radio, the producer asked her to audition as an interviewer, then hired her for Northern Ireland’s equivalent of the Today programme.

She cut her teeth on news and current affairs, moved on to a nightly news programme and finally ended up invited to work in London. Here, her friendly Irish accident and warm manner quickly won over fans. She filled in for Jimmy Young while he was on holiday, and the banter between her and Terry Wogan – whom she already knew – at the end of the programme swiftly enhanced her reputation. People felt she was a familiar friend on the air.

She was given her own show, Gloria Hunniford’s Open House, and was a daily TV fixture for five years. She still makes appearances on The One Show and became a regular once more on our screens with another very popular series Cash in the Attic, which she loves.

“They’ve got about 20 programmes already made but they’ve also now launched an interactive website and an app which is all very exciting because you can go onto the site anytime you want to, anywhere,” she says enthusiastically.

“I love that programme – I’m a great fan of antiques and I’ve collected them myself for years. I collected so many angels and cherubs one of my sons forbade me to bring any more home!

And I’ve also collected teapots and jewellery crosses.”

She loves the surprises that people get when items they discover go to auction, and thoroughly enjoys the celebrity version. “I’m always amazed at how generous the celebrities are in donating items that can be sold for charity,” she adds.

The Rip-off Britain series is another favourite with her. “I think we came along at just the right time with that brand,” she states. “The recession was just beginning and people felt even more aggrieved if they were being ripped off.”

She is proud of the fact that the evening version draws a regular audience of 5.5 million viewers “and the daytime programme has very respectable figures, too,” she asserts.Work is plainly far from drying up for the evergreen presenter but she’s quick to state that she actually wants to work. “I enjoy work, and I’d hope to keep on working for as long as people want me to,” she adds.

She and her second husband, Stephen Way, live in Sevenoaks, Kent, and family life is obviously very important to her. Her presenter daughter, Caron Keating, died from breast cancer after a brave fight in 2004 and any parent can start to imagine the personal devastation that brought.

“I’ve had loss before, but nothing prepares you for the terrible darkness that descends when a child dies,” says Gloria. “It’s like trying to climb out of a big hole by your fingertips and, just when you think you’re at the top, something drags you back.

“I felt like that for a long time, and many of the people who contacted us when Caron died – we had more than 8,000 letters – said it never really goes away.”

But one person’s letter did strike a chord with Gloria, and showed the way ahead for her. It was someone who

pointed out the importance of carrying Caron’s spirit forward, “I just felt then that I knew what I wanted to do,” she recalls.

Gloria founded the Caron Keating Foundation, administered by the family and with all the funds raised being used to help charities concerned with all kinds of cancer.

The result is that, over the past years, the foundation has raised hundreds of thousands of pounds which have gone to projects at 47 different cancer charities all around the country.

This is obviously a source of some consolation to Gloria and her family, although you suspect that Caron is in her thoughts every day. “Someone said that people never die if they remain on the lips of the living,” she states, “and I believe that.”

“ I enjoy work, and I’d hope to keep on working for as long as people want me to”


Few of us know how long we have to live. Every day is a gift to be lived to the full.

If, when the inevitable time comes, our papers and affairs are in a bit of a mess, it can cause real headaches and difficulties for those we leave behind, adding to the sense of trauma and loss they will be facing anyway. And the thing they will always find hardest is not being able to ask you anything!

I have seen many examples of this in the course of administering numerous estates of those who have died.

It all boils down to paperwork or its electronic equivalent. Spreadsheets are marvellous in this regard.

The first requirement is to have good records and the second is to have a comprehensive and thoroughly thought out will, so as to achieve the best levels of asset protection and tax efficiency.

Not only will that make your estate easier to administer but will leave you even more favourably remembered. Indeed possibly even more greatly admired by a family left feeling impressed with you and proud of you!

To do this well you will probably need to take professional advice as you will need to be anticipating all the questions that will arise when your estate eventually falls to be administered. These include all the numerous questions on the tax forms that you would probably at this point have no idea about at all.

These are some of the main records you will need to prepare

1. A record of all lifetime gifts made by you. You will need to give an account of all these to the Revenue, as unless your executors can claim specific exemptions for them, these all need to be added back in to the value of the estate and taken in to account when calculating the amount of Inheritance Tax your estate will pay.

2. A summary of your total income and expenditure for at least each of the seven years before you die. Armed with that evidence, your executors can often claim that gifts over and above basic allowances should still not be taken into account for IHT, if you can convincingly demonstrate that those extra gifts were easily affordable within your normal income and expenditure. The rationale of this is that IHT is essentially a tax in capital and not on income. We have often been able to reduce the taxable

value of an estate by sometimes tens of thousands of pounds by this means.

3. Your basic gift records will also enable additional allowances to be claimed, such as where various gifts on the occasion of marriage have been made for up to £5000 per donor (ie it’s available for each parent or each of other qualifying donor couples).

4. Any number of small gifts up to £250 can be deducted over and above gifts that separately come within the basic annual allowance of £3000 per donor.

5. On the death of the second party to a marriage or civil partnership, the unused proportion of the IHT nil rate band of the first to die (currently £325,000) can be transferred to the estate if the surviving party, but you need to have the necessary evidence in support of this. Again, often with appropriate professional help from a solicitor, you can know what additional documents relating to the earlier estate to file away together in addition to the tax and financial records above, so as to be able painlessly and easily to be able to establish the position later. We call this a transferable nil rate band pack.

6. You may in fact in some cases need to have kept gift records for a further seven years back, as for instance a gift in year minus 13 could affect the available tax allowance for a gift in year minus 6. All as a result of complex rules beyond what can be described here.

Then second, there is the Will itself and possibly other deeds you might need to think of.

A. The Will. This is the document that says precisely how you want you estate to pass, saying who you have chosen to administer it, and which enables you to consider the tax effect of each gift, and also how best to meet all the circumstances of your intended beneficiaries.

In the will of the first to die, of a marriage or civil partnership, that person can ring fence his or her half share of the combined estates, by giving the other just the right to income in that part of the estate, but protecting the survivor’s financial security by allowing the executors to make capital available as and when required by the exercise of discretionary powers given to them by the will. Then if the survivor incurs care charges in later life, the estate of the first to die won’t be taken into account on a care fee assessment, as it won’t form part of the survivor’s estate, and will remain protected for the benefit of the

DYING TIDILY – AND REAPING THE REWARDS

LEGAL


children or whoever else will take on the survivor’s death. A carefully drawn will can achieve all this for you.

You might be concerned as to how well particular beneficiaries might handle money particularly below a certain age. You can make specific provision for this.

You can also structure gifts that a young beneficiary’s gift can in most cases grow free of income tax.

If you have a family member with a disability that requires expensive care at state expense, their eligibility for government or local authority means tested financing may be lost at a stroke if an outright gift of money is made to them. Careful trust provisions in a will, or use of a special lifetime trust, can avoid this potentially catastrophic outcome.

Sometimes nowadays you may have more than one family grouping to consider resulting say from second or third marriages. Again wills can be carefully and thoughtfully tailored to meet all your wishes and obligations in situations such as these.

You may also have a valuable business to pass on and may need to structure things so as to achieve the best level of IHT business relief.

The possibilities are endless and given appropriate forethought at an early stage, huge advantages and benefits can be achieved.

B. Other possible documents. A lifetime trust can be set up initially with a small nominal sum of money but intended later to receive death in service benefits under a pension scheme or the residue of a drawdown scheme. This again can often achieve considerable tax advantages for the family

C. Or lifetime gifts to a family discretionary trust. For the more wealthy, money up to an IHT nil rate band’s worth can be put into a family discretionary trust every seven years, after which if the donor has retained no benefit from the original gift, then the full nil rate band is restored to the estate and is available to be used once

more. It is harder and harder to give away larger sums of money without having to raise significant amounts of tax at the time of the gift, but a big cumulative and tax free amount of giving can be achieved by passing money down ‘little and often’ rather than just at one point.

Then when the inevitable day finally comes, your family will reap the fruit of all your careful and well planned efforts.

Glasses will be raised not only in fond remembrance but also with special gratitude.

‘How tidily he or she dealt with everything – amazing – must do something like that myself!’

So we can help you with that too!

Hewetts are an old established firm with a modern and progressive outlook, whose private client department sees an ever growing need to channel their legal energy to identifying and looking after the needs of the

retired and elderly.

Anyone over 50 should be anticipating both the opportunities and the problems, and plan accordingly by:

• wills to benefit your family in the most tax efficient way

• wills to protect your children where you may have remarried

• planning inheritance tax savings and protection of assets

• benefiting your family in your lifetime

• lasting powers of attorney both for property and affairs and personal welfare

• long term care arrangements

• ascertaining whether the NHS should pay for your care instead of being self funded

• co-ownership and "live-in" care arrangements with family

• equity release arrangements

For further information contact Robin Gambles on 0118 955 9617

Email [email protected] www.hewetts.co.uk

55-57 London Street, Reading RG1 4PS

Indeed we at Hewetts are here for every generation. Please contact

Robin Gambles ([email protected])or Tim Butcher ([email protected])

or by telephone as shown below.


FOOD & DRINK - LOW FAT WINTER WARMERS

OLD FASHIONED CHICKEN AND VEGETABLE STEWThe cider and bacon add a touch of sweetness and extra flavour to the chicken and veg, making this a lovely supper dish. Keep it low-fat by removing the skin from the chicken legs before cooking and using as little oil as possible for browning the meat and vegetables.

freezer bag. Strip the skin off the chicken legs and put them on a board. Break the joint of each leg by bending it in the opposite direction. You may hear a small crack. Cut each leg quarter in half with a sturdy knife to give 8 chicken portions. Using a good set of kitchen scissors, trim off any visible fat.

Put the chicken portions in the freezer bag, a few at a time, and shake well until they are evenly coated in the flour. Heat the oil in a large non-stick fying pan over a medium heat and fry the chicken, a few pieces at a time, until golden brown all over. As they are browned, transfer the chicken pieces to a large flameproof casserole dish. Preheat the oven to 1800C/Fan 1600C/Gas 4.

Put the bacon, onions and celery in the pan used for browning the chicken and fry for 4-5 minutes over medium heat until lightly browned, stirring often.

SERVES 4

3 tbsp plain flour2 tsp dried thyme4 chicken leg quarters2 tbsp sunflower oil4 rashers of rindless smoked back bacon, cut into 1cm-wide strips2 medium onions, chopped2 celery sticks, thinly sliced150g small chestnut mushrooms, wiped and sliced or quartered if large500ml bottle of dry cider300ml chicken stock, (made with 1 chicken stock cube)2 bay leaves400g Chantenay or other small fat carrots, trimmed and peeled2 slender leeks, trimmed and cut into 2cm slicesflaked sea saltfreshly ground black pepper.

METHOD

Mix the flour and thyme with a good pinch of salt and plenty of freshly ground black pepper in a large strong

Add the mushrooms and cook for 2 minutes more, then tip everything into the casserole dish with the chicken pieces. Sprinkle in any flour remaining in the freezer bag and stir well.

Pour about half the cider into the frying pan and stir vigorously with a wooden spoon to lift any sediment from the bottom. Simmer for a few seconds, then pour into the casserole. Add the rest of the cider and the stock, then stir in the carrots and bay leaves and bring to a simmer on the hob.

Cover with a lid and cook in the centre of the over for 1 hour, then remove the casserole from the oven and stir in the leeks. Pop the dish back into the oven for a further 30-40 minutes or until the chicken is tender and the sauce thickened. Serve with some green beans or spring onions.

435 Calories per portion.

Si King and Dave Myers are self-confessed food lovers. Food isn’t just fuel to them, it’s their life. But like many of us they’ve found that the weight has crept on over the years.

Si and Dave have come up with tasty recipes that are low in calories and big in flavour, and many we have featured in 50 Plus Magazine.

This is real food for real people, not skinny minnies. They are ideas for family meals.

23

LAMB, SPINACH AND POTATO CURRYThis is a low-cal version of Dave’s favourite curry - saag gosht - becuase he couldn’t bear to it give it up. If you are running short of time, cut out the fresh garlic, ginger and chilli - the curry will still taste great. The recipe contains potatoes so there is no need to serve it with extra rice.

SERVES 6

600g lamb leg steaks(about 4 steaks)1 tbsp sunflower oil2 large onions, roughly chopped4 large garlic cloves, peeled and roughly chopped25g chunk of fresh root ginger, peeled and roughly chopped1 plump fresh chilli, (deseeded if you like)75g medium or mild curry paste (depending on your taste)400g can of chopped tomatoes350g potatoes, preferably marisPipers, peeled and cut into 3cm chunks450ml water2 bay leaves1 tsp flaked sea salt, plus extra for seasoning the meat1 tsp caster sugar3 ripe medium tomatoes, quartered100g young spinach leavesfreshly ground black pepper

METHOD

Trim the lamb of any hard fat and cut the meat into rough chunks of about 3cm. Season with salt and pepper. Heat a teaspoon of the oil in a large non-stick frying pan and fry the lamb in 2 batches until lightly coloured on all sides. Transfer the lamb to a plate as soon as each batch is browned.

Heat the remaining oil in a large flameproof casserole dish and add the onions. Cook over a medium heat for

6-8 minutes until they’re softened and lightly browned, stirring regularly. Turn down the heat, add the garlic, ginger, chilli and curry paste and cook for 5 minutes more, stirring frequently.

Remove from the heat and blitz the onion mixture with a stick blender until blended to a purée. Or you can let the mixture cool for a few minutes, then blend it in a food processor before tipping it back into the casserole. Return the casserole to the hob over a medium heat. Preheat the oven to 1900C/Fan 1700C/Gas 5.

Add the browned lamb to the spiced onion purée in the dish and cook over a gentle heat for 2-3 minutes, stirring. Add the chopped tomatoes, potatoes, water, bay leaves, teaspoon of salt and sugar. Bring everything to a gentle simmer, then cover with a lid and place the casserole in the oven for 1 hour and 30 minutes or until the lamb is tender and the sauce has thickened. Check after 1 hour and give the contents of the casserole dish a good stir.

Take the dish out of the oven and remove the lid. Stir in the quartered tomatoes and spinach leaves. Cover once more and return to the oven for a further 5 minutes or until the tomatoes are soft and the spinach has wilted. Serve hot with some spoonfuls of fat-free yoghurt if you fancy.

293 calories per portion.

SCRAMBLED EGGS WITH SMOKED SALMON

SERVES 2

4 medium eggs1 tbsp freshly snipped chives, plus a few extra to garnish(optional)15g butter4 slices of smoked salmon (about 75g)1 english muffin, cut in halfflaked sea saltfreshly ground black pepper

METHOD

Beat the eggs with a pinch of flaked sea salt and lots of freshly ground black pepper. Use a metal whisk and make sure you beat the eggs really well. Stir in the chives if you’re using them.

Melt the butter in a medium non-stick saucepan over a low heat. Pour the beaten eggs into the pan and cook very gently for 2 minutes, stirring slowly until the eggs are softly scrambled. Remove from the heat and stir for a few seconds more - the eggs will continue to cook for a while.

While the eggs are cooking, toast the muffin and put 1 half on each plate, cut side up. Spoon the scrambled eggs over the muffins, add the slices of smoked salmon and season with a little more black pepper. Garnish with extra chives if you wish. Serve immediately.

354 calories per portion

This is a treat - light but tasty and packed with protein. It takes next to no time to prepare and makes a really special weekend breakfast or brunch. Shows that you can breakfast like a king and still keep the calories under control.

23


Most of us treat a New Year in the same way – we mentally list all the things we want to change in the next 12 months …. but then do little about it until the nextnew year!

Well, here’s the chance to make 2014 YOUR year and change all those areas of your life with which you’re unhappy. And that doesn’t necessarily just apply to your home and your job but also the shape you’re in and many of the things you might like to change about yourself if you just could.

For a start, are you happy with the shape you’re in? Even the most gorgeous celebrities or top models complain about some element of their bodies, so the rest of us are bound to have a list of “improvements”!Weight is an obvious one. So, if you’ve been promising yourself to drop a few pounds – or a stone or two – join a slimming club now, or put yourself on a good WEIGHT-LOSS programme.

Start this journey with a quick visit to your GP, of course, to check that there’s no medical stumbling blocks involved but after that – ready, steady, slim!

Complement your shape as the pounds disappear, too, with a new approach to your FITNESS regime. Gym membership these days is generally very economical, especially if you attend regularly, and you’ve got the added bonus of having expert help on hand and being surrounded by like-minded people.

Make a gym visit part of your regular routine as a way of ensuring you keep happy and healthy – and trimmer – and you’ll keep that hard-won weight-loss off for good.

For those with limited mobility, the risk of falling in a bathroom is high.As we get older, falls can become a major health problem so maintaining a safe home environment is essential. Everyday tasks that most people take for granted can become an actual danger for those with limited mobility.

Perhaps you want to try out a NEW HAIRSTYLE – a fresh, shorter look or a change of colour. Consult your hairdresser and take his or her advice on cut, condition and just what suits you.

Consider finally getting your dental work sorted out or having your TEETH WHITENED if you’re unhappy with your smile. It is, after all, often the

first thing that people notice about you and there are plenty of excellent treatments around. Your dentist can advise here.It may be that you would like to ditch those specs and improve your EYESIGHT. Laser surgery has come on remarkably in the last few years, so shop around for the best and most trusted treatment.

Certainly, for many of us, our wish-list contains COSMETIC SURGERY for a crooked nose, saggy chin or to get rid of those frown lines. Choose a reputable clinic or salon and give yourself the face or other identified body part you’ve always wanted.

This may be the year that you decide to MOVE HOUSE. The housing market is definitely much more buoyant and all the signs are good for getting the home of your dreams. Local estate agents and mortgage advisors are always happy to help you with your personal home possibilities.

Or, it could be that you like your current address but want to put in an EXTENSION or CONSERVATORY. A local builder can give you a quote without charge for an extension, and it’s certainly worth talking to an architect about making the most of this planned space first. They’re the experts on coming up with clever plans and utilising extensions in the most practical way to suit your family’s lifestyle.

If you go online to see the kinds of extensions and conservatories available, you can mix and match the best of ideas to suit your plans.Your property may just need the kind of brightening up that a good DECORATOR can provide. Sometimes, changing the colourscheme and furnishings really cheers up rooms and transforms the home.

It may be that you’re at that stage of life when you want to DOWNSIZE, perhaps realise some of the capital in your property. If you’re in those golden years and want tailor-made accommodation, it’s definitely worth considering a retirement village or sheltered accommodation.

You may decide that a New Year is just the time to change from struggling along with a large and expensive property to something more suitable and economical. There is a wealth of suitable places these days, including comfortable modern apartments

Make 2014 Your Year!By Angela Kelly


needing the minimum of maintenance, and with staff on-site to support you daily. And the bonus is that you’re in a community of older people also determined to enjoy life!

Of course, it may be that you’ve been promising yourself that special HOLIDAY for several years. So, this could well be the time to consider going to Australia or New Zealand, Macau or Malibu. Consult a reliable travel agent for the kind of personal service you’ll need for the trip of a lifetime.

It may be that you’ve got a close relative or friend in a far-flung spot that you’d love to visit but never thought you could. Now is just the time to see if this is a possibility, and how it could be achieved.

Perhaps you’re determined to finally go to a special SPORTING OCCASION, like the Winter Olympics in Russia in February, the World Twenty20 cricket in Bangladesh in April or the Masters’ golf in Augusta that month.

Again, your travel can create a personal travel itinerary that will ensure you realise your dream trip, and enjoy the experience every bit as much as you thought you would.

Your New Year Resolutions may be far more modest than any of these, although they may well enhance your life just as much. You may decide that in 2014 you will definitely QUIT SMOKING so take a good look at all the products around to actively help you with this – there’s everything from patches to e-cigarettes these days, hypnotherapists and local health expert support on offer so there’s really no excuse.

Or you may have decided to LEARN a musical instrument or a foreign language. All it takes is that initial decision that you’re not going to leave things for another year. You’re not simply going to say “I wish I could ….” You’re actually going to do it!

Laser surgery has come on remarkably in the last few years, so shop around for the best and most trusted treatment

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• Standard Quality• High Impact Acrylics (much

stronger)• Injection Pressure Formed

(Premium Denture Base)• Flexible (Partial Dentures)• Metal Denture

The Denture Teeth• 2 Layer Acrylic (economy)• 3 Layer Acrylic (harder wearing)• 4 Layer Reinforced (hard wearing,

natural look)• N.F.C. (Nano filled composite)

premium teeth.

Of course, the materials alone will not make a good denture. In the hands of a skillful and experienced Clinical Dental Technician the best results are achieved.

Dentures Need Regular ServicingDentures are in constant use almost 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. They are also in a pretty hostile environment in the mouth, being attacked by strong acid, bacteria, hot, cold and spicy

The Importance of DenturesThe eyes, nose and teeth are the focal points of every face; they give the first impressions of your personality.

Natural teeth grow in proportion and in harmony with your facial features and your dentures should be made accordingly.

Your teeth, or your dentures, have many important functions: to support your facial muscles, to help formulate your speech, and most importantly to chew your food and start the digestive process.

It is very important to chew food properly, as poorly chewed food will take longer to digest, especially for the elderly who could risk problems in the digestive system.

Choice of DenturesThere are four main quality standards in denture materials.

The denture base (gum coloured on which the denture teeth sit).

food. Denture material absorbs liquids and food odour.

Daily cleaning is essential as well as professional ultrasonic cleaning in a dental laboratory at least once a year. Due to constant bone resorbtion dentures will become loose sooner or later.

Loose dentures will increase damage to the gums and bone structure, and increase the risk of breakage. Have them re-lined as soon as possible to get a good fit. It only takes a day or two.

Have your dentures inspected by a Clinical Dental Technician at least every two years, or more frequently if necessary.

Your Dentures need Attention1. When they become loose.2. When teeth or denture base discolours.3. When tooth surfaces become flat.4. When denture base does not fit around natural teeth (in partial dentures).

HEALTH

Quality dentures mean a quality lifestyle


5. When you develop deep lines around your mouth.6. When your chin sticks out, and the corners of your lips are constantly wet, developing sores.7. When you stop smiling and feel embarrassed.

My Dentures have become loose!This is easily remedied by a procedure know as Re-lining. A new layer of Denture base is added to your existing Denture, improving the fit and restoring confidence.

Dentures with worn down teethTeeth excessively worn, require a new set of dentures.

Dentures on ImplantsThis type of Denture is constructed in conjunction with the Dental Implant Surgeon. This is a very good procedure when the patient has limited control and retention of their Dentures. The finished Dentures ‘click’ into position offering the ultimate in Denture Retention.

Major improvements in Facial FeaturesPadding dentures to reduce lines and fill up sunken cheeks will require a new set of dentures. It is advisable to have a new set of dentures made every 5 to 10 years.

Should I have a spare set ofDentures made?Yes, it is very important to have a spare set of dentures for emergencies in case of breakage.

Difficulties in Constructing a Good Set of DenturesConstructing a functional and aesthetically pleasing set of dentures is the most difficult task in dentistry. We are not only replacing lost teeth, but also lost tissue matter and bone. In other words, we have to re-create your facial features as they were before the loss of your natural teeth.

In most cases we do not know what your teeth looked like, what size they were or what position they were in originally. We have a few indications but mostly we have to rely on our visual and artistic judgement.

At the same time we have to use our technical expertise in order to make the denture stable and functional. Denture construction is more art than science.

What is a Clinical Dental Technician?Professional Clinical Dental Technicians are members of the Dental Health Care Team. They have undergone specific training and education in the skills and knowledge necessary to provide a removable appliance service directly to the community.

Equipped with solid technical training as a Dental Technician - plus post-technician training in sciences, clinical skills, and interpersonal skills - the Clinical Dental Technician can design, create, construct and modify (repair and rebase) removable appliances to ensure optimal fit, maximum comfort and general well-being of patients.

These skills enable the Clinical Dental Technician, whilst remaining a member of the Dental Health Care Team, to work independently of other Dental Health Care providers.

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Fortunately, there are plenty of things we can do to help ourselves, whether or not we want to resort to cosmetic surgery. In fairness, the cosmetic surgery industry in this country is generally of a very high standard. But, as in anything where you are dealing with your health and investing large amounts of money, it’s worth checking out your private clinic or hospital of choice and comparing both costs and reputations with others.

Eyebag removal, facelifts, cheek and chin implants, tummy tucks, arm lifts and thigh lifts are now all relatively common procedures – although they are all still surgery and require proper consideration and investigation beforehand.

However, there are less drastic options we can undergo that don’t involve the scalpel but can still improve our appearance. First, though, it’s worth ensuring that you’ve explored all that Mother Nature has to offer - along with your active co-operation.

A healthy diet is vital for glowing skin and hair, and it’s important to keep your weight within a reasonable level, too. If you’re not sure whether you’re overweight or underweight, ask your doctor and take his or her advice.

Plenty of fruit and vegetables, in particular, are good for health along with a certain amount of protein in meat, fish or pulses. If you’re on a specific diet – for health or other reasons – you may need a vitamin supplement to ensure you keep well and look and feel good. Consulting a nutritionist or asking your GP’s advice are good starting points here.

Exercise can also ensure our joints and muscles stay supple, which is a great aid to youthful vitality as well as improving the shape we’re in. Regular walking in the fresh air can give an outdoorsy look that’s attractive at any age, and the enjoyment of an activity that allows us to relax our faces and bodies can also hold back the years.

Having an attractive smile is surprisingly ante-ageing. In fact, your

smile is very important in this ageing battle as an unattractive smile can positively age you far more than skin can in most cases.

Missing teeth, very crooked teeth, poor gum health or very discoloured teeth or fillings will obviously not add up to a pleasant smile. Paradoxically, crowns and dentures with teeth that are too white, too straight and too uniform can also make a person look older than their years.

The key is for a natural smile of healthy-looking teeth and gums that enhances and suits your face. Clever dentists can carefully add well-matched filling material to the tips of worn lower teeth these days. And it’s also easier now to get rid of a denture with fixed teeth or by fixing or stabilising a denture with implants – all of which can be a massive boost to confidence.

If you’re looking for beauty procedures with natural-looking results, try these ideas:

BEAUTY

Keeping Ageing at BayWE long ago seem to have decided against growing old gracefully and opted to do whatever we can to keep ageing at bay.


Anti-wrinkle injections – These involve injecting botulinum toxin type A (the most famous brand being Botox) into facial muscles. This can actually prevent muscle action so effectively reduce frown-lines, furrowing of the forehead and wrinkles around the eyes. When this is carried out well by skilled practitioners, it not only means less wrinkles but a less tired, more relaxed look – like you’ve just been on a lovely holiday!

Dermal fillers – A major problem as we get older is the loss of volume, indeed loss of fat, in the face. Fillers are designed to be used in the face to plump up targeted areas and lines such as the naso-labial folds and the marionette lines around the nose and mouth. They are also great for correcting the turned-down mouth that can sometimes come with age. Temporary fillers are also an effective and popular way of filling folds and lines, and for defining and augmenting lips.

If injections are complete anathema to you, think about the many treatments that the beauty industry can now offer. Facial treatments generally, though, tend to work best on a well-cared for skin so it’s important to keep skin well hydrated inside and out.

Keeping to well-known beauty product names may well help here as you may know better what your skin reaction will be. One typically famous brand offered in some salons is Guinot, and one of their most popular treatments comes from the Hydradermie range.

The Hydradermie deep cleansing facial is, apparently, much beloved by celebrities like Jennifer Aniston and Coleen Rooney. This involves deep-cleansing the skin, and it also stimulates cellular renewal. The benefits are particularly felt by those with dry skin, and it also reduces the sebum level in oily skin.

The Hydradermie Lift is a machine-based facial using cutting-edge technology to treat both the skin and the facial muscles for an immediate “lifting” effect. Designed for skin that shows signs of loss of elasticity, it targets areas where fine lines are most evident – around the eyes, mouth and nose and across the forehead. It also “lifts” and firms the cheeks, jawline and neck.

Liftosome Facial – This facial treatment has been specially developed to treat the problems associated with mature skin including lack of skin tone and loss of radiance. With age or fatigue, we notice a slackening and loss of firmness of the skin, especially in the cheeks, chin and neck. This is largely caused by the deterioration of the elastic fibres of the dermis. The skin loses density and becomes dehydrated, resulting in dryness, wrinkling and slackening.

The treatment consists of three phases: the vitamin-enriched serum, the thermal treatment mask and the firming massage. The facial finishes with the application of moisturisers to the face, neck and eye area.

The great thing about all facial treatments for many of us, of course, is that it’s such an enjoyable and luxurious process that we automatically come away feeling much more relaxed – and thus also much younger looking!

TOP TIPS FOR STAYING YOUNG FOR LONGER

1. Avoid and reduce stress as much as possible. Stress is one of the most common causes of premature ageing, so take time to relax and have a little humour in your life.

2. Spend as much time with your family and friends. An increase in social connections can help improve the quality of life and can influence life extension.

3. Oxygen is vital for keeping your body healthy. Make sure you get plenty of fresh air and ensure you have plenty of plants around you at home and at work.

4. Whilst keeping active can help fight the loss of stamina, muscle strength, balance and bone density associated with ageing. Exercising your mind is equally important to exercising your body. A healthy and active mind will help you feel younger. Try learning something new to keep your brain stimulated.

5. Having the right amount of sleep is essential to staying young. Taking a short nap can make a huge difference to thinking clearly and feeling happy, but make sure it’s just after lunch so that night sleeping is not disrupted.

6. Keep the brain active by doing something new every day – clean your teeth with the other hand or take a new route to work

7. Laughter releases endorphins thus relieving pain, reduces stress hormones and boosts the immunity system. So put on those comedy DVDs and laugh a lot!

8. The facial feedback hypothesis suggests that facial expressions influence our emotions. So smile and feel better. It’s the greatest facelift in the world!

9. Stand tall. Good posture can make us look 10 years younger and much more confidant.

10. A suntan makes us look healthy and vibrant, but in the long run it’s terribly ageing. A little colour with the protection of sunscreen is the answer.

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Mobile moments of madness

There have been moments recently when I have been sorely tempted to launch my mobile telephone into orbit, pre-programmed to crash to earth on Richard Branson’s head.

Since the beginning of the year my signal from the Virgin network had been gradually worsening often to the point where using a carrier pigeon would have been more effective. Of course the first line of defence for all mobile phone companies are the foreign call centres where everyone is called Godfrey or Marion and you know they’ve never been called that in their life. They’re irritatingly polite and heavily scripted on how to deal with awkward customers going ballistic down the phone and threatening to do all manner of unspeakable things.

“Oh we’re very sorry for the inconvenience Mr Graham,” trilled

one after 45 minutes on the helpline which was the cut off, probably because a passing pigeon had blocked the one bar of signal which I was using. They want you to give in and go away don’t they?

“Oh we’ll be giving you another 3,000 texts as compensation Mr Graham, isn’t that wonderful?”

No! I want to speak to someone not write everything in text, I replied, quietly steaming and thinking of what I’d like to do with the operator’s headset.

Many calls later I was allowed permission to speak to the technical department and, amazingly, I actually understood what he was saying. Virgin had decommissioned a mast close to our area and the signal was weakened because of it and there were no plans to recommission it in the future. Oh

Graham SmithTwitter Column

nice, I live high on the Yorkshire moors and would have thought there was plenty of room for a new mast, but no, said the technical man. I was put through to the public relations department and a very polite chap confirmed that my signal would not improve and I was free to leave Virgin without penalty!

I was in a quandary about who to go to for service, or should I revert back to the two syrup tins and a length of string which had been so effective in my youth? And cheaper. I settled for Talk Talk but for three days that was precisely what I couldn’t do, talk, until numbers had been ported, sims transferred and I had to threaten to separate at least three help line operators from their important bits.

My wife opted for a package with one of those tablet come Kindly wotsit gadgets. It’s amazing the stuff they have now, even a phone that reacts when you look at it. I’m hanging on until they have one which soothes you when you can’t make a phone call, brews tea and makes a bacon sandwich. Sorry, just having another moment of mobile madness!

A North Shields man loves Marmite so much that he’s changed his surname by deed poll to match the yeast spread.

Saire May - now Marmite - made the leap to show his ‘devotion and passion’ to the dark brown paste.“I’m not exactly sure how old I was when I first tried Marmite, but I just remember eating it as far back as I can remember,” he said.

“I like the smell, the taste, the texture. I think I pretty much like everything about it.”

Mr Marmite, 38, says he easily gets through a jar a week and also collects Marmite paraphernalia including limited edition jars, cufflinks and a recipe book dating back to the Second World War.

Spreading the news

“My family think I’m mad. However my mum just shrugged her shoulders, she expects this kind of thing from me,” he added.

It’s the sort of silly idea which could spread.

Tyred of wasted moneyIt seems to me that an incredible amount of money is wasted on rather useless items, many in the name of education.

Our local school has just unveiled a “tyre park” which has cost a staggering £10,000. Now how many swimming lessons or creative activities could that money have bought instead of dumping a pile of old painted tyres for pupils to clamber across?

In my schooldays we were quite happy with a playground area where we fashioned wickets from a dustbin, chalked goalposts on the wall and if anyone had dumped a load of old tyres there we’d have thrown them out. Progress?

Please call us for free, no-obligation advice at any time.

RICHARD LLOYD FUNERAL SERVICESI N D E P E N D E N T F U N E R A L D I R E C T 0 R

At Richard Lloyd Funeral Services, we are proud to be an entirely independent and family-owned firm of funeral directors and, as such, we believe that we offer an unrivalled standard of personal service to our families. Being family owned, furthermore, means that we are able to watch our costs, not only keeping them below the fees charged by many of the local, corporate chains of funeral directors, but also enabling

Charter, the largest provider of plans to independent funeral directors. Increasing numbers of people are choosing to arrange and pay for their funerals in advance, in order to fix costs at today’s prices, as well as in order to state their wishes in writing, and we have just been awarded ‘Funeral Planner of the Year 2013, London and the South East’ as recognition of our work in this area.

us to work to budgets according to individual family circumstances. Although many families visit our premises in Woodley to make arrangements, we are equally very happy to visit the bereaved in their own homes to make arrangements, if that is more convenient for them. We serve families in and around the whole of the Reading area, as well as farther afield.

Additionally, we offer pre-payment funeral plans through Golden

Richard Lloyd Funeral ServicesIndependent Funeral Director

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24 Hr Telephone 0118 969 3033

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Personal attention and no-obligation visits made by us in the comfort of your own home, or in our office in Woodley.

Golden Charter and Age UK pre-payment Funeral Plans and advice.

Telephone or visit Joan or Richard for free, no-obligation advice at any time.

Family-owned, Independent, Funeral Director

and Monumental Mason serving all areas in and around

Reading and the rest of Berkshire.

Joan Watton, Funeral Director Dr Richard Lloyd, Proprietor

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Low threshold tray makes getting in and out safe and easy.

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