50 PLUS MAGAZINE BLACKBURN & BURNLEY

OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2019

BLACKBURN, BURNLEY & RIBBLE VALLEY EDITION 59

James Martin

A MAN OF MANY TALENTS

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Test Drive

A LOOK AT THE FORD FOCUS ACTIVE

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Celebrate Hogmanay at the Peebles Hydro Hotel

Monday 30th December 2019 - 2nd January 2020 £439pp.

Includes three nights full board accommodation, hotel's entertainment package, excursions, NYE Gala dinner and dancing to the bells, coach transportation, porterage, door-to-door, FREE beverages whilst on coach.

Burns Weekend at the Salutation Hotel, Perth Friday 24th-27th January 2020 £319pp.

Includes three nights half-board accommodation, hotels entertainment, excursions include: McKinnon Mill, Glen Turret Distillery, Crief, Discovery Point, Dundee. All coach transportation, porterage, door-to-door service.

Beautiful Bournemouth Break

February 17th to 21st £316pp. Single supplement may apply.

Includes four nights half board accommodation. Excursions to: Salisbury, Swanage, Steam Train Journey, Weymouth, Poole. Hotel's evening entertainment programme (3 nights), plus 99p Bar (selected drinks).

Rest & Relaxation in Devon

March 2nd to 6th £299pp. Single Supplement £25.

Includes four nights half-board accommodation. Hotel's ALL INCLUSIVE PACKAGE each evening between 20.00 23.00 hrs* on selected drinks. Excursions to: Buckfast Abbey, Butterfly & Otter Sanctuary. After Dinner Tea/Coffee.

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Keukenhof Garden, Volendam & Amsterdam April 2nd to 7th £649pp. Single Supplement £106.

Return crossing on P & O North Sea Ferries with side-by-side berths and meals on board. Three nights half-board accommodation at the Kontakt der Kontinenten, Soesterberg, with complimentary tea/coffee in hotel 24/7.

Excursions to: Zaanse Schans and boat ride with tea/coffee, guided tour of Amsterdam, Keukenhof Gardens, Cruise on the ljsselmeer, Steam Tram ride with coffee/cake.

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Book Now to Avoid Disappointment Prices include, all Coach Transportation, Hotel, Excursions, plus our Door-to-Door Service

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TWITTERING ON

By Angela Kelly

8-9 TRAVEL

Paris - a city for all seasons 10-11

JAMES MARTIN The man of many talents

15-18 HOME

Creating a warm and beautiful home this Winter 24-25 GARDEN

Preparing your lawn for Winter

Travel THE CANDADIAN ROCKIES WITH TRAVESPHER

BY JUDITH QUINEY FROM SILVER TRAVEL ADVISOR

Sweet Treats

James Martin's

DELICIOUS CHRISTMAS RECIPES

GREATH BRITISH ADVENTURE

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STEVE HOWARTH'S TEST DRIVE A look at the Ford Focus Active

32-35

JAMES MARTIN'S Great British Adventure

38-41

WHAT'S ON A guide to what's happening in your region

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BY ANGELA KELLY

Pity the poor celebrities who suffer vile abuse online IT’S hard being a celebrity these days and not having a very thick skin indeed.

The anonymity of technology, in particular social media, means that everyone out there can pass an opinion about virtually anything.

And they do.

Unfortunately, they don’t do this in a measured or reasonable way usually. No. They go to the extremes of personal comment, even resorting to death threats, if they either don’t like someone, don’t agree with their actions or even their point of view.

Politicians now regularly get vile threats, to themselves and their families, for many of the things they do. These are often the most basic actions you would expect from them, given their principles and party.

The worst abuse appears to be reserved for today’s celebrities and that often means that young men and women who may be the least able to cope with this are on the receiving end.

One typical case is pop band Little Mix’s Jesy Nelson. She is 28 now but right from the first appearance of the four girls on The

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X Factor in 2011, she has been singled out for specific abuse.

The “problem” is that she has distinctive looks and a womanly figure and this apparently incensed a large number of people who insisted on telling her they thought she was ugly and fat.

One glance at this beautiful young woman reveals she is neither but that doesn’t stop it hurting deep down and doing real damage.

“Don’t look at the comments” you may quite reasonably advise. Well, I know from experience that it’s quite difficult not to be sucked into having a quick look, and then it’s too late.

Jesy became so traumatised by this truly nasty reaction from people she had never met that she tried to kill herself. That’s what online trolls can do: wreck someone’s life.

It wasn’t until she deleted her Twitter account, where the worst abuse was coming from, that her life changed and she slowly started to feel “normal” again.

Although she still has bad days, she could move on. In fact, she made a BBC documentary exploring body image and mental health issues which will no doubt help many other people, both well-known and not.

The craziest thing is that, when the worst of these online trolls finally go too far and end up in court, they mostly turn out to be the saddest, most inadequate individuals you could imagine. It’s a strange world.

Concern that our favourite soaps are losing the plot ARE our TV soaps finally losing their grip on UK viewers’ imaginations?

Writing in the Radio Times, one BBC arts’ critic thinks so and he believes they face a “potentially fatal crisis”.

Mark Lawson believes the recent slump in viewing figures for favourites like EastEnders and Coronation Street highlights a “fundamental creative problem” in which story arcs are becoming “impossible to either write or act.”

He highlights recent plot lines like the siege at the Queen Vic pub in EastEnders when a character was shot dead and historic child sex abuse in Corrie.

Although soaps have always been seen as telly immortals – Coronation Street 59 years, Emmerdale 47 and EastEnders 34 – Mark believes they now face a crisis.

He points out that the “historic strength of the genre has been its strong central female characters”. So logic dictated they should have the strongest storylines and the result was that “these women make the wives of Henry VIII seem relatively lucky.”

He was particularly concerned about the frequency of sex crimes against women although acknowledged that such storylines were useful in highlighting “police and medical responses” and also in offering helplines.

While I think he has a point I do wonder if the problem is that our soaps have just TOO many plot lines going on.

I know times have changed dramatically and life in 2019 is complex and fastmoving. However, early on in the life of Coronation Street, for example, the central story revolved around the disappearance of Minnie Caldwell’s cat and that went on for weeks.

Now, expect any one episode of a soap to have a robbery planned, an affair, an online gambling habit and a hidden sex abuser. It’s like real-life microwaved into 25 minutes for entertainment consumption. This is not only exhausting but very hard to keep up with the plots.

True, the soaps do a great job with strong storylines reflecting modern problems.

The Coronation Street treatment of Aidan’s mental health battle and subsequent suicide were incredibly moving and well-handled and the support offered to the public useful and relevant.

But – and it is a big “but” – we still view our soaps for light relief from life as it is being lived and if all we have is a mirror to “ordinary” life with no relief then they lose their appeal.

Humour was always the soaps’ salvation and that appears to be in very short supply right now. Jack and Vera, where are you when we need you most?

Can we ditch driving children to school and walk?

IT would be easy to write a sad and emotional biography about the journey of a cancer sufferer and her devoted carer.

PARENTS dropping off children close to schools has long been a source of contention – especially for people living near the schools.

Now, a survey by walking and cycling charity Sustrans of 954 parents across England, Scotland and Wales shows that most want traffic-free roads outside schools to protect children from air pollution.

It’s likely that they’re also considering the safety of pupils at risk from so many cars there, too.

Sustrans’ chief executive Xavier Brice points out that the average journey to primary school is 1.6 miles. Walking or cycling to school is a better alternative all round, if that’s possible. For some parents who need to rush off to work for a set time or who travel a distance that could be difficult.

But, we do need to alleviate pollution and road dangers and improve the quality of life for all concerned, including the longsuffering souls living near schools.

However, while We Never Got To Cornwall is undoubtedly a tragic story it is also both uplifting and informative – and that’s what puts this book apart from other similar publications.

The sub-title is The True Story of a Secret Cancer Sufferer (Plus My Own Life Lessons Learnt) and it is much of what happens next that makes this book unusual.

“Redders” is obviously a courageous and inspirational woman who fought a longterm battle with cancer with amazing dignity and bravery. But life – and death – is not just about higher emotions. It is also about humour, despair and anger and a sense of being lost that many people who have suffered the death of a partner, family member or close friend will recognise.

The author, though, as well as recounting the very natural feelings involved has also looked closely at the practical situation of

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And here, the author tackles the thorny subject of death certificates, arranging the funeral, sorting out the will and a dozen other duties.

Then there are all the other ordinary details like changing bank details, services, benefits and everything else we normally take for granted.

The author offers a personal but engaging diary of these, giving useful advice based on experience.

It may be a cathartic book for him to write but it is definitely an interesting and thought-provoking read for the rest of us. * We Never Got To Cornwall, published by Grosvenor House Publishing Ltd at £6.99.

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THE CANADIAN ROCKIES WITH TRAVELSHPERE

BY JUDITH QUINEY FOR SILVER TRAVEL ADVISOR

feeling more energetic then skiing or snowboarding down is great fun! You might even get met by a red squirrel foraging for food.

There is also an opportunity to either learn or brush up you ski skills! A visit to Bow falls is also a must. Even at this time a year when the waterfall and lakes are freezing over, you still get flashes of the turquoise water caused by the minerals in the water and oh so clear. We were lucky enough to secure the services of our coach driver Mike McCormack who loved sharing his experiences and love of the Rockies with us, as did many of the guides we met over the five days. On our journey to Jasper Mike schooled us in bear etiquette should we inadvertently disturb one. On the road - highway 93 there is such a feeling of space with mountain views that continue to surprise and delight you on this beautiful route.

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Jasper again is not a large town -no high-rise here, located within the Athabasca River Valley and an important rail terminal. Freight trains

whirlwind tour of Banff and Jasper in November was a great opportunity for me to get my first taste of Canada and the Rockies. So, after flying into Calgary it was on the bus to our first port of call Banff and the newly refurbished Mount Royal Hotel for a good night’s sleep.

Banff as a town would not be out of place in Switzerland, its chalet architecture and mountain views are beautiful. A small-town with a population of 7,500. It attracts 4.18 million visitors to the National Park per year.

Designed for the tourist Banff has a good choice of hotels and quality restaurants cafes and general shops. There is a friendly vibe and good transport links. The first bar I went into even brewed its own gin! Most hotels offer a good restaurant, bars and a pool or a hot tub in our case the hot tub was outside on the roof of the hotel. Bracing - with temperatures around 1 to -8 not for the faint hearted.

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Arriving in November is a great time to go as it is just before the main skiing season starts so you can really appreciate the winter landscape without being distracted.

Whilst the bears are hibernating, you regularly see the Elks out and about. The thing that strikes you most when traveling through the National Parks are there are no small hamlets. it can be hours before you see another driver on the road!

The Banff Gondola is fun an easy way to take in the sights of Sulphur Mountain. For those

Our photo of a bear!

1900s. This five-star hotel has outstanding restaurants, the food and wine are of the highest standard. There is even a Labrador in each of the chains hotels for those guests missing their own pets to walk or stroke. We had a wonderful experience watching the stars in the Dark Sky experience which had a temporary home in the grounds.

While in Jasper we stayed at the Lobstick Lodge Hotel, situated on the edge of the town – an advantage if you don’t want to be woken by the freight trains early in the morning. It is a modest 3-star hotel, comfortable with large rooms and good food.

can take 30 minutes to pass as they are so long, so make sure you are on the right side of the track otherwise it can be a long wait!

For those wanting to experience some time on the train through the Rockies, be warned that many of the tourist routes close at the end of September and don’t run again until April, so you need to check carefully before your book your trip. The preferred winter season method of transport between towns is coach. The Glacier Skywalk has also closed by then, but there are still some wonderful hikes and glacial walks to experience. I was lucky enough to join a guided tour and hike up part of the Miligne Canyon, this was an opportunity to see the rugged terrain first hand, take in that mountain air and see the waterfalls frozen as if in some fairy tale.

Another evening I went to the Fairmont Jasper Park Hotel for dinner. The interior of the main part of the hotel looks like something from a Scottish baronial hall.

There are private lodges surrounding It, which are set in 700 acres around the shore of Lac Beauvert. The Fairmont hotel chain and glorious buildings sprung up thanks to huge investments in the railways in the

For our last night we headed back to Lake Louise frozen this time of year. I now can say that I have walked on water! In the summer it is transformed into a jewel like turquoise blue lake, in winter it is majestically covered with a thick sheet of ice. Stepping out on that ice sheet for the first time is scary - oh yes, but in a funny sort of way liberating as well. Our last hotel the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise sits proudly to one side with iconic views from many of the rooms. When we there the staff were starting to polish the ice rink on the lake ready for the winter skaters! Again 5-star comfort and it was with great sadness the next morning that we bid the staff and Marcus the Labrador farewell!

The dog was already in search of his next dog treat from that new guest.

On the way back to Calgary we took the opportunity to visit the Olympic Park made famous by Eddie the Eagle, the jump is closed, but the ski slopes are still well used.

Would I go back? – that is always the acid test for me when traveling, I would like to visit again perhaps at a different time of the year. I am so pleased that winter was my first experience of this wonderful and welcoming country. If you enjoy walking taking in glorious views or like to ski you would enjoy this holiday.

More information Judith Quiney travelled with the escorted tours specialist Travelsphere ,who offer a range of trips crafted by a team of experts including the must-see sights and the chance to sample local life, traditions and cuisine..

Find out more about Travelsphere at www.travelsphere.co.uk or call 01858 415 101

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rest your soul. The nearest metro is Etienne Marcel.

PARIS – A CITY FOR ALL SEASONS

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riter for silvertraveladvisor. com and retired airline pilot, Bob Lyons has a really in-depth knowledge of Paris. Here are a few of his favourite places in this beautiful capital.

The Picasso Museum A visit to the Picasso Museum at the Hotel Sale makes for a splendid experience of art.

It contains not only many major works by Picasso himself but exhibits examples from many others too, including pieces from Modigliani, Renoir, Cezanne, Gauguin, Degas and Rousseau, all of whom that had a great influence on Picasso’s work. The ideas and concepts that he made so real came from studying such art. Many of the traditional works exhibited in the museum come from Picasso’s personal collection, painted by artists who were his contemporaries.

Together they all created and lived through a celebrated period of modern, twentieth century, thought provoking art.

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Picasso’s own work is displayed on the garden floor, the first floor and in the attic of the Hotel Sale. Other floors display art by his contemporaries. His work and art collection were given to the French state by his heirs, in lieu of death duties and the French government has made them available to everyone.

Passage du Grand Cerf Perhaps this is the most beautiful shopping passage in Paris. It has been resurrected to its original glory like a phoenix. There are many alluring shops and the French scent of a Parisian culture fills the atmosphere around you.You can buy fresh flowers that arrived very early that morning from the vast fresh produce Rungis market. Look for the designer jewellery discovered by Christian Lacroix, enticing household goods and older style eye wear. When you have finished, go to the’ Le Pas Sage’ wine bar to

La cité des sciences et de l'industrie The Science Museum, and so much more!

It came to life in 1986. The inauguration came from the French President at the time, Francois Mitterand. It was to mark the passage of the space probe Giotto with Halley’s Comet. The museum internally is very open, widely spread and airy. It represents a contemporary aircraft hangar.

There are a number of levels linked by silent elevators. The floors contain many varied exhibitions, models, projected videos and technical demonstrations, which are spaciously presented and create an atmosphere pure modern scientific life and inspiration for the future.

The Champs-Elysees Parisians have always regarded their special street as their ‘Plus Belle Avenue du Monde’.

And so it is. For most of us, the ChampsElysees (Elysian Fields, the paradise for dead heroes in Greek mythology) is a form of virtual fantasy. We can look but never touch.

We can’t really afford to contribute to it, but we can feel it and be part of it for half an afternoon. It is filled with luxury shops and one or two very polished, modern fast food outlets along with upmarket theatres, cinemas and restaurants.

It is a wide avenue of affluence, light, glamour and inspiration. The route is the Princess of Paris and runs between the Place de la Concorde and the Arc de Triumph in the distant eighth arrondissement. It is the grandest component of the 10 kilometre long ‘Axe Historique’ or ‘Triumphant Route’. It blends perfectly with the apparently dead straight line of iconic architecture from the Royal Palaces to the Grande Arch so far away in the La Defense district.

Montmatre This is the district of Paris that is almost the womb of popular culture and is available

decapitated there for his Christian beliefs in 250 AD. The sizzling Place du Tertre is the centre of this district, lined on all four sides by the most instantly recognizable of Parisian cafés and bistros. In the summer months you will hardly be able to move due to the tourist throng. This square is awash with talented artists with easels, all plying their trade.You can have your portrait drawn or painted in just 20 minutes. What a great souvenir.

for all. Montmartre is actually just a little kitsch. It proudly wears the badge though and can be enjoyed unpretentiously by everyone.

Montmartre rests on a hill, 130 meters above all of its surroundings in the north

east of the City.You don’t need a map to find it. Just look out for the very prominent Basilica du Sacre-Cour. The name Montmartre translates as ‘mountain of the martyr’, which reminds France of one of its patron saints, St. Denis, who was

Many of the celebrated painters of the late 19th and early 20th centuries lived and worked around this hill in Paris. Claude Monet, Pablo Picasso, Camille Pissarro and Vincent van Gogh were all members of a much larger group who practised their profession in this district. Virtually all the tourist shops in this arrondissement sell very well produced prints of the most famous impressionist work.

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CELEBRITY INTERVIEW

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JAMES MARTIN THE MAN OF MANY TALENTS JAMES Martin had just been playing at Carfest South in Basingstoke, was about to give a cookery demonstration at the Bolton Food and Drink Festival and was flying out to Ireland for filming the next morning.

Now, if that sounds like a hectic schedule, it is. Especially, as James explained, "I didn’t get to bed until 3.15am on Sunday morning” after Carfest.

And playing there? Yes, the multi-talented chef turns out to be a musician and his group had a significant set at the annual event run by his mate Chris Evans.

In fact, this was the first time they had played in public after hours of practising in a scout hut or his living room and he went from playing in front of his Mum 10

and a few chef friends to an audience of 34,500 people.

It is just part of the 47 year-old’s philosophy of trying new experiences.

So, how was it? “Amazing but terrifying” was his verdict. He and his group played just after Jools Holland and just before the Kaiser Chiefs.

“I’ve never been one to say ‘I wish I’d done this or that’,” he stated. “You should grab every opportunity that comes to you.”

Food, though, is still his priority. “Food has always been at the top of the list and will always, always be there. And the restaurants will be because you employ people and they have got kids and mortgages to pay so that’s your priority 150 per cent.”

James, who counts the Rolling Stones’ Gimme Shelter as his favourite song, only started playing guitar 12 months ago.

“I came straight off stage and Chris said ‘What are you doing next year?’ I said Whoa, whoa. The main thing was we weren’t s***!”

But the many fans of the plain-speaking James Martin need not worry that this new success might drag him away from his cookery interests and his TV appearances.

James is, however, realistic about the value of his high profile in all fields. “Without the media stuff, the restaurants wouldn’t have the success,” he concluded.

He was off to Ireland the next morning for filming a new TV series, Islands and Highlands, due to air in February, 2020.

James is a genuine advocate of the best of British food but he applies the same principle to foods from all across the globe.

He was appearing at the annual Bolton Food and Drink Festival, which he happily described as “the best food and drink festival in the country.” He has been going to the North-west town for its hugely popular festival for the last 11 years and “loves Bolton – the place and the people.

In fact, the people make the place.”

He has a direct view about food. I dared to ask him if he thought people were cooking more healthily now.

That might be good news for his dedicated followers but it is also a reflection of who James Martin really is.

He has long made Saturday mornings a TV must for cookery fans, first with Saturday Morning Kitchen - which he fronted for 10 years until 2016 - and now with James Martin’s Saturday Morning Show, filmed at his home.

His blunt Yorkshire roots, his laddish looks and an indisputable onscreen charisma have made him a telly cookery favourite and his shows and appearances a sell-out.

All of this, however, was a long way in the future when he was growing up on the Castle Howard estate in York where his father was a catering manager.Young James must have been soaking up the knowledge and love of food even then because he opted to take catering training in college which resulted in him being Student of the Year three years running.

Following catering college, he worked for various top chefs in leading restaurants including foodie household names like Antony Worrall Thompson and Marco Pierre White.

He toured France, working in chateau kitchens and gaining a unique blend of experience and skills, before returning

to England to kickstart his high-profile career.

In 1994, just before his 22nd birthday, he opened his own hotel and bistro in Winchester and has followed this over the years with other premises including a hotel in Manchester.

When Saturday Morning Kitchen launched in 2006, he was the obvious choice and the formula certainly paid off. He regularly attracted 3.4 million viewers. James also became a favourite on other food shows like Ready Steady Cook and remains a respected expert and entertainer in a field where cooks often come and go.

In 2013, he was honoured with The Craft Guild of Chefs Special Award for outstanding contribution to the industry.

The following year his series Food Map of Britain was voted Best Daytime and Early Peak Programme by the Royal Television Society. In 2015, he was named TV Personality of the Year at the Fortnum & Mason Awards.

His name and skills are known around the world and he has written a raft of cookery books that easily demonstrate his passion for food along with his vast knowledge.

“Healthy food!” he flashed.“If you want that get JoeWicks down here but that’s not me. I like tasty food. Food’s a magical thing.We’ve all got to eat so why not enjoy it?”

He then went on to demonstrate dishes he knows delight audiences: Monkfish and Korean Aubergines, Seabass with Buttered Tagliatelle and Beurre Blanc and Summer Fruit Pudding with Clotted Cream.

The biggest response of the demonstration was for a massive cheese and ham toastie – made with a full loaf, masses of cheese, cream and ham – which he declared his favourite.

It’s plain from the enthusiastic live audience reaction and the long queues of people forming to meet him and have him sign copies of his latest book that people love him and all he does.

Perhaps the main thing is that James Martin has built a solid and successful career on being James Martin - chef, hotelier, restaurateur, TV presenter, fast-car fan, musician and full-time Yorkshireman and food enthusiast.

Recipes from James Martin's recent book Great British Adventure start on page 32.

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SILVER LININGS: MARRIAGE AND DIVORCE IN LATER LIFE ‘Grey divorce’ or ‘silver splitters’ are just some of the terms being frequently used in the mainstream media to describe older couples who are looking to divorce, often after decades of marriage.

More often than not, older couples will have spent more time together and have more entwined finances and assets such as savings, investments and properties.

It’s more than likely that there will be

For reasons ranging from drifting apart once their children leave home to wanting more financial freedom, Antonia Love, Head of Family Law at Farleys Solicitors in Lancashire has seen a steady rise in clients over 50 who are no longer staying with their partners ‘til’ death do us part’ and looking to issue divorce proceedings.

As with all divorces the needs of the parties will be highly relevant – where will they each live? How will they meet their outgoings? What will happen when they retire? Whilst any divorce can be extremely difficult, both emotionally and practically, divorcing later in life can bring a different set of challenges.

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significant equity in a family home, if not mortgage free. There will also be pensions to be considered.

A divorce in later life can mean both a split in assets and a drop in income which can place a heavy burden on both parties in terms of how they are going to be supported/support themselves going forward. It is therefore vital to obtain expert legal advice early in these situations to ensure that all financial matters are properly considered to alleviate any concerns.

Asset Distribution

Antonia Love, Head of Family Law at Farleys Solicitors

If an agreement cannot be reached regarding the division of assets through solicitors/mediation, then the Court will consider a number of factors in deciding how to distribute your assets, including ages and potential pension provision. This can be especially important for older

in retirement, equality may not be the fair result depending on needs, contributions, health, ages, or the length of your marriage

women who are considered as particularly vulnerable in lack of a pension provision and may be intending to rely on their husband’s pension to provide for them in their retirement. There are exceptions to this and, again, getting legal advice in these situations is vital.

Dependents Whilst divorce proceedings are less likely to involve dependent children, grandparents can often find themselves in a difficult position, with no legal right to spend time with their grandchildren where adult children side with a particular parent, for example.

Pensions Pensions are arguably the most complex assets to evaluate when considering financial separation on divorce. One spouse may not have had sufficient time to build up their own pension fund and may, therefore, struggle to meet their outgoings when they retire. For those people who have already retired when their divorce takes place it can be a significant upheaval to divide the pension assets.

Marrying in later life I have also seen a rise in individuals seeking advice on pre-nuptial agreements to protect the assets that they have individually accumulated as they enter into relationships in later life.

Once a value has been attributed to a pension fund, there is no set formula on how the Court then divides pensions on divorce. Whilst it will often be fair to aim to provide spouses with similar incomes

Whilst it may not be the most idealistic or romantic start to married life, prenuptial agreements have become an essential part of preparing for a modern marriage or partnership and provide greater certainty and security in the event of a separation,

for both the couple and their nearest and dearest.

A ’pre-nup’ or a prenuptial agreement sets out how a couple’s assets, income, capital and pensions are to be divided upon divorce. It is entered into by both parties prior to marriage or a civil partnership.

Whilst pre-nuptial agreements are not legally binding, they are one of the circumstances which the Court will take into consideration on divorce or dissolution. Provided that relevant conditions have been met, pre-nuptial agreements are being given increasing weight by the Court.

Always speak to an expert Our team of family lawyers have a wealth of experience in all aspects of family law and will be able to answer any questions you may have. Contact us on 01254 368 674 or email info@farleys.com.

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01254 368 674 @FarleysLaw www.farleys.com Legal expertise with a down to earth approach

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CREATING A WARM AND BEAUTIFUL HOME THIS WINTER

C

REATING a warm glow in your home throughout the chillier months is not just about effective heating and insulation.

It’s also about ensuring you have the right décor and furnishings throughout your property so that just being there – or just visiting – is a cosy and enjoyable experience.

Of course you need to ensure that your boiler and central heating are working properly and that your windows are well-fitted and giving you the kind of insulation that prevents your fuel bills from rocketing when the temperature outside drops.

But it is also about the whole atmosphere of your property. And that requires proper thought and planning so that, after work or going out and about, you can’t wait to get back to your comfortable home and finally relax happily.

Cosy homes certainly come into their own at Christmas when family get-togethers need a warm backdrop and all the festive décor is about sparkle and a feelgood vibe.

So it is definitely worth taking a fresh evaluation of your home’s warm appeal right now.

Nothing says “cosy” quite like snuggling up in blanket in front of an open FIRE and if

you are lucky enough to already have a working fireplace, then take advantage of it.

Logs crackling in the hearth or in a burner not only feel warm but offer the additional bonus of looking bright and welcoming.

The firelight reflects in any room offering the warmest of glows, whatever the weather.

A fire can also be the centrepiece of a living space – but it doesn’t just have to be in the wall. These days you can get enclosed fires that come in wooden columns or unusual centrepieces to draw the eye as soon as you enter the room.

If you prefer a wall fire, either mounted or in its own fireplace, there are plenty of ways to enhance it there. A fireplace surround could be made from metallic porcelain tiles, sculptural ceramic,

marble, hand-painted terra cotta or even a mosaic tile. Fireplaces can look amazing set into wooden surrounds because they add an extra depth to the patina of the wood.

If you have a non-working fireplace, fill it with fire-ready logs anyway or place tiered candles inside as a feature. If you would rather cover it up, invest in an ornate fire screen to make an extra talking point.

We tend to think of anywhere “cosy” as small but the dictionary definition is “giving a feeling of comfort, warmth and relaxation”, no mention of small.

So if you have a large or open-plan LIVING ROOM you can still make it cosily attractive at a time of year when you are likely to spend plenty of time 15

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sitting happily ensconced in a comfortable chair or sofa as the rain batters outside or the snow freezes.

In a bigger space, large, well-upholstered furniture can really work and provide an inviting spot to be. Sectional sofas are a good choice here to break up the expanse; placing your furniture into seating groups makes social gatherings so much easier and more friendly.

In a high room, add tall, voluminous plants to take up empty corners or fill vertical space. Just ensure that any living plants can get enough light.

Dead plants don’t enhance any room!

Plants can bring a room alive, though, and the greenery is very welcome in Winter so it’s definitely worth looking at placing a couple in areas where they will bring a different element to the room. For example, place a few differently sized pots together in a group to provide an interesting little area.

To bring in a big room and create that cosy feeling, paint your wall twotoned. Painting it until several inches from the ceiling can also make the room feel slightly smaller and warmer.

Conversely, if you want to make the room feel much larger, just paint a few inches onto the ceiling.

An accent wall in a warm tone also adds to the cosy feeling and a dusky red on the wall behind a fireplace doubles the warmth of any room.

Colours have a huge effect on our mood so take a really good look at available paint palettes before deciding on your decor. While cool greys translate well into Winter, especially teamed with warmer accents of bright colour, try bold combinations like burnished red with navy or mustard.

SAFETY & QUALITY NEVER COMPROMISED The Premier Garage Door range blends the convenience of power operation with smooth, vertical opening and the benefits of insulation to provide the perfect solution for any garage.

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Additional benefits compared to conventional garage doors are the reduction in noise and heat loss whilst freeing up valuable garage space. A vehicle can be parked within 50mm of the door inside or out without disrupting operation.

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The latest trends offer clever ideas from Nature to help. Warmer pinks and browns, washed teals and mossy greens offer a relaxed, neutral colour scheme that create a comforting ambience ideal for enhancing Winter warmth.

For a different look, instead of a coffee table in your living room, try an oversized ottoman. These soft, plush pieces of furniture automatically make any room look and feel warmer.

You can rest your feet on them for relaxing and, with an additional tray, they make a perfectly good coffee table as well. The other plus is that an ottoman offers extra storage so you can tidy away items to offer clean lines to enhance the atmosphere you’re trying to create.

Opt for comfort here – after all, you’re going to spend quite a large amount of time using them so they need to be as comfortable as possible.

The fabric used on your furniture is more important than ever in the Winter as a cold fabric can automatically make you feel chilly. A soft but durable fabric that can stand up to plenty of use is the ideal and recliners always win over standard sofas and squashy chairs here – so investing in at least one may prove to be the best thing you’ve ever done!

Using a throw or faux fur is another simple way to warm up a room.

A brightly coloured throw, draped over the back of a sofa not only adds texture, colour and warmth to the look of this room but also offers something to pop around your shoulders if you feel a little chilly and just need warming up.

Team cushions in soft and contrasting colours and fabrics to help your décor and you’ve got just the right balance of style and comfort here.

IF YOU WANT A NEW BATHROOM BUT DON’T WANT THE COST, a simple makeover can be achieved by regrouting and resealing if it has started to turn black. Adam Etchalls from local company All About The Grout comments “Regrouting tiles is a simple process. We rake out the old grout and sealant, and replace, so there’s no trying to just mask the old stuff.

So when we’re done it looks as good as new. All at the fraction of the cost”.

In spite of today’s love affair with the Kindle and iPad when it comes to reading books, people still love the original paper version and books can bring so much to a living room.

There is definitely something comforting and reassuring about books so bookshelves are worth considering in rooms where furniture is pushed away from the walls.

If you have a large book collection, here is the ideal place to store them and if you have a small collection, why not arrange like books together with knick-knacks and accent pieces to fill vertical spaces?

This kind of artistic grouping gives real personality to a room.

Another way to make it more like your own living space is to add family photos. They make a room feel inviting and warm and offer a talking point for visitors.

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Bold artwork can be centrepiece to any room but especially a living room. Don’t be afraid to display a large piece of artwork or even let it take over a room. A single picture, piece of artwork or quirky piece of furniture can create a focal point that really impresses everyone, and reflects your own personality and individual style.

Settle down and shop in peace at Vine Mill Furniture's showroom ACCRINGTON'S VINE MILL FURNITURE GIVES THE BIG RETAILERS A RUN FOR THEIR MONEY WITH ITS HUGE COLLECTION, TOP DISCOUNTS AND RELAXED SHOPPING EXPERIENCE.

In a smaller way, floral arrangements can also add warmth to any room but, like houseplants, do ensure they are in the right place for enough natural light and are well cared for.

FLOORING is obviously important throughout the home but comes into its own in the colder months. While carpets add that something special and are warm and durable, don’t dismiss wood flooring as “cold”. ich, wooden flooring with a handsome grain not only gives distinction to rooms and is very practical but can reflect the glow of a fire to complement the general warmth.

Add a cosy rug if you feel any room needs additional warmth but always ensure your flooring flatters your room’s colour palette.

It’s worth having a look at all the latest flooring because this element of the home has come on so much in the last few years you’ll be amazed at the ranges and colours now on offer.

CURTAINS can add to a room’s attraction all year round, especially lined and wellinsulated curtains in a warm colour. Opting for floor-length curtains can create an oasis of cosiness, especially when the weather is unpleasant outside, and full-length curtains can make a small room feel much larger.

If you are a fan of BLINDS, they can also help with that lovely feeling that you are in your own home safe from the elements.

Ask for advice from your local supplier to choose blinds that really enhance the different rooms in your home.

VINE Mill Furniture does things a little differently than its larger competitors, Mark Gerrard sales manager at Vine Mill, said "Several customers have commented on their relief at having only a couple of sales staff on our floor to advise them.

"There's lots of unusual pieces and carved antiquities mixed in with the more contemporary displays and this is what really sets us apart."

"When they've gone to other stores there have been seven or eight people on the floor, which can make them feel uneasy."

And the best bit? As a wholesaler to the big retailers Vine Mill Furniture can pass on these discounted prices to its customers - meaning buyers can save an impressive 30 to 40 percent off the retail price.

And so far, this 'no pressure' approach to customer service has proved successful for the family-run company. Instead of an intimidating sales presence, when you pop into the Brookside Street store, in Accrington, you'll find a friendly and relaxed service and will be left alone to browse the extensive collection.

UNIQUE COLLECTION Vine Mill's building, which it relocated to almost two years ago, boasts 40,000 sq ft of retail space, across two floors, in which to display its selection of sofas, threepiece suites, beds, and much more.

The stunning furniture shop is also home to some unique pieces that will add that special something to your house. Thanks to the owner's jet-setting ways, the store regularly stocks unusual pieces, from glasswork to woodwork, that have been inspired by trips abroad.

"We're not like the standard stores you see on retail parks," said Mark.

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TOP QUALITY SERVICE The store also offers a 24-hour delivery service, which has been known to exceed expectations.

"We've had situations where customers have bought a suite in the morning and had it in their home by the afternoon," explained Mark.

"Whatever you see in store, Vine Mill will deliver within 24 hours."

With customer service at the heart of everything it does, it's no surprise that business is booming.

Check out the collections at Vine Mill Furniture, Brookside Street, Oswaldtwistle, BB5 3PX. For more information visit vinemillfurniture. co.uk or call 01254 399906

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When you have paid for each item ... your order will be deliverd in 24hrs.

If your SOFA or chairs are looking the worse for wear, the Winter is an ideal time to invest in new furniture if the budget allows. Always 18

Working in connection with 50 Plus Magazine, Blackburn, Burnley & Ribble Valley.

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Vine Oswaldtwistle,BB5 BB53PX 3PX 01254 399 906 VineMill, Mill,Brookside Brookside Street, Street, Oswaldtwistle, 01254 399 906 OPEN: 5:00PM Sat Sat10:00AM 10:00AM- -5:00PM 5:00PM Sun 11:00AM - 5:00PM OPEN:Mon Mon--Fri Fri9:00AM 9:00AM -- 5:00PM Sun 11:00AM - 5:00PM 19

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RESIN DRIVEWAY PROFITS SOAR WITH NEW SHOWROOM IN YORKSHIRE

Caption: Resin Drives new Brighouse showroom also features fencing, garden rooms, garage doors and even a putting green.

ResinDrives.co.uk Ltd recently celebrated record-breaking figures over the last two months, proving not even Brexit can hold back the Yorkshire-based home improvement firm. The timing could not be better, as they opened their doors to customers with a brandnew flagship showroom in West Yorkshire, Brighouse. The showroom happens to be the biggest internal resin showroom in the UK. As well as resin driveways, it also includes their new line of outdoor products; such as state of the art garden rooms, garage doors, fencing, decking and artificial lawns. There is also a mini putting green for customers to try out their golfing ability or to keep the kids entertained while parents can peruse the many resin samples on display.

“It was important to us to have an impressive flagship showroom for customers to see the quality and variety on offer for themselves.

Despite being a national company, we’re proud of our Yorkshire roots so Brighouse was an ideal location for our flagship showroom. Plus, it’s just a stone’s throw away from the M62, making it easily accessible for people further afield too. We invite customers to come in at

their leisure, where they can expect a warm Yorkshire welcome, and wide range of outdoor products on display - from resin driveways to garage doors and more.”, explains Managing Director, Carwyn Richards.

The showroom is their second showroom in the UK, with another based in South Wales.

They also have their resin driveways on display in Express Bi-folding Doors showrooms, in Leeds and Romford.

Resin Drives.co.uk Ltd have over 10 years’ experience and uses all their own installation teams to ensure consistent quality control across the board. Resin is becoming increasingly popular with more home owners than ever recognising its superior benefits over other surfacing options on the market: it’s porous, environmentally-friendly, weed adverse, slip-resistant, wheelchair-friendly and has excellent tyre traction. Aside from all the practical benefits, resin driveway gives customer’s many different aesthetic styles to add exceptional kerb appeal. With over 40 stone colours to choose from a trip to the showroom is definitely worthwhile.

Pop into Resin Drives new showroom today: Unit 4D Armytage Road, Brighouse, off Junction 25 from the M62. (Just next door to the British Car Auction). HD6 1QF. Alternatively, for more information call: 0800 007 5733 or visit: www.resindrives.co.uk

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PREPARING YOUR LAWN FOR WINTER GARDENING WRITER, JULIA HEATON, HAS SOME TIMELY LAWN CARE TIPS

take a garden fork and push the tines in to their full depth at 15cm intervals across the lawn. Once in the ground wiggle the fork around to widen the holes. On large areas or heavy clay soils a hollow tine aerator, which extracts small cores of soil, may be best for the job.

It makes sense to put your lawn to bed for the winter, just like any other plant in the garden. September and October is the time to take stock of the wear and tear it has undergone during the course of the year.

The aim is to scarify, aerate and topdress, in that order. So follow these steps and you’ll be giving your grass all the strength it needs to cope with any frost, snow or waterlogging in the months ahead.

SCARIFY/RAKING First things first, you’ll need to scarify by raking up and removing any build-up of moss and thatch (dead grass and plant debris). This will improve drainage and help to reduce fungal infections. To give yourself a head start it’s a good idea to bring the level of the grass gradually down in the two-week run-up – this will provide you with short, dry grass that makes the raking process less difficult.

If there’s lots of moss you can spray the problem areas with moss killer beforehand.

Then once it has turned black it can be raked out much more easily. A spring tine rake is the best tool for the job. Its 16 claw-shaped tines are designed to remove unwanted debris without damaging healthy blades of grass. If the thatch is particularly bad though 24

it’ll need carefully teasing out so a hand scarifier, with blades on a roller, is a better option. Whichever you choose you’ll need to work across the lawn two or three times, approaching it from a different angle each time. For larger areas you may want to hire or buy an electric rake.

Don’t panic when you survey the results – the lawn may look pretty patchy, but it means that the grass now has space to breath, grow and fill out into the bare patches of soil. And if these patches are really large you can re-sow with lawn seed.

AERATING: Regular use during the summer can cause a lawn to settle, become dense and compacted. With little access to air the grass becomes weak, which encourages moss and water-logging. To tackle these problems

TOPDRESSING Applying a topdressing loosely fills the aeration holes and evens out any lumps and bumps in the lawn. Ultimately this improves its condition and drainage, encouraging the grass to produce more roots and runners.

Topdressing can be bought in ready mixed bags from garden centres but you can also make your own by combining loam, multipurpose compost and sand.

The mix of these three ingredients depends on the type of soil you’ve got. When a loamy mix is used on sandy soil it can improve its water-retaining abilities, while a sandy topdressing on a heavy soil can help improve drainage. If your soil is heavy clay and compaction is a real problem then sharp sand alone can be used to improve surface drainage.

Using a shovel spread the mix evenly across the lawn at the rate of 1kg per sq m and lightly brush it into the surface and aeration holes. What you’re looking for in the end is a layer of top dressing that’s thin enough for the blades of grass to poke through it.

Topdressing recipes: • For a heavy soil, mix 1 part multipurpose compost, 2 parts loam and 4 parts sand; • For a loamy soil, mix 1 part multi-purpose compost, 4 parts loam and 2 parts sand; • For a sandy soil, mix 2 parts multi- purpose compost, 4 parts loam and 1 part sand

temperatures it’s worth doing. Only use an autumn feed as it will contain less nitrogen, which will produce slower growth and tougher leaves able to withstand winter temperatures.

BARE PATCHES Late summer to mid-autumn is a good time to sow grass seed as the soil is still warm and should be nicely moist. Make sure the ground is clear of weeds and rake it over to break up any lumps and create a fine tilth.

Then tread evenly over it so that it is levelled out, adding extra soil where needed, before raking again. Lightly rake in a granular fertiliser two or three days before sowing.

Good weather and moist soil should produce germination in nine or ten days. Keep it watered during dry spells and leave it uncut for three to four weeks.

FEEDING An autumn feed isn’t always necessary but if your grass has taken a beating from the dry weather and hotter than average

MOWING AND EDGING As colder weather slows down the rate of grass growth there’s less need to mow as frequently. Always wait for a dry day before mowing and, if needed, follow it up by trimming lawn edges. Use some long handled edging shears for this job.

The blades are set at a 90 degree angle to the handles so you can do the job from a standing position.

If the lawn has started to grow over a pathway it’s a good time to re-instate a proper edge. Using a half-moon edging iron drive the blade down and into the turf where it meets the pathway, then pull the pieces away.

SWEEPING There’s no escaping fallen leaves in autumn but it’s important not to let them sit for more than a few days on your lawn as the grass they are covering will soon suffer.

Once a week use a besom broom or a fan

rake to sweep them up. Another alternative is to run your lawn mower over them so it can gather them up.

CONTROLLING LEATHERJACKETS Leatherjackets are the larvae of crane flies, or daddy-long-legs. The grubs hatch in autumn and eat away at grass roots, so by spring you can be left with yellow patches across the lawn. Although there is no chemical treatment there is a biological control in the form of nematodes, which are microscopic worms that you can water onto the lawn between August and October and again in spring. They basically work by entering the grubs and infecting them with a bacterial disease that kills them. Look for Nemasys Leatherjacket Killer at garden centres and on-line.

Another alternative is to water the lawn and lay a large black plastic sheet across it overnight. This will encourage the grubs to come to the surface, so when the sheet is lifted the following morning you just need to brush them up and dispose of them.

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Darwen’s Hidden Gem

Christmas Day•Closed • Christmas Trees • Wreaths Grave Pots • Boxing Day 9.00am - 5.00pm • Indoor and Outdoor Arrangements • New Years Eve 9.00am - 4.00pm New Years Eve Evening 5.30pm - 8.00pm Advanced bookings ticket only eventA Local family-run business and New much more!

Years Day 9.00am - 8.00pm

Address: Four Seasons Garden Centre, Ashton Road, Darwen BB3 2DX

GNINEPO SEMIT Opening hours: We are open

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Tel: 01254 706890

Monday – Sunday 9:30am - 4:30pm CLOSED on Thursdays Four Seasons Garden Centre Darwen

25

FINANCE

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50 PLUS MAGAZINE

A SECURE FUTURE WITH EQUITY RELEASE? THESE days we have to look at a variety of ways to raise cash and ensure that our future will be secure and one popular way for anyone over 55 to do just that is via equity release, with research carried out by the Equity Release Council showing that 72% of homeowners over 45 questioned wanted to stay in their property for as long as possible, with 41% also looking to invest in home improvements.

Equity release offers the chance to access the cash – the equity – tied up in your home, which can be released either as a lump sum or in several small amounts, or a combination of both. There are two equity release options: a home reversion and a lifetime mortgage.

A HOME REVERSION involves you selling part or all of your home to a home reversion provider in return for a lump sum or regular payments.You have the right to continue living in the property until you die, rent-free,

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but you have to agree to maintain and insure it.

You can ring-fence a percentage of your property for later use, possibly for inheritance - the percentage you retain will always remain the same, regardless of the change in property values, unless you decide to take further cash releases. At the end of the plan, your property is sold and the sale proceeds are shared according to the remaining proportions of ownership.You will get a lump sum or regular payments – normally between 20 per cent and 60 per cent of the market value of your home, or the part you sell.

With home reversions, it’s worth checking whether or not you can release equity in several payments or in one lump sum and the minimum age at which you can take out a home reversion plan. Some providers insist you’re at least 60 or 65 before you can apply.

Keep in mind the percentage of the market value you will receive. This will increase the

older you are when you take out the plan but might vary from provider to provider. Also check whether you have the right to remain in your property for life or until you need to move to long-term care, provided the property remains your main residence and you abide by the terms and conditions of your contract.

It’s worth checking whether you have the right to move to another property, subject to the new property being acceptable to your product provider as continuing security for your equity release loan and whether the product has a “no negative equity guarantee”.

You will also need to know what level of maintenance you’ll be expected to carry out and how often your property will be inspected – this could be every few years.

The Money Advice Service explains that a LIFETIME MORTGAGE means that you take out a mortgage secured on your property, provided it is your main residence, while retaining ownership.

You may be able to ring-fence some of the value of your property as an inheritance for your family or you can choose to make repayments or let the interest roll-up. The loan amount and any accrued interest is paid back when you die or when you move into long-term care.

according to your age when you take out the lifetime mortgage, while some providers might offer larger sums to those with certain past or present medical conditions. Many lenders offer interest rates which are fixed or, if they are variable, have a “cap” or upper limit which is fixed for the loan’s duration.

Most people who take out equity release use a lifetime mortgage. Usually you don’t have to make any repayments while you’re alive and interest “rolls up” (unpaid interest is added to the loan), meaning the debt can increase quite quickly over a period of time. However, some lifetime mortgages do now offer the option to pay all or some of the interest. Some will let you pay off the interest and the capital.

Check whether the product has a “no negative equity guarantee” This means that, when your property is sold and agents’ and solicitors’ fees have been paid, even if the amount left is not enough to repay the outstanding loan to your provider neither you nor your estate will be liable to pay any more.

In the same way ordinary mortgages vary from lender to lender, so do lifetime mortgages, and if you’re looking at this option it’s worth knowing that the minimum age for this is usually 55. As we’re now all living longer, the earlier you start the more this is likely to cost in the long run.

The average borrower in their late 60s can usually borrow around 35% of the value of their home, but how much can be released is dependent on your age and the value of your property. The percentage typically increases

Again, it’s also worth finding out if you have the right to move to another property, subject to the new property being acceptable to your product provider as continuing security for your equity release loan, as different lifetime mortgage providers might have slightly different thresholds.

Consider whether you can pay none, some or all of the interest. If you can make repayments, the mortgage will be less costly.

However, with a lifetime mortgage where you can make monthly payments, the amount you can repay might be based on your income.

Providers will have to check you can afford these regular payments.

Empowering you with the retirement you deserve

Look at whether you can withdraw the equity you’re releasing in small amounts, as and when you need it, or whether you have to take it as one lump sum. The advantage of being able to take money out in smaller amounts is you only pay the interest on the amount you’ve withdrawn. If you can take smaller lump sums, check if there is a minimum amount.

Overall, equity release might seem like a good option if you want some extra money and don’t want to move house, but it’s worth bearing in mind that equity release can be more expensive in comparison to an ordinary mortgage. In addition, it’s worth considering any additional changes taking out equity release could make to existing arrangements, with the potential to lose means-tested benefits being key among them. It’s also worth considering involving your family throughout the process, as any equity taken out of the home will impact their inheritance later down the line.

Speak to an independent financial adviser to find out if equity release is right for you, and whether it could help in supporting your financial future.

Retirement

• Lifetime mortgages are helping more and more over 55s finance their retirement • To see if it could be the right option for you, contact an independent financial adviser www.pureretirement.co.uk

#PureEmpowerment

Company registered in England and Wales No. 7240896. Pure Retirement Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. FCA registered No.582621.

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MOTORING

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50 PLUS MAGAZINE

STEVE HOWARTH'S TEST DRIVE

The new Focus, right, looks very different when compared to the outgoing model.

FORD FOCUS ACTIVE NOW over all the years I have been testing cars for a living one of the questions I get asked the most is – well what do you drive?

The Active has a little more body roll that the regular Focus thanks to the taller suspension/tyres set up but the Active has a slightly more supple ride than the rest of the Focus line up, complemented by the great eight-speed auto fitted to our test car.

Although I am lucky enough to have a few classics tucked away in the garage I do also have a ‘daily driver’ to use between test cars and sunny Sundays.

It is economical, practical and reliable – which is why the Ford Focus has been a top seller since it was first introduced in 1998 and is currently the UK’s number two in the sales top ten just behind its smaller brother, the Fiesta.

Mine is a 2014 EcoBoost with the amazing 1-litre, three cylinder turbo petrol engine – 99bhp from an engine that would once have been considered way too small for a family-sized hatchback.

So you can understand why I was particularly looking forward to our latest test car, the 2019 Focus Active X, so I could see how Ford have moved things on in the last five years.

It came in a smart bronze colour with the EcoBlue 1.5TDCi engine so had a few more horse power that my car and was even better on the go juice returning up to 54.3mpg (combined).

Plus being the latest Active X version it also came with the label ‘crossover’ as Active spec adds rugged-looking trim joining the beefed-up Active versions of 28

The entry-level EcoBoost 1.0-litre petrol engine gives adequate performance but many buyers are expected to go for the extra power of the 1.5-litre petrol or our diesel version.

the Ka+ and Fiesta. These changes include more substantial front and rear bumpers, protective black cladding on the wheel arches and sills, roof rails and raised ride height thanks to revised suspension and larger tyres. There are also Active trim elements inside.

Based on the mid-range Zetec model there are two petrol and two diesel engines and you can also get an Active estate.

Standard equipment on the Active includes non-adaptive cruise control with a speed limiter function, lane keep assist, automatic headlights, and an eight-inch touchscreen infotainment system. There are also sat-nav, voice control, a 4.2-inch driver information display in the instrument panel, and keyless start. Our Active X model is further loaded with almost every optional extra Ford offer including a panorama glass roof, 18” black alloys, power fold door mirrors with ‘puddle’ lights and all round parking sensors.

As it is a slightly taller hatchback rather than a true SUV it is no surprise that a 4x4 option is not available. All are front-wheel drive with a choice of modes including two for off road use.

Starting from around £22,000, the Focus Active is a couple of grand or so more than the regular Zetec Focus but you do get extra equipment as well as those more rugged looks and revised suspension. Even so that starting price is very competitive against the main C-segment crossover competitors. In Active X spec our test car was £27,045 on the road.

I used the car for a couple of long-ish trips and it proved comfortable and capable both on motorways and around country lanes so I expect, at these prices, we will be seeing even more Focus owners driving around on our roads.

For more information see www.ford.co.uk FOR ALL THE LATEST CAR TESTS GO TO: www.50plusmagazine.co.uk

How can help

can help Joe is 82, and lives alone in a sheltered housing scheme. He has been registered blind for many years and has significant mobility issues. Joe was struggling to look after himself, was losing weight and not looking after his flat. Support was provided to make successful claims for pension credit and other benefits resulting in additional income for Joe. This meant that he is now able to afford to pay for a cleaner and for meals on wheels and is able to enjoy a proper hot meal each day.

Are you struggling at home on your own without support and income is tight? Our Advice and Information service could check your entitlements and support you to access the right services to make a difference to your daily life.

Sue, is 60 she has some disabilities including arthritis in her knees, she also wanted to lose weight. Sue was encouraged her to come along to Age UK’s gentle exercise class. Sue is now a regular at the session, which she really enjoys attending especially chatting with the people she has met and got to know. As a result of attending, her BMI has gone down, she has more muscle tone and is now able to go out and walk further on her own.

We offer over 24 different weekly activities throughout Blackburn with Darwen to help improve your health and wellbeing. A small charge applies for some activities and a warm welcome awaits.

Services we provide include: Active Ageing  Advice & Information  Befriending  Daytime Services  Digital & IT Support  Here to Help  Nail Care We also have a Charity Shop in Darwen and Volunteering opportunities across our services For more information please contact us Telephone: 01254 266620 Address: 4 King Street, Blackburn, BB2 2DH E: enquiries@ageukbwd.org.uk W: www.ageukbwd.org.uk

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Facebook @AgeUKBwD

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Age UK Blackburn with Darwen registered charity number 1143809909.

Company number 07728630. Registered office: 4 King Street, Blackburn, BB2 2DH 2DH

2

FASHION | 50 PLUS MAGAZINE

HOW TO DRESS FOR YOUR FIGURE

BY HELEN VENABLES, MD OF HOUSE OF COLOUR for example., If you carry a bit of weight around your middle, but have shapely legs show them off in both your trouser and skirt choices.

If the widest part of your body is your hips, you can bring balance by focussing detail to your top half. The extra detail could be adding pattern or ruffles or lovely statement jewellery on your top half.

Women with an hourglass figure often try to hide their curves with shapeless styles and forget they have a smaller waist. To compliment your killer curves, avoid bulky and boxy styles, choose cuts of clothes and fabrics which follow your curves, and accentuate your narrower waist.

When you are dressing for your individual figure, the most important things to bear in mind are your body architecture and your style personality. For example, if an asymmetric hem doesn’t suit your body shape and style personality then it will always look wrong, no matter how gorgeous the dress or skirt might look on another person.

Dressing for your shape is all in the detail.

We all suit different hemlines, necklines, trouser lengths, lapels and sleeves, not to mention of course colours, fabrics, structure, patterns and details.

Accessories are also key to dressing for your figure because the right sized jewellery, handbags, belts and shoes can help draw attention to all the right areas.

If you suit classic, dramatic, sporty or natural clothing, then choose items to fill your capsule wardrobe along those lines.

For example, tailoring continues to gain momentum offering the ultimate smart casual look particularly for classic and gamine style personalities. Natural style personalities should choose relaxed skirts 30

with movement. Structured or asymmetric outfits can add edginess for the dramatics amongst us.

It may seem obvious but wear clothes that fit you. Very baggy shirts or jumpers may look slouchy and un-kempt. In the same way, overly tight-fitting dresses, skirts and shirts rarely gives you style kudos. Did you know that if your clothes really fit you, you should hardly know you are wearing them?

Love your body and shape. Know what your best parts are and draw attention to those areas whether that means cinching in your waist or elongating a shorter mid-section

An athletic figure looks best when they're drawing attention to their toned physique, with clothes that skim the surface of their silhouette rather than high tailoring or very structured looks.

Don’t sabotage your look by getting your style right but wearing colours that don’t suit you. The colours that suit us are determined by the pigments in our skin and eye colour. We all fall into one of the four seasonal categories which have an array of gorgeous colours that look amazing on you and some of these will be your wow colours.

The only colour we can all wear is primary red.

TIPS ON HOW TO WEAR NEUTRALS WITH STYLE When thinking about which neutrals suit us it all depends on our skin tone. Autumn colour palettes suit rich, warm earthy colours such as dark brown, tan, oyster, coffee, khaki, lizard grey, dark olive and marine navy, whilst Springs suit warm, clear colour choices like chocolate, beige, dove grey, bright navy, tan, honey and cream.

Winters look gorgeous in deep, cool colours

such as silver, greys, charcoal, indigo, black, mole and stone. Summers suit cool, subtle neutrals such as pink beige, mushroom, rose brown, dark blue grey, light blue grey, soft navy and burgundy.

When it comes to shopping for neutrals, quality is the most important factor to consider. The better the quality of neutral, the more chic you will look.

Neutral colours can provide you with a solid base on which to build your outfit so invest in quality neutral trousers, jackets and blouses. If you want to make a statement, wear one of your wow colours against a neutral background to really make that colour pop! Think raspberry on French navy if you are a summer for example.

Know what whites suit your skin tones.

Generally, Springs suit creams, Autumns should choose oyster, Summers should opt for a soft white and Winters look gorgeous in pure white.

Many of us think that black should be worn because it is slimming, but the truth is black only suits people in the Winter palette and it will make everyone else appear tired with

a dull looking complexion. Instead opt for a different dark neutral such as grey, brown or navy from your season’s palette which will make you look radiant.

Alternatively layer neutrals on neutrals for a fresh look. Powder pink and mushroom are an irresistible combination for a Summer.

Two neutrals are enough in one outfit, but try pairing darker neutrals that are often more authoritative with a lighter neutral, such as a dark olive jacket with a simple cream tee if you are an Autumn, or a pure white shirt with a charcoal skirt if you are a Winter. Enjoy experimenting a little.

Red tends to go well with all neutrals, with primary red being the only colour that suits all skin types. Black, navy, grey and whites go particularly well with red for cool skins whilst brown, beige, camel and cream set off red for warm skins. An outfit made up of neutral colours will often look incredible with a pop of red lipstick as long as it is a red that suits your skin tone. Summer palettes glow in cherry and coral red, Autumns beguile in rust or brick reds, Winters captivate in scarlet and carmine, Springs look gorgeous in geranium and poppy red.

Don’t be afraid to add statement jewellery to jazz up a more neutral outfit, making sure the scale of the jewellery suits your style.

Add a statement coat, handbag or shoes to an all neutral outfit. What could look better than someone with a Spring palette wearing a bright navy outfit with a pop of coral in their accessories?

Metallics are also considered neutrals in fashion whether that is gold, silver, copper, bronze, gunmetal, rose gold or pewter but your metallic is dependent on your season.

Make sure you wear the right metals for your skin tones ie Autumns and Springs should choose warm golds whilst Winters and Summers look good in cool silvers. www.houseofcolour.co.uk

REJUVENATE YOUR FACE WITH DERMAL FILLERS Our face structure changes over the years, dermal fillers can create a support for our faces, volumising any hollowing in our cheeks and under eyes tear troughs, plus redefining cheek bones and our lips.

Finance available for procedures over £500 To book a free consultation call or book online

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FOOD & DRINK

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50 PLUS MAGAZINE

LYMPSTONE MUSSELS I have never seen anything like the contraption used by the mussel men of the River Exe.They don’t use dredges, which wreck the sea bed; they use a self-flushing elevator that kind of hoovers up the mussels, causing less disturbance and producing a more sustainable supply all year round.The mussels are then cleaned, graded and put in purification tanks for a few days before being sold. Myles is the brains behind The Exmouth Mussel Company, so next time you’re down there, pop in and say hi. It was a pleasure to cook these wonderful mussels with my mate Michael Caines.

Serves 4 50g butter 100g smoked streaky bacon, chopped into lardons 1 onion, diced 2 celery sticks, diced 2 garlic cloves, crushed sea salt and freshly ground black pepper small bunch of sea aster 250ml cider 250ml double cream 2kg mussels, cleaned and debearded 4 thick slices of white crusty bread 2 tablespoons olive oil small bunch of flat-leaf parsley, chopped

Heat a large casserole dish over a medium heat for a few minutes until hot, then add half the butter.

When it has melted and is sizzling, add the bacon pieces and fry until crisp.

Add the diced onion and celery and the garlic and season well. Stir everything together and cook over a low heat for a few minutes, stirring every now and then.

Add the sea aster and pour in the cider and cream, then season with black pepper. Stir everything together then add the remaining butter. Once the butter has melted and the liquid is simmering, pop the mussels in and stir everything together. Cover the pan with a lid and cook for 4 minutes.

Drizzle the slices of bread with the olive oil and toast in a flat frying pan until charred. Check all the mussels have opened, discarding any that haven’t, then tip into a serving bowl. Sprinkle over the parsley and serve with the toasted bread.

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GIANT’S CAUSEWAY FISH STEW I don’t know who looked more confused, me or the thousands of tourists all around me while we were filming this dish on the stones of the Giant’s Causeway. I’d never been before but it really is a sight to behold. In fact, the whole coastline of this part of Northern Ireland is worth a trip – it is rugged and beautiful in equal measure, as is the produce that can be found here. Ales, meat, dairy, fish… It is so rich and diverse with such amazing food.

Serves 6 400g mussels, cleaned and debearded 25g butter 1 shallot, finely diced 25g plain flour sea salt and freshly ground black pepper 400ml full-fat milk 100ml double cream 1 medium floury potato, cooked and diced (you need 200g) 400g salmon fillet, skinned and chopped into 2-cm cubes 200g white crab meat 100g brown crab meat small bunch of chives, chopped To serve double cream olive oil

Place a large sieve over a bowl. Pour 100ml water into a large heavy-based saucepan and set the pan over a high heat. Add the mussels, cover with a lid and cook for 3 minutes until the mussels have steamed open. Strain the mussels through the sieve, reserving the liquor, then pick the mussel meat from the shells and set aside. Discard any mussels that haven’t opened.

In the same pan, melt the butter over a medium heat. As soon as the butter has melted, stir in the shallot and cook for 1–2 minutes, stirring regularly, until softened.

Stir in the flour, season, and cook for around 1 minute. Pour the reserved mussel liquor into the pan, stirring all the time, then add the milk and cream. Bring to a gentle simmer, stirring continuously, until smooth.

Add the potato and salmon, stir everything together, then cover the pan and cook for 2–3 minutes until the potatoes are hot and the salmon has cooked through.

Stir in both types of crab meat and the mussel meat and warm through for a couple of minutes. Add a couple of tablespoons of hot water if the sauce is very thick. Season to taste and scatter over most of the chives.

To serve, ladle the stew into warmed bowls, drizzle with a little extra cream and olive oil, if you fancy, and garnish with the remaining chives.

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FOOD & DRINK

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50 PLUS MAGAZINE

TAGINE OF LAMB CHOPS WappingWharf is a testament to what’s happening in Bristol right now with new buildings and flats popping up all around and along the old docks. It’s still in its infancy but there are a few restaurants, one of which was a highlight for me – the small and compact BOX-E run by husband and wife Elliott and Tessa Lidstone – as were the two food containers there, one selling cheese and the other some great local meats.You’ll find great lamb all around theWest Country from local suppliers.

Serves 2 1 tablespoon olive oil sea salt and freshly ground black pepper 2 x 200-g Barnsley lamb chops 1/2 onion, diced 2 garlic cloves, chopped 6 medium tomatoes, quartered 50ml Harveys Bristol cream sherry 1/2 teaspoon ground coriander 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin 1/2 teaspoon chilli flakes 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1/2 teaspoon paprika 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg 5-cm piece fresh ginger, grated 2-cm piece fresh turmeric, grated 1 tablespoon runny honey 25g flaked almonds small bunch of fresh coriander, chopped

Heat a large, non-stick frying pan over a medium heat then pour in the oil. Season the chops all over then pop them into the pan and cook for 2–3 minutes until well browned. Flip them over and continue to cook for a further 2–3 minutes.

Add the diced onion, garlic and tomatoes, then pour in the sherry. Use a wooden spoon to stir any juices in the base of the pan into the ingredients.

Add all of the dry spices, stir again, then add the grated ginger and turmeric. Stir and season well.

Keep the pan over a medium heat and cook for 5 minutes – it should be gently bubbling. Check the seasoning then divide between 2 warmed bowls, drizzle with the honey and sprinkle over the almonds and coriander.

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The White Bull is a historic 18th century coaching inn in the heart of the village of Gisburn and offers a warm welcome and excellent accommodation with a choice OF of 8 stylish rooms to suit the single traveller or a family.

CHOCOLATE STOUT CAKE Stout is a dark, rich top-fermented beer and is the only type of beer you can use for this cake and the icing, so don’t start going off-piste and using Stella or other stuff – it won’t work!

Serves 10 200g butter 150g dark chocolate, broken into pieces 300ml stout 4 eggs 500g soft light brown sugar 350g self-raising flour For the icing 400g full-fat cream cheese 25ml stout 200g icing sugar a couple of squares of dark or milk chocolate, to decorate

Preheat the oven to 160°C (140°C fan)/320°F/gas 3. Line a 27-cm, deepsided cake tin with greaseproof paper.

Put the butter, chocolate and stout into a large heatproof bowl and rest over a pan of just-simmering water, making sure the base doesn’t touch the water, until the butter and chocolate have melted.

Lift the bowl off the pan and leave to cool slightly. Add the eggs and sugar to the mixture and whisk well, then fold in the flour until the mixture is smooth.

Pour the cake batter into the prepared tin and bake for 1 hour. Leave to cool in the tin before turning out.

To make the icing, whisk the cream cheese, stout and icing sugar together in a bowl until smooth. Spoon on top of the cake and spread out to cover. Grate the chocolate over the top and serve.

Extracted from James Martin’s Great British Adventure

by James Martin (Quadrille, £25) Photography Peter Cassidy

CHRISTMAS MENU AT NOW AVAILABLE Christmas Fayre Menu 2 Courses ~ £17.95 3 Courses ~ £20.95 O P E N ILast NG food order 8pm T IChristmas M E SEve 9.00am - 8.00pm

Book a festive meal and receive a 125ml glass of specially selected wine

Christmas Day Closed Boxing Day 9.00am - 5.00pm New Years Eve 9.00am - 4.00pm New Years Eve Evening 5.30pm - 8.00pm Advanced bookings ticket only event New Years Day 9.00am - 8.00pm

Book a table for 4 and receive a bottle

50 PLUS READER OFFER Stay at The White Bull Tuesday - Friday dinner, bed & breakfast £85 PER COUPLE excludes 22nd - 26th December & 30th December - 3rd January The White Bull at Gisburn Main St, Gisburn, BB7 4HE, Telephone : 01200 415805 Email: info@whitebullgisburn.com www.whitebullgisburn.com

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FOOD & DRINK

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50 PLUS MAGAZINE

LET IT SNOW FESTIVE SWEETS MAKES ABOUT 30 FOR THE DOUGH: 70g (21/2oz) dried apple rings, finely chopped 50g (2oz/scant 1/2 cup) raisins, finely chopped 5 tbsp apple juice 300g (101/2 oz/scant 1 cup) honey 50g (2oz/1/4 cup) brown sugar 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda (baking soda) 200g (7oz/scant 12/3 cups) plain (all-purpose) flour + a little extra 120g (4oz/11/4 cups) wholemeal rye flour 40g (11/2 oz/1/4 cup) chopped almonds 30g (1oz/generous 1/4 cup) ground almonds 2tsp gingerbread spice mix 2 tsp ground cinnamon 1 egg yolk FOR THE ICING (FROSTING): 100g (31/2 oz/generous 3/4 cup) icing (confectioner's) sugar 2 tbsp Calvados PLUS: about 200g (7oz) plum jam 1 egg white decorative wafers EXTRA EQUIPMENT: HEART-SHAPED COOKIE CUTTER

APPLE GINGERBREAD 1. For the dough, soak the apple rings and raisins in the apple juice. Warm up the honey and sugar on a low heat (don’t boil) until the sugar has melted. Allow to cool until lukewarm and pour into a mixing bowl. Dissolve the bicarbonate of soda in 2 teaspoons water, fold into the flour and add to the honey and sugar.

2. Mix the rye flour, almonds and spices together. Add the egg to the dough with the rye flour mixture and the soaked dried fruits. Knead everything thoroughly, cover and allow to rest for 2 hours at room temperature.

3. Preheat the oven to 180°C (350°F/gas 4). Roll out the dough on a floured work surface to a thickness of about 5 mm (¼ in) and press out circles and hearts of about 4 cm (1½ in).

Coat half of the circles and hearts in the middle with plum jam and brush them at the edge

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with egg white, then cover each of them with a second circle or heart. Carefully press the edges together. Place on a baking sheet lined with baking parchment and bake for about 10 minutes.

4. For the icing, stir the icing sugar with the Calvados until smooth, if necessary adding Calvados drop by drop until the desired consistency is achieved. Take the gingerbread out of the oven, coat with icing while still warm and top with wafers. Allow to dry and store in a tin. Leave for at least 2 days before eating.

MULLED WINE TARTLETS MAKES ABOUT 12 For the jam (jelly): 125ml (4 floz/½ cup) red wine 2 strips of orange peel 2 cloves 1 cinnamon stick 1 piece of star anise ¼ vanilla pod (bean) 125ml (4 floz/½ cup) grape juice 75g (2½oz/1/3 cup) preserving sugar 3:1

FOR THE DOUGH: 200g (7oz) butter 140g (5oz/ 2/3 cup) raw cane sugar Seeds of 1 Vanilla pod (bean) Pinch of salt 1 egg 300g (10½oz/scant 2½ cups) plain (all-purpose) flour + a little extra 100g (3½oz/1 cup) blanched ground almonds FOR DECORATING: icing (confectioner's) sugar

EXTRA EQUIPMENT: STAR-SHAPED COOKIE CUTTERS, IN THREE SIZE

1. For the jam, put the red wine with the orange peel, spices, scraped out vanilla pod and vanilla seeds into a saucepan. Bring to the boil on a medium heat. Immediately remove from the stove, cover and steep for at least 2 hours. Strain the wine mixture through a sieve and pour back into the pan. Mix in the juice and the preserving sugar.

Bring to the boil and fast boil for 3 minutes. Pour into a sterilised jar and allow to set.

2. For the dough, cream the butter with the sugar, vanilla seeds and salt. Add the egg and beat in well. Add the flour and almonds, and work everything into a smooth dough. Wrap in cling film (plastic wrap) and leave in a cool place for 1 hour.

3. Roll out the dough to a thickness of 3–4 mm (1/8 in) on a floured work surface, and press out stars in three sizes. Place on baking sheets lined with baking parchment and bake for 10–12 minutes (you might need to take the small ones out of the oven earlier).

Remove from the oven and allow to cool on a cooling rack.

4. Heat the jam in a saucepan and stir until smooth. Spread the jam on the large and medium-sized circles, before stacking them together with the small ones on top. Dust with icing sugar and add a final dab of jam. Store in a tin.

Let it Snow by Agnes Prus (Hardie Grant, £7.99) Photography © Frauke Antholz

It's beginning to look at lot like

Christmas ...

Beautiful Christmas Lanterns with stunning gold snow effect.

Choice of Snowmen or Father Christmas 30cm high, battery operated (requires 3AA batteries).

SPECIAL READER OFFER

RRP £29.95 OUR PRICE £19.95 + £3.00 POST AND PACKING

FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL: 01204 238180 To see the video and ORDER ONLINE VISIT www.50plusmagazine.co.uk

37

LEISURE

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50 PLUS MAGAZINE

WHAT'S ON A GUIDE TO WHAT'S HAPPENING IN YOUR REGION ...

MON 11TH NOV 2019 7.00PM REMEMBRANCE CONCERT WED 6TH NOVEMBER AND THU 1ST JANUARY AFTERNOON VARIETY SHOW

The Famous Don Banks Afternoon Variety Show presented by Glen South.Start 2.00pm Darwen Library Theatre, Knott Street, Darwen BB3 3BU Tel: 0844 847 1664

5 Nov th

Towneley bonfire & fireworks ADMISSION BY TICKET ONLY AVAILABLE FROM: Towneley Hall, Burnley Mechanics, St Peter’s and Padiham leisure centres, Prairie Sports Village

In partnership with Burnley Council

More information: burnley.gov.uk towneley.org.uk

A Remembrance Concert is being held at King George’s Hall for everyone from Blackburn with Darwen to come together and remember our fallen heroes.

School children from all over the borough, the Salvation Army Band and our local cadets will join together for an evening of words and music.

Start: 7.00pm. Full Price Ticket From £4.Children under 16 FREE King George's Hall, Northgate, Blackburn BB2 1AA 01254 582579 www.kinggeorgeshall.com

THU 14TH NOVEMBER 42ND STREET – THE MUSICAL

42nd Street, the legendary Broadway musical theatre classic.

Telling the story of Peggy Sawyer, a talented young performer with stars in her eyes who gets her big break on Broadway, this is the largest ever staging of the Tony® Award-winning musical and it was filmed live at the magnificent Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, in the heart of London’s West End. Darwen Library Theatre, Knott Street, Darwen BB3 3BU Tel: 0844 847 1664

FROST FAIR AT BLACKBURN CATHEDRAL FRIDAY 22ND NOVEMBER - 4PM - 9PM SATURDAY 23RD NOVEMBER - 10AM - 5PM

We are incredibly excited to finally announce the fabulous Frost Fair at Blackburn Cathedral Visit our vibrant ​twilight i​ndoor night arts market held inside the magical & ​atmospheric​Blackburn Crypt, not currently open to the general public, shoppers will be wowed by the impressive ​ well lit architectural features ​-​ this will be a must do on your November calendar This unique arts & specialist foods market will ensure you a stress free, tailor-made shopping experience, one you can enjoy with friends & family or just on your own!

Blackburn Cathedral , Cathedral Close Blackburn BB1 5AA

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1ST - 8TH DECEMBER SLEEPING BEAUTY

FRIDAY 22ND NOVEMBER 2019 THE ELVIS YEARS – THE STORY OF THE KING

‘The Elvis Years’ is an outstanding musical production which brings to the stage the incredible story of ‘The King of Rock and Roll’ - Elvis Presley.

This glittering production charts the musical and emotional highs and lows of Elvis’ amazing journey, from poor truck-driving teenager from Tupelo, Mississippi, through the army, Hollywood and finally, the legendary Las Vegas concerts.

With a world-class cast, authentic costumes and rare film footage, ‘The Elvis Years’ features more than 50 of the King’s greatest hits, including ‘Hound Dog’, ‘It’s Now Or Never’, ‘SuspiciousMinds’, ‘American Trilogy’ and many more, as well as lesser known tracks such as ‘Rock A Hula Baby’and ‘Bossa Nova Baby’.Doors Open: 6:45pm.

Show Starts: 7:30pm TICKET PRICES Adult: £23.00, Concession: £21.00 Door: £26.00

We're incredibly pleased to announce this year's Christmas Pantomime and our new partner for this year, TaleGate Theatre Company.

Join us this Christmas for the pantomime of your dreams! Help Prince Valentine defeat the evil fairy, Malevola and wake Sleeping Beauty with true loves kiss.

‘Sleeping Beauty’ promises to be our funniest and most spectacular pantomime ever! You will be in awe of our ferocious twelve-foot dragon finale! Packed with songs, slapstick, silliness, audience participation and all the fairytale magic of traditional pantomime!

This fun-filled extravaganza is guaranteed to delight the whole family.

The Civic Arts Centre & Theatre, Union Road, Oswaldtwistle BB5 3HZ BOX OFFICE: 01254 398319

Climb aboard the high-flying Magic Carpet for the Ride of a Lifetime!

Fly with us this Christmas on a magical journey beyond your dreams for the Family adventure of Aladdin.

Close your eyes and make a wish! Follow Aladdin, his hapless brother, and of course his mother, Widow Twankey, on a spectacular adventure featuring a beautiful love story, the incredible flying carpet, a wish-granting genie, an evil sorcerer and a magical lamp packed full of spectacular family entertainment.

Packed full of stunning scenery, amazing costumes, fantastic music, hilarious jokes and lots of audience participation. Be amazed as the fun comes to life with our incredible, flying, Magic Carpet!

Blackburn Empire Theatre Aqueduct Rd, Blackburn BB2 4HT Phone: 01254 685500

The Grand 18 York Street, Clitheroe, BB7 2DL Box Office: 01200 421599

30 NOV 2019 — 31 DEC 2019 ALADDIN - THE PANTOMIME

As one of our customers recently said ‘This market continues to thrive and you can see why. Great stalls with everything you could ever need at good prices, plus the superb meat and fish covered market. Friendly service and great people - definitely recommend.

The hub of a great little town!’

SUNDAY 01 DECEMBER 2019 RIBCAGED PRODUCTIONS PRESENT: BEAUTY & THE BEAST OF CLITHEROE CASTLE (PANTOMIME)

A long time ago in Clitheroe Castle, there lived a spoiled and selfish Prince. He held lavish parties in the castle for all his royal subjects. At one such party, the Prince casts out an old beggar woman looking for shelter from the cold. Before his eyes, the old woman turns to enchantress and casts a spell on the Prince, turning him into a Beast, and transformed the subjects into household objects! The Beast was left with a magic mirror as his window to the outside world, as well as a rose. If the Beast can earn the love of another before the last petal falls, the spell will be broken. Otherwise, he will be doomed to forever remain a beast. All is lost until the lovely Belle appears at the Castle. Can she save the Beast? Will they fall in Love? Or with the Beast in the Castle be revealed to the townspeople of Clitheroe once again and be destroyed by the cruel villain? Join us on a magical adventure!

This classic tale developed by Ribcaged Productions, the Ribble Valley’s awardwinning theatre company, for a fun, festive, hilarious pantomime. If you enjoyed last year’s ‘Robin Hood of Bowland Forest’ you are sure to love this show.

Fun for all the family and not to be missed!

Tickets £7.00 U18. £5.00

THE MUNI THEATRE & ACE CENTRE The ACE Centre, Cross Street, BB9 7NH TEL: 01282 661234

Bury Market has a well deserved reputation for friendly service, fantastic produce and great value.

Bury Market Hall: Open every day except Sunday Full Markets Open: Wednesdays, Fridays & Saturdays “Winner Great British Market Awards” Britain’s Favourite Market “Winner National Coach Tourism Awards” Coach Friendly Shopping Destination of the Year

Bury Market Management: Tel: 0161 253 6520 Email: burymarkets@bury.gov.uk Web: www.burymarket.com

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LEISURE

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50 PLUS MAGAZINE

50+ MARTIAL ARTS SELF DEFENCE CLASSES You’re DEFINITELY not Too Old for Martial Arts and your Coaches are 50+ Your confidence will increase dramatically when you see just what you can achieve in a short space of time.

FITNESS BENEFITS AFTER 50 • Reduces the risk of heart disease by • improving blood circulation throughout the body.

• Keeps weight under control • • Improves blood cholesterol levels • • Prevents and manages high blood • pressure • Prevents bone loss • • Boosts energy levels • • Helps you manage stress • • Releases tension • ABOUT THE ONLY THING THAT COMES TO US WITHOUT EFFORT IS OLD AGE

THU 5TH DEC 2019 7.30PM THE ROCKET MAN

Are you ready for Love? Get ready for takeoff as we bring you the number one tribute to one of the greatest musicians of all time, Sir Elton John!

Starring world renowned tribute artist Jimmy Love, no one else recreates the flamboyant megastar with as much vigour and brilliance.

Join us as Jimmy and our amazing live band take you down the Yellow Brick Road with 2 hours of glorious Elton hits, from Crocodile Rock to Philadelphia Freedom and the beautiful Your Song to I Guess That’s Why They Call It The Blues. With Dazzling costumes, stunning vocals and sensational piano solos, this show has it all!

This is a tribute show and is no way affiliated with any original artists/estates/ management companies or similar shows.

Ticket Prices. Full price tickets from£26 Concessions fom £24 King George's Hall, Northgate, Blackburn BB2 1AAT: 01254 582579 www.kinggeorgeshall.com

FRIDAY 6TH DECEMBER 2019 @ 7:30PM YOU WIN AGAIN – CELEBRATING THE MUSIC OF THE BEE GEES

Call now 07850317553 to book your free try out and Assessment class or visit: mma.uk.com/programmes/ 40-martial-arts

Masters of Martial Arts Academy Masters of Martial Arts Academy Oxford Street, Accrington, BB5 1QX 50+ Masters of Martial Arts Blackburn 14 Lord Street West, Blackburn BB2 1LU

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Direct from London’s West End, ‘You Win Again – Celebrating The Music of The Bee Gees’. Prepare to experience the distinct sound of one of the greatest bands to have ever graced the stage, in this unforgettable concert spectacular.

Join us for this breath-taking concert spectacular, taking you on a musical journey through all your favourite songs, including ‘Night Fever’, ‘Stayin’ Alive’, ‘More Than A Woman’, ‘You Should Be Dancing’, ‘How Deep is Your Love?’, ‘Jive Talkin’’, ‘Tragedy’, ‘Massachusetts’, ‘Words’ and many more.

This fabulously authentic production ensures the Gibb brothers’ incredible legacy of classic hits is well and truly stayin’ alive.

TICKET PRICES Adult: £20.00, Concession: £18.00 THE MUNI THEATRE & ACE CENTRE The ACE Centre, Cross Street, BB9 7NH TEL: 01282 661234

SATURDAY 7TH DECEMBER 2019 @ 8:00PM SOUL NIGHT

Join us for the 21st Anniversary of Christmas Soul Nights at the Muni Theatre.

This very special night will be hosted by superb Northern Soul and Motown DJs Roman, Shaun Fitton, Billy Foster and Paul Eatough, bringing to the Muni the era of The Wigan Casino, Blackpool Mecca, The Twisted Wheel and The Torch, with iconic sounds from the likes of Martha Reeves, Marvin Gaye, The Temptations and Edwin Starr to name a few.

Organisers reserve the right to alter the DJ line-up at any time TICKET PRICES £5.00 per ticket THE MUNI THEATRE & ACE CENTRE The ACE Centre, Cross Street, BB9 7NH TEL: 01282 661234

SATURDAY 7TH DECEMBER 2019 FROM THE JAM: THE PUBLIC GETS WHAT THE PUBLIC WANTS

From The Jam return to The Grand for their annual, seasonal shebang.

'The Public Gets What the Public Wants' means this year's performance will be all the greatest hits and fans favourites' from The Jam's expansive canon and From The Jam's own catalogue.

We're thrilled, as ever, to host one of our favourite artists at The Grand this December.

Support comes from Suburban Symphony.

The Grand 18 York Street, Clitheroe, BB7 2DL Box Office: 01200 421599

CINDERELLA SUN 8TH DEC 2019 TO TUE 31ST DEC

Don’t miss this year’s breath-taking family pantomime, Cinderella, brought to us once again by Stageworks Worldwide Productions and written and directed by Roger Hannah.

Each year our pantomime is jam-packed with fabulous costumes, sensational songs, beautiful scenery, stunning dance routines and acrobatics which will take your breath away.

Cinderella promises to be our most spectacular pantomime ever so don’t rely on help from your fairy Godmother, book your family tickets today.

King George's Hall, Northgate, Blackburn BB2 1AAT: 01254 582579 www.kinggeorgeshall.com

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SUNDAY 8TH DECEMBER HIGH TEA AT THE HALL

Once a month, Burnley Leisure Hospitality, along with our partners Simply Classic, will be serving high tea at the hall between 12:30pm and 2:30pm. Within the cost of a high tea is also admission into Towneley Hall so you can view the collection and museum after tea. The hall kitchens will also be open on high tea days to enable guests to experience how it would have been to work at the hall, serving the Towneley family.

In addition there will be live entertainment during high tea, crisp white table linen and all the grandeur that Towneley Hall has to offer. High tea at the hall is a perfect way to enjoy an afternoon with friends and loved ones or as part of your family celebration.

High tea can be booked by calling the Mechanics Box Office on 01282 664400.

Please note high teas cannot be booked direct with Towneley Hall. TRADITIONAL HIGH TEA £19.95 pp PROSECCO HIGH TEA £24.95 pp HIGH G&T £24.95 pp

THE NORTH WEST’S

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Bolton’s Award Winning Market has everything you need this Christmas Bolton market has over 200 stalls including a bustling food court serving food from all over the world, cafés complement our food offer, and we even have a licensed bar.

Towneley Hall. Towneley Park, Burnley BB11 3RQ.

4TH DEC 2019 TOWNELEY HALL BURNLEY WITH TV'S MOST HAUNTED

Ghost hunting event at Towneley Hall in Burnley with Karl Beattie and Stuart Torevell from Tvs Most Haunted EXCLUSIVE ONLY TO MOST HAUNTED EXPERIENCE This location dates back to the 16th century and the family home of the Towneleys for nearly 5 centuries..

It certainly is a magical building.

But what lurks in the shadows when the lights go out..

With a reputation of being extremley haunted we are in for a spooky treat as we enter this historic location..

From a large demonic dog to a white lady..

What will you encounter here ?

Times - 7pm til midnight. Price - £72pp

You can buy everything from fresh fish, meat and game, locally sourced and exotic fruit and vegetables with speciality stalls selling deli meats and a huge selection of cheeses, plus there is a whole host of traditional stalls selling everything from furniture to flowers, bedding to broomsticks and much more.

Towneley Hall. Towneley Park, Burnley BB11 3RQ. https://allevents.in

How To Find Us: Bolton Market, Ashburner Street, Bolton BL1 1TQ.

IF YOU HAVE AN EVENT OR RUN A REGULAR CLASS FOR THE OVER 50S AND WOULD LIKE IT PUBLISED PLEASE EMAIL THE DETAILS TO admin@mcgrathmedia.co.uk

Well worth a visit!

Bolton Market has it all.

Open : Every Tuesday, Thursday, Friday & Saturday from 9am to 5pm.

Contact: 01204 336825 Email: bolton.markets@bolton.gov.uk Visit our website for a list of special events and activities that we are running at the Market.

www.bolton.gov.uk

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HEALTH

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50 PLUS MAGAZINE

How To Get The Perfect Smile WE would all love to have the Perfect Smile but we often think it’s out of our reach either because Nature or our bank balance aren’t kind enough to allow it.

But, while there are bound to be ways to improve on your smile with the help of dental technology, there are some simple ways to help yourself free.

A healthy smile starts at home where you need to look after your teeth properly. The NHS advises brushing teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste, one that contains at least 1,350parts per million (ppm) fluoride.

It doesn’t matter whether you use an electric toothbrush or a manual one, just as long as you brush properly and regularly.

Floss between your teeth or use interdental brushes every day to remove food, debris and plaque lodged between your teeth.

Don’t be too aggressive with the floss or you risk harming your gums. The main flossing action is a firm but gentle scraping of the tooth from the top down.

A healthy lifestyle shows in your smile so eating well, not smoking and limiting your alcohol and sugar intake is good for you all round. Sugar causes tooth decay and there are lots of sugars in sweets, chocolate, cakes and biscuits but also in sugary breakfast cereals, ice-cream and sorbets, dried fruit and honey.

Smoking can stain your teeth yellow, cause bad breath and increase your risk of gum disease – not much to smile about there.

Alcohol can erode the outer surface of the teeth, leading to a loss of enamel. Tea and coffee are also teethstaining culprits so keep a check on how much you have.

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It’s very important to have regular dental check-ups. Don’t put off going for a checkup as detecting problems early can mean they are easier to treat. If problems are left they can be harder, or even impossible, to repair.Your dentist is also a fountain of knowledge about how to improve your teeth and your smile and will let you know what is the best treatment or options for you as an individual.

For example, if you have crooked or overcrowded teeth, braces may be a good choice. Braces are no longer just for children and teenagers, they are increasingly used by adults of all ages – even celebrities have been spotted sporting braces!

Misaligned teeth can also trigger other dental problems like periodontal disease or gum disease. Overcrowded teeth may encourage headaches or earaches and an inadequate bite may lead to gastro-intestinal problems if food isn’t chewed properly. Misaligned or crooked teeth seldom look good when you smile.

Braces have come a long way since their invention as they are now more comfortable than their metal predecessors and require less time to fit. There are also types of modern braces that are barely noticeable – so-called “invisible braces”. These are clear plastic aligners, custom-made to fit your teeth, which gradually straighten them over time. It’s worth finding out from your dentist about whether you need them and which are best for you.

A word of warning: avoid some of the dangerous alternative “braces” suggested on the internet. DIY braces using household items like hair-bands not only don’t work but can be dangerous and lead to tooth loss, severe pain and infections.

A trained dental professional like an orthodontist goes through years of special training to learn how to correctly fit braces, taking into account how each individual tooth will move in order to provide a satisfactory and safe end-result.

Lost teeth can also badly damage any potentially Perfect Smile. There are a couple of ways of dealing with this problem, and it’s certainly worth addressing because not only will your smile look better but, as the Oral Health Foundation warns, the gap left by a missing tooth can mean more strain on the teeth at either side.

The solution depends on the number of teeth missing and on where they are in your mouth. The condition of the teeth you still have will also affect the decision.

Ways to improve this situation include having a removable false tooth (or teeth) called a partial denture. Then there is a fixed bridge, usually used when there are fewer teeth to replace or when the missing teeth are only on one side of the mouth, or a crown which is a tooth-like structure which entirely covers or caps a damaged tooth. It strengthens it and improves its appearance.

The partial denture is a plate with one or more false teeth on it. It may be all plastic or a mixture of metal and plastic, both types

may have clips to help keep the denture in place in your mouth.

Again, it’s worth going to a dentist who specialises in this rather than going to a nondental person or using a home kit yourself.

Another modern method which is increasingly popular is implants. This is where an artificial root is placed into the bone of the jaw and a crown or bridge is put on top of this, substituting the full structure of an ordinary tooth.

Implants are sometimes available on the NHS for patients who cannot wear dentures or whose face and teeth have been damaged.

However, they are mostly available privately and it’s worth going to a dentist who specialises in implants.

Once fitted, implants can last for years as long as proper dental hygiene is maintained.

They also differ from a crown or bridge in that they do not affect the teeth on either side of the gap. A dental implant can be secure in isolation from the rest of your teeth.

One sure way to brighten your teeth and improve your smile is by teeth whitening.

Teeth whitening basically uses peroxide bleaching agents. One quick method – 30 to 60 minutes – involves the application of special gel to the tooth enamel. Its activation is helped by a UV light. It’s completely painless and lasts up to three years, depending on additional factors like lifestyle and oral hygiene habits.

SMILE WITH CONFIDENCE Have you suffered the trauma of tooth loss or damage? It can happen to anyone and, when it does, it doesn’t just affect how you look.

Eating can become more difficult and you may feel more self-conscious smiling with a gap.

At AP Smile Care, we don’t just bring back your smile, we bring back your confidence.

With dental implants, you can get your teeth back regardless of whether you have a single tooth or multiple teeth missing.

£128

DENTAL IMPLANTS FROM Tel: 01254 297000

*

*PER MONTH

LOW RATE FINANCE AVAILABLE ON OVER £2500 Find us on facebook

109A Preston New Rd | Blackburn | BB2 6BJ

Follow us on twitter

www.apsmilecare.co.uk

@apsmilecare

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‘It’s time to look after yourself’ East Lancashire Breast Screening Service

You’ve looked after them all their lives.

Now it’s time to look after you. Take time-be screened All women aged 50 & over are entitled to regular breast screening every 3 years.

The NHS breast screening programme saves 1400 lives every year in the UK. Don’t forget there’s only one of you!

Take time to look after yourself by:4

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1. Take part in regular cancer screening programmes

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3. Eat a healthy, balanced diet 4. Cut back on alcohol 5. Enjoy the sun safely 6. Keep active, by taking regular exercise 7. Don’t smoke 44

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2. Keep a healthy bodyweight

Signs and Symptoms of:

Breast cancer Breast symptoms to look out for: •

•

•

•

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A new lump or thickening in your breast or armpit Change in size, shape or feel of your breast Skin changes in the breast such as puckering, dimpling, a rash or redness of the skin Fluid leaking from the nipple in a woman who isn’t pregnant or breast feeding Changes in the position of nipple Breast pain

Bowel Cancer

Cervical cancer

Possible symptoms of bowel cancer The symptoms of bowel (colorectal) cancer in men and women can include: • bleeding from the back passage (rectum) or blood in your poo • a change in your normal bowel habit, such as looser poo, pooing more often or constipation • a lump that your doctor can feel in your back passage or tummy (abdomen), more commonly on the right side • a feeling of needing to strain in your back passage (as if you need to poo), even after opening your bowels • losing weight • pain in your abdomen or back passage • tiredness and breathlessness caused by a lower than normal level of red blood cells (anaemia)

Symptoms The most common symptoms of cervical cancer include: • unusual vaginal bleeding •

pain or discomfort during sex

•

vaginal discharge

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pain in the area between the hip bones (pelvis)

There are many other conditions that cause these symptoms. Most of them are much more common than cervical cancer.

You should see your doctor straight away if you have any of these symptoms. You probably don’t have cancer. But if you do, the sooner you are treated, the more likely you are to be cured and usually will need less treatment.

Screening aims to find cancers early when they have the best chance of being cured.

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We’ll get you smiling ...

THE IMPORTANCE OF DENTURES The 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 DENTURES There are four main quality standards in denture materials.

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

Standard Quality High Impact Acrylics (much stronger)

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Injection Pressure Formed (Premium Denture Base) Flexible (Partial Dentures) Metal Denture

THE DENTURE TEETH l 2 Layer Acrylic (economy) l 3 Layer Acrylic (harder wearing) l 4 Layer Reinforced (hard wearing, natural look) l N.F.C. (Nano filled composite) premium teeth.

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

DENTURES NEED REGULAR SERVICING Dentures 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 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 ATTENTION 1. 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).

5. When you develop deep lines around your mouth.

HEALTH

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 TEETH Teeth excessively worn, require a new set of dentures.

DENTURES ON IMPLANTS This 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.

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50 PLUS MAGAZINE

position they were in originally. We have a few indications but mostly we have to rely on our visual and artistic judgement.

MAJOR IMPROVEMENTS IN FACIAL FEATURES Padding 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 OF DENTURES MADE? Yes, it is very important to have a spare set of dentures for emergencies in case of breakage.

NO SPARE SET? “Denture in a day” Lost or misplaced your dentures? With planning, we can provide you with a new set in 24 hours!

DIFFICULTIES IN CONSTRUCTING A GOOD SET OF DENTURES Constructing 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

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.

Are your Dentures old, worn out or loose?

Or do you just want a new smile?

For a FREE consultation contact: ARTISAN SMILES

At Albert Road Denture Centre 71 Albert Road, Colne, BB8 OBP

01282 862823 New Dentures l Repairs l Relines l Copy Dentures l Mouth Guards l

Appointments by arrangement

Monday to Thursday, 9am - 5pm Friday, 9am - 1pm l

PROFESSIONAL

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The best products, the best workmanship, the best service at the best prices around!!!

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CONSERVATORY TOO COOL IN WINTER AND TOO WARM IN SUMMER?

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