The Ferndown & West Parley Directory - July 2023

Julia’s House Family Fun Day Huge

Success

Celebrity Interview: Michelle Yeoh

Green ngers: Alan Titchmarsh

Column

The Adventures of Daichi

Design for Life: Kevin McCloud

Column

Recipe: Rachel

Khoo’s Ice

Box Cake

Welcome...

Dear Residents,

It is with great pleasure that we deliver your July issue of The Ferndown & West Parley Directory. As always, we have reliable trades people and businesses that would love to hear from you. We are here for you to connect with your local business owners and help the local economy thrive. Helping each other has been an intention of mine from a very early age and I love what we do here at Modern Magazines. There are editorials and articles for you to read which we hope you enjoy, all in the comfort of your own home. We also have a Facebook page, and this magazine can be viewed online at: www.modernmagazines.co.uk

In addition to that we now have a fully interactive Dorset E-Magazine (only online) and if that is of interest, please email me at: debbie@modernmagazines.co.uk and I will add your details for a free subscription to that magazine which has online games, competitions, local trades and much more.

With the summer holidays about to begin we wish you the best of summers with time to spend outside with family and friends.

Debbie, Stephen & all the team at Modern Magazines

England Expects

After winning the 2022 European Championships – the first major-tournament win in the Three Lions’ history, England go into the 2023 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand with confidence, unity and a weight of expectation.

England’s women are on a high. Their sensational Euros success has driven a new wave of British Bulldog belief, and it would be a mistake not to believe our Three Lions can repeat the incredible successes from 2022 and, in the process, continue to inspire a nation of female footballers.

Plus, with England’s Dutch coach Sarina Wiegman recording an 81% win ratio –her team scoring 138 goals in just 31 matches, with only one single defeat in that time, against Australia in a friendly in April – optimism is at an alltime high.

Wiegman’s players will commence their campaign by facing minnows Haiti in Brisbane on July 22nd, with the games against the other sides in Group D seeing them encounter Denmark on July 28th in Sydney and Asian

champions China in Adelaide on August 1st.

Winning Group D, as they should, may well land England a toughlooking second-round game against Canada, who ended Wiegman’s long winning run on a cold night in January 2022, in a 1-1 draw at the Riverside Stadium, Middlesbrough. Beyond that, Germany looks the likely opposition in the quarter-finals.

While the majority of the personnel from the Euros triumph is set to go Down Under, Ellen White and Jill Scott retired on a high after the Euros win, so new heroes will be sought, particularly as the squad will be missing captain Leah Williamson, who was ruled out with an ACL injury in April.

Thankfully, there is much competition for

Williamson’s centre-back berth, and considerable versatility elsewhere with players able to adapt to new positions, something typical of Wiegman’s Dutch ‘Total Football’ roots.

Millie Bright and Lucy Bronze are mainstays, with Maya Le Tissier’s addition to the England fold a huge bonus due to her ability in playing right across the back line. Lotte WubbenMoy is another utility player, as are Lucy Parker, Jess Carter, Esme Morgan and Niamh Charles.

Keira Walsh and Georgia

Stanway look to have cemented their places in midfield, while Jordan Nobbs and Ella Toone are sure to be on the plane. The rest of that part of England’s squad is harder to call.

Alessia Rousso is looking more and more like the number nine, and with Beth England and Ebony Salmon pushing into contention, the squad looks competitive and should go close to that elusive World crown.

Ferndown Probus Club

Covering Ferndown, West Moors, Ashley Heath, St Leonards, Parley & District

Now is an excellent time to meet new people and make new friends. Why not join our members for lunch each month at the Dudsbury Golf Club, Hotel & Spa? Good food, good company and interesting speakers, just what you have been waiting for!

Ferndown PROBUS is a members’ club for retired or semi-retired professional men and our aim is to create a positive ambience of fellowship, friendship and fun.

We meet on the first Wednesday

of each month at the Brabant Function Room, Dudsbury Golf Club, Hotel & Spa, Ferndown commencing at 12 noon. Meetings are centred around a two-course lunch, followed by a talk given by invited Speakers covering a diverse range of subjects. Many of our ladies meet for a more informal gathering in the Spikes Bar at the same venue at the same time or arrange to meet at an alternative location.

A coffee morning is also held at the Brabant Function Room on the second Wednesday of each month for our members and their partners to enjoy a relaxed and sociable get together.

Other social gatherings and events are arranged throughout the year in accordance with member interest.

New members will be made most welcome. For further details please ring the Secretary, Alan Stevens, on 01202 876826, or email: alan_

stevens@talk21.com

More detailed information about the club can be found on our website:

www.ferndownprobusclub.org

President: Brian Quist

Puzzle Page Quick Crossword

2. Inn (3)

5. Relating to nature (6)

7. Associate (6)

9. Situation (11)

10. Scramble (6)

11. Comfortable position (6)

13. Take off (6)

Down Clues:

1. Frédéric (6)

2. Upper part of a woman’s dress (6)

3. Recover (6)

4. Relating to a state (6)

6. Writing in shorthand (11)

8. Not necessary (11)

16. Republic in Central America (6)

18. Rich country controls others (11)

19. Colour again (6)

20. Empty (6)

21. Humid (3)

10. Large Australian bird (3)

12. Seventh letter in the Greek alphabet (3)

14. Unpleasant sound (6)

15. Die (6)

16. Small nuts, under the ground (6)

17. Animals (6)

Word Ladder

Make

History Quiz

1. What year was the Battle of Hastings?

2. In which year did World War 2 start?

3. When was the Great Pyramid built?

4. What year was the Declaration of American Independence?

5. When was the formation of the League of Nations?

6. In which year was the Twin Towers attack?

7. What year was the crucifixion of Jesus Christ?

8. In what year did the Black Death outbreak start?

9. What year was the invention of the phone?

10. When did the Coronavirus pandemic occur?

Everything, Everywhere...but not all at once

Even at the age of 60, the 2023 Academy Award win may be the start of something big for Malaysian actress Michelle Yeoh.

Multiverse sci-fi brain-wrecker Everything Everywhere, All At Once, starring Academy Award-winner Michelle Yeoh – who scooped the coveted Best Actress gong – is a movie that’s divided opinion. There are those who enjoyed it for what it is and how it was intended… a far-reaching film about love and acceptance, fun, creative, hilarious and unique; while others found it difficult to locate that necessary suspension of disbelief required for such a complex piece of theatre.

Either way, the main star of the mindbender, Michelle Yeoh, gave a virtuoso performance, deservedly won her nominated category (one of seven awards the film scooped at the prestigious event), in the process becoming the first Asian and only the second woman of colour to do so.

“When I was young back home in Malaysia, I never ever dreamt of being where I am today,” says the actress, who is now in her fifth decade of performing.

“There wasn’t a huge movie industry there and when I looked up at the screen to see stars mainly from the Western Hemisphere up there, shining

bright and looking so amazing, it was never

in my mind to think I could emulate them or.

“I appeared in an advert with Jackie Chan for Guy Laroche watches, but even then I thought that was the furthest I would venture, and that my life and my career was destined to remain back at home.”

Quickly though, Yeoh began to realise she had much more in common with the martial arts legend Chan than a simple timepiece, given she performed most of her own stunts in films such as Yes, Madam and Magnificent Warriors, as her career began to blossom.

she soon

The actress worked hard at refining the way she went about acting, and soon global acclaim arrived when she appeared alongside Pierce Brosnan in the Bond movie Tomorrow Never Dies.

Big projects arrived in the form of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, then a slew of Hollywood projects, including Memoirs of a Geisha, Reign of Assassins, The Lady and Last Christmas.

“My biggest piece of advice is to listen to everyone and anyone!” she laughs. “It’s sometimes very easy to be precious about who you are and to what extent you want to bend and flip for the industry.

“We all go in with ideas of people loving us for being us, where really we are all products of everyone else’s influence, and we should be proud of that. You can never stop taking in the enrichment of others, no matter where you are in your career.”

Need help with your tax?

Brothers set to walk 24 hours non-stop along Bournemouth and

Poole’s beaches

Brothers, Luke and Joseph Hawker, are taking on a unique fundraising challenge in aid of Diverse Abilities, on Saturday 1st July.

They will be walking the 7-mile stretch of Bournemouth and Poole beaches for 24 hours non-stop. The route will be up and down the coastline from Sandbanks Beach Office to Hengistbury Head for a full 24 hours. Adapting to whatever weather conditions the first weekend in July will bring, they will be contending with no sleep and meals on the go. The pair’s chosen charity, Diverse Abilities, supports people who have life-long disabilities as well as complex medical needs. Their services are open to them and their families 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Therefore, this challenge pays homage to the work of the charity but also aims to highlight the struggles families face living with disability.

The idea came from Luke Hawker, a Trust, and Grants Fundraiser at Diverse Abilities. He comments, “I was inspired to take on a 24-hour challenge that had never been done before. As the 7-mile stretch of Bournemouth and Poole beaches is so iconic to Dorset, which is the core area Diverse Abilities covers, walking it for a straight 24-hours seemed to represent the charity very well, and of course, has

never been done before. The beach is also a highly diverse and accessible place. This is what Diverse Abilities is all about.”

Luke will be joined by his brother, Joseph, who is a teacher currently living in Doha, Qatar. Joseph is flying over to the UK especially for the challenge. The brothers are expected to be joined by over 20 friends, family and colleagues at certain points throughout the day, including their childhood friends, Emilio Crespi, Connor Oliver and James Crana.

SoBo Beach, located on Southbourne beach are supporting the challenge by supplying Luke and Joe and their core team with food and refreshments for the duration of the walk.

For more information about the challenge, and to sponsor Luke and Joseph visit their JustGiving page: justgiving.com/page/24challenge.

You can find more about the charity at diverseabilities.org.uk

Firework Cruise Around Poole Harbour To Raise Funds For Diverse Abilities

Join Diverse Abilities this summer on a cruise around Europe’s largest natural harbour on August 24, setting sail at 7:30pm.

This is an incredible opportunity to experience panoramic views of Studland Bay, Sandbanks Peninsula, and Poole Harbour’s islands including Brownsea Island returning to Poole Quay to enjoy the spectacular firework finale at 10pm.

You’ll be greeted aboard the Purbeck Princess with a glass of prosecco, and have the opportunity to purchase drinks from the onboard bar, and enter a raffle to win an epic hamper.

Mariana Swain, events executive at Diverse Abilities, commented: “We are really looking forward to our fireworks cruise again this August,

particularly after the success of last year’s event. We can’t wait to welcome our supporters on board for a relaxing evening cruise and firework finale, all in aid of Diverse Abilities.”

This is a great chance to get together with friends and family to enjoy summer evening in style, as well as raising money for Diverse Abilities, Dorset’s Disability Charity. The money raised from the evening will go directly to Diverse Abilities to support over 1,000 adults and children with disabilities with more than 200,000 hours of care delivered across Dorset.

Tickets for the three hour cruise are available at diverseabilities. org.uk/fireworks for £25 per adult and £15 per child, with an option to add on a delicious fish and chip supper (or one of our other options) for £8.

Dry Cleaning

From a throwaway trend to a beauty essential, is dry shampoo hair to stay?

Available as either a powder or aerosol spray, dry shampoo, first formulated way back in 1972, contains absorbent substances – such as starch or silica – that help gather in oil, dirt, plus excess sebum and sweat from the hair without the need for water. All these things can accumulate on the scalp and hair strands, and when applied, the absorbent particles in the dry shampoo cling to grime and other impurities, making it easier to brush or shake them out of the hair. This results in a cleaner, fresher appearance without the use of water.

While dry shampoo has become a popular option for individuals with busy lifestyles, as well as for those who want to preserve their hair colour or avoid overwashing, its performance depends on a few things, the first being the quality of the product. Some formulas contain higher-quality ingredients that can more

effectively absorb oil and dirt, while others may leave a residue or not perform as well. It’s essential to find a dry shampoo that works well for your specific hair type and needs.

And on the subject of hair type, dry shampoo tends to be most effective for individuals with oily or fine hair, as these varieties are more prone to accumulating excess oil. Those with dry or curly hair may find that dry shampoo is less effective at removing build-up and may even exacerbate dryness.

Other potential downsides include uneven coverage, given it’s a manual and sometimes awkward application technique, and scalp irritation.

Some brands may promote themselves as doing great things for water conservation, and while it’s also true that dry shampoo holds colour that might otherwise fade with constant washing, these are, in truth, minor benefits, and it’s vital to understand

that the product is ultimately designed with one thing in mind – convenience. It offers a quick and easy way to refresh hair between washes, providing a fix for those who may not have the time, energy or access to water to wash their hair in a conventional manner.

The popularity of dry shampoo has never been higher, and the product has certainly earned a prominent place on the shelves on our salons and stores, although ‘exception’ rather than ‘rule’, in terms of use and regularity, seems to be the message for this follicle friend.

T HO MA S J O NE S

We are a friendly family owned stonemasons with our own fully equipped workshops, providing memorials and associated services throughout Dorset and Hampshire

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Fred & Pepper are both looking for forever homes!

Hello, Fred and Pepper are two older gentlemen who are looking for their forever homes. They have been living at Waggy Tails for a few months now and have not yet had any firm interest. They are looking for separate homes but, as they are of similar age, we wanted to show them together.

Fred (on the left) is a 14 year old Jack Russell. He is friendly with people, rather keen on food and is currently on a diet. He gets on reasonably well outside with quieter dogs but would prefer a home of his own. He enjoys his walks and plods along happily sniffing. Pepper (on the right) is a 12 year old Shih Tzu cross. He is good with people and has come out of his shell since he arrived. He enjoys the company of respectful dogs and could possibly live with another dog. He is very much enjoying his walks and happy to sit in the garden having a quiet cuddle. He enjoys his naps but has been known to play too.

If you are able to offer me or one of my lovely friends a forever home or a foster home

Please contact our office on:

Tel: 01202 875000

Email: admin@waggytails.org.uk

or visit our website : www.waggytails.org.uk

We also have lots of other dogs looking for their forever homes.

SECURE EXERCISE /TRAINING AREA : It is in all our interests to have well trained dogs. So we are pleased to now be able to offer the use of two enclosed fields for dog training. These are side by side and established at Ashley Heath. One also has agility equipment installed. Use of the fields will be £10 per hour, or £50 for 6 sessions. A one way route has also been set up to provide a walk taking about 40 minutes for those of us who have

dogs difficult with other dogs; although horses and other animals may be close by. We have a number of dog trainers who will be using these facilities and can supply their details to anyone who needs extra help. All enquiries to the office please

Waggy Tails Rescue are in need of more foster homes. If you are at home most of the time, have a secure garden an experienced with dogs then please give us a ring and discuss fostering for us. It is a very rewarding experience and enables us to continue helping these dogs.

(No children under 10 in the house please.)

Waggy Tails Rescue is a registered charity based in Dorset, we rescue and rehome dogs that have been abandoned, neglected or otherwise in need of a new home. We also find homes for other small furries that may be in our care, so to find out more you can contact us on the number above or send donations or letters to:

Waggy Tails Rescue

Helen’s House

143 Magna Road

Wimborne

BH21 3AW

Thank you for supporting us!

Who or what are we?

Ferndown and Parley Rotary Club members come from all walks of life but with one thing in common: they want to give something back. They give of their time and run events to raise money to support local charities and deserving causes.

Through the worldwide network of Rotary clubs, we also donate funds to support international emergency relief efforts, such as Ukraine, the Pakistan flood disaster.

We meet on the first and third Wednesdays of each month at Dudsbury Golf Club to enjoy a meal, maybe listen to a speaker on a topic of interest, just socialise or plan future events. Visitors are always welcome.

What do we do?

Annually, through our charity “Ferndown and Parley Rotary CIO”, we run a series of events to raise money for charities or provide an opportunity for the Ferndown community to come together:

• In June we hold the Fete-on-the-Field on the King George V Playing Fields in Ferndown. Organised in association with Ferndown Town Council and our regular sponsor, Hearnes Estate Agents, the Fete offers market stalls, a classic car show, a range of entertainment for all the family and a good choice of food to enjoy.

• Also in June we hold our Charity Golf Day at Dudsbury Golf Club, supported by our regular sponsor Hendy’s Motors. Open to golfers of all abilities, this event has raised over £100,000 since its inception.

• September sees the Parley Pairs Golf Day, played at Crane Valley Golf Club. Again, open to golfers of all ages and abilities for a fun day to raise money for good causes. This is a very lucky event – there has never been a need to carry an umbrella.

• December is a busy time for us organising the Christmas-in-Ferndown event, again in

association with Ferndown Town Council and Hearnes. A family day of market stalls, entertainment, food and Santa’s Grotto, all in and around Pennys Walk, culminates in the Mayor switching on the Ferndown Christmas Lights.

• Also in December we make our Christmas Collections in aid of local charities. In 2022, this raised ca.£1500. Thank you to Sainsburys Ferndown for letting us collect outside their store.

• Twice a year, we host our ‘Old Folks Tea Party’, providing fellowship, entertainment and afternoon tea for local senior citizens at St. Marks Church. Transport to and from is provided for those who need it.

Alongside these core events we hold quiz evenings, BBQs, sporting get-togethers, social gatherings throughout the year.

Who do we help?

We endeavour to support local good causes

If you know of anyone in need that could use a helping hand, please let us know.

Coming Up

By the time that you read this we shall have held both the Fete on the Field and our Charity Golf Day. July is an important month for our club with our current President handing over the reins to his successor Bill Dinwoodie for the coming Rotary Year. (See photo above)

Interested?

For more details of future meetings and events, or if you’d like to get involved go to our website at FerndownandParleyRotary.org , or call our membership secretary Paul on 01202 871614

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A Design for Life… e Kevin McCloud Column

Designer, writer and television presenter, Kevin McCloud leapt into our consciousness with his vastly successful Grand Designs show on Channel 4. This month, the affable architectural business owner talks about getting back to the basic elements of how a home should make us feel.

I was in conversation with someone the other day and they asked me what sort of feeling I thought they should give to a new home interiors project of theirs.

What I found interesting about the question is the fact it’s an almost impossible one to answer, for the main reason that you can’t force anyone to feel any way about something that they don’t naturally, instinctively, unintentionally feel themselves.

If a person dislikes something with a passion, it’s very likely

there is no positive slant you can put on things that will encourage them to change their mind. This is just who we are.

My answer was instead to think about stimulating positive feelings in the way the house was designed. In essence, to realise the things we want to feel, then style and create in order to fulfil those emotions. So, for example, it’s always important to create a sense of place and belonging in our homes. These homes are not just physical structures, but also repositories of our memories, emotions and personal identities, and should be designed to reflect our values, personalities and lifestyles.

Most people know I am a big fan of authenticity in home

design, so that comes into it; and I also believe in the importance of creating space that is functional and practical, rather than simply beautiful, perhaps with references given to the environment or sustainability.

Mostly though, above all those things, a home should be a place that feels safe, comfortable, and happy. Only then will it feel ’right’, and it may take several failed attempts along the way to finally get to that place where you are content.

And then prepare for the point a decade down the line when your evolving tastes talk you into ripping it all up and starting again!

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Rick Stein’s Butter ied Lamb

Introduction

Top Tip

You can buy a readyboned or a butterflied leg of lamb, or ask your butcher to bone it for you.

This leg of lamb comes with herby lemon and paprika marinade, and really enriches the senses for al fresco dining for what is a very special time of the year.

It can be cooked on the barbecue or in the oven. Serve simply with potato wedges and greens for a laid-back meal with friends. Reduce the dried red chilli flakes if you prefer a milder marinade.

Ingredients

(serves 4-6)

• 1 x 2.5kg leg of lamb

• 1 large garlic clove, finely chopped

• 1 tsp dried red chilli flakes

• 6 tsp chopped rosemary

• 6 sprigs thyme, leaves picked

• 1 fresh bay leaf, finely chopped

• 1 lemon, juice only

• 2 tbsp Thai fish sauce

• 2 tbsp Spanish sweet smoked paprika

• 6 tbsp olive oil

• 1 tsp flaky sea salt

• ½ tsp coarsely ground or crushed black pepper

Method

1. To prepare the lamb, turn the leg over to the point where the bone runs closest to the surface. Using a sharp knife, split the meat along the bone and ease it away from the bone

along both sides, leaving the bone as clean as possible. At the fatter end of the joint, there is a group of smaller bones, so continue to cut around them too until you can lift all the bones from the meat and are left with a butterfly shaped, bone-free joint. Trim away any excess fat and sinew. Lay a piece of cling film over the meat and bash the surface with a rolling pin to flatten the thick sections lightly. The meat should be an even thickness throughout.

2. Mix the marinade ingredients together. Rub the marinade all over the lamb and set aside in a roasting tin, skin-side up, for about 30 minutes.

3. Preheat the oven to 220°C/200°C Fan/Gas mark 7.

4. Roast the lamb for 15 minutes, reduce the

temperature to 180°C/160°C Fan/Gas mark 4 and roast for a further 15 minutes. This will give you pink lamb, if you would rather it slightly less so, cook for a further 5 minutes. Remove from the oven and cover with foil. Rest for at least 15 minutes. Place on a board before carving into thick slices.

5. Serve with potato wedges, your choice of vegetables and some of the meat juices.

Top Tip

•To cook on the barbecue, preheat the barbecue (10 minutes for gas and up to 40 minutes for charcoal). When hot, grill the lamb for about 10–12 minutes on each side. Rest for 5 minutes on a board covered with kitchen foil before carving into thick slices.

Green ngers… the Alan Titchmarsh column

He’s a brilliant presenter, accomplished gardener, talented novelist, and all-round horticultural inspiration. This month, Alan Titchmarsh discusses the holy grail of ensuring flowers and plants flourish to their full potential – soil quality!

I get asked a lot what the best way to bolster soil quality is, and the truth is there are a variety of methods. Naturally, keeping soil well-watered is important, but not overwatered. Instead, water deeply and less frequently than you would expect. To water deeply you need to keep the soil light and uncompacted too. I’ve even gone to the extent of walking on wood planks if I need to cross over soil, as this spreads the weight and avoids interrupting good soil structure with big clumsy boots.

To actually enrich the soil, I try to regularly add organic matter. Compost, obviously, is key, with well-rotted manure. This helps with boosting drainage, adding fertility, and encouraging beneficial microorganisms.

behind

In a similar way, if you’re looking to capitalise on what’s already in the soil, consider the benefit of crop rotation, and the fact that plants or flowers can feed o the nutrients left behind from whatever was present before.

Changing the location of specific plant families each year also helps to prevent the build-up of pests and diseases, and maintains soil fertility. Finally, it’s always worth applying a layer of mulch – such as wood chips or straw – around plants. It helps to conserve moisture, suppress weeds, regulates soil temperature, and adds organic matter to the soil. It also looks good!

To determine how good your soil is, or isn’t, why not invest in a soil-testing kit? This will help you determine the soil’s pH and nutrient levels, and with that information you can construct an accurate plan for amendments to improvements to your soil quality.

Julia’s House Family Fun Day

Huge Success As Charity Marks

20 Years of Life-Changing Care

To mark its twentieth anniversary Julia’s House children’s hospice held a Family Fun Day at its charity superstore in Creekmoor on Saturday 3rd June. The store was also celebrating its tenth anniversary since opening in spring 2013.

The Fun Day raised £5,000 for Julia’s House, which provides life-changing care for seriously ill children and their families across Dorset and Wiltshire.

Visitors to the event enjoyed sustainable shopping while being entertained by local musicians – including Reminiscence-UK, The Sensational Sweets and Gemma Cordona, whose son Patrick is cared for by Julia’s House. Patrick and his sister Daisy were both present to watch their mum’s highly emotional performance of her song entitled He’s My Son.

The new Julia’s House Choir, consisting of Julia’s House staff and volunteers, made its debut appearance singing a rendition of Happy Birthday to the charity, and the programme of entertainment was compered throughout by Hospital Radio Bedside.

The Creekmoor shop’s Assistant Manager,

Clairelouise Moore, who started the Julia’s House Choir just eight weeks ago said;

“We are really pleased that so many people joined us to mark our twentieth anniversary and to enjoy some pre-loved shopping. The Julia’s House choir has only been together for a short while and we had such fun giving our debut performance. Watch this space for more from the choir this birthday year!”

Refreshments in the glorious sunshine included a Julia’s House wood-fired chicken and chorizo pizza designed especially for the occasion by Robs Filling Station, with some of the proceeds going to the charity. Children were entertained with face painting by Twinkles, a reptile petting zoo and appearances from Minnie and Mickey Mouse and Paddington characters.

A raffle drawn at 4pm on the day gave visitors the chance of winning AFC Bournemouth memorabilia – including two framed shirts signed by the players, coupled with certificates of authenticity.

For more information on how to shop sustainably with Julia’s House visit www.juliashouse.org/shops

tax and help protect their share from care fees

The Property Protection Trust Will package is based around how you hold the ownership of your home. All good estate planning nowadays considers the difference between owning your home as joint tenants or as tenants in common.

If you own your home as Joint Tenants; when one of you dies the ownership of the home passes by the Law of Survivorship and not by your Will. Therefore, the surviving partner will automatically own 100% of the property. This sounds right to most people. BUT should the surviving partner need care in the future, the Local Authority can take everything they own (including their home) to pay for the care fees, leaving just £14,250 to be inherited by children and grandchildren.

There is an alternative.

Nowadays many couples choose to own their home as Tenants in Common where each partner will own 50% of the family home. This provides for many benefits.

Firstly, it allows you to legally leave your share of the property in your Will to whoever you wish. A properly written Will can ensure that your half of your house will eventually pass to your children even if your widow re-marries.

Unmarried cohabiting couples or relatives living together can also use this means of ownership as a way of minimising their Inheritance Tax exposure.

It can also help with long-term care costs. If one of you is still living in your home the Local Authority can’t include its value in the means test if one of you has to go in to long-term care. This also applies if the husband or wife still living at home dies while the other is in care as their share will go into the trust.

Dorset and Wight are your local experts in Property Protection Trust Wills.

Increasing numbers of homeowners are choosing to hold their properties as tenants in common to reduce inheritance

Understanding Investments: Investment choices within a Pension

For many people, pension savings may be their most significant asset other than their house. Yet I often find people don’t know what they are invested in, let alone understand the investment choices available to them. Making the right choices can have a significant effect on the size of your future retirement fund.

When joining a pension scheme, you are often placed into the scheme’s default investment funds. These are usually Lifestyled to the scheme’s Normal Retirement Date (NRD), for example age 67 (but could be between 60 and 67). Your money is then invested in growth assets (usually shares) in the early years with the aim of offering a higher return, albeit with more volatility. The logic is that volatility is less important at this stage as there are many years to go before the money is required so if the fund suffers a fall in value there is time for it to recover.

As the NRD draws closer (for example 10 years away), Lifestyling will automatically start to switch a percentage of the money into lower risk assets (perhaps a balanced fund investing in a mix of shares and bonds or a low risk fund investing in bonds or cash). The logic being that as you get closer to retirement your pension becomes less volatile as you have less time to recover from stock market declines.

For many this is a sensible approach and aims to help manage risk without any effort required by the pension plan member. But there are pitfalls:

1. Lifestyling can vary between schemes so understanding how your own pension scheme operates is important.

2. There can be different Lifestyled target outcomes. For example, some will target the purchase of an annuity at the Normal Retirement Date so the asset allocation will be more defensive and result in 75% invested in bonds and 25% in cash at the NRD. Other’s may target drawdown so will be more balanced and perhaps end up with 75% in a medium risk balanced fund and 25% in cash.

3. What if you plan on retiring before the pension scheme’s NRD? The investments will likely be unbalanced and not reflective of your plans which may lead to unnecessary risk. There are alternative choices.

Howard Goodship

Most schemes will offer a range of funds from which you can “self-select”. By doing so you may be able to better bespoke your pension plan to your own retirement plans. However, selecting the right funds, and the subsequent returns earned from those funds, will affect the final value of your retirement pot so this is not recommended unless you are a very experienced investor or you take professional financial advice. There are even pension plans available which can offer temporary annuities and therefore remove investment risk. The annuity can be taken as income or rolled up within the pension and therefore offers a guaranteed future value. The rates on these plans have increased over the past 15 months as interest rates (and therefore annuity rates) have risen. These can be very attractive for clients under 10 years from retirement or for more cautious investors.

In conclusion, if your pension is a significant part of your overall wealth and therefore critical to your future retirement plans, treat it as such and give it the attention it deserves. Pension planning can be complex, so seeking advice from suitably qualified professional advisers is recommended.

My colleague Stewart Sims-Handcock and I are available for a free initial, no obligation chat to discuss your personal requirements, and would be delighted to help.

Howard Goodship is an Independent Financial Adviser with Lonsdale Wealth Management, 5 Fridays Court, Ringwood. Tel: 01425 208490 www.lonsdaleservices.co.uk

“A

pension is a long-term investment not normally accessible until age 55 (57 from April 2028 unless the plan has a protected pension age). The value of your investments (and any income from them) can down as well as up which would have an impact on the level of pension benefits available. Your pension income could also be affected by the interest rates at the time you take your benefits. The tax implications of pension withdrawals will be based on your individual circumstances, tax legislation and regulation which are subject to change. You should seek advice to understand your options at retirement.”

The Adventures of Daichi The Modern Magazines Camper

Making the most of where we live…. Young, old, history, contemporary. Daichi loves them all. Wherever we look around us there is history alongside new, contemporary and sometimes controversial. Have you ever taken a look to see where new meets old and bygone days live next to the future, where you live? Are you a philosopher who prefers the distant past and long-lost customs, or are you a person of state-of-theart décor and new ways?

For Daichi, living here in Weymouth, a seaside town dating back to the 12th Century, it is easy to see the many shifts in time. Punch and Judy came back to our beach this year. Apparently, the original shows first appeared in Italy in the 16th Century where the characters were marionettes. Then in 1662 on May 9th the very first performance in England was enacted. It is a more modern feature of the

Van

show today, that the audience is encouraged to shout out and warn the characters in the ‘box’ of the dangers. Certainly, watching the excited children on the beach recently, the eager spectators really enjoyed screaming out, “he’s there!” at the top of their voices. What fun. Some characters like the ghost, the hangman (probably a blessing) and Pretty Polly may have disappeared, but the show remains to entertain its guests, centuries after it began.

A few weeks ago, “El Galeon”, a replica of a 17th century Spanish Galleon glided into our waters here on the Jurassic coast and opened its decks to the general public, for around a week on Weymouth Harbour. These Galleons were used to transport cargo from America, Spain and the Phillipines between the 16th and 18th Centuries. Walking on board now I almost felt the rocking of the ship and the huge waves sweeping over the high ship sides. I could almost feel sea-sick… and we were in very flat waters! Impressive indeed is this

Debbie & Stephen by El Galeon

Traditional Punch & Judy on the beach

ocean sailing vessel. Built between 2009 and 2010 it has now sailed to hundreds of ports worldwide and had thousands and thousands of visitor gaze in awe at its miles of rope, and its magnificent decks. Daichi loves history, and imagining sailing across massive expanses of sea surrounded by scores of people, some running up and down all of those extremely high poles, was quite an experience. In the 1600’s many did not make the journey, with scurvy and other untreatable diseases in abundance due to the lack of hygiene. There were less bottles of hand sanitizer in those days! It would have been very different to any cruises we sail on today.

That brings me to the subject of seaweed which has attracted so much attention and controversy recently. Our Blue Flag Beach with its wonderful fine sand has been encroached in certain parts, by sea kelp driven in by storms and heavy winds. Daichi’s first reaction was indeed one of “Oh No! Our beautiful beach has been destroyed…” However, he has had a change of heart. Our ecosystem on this planet has had much interference from us, the ‘intelligent species’ on this planet, and we may not have always got it right. Nature has a profound way of correcting itself, and in fact creating certain situations in order to survive. So, we

have continued to go to the beach, lie on the gorgeous fine sand of which there is a huge abundance and swim in our amazing ocean. Rubber shoes protect the feet if needed, but there is a lot of space and much enjoyment to be had, despite a little natural interruption. One of Daichi’s bug bears is the press and its sensationalism.

So, what about what’s new? We live in a ‘coffee culture’ where having a coffee and cake (or even a waffle and ice-cream…) have become part of our daily lives. Daichi loves this and will go for a coffee at the drop of a hat, especially with a friend for a good old chat. The Theatre is also still popular, centuries later and we believe we should make more of this. The atmosphere is great, the entertainment can lift the soul and we get to go out with family and friends. Similarly, the cinema. What great block busters there are! “Top Gun” with Tom Cruise was a must for us. Hayden loves ‘Dungeons and Dragons’, so we all went to see “Honour Amongst Thieves” recently with Hugh Grant, Chris Pine and John Francis Daley. Myself, being of the older generation and Hayden being nearly forty years younger, yet we all enjoyed it and had a great evening out!

So, whether it is an old tradition, history to soak in, or a coffee and waffle with a friend, there is so much to do right on our doorsteps. Daichi would love to know what you like best about your area. You can write to him at:

daichi@modernmagaiznes.co.uk

By Debbie Corney

Weymouth’s beautiful beach, winner of both the Blue Flag and Seaside Award

Family & friends having a “waffle”

The History of the Women’s World Cup

As we approach the ninth edition of the official Women’s World Cup, we chart the rapid evolution of one of football’s most loved competitions.

The first official Women’s World Cup took place in China, in 1991, with the United States beating Norway 2-1 in the Guangzhou final. It’s apt that the Americans won the first competition, as they have dominated the women’s game since.

However, the Norwegian side would take the plaudits in Sweden in the second edition. Their hugely talented squad of players beat Germany 2-0 at the Råsunda Stadium in Stockholm, with goals from Hege Riise and Marianne Pettersen, as the Lionesses debut ended at the quarterfinal stage.

The ‘Stars and Stripes’ would regain the title on home soil in 1999 against China, as Brandi Chastain netted the winning penalty in the 5-4 shootout victory for the United States.

That World Cup was built on the success of the first Olympic women’s football tournament held during the 1996 Atlanta Games, with the 1999 World Cup played in front of an average of 37,000 spectators per match.

The event in 2003 was also held in the US, who stepped in after planned hosts China had to relinquish duties after an outbreak of SARS. Yet there was to be no back-to-back success for the Yanks, as they crashed out in the semi-final to a Germany side who went on to defeat Sweden for their first title.

China belatedly hosted the tournament four years later, and Germany were able to defend their 2003 title with a 2-0 victory over Brazil in the Hongkou Stadium. England were knocked out by the USA in the quarterfinals.

A new name would be on the trophy in 2011 as Japan took this instalment by storm, beating the hosts and hat-

trick-seeking Germans in the quarters, the Swedes in the last four, before coming from behind to see off the mighty Americans on penalties in the final.

an

Canada 2015 saw an increase to 24 teams from 16, and offered revenge for the USA as they beat Japan 5-2 in the Vancouver final. The tournament was controversial for being played on artificial turf in sweltering conditions.

France 2019 attracted a global television audience of over 1.1 billion, with the United States winning again, this time 2-0 against Sarina Wiegman’s European champions, Netherlands.

With England having trodden that same familiar path under the talented Dutch coach by securing their first international title win in the form of the 2022 Euros victory against Germany, could they add a World Cup final to their resume in Australia and New Zealand?

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STAR GAZING

WRITTEN BY KATE EARL kateearlastro@gmail.com

Welcome to the July Stargazing Page. Highlights this month include seeing Venus at its brightest before it moves to our morning skies, and the hunt for noctilucent clouds.

International Space Station

The ISS is visible daily until the 28th, with overhead passes starting in the early morning, gradually switching to the late evening by month end. To establish exact timings please refer to www.heavens-above.com or a similar webpage for up-to-date information, remembering to set the location to your observing area.

Events

The Earth is furthest from the Sun on the 6th, a distance of 152,000,000 km away. This is called aphelion (Greek for ‘from the Sun’).

Mercury

The innermost planet can be seen low in the southwest just after sunset from the 15th, but it will be really tough to spot in the evening twilight.

Venus

Venus is dazzling away low in the west, and although at its brightest, it will rapidly drop out of our evening skies, only to return as the ‘morning star’ in late August. If you have a small telescope it is worth taking a look at Venus this month, as it will appear as a beautiful, tiny crescent. Another challenge is to try and spot your shadow by Venusian light. You need a really dark sky with no moon or light pollution. Use a sheet or white card to help see the shadow cast, as the planet is too faint a source of light to be able to easily detect your shadow on the ground. It’ll be tough, but worth it if you manage it!

Mars

Mars continues to get dimmer each night. During July it moves towards and then passes Regulus, the brightest star in the constellation of Leo the Lion (see figure). It is now quite far away from the Earth, a consequence of which is that it has become very faint, and its red colour is hard to distinguish.

Jupiter & Saturn

Jupiter is visible from around 1am low in the east, but is dazzlingly bright and for early risers it cannot be mistaken for anything else. Saturn appears earlier, around 11pm.

Moon

July’s full moon occurs on the 3rd.

Try to spot...

The early summer months are the best time to try and spot a rare and beautiful cloudtype: noctilucent clouds. If conditions are favourable, these blue-white illuminated clouds are visible an hour or so after sunset in our northern skies (if you’re up early, they can sometimes be seen an hour or so before sunrise, too). Although the exact cause of their formation is unknown, we know they are composed of tiny water-ice crystals and form about 80km up in the atmosphere.

Noctilucent clouds

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Smart Summer

How to keep your child engaged with learning over the summer holidays.

As parents, we do our best to fill up school holidays with fun activities even if it means compromising our own work schedules and chores. The problem is, there are only so many good times even kids can handle, and it soon becomes clear that they’re actually yearning for a bit of learning.

The following tips are designed to not just ease the burden of summer lethargy, but also to keep youngsters’ brains ticking over so that when September does eventually come round, the return to full-time education won’t be such a shock to the system.

Read books

Reading books is a great way to continue learning over the summer break. Reading can improve your child’s vocabulary, critical thinking, and comprehension skills, along with providing a great activity for you to engage in together.

Getting children into the habit of turning to books for entertainment is one that will stay with them for life and provide hours of amusement.

Set small tasks

If your children are younger they probably won’t have much homework from their teachers, but that doesn’t mean you can’t set them activities yourself.

Why not encourage them to write a short story or document a recent day out you shared? Perhaps they would enjoy doing some crafting or, if you’re feeling ambitious, a science experiment… because learning doesn’t have to be dull.

Get online support

Sometimes the internet makes parenting harder and sometimes it makes it easier. Fortunately, there are a wealth of apps and online resources to help your child study and learn, such as flashcard apps, online tutorials, and educational videos. There are also numerous forums where parents and carers can share ideas for home learning.

Create a study schedule

Scheduling in a little study time each day, or week, can really help children focus and feel comforted by routine.

This schedule should be flexible enough to

accommodate fun summer activities but structured enough to ensure they are making consistent progress.

Create a project

With so many weeks to while away, the summer hols are a great time to collaborate on a big project with your child. Perhaps it is a job in the home, like re-decorating your lounge, or maybe you could create a scrapbook of your summer adventures.

Such a project will not only give your little one a great sense of achievement when school rolls round again, it will also create something they can cherish long after the summer sun has dimmed.

Survey Suggests Two Thirds Of Britons Have Never Had A Routine Hearing Test

A recent UK survey suggests that 65% of people in the UK have never gone for a routine hearing test. And 68% admitted having experienced symptoms that could indicate hearing dif culties! In the survey 80% of respondents would seek treatment within a few days for ailments such as u-like symptoms, aches and pains, lumps or a rash. This compares to just 55% who would seek treatment in the same amount of time when it came to their hearing.

Reasons given for not having a hearing test were:

• 39% thought their symptoms of hearing loss weren’t a problem they needed to worry about

• 19% thought they were overreacting

• 13% thought they were too young to experience them.

• Nearly 28% were unaware that the longer they waited to have their hearing problem sorted, the worse their hearing would get.

12 million people suffer with hearing loss across the UK, yet many people continue to ignore the symptoms.

The World Health Organisation reminds us that 60% of hearing cases can be addressed through primary care.

It is important to have your hearing checked if you notice any changes in your hearing, regardless of your age - most of the time hearing loss happens gradually, making it harder to notice that you’re not hearing as well as you used to.

If you have ringing in your ears, mishear what people around you are saying, ask people to repeat themselves on a regular basis or nd it hard to keep up with conversations you should arrange to have your hearing tested.

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Five Years of the RSS Sir David Attenborough

The five-year anniversary of the launch of the RRS Sir David Attenborough, and a naming process that went viral for all the wrong reasons.

‘Give it to the people’, they said… ‘let the people decide’. And so it was then, in the spring of 2016 that the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) put their faith in the British public to name one of our most significant marine launches of recent times.

The budget behind the impressive polar research vessel was a colossal £200million, with the intention of creating a floating symbol of British science; one that would be equipped with a devastating array of scientific instruments – including sonar and underwater cameras –laboratories for conducting experiments and analysing samples, and state-of-the-art gadgetry that would make our exploration of some of the harshest and most remote environments on the planet easier and more insightful than ever.

Its distinctive design, featuring a bold red and white hull, was a dominant and recognisable symbol of British scientific research – all it needed was a name.

The NERC subsequently held a ‘Name Our Ship’ campaign, stating that the public could

vote via an online poll. Trouble quickly began to circle though when BBC Radio Jersey presenter James Hand jokingly suggested the name RSS Boaty McBoatface.

The title rapidly went viral across social media, as people with no affiliation or previous vested interest in our exploration of the polar seas registered to push forward the comical name.

When the poll closed, it was a deemed a clear winner, achieving over 124,000 votes (almost exactly a third of all those submitted); however it was announced that the ship was instead to be called RSS Sir David Attenborough, in honour of the famous naturalist and broadcaster, despite the

fact the name earned only 2.95% of the total vote, achieving only 0.1% more than It’s Bloody Cold Here.

The decision saw the NERC come in for some criticism, and even led to a House of Commons Select Committee being put together to review the naming process. The organisation were keen to remind people that at no point had they promised to run with the contest winner. Furthermore, while the 15,000-tonne vessel sailed off with a rather more sensible name, Boaty McBoatface wasn’t entirely run aground, as the title was given to small, unmanned submersible that accompanied the RRS Sir David Attenborough on its research missions.

The Boaty McBoatface phenomenon has since become a popular meme and cultural touchstone, and is often cited as an example of the unpredictable and chaotic nature of online communities.

SILENT WATERS

By L.V. Matthews

14th September 2023 | Welbeck | £8.99 | Paperback Original

For fans of Gillian McAllister and Lisa Jewell, a powerful haunting novel exploring family bonds, dark secrets and murder featuring a female police diver – a woman in a man’s world. At 5am one summer morning, police diver Jen Harper wakes to find herself submerged in the silt of a river with no memory of how she got there. Forty-eight hours later, she’s called to dive in the same river to search for a missing woman, Claudia Franklin. But for Jen, this is no ordinary job. She and Claudia were childhood friends and their families were entangled for decades. But Jen hasn’t seen Claudia for twelve years. Or has she?

Praise for Silent Waters

“A thrillingly murky tale of tainted love and betrayal, an edge-of-the-jetty read. I dare you to jump in!”

Janice Hallett, author of The Twyford Code

“Terrific, memorable suspense writing that draws you in. Silent Waters is a real up-all-night thriller.” BP Walter, author of The Dinner Guest

“Silent Waters is a brilliant, beautifully written thriller with an unusual premise and shocking twists. I loved it! Her best yet!”

Claire Douglas, author of The Couple at Number 9

“Brilliantly plotted, utterly compelling and where nothing is as it seems. Add to that some whip-smart dialogue and you have everything you could possibly want in a thriller.”

John Marrs, author of The Marriage Act

About the Author

L.V. Matthews was born in rural Essex but now lives in Winchester. She is the author of The Prank and The Twins, a Richard & Judy Book Club pick (Spring 2022.) Before pursuing a career in writing she worked in domestic and international sales for major UK publishing houses. As research for the book, she undertook extensive research into the little-known world of police divers.

School’s Out

For July, and with the school summer holidays in mind, here are four releases that will keep kids of all ages amused.

Roar by Beth Mead

Beth Mead, the England footballing icon, BBC Sports Personality of the Year and author of Lioness hits the back of the net once more with this inspiring and accessible guide to following your dreams and developing resilience.

Beth shares her insider tips, tactics and advice, discussing how each player can find their position and style, as well as shining a spotlight on some of the world’s best sporting role models. Published by Hachette on June 22nd

Beano The Ultimate Guide

by IP Daley

The definitive guide to the world of legendary kids’ comic The Beano, this sparkling volume covers all the muchloved characters and locations in witty and immersive style.

Offering a wild ride through Beanotown with this ultimate

guide to its inhabitants, readers can check out Pie Hard at Beanotown Cinema, explore the neighbourhood undesirables, or giggle along to some jokes from the Bash Street Kids. by Harper Collins on June 22nd

The Wonder Brothers by Frank

Cottrell-Boyce

Two diminutive magicians set out to retrieve the vanished Blackpool Tower and wind up in Las Vegas with a worldfamous illusionist in this hilarious and heart-warming story from the author of Millions and Noah’s Gold.

The story is based around cousins Middy and Nathan, who both love magic. So when the famous Blackpool Tower dramatically vanishes the night of the Grand Lights Switch-On, showman Nathan announces live on TV that they will magic it back home.

How do they attempt to do it? Well… full of tricks, twists and deceptions, the delightful Nathan and Middy will keep you guessing until the very end. Published by Pac Macmillan on July 20th

Ink Blood Sister Scribe by Emma Torzs

Joanna Kalotay lives alone in the woods of Vermont, the sole protector of a collection of rare books that will allow someone

to walk through walls or turn water into wine.

Her estranged older sister Esther moves between countries and jobs, constantly changing, never staying anywhere longer than a year, desperate to avoid the deadly magic that killed her mother. Currently working on a research base in Antarctica, she has found love and perhaps a sort of happiness.

However, when she finds spots of blood on the mirrors in the research base, she knows someone is coming for her, and that Joanna and her collection are in danger. Published by Penguin Books on July 5th

General Knowledge

Across Clues:

5. Changing to a new situation (11)

9. Indiscernable (9)

10. Speed (5)

11. Creativity (3)

12. Prize or certificate (5)

13. Small brown animal (5)

15. A nuclide that exhibits isomerism (6)

17. The upper surface (6)

19. Idea (5)

20. Stove producing strong heat (5)

21. A poem (3)

23. Finding pleasure (5)

24. Unaware (9)

26. Disruption (11)

Down Clues:

1. Strong fabric, used for upholstery (5)

2. Simple needlework (9)

3. Pigsty (3)

4. Grey material that does not burn (8)

6. Large flat teeth (6)

7. Final version of a legal document (11)

8. Obsolete form of brilliant (11)

14. Teams fighting against each other (9)

16. Tree with pink, yellow or purple flowers (8)

18. Middle Eastern language (6)

22. Trained to fly (5)

25. Bombard (3)

8. Splendidous, 14. Duellists, 16. Magnolia, 18. Arabic, 22. Pilot, 25. Ply.

Down: 1. Scrim, 2. Plainwork, 3. Sty, 4. Asbestos, 6. Molars, 7. Engrossment,

24. Oblivious, 26. Dislocation.

13. Otter, 15. Isomer, 17. Upside, 19. Image, 20. Grill, 21. Ode, 23. Enjoy,

Across: 5. Acclimatise, 9. Invisible, 10. Tempo, 11. Art, 12. Award,

Answers:

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Spot the difference

solutions

Puzzle Page Answers

Quick Crossword Solution #029

Answers:

Across: 2. Bar, 5. Physio, 7. Equate, 9. Predicament, 10. Encode, 11. Nestle, 13. Unwrap, 16. Panama, 18. Imperialism, 19. Redyes, 20. Unload, 21. Hot.

Down: 1. Chopin, 2. Bodice, 3. Regain, 4. Statal, 6. Stenography, 8. Unessential, 10. Emu, 12. Eta, 14. Noises, 15. Perish, 16. Peanut, 17. Mammal.

History Quiz Answers

1. 1066

2. 1939

3. 3000 BC

4. 1776

6. 2001

7. 29 AD

8. 1346

9. 1876

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Driven to Distraction

Here’s a

rundown

of the most common driving faux pas you need to steer clear of if you’re to retain a clean licence.

Not adhering to the speed limit

The biggest cause of accidents on the road is, of course, excessive speed. One in five drivers admits to speeding, though the overall figure is much higher, and if convicted, can lead to a hefty fine, points on your licence and a ban.

It’s not just about going too fast, either. Not keeping up with the speed of the road causes impatience in other drivers, which can also lead to accidents.

Distracted driving

Driving distractions include use of a phone, eating or drinking, adjusting dashboard controls, being engaged in conversation or even having music too loud.

While using a handheld phone is the only illegal act on the list – something that will land you a £200 fine and six points on your licence – the others still carry a points penalty if it’s found

they have played a part in an accident or infringement.

Tailgating

Tailgating occurs when following the vehicle in front too closely, something that significantly increases the risk of accidents – notably shunts and rear-end collisions.

Tailgating also strays into the field of aggressive driving behaviour, which opens up the possibility of road rage incidents.

Running a red light

Many drivers have seen the opportunity to accelerate through an amber light so as to save valuable time at a traffic junction, yet the practice is dangerous.

In the past few years local councils have installed thousands of cameras at traffic lights in order to catch drivers keen to accelerate through rather than bring their vehicle to a halt.

Failing to indicate and improper lane changes

Sensible use of indicators and respectful lane changes relative to other traffic on

the road are some of the first things drivers will learn… and then subsequently one of the first things dropped when they become overly comfortable on the roads.

Intoxication

As far as having a tipple goes, the recommendation now is that a driver should remain entirely alcohol free, rather than subscribe to the long-time rule of being allowed a single drink.

Stimulants and suppressants, even in small quantities, can impair a driver’s judgment and reaction time, so while drink and drug convictions have fallen over recent years, the threat to safe driving is as prevalent as it’s ever been.

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Droning On

We live in an era where drones present us with the ability to survey our landscapes like never before, yet it’s important to know what’s permitted and what’s prohibited as far as these magnificent flying machines go.

Drones, also known as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), have become increasingly popular in the UK in recent years. According to a 2023 report by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), there were over 180,000 registered drone pilots in the UK.

With any new technology comes concern, however, with question marks over the safety and privacy implications of drones leading some kickback from corporations and individuals.

All drone pilots should obtain a Flyer ID and Operator ID from the CAA, while in the UK, you should not fly a drone higher than 400ft (120m). And only drones weighing 249g or less can be flown within 150m of a built-up area or 50m of people or buildings not under your control.

Pilots must also keep drones within visual line of sight at all times, and it can never be flown over a restricted area such as an airport, prison or military site.

Drones can come at a wild extremity of prices, with a budget camera model available for around £60. At the top end, they can cost up to £5,000 - the difference being primarily related to camera quality, fly capability, advanced flight modes, versatility, endurance, GPS positioning, obstacle avoidance and overall performance.

Some heavier varieties are capable of carrying significant payloads, such as packages and supplies.

Much of the jaw-dropping cinematography in TV and film has been created using skilled drone footage, where previously aerial shots could only be achieved through helicopters or blimps.

This means not only increased safety, given that the pilot is on the ground at all times, but much reduced cost, and the ability to survey a literal 360-degree bird’s eye view of any location, plus exploration areas that a traditional piloted craft would never achieve. This could include volcanoes and spectacular vistas of other dangerous environments, involving not just the elements, but wildlife too.

Drone technology is one of the modern-day innovations that combines hardware technology with the incredible advances in camera quality, where the meeting of these two worlds has given us an altogether different perspective on our own.

Rachel Khoo’s Ice Box Cake

When summer comes around, it feels somewhat incongruous to be putting the oven on; yet baking isn’t all about putting up the heat and expecting something to prove or rise. And who in this weather wants to build up a sweat in the kitchen?! Instead, why not whip up this delicious ice box cake with just a stove top and a freezer. This decadent dessert with a crunchy hazelnut praline rippled through it makes a crowd-pleasing finale.

Ingredients

(10 to 12 servings)

• 35g dark chocolate, cut into small pieces

• 50g unsalted butter

• 100g digestive biscuits, crushed to crumbs

• 3 medium eggs

• 2 medium egg yolks

• 1 tsp vanilla essence

• 180g sugar

• 500ml double cream

• Hazelnut praline

• 50g blanched hazelnuts

• 75g sugar

• 2 tbsp water

Method

1. Prepare a 20cm cake tin by lining with baking paper.

2. To make the praline, line a baking tray with baking paper. Toast the hazelnuts in a dry saucepan until they are golden. Remove from the pan and set aside.

3. Put the sugar and water in the pan and heat gently

until the sugar dissolves. Increase the heat to high (avoid the temptation to stir it). When the caramel begins to turn a dark golden brown, remove from the heat and quickly stir in the hazelnuts. Pour immediately on to the lined baking tray and spread out evenly. Leave to cool. Once the caramel is cool and hard, blitz to a fine powder in a food processor.

4. Make the biscuit base by melting the butter and chocolate together in a medium heatproof bowl over a pan of just-simmering water. Add the crushed biscuits and stir to combine. Press into the prepared cake tin to form a crust and place in the freezer.

5. Place the eggs, extra yolks, vanilla and sugar in a large heatproof bowl. Place the bowl over a saucepan of simmering water. You want the bowl to just be resting over the

saucepan – don’t let the bowl touch the water. Whisk the mixture continuously for six to eight minutes or until it becomes thick and pale. If you have a handheld electric whisk, opt for that. When the whisk leaves a ribbony trail in the mixture when you lift it up, it is ready. Remove from the heat and allow mixture to cool slightly.

6. Whip the cream in a medium bowl until stiff peaks form. Gently fold through the cooled egg mixture until well combined.

7. Stir two-thirds of the praline into the ice-cream mixture and pour into the cake tin over the crumb base. Scatter the top with the remaining praline and leave to chill until frozen (at least four hours). Slice and serve.

Making Exercise Bearable

Keen to find an enjoyable route to fitness? All it takes is a little creativity, a change in perspective, and patience.

Realism

One reason people find exercise unbearable is because they set themselves goals that are unattainable.

Instead, break down your goals into smaller milestones - this will help you stay motivated and focused on your progress.

Enjoyment

To make exercise more bearable, choose activities that you genuinely enjoy. This could be a sport, a dance class, or even that aforementioned brisk walk. Not all fitness has to be boring, or difficult.

Sharing

Perhaps you can match up with someone of equal ability and goals, and use each other as a motivational force to carry on.

Even if you haven’t got someone who wants to be on your fitness journey, confide in

them and ensure they don’t let you off the hook when the temptation of a quick pint or glass of wine arises.

Motivation and tracking

Music can play a significant role in making exercise more enjoyable. Create a playlist of your favourite upbeat songs that energise and inspire you.

At the same time monitor your progress, as this will serve as a powerful motivator.

Positivity

Finally, remember to reward yourself for meeting your exercise goals. This could be something as simple as treating yourself to a healthy snack, enjoying a relaxing bath, or taking some time to unwind with your favourite show.

Either way, making it more enjoyable in the long-run, means it’s more bearable in the short-run!

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