Stockport & Trafford 49

FREE Please

SEPTEMBER - NOVEMBER 2016

STOCKPORT & TRAFFORD EDITION 49

Elaine Paige STRIPPED BACK

Antonio Carluccio THE MASTER OF ITALIAN COOKERY

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take on

e

Est.1923

Coach Holidays

2017 BROCHUR OUT NOW E Sunny Sussex Eastbourne

The Garden Isle Isle of Wight

Located on the south coast within the Take a short boat ride across the Solent and discover the historic county of Sussex, lies the elegant seaside Isle of Wight, an island of astounding natural beauty with resort of Eastbourne. Renowned for its top sunshine a variety of attractions to suit all ages. records and award winning beaches, Eastbourne is understandably a popular holiday destination for all.

Located on the south east coast of the island, the traditional seaside resort of Shanklin is home to golden sandy beaches With a sprinkling of high street shops, centrally located, and a quaint collection of shops housed in traditional a Victorian pier and a rich history boasting a variety of thatched cottages. It is understandably one of the most castles, museums and galleries, Eastbourne is sure to popular resorts on the island with plenty to entertain. cater for your every need.

View Hotel Imperial Hotel Visit us online atOcean www.robinsons-holidays.co.uk Situated in a premier location with an idyllic seaside Located just a stone’s throw away from the promenade position, the charming, well-appointed Ocean View Hotel and band stand, this grand Victorian hotel is full of boasts uninterrupted panoramic views across Sandown character and home to a number of spacious, comfortable IMPERIAL HOTEL POSTCARD.indd 11 Bay. The hotel also offers a large sprung dance floor and bedrooms, all accessible via lifts. provides live entertainment most evenings.

Guests are able to unwind in the relaxing lounge area Hotel facilities before an evening meal in the Majestic Restaurant, offering hearty, home cooked food. l All rooms are en-suite with telephone, television and hairdryer Hotel facilities l Free WiFi in Public areas l All rooms are en-suite with telephone, l Premier and sea views rooms available* television and hairdryer l Complimentary tea and coffee in all rooms l Free WiFi in Public areas l Waiter service l Premier rooms available* l Traditional English breakfast l Complimentary tea and coffee in all rooms l Lunch snacks available daily l Waiter service l Licensed bar l Traditional English breakfast l Table d’hôte menu l Lunch snacks available daily l Optional a la carte menu available l Table d’hôte menu l Live entertainment most evenings l Optional a la carte menu available l Ballroom/Dance floor l Live entertainment most evenings l Heated indoor swimming pool l Ballroom/Dance floor l Indoor bowling green, table tennis and snooker room l Two lifts serving all floors l Lift serving all floors l Porterage. l Porterage.

Freephone: 0800 083 9900

Please note that on each floor of the hotel, some steps may need to be negotiated.

Delightful Devon Torquay

Located in the heart of the English Riviera, Torquay is renowned for its mild climate, award winning sandy beaches and secluded coves and has been a popular holiday destination since the early 19th century.

With its distinctive European atmosphere, sophisticated environment and beautifully varied scenery, Torquay remains a popular holiday destination.

Abbey Lawn Hotel If you’re looking to unwind in style, this elegant Georgian hotel is the place to stay. Located in the grounds of the former Torre Abbey with stunning views of the bay, the Abbey Lawn hotel offers an exceptional standard of comfort throughout.

The hotel comprises superb facilities, including a heated indoor swimming pool and a conservatory lounge overlooking the bay, where guests can relax and enjoy a drink.

Hotel facilities l All rooms are en-suite with telephone, television and hairdryer l Free WiFi in Public areas l Premier and front facing rooms available* l Complimentary tea and coffee in all rooms l Waiter service l Traditional English breakfast l Lunch snacks available daily l Licensed bar l Table d’hôte menu l Optional a la carte menu available l Live entertainment most evenings l Ballroom/Dance floor l Heated indoor pool l Lift serving all floors l Porterage.

Park Garage, Great Harwood, Blackburn, BB6 7SP

The Robinsons Difference ...

• Robinsons own hotels in great locations • Executive coaches with extra legroom • Includes excursions

• • • • •

No single supplements apply* High standard of accommodation Table d’hôte menu Optional a la carte menu available Friendly staff

5 days/4 nights

dinner bed & breakfast PLUS TWO EXCURSIONS

• All holidays bonded for passengers financial protection • Payment in instalments • Home pick-up service available *Robinsons own hotels

FROM £139pp

5 DAYS

5 DAYS

5 DAYS

Includes 4 NIGHTS, DINNER BED & BREAKFAST includes 2 excursions

Includes 4 NIGHTS, DINNER BED & BREAKFAST includes 2 excursions

Includes 4 NIGHTS, DINNER BED & BREAKFAST includes 2 excursions

WAS NOW

WAS NOW

WAS NOW

WAS NOW

WAS NOW

WAS NOW

01 Oct £209 05 Oct £205 09 Oct £199 15 Oct £195 £175 19 Oct £189 £169 23 Oct £185 29 Oct £179 £159

02 Nov £189 06 Nov £189 £169 12 Nov £185 16 Nov £185 20 Nov £179 26 Nov £179 30 Nov £179 £159

01 Oct 05 Oct £205 09 Oct £199 £179 15 Oct £195 £175 19 Oct £189 £169 23 Oct £185 29 Oct £179 £159

02 Nov 06 Nov 12 Nov £185 16 Nov £185 £165 20 Nov £179 £159 26 Nov £179 £159 30 Nov -

01 Oct 05 Oct £205 09 Oct 15 Oct £195 19 Oct £189 £169 23 Oct £185 £165 29 Oct £179 £159

02 Nov £189 £169 06 Nov £189 12 Nov £185 16 Nov £185 £165 20 Nov 26 Nov £179 30 Nov £179 £159

Supplements per person: Premier Room - £20

Supplements per person: Premier Room - £30 / Seaview Room - £10

Supplements per person: Premier Room - £30 / Front Facing Room - £10

7 DAYS

7 DAYS

Includes 6 NIGHTS, DINNER BED & BREAKFAST includes 2 excursions

Includes 6 NIGHTS, DINNER BED & BREAKFAST includes 2 excursions

7 DAYS

WAS NOW 09 Oct 23 Oct

£249 £239

06 Nov £259 20 Nov £259 £239

WAS NOW 09 Oct 23 Oct

£249 £239

06 Nov 20 Nov

-

9 DAYS

9 DAYS

Includes 8 NIGHTS, DINNER BED & BREAKFAST includes 2 excursions

Includes 8 NIGHTS, DINNER BED & BREAKFAST includes 2 excursions

WAS NOW

WAS NOW

01 Oct £309 15 Oct £299 29 Oct £289 £269

12 Nov £309 £289 26 Nov -

WAS NOW

01 Oct 15 Oct 29 Oct

£309 £299 -

WAS NOW

12 Nov £309 £289 26 Nov -

Includes 6 NIGHTS, DINNER BED & BREAKFAST includes 2 excursions WAS NOW 09 Oct 23 Oct

£249 £239

06 Nov £259 £239 20 Nov £259 £239

9 DAYS Includes 8 NIGHTS, DINNER BED & BREAKFAST includes 2 excursions 01 Oct 15 Oct 29 Oct

£309 £299 £289

12 Nov 26 Nov

£309 £309

SINGLES...

Why not celebrate Chistmas & New Year at one of our own hotels?

Enjoy a stress free break with plenty of fun and celebrating.

Choose from the Isle of Wight, Eastbourne or Torquay

come along and meet new friends lots of activities and entertainment to get to know each other.

INCLUDES: WELCOME RECEPTION 2 LOCAL EXCURSIONS

Includes: 4 nights dinner, bed & breakfast 3 resort lunches 1 mystery excursion

23 Dec £399 29 Dec £349

5 DAYS/4 NIGHTS DINNER, BED & BREAKFAST Imperial Hotel Ocean View Abbey Lawn 5th December 12th December

£169 £159

WAS NOW

£169 £149 £159 £139

£169 £159

See brochure for programme.

Robinsons Holidays, Park Garage, Great Harwood, Blackburn BB6 7SP

If it is, you’re one of almost 45 million people around the UK filling in Lottery tickets each week.

I mention this interesting fact not because I’ve just won the roll-over (we stopped doing the Lottery 20 years ago when we fell out badly over how we would spend our imaginary winnings - ridiculous, I know) but because of how important Lottery money has become to sport in this country.

Thanks for the golds, Lottery fans IS buying a few Lottery tickets a weekly habit for you as you rely on your “special” numbers and mentally plan how you’d spend your £20 million?

The figure announced on the radio the other day was £340 million going from the Lottery to Olympic and Paralympic sports between 2013 and 2017. That was in the same news’ programme as a round-up of the amazing haul of medals won by Team GB in the Rio Olympics. And these two facts are not un-related.

The sports fuelling the rise in Britain’s position in the medals’ table over the past eight years – like athletics, boxing and cycling – were rewarded with more investment.

inside

BY

PONDERINGS

ANGELA

KELLY

Oddly, swimming, which had its funding cut, performed very well in Rio, but perhaps that just means that swimmers are a particularly hardy breed, determined to win under all circumstances.

In the bigger picture, what it definitely means is that you are doing a pretty remarkable job by buying a Lottery ticket or five. So, along with that wonderfully stomach-churning, heart-stopping weekly moment when those balls bounce down the chute and you wonder if your life will change forever, just bear in mind that you have already helped change the life of a budding athlete somewhere.

Just by buying a Lottery ticket.

Hands off the cash – I’m spending it I HAD a real Victoria Meldrew moment the other day when I read a headline in a national newspaper about “Selfish Baby Boomers”.

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BHUTAN: LAND OF THE THUNDER DRAGON PAGES 11-12

ELAINE PAIGE

STRIPPED BACK PAGES 16-17

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INTERIORS...

HOME LIFE

PAGES 27-30

ANTONIO CARLUCCIO

THE MASTER OF ITALIAN COOKERY PAGES 20-22

The “baby boomers” are generally those born between 1947 and 1964 and as I fall into that category my interest was piqued. The rest of the headline, however, had me seething “I don’t belieeeeeeve it!” as it read “Generation wants to spend, spend spend, rather than leave cash to kids.”

plume of sauce sped over my left shoulder.

The story was about a new study which revealed that one in four 18 to 34 year-olds questioned said they were relying on inheriting the money built up by their parents so they can retire in financial security.

In a kind of terrible slow motion, as I turned towards her I could see globules of HP settling in an artistic arrangement all over the back of her pristine top.

What makes the developing situation interesting is that two out of three of the “baby boomers” questioned said they would rather spend their inheritance than pass it on, and they won’t bankroll the future security of their children.

I should think not!

As it happened, a rather pretty girl in her teens was sitting with a couple of young men, obviously on their lunch hour, at the table directly behind us. It was a nice day and she was wearing a snowy white blouse.

I felt terrible! I started apologising profusely but she couldn’t really see the damage. “Don’t worry”, she told me, kindly.

“Is it very bad?” she asked one of her colleagues. Eyeing my shocked face, he gamely said: “No, not really” even though the brown mess had now turned nicely into a map of Australia.

They all got up to go back to their office – the girl still oblivious of her brown “backpack” - but for some reason my appetite had deserted me. When we got outside, my husband, who had been serious-faced and sympathetic throughout, doubled up in a heap laughing.

We still can’t talk about this incident without the tears coming – his not mine – and I am now only allowed sauce bottles when we eat out. Shaken very slowly, of course.

While I’m all for helping our children as much as I can and in the way I want, I’d like to think they weren’t making firm future plans based on my bank balance.

That way lies trip-wires and unusual-tasting mushroom soup.

Personally, I think there’s nothing wrong with spending the money I’ve earned. And if I want to fritter it away on wine, a Hollywood smile, young men called Sebastian in tight trousers, holidays to Paphos or a trout pout then I will.

I always thought the greatest “legacy” you could leave your children was the work ethic and a decent set of values. That currency doesn’t change.

Saucy incident left me red-faced I’M not allowed those little cartons of sauce you’re given in cafes and restaurants any more.

The reason is simple. My husband and I were having lunch in a pleasant café which was full of families and office staff obviously on their lunch break.

I was having my usual HP sauce on my chips (this is the King of Sauces and I will brook no argument) and it was brought in generous little plastic packs that you ripped off and then squeezed out. Unfortunately, I got my ripping and squeezing a bit muddled and suddenly, a

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50 Plus Travel

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GREAT BRITISH BREAKS

By Jennie Carr from Silver Travel Advisor

Are you, like me, done with airport hassle? I simply cannot stand in another queue at some ungodly hour, shoes off, clutching my trousers as now beltless, whilst trying to grapple my laptop out of my rucksack and pop my lipstick in a plastic bag that’s always too small or won’t close properly!

No more can I do it. It is Great Britain for me this year. And upon investigation, there are some seriously good holiday options available. Of course, wall to wall sunshine cannot be guaranteed however one of the many of the things we do so very well in Great Britain is stoic. How many times

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have you sat on a beach with small children, wrapped for near Siberian temperatures, only to report, once back home, that it was a cracking holiday and the weather didn’t matter? My children report wearing bobble hats, and not as fashion accessories, on a beach in Yorkshire one August Bank Holiday, it’s done them no harm at all. There is much to do around this island, take a look below!

Self-catering, a British favourite Keeping with the seaside theme, Haven Holidays have 36 sites around the coast, where you can spend really happy times, taking advantage of

the amazing array of activities and facilities on offer. Swimming pools and water features are taken for granted, think spas, golf courses and fishing lakes, as well as restaurants and fun evening entertainment. The accommodation ranges from deluxe tents, even yurts, through mobile homes to chalets and lodges.

And if you’d prefer to be in the countryside, then Forest Holidays has 9 locations, where you can immerse yourselves in peace and tranquillity surrounded by woodland, doing just as much or little as you’d like. The beautiful cabins, different designs and sizes, many with hot tubs and log burners, are dotted amongst the trees, providing a high degree of privacy. A central reception/shop/

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restaurant provides a good meeting place and can organise trips, cycling, ranger walks, archery and more!

Escorted Tours and Coach trips, there’s nothing better.

Rest assured, the coach trip these days is a fine way to see Great Britain and have a holiday. There’s a plethora of variations on the idea: take a Shearings Holidays coach to the south coast, for example, and stay in a comfortable hotel with daily visits, travel in a luxury mini-bus from Collette around Scotland to see the sights, staying in different hotels each night or join a group with Just Go! Holidays which takes in National Trust properties and gardens with expert guides. Coaches really are high quality and superbly comfortable, letting you truly enjoy the journey wherever you’re going. Tour managers are highly experienced and knowledgeable, which means you have no need to worry about a thing.

Cruising and Boats, for our island nation Fancy a gentle trip along the inland waterways, manning your own narrowboat? ABC Boat Hire will help you access 1500 miles of canals where you can slow life right down.

Or should you prefer to looked after, English Holiday Cruises take their

4* hotel boat, the splendid Edward Elgar, around the Cotswolds Severn Vale for beautiful middle-England journeys. Many of the larger cruise companies voyage around the British coast, some visiting the Channel Islands and Scilly Isles too. Try Cruise & Maritime Voyages for traditional British cruising or Voyages of Discovery for specialist garden visits.

Trains Journeys, an easy way to travel You might be amazed at just how many unique railways there are in Great Britain, from the Settle to Carlisle route or the Bluebell Railway, historic steam trains are an exciting adventure still. Or there are tours around Great Britain by train, allowing you to visit major towns and cities on a Great Rail Journey. Christmas is a superb time to take the train to visit British Christmas markets in luxury with Steam Dreams.

Activity Holidays, to keep you busy Why not explore the Great British countryside on foot with Ramblers Worldwide Holidays? Up hill and down dale in the Lake District if you’re up for a challenge, or in more leisurely fashion, along the Jurassic coast. Walks are graded so you’ll be able to find what’s right

for legs and fitness level. Perhaps you’d like to join a group for a painting, photography, music or yoga holiday, based in friendly country house hotels, where there are lively evenings spent in friendly company.

HF Holidays have been providing great activity breaks for over 100 years, so you’ll be in safe hands here.

Hotels, to do just as you please A few days of pampering can surely never go amiss! Head for a Warner Leisure Hotel to down tools and relax, with spas, a wealth of activities and fine dining. Or pick one of Kirker

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Why not join one of our Quality Door to Door Coach Tours?

We pick- up at your door in most of the Greater Manchester area. We visit every part of the UK from the Shetland Islands to Cornwall. Our drivers are very experienced mature individuals with a wealth of knowledge about our wonderful country. We do city breaks, historic adventures, scenic tours, train rides, boat rides, canal trips, not forgetting our numerous costal resorts.

On your first day of travel we pick you up at your front door at a pre-arranged time in a minibus or taxi. You are then transferred to a central meeting point, either Birch Services or Poplar Services dependant upon where you live, where the coach is waiting for you. Within 15 to 30 minutes you’re on your way aboard our luxury coach travelling directly to your holiday destination, making suitable stops en-route.

The hotels that we use are of a 3 or 4 star standard or occasionally a good quality family run 2 star hotel. Upon your return to either Birch Services or Poplar your taxi or minibus is waiting to whisk you home.

Included in every tour... l

Good Standard Hotel l Half Board l All Excursions l Door to Door Service

Ellen Smith Price Promise 8

1. Everything is included in the final price – no hidden charges 2. Every customer will pay the same price - no last minute reductions!

3. No currency charges - even post Brexit!

4. Any additional charges from the hotel will be passed on without surcharge 5. If you find a similar holiday cheaper we'll refund the difference to the whole coach

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OUT SOON!

Coach Tou

rs 2 017 DATE

2017 BROCHURE

D O O R TO DOOR

A SELECTION OF OUR 2016 COACH TOURS

www.ellen smith.co.uk Membership No: 10228

TOUR

HOTEL

DAYS

PRICE

11th Oct

Isle of Wight

Ocean

11th Oct

Alpine Brass Festival

Hotel Alexander

An Autumn Adventure

15th Oct

Tenby

Cliffe Norton

Best coach hotel in Tenby!

24th Oct

Bournemouth

Trouville

New Forest & Beaulieu Estate

5 £279

24th Oct

Blackpool

Doric

Includes the Illuminations

5 £259

31st Oct

Ireland

Hamlet Court Hotel

‘Turkey & Tinsel’

3rd Nov

Sidmouth

Royal York & Faulkner Hotel

Singles Galore!

7th Nov

North Devon

Durrant House Hotel

‘Turkey & Tinsel’

5 £219

7th Nov

Mystery Tour

TBA

It's a Mystery!

5 £289

7th Nov

Caernarfon

Celtic Royal Hotel

‘Winter Warmer’

5 £229

14th Nov

Great Malvern

Abbey Hotel

Heart of England

5

Customers just keep going back 5 £299

INTERESTED?

7 £549

5 £289

5 £299

5 £299

Call our reservations office on 01706 648126 and request a copy of our 2017 brochure. You’ll be surprised at the variations of tours we operate.

Visit our website at www.ellensmith.co.uk Find us on facebook & twitter (searchwww.50plusmagazine.co.uk for ellensmithtours)

£269

Door to Door Coach Tours with Ellen Smith Membership No: 10228

TRY to describe the ideal holiday and it’s a fair bet it would start right at your front door and simply whisk you away for a fantastic experience.

Well, at Ellen Smith Coach Tours, that’s exactly what we do.

We’re proud of our efficient door-to-door service that picks you up at your home address at a pre-arranged time in a taxi or small minibus. We take you straight to one of our two meeting points: Birch Services near Heywood or Poplar Services near Lymm, where there’s no hanging around as you’re usually on your way within 15 to 20 minutes.

This is just the start of a memorable holiday or break that’s packed with attention to detail – because we know from experience what works for people, and we want to give them the best.

Our business was started in 1900 in Rochdale, Greater Manchester, so we’ve got a long and distinguished history of providing top-quality, value for money coach holidays. In fact, as managing director Paul Targett says: “We get it right – that’s certainly what our customers tell us, and they choose to come back again and again.”

Ellen Smith Coach Tours wants clients to completely enjoy the experience of their chosen holiday or break – whether it’s to the picturesque Highlands of Scotland or the rugged beauty of Cornwall. We choose the best hotels and inject genuine creative thought into putting together interesting and enjoyable itineraries Your driver will always be very experienced, pleasant and helpful. “Many of our drivers know our regular clients by their first names, which all adds to the family atmosphere,” states Mr Targett.

No need, either, to worry about carrying heavy cases as the vast majority of our hotels offer a porterage service. On your return date, the reverse of your original journey is all in place.

Your taxi is waiting for you at one of the two service stations and you’re usually back through your own front door with a cuppa and feet up to watch “The Chase”!

Our whole holiday experience is worry-free. All our holidays are fully bonded by the Confederation of Passenger Transport Bonding Scheme – a Government-approved consumer protection scheme ensuring your money is protected. We also offer popular “Mature Singles” holidays where all the hotel bedrooms are sole occupancy, offering a brilliant break for the solo traveller.

We also run some excellent Continental coach holidays to wonderful destinations like Lake Como, Lake Garda, Alpine trips and Normandy for the D-Day landing beaches. And, for that touch of extra luxury, we offer Fred Olsen cruises from Liverpool at unbelievable prices, plus a variety of Air, Cruise & Worldwide holidays.

In fact, Ellen Smith Coach Tours is simply all about the best of holidays – brought to your door.

Our coaches are executive standard with toilets, air conditioning and reclining seats. On the journey to your hotel, we tend to avoid motorway services and visit some of the glorious villages, towns and cities dotted around our lovely country.

We always plan to arrive at our destination around 4.30 – in time to give you plenty of opportunity for a quick snooze and to settle in your room before dinner. As we normally only use 3 and 4 star hotels, with the occasional family-run 2 star hotel that we’ve used for many years, you’re in for a comfortable and relaxing stay with the very best in catering.

We also use a range of hotels to suit specific tours. Many of our tours are themed, like “Royal Sandringham and the Sport of Kings” or “An Irish Country House Experience”. All our tours have day excursions at no extra charge, including canal or train journeys or visits to historic castles or country estates.

“We try to showcase the best of what our country has to offer,” added Mr Targett.

Want to know more?

Call on 01706 648126

for a copy of the 2016 brochure – you’ll wonder why you ever went away in your car!

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50 Plus Travel

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BHUTAN:

The Land of the Thunder Dragon What’s the name of a country the size of Switzerland, landlocked too, with a constitutional monarchy, located in South Asia and only recently connected to the internet, where the king insists on measuring Gross National Happiness each year?

Oh yes, and visited by the Cambridges in April 2016, with great success.

Where?

The answer is indeed, Bhutan: a country bordered in the north by China, and India in the south, west and east. So just a tad inaccessible, and mountainous to boot. It really was pretty closed for centuries and has only recently encouraged tourism, although numbers are somewhat controlled.

This is, in part, because the number of pilots licensed to land at Paro airport, Bhutan’s only international airport, was just eight, for some time. Flying in from Kathmandu is recommended as you can see Mount Everest if you sit on the left hand side of the plane. And wherever you come in from, Delhi, Mumbai, Singapore or Bangkok, the landing is almost vertical, after an approach through deep valleys, with towering mountains above.

to Shangri-La, the mythical utopia of James Hilton’s 1933 book, Lost Horizon.

How? You can only visit as part of a group with a designated local guide, and there’s a daily fee for tourists, so it’s not the place for free-wheeling backpackers.

Tourist infrastructure is rudimentary as it’s a new-ish development, so signs are not in English and trails not always well-marked when trekking. Guides take charge and add much to the visitor experience. One of the most popular expeditions is to hike in the central region, through the Himalayan foothills, taking a trip for 3 or 4 days, sleeping in tents, passing through traditional villages and immersing yourself in the pristine natural environment.

Why? This is a country that rewards the visitor time and again: it has been compared

The way of life is happily traditional, staying the same for centuries, and now the outside world is arriving in the form of tourists, television since 1999 and the internet (still only in Thimphu, the capital): so if you wish to experience authentic Himalayan Buddhism in a living culture before it dies out, this is where to go. Even now, there is inevitable change as this society strives to cope with the influences beamed in by satellite. However, there is no doubt that here, ceremonies, practices and Buddhist culture are still of paramount importance. The monthly festivals held around the country are noisy, colourful and steeped in history, they are full of music and dancing, with ancient stories

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enacted and celebrated by dancers in extraordinary masks. Tourists are welcome to be part of all this: the Bhutanese love to share the Tourism Council says. Try archery, but maybe not yak riding!

Schoolchildren dress traditionally, in the gho for boys, a knee-length, brightly coloured, belted coat with knee-high socks and smart brogues. For girls, a kira is worn, often a full length skirt and neat jacket, equally brightly coloured.

The Duchess of Cambridge wore an approximation of the kira during her visit to Bhutan.

What is striking about the people in Bhutan is their love for the king, who they truly revere, the Buddhism that defines them and their general joy in life. The current King’s father, King Jigme Singye Wangchuck, was responsible for introducing the measurement of Gross National Happiness, which considers the individual and society in many ways – economic, religious, communal and cultural. It is an intrinsic part of Bhutan, which gives rise to a unique people, whose principles include no harming others and intense reflection.

In each town and city centre is the dzong, a fortress-like buildings that acts as a monastery and administrative centre. It is seen as a symbol of the community and very much part of daily life. They are splendid buildings, said to

have been created by llamas, without formal plans, or use of iton or cement.

Even the airport terminal is built in this style.

Nature too is astonishing here: the landscape is diverse and dramatic: the plunging valleys are often filled with fast flowing rivers. The wildlife is abundant, with little to have encroached on it and the Buddhist beliefs protecting it. Bengal tigers, red pandas, snow leopards, black bears and takins, the national animal, are just a few of the species to be seen. Many rare birds live here too, making it a birders’ paradise.

The climate in the south is subtropical, leading to abundant and lush vegetation, poinsettias grow almost as tall as an adult, whereas in the north it is decidedly chillier, almost polar in fact.

This gives rise to real contrasts when travelling around.

And just a world about the food, it is not all vegetarian, with chilli cheese (Ema Datshi) being a real favourite locally. Should you choose a homestay with a Bhutanese family, which is a popular tourist option, red rice will be frequently eaten too!

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FACT BOX

When?

There are 4 clear seasons here.

Spring is magical for wildlife and acres of mountain flowers, including the famous blue poppy which is the country’s symbol. And in autumn the harvest takes place, so you can really appreciate the agricultural way of life outside the cities.

The best time to visit is October to April, which is the dry season. The Tourism Board is keen to encourage visitors from December to February when, whilst cooler, days are bright and sunny, and there are fewer visitors.

From June to September, there is rain for 2 or 3 hours a day, and conditions can feel almost like a monsoon.

Who? The Tourism Council recommends Bhutan for everyone who wants a unique experience, beautiful nature, geography and people with perhaps a few spiritual insights along the way. In fact, it employs the phrase ‘Happiness is a place’ to describe the country. Can there be any better recommendation?

With many thanks to Amit Verma of Cox & Kings and Damcho Rinzin of the Tourism Council of Bhutan

Cox & Kings offer group and private tours to Bhutan.

Visit www.coxandkings.co.uk.

For reviews on this wonderful country, visit www.silvertraveladvisor.com, and type Bhutan into the search box.

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AVAILABLE FROM YOUR LOCAL COMPANY holidaysCOACH • short breaks • day trips ps

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.95

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IPS

Holidays, Short Breaks Y TR and Day Trips £

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Superb Seaside Holidays Coach SELF-DRIVE & COACH INCLUSIVE BREAKS

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

Whether you’re after family-friendly holidays, a romantic getaway or a group break with like-minded people, our eight hotels cover the nation’s finest locations. From the popular beaches of Cornwall to the cosy Isle of Wight, there’s something for everyone.

have our own fleet of executive Our coach inclusive option allows guests across the UK to travel in ches that usoffer totheoffer comfort, while enables our self-drive holidays freedom of having your own car. el from a selection of pick up Every break includes: nts across the UK. • Return coach travel (self-drive option available) • Comfy en suite accommodation

vehicle features air conditioning and on board • Breakfast & 3-course evening meal o make your journey as comfortable as possible.

• Live nightly entertainment also boast friendly drivers who will warmly greet elp you settle into your pre-allotted seat and let Certificate of Excellence Awards now of any planned comfort breaks.

We aim to We are proud to announce that five of our group – The Barrowfield, Devonshire,depending Daish’s, Bournemouth ou to your hotel between 3-5pm, on Sands and Claremont Hotels – have been awarded the coveted TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence 2016. ngth of the journey.

Seven fabulous locations, eight great hotels.

Every break includes: Isle of Wight

Torquay

Bournemouth

Eastbourne

• Return coach travel (self-drive option • Comfy en suite accommodation Request your new 2016/2017 brochure now!

Daish’s Hotel

Devonshire Hotel

Bournemouth Sands Claremont Hotel • Breakfast & 3-courseTheevening meal

Introducing Daish’s – New pickups in your area: Manchester, Blackburn, Bolton, Burnley, Stockport.

Don’t miss these coach inclusive breaks!

Local pick up points make it easy to get away.

DATE

HOTEL

DAYS PRICE

DATE

HOTEL

JANUARY

DAYS PRICE

MARCH (continued)

08

Barrowfield Hotel – Newquay

5

£144

16

Sands Hotel – Bournemouth

5

£179

25

Devonshire Hotel – Torquay

5

£139

20

Barrowfield Hotel – Newquay

5

£169

29

Daish’s Hotel – Isle of Wight

5

£144

25

Russell Hotel – Weymouth

5

£179

30

Claremont Hotel – Eastbourne

5

£144

5

£179

APRIL 15

FEBRUARY

Devonshire Hotel – Torquay

03

Hotel Prince Regent – Weymouth

5

£169

04

Sands Hotel – Bournemouth

5

£154

04

Russell Hotel – Weymouth

5

£204

13

Russell Hotel – Weymouth

5

£154

25

Devonshire Hotel – Torquay

5

£209

MAY

MARCH

JUNE

10

Daish’s Hotel – Isle of Wight

5

£169

03

Hotel Prince Regent – Weymouth

5

£244

11

Claremont Hotel – Eastbourne

5

£199

04

Sands Hotel – Bournemouth

5

£224

15

Hotel Prince Regent – Weymouth

5

£194

09

Somerset Hotel – Llandudno

5

£264

Prices shown are per person based on two people sharing a Standard Room. Supplements apply on twin/ double rooms with sole occupancy. Optional local excursions can be booked at the hotel. Many more coach or self-drive holiday dates available in 2016. If you would prefer to self-drive, deduct £20 per person from prices shown. All offers are subject to availability and standard terms and conditions (see brochure or website for T&C’s).

Llandudno

Newquay

Weymouth

Weymouth

n available)

Call 01202 638840 or visit daishs.com quote 50PlusMC facebook.com/daishs

Somerset Hotel

Barrowfield Hotel

Hotel Prince Regent

Russell Hotel

@daishs_holidays

Elaine Paige

Stripped Back WHEN it comes to singer Elaine Paige we think we know her so well – but the reality is that this multi-talented performer constantly surprises her fans.

While this year alone she is preparing for a lengthy series of weekend concerts around the country, she also hosts her regular – and very popular – Radio 2 programme on musical theatre and film music each Sunday and earlier this year she starred in a new TV version of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream as part of the Bard’s 400th anniversary celebrations.

All of which should really be no surprise as Elaine, now 68, has had one of the most varied and glittering careers of any musical theatre entertainer.

Especially for one who has always considered herself an actress rather than a singer.

It is music, though, which has always figured largely in Elaine’s existence. As she explains now:

16 | WWW.50PLUSMAGAZINE.CO.UK

“I don’t know what I’d do without music in my life.”

Growing up in Barnet, North London, young Elaine was actually used to the world of showbiz from quite early on.

Her dad was an amateur drummer and his daughter was born possessing quite a voice.

To encourage her to be an all-rounder and to gain confidence, her parents sent Elaine to a theatre school although show music had already entered her young life to stay there forever.

She set her sights on a musical career and, after touring in shows, made her West End debut in the then controversial musical Hair as a member of the “tribe” - and thus, at one point, naked.

Various other roles in stage musicals followed but it was when she was chosen for the much-coveted part of Eva Peron in the first stage production of Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical Evita that Elaine came to national prominence.

“It was an amazing thing, really,” she recalls. “They had searched all over the world for the right person and I was pretty much an unknown then so to take that role was just wonderful. It was a perfect piece for me. For once, even my height (5’ 1”) was right for the role!”

This part won her a clutch of awards, including the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Performance in a Musical and, at the age of 30, made Elaine a star. It also kickstarted a remarkable collaboration with Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber during which she played some of their most notable characters, including Grizabella in the original production of Cats. This not only

CELEBRITY INTERVIEW cemented her professional reputation but gave her a Top Ten hit with the iconic song Memory.

She had another top-seller with Barbara Dickson in I Know Him So Well from the musical Chess, and enjoyed many wonderful stage appearances in some of the best-known musicals – from Anything Goes and Sunset Boulevard to The King and I and Sweeney Todd.

Ask her what her favourite role is and she admits that it’s a difficult choice. “I’ve loved so many of them,” she states.

“Evita has to be a favourite because it was so important in my career and because I loved it, but I also loved being in Piaf and in Sunset Boulevard.”

She has recorded 18 solo albums – four multi-plantinum and nine consecutive gold awards - and been in seven cast albums, picking up a number of music awards along the way.

Her theatre work has brought her a whole cabinet full of awards, including Best Actress in a Musical and a Variety Club Award for Show Business Personality of the Year. She was awarded an OBE in 1995 and given an Honorary Degree of Doctor of Letters by the University of East Anglia in 2012.

Her acting has also been highlighted on several notable occasions. She worked twice with Sir Peter Hall’s Theatre Company in The Misanthrope and Feydeau’s Where There’s A Will and is quick to say how grateful she was for the chance.

“Peter saw something in me that others hadn’t and cast me in these productions,” she says. “I so enjoyed them!”

While Elaine has long had a high-profile theatre career, she has also become a TV favourite. She’s been a guest on dozens of shows, had her own Sky Arts TV show and also acted in programmes including drama series Lady Killers,Tales of the Unexpected, Agatha Christie’s Marple and Where the Heart Is. She was Mistress Quince in Russell T Davies’ version of A Midsummer’s Night Dream – “which I really enjoyed. It was brilliant seeing Matt Lucas at work and to reacquaint myself with my old friend Bernard Cribbins from Anything Goes.”

She was busy preparing for these concerts when we chatted – “singing every day like I always do to keep my voice strong and trying to fit in playing tennis a couple of times a week.”

Last year, Elaine celebrated 50 years in showbusiness with a lengthy tour and, although she prefers not to put herself through such a tough touring schedule anymore, she is looking forward to the series of weekend concerts entitled Stripped Back which start at the beginning of October.

Elaine particularly enjoys her weekly radio programme, Elaine Paige on Sunday, in which she highlights famous and not so famous musical theatre tracks. The formula is obviously a successful one with more than 2.3 million listeners each week.

“I get to play some of my favourite music each week – what better way is there to spend a Sunday?” she laughs.

These involve her performing her favourite tracks with a small group of musicians in venues from Manchester’s Bridgewater Hall to Cheltenham Town Hall and finishing on December 18 at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane.

“It will have a real cross-section of music,” she explained. “I spent my teenage years listening to Cilla, Lulu, Helen Shapiro and Patti LaBelle. There were some wonderful songwriters around then like Randy Newman, Harry Nilsson, the Beatles and Carly Simon so I’ll be singing lots of those along with plenty of what I call my ‘potboilers’ to keep everyone happy!”

And, as someone who has already had such a long and varied career, are there other areas of entertainment she would still like to do? “Oh, yes,” she asserts. “I’d definitely like to do more drama. But I guess we will just have to wait and see what comes up.”

And for the country’s First Lady of Musical Theatre it was then back to rehearsals – and dreams of having a tennis back-hand like Roger Federer’s!

* For more details of Elaine Paige’s Stripped Back weekend concerts go to www.elainepaige.com WWW.50PLUSMAGAZINE.CO.UK

| 17

Power of Attorney…

…Who should you choose as your Attorney?

None of us know what lies around the corner and one of the most important parts of lifetime planning is making a Power of Attorney. We caught up with resident Wills and Estate Planning solicitor Christine Thornley to explain why it is so important to choose the right attorney.

Would you want a daughter who is terrible at managing her own money or a son who has a gambling problem being responsible for managing your finances if you couldn’t do it yourself?

Would you want your husband with opposing medical beliefs and values or your sister who is unable to make decisions at the best of times making decisions about your health and care if you couldn’t do it yourself?

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There is no automatic right for a spouse, children, siblings etc to make decisions for you if you can’t. If you want to select the people who will help you in the event that you can’t make decisions yourself you MUST make Lasting Power of Attorneys (LPAs). These documents enable you

Protecting Investment & to control who will help you if you lose Declaration of Trust your mental capacity.

Some parents and grandparents are very

You can only prepare you keen to help their childrenLPAs makewhile their way have the least mental capacity toofdo in life, not to get them out theso.

You will select a person or people family home before they celebrate their

who birthday! you want to act as attorney 40th However, notyour everyone is in and they will have to agree to take on a position where they are able to just give this role. The documents may never away thousands of pounds. For some, they be needed and can often be stored are happy to provide a financial contribution away but you will have peace of mind, so long as this is treated as an investment, knowing that if something did happen which they can get back if they need the rendering you incapable of making cash in the future, or perhaps oncethose their decisions, you have selected offspring better off are financially andto noact you trustare and think capable longer need assistance.

When it comes to for you. property, one way of doing this is adding

FAMILY MEMBERS, FRIENDS, SPOUSES, PARTNERS AND that is being purchased by the offspring.

CIVIL PARTNERS ARE ALL EXAMPLES OF INDIVIDUALS Parents have to be aware, however, if they WHO CAN BE CHOSEN.

your name to the title register for the house

already own a property, then adding your

name to the title register of another home

Alternatively, professionals such as a will mean that you incur the additional 3% solicitors can also be appointed.

of Stamp Duty Land Tax charge, potentially

adding thousands of pounds to your

having it paid back in the future.

conveyancing bill.to think very carefully It is important

You can create 2 different LPAs andshould it is always advisable to do You however bear in mind that, if both.

The different types are: a declaration of trust is put in place, the

about who is capable of fulfilling your wishesaand their suitability make Making Declaration of Trust is to a way to decisions in your best interest.

You protect your interest in the property, without can choose to appoint moreand than incurring additional tax charges, it can one attorney, but you need to think have a two-fold benefit: if those people will be able to act 1.

The sum of money provided will be together. returned to the donor when the property is sold.

Your attorney will have to:

• Money Act inisyour best interest; 2. safeguarded from making its to the other partner if it was • way Keep accurate records of dealings/transaction undertaken originally used to help a couple onto the on your market andbehalf; their relationship

•

subsequently down.

Act for youbreaks with the greatest

good faith and avoid situations A Declaration of Trust andofa where there is isaflexible conflict greatinterest; way to protect and your money which also has additional benefits as mentioned

• Keep your property and

above.

Helping your children ontotheir the finances separate from

property ladder doesn’t have to be a one own.

monies will not be treated as a gift to your

1. Financial Decisions

children, and therefore will not be a ‘PET’

2. inheritance Health and Care purposes. This for tax planning is because you have not given the monies

There is no requirement for you to have the same attorneys for both they still belong to you, so the value of your areas and you should consider the estate will not be reduced for inheritance tax strengths and weaknesses of those purposes. you are considering in respect of their ability to perform the roles.

away – they are effectively just on loan – and

To discuss a PowerPlanning of Gorvins & Estate

Attorney or any aspect of contact Tolifetime speakplanning to Tasoula call Christine Thornley on 0161 930 5117 or e-mail 0161 930 5117; e-mail actonit@gorvins.com willsteam@gorvins.com We giveour you the precise legal orwillvisit website advice you need to be able to protect www.gorvins.com

way street out of your bank account. It’s

your money and order your estate as

more than possible to see this money as

efficiently and effectively as possible.

an investment, and have the possibility of

The Experts in Wills, Trusts & Probate Give you and your family total peace of mind

Making a Will

Lasting Power of Attorney

Court of Protection

Trusts

Deputyships

Inheritance Tax

Estate Administration

Elderly Care

Probate

Planning for your future and ensuring your family are protected in the way you want is simple and hassle free with our specialist team of qualified solicitors.

Chat with us to discuss your needs; whether it’s here at our offices or in the comfort of your own home, we can help you with:

•P

L ANNING F

FUTURE

•

O

UR

• OR

•Y

ACT O N

IT

Act On It Today and contact us on 0161 930 5117 or e-mail actonit@gorvins.com www.gorvins.com/act-on-it

WWW.50PLUSMAGAZINE.CO.UK

| 19

FOOD & DRINK

Antonio Carluccio’s PASTA Antonio Carluccio shares his love of Italy’s favourite food, providing innovative and exciting recipes. Here we share three from the ultimate book on pasta from the master of Italian cookery!

Minestrone di Verdure Vegetable and Pasta Soup This version of minestrone is influenced by those served in Lombardy and Liguria, but you will find similar soups – and some surprisingly different kinds – throughout the country. Most minestroni use bits and pieces of vegetables left in the fridge, such as courgette, aubergine, carrot, celery, cabbage, quartered Brussels sprouts, etc.

You could add some potatoes as well, to add thickness.

SERVES 4 4 tbsp olive oil 1 garlic clove, peeled and finely chopped 1 onion, peeled and finely chopped 2 litres chicken or beef stock about 1kg vegetables (see above), prepared and cubed 150g dried tubettini pasta 1 x 400g can borlotti beans, drained 3 tbsp fresh pesto salt and pepper, to taste 40g Parmesan, freshly grated

Put the oil in a pan and fry the garlic and onion for a few minutes. Add the stock and prepared vegetables, and cook for about 12 minutes. Add the pasta and drained beans, and cook until tender, about another 6–7 minutes, then remove from the heat.

Mix in the pesto and salt and pepper to taste, and heat very gently. Serve straightaway, sprinkled with Parmesan.

20 | WWW.50PLUSMAGAZINE.CO.UK

ALTERNATIVES If you don’t want to have a vegetarian soup, you could add some Parma ham, prosciutto, cooked ham or bacon chunks. You could also use rice instead of pasta, or any other shape of pasta.

FOOD & DRINK Ravioloni Dolci con Marmellata ~ Baked Pastry Squares Stuffed with Jam In our household, when I was a child, this was the best way of using up some of the huge amounts of jam my mother used to make during the season. It was always a delight to come home from school and find these stuffed baked parcels for tea. With six of us to cater for, huge quantities were made each time. The addition of butter to this basic pasta dough (flour and eggs) makes the dough shorter, which makes it more like a pastry and enables it to be baked.

Your perfect recipe needs top quality ingredients...

MAKES 24 PARCELS PASTRY 300g Italian ‘00’ flour a pinch of salt 3 medium eggs, beaten 75g unsalted butter, melted and cooled, plus extra for greasing TO FINISH 400g jam of your choice icing sugar, for sprinkling

To make the pastry, sift the flour into a bowl with the salt, and make a well in the middle. Put the eggs in the middle along with the melted butter, and start to mix the flour from the sides into the liquid ingredients. Mix with your fingers until everything is amalgamated, and you have a smooth pastry. Wrap in cling film, and let the dough rest for an hour in the fridge.

Preheat the oven to 180°C/Gas 4.

With a rolling pin or a pasta machine roll the dough out to sheets 3mm thick and as long as you can. Cut into bands 12cm wide and position a tsp of jam at 5cm intervals (each tsp placed closer to one edge of band than the other). Brush some water around the jam.

Cover the dollops of jam by folding the other long side of the pasta over the filling and press with your hands all round the jam dollops to seal the ravioloni. Cut with a pastry cutter and put the parcels on a greased baking tray.

Bake in the preheated oven for 15–20 minutes. Serve hot, sprinkled with icing sugar, or leave to cool. Either is delicious.

Bury Market, winner of BBC Radio 4’s Food and Farming Awards (Best Food Market) really has it all.

With over 350 stalls open every Wednesday, Friday and Saturday you will find our friendly traders sell everything you need for making delicious home-cooked meals.

Great quality produce at great value prices, brought fresh to market every day!

Bury Market Tel: 0161 253 6520

: @BuryMarket

Email: burymarkets@bury.gov.uk Web: www.burymarket.com

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| 21

FOOD & DRINK

Culurgiones ~ Plaited Sardinian Ravioli Every region has some sort of stuffed pasta on the menu, which is often made in order to use up leftovers. Sardinia has a different kind of stuffed pasta, a so-called raviolo whose filling can vary from potato to cheese. Also known as culurzones (and a number of other names), these ravioli even look different from those of other regions. They are delightful anyway, despite the fact that a little more work is involved.

SERVES 4 fresh egg pasta salt and pepper, to taste 60g pecorino cheese, freshly grated FILLING 30g unsalted butter 200g spinach, blanched, squeezed dry and finely chopped 300g fresh ricotta cheese 2 medium eggs, beaten 80g pecorino cheese, freshly grated 1 sachet powdered saffron a pinch of ground cinnamon SAUCE 50ml olive oil 1 small onion, peeled and finely sliced 120g minced beef 120g lean minced pork 50ml dry Vernaccia white wine 500g canned crushed tomatoes 2 tbsp finely chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley 1 tbsp finely chopped fresh sage leaves

Make the filling by melting the butter in a wide pan, and frying the dry squeezed spinach for a few minutes.

Let it cool, then add the ricotta, beaten eggs, grated pecorino, saffron and the cinnamon. Season with salt and pepper to taste, and work everything thoroughly together to a well-mixed paste.

the tomatoes, parsley and sage. Cook slowly for 30 minutes, then taste for salt and pepper.

Meanwhile, make the sauce. First of all, heat the oil in a large saucepan and fry the onion for about 5 minutes to soften. Add the two meats and brown a little, about 5 minutes, then add the Vernaccia followed by

Cook the pasta in plenty of boiling salted water for 4 minutes or until al dente. Drain, mix with the sauce and serve sprinkled with pecorino.

Meanwhile, roll the pasta dough out thinly, by hand or machine, to 1mm thickness, and cut into 8cm circles.

Make and fill the culurgiones .

Pasta by Antonio Carluccio (Quadrille ÂŁ10) Photography: Laura Edwards

22 | WWW.50PLUSMAGAZINE.CO.UK

THE Q70 WEEKEND AWAY

Take 10 friends, two cars, 2,000km and a long bank holiday weekend and what do you get?

An epic road-trip, worthy of stories to be told years down the line? Drunken nights doing dangerous things?

No, we’re grown ups now and things have changed. Those of us who still drink don’t get drunk, and it’s more likely to be a glass of wine with dinner than a bottle of Lambrini at the park. We do the washing up. We make the beds. The only thing that hasn’t changed is the reliance on cars.

I drove an Infiniti Q70 2.2d Sport Tech, with a competitor car in the convoy leading the way.

With the 2.2d engine we were worried that 4 days of driving in France would become a problem with warnings of a fuel ‘crisis’ in France as everyone was on strike. Our worries were unfounded as with the large tank capacity we still had half a tank by the time we got back to England, despite hauling 5 people around at all times and with a well-utilised boot.

Let’s talk about that boot.

I overpack, I’ll admit it. What with the emergency kit, breakdown kit, French driving kit (required by law), snow shovel (in June?!), spare shoes, spare waterproofs for passengers in event of an accident, spare bottles of water, screen wash, jerry can full of diesel, spare towels, chocolate bars in case of emergency… and that’s what occupies my boot most of the time. Not to mention having the forethought to pack a large coolbox for the beach picnics, beach towels, a whole stack of board games and their huge boxes. It was going to be a struggle to get 5 people’s luggage in on top of

Infiniti Centre Stockport Bailey Road, Stockport, SK1 2AD

all of that. And it was a struggle… but it fit.

Although with 3 tall gents in the group, how comfortable can they be in the back of a car, squashed in there together?

Another surprising thing – quite comfortable.

Okay it worked out better when we had one of the smaller people of the group swap into the middle seat in our car from the other one, but for some of the longest journeys we had 3 guys dozing in the back of the car. And it’s worth noting that they didn’t physically fit into the other car.

There are two things I’ve not commented on yet (who would ever have thought the first few things would be MPG, boot size and comfort) and those are the traditional selling points of cars; the performance and the sound system.

Speak to me 10 years ago and the first thing I would have asked was how fast it could go.

Well here’s the answer – 110km/h on the motorways, 50km/h in town (where we were at least). Yes it can go much faster, and at times the power of the car was put to good use, but with 4 friends inside and another car to keep in convoy with it never even crossed either of our minds to drive any faster than the legal limit, despite it being lower than what we’re used to in the UK. So why haven’t I focussed on the performance?

I know from driving this beast for the past few months that it’s more than capable of competing with it’s peers, especially using paddle shift gear changes in Sport mode so surely that’s a great thing to talk about? No, for this trip I wanted comfort. Some refinement and class. Give me ventilated, air-conditioned

0161 696 9738 host@infiniti-stockport.co.uk

Infiniti Q70

seats over acceleration. Give me lumbar support, memory seats & steering wheel, welcome lighting and intelligent cruise control over horse power. Give me that thing where you can have all the windows and sunroof open when I’m walking towards the car so that the temperature is bearable by the time you get to it over the scream of a V6.

Although the sound system….

Yes I’m a lucky so and so, I had the Bose Premium Sound System in my car because I was driving a Sport Tech (think all the bells and whistles, no optional extras to add on). Everyone remarked on the speakers embedded into the front seats at ear level for surround sound and the fantastic sound quality. But rarely did we ever have the road-trip playlist above speaking volume.

Because when there’s 5 of you in the car, all chatting and sometimes even having multiple conversations, what’s more important is that you can hear your friends over the sound of the road and the wind. And as if Infiniti anticipated this very trip, the car has double-glazing front and back for a whisper-quiet journey. As standard.

As one of the best value for money vehicles in the segment the Infiniti Q70 has won me over. In fact, it competes with vehicles in the segment above because it has as much kit as them, and it competes with vehicles in the segment below on price. Taking into account the fact that it’s also available with a 3.5 V6 Performance Hybrid engine and anyone who isn’t prepared to move into a smaller engine will be satisfied too.

 InfinitiRetailGroup  @InfinitiRG

www.infinitiretailgroup.co.uk

Infiniti Q30

A DIFFERENT KIND OF LUXURY

TAKE 24 HOURS TO DISCOVER THE INFINITI Q30 The premium active compact. You see the city from a different perspective and so does Infiniti Q30. Shaped with dramatic lines and bold proportions, it breaks the mould of conventional design. Combining the sportiness of a coupé and the empowered stance of a crossover the Q30 breaks new ground.

Infiniti Centre Stockport Bailey Road, Stockport, SK1 2AD

0161 696 9738 host@infiniti-stockport.co.uk

 InfinitiRetailGroup  @InfinitiRG

HOUR test drive

www.infinitiretailgroup.co.uk

Infiniti Range Official Fuel Consumption Figures in mpg (l/100km) Urban 14.8 (18.9) – 50.4 (5.6), Extra Urban 28.8 (9.8) – 76.3 (3.7), Combined 21.6 (13.1) – 64.2 (4.4). CO2 emissions 114-307g/km. Official EU Test Figures. For comparison purposes only. Real world figures may differ.

24 | WWW.50PLUSMAGAZINE.CO.UK

QX30

Q50

TAKE 24 HOURS TO DISCOVER THE INFINITI QX30

TAKE 24 HOURS TO DISCOVER THE INFINITI Q50

The premium active crossover. Feel the passion in the all-new Infiniti QX30 come alive once you cross the city line. This is the vehicle you want to drive under big skies, not skyscrapers. Let the QX30 give you the freedom to achieve the life only you can define.

The technologically refined sports saloon. Life is about possibilities. The Q50 enhances the way you create them. How you define them. More than a mid-size performance saloon, an Infiniti Q50 connects to you on a deeper level.

HOUR

test drive

Q70

test drive

QX70 ULTIMATE

TAKE 24 HOURS TO DISCOVER THE INFINITI QX70 ULTIMATE

TAKE 24 HOURS TO DISCOVER THE INFINITI Q70 The pulse-racing luxury saloon. You’re here to accomplish something significant. The Q70 reshapes the way we get there. More than an exquisite full-size performance sedan, an Infiniti Q70 epitomizes a life of accomplishment.

HOUR

test drive

Infiniti Centre Stockport Bailey Road, Stockport, SK1 2AD

0161 696 9738 host@infiniti-stockport.co.uk

 InfinitiRetailGroup  @InfinitiRG

www.infinitiretailgroup.co.uk

117866J

HOUR

The formidable crossover force. Live by your own code. Rules are meant to be rewritten with bold new actions that redefine what’s possible.

Insist on following your passion. It knows where you should go. The vehicle that continues to break new ground between sport, utility and modern art, the test drive Infiniti QX70 Ultimate escapes all classification.

HOUR

HOME LIFE

Have you noticed how more and more of us are home-based as our lives unfold?

In fact, there has never been an easier time to enjoy life at home, all underpinned by the latest technology, gadgets and services that encourage us to make the most of our lives.

But, how do you make your life at home happier, healthier and easier? Well, reviewing your lifestyle and deciding how to improve it is an excellent start.

Begin with your HOME itself. Is it too big or too small?

Maybe it has outgrown your family’s needs now that your children are adults. Although grandchildren may come to stay for some weekends, it’s likely that you may not need a house with all the accommodation you had when their parents were young.

You may have quite the reverse of this problem and want to EXTEND your home with extra rooms, perhaps as a sewing room, a gym or a spacious TV room.

If you need a reliable builder either get someone you know who has had work done to refer theirs (and see the work in situ first) or to find local builders go to the websites of either the Federation of Master Builders at

http://www.fmb.org.uk or the National Federation of Builders at http://www.builders.org.uk/ The same principle applies to CONSERVATORIES or ORANGERIES. There are plenty of trustworthy companies dotted around the country but try to get one referred locally whose work you can view first. Many installers actually have examples of their work onsite or may suggest homes where they can be viewed. It’s definitely worth seeing what they can do first, and talking to current owners about long-term satisfaction.

HOME ENTERTAINMENT has never been more diverse, or accessible. The latest Smart TVs access apps like BBC iPlayer, stream films on Netflix or surf websites on the big screen. There are Blu-ray players sound bars and laptops all offering programmes and films in your own home and to the highest specs of sound and vision. Or opt for a home cinema system and bring the latest films right into your living room.

The choice on the high street is endless but a good place to go for impartial reviews of what is on offer before you buy is Which? magazine on www.which.co.uk

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| 27

If you’ve had the same bathroom for many years, you will be amazed at what contemporary styles and fitments are now on offer.

Now may be the right time to invest in a new KITCHEN or to modernise your current one with better units or a revamp on doors and the latest handles. It’s surprising just how modern a kitchen can look with small improvements although there is nothing to beat the sheer style of a brand new kitchen with the latest streamlined and built-in units.

We all spend a large proportion of our lives in the kitchen and for many it’s the heart of the home so it’s worth getting it just right. Open up dark spaces with bright paintwork and new window blinds. Invest in some new, comfortable kitchen furniture to make mealtimes or just reading a pleasure.

Kitchen appliances have never been more user-friendly.

Even kitchen sinks and taps are designed to make life as easy as possible and the latest gadgets make every task – from peeling and slicing to boiling and frying – as easy as can be.

Have you, for example, got a small TV in the kitchen?

Even this addition to kitchen life alters every task you do and encourages you to spend more time there – perhaps emulating TV’s MasterChef and trying out new cookery ideas!

28 | WWW.50PLUSMAGAZINE.CO.UK

DECORATING rooms not only brightens them up but gives them a new lease of life that can make an underused room suddenly somewhere you want to sit or work.

Use lighter shades to open up dingy hallways and add mirrors to maximise space – a trick you can use all over your home.

Take a fresh look at your FURNITURE. Is it dowdy and past its best? If your sofa is looking a little threadbare or your dining table and chairs scuffed and well-used, it’s definitely worth investigating buying new ones.

Just fitting new covers for a three-piece suite can make all the difference, although the latest furniture designs span every sort of décor, from ultra modern to comfortable traditional. And with new furniture you will need to realistically assess your curtains and blinds.

New additions here to complement any new furniture or decorating can make that special difference that easily give a room the “wow” factor.

Could your BATHROOM do with upgrading? If you’ve had the same bathroom for many years, you will be amazed at what contemporary styles and fitments are now on offer. Large tubs, free-standing taps, walk-in

Getting in an expert to re-design your garden isn’t as expensive as you might think or you can get advice from your local garden centre on creating new areas in which to sit or even work. showers and clever storage space ideas are all on view at your local suppliers once you start looking at what’s available.

The whole concept these days is built around making bathrooms use not only functional but relaxing and stress-free, and even small alterations can move towards this.

We spend large parts of our lives in our BEDROOMS so this might be just the right time to improve yours.

Beds have never been more varied or dedicated to your comfort with Memory Foam mattresses that mould to your body shape, supporting and ensuring a better night’s sleep. Décor and lighting can be geared to enhancing that relaxation and toning bedding can blend in with your new décor and add to that somnolent atmosphere.

You may feel that you want to enjoy your GARDEN far more now that you have the time to make the most of it. Getting in an expert to re-design your garden isn’t as expensive as you might think or you can get advice from your local garden centre on creating new areas in which to sit or even work.

A new patio or wooden decking can make all the difference to gardens of all sizes, as can the latest garden furniture, a new shed or greenhouse or perhaps a hot tub to take advantage of the outdoors while staying warm and cosseted in the warm, bubbling water.

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Often, it’s not the big differences but the small ones that make our lives more enjoyable on a daily basis – and promote a sense of wellbeing that makes us smile every day.

GARDEN ROOMS NO PLANNING PERMISSION REQUIRED IN MOST CASES

Home Office, Gym, Garden Retreat, Man Cave, Art Studio, Games Room, Music Room, Home Cinema, Granny Annexe, Teenagers Pad...

Call them what you will, we call them

‘INSPIRED GARDEN ROOMS’ HIGH QUALITY POWDER COATED ALUMINIUM BIFOLDING & SLIDING DOORS ALL BRITISH MADE WITH 10 YEAR GUARANTEE. TRY BEFORE YOU BUY AT OUR SHOWROOM (M34 5LR).

EMAIL OR CALL US FOR A FREE QUOTATION FOR DOORS OR GARDEN ROOMS.

Email: mark@inspiredslidingdoors.com Email: mark@inspiredgardenrooms.com SHOWROOM NOW OPEN

TEL: 0161 292 3353

6D ARROW TRADING ESTATE, CORPORATION ROAD, MANCHESTER M34 5LR | 31 WWW.50PLUSMAGAZINE.CO.UK

BEFORE

The

solid choice.

The Sentinel Solid Roof is a highly effective alternative when opting to replace a conservatory roof. Using the most realistic looking lightweight tiles on the market, the Sentinel Solid Roof will transform your conservatory.

You don’t just magically become conservatory roof specialists. It takes years of experience, hard-work, dedication, and commitment to customers – and that’s exactly what the team at Sentinel Solid Roof possess.

Based in both Cheshire and Somerset, we’re one of the UK’s most established solid roof specialists – with 19 years’ heritage, we’ve certainly had major experience manufacturing well over 30,000 conservatory roofs, and in doing so developing a wonderfully loyal customer base who trust us to provide the ultimate conservatory roof alternative.

10 YEARS

MANUFACTURER WARRANTY As conservatory roof specialists, we never sit on our laurels – we work tirelessly to improve our materials and methods, and create new solutions for any needs you may have. We know without our customers, we’re nothing. In fact, we bend over backwards to ensure they’re not only satisfied, but delighted with the work we carry out. There’s a reason we insist on stocking a massive range of realistic tiling options; there’s a reason we can custom-build roof styles that seamlessly match your home’s aesthetic.

And that reason is…YOU!

Light Weight Fully Bespoke Timber Construction Minimum Disruption

For your price please call 0161 480 6854 or Gary on 07989 000 955

Or visit our website for a 'Quick Quote'

www.sentinelsolidroof.co.uk

Sentinel Trade Centre, Unit A5,A6,B4 Bankfield Trading Estate, Coronation Street, South Reddish, Stockport, Cheshire SK5 7SE. 32 | WWW.50PLUSMAGAZINE.CO.UK

One stop shop, tiles and flooring available, everything under one roof • Massive choice of traditional or modern • Fabulous showroom with 60 displays open 7 days

See our ns installatio r u o n o site

• Owned by JJO Furniture Manufacturers offering very keen prices and a quick turnaround.

Financially solid.

• Project-managed installation. All aspects covered • Established over 150 years with four experienced designers plus CAD designer for outstanding visual aids.

• 'Buy Now, Pay Later' subject to status

Bacup - 352-358 Newchurch Road, Stacksteads, Bacup. OL13 OLD Tel: 01706 252122 Oswaldtwistle - Oswaldtwistle Mills, Colliers Street, Oswaldtwistle. BB5 3DE Tel: 01254 304068 Ulverston - Kitchen House, Brogden/Market Street, Ulverston. LA12 7AH Tel: 01229 581028 Pendle Village Mill - Hollin Bank, Brierfield, Nelson. Lancashire BB9 5NG Tel: 01282 442424

www.rossendaleinteriors.com WWW.50PLUSMAGAZINE.CO.UK | 33

BEFORE *

AFTER

THE THE ONLY ONLY GARDEN GARDEN FENCE FENCE THAT THAT MAKES MAKES COMMON COMMON SENSE SENSE � ZERO MAINTENANCE � 25 YEAR GUARANTEE* � WITHSTANDS WINDS OF 130MPH

Fencing to be proud of...

Colourfence is a unique garden fence that will never need painting, treating or expensive staining and is maintenance free for life. It looks great all the time, in a choice of four colours and fitted by friendly local installers.

For a no pressure friendly survey call...

Freephone 0800 6444113

www.colourfence.co.uk Colourfence South Manchester

The only fencing you need...

Are you fed up with painting your fence year in year out with expensive treatments? Well now you do not have to, as this amazing Colourfence is maintenance free and never needs painting.

Julie Botham is running the only firm which offers Colourfence in the South Manchester area.

This is great news for homeowners who have become tired of the costly, timeconsuming and never-ending upkeep involved in timber fencing. Colourfence is the smart choice for long-lasting, low-maintenance fencing which comes with a 25 year guarantee and the builtin strength to withstand harsh climates including wind gusts of up to 130 miles per hour.

Over the past 10 years, Colourfence has altered the way in which gardens can be fenced, and it is now available locally.

Just imagine, for the price of a comparable quality timber fence, you could have a fence that’s professionally installed, will stay in place no matter what, and requires no more work than the occasional hose down with water to keep it looking as good as new.

Creosote, fence paint, wood stain — all things of the past with Colourfence, so it’s time for the fence brush to be consigned to the dustbin.

All surveys and installations are handled by Julie and her team, who promise an honest and friendly evaluation of your fences, and a noobligation, no-strings attached quote.

Not only will a Colourfence product provide the perfect backdrop to your garden all year round and perfect privacy from prying neighbours’ eyes, it will also give the peace of mind of having a most secure boundary to your property. With 80% of burglaries taking place after access through garden fences, according to Julie this has to be an added bonus which can’t be ignored.

We can also supply attractive and practical gates in a range of colours to match your fences.

Julie said:“This is great news for the people of South Manchester and the surrounding areas as Colourfence is a premium fencing solution at affordable prices, choosing the product line is a no-brainer.

“There’s virtually no maintenance, and it offers so much more strength and durability than timber fences,” she said.

coating, primer and a beautiful finish coat in four colours to choose from.

Matching railings and gates are also available, which are guaranteed not to rust of flake for 10 years.

Colourfence built its business model on ethical trading, and promises that it will never use hard-sell methods.

Julie said: “We just arrange a friendly meeting to see how we can help customers make a great choice in fencing.

“We offer a no-nonsense, all-in price which includes installation by ourselves. “Combined with the cost and guarantees, this means that Colourfence is much better value than timber in the long term.”

“This includes an honest and straightforward survey of the garden and fences. We show the customer a range of photographs and samples, and offer a no-obligation, no-pressure quotation.

Timber fences need annual upkeep and painting, and yet they will age, spoil and need replacing within a matter of years.

Colourfence, on the other hand, is made of a strong Colorbond steel, with a special anti-corrosion layer that won’t scratch or rust, topped with a special

“The benefits of the products are such that we just don’t need to ‘sell’ them.”

For more information, visit colourfence.co.uk, or contact Julie Botham on info@colourfencesouthmanchester.co.uk or 0800 6444 113.

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| 35

OUT & ABOUT

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

Located off J2 of the M66 and with over 350 stalls open every Full Market Day it’s easy to find and even easier to enjoy!

Mad4Brit

Bury Town Centre is also home to the Fusilier Museum, East Lancashire Railway, Bury Transport Museum and Bury Art Gallery.

Manchester gave birth to a new breed of British music.

Sat 15th Oct 2016 at Waterside Arts Centre

Goosfest 2016

1-16 October 2016 Goostrey, Cheshire Goosfest is a "not for profit" arts and music festival held each year in October at various venues in and round the village of Goostrey in Cheshire. The festival offers a diverse programme of events, including classical, folk, jazz, contemporary music, theatre, musicals, scientific lectures, stand-up comedy, bread making, and craft workshops.

Goosfest will celebrate its 10th Anniversary this October with over 20 events including the Froncysylite Male Voice Choir, Roberts Brass Band, Wychcraft, Richard Digance, Adam Bulley & Chas Mackenzie (formerly Wingin ' It), supported by India Electric Co.

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

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

For more information visit www.goosfest.com

Bollington Walking Festival

24th Sept - 2nd Oct 2016 This is Bollington’s 7th Walking Festival and again there is a great programme of walks and social events. This year there are 40 walks planned to cover all abilities and age ranges. There are more walking groups than ever leading walks and we warmly welcome for the first time Macclesfield Eye Society. Walkers are Welcome continue to extend a hand of friendship to all who visit Bollington.

For more information visit www.bollingtonwalkingfestival.co.uk

36 | WWW.50PLUSMAGAZINE.CO.UK

1983 saw a new band called The Stone Roses form in Manchester. They were one of the pioneering groups of the MADCHESTER movement that was active during the late 1980s and early 1990s.

The band released their debut album in 1989. The album was a breakthrough success and garnered critical acclaim, with many critics regarding it as one of the greatest British albums ever recorded.

It was the beginning of something much bigger and a scene that was to change music forever.

MADCHESTER was born!

This was to be the starting point for many British Bands like...... The Happy Mondays, Oasis, The Charlatans, The Verve, The Farm, Inspiral Carpets. to name a few. They were to take over the world of music.

Mad4Brit is an exciting energetic tribute to that very era, taking their audiences on a nostalgic Journey of their youth played out through music and film back to a time when music was a way of life.

Relive Madchester all over again with Mad4Brit the band will take you on a journey back to a time when everybody was MAD FOR IT! For more information visit watersideartscentre.co.uk

OUT & ABOUT

PLUS

Everly Brothers Tribute THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW

Monday 24th to Saturday 29th October 2016 Manchester Opera House Since its first appearance at the royal court theatre in june 1973, richard o’brien’s the rocky horror show has become the world’s favourite rock n’ roll musical. It has been performed worldwide in over 30 countries in every continent and has been translated into more than 20 languages. To celebrate the 40th anniversary, christopher luscombe created a brand new production for a year-long UK national tour.

STOCKPORT PLAZA MONDAY 3RD OCTOBER 2016 Show Starts 7.45 All Tickets £15.00 from Stockport Plaza Box office

www.dreamerslive.co.uk

Ready to thrill you with its frothy, fun, and naughty moments, this is the boldest bash of them all, so sharpen those stilettos for the rockiest ride of your life! Follow squeaky-clean sweethearts Brad and Janet on an adventure they’ll never forget, with the scandalous Frank'n'Furter, rippling Rocky and vivacious Magenta. Get ready for a night of fun, frolics and frivolity in this thrilling production of Richard O’Brien’s classic original script! Bursting at the seams with timeless classics, including Sweet Transvestite, Damn it Janet, and of course, the pelvic-thrusting Time Warp, Richard O’Brien’s Rocky Horror show is a non-stop party!

To book tickets visit atgtickets.com

WIN A £25 M&S GIFT CARD! SIMPLY VISIT OUR COMPETITIONS SECTION ON WWW.50PLUSMAGAZINE.CO.UK

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| 37

OUT & ABOUT PULSE RECORDS LTD in association with BILL ELMS presents

HELEN FORRESTER’S TO CROSS THE MERSEY Written by ROB FENNAH Directed by BOB EATON

“Tremendous and performed by a cast who give everything” 9/10 - Liverpool Sound and Vision

Blakemere's Christmas Woodland

“A Brilliant Play”

Every weekend from Saturday 3rd until Sunday 18th December at Chester Road, Sandiway, Northwich, Cheshire CW8 2EB

Cheshire Today

Follow the path in our woodland and discover amazing characters that help you find Father Christmas in his hideaway.

Kids enjoy a fun craft activity to create their own wooden tree with a magical star, before everyone enjoys ice skating on our artificial rink, fairground rides and a trip on Santa's Express as well as meeting Snowy the Owl. The perfect way to treat all the family this festive season.

From £27.50 per person Please note Blakemere’s Christmas Woodland is an outdoor event, set in a real woodland. It is therefore important that you are aware that there may be natural hazards like tree stumps and roots, uneven ground and surfaces, grassed areas and muddy conditions. Parts of the woodland are hilly and we have adapted Blakemere’s Christmas Woodland to accommodate wheelchair users where possible but some areas are not accessible - Please call 01606 883261 if you would like more information regarding accessibility.

The weather can be very unpredictable and therefore suitable clothing is required at this time of the year including suitable footwear like wellies or walking shoes/boots and warm hats and gloves. The Event has been designed for children aged (approximately) three years upwards. Younger children are more than welcome to attend but will need assistance around areas of the woodland.

Please be aware that we advise you book for a minimum of one adult per two children.

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

CAST: Eithne Browne, Chris Jordan, Emma Dears, Phil Hearne Maria Lovelady, Jake Abraham, Roy Carruthers ,Tom Cawte

TUE 1 - FRI 4 NOV 2016 EVENING: 7.30pm / WED MATINEE: 2.30pm

CALL BOX OFFICE: 0161 477 7779 ONLINE: STOCKPORTPLAZA.CO.UK www.twopencetocrossthemersey.com

Elf Scapade

Sunday 4 December 2016, 11am Longford Park, Edge Lane, Stretford, Manchester M32 8PX Since the elves spend all year caring for Santa we want to celebrate their fantastic work by asking you to run free like an elf! We are inviting you to get involved in our Elf-Scapade in Longford Park, Stretford. The Elf-Scapade is a 5K route in which participants can run, jog, walk or bounce along as elves to raise funds for Trafford Carers Centre.

Festive dress is preferred but not essential when taking part.

So, come on down, take part or simply cheer on runners. Let’s fill the park with elves and get into the Christmas spirit and celebrate our own carers who work like elves all year round!

For more information, visit www.traffordcarerscentre.org.uk

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If you’re aged over 60, call now for your freeaged bowel cancer screening kit If you’re over 60, call now for your free bowel cancer screening kit

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| 39

HEALTH

Quality dentures mean a quality lifestyle The Importance of Dentures

Choice of Dentures

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

There are three main quality standards in denture materials:

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.

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 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.

40 | WWW.50PLUSMAGAZINE.CO.UK

Denture Base Acrylics: standard quality, high impact much stronger non brittle and the latest thermoplastic.

Denture Teeth: 2-layer acrylic very basic and cheap, 3-layer acrylic re-enforced much harder, 4-layer composite extra hard and natural looking.

However, good materials on their own will not make good dentures. A skilful and experienced clinician and technician are required. The best results are achieved when the whole job is done by the same person.

How Long Should Dentures Last?

The question we should ask is, how long will my dentures be functional for? Dentures can last twenty or more years, but will lose their function (chewing ability, proper fit etc.) probably after two years. This will depend on many factors:

1. Quality of dentures.

2. Age of Patient.

3. General health of patient.

4. Any drastic change in weight.

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.

HEALTH 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 relined as soon as possible to get a good fit. It only takes a day or two.

Have your dentures inspected by a dentist or denturist at least every two years, or more frequently if necessary.

Your Dentures need Attention 1.

2.

3.

4.

When they become loose.

When teeth or denture base discolours.

When tooth surfaces become flat.

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.

Loose Dentures Can be re-lined by adding a thin layer of the new acrylic to fit the surface of the dentures, making them fit better (takes one or two days).

Dentures with worn down teeth Teeth can be replaced with a new set.

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.

Where do I go to have a good set of Dentures made?

Every dentist can make dentures, but not all of them will specialise in denture making.

Denturists will take the greatest care to make your dentures look natural and fit properly. They can give you and your dentures the time and attention you deserve.

Summary 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

Clean your dentures daily with a denture brush and denture cream.

Have your dentures inspected every two years, and relined or ultra-sonically cleaned.

Have a new set made every 5 years if possible.

Keep a spare set for emergencies.

Remember, dentures do not have to hurt and do not need to be uncomfortable.

With a new set of dentures, you should receive a written guarantee, a detailed prescription of the materials used in your dentures, cleaning and servicing instructions, and a cleaning kit.

Dentures so life-like you'd think they were real.

A service that will make you smile!

Offering Denture Perfection l l l l l

Emergency Denture Repairs Free Consultations Friendly Personal Service Open Late Ample Parking

GDC (REG) T.W. ELLWOOD Dip CDT RCS (ENG)

www.thedenturepeople.com HILLSIDE DENTURE CENTRE, THE ARCHWAYS private medical & health clinic, 86 stockport road, romiley, stockport SK6 3AA Tel: 0161 406 0400 THE didsbury denture centre, the dental health centre, 1b school lane, didsbury m20 6rd Tel: 0161 445 5459 WWW.50PLUSMAGAZINE.CO.UK

| 41

CARE A: Today all care providers have a

responsibility to care for and support all older people including those living in residential, nursing, respite and rehabilitation care homes. This includes a commitment to treat everyone with dignity and respect and to provide them with choice and control over their own care. Specific individual requirements should be provided as far as possible in wellequipped facilities with specially trained, caring staff on duty 24 hours a day.

Dr Hilary Jones

Q & A: Choosing the right care If you have ever had to consider care home provision for yourself, or a loved one, you will no doubt understand that it can be a difficult time. There are a myriad of questions to consider in order to ensure you select the care home that is right for you, meeting your individual requirements, and most of all, placing your wellbeing at its heart.

So whether you, or a loved one, are considering entering sheltered living accommodation, residential care, or a care home environment, it is important to research thoroughly beforehand to ensure the care environment you select is right for you.

Resident Doctor, and Expert Healthcare Advisor with Repose Furniture, Dr Hilary Jones recently took part in a question and answer session to uncover how The Care Quality Commission together with healthcare professionals, care home providers, and specialist furniture manufacturers, can work together to ensure an integrated, person centred approach to care, keeping best practice at the forefront for care home residents.

42 | WWW.50PLUSMAGAZINE.CO.UK

During the discussion, Dr Hilary explained that by offering existing, and future, care home residents an integrated approach to care which focuses on their individual needs and requirements, healthcare professionals and care home managers can really engage with their residents, creating meaningful relationships which can really work towards offering a best practice model of care.

Q: Elderly people in care homes often suffer from a variety of long term healthcare problems, which require specialist care and support.

With this in mind how could The Care Quality Commission (CQC) ensure that care home residents are receiving the care they require?

The CQC can oversee this. They can ensure that people retain as much independence as possible in comfort and privacy. They can encourage providers to provide personalised accommodation for individual taste together with pleasant communal dining and lounge areas. Specialist furniture designed specifically for the needs of the elderly, such as comfortable bespoke armchairs and seating makes a huge difference.

Specialised seating, such as that manufactured by Repose Furniture, can correctly support residents who may spend a large proportion of their day seated; such seats can also form the basis of a number of exercise routines for those residents with limited mobility.

Care home residents should be encouraged to engage in varied activity programmes to keep their minds busy and prevent isolation. By employing an activities co-ordinator to engage residents in the things they are most interested, care homes can actively promote physical and mental wellbeing.

Q: Who needs to be involved in order to effectively achieve a personcentred, integrated approach to patient care?

A: One important aspect of this kind of integrated approach is liaison between care home managers, GPs, and other healthcare professionals who should be working together to co-ordinate patients’ needs in a singular approach. The CQC clearly have a responsibility to make sure that all medications for example are handled in the safest way but these high standards should reach out into other areas and this holds true for specialist dementia and end-oflife care providers also. Care Home

Managers are in an excellent position to co-ordinate these approaches and to ensure that residents obtain the very best care tailored to their personal needs.

Q: Can you outline some of the benefits as a result of offering a person-centred, integrated care plan as opposed to a more generalised approach?

A: The traditional generalised approach to care for the elderly left people feeling disempowered and rather helpless. Benefits of offering residents a person- centred, integrated approach to care would include putting residents and their families at the heart of all decisions. The collaborative team philosophy should ensure that the residents enjoy as much independence as possible with as little conflict and as much compassion, dignity, and respect as possible. This personalised approach is seen to be beneficial to everyone and its incorporation into health and social care is now being adopted as a priority in the UK and part of the Government’s Putting People First programme for social care.

Q: Would an integrated approach to care home healthcare give rise to better understanding of a patient’s healthcare needs?

A: All patients and residents of care homes come

from different backgrounds and upbringings and maintain their own beliefs and interests. Each in turn will have their own particular set of social circumstances and medical care needs. With integrated care, patients and residents are seen as equal parties in planning, developing, and assessing their care to ensure that it is appropriate to their needs. It relies on the personal qualities of each person in care and the staff to build nonjudgemental and empathetic relationships.

Q: Do you believe that there are steps managers at care homes can take to facilitate an integrated approach to patient care?

A: Managers at care homes can take many steps to facilitate an integrated approach to patient care.

By speaking to the patients themselves and to their families they can build a picture of that person’s past and present, and of their medical and social care needs and preferences. The resident themselves can help decide which activities they wish to be involved in and to what extent. Their medical and nursing requirements can be tailored to their individual needs and each healthcare professional informed in turn as to what role is expected of them in the context of which other services are being delivered.

Depersonalisation, lack of control, and the removal of all individuality was once the greatest fear for somebody entering residential care. With an integrated approach to person centred care there is no reason why these fears and apprehensions should not become a thing of the past.

Absolute Care & Support specialise in Home Care support services for Adults with Physical Disabilities, Learning Difficulties, Sensory Impairment and Mental Health Conditions and those in need of short or long-term assistance with activities of daily life.

We knew we would need help on an ongoing basis. Absolute Care & Support helped us work a care plan around our needs.

COULD YOU JOIN OUR TEAM OF DEDICATED CARERS?

Absolute Care & Support specialise in Home Care support services for Adults with Physical Disabilities, Learning Difficulties, Sensory Impairment and Mental Health Conditions and those in need of short or long-term assistance with activities of daily life.

Call Karen or Janyce for more information on 0161 430 4676

Office 6, Holly House, Hyde Road, Woodley SK6 1NB

www.absolutecareandsupport.com WWW.50PLUSMAGAZINE.CO.UK

| 43

Bankfield House Care Home

Helping you enjoy life

Bankfield House aims to provide residents with a secure, relaxed and homely environment in which their care, well being and comfort is of prime importance.

Our highly trained staff are dedicated carers who value the concept of person centred care.

• Up to 30 residents, 24 single and 3 Twin Rooms • 3 Lounges / 2 Dining Rooms / Large Conservatory • Permanent / Short Term / Respite Stay • Day Care Service • Home Made Cooked Food • Social Activities on a Daily Basis • Beautifully Appointed Formal Gardens

CORE VALUES OF CARE

Privacy Dignity Rights Independence Choice Fulfillment Security Respect Equality 44 | WWW.50PLUSMAGAZINE.CO.UK

• Visiting Practicioners • Regular Outings • Weekly Hairdressing • CCTV/ 24hr Security

OUR HOME IS YOUR HOME

PHILOSOPHY OF CARE

Bankfield House is an independent, privately owned Care Home situated in a quiet corner of Woodley in the tranquility of its own attractive landscaped gardens consisting of ponds, bar-be-cue and pergolas.

We aim to provide Residents with a secure, relaxed and homely environment in which their care, well being and comfort is of prime importance.

The Home accommodates 30 Residents requiring High Dependency and Standard Residential Care in 24 single and 3 twin rooms (8 shower en-suite facilities and 7 ensuite toilet, 2 bathrooms and 1 shower room) situated on the ground and first floor, serviced by a passenger lift. Our ethos is to assist our Residents in continuing to live their lives as independently as their specific needs determine by providing holistic care and support conducive to those needs and meeting the needs of those Residents whose conditions have had an impact on the ageing process.

The Home offers dedicated care for Permanent/Short term/Respite stay, Day Care (tailored to your needs) providing each individual Resident with security, dignity and peace of mind in a homely, comfortable and happy family environment.

There are three lounges, a large conservatory and two dining rooms. We operate a NO SMOKING policy within the Home.

We encourage personal choice, with stimulation and freedom to live ones life as far as the individual’s physical ability and/or mental capacity allows.

Carers will strive to preserve and maintain the dignity, individuality and privacy of all our Residents within a warm, caring and happy atmosphere, and in doing so will be sensitive to each Residents’ ever changing needs.

This will be achieved through programmes of activities designed to encourage mental stimulation, self-esteem, and social interaction with other Residents and with recognition of the following core values of care, which are fundamental to the philosophy of our home.

All care staff within the home appropriately qualified to deliver the highest standards of care. A continuous staff training programme is implemented to ensure that these high standards are maintained in line with the latest initiatives and developments in care practices as may be laid down in appropriate legislation, and registration authority guidelines.

Contact our friendly team on:

0161 406 6468

Email: admin@bankfieldcare.co.uk Bankfield House Care Home, Bankfield Road, Woodley, Stockport SK6 1RQ

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5 Ways To Keep Your Finances On Track There are numerous reasons why you might suddenly need cash, and one of the most worrying are those occasions when the latest crop of bills pour into your inbox or through the front door. From utilities such as gas, water and internet broadband through to emergencies such as health/ veterinary bills and car insurance, there are a huge number of both expected and unexpected charges that we sometimes face – and it’s not always easy to find an answer.

Borrow from friends/family

Here are five solutions you might wish to consider:

You might be able to get rid of items that you don’t need anymore as a quick fix. eBay, Craigslist, Etsy and other auction/sale sites may be the first port of call for getting rid of unneeded items but don’t discount more traditional sales routes such as jumble sales. Online sales are booming and you might be able to take advantage.

Borrow

This might be regarded as a dangerous option, but with a diligent plan for paying it off it can actually be a very smart way of reconfiguring your finances. A simple instalment loan, from companies such as Avant Credit, Wonga or Besavvi, can crystallise what money you need and when. Only borrow the amount you need and make sure you can afford the monthly payments. Be cautious of all the fees that lenders may charge and always do your homework before choosing the right type of lender.

Borrowing money from friends and family is never an easy topic to talk about. If you’re left with no choice, you should approach this topic carefully. You’ll need to have a clear plan on how and when you intend to pay the money back. The last thing you want to do is risk having a sour relationship with your friends and family over money.

Selling items

Extra work

If you’ve got a few weeks until the bill has to be settled you might be able to arrange to pay it off through pure hard graft. Extra hours at work might be a possibility, or one other intriguing possibility for gaining quick cash is through a website such as Fiverr, which allows you to sell a service online.

The website lists freelancers offering their talents for design, writing, marketing, and other skills.

Ring up the bill company

Utility service suppliers, banks, and other public/private companies want you to pay bills, as forcing you to pay something which then plunges you into further financial crisis through late payment charges or even legal action does not benefit anyone.

Therefore they might be amenable to stretching out payment a month or two later – before the deadline, give the company a call and request paying off the debt in instalments as part of an overall payment plan. This will take into account both your current financial status and your projected ability to pay future bills before finding a monthly amount that hopefully suits all parties.

If your situation later changes again you could make another call, and renegotiate further. Hopefully however the action of making the first telephone call will be enough to convince you to change your financial priorities and be more organised with your money so that you will never need to do anything similar again.

You could* qualify for a free, or discounted, new boiler and insulation. Saving you up to £500** a year on your energy bills.

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* Subject to survey, eligibility and availability. Additional costs may apply and you will be informed at the time of the survey ** Estimate savings for a three bedroom semi-detached home when replacing an old G rated boiler with a programmer and room thermostat with a new A-rated condensing boiler with a programmer, room thermostat and thermostatic radiator controls, and installing cavity wall and 270mm of loft insulation where there was none previously. Your actual savings will vary depending on the size and thermal performance of your home. Figures are based on fuel prices as of March 2016. http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/domestic/improving-my-home-0

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