Merseyside, Southport & Ormskirk issue 64

When it comes to inviting, relaxing breaks, we have the ideal holiday for you...

Whether you’re looking for a romantic break for two, a family holiday or getting away with friends, Daish’s Holidays offers 12 hotels in 10 of the most popular UK destinations. Our fleet of 35 luxury coaches provide return travel in comfort and style from your pick up point and will take you directly to your hotel, aiming to arrive between 3 – 5pm.

If you’d like to get out and about to explore the local area on your holiday, then all of our breaks can also be booked on a self-drive basis so you’ve got the freedom of having your own car.

Trip Advisor’s Travellers’ Choice

We are proud to announce that six of our group – County, Devonshire, Abbey Lawn, Bournemouth Sands, Daish’s, Imperial – have been awarded the coveted TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice award for 2023.

Local pick up points from make it easy to get away. Price includes return coach travel from: MS2: Burscough, Ormskirk, St Helens, Widnes, Runcorn, Northwich, Middlewich, Sandbach Services. WW: Leyland, Chorley, Coppull, Standish, Wigan, Ashton in Makerfield, Newton le Willows, Warrington, Lymm Services.

(see brochure or website for T&C’s).

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TWITTERING ON

By

Angela

Kelly

- because x’ing on doesn’t

sound quite the same

Debate over weighing air passengers and luggage

I SUPPOSE it had to happen eventually but now one airline is weighing passengers as well as their carry-on luggage.

Finnish carrier Finnair, which runs budget flights between Finland and the UK, wants to better estimate the plane’s weight before takeoff.

Apparently, airlines work out the weight of the plane, its interior and passengers to balance the flight and make the journey safer. They may use average weights provided by aviation authorities or collect data themselves.

The weigh-ins are voluntary and they’re not the first airline to do this. Last year, Korea’s largest airline, Korean Air, said it was planning to weigh passengers on international flights for a short time.

This was to reduce wasted fuel and for that more accurate overall weight estimateto, which must be a difficult “sum” to get right.

Not long before Korean Air’s move, EasyJet asked 19 passengers on a flight from Lanzarote to Liverpool to get off the plane because they said it was “too heavy to take off.”

The whole subject of the weight of both passengers and their luggage has sparked an outcry and I don’t know why we’re so surprised.

Not only are there plenty of overweight people around but the increasing cost of hold luggage – and the reduction of what weight airlines allow in a suitcase – has prompted some people to now cram items into carry-on luggage.

You’ve only got to look at what the overhead lockers are holding on the average flight to see where passengers have packed in the most possessions. Just trying to find a space for your own, probably quite modest, bag or backpack can be almost impossible.

The whole subject of passengers and weight is a regular minefield. In 2017, a poll by jetcost.co.uk showed almost 90 per cent of Britons

questioned believed that overweight passengers should pay more to fly.

And nearly 80 per cent said they thought “plus-sized zones” should be introduced on flights.

While there are currently no limits for larger passengers flying on commercial American flights there are some requirements. They must be able to sit with both armrests down, be able to buckle their seatbelts and they don’t block the aisle.

If they can’t comply, they may be asked to pay for a second seat on the flight, unless there are two empty seats together somewhere on the plane.

Either way, now that the subject of weight generally on planes has been broached, it won’t just go away.

House too chavvy? Just not your choice

YOU lay your lifestyle on the line when you put your home on the market these days.

Photos of your currently decorated rooms and décor choices are there for all to see and pick over. And, believe you me, people do like to criticise the decorating style of others.

Take the case of poor Henry Reilly, for example, He is trying to sell a three bedroomed, semi-detached house in Prescot on Merseyside but has found himself caught in an online trolling storm.

Chanel logo rug, black velvet chairs and glitterball-style vase with gold pink roses is “chavvy” and are highly critical of his general style tastes.

OK, it’s not everyone’s cup of tea but it seems to me quite snooty to take this high moral tone over what is actually just one man’s choice of the décor he wants to live with.

His neighbours say Henry and his wife are a “lovely couple” and that it’s up to them what they do with the house they live in. As one pointed out: who is anyone to tell someone else how to decorate their home?

The reality is that most people when they move into a new home change the style anyway. You may have just painted the hall, stairs and landing, put in a new kitchen or newly tiled the bathroom before putting it up for sale but if it’s not to the new buyer’s taste, it’s all change.

To unleash a storm of criticism on a homeowner who has simply surrounded himself with the style he enjoys strikes me as rude and snobby.

Few us share the same sense of homestyle and one man’s favourite is another man’s no-go area. We’re individuals and it really doesn’t matter.

Ever been wellied or squiffed?

HOW do you describe yourself when you’ve had one drink too many?

Wasted? Out of it or just plain drunk?

Well, linguistic researchers have discovered that virtually any noun can be transformed into a “drunkonym” – a synonym for intoxicated – simply by adding “ed” at the end.

In fact, they found 546 words that can mean drunk including “trolleyed”, “hammered,” “wellied” and “steampigged.” Then there is “gazeboed”, “carparked” or simply “cabbaged.”

This confirms a suggestion by comedian Michael McIntyre that Britons could understand any word meaning drunk if it is preceded by “I got completely ……”

Researcher Professor Christina Sanchez-Stockhammer of Chemnitz University in Germany believes that this could be down to Britain’s deeply-rooted culture of social drinking and its absurdist Monty Python-style humour.

She also pointed out other types of playful language around being drunk including Cockney rhyming slang like the drunkonyms “Brahms” and “Schindler’s” – short for “Brahms and Liszt” both of which rhyme with pi**ed.

Britain’s favourite drunkonyms, however, also include bladdered, langered, legless, mashed, mullered, pickled, trashed, bevvied, fuddled, hammered, paralytic, ossified, sozzled, well-oiled, leathered, spannered and squiffed.

But perhaps you’ve got you’ve got your own favourites!

Olivia is a star!

Olivia Hughes is studying for a degree while opening her own restaurant in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland.

Personally, I think a round of applause and huge envy for her energy and commitment are due but, apparently, some customers look down on her and older staff don’t respect her because of her age. Ignore all this, Olivia. You’re doing a great job, are a terrific role model for other youngsters - and I bet your parents are as proud as punch.

or email: help@aamail.org

Established in 2016 we offer fantastic holidays in the UK and across Europe. With fabulous excursions, quality hotel accommodation, executive coaches and top class tour drivers, a trip with AVA Travel is one to remember! We also have a huge selection of UK day trips to suit every traveller. AVA are committed to making the whole process of taking a holiday with us as easy and pain free as possible.

OVER 200 HOLIDAYS AND SHORT BREAKS TO CHOOSE FROM!

VISIT OUR WEBSITE OR CALL OUR FRIENDLY TEAM TO ORDER YOUR FREE BROCHURE TODAY!

HOME PICK UP & DROP OFF INCLUDED ON ALL OUR HOLIDAYS*

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WARNERS NIDD HALL, YORKSHIRE

Join us as we head to Nidd Hall on the outskirts of Harrogate!

Tour Details:

Enjoy the fabulous facilities of our Warner Leisure Hotel, which include indoor pool sauna & steam. Also Includes half day tour to Harrogate for free time and a full day tour of the historic walled city of York.

Our Journey home includes a stop in Skipton and a cruise on the Leeds and Liverpool Canal.

Book Now:

Don't miss this fantastic break, call the team on 01772 622222 for more details or to book your

Cork Coast and the Ring of Kerry has it all! This breathtaking area is filled with the tallest mountains in the country, rolling green hills, sparkling lakes, sandy beaches and jaw-dropping cliffs.

Enjoy exploring Cork, visit Bantry House & Gardens, and a boat trip to Garish Island to see its colony of Seals. Visit Kenmare’s Derreen Gardens, and enjoy a scenic journey around the Ring of Kerry with wonderful stops and photo opportunities along the way!

Book Now: 01772 622222

Join us and make wonderful memories as we head north to Scotland! This Ava Travel customer favourite is the ultimate island-hopping experience covering the islands of Skye, North Uist, Banbecula, Sout Uist and Barra.

Tour Details: A fantastic tour that is set to make you fall in love with the stunning views to be found in the Hebrides. With lots to explore there is plenty for everybody!

Book Now: Call the team on 01772 622222

Join us as we head to Brugge for our Christmas Market tour. Explore the picturesque, chocolate-box city from our 4* luxury boutique hotel just a short walk from the centre.

Tour Details:

Get into the festive spirit with this fantastic tour. Enjoy some Christmas shopping, take in the festive sights & sounds or take a horse-drawn carriage ride. Be sure to visit De Witte Pelikkan, the magical all year round Christmas Shop

Book Now: Don't miss this fantastic break, call the team on 01772 622222

Eternal Rome

The

Eternal

City is a treasure trove of

world-famous sights

that are easy to explore

It’s called the Eternal City for good reason. For some two thousand years, Rome has remained one of the richest and most unique cultural centres in the world. Here you can immerse yourself in layers of history and be thrilled by the captivating cornucopia of sights each has left behind. But there are some highlights you really shouldn’t miss and happily, most are within walking distance of each other.

The treasures of ancient Rome

The beating heart of ancient Rome was the Roman Forum. As the social, political and religious centre of Rome, it was where everything happened. Here you’ll find the remains of Rome’s Curia - or Senate House, monumental temples, the House of the famed Vestal Virgins, its great basilicas - or meeting halls - and the spot where Julius Caesar was cremated. A short walk up the hill will take you to the Palatine, one of the seven hills of Rome, which the aristocrats and emperors made their home. In this peaceful leafy area, you’ll find the ruins of the houses

of the emperor Augustus and his wife Livia and later emperors.

One of the great icons of Rome, the monumental Colosseum, lies close by. It began life in 80 AD, with an orgy of violent contests between gladiators and animals which lasted 100 days. But despite its dramatic and bloody past, the vastness and symmetry of the building remain mesmerising. Nearby, the huge green space of the Circus Maximus - now deceptively quiet - is where the chariot races were held which also thrilled the crowds.

One of the greatest relics of ancient Rome is also its best preserved. The Pantheon was built as a temple in the 1st century BC, by the statesman and general Marcus Agrippa. Rebuilt by the emperor Hadrian in the first century AD, it became a church in 609. With its soaring dome and exquisite marble floors, it’s an awe-inspiring marvel of architecture and rightly draws crowds in large numbers.

Colosseum

The glories of the Renaissance

Rome was at the centre of the tremendous flowering of intellectual and artistic activity we know as the Renaissance and some of the greatest geniuses of the time made Rome their home. The popes were tremendous collectors and patrons of the arts so it’s little wonder that many of the most astonishing treasures of the times lie in the Vatican City. The Vatican Museums contain one of the world’s greatest art collections and are so vast that you may want to plan your visit. The great highlights however, remain the four rooms painted by Raphael and the Sistine Chapel, Michelangelo’s stupendous masterpiece.

Built over the tomb of the disciple and martyr, St Peter’s was designed by Bramante and begun in 1503 on the orders of the indomitable Pope Julius II. This colossal basilica is one of the world’s great hubs of Christianity and is where you’ll find the Pieta, the magnificent sculptural ensemble Michelangelo created in 1499 at 24 and the only work he ever signed.

Strolling about

Some of the most arresting sights of Rome are its great outdoor spaces which are all the more romantic at night. The Piazza Navona is one of Rome’s most strikingly beautiful squares with its gorgeous Baroque fountains by Bernini. For centuries, the Piazza di Spagna has been a favourite meeting spot for locals and visitors. Keats-Shelley House lies at the bottom of the Spanish Steps, which are often decked with flowers and sweep up from the Piazza to the Church of the Trinita dei Monti.

At the end of the Corso, where you can shop to your heart’s content, lies the spacious Piazza del Popolo, which revolves around

HIGH-QUALITY

the Egyptian obelisk the emperor Augustus brought from Egypt and is flanked by elegant lookalike churches built in the 17th century. From here you can make your way to the Villa Borghese Gardens, a green oasis where the Galleria Borghese, a noted collection of art, stands.

Today, if you want to throw a coin in the Trevi Fountain, you’ll have to fight your way through the crowds. But if you haven’t visited before this fountain, presided over by the mighty Neptune, is a must-see. And the coin ensures that you’ll return to Rome so just to be sure, you might want to toss one in.

Next steps

Silver Travel Advisor can plan and book your short break in Rome, or alternatively a tour of Italy that includes this marvellous city. Call 0800 412 5678 to discuss your options.

Piazza Navona

Belong Wigan | Millers Lane, Platt Bridge,

When it comes to inviting, relaxing breaks, we have the ideal holiday for you...

Whether you’re looking for a romantic break for two, a family holiday or getting away with friends, Daish’s Holidays offers 12 hotels in 10 of the most popular UK destinations. Our fleet of 35 luxury coaches provide return travel in comfort and style from your pick up point and will take you directly to your hotel, aiming to arrive between 3 – 5pm.

If you’d like to get out and about to explore the local area on your holiday, then all of our breaks can also be booked on a self-drive basis so you’ve got the freedom of having your own car.

Trip Advisor’s Travellers’ Choice

We are proud to announce that six of our group – County, Devonshire, Abbey Lawn, Bournemouth Sands, Daish’s, Imperial – have been awarded the coveted TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice award for 2023.

MS1: Southport, Ainsdale, Formby, Crosby, Bootle, South Liverpool, Allerton, Woolton, Hunts Cross, Lymm Services.

MS2: Burscough, Ormskirk, St Helens, Widnes, Runcorn, Northwich, Middlewich, Sandbach Services. All

and

and conditions (see brochure or website for T&C’s).

HUGH GRANT star of choice

IN the 1990s and 2000s if ever a handsome but vulnerable lead man was needed in casting a potential hit romantic comedy the call went out: get Hugh Grant.

He really was the star of choice for some of the best British and American-made films of that era.

All of which is no surprise when you consider that the likeable, archetypal upper-crust Englishman has had a very special relationship with the public since he first burst onto the scene in 1994 with Four Weddings and a Funeral.

fact, it’s hard to believe that the perennially youthful Grant is 64 this year and has developed into an actor who has embraced challenging, non-romantic roles with such panache.

Hugh John Mungo Grant was born into a distinguished military family. His father was Captain James Murray Grant and his grandfather Colonel James Murray Grant DSO was decorated for bravery and leadership during World War 2.

He went to an independent prep school in Notting Hill and gained a scholarship to Latymer Upper School, where he played on the school’s first XV in rugby and cricket.

In 1979, he won the Galsworthy scholarship to New College, Oxford, where he studied English literature. At the time, he viewed acting as nothing more than a creative outlet, joining the Oxford University Dramatic Society.

He made his screen debut in the Oxford University Film Foundation sponsored film Privileged but then took up a variety of jobs including working as an assistant groundsman at Fulham Football Club, tutoring and writing comedy sketches for TV shows.

He was approached by a talent agent but needed to gain his Equity card by acting in regional theatre first. So he joined the Nottingham Playhouse and had small roles in various productions including Lady Windermere’s Fan, Hamlet and Coriolanus.

He created a sketch comedy group called The Jockeys of Norfolk with friends Chris Lang and Andy Taylor which toured London’s pub comedy circuit.

After a sketch on the Nativity as an Ealing comedy at the Edinburgh Festival Fring, they were invited on to Russell Harty’s BBC2 TV show.

With increased profile, Grant played in An Inspector Calls at Manchester’s Royal Exchange Theatre to positive reviews. Minor roles in TV productions followed but his first leading film role came in Merchant-Ivory’s Edwardian drama Maurice in 1987.

He and co-star James Wilby shared the Volpi Cup for Best Actor at the Venice Film Festival – the first of many accolades.

Grant had both TV and film work during the late ‘80s and early ‘90s and in 1993 had a supporting role in the Merchant-Ivory hit film drama The Remains of the Day.

At the age of 32 in 1994 - and just as he was on the verge of giving up acting - he was sent the script of Four Weddings and a Funeral. He loved it and accepted the lead role of Charlie, kickstarting his romantic onscreen reputation.

The floppy hair and the charming smile dazzled cinema-going audiences; Grant’s future appeared set. This hugely successful and high-grossing British film did have its downside, though.

Hugh Grant at the New York Premiere of Notting Hill, 13th May 1999

As he said later: “Although I owe whatever success I’ve had to Four Weddings and a Funeral, it did become frustrating after a bit that people made two assumptions.

“One was that I was that character – when in fact nothing could be further from the truth, as I’m sure Richard (Curtis the film’s writer) would tell you.

“The other frustrating thing was that they thought that’s all I could do. I suppose because those films happened to be successful noone, perhaps understandably, bothered to rent all the other films I’d done.”

After a couple of less impressive films - The Englishman Who Went Up A Hill But Came Down a Mountain and Nine Months – what became classic Grant arrived via the much-acclaimed 1995 adaptation of Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility as Emma Thompson’s suitor.

After a three-year break, when he successfully made his debut as a film producer in the 1996 thriller Extreme Measures, he was back to box-office winning ways with Notting Hill opposite Julia Roberts.

This funny and heartwarming story about a travel bookshop owner and a Hollywood superstar featured another sharply funny Richard Curtis script and proved an immediate and enduring hit.

His next role that year, in Mickey Blue Eyes, didn’t capture the public’s imagination in the same way but in 2001 he was back on hit form as bad boy Daniel Cleaver in Bridget Jones’s Diary.

He was also a womanizer the following year in the film adaptation of Nick Hornby’s best-selling novel About a Boy, at 41, a more complex and interesting character. This role earned Grant his third Golden Globe nomination while the London Film Critics Circle named him Best British Actor.

He went back to romantic comedy in 2002 with Two Weeks Notice opposite Sandra Bullock in a blockbuster that made $199 million internationally but brought poor reviews.

It was the 2003 comedy Love Actually, featuring Grant as the British Prime Minister, that made fans fall in love with him all over again.

In 2004, he reprised his role as Daniel Cleaver in Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason, but by now he was starting to move into darker areas and in 2006 starred in the black comedy American Dreamz.

In 2007, he starred opposite Drew Barrymore in pop culture parody Music and Lyrics and brought his sense of fun in 2015 to Guy Ritchie’s crime thriller The Man From U.N.C.L.E.

He won over both critics and audiences once more, however, in 2016 playing opposite Meryl Streep in Florence Foster Jenkins.

He was an enjoyable villain in Paddington 2 but then surprised many with his believable performance in 2018 as disgraced politician Jeremy Thorpe for TV miniseries A Very English Scandal.

Since then, he has played several roles against his original type, both in the UK and the US and last year, proving he is always up for a challenge, turned up as an Oompa-Loompa in Wonka!

Anyone dismissing him as a one-trick pony during the romantic comedy years has had to revise opinions and acknowledge his skills. Now, his many fans eagerly await what Hugh Grant does next.

Hugh Grant & Sandra Bullock at the Premiere of Two Weeks Notice

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SPRING CLEAN YOUR LIFESTYLE

SPRING is a time of new beginnings for Nature and a time of Spring-cleaning and a new assessment of your home and lifestyle.

And if there’s one thing we’ve learned over the last couple of years thanks to lockdown, it’s focusing on what is important to us in life and trying to achieve it.

Even given tough financial times, lifestyles can easily change for the better for many people. The emphasis on work/life balance, budgeting to concentrate on the importance of basic vital elements and making life choices that enhance our lives are all welcome.

Contemporary homes reflect this more and more so Spring is a good time to decide how you want to improve your life and daily living – and take action.

ENERGY consumption is top of everyone’s budgeting list today so perhaps it’s time for realistic advice from your local heating engineer about making the most of your energy supply.

There are many different schools of thought on the best way to heat your home so getting plenty of individual information about your property’s needs is best.

For example, solar panels (with a storage battery) have come into their own now, with many people making use of the stored energy via electric cars in joined-up thinking that makes sense.

One mantra is insulation: ensure your loft is fully insulated. You may be able to get free insulation or support. For more information go to https://www.gov.uk/apply-great-britishinsulation-scheme

There are also simple ploys around the house. For example, ensure back and front DOORS fit properly and don’t lose valuable heat in cold weather.

The same for windows, especially if they’re double-glazed. Check that they all fit properly and don’t let in a draught. If they do, it’s worth considering replacing what you can afford to.

Lined CURTAINS can help your heating work better and feel cosier all year round. Many people are now going for a blinds/

curtains combination that looks attractive on windows and helps with better insulation.

Move furniture away from heat sources. This sounds like a no-brainer but a couch or a bed left in front or very near a radiator or other heat source can just block warm air from circulating around the room.

RECYCLING matters far more to people now that we are all trying to take a more responsible stance on the planet’s resources. The UK produces 26 million tonnes of waste a year but recycling doesn’t just mean separating your rubbish and wasting less food.

It also means not necessarily buying new items like clothes, furniture and electrical goods. We lower our environmental impact if we buy second-hand and the first three places worth looking at are local businesses, online marketplaces and charity shops.

For the last, check out your local area but if you want to save time, download the app from the Charity Retail Association. This is the UK trade association for charity shops and you can find out more about them at https://www.charityretail.org.uk/

Flea markets and car boot sales are also ideal for searching out those bargains and there are plenty of online marketplaces like Gumtree, eBay and Facebook Marketplace. For books try World of Books or Oxfam and for clothes download the Vinted and Depop apps.

Look for FURNITURE bargains and support local charities at the same time. The British Heart Foundation https://www.bhf.org. uk and homeless charity Emmaus https://emmaus.org.uk offer cheaper second-hand and often new furniture so find out your nearest centre and have a look.

You can also sell pre-loved items on Vinted, eBay, Gumtree and many other online marketplaces to create a valuable side-hustle and keep those useful items circulating. In fact, it’s called the Circular Economy.

Repair your own GADGETS to save money and prevent them having to go to landfill. The Repair Café, an international movement, is particularly interesting here as experts and others offer to help you repair items free. Look out for one in your local area or visit the website https://repaircafe. org.en

Is your home helping your WELLBEING? Is the ventilation good, promoting air quality flow throughout?

HOME | 50 PLUS MAGAZINE

Of course, downsizing can’t be achieved without a realistic look at your home possessions and this can feel daunting. Experts suggest doing small amounts of sifting and sorting on a daily basis well in advance of your moving date – rather than exhaust yourself by doing one room all in one go.

It’s an old but true adage that fresh air is good for you, even while we keep in valuable heat during the colder months. Looking forward to the months when we can open doors and windows to get more air circulating, though, it’s worth checking that useful flow through.

Some of the larger charities also run free collection services for donated furniture. Try local branches of the British Heart Foundation www.bhf.org.uk or homeless charity Emmaus at emmaus.org.uk

Can you turn a ROOM into somewhere you can enjoy a pleasing hobby like sewing, model-making or even into a small gym? Having the facility for home-workouts can save you money and help all those other New Year resolutions about health and fitness.

Ask yourself “Do I use it, love it or need it?” about every home item and if the answer is “no” then consider saying goodbye to it. For example, if you’ve not worn any item of clothing for more than a year, you probably don’t need it.

offer a healthier lifestyle, too. Again, go on a personal recommendation and see what a local builder has done already before you commit to a project.

Take a hard look at your new planned lifestyle and see what you really need dayto-day. If you’ve no garden or grassy lawn, you won’t need that lawnmower.

We all need good, relaxing deep sleep but your BED or BEDROOM may be sabotaging this. Sleep experts say we should change our beds every eight years for healthy living.

Make your bedroom as relaxing as possible to aid the right kind of sleep. Blackout curtains filter out light and restful décor in neutral shades like beige and lavender all help; add a dimmer switch to your lights to enhance these pleasing tones.

If you have children, ask them what items they would like to have as keepsakes from the items you don’t need to take with you. Let them understand that, although you cherish the artwork they did as five yearolds, you can only take one or two items and perhaps they might like to keep the rest to show their children.

Generally, DECLUTTER your home to promote that positive feeling of wellbeing and order. Go through boxes of possessions and see what is worth keeping, recycling or giving to charity.

And you’ll be shocked at the amount of paperwork you’ve retained over the years but be brutal – keep what’s important and ditch the rest.

This need not cost a fortune, either. If you need structural changes, get a good local BUILDER on referral and check out their work beforehand.

Make separate piles of Keep, Dump, Recycle and Give Away and try to be sensible. Giving away means a bumper day for local charity shops so people will be able to bag a bargain from your items and the charity benefits from much-needed cash.

Do you need extra space? Having a CONSERVATORY or ORANGERIE not only adds more room to your home but can

Smaller windows in a new home won’t need large, heavy drapes so downsizing may provide the opportunity to buy the latest lightweight curtains or blinds. The same applies to the newest types of flooring – all of which may help with that important energy-saving.

Clear entrances like hallways and the upstairs landing to promote a feeling of space throughout and take an objective look at your living areas.

You’ve got a new life to lead!

For more information go to Age UK at ageuk.org.uk and Which? at which. co.uk

Is your living room overcrowded with unnecessary furniture? Do you need some pleasing pictures to enhance walls or how about a grouping of photographs of loved ones?

Whatever enhances your enjoyment of life is worth trying now in your home.

The Atkinson

The Atkinson presents an exciting variety of live music, comedy, theatre, art, history, and literature from their beautiful Grade II listed venue. This busy arts centre provides a fun, creative and varied day out. They really do have something for everyone.

The traditional Theatre and dynamic Studio space present an outstanding programme of music, comedy and performing arts. Every seat in the auditorium has a great view of the stage and accessible seating is available. You can visit the Box Office or check The Atkinson’s website to find out what’s on, there is first-class entertainment all year round.

Between Land & Sea

handful of wealthy Victorian ladies in the North West who were fascinated by ancient Egypt, and The Atkinson are lucky to have her collection to show you.

Highlights this summer include a hilarious evening with ‘master of one-liners’ Mark Simmons (20 Jun), a relaxing afternoon of Cake & Classical Music (8 Jul), a production of Jane Austen’s Pride & Prejudice (1 Aug) and the UK’s No.1 vocal harmony group G4 (25 Sep).

Be inspired in the Art Gallery and discover an impressive variety of work including paintings, sculpture, digital art and more. Five galleries feature work from The Atkinson’s own art collection, local artists and exhibitions delivered in partnership with other cultural organisations.

The stunning Egyptology Museum takes visitors on a journey through ancient Egypt, showcasing Anne Goodison’s personal artefacts in an interactive display. Mrs Goodison was one of a

The Local History Museum, Between Land & Sea, tells the story of Sefton from prehistoric times to the present day. Bring objects to life by scanning QR codes with your phone, send a digital postcard from Sunny Southport and take a selfie in a historic costume from our dressing up wall.

The Atkinson is home to Southport Library who offer a range of services to the local community and visitors alike. Oh, and did we mention there is an award-winning Café and a fabulous Gift Shop too?...

The building itself is fully accessible, with lifts to access all areas. There are toilets on all floors, baby changing facilities on the ground floor as well as full adult Changing Places facility on the first floor.

We hope you enjoy discovering all The Atkinson has to offer. Jane Austen’s Pride & Prejudice - 1st August

G4 - 25th September

Summer Exhibitions

The Ties That Bind

25 May 2024 – 15 March 2025

Family life, working relationships, love stories and close-knit communities. This exhibition examines how artists have taken inspiration from our personal and communal bonds.

Image: A Christening Party, François Antoine de Bruycker (1816–1882). Atkinson Art Gallery Collection.

Edwardian Impressionists: Philip Connard’s contemporaries

1 June – 30 November 2024

Connard worked alongside some of the greatest artists of his generation, many of them leading British Impressionists who opposed the artistic establishment at the turn of the nineteenth century.

Image: Theatre of Young Artists, Dieppe, France, Walter Richard Sickert (1860–1942). Atkinson Art Gallery Collection.

Box office: theatkinson.co.uk

01704 533 333

(Booking fees apply)

The Atkinson Lord Street Southport PR8 1DB

Eternal Summer: Paintings by Philip Connard

1 June – 30 November 2024

From an unpromising start as a Southport painter and decorator, Philip Connard rose to prominence as a successful Impressionist artist and a Royal Academician.

Image: Suffolk Pastoral, Philip Connard (1875-1958). Atkinson Art Gallery Collection.

Bill Tidy: “Is there any news of the iceberg?”

8 June – 5 October 2024

The late cartoonist, TV personality and author lived for many happy years in Southport. This exhibition pays tribute to the comic genius who gave us The Cloggies and The Fosdyke Saga.

Image: Is there any news of the iceberg?, Bill Tidy MBE (1933 – 2023).

What Sort of Garden will you grow?

The snowdrops are showing, the hellebores are in bloom, and the camellia buds are turning pink. It’s definitely time to start planning your garden for the year ahead.

What do you want from your garden? Do you love your herbaceous border, or would you rather while away the afternoon with a good book. Do you use your garden for weekend barbecues, or do you prefer raising plants from seed in your greenhouse. In other words, are you looking for a labour saving garden, or are you a plantsman, nurturing seedlings and happy to spend hours weeding and staking.

The garden as an outdoor room

If you want an attractive garden where you can sit in the sun and eat outdoors as often as possible, then it makes sense to go for a sweep of lawn, and plenty of paved area. You’ll want to cut down on the bedding plants and herbaceous borders, and go for something which needs as little maintenance as possible.

The

patio

Make sure there’s enough room to take table and chairs, recliners and barbecue gear. A well laid patio is labour saving, needs nothing more than the occasional brush over, and you can walk on it at any time of year. York stone, brick, or textured concrete slabs which weather and look like natural stone are all useful options, or you could go for decking, which is relatively easy to put down. For winter, to add greenery, box or bay in pots look good, trimmed into pyramids or balls, and for summer, bring in blocks of colour with pots of geraniums or fuchsias. If you want to move these around, you can buy useful little stands on wheels, so that even the heaviest pots can be moved at will.

Plantings

Go for shrubs and perennials, with blocks of colour on the patio provided with pots of geraniums, fuchsias and begonias. Shrubs such as Mahonia and Skimmia will form a pleasant backdrop, and can be allowed to grow without looking neglected. They also have the added bonus of flowers and berries. For a touch of colour, try the yellow leafed variety of Choisya Ternata, which gives the impression of sun on its leaves, even when it’s raining. Try Cistus, with its glossy, evergreen foliage and vivid flowers or Hebes, which can be found in most nurseries. This is also evergreen, with flowers ranging in colour from white to deepest red.If you spread a good thick mulch around these shrubs, the moisture is kept in the soil, and the weeds are kept down. In front of the shrubs, use ground cover plants. Sedums are good, with pale green foliage and flowers which resemble pink broccoli heads. Butterflies and bees love them, and even when the flowers dry out, the seed heads remain attractive. Bergenias are another good ground cover, with huge, polished leaves and luxurious stems of pink flowers in January.

For the keen gardener

A garden design for the gardening fanatic would be quite different. Of course, you still want to sit out in it occasionally, but with the true gardener, the real pleasure comes from working in the garden. You need a sunny spot for a greenhouse; you’ll want wide flower beds for herbaceous borders, and plenty of trellis work for roses and clematis. You’ll probably want a water feature as well, to encourage wild life.

The Water Feature

These have moved on since the days of concrete fountains set in a pond filled with black vinyl. Some of the most attractive I’ve seen recently include blocks of natural stone, bored through to take a water pipe, which is flush with the stone. More natural stones form the base, so the effect is of water flowing through outcrops of rock. The constant splashing of water will attract birds and the surrounding damp area will encourage frogs.

The plantings

Most keen gardeners love their herbaceous borders, and it’s useful to have a good, sturdy trellis as a backdrop, to provide support for roses and clematis. For the midsummer garden, remember last summer, when many areas of the country were on hose pipe bans, and go for plants which can more easily tolerate drought conditions. Lavender, helianthemums, valerian, and acanthus all provide attractive foliage and colour, and the wonderful spherical flower heads of alliums provide a striking accent in mid border. Another plant which is gaining in popularity is the lily, and Lilium Regale, with its pink buds opening to purest white, is one of the easiest to grow, with the added bonus of delicious scent, especially in the late afternoon and evening.

Saving water

We’re told that this summer will be as hot as last year, so remember to check out available water butts. There is now a wider variety of shapes and sizes, and even if you can’t

accommodate a full size one, there are smaller ones available which could provide you with rain water if hose pipes are banned again.

Climbing plants

All gardens need climbing plants, and clematis figure very large in this category. There are now so many varieties of clematis available, that you could have one flowering at almost any time of year. Try the bright yellow clematis tangutica, which flowers well into the autumn, then shows off its silvery white seeds heads, and for early spring, the blue clematis alpina is very frost resistant. No garden would be complete without climbing roses. Some of these will flower all summer, and some have just one spectacular blooming period, so it’s as well to check on this when you buy, and if you feel that a rose is not a rose unless it’s scented, then make sure to check on that as well. Other climbing plants, which involve more attention as they’re grown from seed, are sweet peas and Black Eyed Susan. Last year, I grew my sweet peas in a large pot within a black obelisk framework. It worked well, looked good and because they were in a pot, I could keep the plants well watered. I was rewarded with plenty of sweet smelling flowers for the house, and a feeling of achievement that a bunch of perfect, scented blooms can bring.

All gardens are as individual as their owners, so whether you’re a lazy gardener, or a full time, hands on plantsman, start planning now, to make the most of the summer.

Check list to prepare for a long hot summer Water butt. Mulch. Trellis. Greenhouse shading. Flower pots. Seeds and seed trays. Potting up tray. Potting compost.

Starters

Homemade Soup

Soup of the day with homemade bread

Garlic Bread

Garlic Bread With Tomato

Polpette Piccanti

Spicy beef meatballs in a tasty tomato and garlic sauce with a hint of chilli

Sigara Böregi (Turkish Cheese Rolls) (V)

Feta cheese and parsley in a crispy flaky dough

Garlic Mushrooms (V)

Mushrooms cooked in garlic butter and white wine cream

Lambs Livers

Delicate lambs livers, sautéed in onion, garlic and Worcestershire sauce

Fried Calamari

Rings of crispy calamari served with garlic mayo sauce

Sujuk

Turkish spiced beef sausage served with tzatziki

Main Course

Chicken Sizzler

Marinated chicken breast cooked with mixed peppers, onion, and fajita spices. Served on a sizzling platter with rice

Spaghetti Bolognese

Special recipe minced beef cooked in tomato and garlic sauce

Chicken Wings

Succulent chicken wings marinated in Anatolian spices. Served with rice and salad

Sarma Chicken Beyti

Specially prepared chargrilled minced chicken skewers wrapped up in tortilla bread with mozzarella cheese and topped with garlic butter and tomato sauce. Served with rice

Mediterranean Chicken Skewers

Specially marinated chicken breast on skewers, chargrilled. Served with rice and salad

Vegetarian Halloumi Skewers (V) (GF)

Diced halloumi, mushrooms, onions, peppers and courgette served with salad, skinny fries and sweet chilli dip

Chicken & Lamb Skewers

Specially marinated chicken breast and lamb with rice and salad

Special Melis Chicken Doner

2 Courses £13.95 | 3 Courses £17.95 12pm - 4pm Wraps

Chicken Doner Wrap 4.95

Thin slices of spit roasted chicken, lightly spiced to our own tasty recipe, wrapped with salad

Chicken Skewers Wrap 5.50

Specially marinated chicken breast on skewers, chargrilled, wrapped with salad

Meatball Skewers Wrap 5.50

Lean and tender minced meat blended with Mediterranean herbs, wrapped with salad

Chicken Meatball Wrap 5.50

Minced chicken thigh, blended with Mediterranean herbs, wrapped with salad

Skewered Lamb Wrap 6.95

Succulent cubes of lamb marinated in Mediterranean herbs chargrilled and wrapped with salad Sides

Salad & side

Steak cut chips 3.95

Skinny fries 3.95

Creamy mashed potato 3.95

Greek Salad £4.50

Thin slices of spit roasted chicken, lightly spiced to our own tasty recipe, served with salad and rice

Chicken Meatballs

Minced chicken thigh, blended with Mediterranean herbs. Served with rice and salad

Meatball Skewers

Lean and tender minced meat blended with Mediterranean herbs. Served with rice and salad

Vegetarian Mousakka (V)

Layers of aubergine, potato, courgette, mushrooms, carrot, pepper, garlic and bechamel sauce topped with cheese and baked in the oven. Served with Greek salad

Choice of Pizza

Dessert

Classic Chocolate Fudge Cake

Big Red Velvet Cake

Sticky Toffee Pudding With Toffee Sauce

Selection Of Ice Cream

Taste The Mediterranean

Where we blend flavours, culture, and warmth to create an authentic culinary experience.

At Melis Restaurant & Bar, we bring the Mediterranean to you, mixing flavours, culture, and a welcoming atmosphere for a genuine dining adventure. Our menu highlights the diverse and vibrant tastes of Mediterranean cuisine, offering tempting kebabs, grilled steaks, and fresh seafood. You’ll also find a variety of platters. Accompanying these delights are our specially crafted cocktails. Each visit to Melis is a flavourful exploration along the coastal tastes of the Mediterranean—a true feast for the senses.

Belly Dancer or Fire Show every Friday & Saturday

EASY TAPAS RECIPES

Whipped Feta & Sun Dried Tomato Dip

Method

l Prep: 10 minutes

l Cook: 5 minutes

l Serves 6

Ingredients

150g feta, crumbled

165g tub cream cheese

150g Cooks & Co Sun Dried Tomatoes

100ml double cream

1 Cooks & Co Red & Yellow Peppers (1/2 of each), finely chopped

3 bagels

Whisk the feta, cream cheese and ½ the sun dried tomatoes with 2 tbsp of the tomato oil, whisk in the cream until slightly thickened.

Season and stir in the remaining sun dried tomatoes, chopped and the peppers.

Slice each of the bagels horizontally into 4 circles and place on a large baking tray, grill until golden on both sides.

Sprinkle the sweety drop peppers over the dip and serve with the bagel chips.

25g Cooks & Co Sweety Drop Peppers Cook tip

Also great spooned onto jacket potatoes or toasted bread.

Creamy Porcini Crostini

l Prep: 10 minutes l Cook: 15 minutes

l Makes 12

12 x 2cm slices French bread

2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

50g Cooks & Co Dried Porcini Mushrooms

1 clove garlic, finely chopped

2 Cooks & Co Roasted Red Peppers, thinly sliced

50g cream cheese

2 tbsp chopped chives

Method

Preheat the oven to 200oC, gas mark 6.

Brush the bread slices with 1 tbsp oil, season and place on a large baking tray, bake for 10-15 minutes until golden.

Soak the mushrooms in 300ml boiling water and leave to soak for 10 minutes. Drain, reserving the liquid and roughly chop.

Heat the remaining oil in a large frying pan and fry the garlic for a few seconds, then add the mushrooms and red peppers and cook for 1-2 minutes. Add the cream cheese and 3 tbsp reserved mushroom liquid and bring just to the boil. Stir in half the chives and season.

Spoon over the crostini and sprinkle with the remaining chives to serve.

Easy Grazing Board

l Prep: 5 minutes l Serves 4

50g rocket

280g pack mini mozzarella balls, drained

25g mini bread sticks

3 Cooks & Co Red and Yellow Pepper, sliced 16 small Cooks & Co Sun Dried Tomatoes

16 Cooks & Co Frenk Chillies

50g Cooks & Co Sweety Drop Peppers

Method

Arrange the rocket in a large circle on a large platter. Arrange the remaining ingredients evenly on top and serve.

Cook tip

Great for serving with drinks for Christmas gatherings. Try adding thinly sliced ham rolled into rosettes for a meaty version.

Cook tip Try ciabatta bread or whole slices of toast for a quick lunch.

We’ll get you smiling ...

Many denture wearers suffer with poor fitting, worn out or artificial (false) looking dentures that cause the wearer to feel a lack of confidence in their dentures. This can present itself when chewing or even by just worrying about the denture dropping during a conversation. All these are issues that Dental Arts @ 23 Lord Street specialise in correcting.

WHAT IS A CLINICAL DENTAL TECHNICIAN?

A Clinitcal Dental Technician (CDT) is a qualified dental technician that has under gone further Education and Training in areas such as Medical Emergencies Cross Infection Control and Oral Pathology (cancers and anomalies) to name just a few sections that make up the Diploma in Clinical Dental Technology as Awarded by the Royal Collage of Surgeons (RCS).

It is this qualification that allows the clinicians to be able to be registered and regulated with the General Dental Council (the official body for protecting the public with regards to dentistry) and carry indemnity insurance. It is this qualification, which means that only Dentists and Clinical Dental Technicians are the only Dental Professionals permitted

to supply dentures direct to the public. A dental technician is not qualified to supply a denture directly to the public. However, despite this being an act of Mal practice many technicians will still practice illegally without informing the patient that they are not qualified. If you are unsure if your denture provider is qualified; ask them for their GDC registration number, then contact the GDC to see if they are registered not just as a dental technician but as a CDT.

Over recent years there have been many improvements in both the way we construct dentures and in the materials and denture teeth that we use. This means that the end result looks more natural than ever before. Why not call for a FREE Consultation to find out more about these new innovations in denture design and manufacture?

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.

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 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.

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.

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

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

Dental Arts @ 23 Lord Street can offer all aspects of denture care including;

l Free Consultations

l Denture cleaning and polishing service

l Repair of broken or cracked dentures

l Relining existing dentures to improve fit

l New full dentures

l New partial dentures (following treatment plan from dentist) *

l Sports mouth guards

*Dentist treatment plan can be arranged.

by arrangement Monday to Thursday, 9am - 5pm Friday, 9am - 1pm

STEVE HOWARTH’S TEST DRIVE

CORSA E

AS ELECTRIC car technology continues to improve a good example of just how far these cars have come is the latest Vauxhall Corsa E.

With a real world fully charged range of a shade under 250 miles and performance figures rivalling or bettering combustion engine versions (0 to 60 in 8 seconds and a top speed of 93mph) everything now revolves around ease and speed of charging.

So I spent a week with the Corsa E – which I have to say has grown to the size of previous Astra models – to see just how easy it is to live with.

Firstly those claimed charging figures – 0 to 80 per cent on the high power rapid charge boxes, such as you find at public charge points or can have installed at home, in just 30 minutes and up to 100 per cent full on the slow charge home three pin plug set up in 7.5 hours.

I tried out both and the rapid charge system is impressive as I managed to add around 40 miles range at a motorway services in just 10 minutes at a cost of just under £5 (although the coffee cost almost as much).

At home it was less so as an overnight slow charge added around 100 miles, although plugging in every night keeps things nicely topped up.

With that 250 mile range a round trip to a driving event near Leeds was no problem (although the venue did not have any chargers) so no range anxiety and the Corsa drove just like its petrol powered siblings, although a bit quicker and a lot quieter.

Our test car was in the highest trim Ultimate Spec with extended range and so is priced at £38,585 (Corsa E starts from £32.445 in design trim while petrol models are from £19,625) but for that you get a load of standard kit. This includes heated front seats (drivers with massage function) and steering wheel, power fold door mirrors, smart 17” alloy wheels, sports body pack, a 10-inch central infotainment touchscreen with sat-nav, wireless phone charging, auto lights and wipers and adaptive cruise control.

The Ultimate also has Vauxhall’s comprehensive suite of safety and driver aids as part of its PureSense system which includes things like hill start assist, a 180 degree rear camera and emergency braking with pedestrian detection.

As I said at the start of this article in feels as if the electric car has now come of age with vehicles like the latest Corsa and, if the charging infrastructure can keep pace and prices continue to come down, the plug in future looks bright.

For more information go to www.vauxhall.co.uk

BREAST SCREENING

Saves lives through detecting cancer early

The National Breast Screening Programme invites all women aged between 50 – 70 every 3 years for a mammogram. Each GP Practice is screened in turn and all women registered with a GP will receive an invitation.

What happens when I reach 71?

Women over the age of 71 will not be sent an appointment automatically but they can self-refer for a mammogram every 3 years by contacting us.

What is breast screening?

Breast screening (or mammography) is an x-ray of the breast that is used to find any changes in the breast tissue that could be cancer, so they can be investigated early.

South Lancashire Breast

Screening is your local service, covering Wigan, West Lancs and Chorley and South Ribble

01942 774713

bsuappointments@wwl.nhs.uk

www.wwl.nhs.uk/specialities/breast_screening

South Lancashire Breast Screening Unit

Why do I need to be screened?

1 in 7 women in the UK will be diagnosed with breast cancer at some point during their lives. Breast cancer is now the most common cause of cancer in women in this country.

Early detection saves lives

Most breast changes will not be cancer, but if cancer is found, the treatment needed will often be less intense and the chance of making a full recovery is much higher

The earlier breast cancer is found, the better the chances of survival