Nicked Magazine Issue 2 by Lemon Tree Media Ltd

Welcome

CONTENTS 06

Hello and welcome

Fact is Stranger than Fiction

to the second issue of NiCKED magazine.

Prevention is better than a cure

Firstly, I’d like to take a moment to thank you all for the amazing feedback we received from the ﬁrst edition.

Personal Trainer Paul Herbert talks injuries and how to stop them occurring in the future

From the multitude of emails and comments on social media, we seemed to have hit all the right notes but we’re not looking to rest on our laurels. The NiCKED team will continue to give our best and maintain our standing as the UK’s No.1 police lifestyle magazine. In this issue, we cover a vast range of interests and hobbies including golf, travel, wine, music, photography and much more. So whatever you’re looking for, we’ve probably got it covered!

30 7in7

Brinsley Bailey looks at seven underrated TV shows from the past seven years

If you’re on break with only a few minutes spare, check out TV Shows You Might Have Missed on page 30 and read a breakdown on seven of the best programmes from the past seven years. Or, in the unlikely event you have a bit more time on your hands, read the compelling story of comedian Jake Mills; his rise to the top and battle with depression.

John Donoghue talks about his police career, success as a popular author and everything in between

Ever considered working abroad? Rebecca Ferran reveals her experiences working overseas and provides some top travelling tips

Is there a hobby you’d like to read about? Topic that needs covering? Article you enjoyed?

We’d love to hear your feedback so get in touch and tell us what you think via Editorial@nickedmagazine.com Brinsley Bailey EDITOR Follow me on Twitter @Boxingfresh

Fact is stranger than fiction

Go explore...

The successful interview Jim Ferran provides a deﬁnitive guide on how to prepare for the big interview

Accommodating autism The day-to-day experiences of the Callaghan family. Police, family life and adjusting to autism

Stand-Up against depression

Go explore...

LEMON TREE MEDIA LTD The Malthouse, 48 Southport Road, Ormskirk, West Lancashire L39 1QR t. 01695 668630 e. info@nickedmagazine.com www.nickedmagazine.com VAT No. 167 021 134. Company Registered No. 08546977 Copyright © 2013 Lemon Tree Media ISSN 2055-0782

Stand-Up against depression

Jake Mills talks about his life as a comedian and battle with depression

TEAM: Director Mike Shaw Editor Brinsley Bailey Sub-Editor Christina Evatt Photography Shannon Shaw/Lesley Cameron Graphics Dave Butler Design www.nectarcreative.com

PEFC Certified This product is from sustainably managed forests and controlled sources PEFC/16-33-775

www.pefc.org

64 In the frame

NiCKED is back

An introduction to wine

Jon Back examines wine’s illustrious history, some interesting facts and, of course, has a special recommendation

Taking time out

Sara Parker looks at some of the indie scene’s budding artists and the rewards of going to local gigs

How to sensibly invest your money in a new property

Lost in music

The only way is upgrading

Abattoir Blues book review

The latest crime novel featuring DCI Banks

Gadgets

Top six portable lights and torches

Beat the Winter chill

Last minute tips that set you up for an easy winter

Sellers’ tasty story

Feel free to send an email, give us a call or, if you are passing by, come visit us at NiCKED HQ where there will always be a cup of tea on oﬀer!

A review of a great golfing season and Alan Considine reveals his ‘Hidden Gem’ golf course

Rules are meant to be broken… but you need to learn them ﬁrst!

Jokes, funny stories and the lighter side of police life

Taking time out

Ever thought about taking a career break? Ryan Howell explains how it’s done and what you can gain

In the frame

UK Cop Humour

An intro to wine

Sellers’ tasty story

Michelin-Starred restaurant owner Tom Sellers oﬀers food for thought with three delicious original recipes

Crossword & Prizes The NiCKED Crossword competition and Sudoku

online

Our aim was for NiCKED to be a must read for everyone involved in the UK police forces on their breaks or days oﬀ and, based on your feedback, we’re moving in the right direction! We always appreciate feedback so don’t hesitate to contact us.

The only way is upgrading

Golf round-up

“Thank you so much for picking up the latest edition of NiCKED! Issue one, released earlier this year, was a fantastic success. We were swamped with so many emails and calls about how much people enjoyed it.

Write For Us We are very keen to hear from anyone who has an interesting hobby or experience and would like to share it in future editions. You can contact me directly with your ideas, suggest people who you know or topics you’d like covered. Many thanks

Mike Shaw DIRECTOR 01695 668630 07811 949265 mike@lemontreemedialtd.com www.lemontreemedialtd.com

REAL LIFE STORIES

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Fact is Stranger than Fiction After a varied career in the Royal Navy, the Army and an international security agency, John Donoghue decided to give policing a go and has never looked back. He combines his job with a passion for writing, his humorous anecdotes and observations bringing some welcome cheer to a sometimes diďŹ&#x192;cult job.

REAL LIFE STORIES

PC John Donoghue likes a laugh more than most and when he’s ﬁnished patrolling the streets, he ﬁnds solace in the other passion in his life, writing. Here he shares his story with NiCKED Editor Brinsley Bailey.

John Donoghue

Due to the intense and often serious nature of police work, much of the public forget that the people who make up the force are people. They have pride in their chosen career and take their work seriously but like everyone else, they also love a good laugh. Through his books, PC John Donoghue gives the public an insight into some of the funnier moments of working in the police, something he believes is very important. “The public has a perception of police officers being serious and humorless but there is a human face behind the traditional police officer image and we enjoy life as much as anybody else. There are a lot of people who are discovering now that the police isn’t how it’s portrayed on the news or on TV dramas… fact is stranger than fiction and most of the time it’s funnier!” It is an admirable viewpoint and one which Donoghue works hard to prove true through his writings and via social media. His Twitter handle @JohnDonoghue64 has over 55,000 followers for good reason. He works tirelessly to provide laughs and entertainment on a daily basis. The laidback profile picture, completed with pint in hand, exemplifies Donoghue’s casual demeanor and works in tandem with his content to represent the ‘everyman’ quality he possesses. Looking through the exchanges with his followers, it’s obvious that he enjoys interacting with people and whether it be through quirky tweets or ridiculous ‘cat memes’ he possesses a clear determination to make people smile.

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When I’m older I want to be…

Most of us recall that moment at school when our peers or teachers ask us what we want to be when we’re older. After the usual childish responses such as ‘King of the World’ have been glossed over, we usually come to a more sensible outcome along the lines of nurse, vet, athlete, solicitor etc. We initially have the genuine intention of achieving these goals but obstacles in life can derail us and we end up moving on to new ambitions. John Donoghue was not one of these people. In a society full of procrastination and wishful thinking, it was refreshing to hear the perspective of someone who threw caution to the wind and even more refreshing to hear that his determined yet impulsive nature paid dividends. “When I was in school I wanted to be a sailor and a soldier, so that’s what I did. As soon as I was old enough, I ran away to sea and joined the Royal Navy before later transferring to the Army. I had a short career commission as a navigator and I was lucky enough to travel the world, from the Gulf of Mexico, to the Arabian Sea, from the Arctic to Africa - it was a great life.” Nonetheless, all good things have to come to an end and his spontaneous character began to wilt under the pressures of newfound job stability in his role at an international security agency. Donoghue was advising security at some of the country’s highest security sites but phrases like ‘quarterly budget review’ and ‘sales growth forecast’ took their toll and stagnation began to set. “When I left the regulars I joined the TA as a Captain in the military police and that’s when I started work in an international security organisation. It might sound like something out of a James Bond movie with Dr. Evil and Pussy Galore but it was all budgets and meetings, so my days weren’t action-packed anymore and I was starting to get pretty bored.”

No two people are the same

“I enjoy going out, I enjoy the job and I enjoy meeting people. Bill Nye, (Renowned Scientist) said ‘Everyone you meet, knows something that you don’t’ and that’s true. Whoever you meet from whatever part of society they come from, there’s always something to learn and always something to get from people.”

Time for change

It is at times like these when people begin to re-evaluate their previous choices in life. Some voice regret and long to change the past whereas others seek to learn from their mistakes and move forward. Donoghue was the latter and the then 40 year-old decided a change was on the horizon. “For me, although I was well off as a senior manager, there’s more to life than money, especially if you’re not enjoying your job. I spent most of my life trying to rise through the ranks but I also felt deep down that the higher up you go in an organisation, the less fun you have. So I thought, it’s about time I did something different and started enjoying life to the fullest.” When someone finds themselves at this type of quandary, they tend to rely on family for support and guidance on what to do next, Donoghue was no different. He consulted his brother for advice and quickly ascertained where his future lay. “I have two brothers, one on the right side of the law and the other is on the dark side… or, to be more accurate, one is a police officer and the other is a solicitor.

In addition to the new challenges Donoghue encountered in the police were the new stories that began to emerge. Over the years, his writer instincts started to get the better of him and he soon felt it was right time to compile his hilarious incidents, strange tales and bizarre occurrences into a book, which is how the popular Police, Crime & 999 was born.

My brother in the police started telling me all the good stories about what was going on and the fun and adventures he was having. So that’s when I decided to join the police.”

Written partly for his beneﬁt (as he told me his memory was getting so bad that he couldn’t remember which of the seven dwarfs betrayed Jesus!’) but mostly because he wanted to positively represent the oﬃcers whom he worked with and show that they are not the exception but the norm around the country.

A decade later and it seems that his brother’s advice has served him well as there isn’t a hint of regret about his career change. On the contrary, Donoghue ﬁnds the desired similarities in the relationships he had in the Royal Navy and the Army and contends that his role in the police surpassed his initial expectations.

“To be honest, when I joined I had no intention of writing a book at all… after a few years in the police, you start getting all these stories from encounters you come across and you realise that if you don’t get them written down they’re just forgotten and lost forever. I began making notes after the funny, interesting or bizarre jobs that I went to and gradually I got together a wealth of stories so I thought I might as well get them into paper and see what comes of it.

“The police is one of the closest thing you can get to The Forces with the camaraderie and the fun you can have. When you join you see the whole strata of society and I’m shocked my eyes aren’t permanently wide from all the surprises I’ve had since I started!

Every police oﬃcer has a wealth of fantastic anecdotes and there was a lot feedback from other oﬃcers around the country to say ‘We’ve got someone just like that on our shift… the same thing happened to me…’ I think it strikes a chord with everybody because these stories are happening to all the police all over the place.”

“

I thought I’d seen it all… but until I joined the police, I realised I’d seen nothing at all !

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REAL LIFE STORIES

The first book is released...

Surprisingly, Donoghue decided to keep his project under wraps and didn’t tell anyone at the time he was writing a book because he was worried about the reception his work would receive. Nonetheless, he eventually

cast his doubts aside and decided to release the book after consultation with his bosses. “(When I was ready to print) I passed my books through Professional Standards to make sure that they were happy and convinced I wasn’t giving away any state secrets. The senior management has been very supportive. All my books have been positive about the police as I enjoy what I do and I’m proud to be a police oﬃcer - I hope that comes through in my writing.”

Police, Crime & 999 along with the follow up Police, Lies & Alibis have been very well received by the public and police community alike. Donoghue appreciates but often downplays the success of his career as an author by simply emphasising his joy in doing something he loves with the belief that it is important to have interests outside of his police work. “We (police) need something as a release from the job that we do and I think you need to find something as a vent. Whether it’s watching football, writing, photography, or gardening, I think it is essential to have something to take your mind off the job. Everyone has their own hobbies and I enjoy writing. If I can make other people laugh and smile, for me, that’s mission achieved.” There is an unassuming quality about Donoghue. When he speaks he seems to hold a genuine desire for all police to have the same success he has achieved over the years. The ‘dog-eat-dog’ mentality is promoted throughout our culture but Donoghue’s resounding belief is that a move away from unnecessary competition is the best thing, especially for aspiring writers in the police community. His underlying belief is that there is such richness in content that many of his fellow officers should get in on the act and tell their own tales. “Just do it. Write about the stories and incidents you’ve enjoyed. We (writers) aren’t in competition against each other… I’ve found that the audience for stories about what goes on in the police is massive and the public want more and more there’s room there for all of us.”

Buy Police, Crime & 999 and Police, Lies & Alibis

on Amazon or via John’s website www.policecrime999.com Contact John Donoghue on Twitter @JohnDonoghue64

Here’s one for the book…

Although he is currently in the process of writing a new book on police life, Donoghue concedes that the task is becoming more diﬃcult. Since he joined the Police 10 years ago, the unusual doesn’t seem that unusual anymore and he often overlooks potential stories because he has been conditioned to expect the bizarre. Fortunately, Donoghue is never left wanting for new stories as his colleagues provide a wealth of their own tales and are keen to get involved. “I work with a shift (of co-workers) with an excellent sense of humour and I often get asked ‘Can I appear in the next book?’ and usually hear the phrase ‘Here’s one for the book!’ after somebody has gone to a particularly good job.

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For any member of the public looking at what we see, they would think it’s so crazy and we sometimes forget because we come across it so often - sometimes you have to distance yourself to appreciate that these things are crazy!”

Nonetheless he is steadfast in the opinion that, despite the negative characteristics associated with the police, his career as a ‘Bobby’ has been the highlight of his life and provided him with the most joy over the years.

Donoghue’s positive and ‘just do it’ attitude has given him the exciting and action-packed life most of us would envy. Serving in the armed forces allowed him to traverse all corners of the globe and explore a multitude of cultures on the way.

With the jokes set aside, Donoghue provides a dose of perspective and poignantly reflects on his time in the police. “As police officers, we look at life differently from everyone else… I think we sometimes forget that despite all the drunkenness, cruelty, crime and disorder, the job has the potential to be fun and as police officers we have one of the best jobs in the world.”

Fact is stranger than fiction and most of the time itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s funnier! 11 TWITTER.COM/NICKEDMAGAZINE

INTERVIEW TECHNIQUES

JIM FERRAN

Jim Ferran PGCE CertEd MIfL served with distinction within both the Metropolitan and Merseyside forces and since retiring has established a small bespoke training consultancy, JRC Training. In a short time the business has accumulated an impressive client portfolio including Docklands Light Railway, Transport for Greater Manchester and Cheltenham Racecourse. Delivering bespoke conflict management training, PACE and enforcement training, PEACE interview skills, personal development workshops, equality and diversity and emergency procedures desktop exercises. Jim is recognised by his clients as an exceptional trainer and facilitator. Designing and developing contemporary training courses, JRC Training also provides coaching for people preparing for assessment centres and interviews using very unique and successful reflective practice techniques. Jim is currently an associate trainer for the Home Office, delivering legislation and procedural training to the Immigration Service. Want to know more? Email Jim at jrctraining@hotmail.com

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The successful interview

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Feeling stressed about an upcoming interview? Wondering if you’ve covered all the bases? Not sure how to deal with nerves? Well, it’s time to put those fears to one side. Jim Ferran is here with some expert advice on how to prepare for a big interview and come out a winner.

The diﬀerence between a “successful person and others is not a lack of strength, not a lack of knowledge, but rather a lack in will. Vince Lombardi

”

Promotion board, structured interview, interview panel - all words that strike fear in the heart of many of us who have had to prepare for one. Yet, ironically you’ve earned the right to sit before the panel and should actually relish the opportunity to show them just how good you are and why you are the ideal candidate for the role. Let’s look at a few simple and easy to follow steps which could make the experience slightly more enjoyable. It really is down to you and your desire to put in the time and eﬀort to achieve the very best results. Thorough preparation is key and it’s imperative that you also conduct in-depth research into the role/job you are applying for. Failure to do both will result in disappointment. I have sat on numerous interview panels, both police and non-police, and since retirement have coached many people preparing for job interviews. The one thing that I tell them from the start is that to achieve success then they must do the groundwork.

Be prepared

You should recall from the ‘I factor’ in the previous issue of NiCKED that the human brain is simply a storage device, albeit a very complex one. Like any storage device, the better the system used to organise and store the information, the better the ability to retrieve it, particularly when under pressure. In 1956 George Miller, a renowned Princeton professor and respected psychologist, told us that the human short-term memory has the capability to store 7 ± 2 ‘chunks’ of information. Many of you may recall discussing the principles of this on your investigative interviewing course and how powerful our cognitive recall can be when managed appropriately. You should think of your brain as a laptop with a very powerful memory - all the information and facts you know, have learned or have been told are stored on the hard drive. I get my clients to create mental ﬁles in their brain to store and retrieve information which they may wish to use during an interview. The creation of these ﬁles is something we will look at later.

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INTERVIEW TECHNIQUES

Think about going to a party. You approach the DJ and ask for a particular song. Now in my day it was all on vinyl records, which a good DJ had catalogued in alphabetical order, music type and even moods etc. Today it will probably be on a digital format but the principle is the same. They are able to instantly tell you if they have the song and then retrieve it for use. Once it has been played it is replaced back into its ‘folder’. By employing the principles of Miller’s 7 ± 2 chunking of information you too can create very speciﬁc folders that you can use in the interview.

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Consider this very simple analogy...

I believe there are a limited number of things that can be asked on an interview and, as such, it’s actually quite easy to create interview folders to store appropriate information in. Consider the purpose of an interview - what is it they want to know? n Your skills and attributes n Your experience in a similar role n Your understanding of the role you have applied for n The policies and protocols that apply to that role n The legislation that is relevant to that role n Your leadership qualities and your understanding of how to manage people n Your ability to manage yourself in normal and dynamic situations n Managing the desires and expectations of others n Communication skills n Practical application, and an understanding of Equality Legislation Consider this simple exercise - get a scrap of paper and for the next few minutes list the main skills, qualities or attributes you possess. So how was that? I suggest it’s not as easy as you perhaps thought because you have been put on the spot and asked to recall something which, despite knowing, you were unprepared for. So now we need to critically consider what we are looking for. Prior to repeating the exercise now spend 5 minutes thinking about the subject: YOU. Now repeat the exercise and hopefully this time you will ﬁnd it easier. Let’s assume you have a list that looks like this: n Good communicator n Organised n Strong leader n Self-motivated n Reliable n Honest n Good decision maker n Approachable/empathetic You get the idea. Your list can be as long as you want BUT remember you will probably only get to use a small amount of your ‘evidence’ during an interview.

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So now we come to the important part pick a skill, for example ‘Communication’; and then apply the formula 5WH (who, what, why, where, when and how). n When did I communicate? n Who was I communicating with? n What was the situation/environment/ reason I was communicating? n Why was I using the communication style? n Where was it happening? n How did the situation turn out? That will get you thinking about situations when you demonstrated that skill and give you the evidence which any interview panel so desires; a real life example. You repeat the process with each of the key subject areas and eventually you will have a set of folders which will look something like this: n Skills and attributes - Numerous example of skills you possess and examples of when you have used them. n The role - A comprehensive breakdown of the role, your understanding of what it entails. and hopefully your similar experiences. n Policies, protocols and procedures - What are the relevant standing operational policies in place? n The key legislation - Law relevant to the role. - Supporting legislation that may be appropriate. n Leadership and management - How do you prioritise, delegate and organise? - How do you motivate yourself and others? n Incident and situational management - How do you manage incident? - How do you problem solve? - Do you know the referral processes for staff issues? n Dealing with key stakeholders, partners and customers - How do you deliver a quality service? - How do you deal with feedback? - Are you a self-reflector? n Equality in the workplace - Are you a role model? - Do you know how to apply the principles of equality in the workplace? - Can you both challenge and manage workplace conflict? - Are you open, honest and transparent?

Remember this formula:

Subject x 5WH = evidence The key thing to consider about this process is that it allows you to objectively reﬂect and review past situations you have dealt with and by asking yourself open questions have ready-made examples which you can use as and when required.

Before you go through the door to the interview panel ask yourself this question. “Who is making me do this and do I actually want to do it.” If the answer is “I am and yes” then it’s your choice, so step through with confidence and deliver an Oscar-winning performance. One thing is certain, if you don’t answer the questions confidently and supply the panel with your knowledge and skills, you won’t demonstrate the essential competence and you will fail. I have seen exceptionally qualified candidates that, because of either a lack of preparation or nerves, were unable to answer even the simplest of questions. Imagine you are playing tennis with a much better player. The temptation, particularly when you feel frustrated or under pressure, is to hit the ball back as hard as you can without having selected the best tactical shot. No surprise the ball is played back at you, probably harder and into a position you had not planned for. Now you begin to ‘panic’ and unless you take stock, mentally slow down and think about tactics, you will lose the point - believe it or not the same thing often happens in an interview. When you enter the room take your lead from the chairperson. Get yourself settled and get comfortable. If the chairperson offers you the opportunity to remove your jacket/tunic etc. then do so. Do not reply “no thanks” then half way through the interview when you are getting hot ask to do it then. Use the introductions as a period for composing yourself. Use this very simple model when dealing with questions; 1.Listen to what is being asked. 2.Ask yourself: a. Do I understand the question? b. Have I got an appropriate example to use? 3.Take a breath and get yourself under control. 4.Retrieve the example you wish to use. 5.Mentally check it is the best one for the question. 6.Answer confidently and with self-belief. 7.Be prepared for probing supplementary questions.

This is critical. If you misinterpret the question then you are wasting everyone’s time. Interview panels will quickly recognise and counter a ‘politicians’ answer i.e. giving an answer they want rather than answering the question asked. Many a good candidate has floundered when the interviewer simply repeats the question. Ask yourself: Do I understand the question and have I got an appropriate example to use? If you don’t understand then it is imperative you seek some clarification, they will not change the question but will repeat it which may kick start your cognitive processes. If you have a readymade example then fine, if not, have you got something you can adapt or will a hypothetical example work? If you have no idea don’t panic all is not lost. Simply explain you cannot answer it and move on. Not knowing a single answer, in most cases, will not cause you to fail, but bluffing and blundering may.

Breathe

Interviews are stressful and create the same psychological and physical reactions that occurs when in a conﬂict situation. You will recall from PST training that when under stress you lose 40% of your hearing, you get a huge chemical imbalance and you brain’s cognitive function will begin to reduce. Controlled deep breathing will allow you a bit of time to regain composure and force oxygenated blood back into your brain. That will assist with your ability to think and rationalise.

Answering with conﬁdence

This is similar to taking that unenviable walk to the penalty spot. You’ve practiced a lot, you have an idea which way the (goalkeeper) panel may take you, you know the subject and you’ve actually volunteered to be there so forget the crowd, ignore the nerves and concentrate on the task at hand.

“The Unexpected Question” (aka the low baller, the curve ball or the bouncer).

Forgive me if I sound cruel but you only get the unexpected question if you have not prepared to the best of your ability. I have sat on many panels and, whilst I empathise with the candidate when they get this type of question, I also believe that they should have considered the subject area as part of their preparation. So, if you get this question and cannot answer it then simply say so, also add it is something that you will take steps to redress and move on. If you choose to answer it then do so carefully and think exactly about what you are going to say before committing. Many strong candidates simply spew out a sentence without thinking which then leads to a challenging supplementary question.

“The Supplementary Questions” (aka The dreaded probing questions)

You will be probed so, simply, deal with it as you did with the initial question. Listen and ensure you have information to answer the probe and then continue. Ironically the probe question is a good sign as you have told the panel something they are interested and they want to explore it.

The Finale

Many panels will ask the candidate if the wish to clarify anything they have said of do the wish to ask the panel anything. There is no perfect strategy for this, if however it is a formal structured interview I would strongly suggest you do not commence into a lengthy soliloquy or an Oscar acceptance speech. I always recommend a brief thank you to the panel and add they you hope you have shown them that you have the skills and ability to fulﬁl the role.

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The interview

Listen to what is being asked

Common types of question “What skills will you bring?” This requires a menu type initial answer which MUST reﬂect the essential skills set out in the JDQ such as: “I will bring the following skills: communication, leadership, a wide and diverse knowledge of the role and also my high standards of integrity and professionalism.” Pause for a second, if no one probes you then simply continue on with examples. “How would you deal with?” This is your golden ticket as the panel are asking for a real example (which you really should have) so simply tell them the story that you have prepared. Remember it’s about painting a really clear detailed mental picture to a panel. “In this role you will be expected to… how will you do that?” You may have never had to do what they are asking but think about a situation that may be similar where your demonstrated similar skills. If you do not have an example then I am certain that during your research you spoke to people in that role so explain that during your research you discussed this and simply tell them the correct processes. This contents of this article remain the property of Jim Ferran (JRC training) and can only be reproduced with his permission

Top ten tips

1.In-depth and appropriate preparation

is key to success - there is no substitute for thorough planning.

2.Research the position and speak to people who are currently performing that role.

3.Make sure you have read and understood

the job requirement and that your answers mirror the essential and desired competencies.

4.You are marketing yourself during this interview, so make sure you sell yourself properly.

5.Remember you have got to the interview

stage so you clearly are a good candidate - prove that to the panel who do not know you or your skills.

6.When you enter the room you are presenting

yourself as a blank canvas, if you paint nothing on that canvas and it is still blank when you leave then you will fail.

7.Recognise that the butterﬂies, nerves etc. are

normal and you can control them. Understand how stress and anxiety eﬀects the brain.

8.Do not offer up an answer which is untrue or risk answering something of which you have insufficient knowledge. The probing questions will find you out.

9.Enjoy the experience – you are getting

a chance to tell others just how competent and skilled you are.

10.View the interview as a cosy ﬁreside

chat with people who don’t know you, know nothing about the role, the organisation and its policies and procedures. All you are doing is telling them what they want to know.

LIFE STORIES

Accommodating

autism

Amanda and Dale Callaghan have been in the police for over a decade and like most in the force, they thought they had experienced everything. But when their son, Lewis, was diagnosed with autism at two years old, they instantly understood their family life was going to change. NiCKED Editor Brinsley Bailey visited the Callaghans at their Lancashire home and explored their experiences of police, family life and autism.

What are your current roles in the police? Has the job been supportive to your needs? Amanda: “I’ve been in the police for 11 years and for the last two years I’ve worked in Community Response, which is essentially a non-emergency, appointment-based department. It’s one of those jobs that every day is diﬀerent and you’re kept amused, especially in the department I work in. They’re a great bunch of people; we all get along and help each other. We’ve been lucky that Lancashire Constabulary have been supportive when it comes to an accommodating rota for me because we’ve got two kids at school - it’s designed for us to do what we need to do.”

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Dale: “I’ve been in the police for nearly 14 years, spending the first five years on section just doing normal 999 work and ever since then I’ve been in the Armed Response Vehicle (ARV). I joined the unit because, although I enjoyed my section work, I wanted to be more operational and I like being hands-on, so the ARV seemed like a good fit. We’re the force’s main door openers and we’re also level 3 First Aid enhanced trained so we carry oxygen and airways. We often go to car accidents and traffic incidents so we do a bit of everything, and of course we do the firearm stuff. There are 12 of us on the team and we all train together. You’ve got to have a good relationship with your colleagues and I think working with someone you like makes the job as well.”

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LIFE STORIES

When did you discover Lewis had autism?

Dale: “Originally we wondered if Lewis was deaf. We had Harrison, our first son, who seemed to be developing the way we expected, so we used him as a milestone and when Lewis came along we used to compare them. If you asked Harrison when he was a younger ‘where’s your teddy?’ he’d look around and go to get his teddy. He understood what we were saying because he would look around for the said item. Lewis at the same age did nothing. You could say his name, you could talk to him and there was no register from him that he was recognizing your voice.” Amanda: “Lewis was around two years old when I first said to the health visitor that I thought there was something wrong. I mentioned that he wasn’t starting to talk yet or make any sounds. That’s what got the ball rolling and we took Lewis to get his ears tested because our initial thought was that’s why he’s not started to talk. But his ears were fine. We didn’t really know a lot about autism and what it was, nor did we know anyone with autistic children. I’m not sure what made us look into it but it was probably because of the things Lewis does like flapping his hands when he gets excited. When we found out Lewis had autism, we were upset but relieved really because he got a diagnosis so young which opened up doors for him to get the help he needed. Lewis was very young to get a diagnosis but we were able to get a statement so he could start school at the age of three.”

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Did you know much about the autism spectrum before Lewis was diagnosed? How has his diagnosis affected your understanding of the condition? Dale: “Through work we’ve had bits of input on mental health issues. A lot of my experience is through training because that’s where I initially got input on autism and other health conditions. I think having Lewis and seeing the older children in his school and how they act, I can probably spot someone with autism pretty quickly now. The term autism ‘spectrum’ is apt really because there are so many different issues relating to the condition, for example, some like personal contact and others don’t. If I’m dealing with somebody on the street, ordinarily I’d shout ‘armed police, get down on the floor!’ but if that person is autistic and hypersensitive, that is going to make the situation worse.”

Amanda: “I think it’s made us a bit more aware now, not just of autism, but other mental health conditions. It has helped us at work because if we have to visit someone with autism or aspergers, we now have an insight into the condition and are better equipped to deal with it. Not all autistic people are the same and it’s being able to assess at the time. People say autistic people don’t like anyone invading their space and they don’t like to be touched, however Lewis is the total opposite. There are children at Lewis’ school that wear ear defenders all day because they can’t deal with noise. Whereas Lewis is hyposensitive so he likes loud noises, big movements, going fast and loves being in the car.”

There’s an understanding that when you have a child with a disability you need more flexibility

Outline a typical day with Lewis; how does he interact with the world? What does he enjoy?

Amanda: “Lancashire Constabulary accommodates us very well so on a typical day, Dale will work from 7am-4pm and my shift will be 9:45am-2:30pm. Dale will get up at around 5:30am and leave around 6:15am and I’ll be up very early too as Lewis doesn’t sleep much during the night so either do we! I’ll then take both kids to school, rush to work complete a busy day of appointments and then pick them up from their schools later in the day.

What makes it the most diﬃcult is if Lewis doesn’t sleep and having to do the same routine again the next day can be extremely tiring at times.

He is non-verbal and can’t understand if we talk to him or if we’re having a conversation but he does understand a few words like ‘bedtime’, ‘bathtime’ and ‘teatime’ and he responds to his name.

There are times when Lewis won’t go to sleep at all but there is no reasoning with him. With our other son we’ll give an ultimatum if he doesn’t want to go to bed such as, ‘If you don’t go to bed you won’t get a star on your chart’, with Lewis you just have to accept it.

Lewis communicates with us and at school using his PECS folder. It contains pictures and photographs so if he wants something, he’ll get his picture out. Lewis has also started taking us to where he wants to go now and he ﬁnds his own way of telling us what he wants. He loves things that move and is very fond of his iPad. Lewis is very intelligent: he knows numbers up to 100, the alphabet and is very good with computer games.”

Also, because of his autism, Lewis isn’t potty-trained and there are a lot of things he is quite behind with.

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LIFE STORIES

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What do you think of schemes like the Pegasus database and Autism Alert Cards? Dale: “These schemes are really good for medical types of emergencies but certainly in my ARV role, if I’m dealing with someone, there is a reason I’ve been called. I’m not going to get close enough to someone to see if they’ve got some sort of data tag or med-alert tag. If say we were dealing with an autistic adult who has an obsession with Lord of The Rings and they dress in that attire and carry a sword for eﬀect, they don’t mean any harm, it’s just their little quirk. I’m not going to approach that person until I’m sure they’re under some semblance of control. You can’t just go up to them and grab their arm and move them along. These sort of ID tags are a great idea but only if they are visible or on a jacket and obvious.” Amanda: “I think these schemes are going to get more and more common. A lot more is known now about autism and it’s only in the past few years that people have started to become diagnosed with autism. When I was younger, I know now that the kid that lived next door to me was autistic. But at the time it was just the lad that didn’t speak and made funny noises. In the next decade there’ll be a lot more people diagnosed with the condition so it’ll have to be something we learn about as there’s only limited compulsory training at the moment in autism.

Useful Websites The National Autistic Society www.autism.org.uk

This site covers nearly everything about autism, from its causes and diagnosis, to current research and related conditions. The Autism Helpline 0808 800 4104 also provides free impartial and conﬁdential advice for people with autism, their families and carers.

NHS Choices

www.nhs.uk/Livewell/Autism

The NHS provide vast support and advice in their ‘Livewell’ section. This page also features some useful articles from those with autism spectrum disorders and their families.

Dale: “There was a conference about autism a few months back at Lancashire Police HQ and there were a lot of outside partner agencies that attended. The shift patterns have changed recently to incorporate a training day amongst the working week. Basically, the whole section team will do a day’s training and things like autism awareness have been put into these packages, but they can only do so much.”.

How has it aﬀected your life and your role in the police?

Amanda: “There are people at work in the same position as us who have autistic kids, so we’re not the only ones. This means there’s an understanding that when you have a child with a disability you need more flexibility.” Dale: “Sometimes I finish late or have last minute shift change. Due to the nature of my role, I can’t juest ask anyone to cover my job, so without Amanda’s flexibility it would be really difficult. We’ve found the job to be accommodating - I’m on a regular shift pattern because I need to be, but Lancashire Police have been so flexible with Amanda’s shifts we’ve not had too much difficulty. I think it’s important that when you have something planned yourself personally that you do it. If say Amanda has a night out planned and I need to change a shift, because we’re such a tight-knit group I’ll speak to some of the other guys on my team and there’s always someone who will swap and it also works the other way.” Amanda: “The big problem for us is if Lewis isn’t sleeping at night, we’re not sleeping at night. Having to go and do a job like we do is quite difficult, especially for Dale because he has to be alert for his role.”

What has been the general reaction to Lewis’ condition? What are your thoughts on his future?

Amanda: “If you’ve never known an autistic person or come across one then it can be quite difficult to recognise. People can be afraid of people with disabilities and before I had Lewis and had a bit more understanding, I’d probably put myself in that category. Whereas now I find that, not just with autistic people, but people with other sort of disabilities, I’m not frightened anymore and I’ll go and speak to them. Some people just shy away because they don’t know how to deal with them. People generally don’t quite understand the problems that we have until we’ve explained that actually he doesn’t sleep at night, we have to still feed him, he’s still in nappies etc.” Dale: “We’ve had family members who’ve said things like ‘oh they grow out of that don’t they?’ but it’s just a lack of knowledge. Because Lewis is only four, we haven’t had much reaction from people we don’t know in the street. We haven’t experienced funny looks… well not yet.” Amanda: “I think that will come as he gets older. Now, Lewis doesn’t particularly like walking anywhere so we still use a pushchair for him, which probably does get a few funny looks because he’s quite tall for a four year old. People talk to Lewis but don’t get a reaction and because he doesn’t speak he might make some funny noises then we have to explain his condition. For example, when Lewis is in the park, he’ll go up to somebody and grab their hand or sit really close to them so we’ll have to explain why he behaves like that. If people are having a picnic he’ll just walk over and help himself to what they’re having.” Dale: “When he meets other kids, he’ll sometimes just go up to them face to face, flap his hands and make a loud noise and then he’ll run off. Because he likes big movements, if he sees a group of kids running around he’ll run after them and follow them.” Amanda: “Sometimes we’ll see children try to interact with him and ask his name and they obviously don’t get a reaction but they don’t understand why he’s not speaking.” Dale: “He’s at the sort of age though where the children who are similar in age won’t be too bothered that he hasn’t responded and will go off and do their own thing. But as Lewis gets older I think the kids around him will figure out he’s different.” Amanda: “(Overall) we’re lucky that we’ve got a very good autistic school in our local area and they’ve recently announced they’re building a new unit so he’ll be able to go there until he’s 19. We’ve had no negativity from anybody and are blessed with a good group of friends who are very understanding and love Lewis. He is a joy. He touches the heart of everyone who gets to know him and he is such a happy cuddly little boy… and our world.”

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goexplore... TRAVEL

Whether you’re looking for inspiration for growing children or fancy taking some time out yourself, Rebecca Ferran oﬀers some inspiration and advice from her own travel experiences with Camp Leaders in America. Joining the police at a young age can lead to a very fulfilling and special career. If you’re reaching retirement you may ﬁnd yourself looking back over your twenties and thirties, really valuing your experiences. You may have children around the same age you were when you joined the force and you‘re probably wondering what is in store for them. Like many parents, you could be asking yourself what you can do to ensure they have everything they want and need in life. Is there something you missed out on that you would love for your children to experience? Are they in between careers, courses, unsure what path to take? If you dedicated your life to your job from a young age you may have missed out on the opportunity to travel. However, you can give this gift to your children.

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There are of course other reasons people would like to travel: you may have only been in the job for a few years but would like to take a career break or need a change of scene. Maybe you’re looking to do something big before you settle down to start a family or move up the ladder. I was a student with big dreams and an empty bank account. We all have our own circumstances.

As the daughter of a policeman serving for over thirty years, I had seen the highs and lows of a stable career starting at a young age. My dad gave me some amazing advice about seeing the world in between semesters and a little donation from his pension gave me the chance to make it happen.

REBECCA FERRAN

Rebecca Ferran is a writer, popular blogger and avid globetrotter. She is currently travelling around Central Europe and aims to explore more of North America next year. Visit Rebeccaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s blog at: beccabiscuit24.blogspot.co.uk

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TRAVEL

Top tips for travelling Use a reputable company

Camp Leaders work with ACA accredited camps and also conduct site visits to ensure the safety and happiness of their participants.

Be realistic with your budget

Are you visiting a country that requires proof of funds on entry, such as Australia or Canada? Have you considered all of the third-party costs? Make sure you read the Terms and Conditions thoroughly and are ﬁnancially able to move forward before you make a monetary commitment.

Be open-minded

If you only do 5-star-all-inclusive-sea-sun-sand holidays then maybe a log cabin in the woods with an early morning wake up is not for you, and that’s okay. However, the more open-minded you are, the more opportunities are out there for you.

Do your research

Are there requirements for the program you are interested in? Maybe there is an upper or lower age limit? Are there visa restrictions? Don’t be afraid to ask questions to avoid disappointment.

Don’t believe everything you are told

Over the years I had heard stories about how difficult it is to get out to America to work. It was one of the main places I wanted to travel to and I knew that I wanted to work with children, so when I found a way to combine the two I was extremely excited. I have spent four summers at a residential summer camp in Massachusetts and I didn’t have any of the difficulties I had heard about in the past. The reason being the organisation I chose to go through. To work at a camp in the US you need to obtain a J1 visa, which is for cultural exchange purposes. That means you must apply through an organisation in order to have your visa sponsored. I chose Camp Leaders as I had heard some great reviews on them and I needed a company that could take me from start to finish as I was clueless. I had never been away by myself before and did not know where to start. Camp Leaders put me through a really comfortable and informative interview process, helped me to perfect my application and set me up with a job and a camp that really felt like a great fit for me. Four summers at camp taught me so much about myself, about my career goals and about my personal strengths. I had quite a lot of experience working with younger children but after spending time Stateside I gained valuable experience with teenagers too. Camp opened so many doors for me and even led me to my current job.

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Figure out your travel plans

If you are looking for a job abroad, would you be willing to go solo? Some employers may not hire people with pre-existing relationships, others might be all for it. If there are a few of you looking for a vacation, are you willing to meet new friends and travel together? Often, adventure trip tour groups are around 11-13 people strong.

Pack sensibly

There are options for all… Often, you will be sharing your living space with 6-9 children. Maybe that doesn’t sound quite your cup of tea. Or maybe you don’t have a full summer to dedicate to work and travel.

Not to worry, as Camp Leaders is just one of the programs offered by their parent company Smaller Earth. If you really do want to work with children but you only have a month or so to do it, why not consider working as an au pair in Spain? Your own room, access to a new language, gaining teaching and childcare experience… all with a family that welcomes you in as one of their own. Some people may wish to use their time abroad solely as a travel experience. That’s fine; there are plenty of options for that too. Consider the wide range of adventure trips with witty names that allow you to fit as much in to your daily schedule as you can so that you head home with a real sense of achievement and some amazing photos. Perhaps you like to give back; working with orphans in Africa or taking part in a marine conservation trip will enhance your resume too. Whatever your circumstance, interests or goals, don’t pass up opportunities that could change you in great ways. Get out and see the world, make it a smaller earth.

Is the voltage diﬀerent in the country you are travelling to? There is no point dragging your hairdryer 4,000 miles across the globe to discover it is about as powerful as a two-year-old blowing out candles on their birthday cake. Do you really need all those toiletries? Take it from experience; shampoo and conditioner does not travel well on long-haul connecting ﬂights. Little known fact; other countries have shops too!

Be wary of overly cheap deals

We all love a bargain here and there but do you really want to compromise on value when you are going so far away from home? There could be hidden costs. On the other hand, don’t expect it to be free. Many people are surprised that they have to pay a program fee in country, especially for volunteering. These fees could cover anything from processing, vetting, ﬂights, food and accommodation, even support for the program itself. Ask where your money is going. A reputable company can and will give you an answer.

Discounts do exist

If you want a structured experience in the States for your kids on their gap year, or for yourself and some friends, consider Trek America. Trek America is the longest-running and most experienced adventure tour operator in North America. Even if you are not placed at a camp with Camp Leaders this year they are kindly oﬀering a discount code; 333222. Input this code for ten percent oﬀ of the trip of a lifetime.

Camp Leaders

www.campleaders.com/gb/ Smaller Earth www.smallerearth.com/uk/ Trek America www.trekamerica.co.uk

HEALTH & FITNESS

PAUL HERBERT Paul Herbert is a former GB athlete

who competed at 800m against the likes of Sebastian Coe, Steve Cram, Steve Ovett and Peter Elliot. At 21 years old, he was UK champion and 25th fastest in the world with a time of 1:45. After a successful athletics career, Paul decided health and ﬁtness was the way to go and he created Body Transformations. His company in Abbots Langley, Hertfordshire works with people from various backgrounds from sedentary to athlete. Some of his high proﬁle clients have included Kym Marsh (Coronation Street), Penny Malory (TV presenter) and Martin Kove (Karate Kid).

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“Prevention is better

than a cure

“

PERSONAL TRAINER AND PHYSIOTHERAPIST, PAUL HERBERT, PROVIDES NiCKED WITH HIS EXPERT ADVICE ON INJURIES AND STEPS YOU CAN TAKE TO KEEP THEM AT BAY.

Q&A

Q:Why do injuries occur?

“There are many reasons for injuries. The most common are poor conditioning, lack of flexibility or mobility and inadequate physical fitness. Sometimes injuries occur because of a previous injury you’ve had and your body is overcompensating which can create subsequent issues in other areas of the body, eventually triggering another injury to occur. For example, if you suffer a groin strain, a few months down the line you can experience back problems because of muscle imbalances and over-exertion on one side. With any injury, make sure it’s totally clear before you start thinking about exercising again. This will help stop injuries occurring in the future.”

Q:On the whole,

are injuries avoidable?

“It really depends on your general level of fitness and on what sports you play or physical activities you do. With sports like rugby and football for example, a lot of these injuries are impact, which is to be expected because they are physical sports. However, if you’re talking about muscle tears or strains, then there is a good percentage that are avoidable because they are mainly down to poor conditioning and lack of fitness I.e. groin strain, pulled hamstring etc. External factors can also adversely affect the body e.g. playing a sport or running in poor weather conditions. If you turn sharply and the grass gives way underfoot or you slip, this can cause potential damage to your ankle, knee or trigger a muscle strain.”

Q:Is there anything you can do during the working day to help?

“Nowadays, a lot of people are office-based or in jobs where they sit for the majority of time. A lot of my clients work in these environments and I treat many who suffer from back and shoulder injuries. Back strains, in particular, can cause a lot of pain because they work down into the glutes which will then cause an impingement of the sciatic nerve. What I suggest to those who are deconditioned or have a sedentary job/ lifestyle, rather than sitting at your desk for three to four hours straight without adjusting your body position, break that time up with mobility and flexibility work. Get out of your chair every 30-60 minutes and start stretching or spend five minutes doing mobility work around your shoulders, neck and lower back. This will at the very least delay the onset of muscle tightness and bad posture. Here’s a scenario I’ve come across many times: A person with little physical fitness and conditioning goes to the gym but they’ve only got an hour to exercise. They decide to miss out the warm-up, stretches and cool-down to save time. They think the workout is going well but halfway through their session they feel a muscle tighten and they pull up with an injury. What these people don’t realise is the parts of the session they chose to cut out are as vital as the actual workout because they keep injuries at bay and, in the long run, make your body stronger and give you more time to workout.

Particularly in the case of a cool-down; when you exert yourself in a workout, the key thing is too cool the muscles down because they’ll still be active when you ﬁnished exercising and leave the gym. It's imperative to bring down your body temperature before you leave. Also, cool-downs limit the onset of muscle soreness which usually occurs from a lactic acid build-up that can restrict movement. If you’re not in good condition, ignore the cool-down and come back to the gym two days later still sore, then you can start getting more muscles tears and joint problems. The cool-down is not only for the immediate eﬀect after exercise, it is really for the beginning of the next session.”

Q:Can diet influence injury occurrence?

“Eating well is always important and, in terms of injury recovery, adding potassium into your diet is a big plus. It helps with muscle soreness and helps to repair the joints, ligaments and tendons. Things like bananas and dates are a good natural source and help replace lost nutrients in your system. BCAAs (Branched Chain Amino Acids) are also beneﬁcial because they stop you losing excess muscle tissue. Multi-vitamins can be incorporated as they have components like iron and zinc that are very useful after exercise. However, as a personal trainer, I always believe the most important thing in reaching your goals is focusing on your food, with supplements as a secondary focus.”

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HEALTH & FITNESS

During your time as a personal trainer and physiotherapist, what is the most common injury you come across? “I see a lot of knee injuries, many of which can be attributed to the nation’s current obesity epidemic. Being overweight or obese will cause more stress on the knee joint and the pressure bearing down on the cartilage, tendons and ligaments, often results in injury. However, one of the most common injuries I see is musculotendinous junction. MTJ is a muscle soreness and tear right on the junction of the gastrocnemius and soleus on the calf area and is generally a high impact type of injury from running or basketball or something like that.

For the rest of the week he was limping and gradually got better to the point where he felt he could run again. However, he had better judgement the second time around and came to see me for a second opinion.”

If you have tight ankles or a previous injury of your lower leg, what often happens is that the opposite leg begins doing more of the work. When that occurs, you’ll eventually overwork the uninjured landing leg to the point where you’ll start getting sharp pain and muscle tear.

“Another really common injury I see in people that run a lot, whether that be triathlons, marathons or running in the gym, is problems with the Achilles tendon. More often than not, if someone has a pain on their Achilles, I feel the part of the tendon where the shoe sits because what often happens is the top of the shoe at the back hits against the tendon.

Coming back from this injury is difficult as you could not run or play your sport for three weeks and it will feel fine once you start playing but within 5-10 minutes of high activity it will likely go again. Recently, I treated a client who had this injury; he was out road running and he felt the muscle go. Correctly, he decided the best course of action would be to lay off exercise to recover and let his injury heal. However, the mistake he made was going back into exercise too soon. He was keen to get back running so he did a light jog to test the leg and he was happy it felt good enough to run again, so he decided to do the real thing. He went home, got changed into his running gear and decided to hit the road. 20 minutes into the run he pulled up to the extent where he couldn’t walk home!

With anysure e injury, mallky clear it’s tota u start before yoabout thinking sing exerci again.

That constant tapping on this point of the Achilles causes bruising which can lead to scar tissue and an injury can build from there. With these types of injuries they hard to treat and recover from because you’re always walking. The area never gets a real chance to settle down and heal so it takes longer than it really has to. Also, because ligaments and tendons don’t have a blood supply means they’ll take even longer to repair.”

se Follow the ps to ti le p im three s ries: nning inju minimise ru 1 of good pair Invest in aing shoes. n n ru 2 to correct sinze t inside Buy the m e m ve o t avoid fooyo ur shoe. 3

but oes ﬁrmly Tie yourtsh tly. h g ti o to no

What important advice can you give to the NiCKED readers? “A lot of injuries I see, especially around the gym, are based on people’s technique. I recently saw a guy in my gym who tried to stretch too much and he pulled his hip-ﬂexor. In this regard, concentration is a huge factor in preventing injury. The better your focus and concentration, the better the likelihood of being able to stabilise your body and complete an exercise or stretch without injury. For example, if you’re doing step-ups and one leg is coming back down toward the ﬂoor but you’re focusing on the TV, that foot can easily roll or turn and damage your ankle ligaments.

Concentration on your exercise makes that a lot less likely to happen. Another thing I’d recommend is allowing the work to start from your abdominals. Focusing on your core produces stability and if you don’t incorporate these muscles while exercising everything is thrown out of sync, causing your technique to suﬀer. The last thing, would be to use slow and controlled movements while using machines and free weights as this will improve your workout as well as prevent potential injury.”

Adding into potassiumbig plus. a your diet isith muscle It helps w and helps soreness he joints, to repair t ts and ligamen s. tendon

The important stretches 1. Hip-flexor stretch: The hip-ﬂexor

is located in the upper thigh and is responsible for moving the leg/knee upward in exercises like running, sprinting, kicking etc. For this stretch, go into a kneeling position with your left knee on the ground (use a cushion or towel underneath) and placing the right leg in front of you with the knee bent. Keeping your abdominals tight, place a hand on the raised leg for stability. Keep your back straight looking forward and keeping your head in line with your spine. Lean forward slightly and you should feel a stretch in your left thigh. Hold for 20 seconds, switch legs and repeat.

2. Glute stretch: A lot of us sit, stand or drive for long periods of time during the working day. This can cause give you a tight Piriformis muscle that can cause pain right down your leg. This Glute stretch should loosen this muscle and alleviate the pain over time. Sit on the ﬂoor with your left leg ﬂat and the right leg bent. Put your left arm over your right knee and turning your body until you feel a stretch in your buttocks. Hold for 20 seconds, switch legs and repeat.

3. Hamstring stretch: The hamstrings located on the back part of your upper leg can become tight over time, particularly if you’re a keen runner. This hamstring stretch will provide some much needed ﬂexibility and help prevent potential tears and pulls.

Put both feet together, take your left foot and place the heel on a raised object like a chair. Make sure you keep your knees slightly bent, your back straight and head facing forward. To increase the stretch in your calf, place your foot toward the backrest of the chair and push your heel into it. Leaning forward will also increase the intensity of the stretch. Hold for 30 seconds, switch legs and repeat.

4. Back twist: This is a great exercise to loosen up your back muscles and should help delay the onset of back soreness and discomfort that many people experience on a daily basis. Sit on the edge of a chair and squeeze your knees together. Take your right palm, keeping your arm straight and place it on the outside of your left knee. Take your left hand and hook it behind the chair, generating a twisting movement, trying to look over your left shoulder. Hold for 30 seconds, switch sides and repeat. *You may feel a few clicks in your back but that is due to your spine realigning. There should be no pain, if there is, consult a physician.*

5. Shoulder rotations: Improve the mobility and flexibility in your shoulders with this simple but effective exercise. Rotate the shoulders up, back and around in one fluid movement. Perform this seven times forward and another seven in the backwards. Remember: if you're carrying an injury, or it has been a while since you have done any exercise seek medical advice before attempting these stretches.

Email Paul at enquires@bodytransformations.co.uk or visit www.bodytransformations.co.uk

MUST-WATCH TV

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By Brinsley Bailey

7IN7

Police shift patterns donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t always lend themselves to sitting down at the same time as the rest of the populous. But with so many diďŹ&#x20AC;erent ways to watch TV these days there is always a way to catch up. NiCKED Magazine Editor Brinsley Bailey takes a look at a few quality shows that have gone under the radar.

MUST-WATCH TV

A night out on the town. An evening fitness class. An awkward shift pattern. Giving in to the allures of reality TV (sigh). There are a million and one reasons why you may have missed so many top quality TV series’. Although many of us dedicate a significant portion of our free time to watching TV, there’s simply not enough hours in the day to watch all the good stuff out there. Many of us tend to follow the crowd and stick to popular hits like The Walking Dead, Breaking Bad, Game of Thrones etc. to occupy the evenings. While there’s nothing wrong with this approach, there have been many underrated yet outstanding programmes that have slipped through your net over the years. Often, it is only through word-of-mouth or sheer luck that some of us have been fortunate to find these shows, sometimes many years later. So rather than let you miss out, I’ve made a shortlist of seven of the best British and American TV shows from the past seven years. While it’s unfortunate that you’ve missed these brilliantly entertaining programmes from their inception, the best part about being so far behind is that you can watch episode upon episode without having to wait on a cliff-hanger that can frustratingly last several months.

LILYHAMMER

Frank Tagliano (Steven Van Zandt, Sopranos) is a New York mobster who testifies against ‘the family’ and is subsequently placed under witness protection in Norway. Although he has a soft spot for Lillehammer after watching the 1994 Winter Olympics, he struggles to fit into Norwegian culture and the transition from revered ‘made man’ to unemployed immigrant begins to take its toll. Consequently, Tagliano can’t resist returning to old habits and sets up his own successful crime syndicate which causes havoc in the pastoral Norwegian town. Lilyhammer provides a uniquely refreshing spin on the mafia genre with a captivating story that covers themes of assimilation, Americanisation, sexuality and political ideology. Mixed in are some utterly ridiculous scenarios and subtle satire which provide the show with a balance and pace that many others fail to obtain.

The Norwegian cast, whose dialogue is mixed between English and Norwegian, add to Lilyhammer’s authenticity and the accompanying subtitles often provide an understated comedic value. Trond Fausa is deserving of a special mention for his performance as Tagliano’s right hand man, Togier Lien, which often steals the show.

Genre: Black Comedy/ Dramedy Grade: A How many seasons? Two Duration: 2012-Present Where can I watch this? Netﬂix

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FALLING SKIES

A devastating Alien attack has decimated civilisation around the world and six months after the initial invasion the show follows a small group of survivors based in the North East region of the United States. Former History Professor Tom Mason (Noah Wyle, ER) leads a mixed group of army and civilians, including his three sons, around what is left of America in quest of survival, rebellion and revenge.

The post-apocalyptic drama is a thriving genre at the moment and although there are many fakes and pretenders, this show is not one of them. Falling Skies is a terrific example of why the genre is so popular; it generally succeeds in mixing a sufficient level of drama, action and intrigue into multi-faceted yet simplistic narrative that hits all the right notes. Unfortunately, the show can be slightly cheesy and stereotypical at times which is why we can’t put Falling Skies on the same level as The Walking Dead, however it succeeds in doing the important things well and each episode has you asking more questions and wanting more answers. Genre: Sci-fi/Drama Grade: B+ How many seasons? Three Duration: 2011-Present Where can I watch this? Channel 5 & Fox (Sky ch. 124)

WAREHOUSE 13

THE MENTALIST

Patrick Jane (Simon Baker, The Devil Wears Prada) is a high profile TV psychic who suffers a mental breakdown when his family is murdered by notorious serial killer Red John. After renouncing his former psychic profession as fraudulent, he decides to put his true talents of extraordinary observation and mentalist trickery to good use by working as a consultant for the California Bureau of Investigation (CBI) under the command of Agent Teresa Lisbon (Robin Tunney, The Craft). Although Jane’s methods are unorthodox (and borderline illegal) he is nearly always successful and his talents are regularly the ace up the sleeve for Lisbon and her team. Due to its increase in popularity in recent years, the crime investigation fad has been saturated with some great and some not so great shows with The Mentalist falling into the former category. Simon Baker is terrific in the chief role, demonstrating superb poise throughout as he is equally great at being comical and dramatic in this ultimate quest for revenge. In addition, the suit-waistcoat combo and obsession with tea has led to Patrick Jane to achieving cult status.

The script is brilliantly intricate and has so many twists and turns you won’t know whether you’re coming or going. The hunt for Red John’s identity is the main driving force of the show and it will constantly leave you frustrated yet fascinated. But the ‘run of the mill’ cases the team explore also add to the drama and conspiracy aspect as well as providing many a laugh with Tim Kang’s (Agent Kimball Cho) deadpan performance a consistent highlight.

When US Secret Service Agents, Pete Lattimer (Eddie McClintock, Three Wise Guys) and Myka Bering (Joanne Kelly, Crime Spree) save the President’s life they are promoted to a secret government organisation that collects supernatural and scientifically advance objects. Based in a covert South Dakota warehouse run by Special Agent Artie Nielsen (Saul Rubinek, Unforgiven), Pete and Myka venture the globe investigating all things weird, collecting historical artefacts and stopping the more powerful ones from falling into rogue hands. If you are looking for a serious detective series then Warehouse 13 is not the show for you. But if you like sci-ﬁ mixed with light-hearted comedy and a dash of drama then this will be right up your street. As each episode is often based on a famous historical ﬁgure or artefact (e.g. Lewis Carroll’s looking glass) it is essentially a mini history lesson so you can convince yourself that you are learning through entertainment… albeit very loosely. Pete and Myka are likeable protagonists and their fantastic chemistry will have you rooting for them from the start. Although the show can become slightly repetitive at times due to its rigid base premise, it is very easy to watch and provides plenty of laughs on the way. Genre: Sci-fi Grade: B How many seasons? Five Duration: 2009-2014 Where can I watch this? SyFy (Sky ch. 114)

Genre: Crime Drama Grade: A+ How many seasons? Six Duration: 2008-Present Where can I watch this? Channel 5 or 5USA (Sky ch. 174)

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MUST-WATCH TV

RIPPER STREET

In 1899, six months after the ‘Jack the Ripper’ murders, Whitechapel’s ‘H’ Division is given the task of maintaining order on the chaotic streets of London’s East End. Detective Inspector Edmund Reid (Matthew Macfadyen, Spooks) and Detective Sergeant Bennet Drake (Jerome Flynn, Game of Thrones) investigate a number of murders with help from former US Army surgeon and Pinkerton agent Captain Homer Jackson (Adam Rothenburg, Mad Money). Ripper Street is an entertaining police drama that successfully revitalises the somewhat overused ‘narrative-investigation-action’ formula by adding a healthy dose of mystery, bolstered by the historical setting. The bleak backdrop superbly reﬂects the depravity of 19th century London and the gritty surroundings provide the realism that impressively draws you into the period. Matthew Macfadyen’s demeanour is beﬁtting of the time and his portrayal as the driven yet ultimately flawed detective is also impressive. Genre: Crime Drama Grade: B+ How many seasons? Two Duration: 2012-Present Where can I watch this? Amazon Instant Video

COMMUNITY

ARCHER

Sterling Archer (H. Jon Benjamin, Bob’s Burgers) is a narcissistic yet suave master spy at the International Secret Intelligence Service. While he often successfully saves the world from a multitude of terrorist organisations, his self-centred and unorthodox style causes conflict with his mother and boss Malory (Jessica Walter, Arrested Development) and disgruntled ex-girlfriend and fellow spy Lana Kane (Aisha Tyler, CSI: Crime Investigation). Archer’s co-workers include a psychotic secretary, a mad scientist, a bare-knuckle fighting HR director and an incompetent accountant. For those who are sceptical about animation, immediately ditch your preconceptions as Archer is an absolute must-see comedy that is too funny to ignore. The show is clearly influenced by James Bond and the ‘spy spoof’ drives much of the dialogue, however many of the best scenes ridicule the office

environment and the characters within e.g. the HR gossip, oﬃce romance etc. The 1960’s Cold-War setting combined with some smooth animation provides Archer with a distinct look. The incredibly snappy dialogue, obscure cultural references and economic use of the Family Guy style ‘cutaway gag’ produce a well-rounded and outstanding comedy series.

Genre: Animated Comedy Grade: A How many seasons? Five Duration: 2010-Present Where can I watch this? 5* (Sky Ch.176) or 5USA (Sky Ch.174)

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Jeff Winger (Joel McHale, Ted) is a hotshot lawyer whose world quickly collapses after it is discovered he has a fake bachelor’s degree. In a last-ditch attempt to get his old life back, he decides to enrol at a local community college. While trying to win the affections of fellow student Brita Perry (Gillian Jacobs, Gardens of the Night) Winger decides to create his own study group containing an eclectic collection of college misfits including a former honour student, a single mother, a former high school quarterback, a film director and an eccentric millionaire. Community has a massive cult following for a reason. It is absolutely hilarious. The show’s self-reflexivity and use of pop culture references along with its ability to break traditional comedic paradigms are the main forces behind its success. Community also has added star power with terrific performances from Chevy Chase (Caddyshack) and Ken Jeong (Hangover). But the show’s major highlight is the relationship between pair Troy Barnes (Donald Glover, 30 Rock) and Abed Nadir (Danny Pudi, Road Trip: Beer Pong) which, in my opinion, is currently the funniest on television. Genre: Comedy Grade: A+ How many seasons? Five Duration: 2009-Present Where can I watch this? Sony TV (Sky Ch. 157)

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REAL LIFE STORIES

Stand-Up against depression Jake Mills had his road to success all planned out. That all changed when he attempted to take his own life in 2013. NiCKED Editor Brinsley Bailey explores Jake’s story, his life as a comedian and his battle with depression. We’ve all seen those films. The ones where you shout at the screen and try to warn the actors of their impending demise. We watch as the protagonists make a multitude of avoidable mistakes. We deride their ineptitude, their inability to predict the predictable and scoff ‘that would never happen to me…’ However, we are more like the characters in these films than we care to admit. Like them, events in our lives are impossible to anticipate and all we do is react to each situation as it comes. This is what Jake Mills felt like - as though he was witnessing his own story unfold on the big screen and like a powerless spectator, he was unable to command his own fate.

JAKE MILLS

Jake Mills is a stand-up comedian, writer and radio personality. He is also a fundraiser for the anti-suicide charity CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably) and has created his own campaign called ‘Chasing the Stigma’. www.jakemillscomedy.co.uk

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REAL LIFE STORIES

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Here is his story:

“

I was in my car around the corner from my girlfriend’s house and I didn’t know what I was doing, I felt like I was possessed. She was phoning me asking me where I was and I’d say, ‘Just leave me, I need to be on my own’. I eventually went back to her house and just sat in a room in the dark, talking gibberish to myself. That must have been frightening for her because she knew it wasn’t me.

”

When we hear about depression, it is often assumed the person it inﬂicts instantaneously plummets into a pit of despair. However, in Jake’s case, depression was like a cascading waterfall slowing eroding his mental and emotional foundations over time. The accumulation of internal pressure eventually took its toll, with near catastrophic results. But what were things like in the beginning? Surprisingly, they were not that of your typical class-clown many would expect of a successful comedian.

THE SHY COMEDIAN “In school I was quiet, low profile and that was probably because I was spotty with braces and glasses. I was always really shy but I enjoyed making people laugh in my own friendship circles. I always knew I wanted to do comedy in some form but it was never a real ‘job’. I couldn’t exactly go to my local connexions centre and say I wanted be a stand-up comedian!” After attending a six-week comedy course, where he had the luxury of writing jokes in a safe environment away from audiences, he had his first ever gig at Rawhide, Liverpool in 2008. The show was like nothing he had experienced before but something he knew he wanted again. “Immediately after I’d done it (the gig) I just thought this is the buzz and the rush that I’ve never had before. People laughed when they were meant to laugh and my jokes were working. From then on I never looked back.” Over the next six years, Jake traversed his way through an array of different media outlets. As well as becoming a regular on Liverpool radio stations City Talk and Radio City, he had the opportunity to perform for celebrities, work with popular comedians and appear at major venues. Writing also became a staple of Jake’s life, as he contributed to a variety of publications including The Guardian, Liverpool Echo, Hello magazine, and Huffington Post. Yet, when I asked about his biggest achievement he didn’t mention any of these feats. Instead, he sat transfixed in a deep gaze whilst he recalled an event that would permanently change his attitude toward comedy.

A LIFE CHANGING MOMENT “In 2010 I was offered a gig for the Liverpool Biennial Festival and I knew it would be a good opportunity for me. When I arrived on the day, the organiser told me they also wanted me to host a kids’ talent show. I went on stage and these kids were running around everywhere. I tried two jokes and I knew it was never going to work. I had a bit of a strop thinking, ‘why did they book me for this? I can’t do my style of comedy here.’ The kids interrupted my train of thought and asked if I could put their JLS CD on for them to sing along. I then sat and looked at this community. They were from the rough part of Anfield and had next to nothing but were just happy to be singing their favourite song on stage. I realised that doing comedy has lead me to being able to help these people and make their day a happy one. It was an eye-opener to me about the power of comedy and how this profession can make people feel good about themselves. Since the event, I’ve wanted to use comedy to make a bit of a difference and that’s something you can easily forget when you’re doing gigs around the country.” With the world seemingly at his feet, Jake continued to tour the country and perform his brand of comedy to the delight of countless audiences. He loved the thrill of performing but the balancing act of having a full time job as well numerous media commitments began to cause a mental strain. Jake contends that the duties themselves were not the cause of distress, rather what he felt were societal pressures to pick a role and focus on it as a career. This form of anxiety is one felt by many after they exit education.

THE PRESSURE TO CONFORM “There’s definitely pressure in the sense that you have to go down this line of going to school, going to sixth form or college, you go to Uni, you meet a girl, you get a job, you get married, buy a house, have a baby, etc. No one likes to conform to that. The pressure of what you’re meant to do weighs down on you…When you’re 18-21 you’re learning who you are, who you might be, what you might like, what you’re good at and what you’ll enjoy. However, society dictates that by that age, you’re already meant to know what you want to do. In reality, by the time you get out of University, that’s probably the first time in your life that you’re not told what to do. You’ve got this opportunity to think about what you want but, because society is the way it is… people can then find themselves in a job 20 years down the line that they don’t particularly want. There is so much pressure to make a decision.” The weight of expectation from those around us, as well as that which we often place on ourselves, can be a heavy burden to carry. For some, it’s as an incentive to achieve; for others it’s a useless handicap with devastating consequences. Depression is a prevalent, yet intangible, side-effect and most who experience it unable to pin-point specific feelings or when they began. In this regard, Jake was no different.

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REAL LIFE STORIES

TOO MUCH PRESSURE “It’s hard to say when my depression ‘set-in’. One thing that did have a big impact was putting too much pressure on myself to define what I wanted to be. I was working solely doing comedy and my writing had stopped because I was questioning whether I could be a writer and a comedian. I focused too much on trying to be one thing and suddenly there was a lot more pressure on me. One of my main issues was not being willing to say ‘I don’t know’ and just being honest with myself. This was just one aspect. With depression it’s kind of like a checklist. Relationship problems? Yeah. Career problems? Yeah. Money Problems? Yeah. I had times when I would be happy and everything would be ok but then I’d remember all those (dark) feelings and thoughts. People wouldn’t know how bad I was, even the closest to me. They’d just think I’m being miserable… it was clear that something was wrong but not to the extent that it actually was and I was really good at pretending… I made it my main purpose to not let anyone know. I kept it so secret and I just pretended that everything was ok but inside it wasn’t.” Depression gained a stranglehold in Jake’s life and problems began to accumulate. Turbulent emotions raged inside his consciousness and built up like pressure in a boiler. Unfortunately, his mind had no relief valve. An explosion was inevitable but the form in which it came radically changed Jake’s life. “When you’re in depression, you’re living in a bubble and events or things don’t mean anything to you... There wasn’t anything specific that pushed me over, it was a build-up of everything and suddenly I couldn’t take it… I thought to myself ‘I’m going to do this now’ it wasn’t a moment that I had planned, I just thought if I killed myself, everyone would be better off. A lot of people talk about suicide being a selfish act and I genuinely understand where they are coming from but I think when someone is that frame of mind, that (suicide) to them is the best solution to everything. From my experience, I saw it as a selfless act, I felt like a burden on everyone and thought if I just ended it, everyone’s lives would be so much better and they won’t have to worry about me. I think a lot of people commit suicide within that frame of mind… If you bottle something inside, eventually it’s going to come out. Unfortunately for a lot of people, that moment is them killing themselves.”

FACING IT HEAD ON Rather than ignore his past, Jake is firmly focused on revising the events that led to his depression so he can ultimately help others who find themselves in similar situations. The old proverb says hindsight is always 20/20 and this is something Jake is looking to exploit when giving people advice on how to deal with depression. “Since I first came out with my story, I’ve had a lot of people come to me saying they’ve felt the same way and thought they were alone. This inspired me to do something about it. The main thing is to be honest and talk. The more people that admit it to it, the more everyone will see how common it is. Talking about depression doesn’t have to be lying down on a couch with someone taking notes on how you feel. It’s just saying you feel a certain way and you’ll feel better for saying something. Once you get that initial conversation out of the way and you say you’re feeling a bit crap - it’s as easy as that. It could be at a pub, it could be at a party, it could be on a park bench, after the footy, it can be anywhere… but don’t think it’s a bad thing that you’re feeling like that, it’s 100% not your fault that you feel that way. No matter what you’ve done, even if you have or feel like you have done terrible things or made wrong decisions, things will get better.” The recent death of comedian Robin Williams propelled suicide and depression into the national spotlight and Jake was invited on the ITV Lorraine show to discuss his experiences. Although he was happy with the topic gaining some much needed exposure, he is vehemently adamant there is much more work needed to keep it in the public sphere.

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A SHOCKING STATISTIC

“Suicide is the biggest killer in men in the UK between the ages of 18-49. It’s a shocking statistic and it amazes everyone… but really we shouldn’t be shocked, we should know about it. The question I want to ask is why depression is not talked about? We need to do something and the ﬁrst thing we can do is talk about it. I’m using my experience to talk about depression because no-one else is doing it. When a celebrity dies, suddenly everyone is talking about it but what happens when that goes away? Let’s not let it go away, let’s act now and strike while the iron is hot and really address depression.” After a chance meeting with a representative of the Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM), Jake gained an understanding of the charity’s workings and how they’ve helped countless people around the country. Jake can never be accused of resting on his laurels and the Liverpool comedian has taken his quest in raising awareness to a new level. Over the past year, Jake has ﬁrmly become a proponent of CALM; promoting the charity on social media, writing for their website and fundraising by running several half-marathons. While we conversed about all these achievements, I noticed an emerging restlessness in Jake’s demeanour. While he acknowledged his admirable work, he sees it as only the beginning and now has a new target in his sights; ‘Chasing the Stigma’.

“There is a stigma that society has attached to depression, with things like anti-depressants and counselling. A lot of people are suffering and they don’t want to ask for help because they think it’s weak and I think it’s all down to the stigma. I’ve been doing half marathons and that is where the name ‘Chasing the Stigma’ came from because I was literally running! The campaign is effectively trying to chase the stigma out of depression and I’m really determined to take the opportunity to make a difference. It is going to be a national campaign and I want it to become a real tool to start helping people.” In early October, Jake appeared at the Liverpool Comedy Festival with a show based on his experiences of depression. His continued willingness to embrace his troubled past in the effort to help others is admirable. No longer holding labels, such as comedian or writer, with the same importance has removed a lot of the pressure he formerly put himself under. With a coveted equilibrium securely attained, Jake looks confidently to the future and knows exactly what he wants to achieve. “I never imagined myself running a mental health campaign but I’m here now, it’s exciting and I have an opportunity to make a difference… I’m really determined to make that difference.”

WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT JAKE’S STORY? Need help dealing with depression?

Go to the CALM website www.thecalmzone.net The mental health charity MIND also has extensive information and support facilities on their website www.mind.org.uk

DEPRESSION IN THE POLICE

Find out more ry to about Jake’s sming and his upco ebsite shows on his w o.uk

comedy.c www.jakemills Twitter Follow him on

@Jakemills1

NiCKED recently discovered Michael Brown aka ‘The Mental Health Cop’ who is a police inspector, visiting lecturer and author of the MentalHealthCop blog. His blog won the Digital Media award from the UK mental health charity, MIND in 2012. It has also been profiled by The Guardian and was cited twice during a UK Parliamentary debate on policing and mental health in 2013. Here’s an extract from his August 2014 blog post: “Mental ill-health in policing is a subject we don’t discuss very much: having asked these men and woman to go and do a pile of stuff the rest of us wouldn’t do, it should come as no surprise that the police are four times as likely to suffer from stress, depression and anxiety when compared to the population as a whole. It seems we could be doing a whole lot more and talking about these things would be a good start.” Visit the blog: www.mentalhealthcop.wordpress.com Follow on Twitter: www.twitter.com/MentalHealthCop Email: mentalhealthcop@live.co.uk

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MUSIC

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Lost in music... Have you ever been to a live music event? If so, who did you see? Where was it? More importantly, how did it make you feel? Sara Parker shares her experience in the hope she can inspire you to seek out your nearest gig. If you haven’t ever been to see live music, what are you waiting for? It’s more accessible than you think and doesn’t necessarily mean spending a fortune seeing mainstream musicians in a huge arena. Many people aren’t aware of the live music scene in their hometown or region and I was one of them until a few years ago. I’ve been a huge music lover all my life and my ﬁrst live music event was New Kids on the Block at the age of 14. The show cost my parents a vast sum in train fares as well as the high ticket prices for the huge arena in London. My only memories of this event are of me screaming my head oﬀ for the duration and seeing my idols as tiny dots in the distance. Not much to go on really...

SARA PARKER

Sara Parker is a keen blogger and currently working for a UK based independent record label. If you’re a massive music fan, connect with Sara on Twitter @lostinmuzic

Fast-forward several years and numerous concerts later and my experience at live events is a different picture. Gone are the days of seeing superstars such as Madonna, Justin Timberlake, Bryan Adams and The Corrs at massive arenas, paying almost £50 per ticket and £20 per programme. These days, you’ll find me lost in music supporting independent and unsigned musicians. This very large group of artists are trying their utmost to gain a name for themselves - they rely on word of mouth and, with social media taking off in a big way, most fans spread the word about their music using sites such as Facebook, Twitter or Tumblr. This is how I became so enamoured with ‘gigs’ and found my calling in promoting my favourite ‘indie’ musicians. I also have a scrapbook of memorabilia to remind me of my gig experiences and a host of photos, signed EPs and uploaded YouTube videos.

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MUSIC

unsigned... My journey into the

My adventure into the world of independent music began when, by chance, I discovered a musician on the internet. It was an instantaneous addiction from the ﬁrst notes. The artist’s voice, as well as the tone and mood of the song, pulled me in and never let me go. I had to discover more about Marcus Foster. I followed him on Twitter, liked him on Facebook and discovered he was playing at a venue in my hometown of Liverpool. I had never been to a ‘gig’ before. Concerts aplenty, but never to a gig! I wasn’t sure what to expect, but excited to see this incredible artist live and in my hometown. What was not to get excited about? The venue was the Stanley Theatre, part of the University of Liverpool, and Marcus was supporting ‘The Pierces’ (a sisterly duo from America). Once inside, the venue was very intimate – no bigger than a school hall really.

The front of the stage was easily accessible, and this was where I stood. What took place was something I’d not experienced before. There was no build-up to the artists coming on stage. No dramatic light changes or theatrical intro music. The artist simply walked onto the stage, and quite humbly introduced himself. I was in awe from the moment the ﬁrst chord was played. I saw all chord changes, facial expressions, and I could feel the music reverberate from the ground into my bones. It was thrilling - not only could I see exactly what was going on, on stage, eye contact was made – eek! The rest of the audience obviously felt the same. It was silent as Marcus sung and everyone watched and listened attentively. It was so inspiring and I was hooked.

Music therapy I am often ‘lost in music’. Music is my escape, my mood lifter and my endorphin creator. Without it, I seriously don’t think my life would be the same. And because I love wide ranging genres, I have music for every mood. Seeing bands live creates a whole new level of respect and that’s why supporting the independent unsigned acts means so much to me. They don’t have the big management PR machine to publicise their gigs and they really do rely on their supporters to get the word on the street. Of course, some of them have managers and support in the form of music promoters but, on the whole, it’s the fans who create the biggest buzz for them. Let’s look at music as a form of therapy. You’ve worked a 12-hour shift and have witnessed some things you would rather forget. You’ve clocked oﬀ and are looking for something to take your mind oﬀ your day.

A whole new world of experiences

This first gig experience made me eager for more and opened up a whole new world. I only wish I’d discovered this ‘scene’ sooner, as supporting an unsigned act feels a lot more rewarding. I feel I am actually helping them on their way by attending shows (tickets prices start from as little as £6) buying merchandise, then getting on Twitter and sharing my experience, photos and videos. I even went on to provide gig reviews for online blogs. With today’s digital era of marketing, word of mouth has never been more important. Whether tweeting that you like a band or posting a link on Facebook, your recommendation has the potential to reach thousands. Another fantastic thing about seeing a musician in an intimate setting is the opportunity to meet with them after the show. They are not usually bombarded with fans and there is respect and appreciation. Most of the time, they are happy to have a quick chat and pose with you for a photograph and sign an EP - which you will have just bought from the merchandise table for a fiver or less. My favourite mainstream band is Coldplay. I’ve seen them three times – and all experiences were euphoric. The rush and thrill of a stadium concert is something I don’t think I can put into words – amazement, awe, gratitude, excitement and euphoria! But Coldplay were not always in the charts - in the days of ‘Pectoralz’ and ‘Starfish’ they had a period as an unsigned act. How amazing would it be to say that you followed them from the start and supported their rise? Personally, it feels great to say I’ve seen and supported numerous unsigned musicians over the years.

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What can you do to escape? You can browse the internet, check out your local music scene and go watch a few bands play live. For the best part of an hour, you’ll be transﬁxed by the sounds and experience that lies before you. You can watch chord changes, the skills of a drummer, and feel the goose bumps on the back of your arms as you listen to the soul and emotion pouring out of the singer’s voice. You’re living their pain, you’re going on the walk with them, the turmoil they encountered or the euphoria they experienced. Being in their moment takes you to another level of enjoyment and adoration whilst you focus on the lyrics and composition. The best thing is you don’t have to travel far and it costs less than a night out on the town! When I crave escape I ﬁnd myself a gig and because they are so inexpensive and accessible - I don’t feel guilty spending the money or cheated because I can’t see the stage.

Marcus Foster: indie and unsigned Marcus Foster’s music has touched me more than anyone’s since Aha’s ‘Hunting High and Low’ as I have always been a sucker for a good lyric. Foster’s album ‘Nameless Path’ is full of them. Take ‘Memory of your Arms’ – “the sky shows an endless road I have no time to roam. My restless heart is searching for a pathway to your home”. The imagery resonates when I think about these powerful words. There are numerous artists with meaningful lyrics but Foster talks you through landscapes and uses metaphors aplenty to sing beautifully about breaking up or breaking down. He turns a non-descript town into one that is full of shadows, with hidden meanings in each line, or one where everything and everyone is familiar. Foster’s music grasped me instantly and his work ethic helped too. Like most unsigned musicians he tours tirelessly up and down the UK and from state to state in America. He attends festivals in Europe and has spent time in South Korea. His dedication and addiction to making music is prevalent in the collection of songs he has amassed in his career to date. Having a number of EPs and one full-length album in his back catalogue, Foster is now working on his second long play record. If his tour-released EPs and fan uploaded YouTube videos of new songs are anything to go by, his fans are in for another treat.

Not just a pretty song As well as being a very talented songwriter, Foster is an incredible performer and multi-instrumentalist. He plays piano and guitar but he can also play the Waterphone. In his EP ‘The Last House’, Foster breaks into the instrumental genre and demonstrates his Waterphone skills on the synonymous track. Foster’s stage presence is understated as he is very unassuming onstage, with his nervous hair ruﬄes and avoidance of eye contact, but he’s electric once he’s in his groove. Hitting out those notes on guitar and belting out his songs with his raw and rasping vocals, his adoration for his craft is infectious. With idols such as Tom Waits and Louis Armstrong, it’s no wonder Foster’s music is mature for his 27 years. It’s obvious he prefers to stick within the genre he grew up with instead of following suit into pop and other mainstream music. I think this is refreshing for a young musician and perhaps why he remains an unsigned independent act. I think it proves that Foster is in ‘the game’ for the love of music, and for this reason, I hope he is signed soon.

Calling all gig geeks Are you a gig-geek? If so, it would be great to hear your experiences and how music helps you unwind. I would love to feature some of your stories in a forthcoming issue.

Communion Music

Communion Music is my one stop shop for new music and affordable record releases. I’ve been following them since finding out about Marcus Foster. Communion was founded back in 2006 following a series of successful music nights at London’s Notting Hill Arts Club. Founded by Ben Lovett (Mumford and Sons), Kevin Jones (Bear’s Den) and producer Ian Grimble, Communion Music now acts as a platform to raise awareness of independent artists. Following the success of Communion nights, a record label was founded in 2009 to help artists release music at their own pace, allowing them to develop. You will find new artists within its weekly newsletter, and many of the songs are free downloads. In fact sign-up to the newsletter (sign up here http://www.communionmusic.co.uk/co mmunion-weekly-and-sampler-ep/) and you will receive a free sampler EP. Communion also curate their own annual festival “Bushstock” – it takes place each June in the Shepherds Bush area of London, across four venues with up to 30 artists. This festival showcases the labels up-and-coming acts, and gives them a large audience to play too. Tune into XFM (@xfm) each Sunday between 7-9pm to hear Communion interview some of these artists, as well as playing a host of music from the Communion family.

MUSIC

One to watch out for…

Bear’s Den

- never had I seen a drummer play his beats whilst simultaneously strumming on his bass guitar! I also had not felt such deep emotion whilst watching this trio of men perform songs about family, love and symbolism. I felt a deep connection with their performances. Whilst at the front of the stage, I was mesmerised by the immense talent of this group of artists and the performance of their song ‘Mother’ is still one of my gig highlights to date. I relive the experience each time I play the EP…

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Sara’s top 10 Twitter tips Twitter is my daily obsession as I’m looking for new music or updates on my artists of the moment. Twitter has it all for me – my fellow bloggers, interaction with my favourite artists, the ability to share my recommendations to targeted audiences. If I’m not blogging, I’m tweeting. Therefore, I thought I’d share with you my top 10 tips... 1. For news on independent and unsigned acts I follow accounts such as @indieunsigned @uandimusicmag @communionmusic 2. Follow bloggers from your local music scene – they’re on the ball, and write reviews and features on their local artists –some suggestions: @themusicmanual @crackintheroad @toomanyblogs. 3. Check out music venues in your region and regularly check-in for forthcoming gigs. There will be a variety of gig nights. The inexpensive gigs usually happen mid-week. @Sqrpig is an excellent source of gigs across the UK. 4. Search for your local ‘music scene’ where news of events is posted regularly. 5. The Bike and Rose (@thebikeandrose) has a great Tumblr account where they submit ‘track of the day’. I’ve discovered some great artists from their suggestions. 6. Follow video bloggers such as @themahoganyblog, @theblindclub and @cryptsessions – producers of some excellent ‘on site’ videos of unplugged performances in cafes, parks and towns. 7. BBC Introducing is another platform, similar to Communion, created to showcase up and coming talent @bbc_introducing 8. @laurenmanual_ @nessiholt and @myrandomjukebox are three of my favourites - always relied upon to recommend #NewMusic. 9. Popped Music is another blogger who writes a whole host of feature reviews and interviews @poppedmusic 10. Finally, follow these accounts for more reviews, interviews and features from international artists’ @softconcretemag @asoulfulsound @musiceyz

HOBBIES

Golf round up... Alan Considine takes a look back at a fantastic season of golf and has some tips on how to factor in a bit of golf on holiday, shares a hidden golf course gem and offers some serious (and not so serious) golfing terms… What a great golfing season… we already have all the major winners in the professional golf world. Bubba Watson won his second Green Jacket at The Masters in Augusta and Martin Kaymer ran away with the US Open, blitzing everyone in the first two rounds. Then our home grown star, Rory McIlroy, won The British Open at Royal Liverpool and the US PGA Championship at Valhalla. After an incredible season of golf, you’ll probably be inspired to visit your local course and so you should as it will be looking magnificent at this time of year. Your course should be vibrant, full of growth, and have a feel of ‘manicured nature’ (given a helping hand by Man and his lawn mower). It is a wonderful time of year to see the delights of nature as the birds have usually finished their first brood and their food source is plentiful with the insect world approaching its height. Unlike that run-of–the-mill golfer carrying all the latest weapons and technical equipment, who can only see the tee, the driving area, the green and the flag, a wiser soul will stop to hear the bird song, spot the moorhen never too far away from water, or wonder how safe the young rabbits are with the common buzzard or the local fox circling. With all this going on, sit back, look around and give yourself an afternoon’s treat whilst having a refreshing drink on your local club’s veranda. At this time of year, the keen golfer will be hoping for an Indian summer and be well on their way in trying to reduce their pesky handicap; which is a tool often used as a barometer of their ability at the game. In the golfing world, you will get many handicap snobs. A single figure golfer (those with handicaps of 1 to 9) feel they are members of a select and exclusive band of sporting warriors, whose golfing prowess and knowledge of the game should be respected. They will also talk in ‘fractions’ in the same way a young child talks of their age. We have all met a young cherub who is so proud that they are six and a half years old and woe betide you if you forget the half! The golf handicap actually has an exact fraction to it and, for example, once you reach 6.5 your official handicap becomes 7 shots. So an over-keen golfer, knowing lower is better, will make a point at a dinner party, or in the police station rest room of clarifying that he or she has a handicap of 6.5 in the hope you fully understand they are ‘virtually’ a six handicapper and not a tawdry seven!

All in all, it's time to give it a go. Get those clubs out and your yellow check strides. 48 WWW.NICKEDMAGAZINE.COM

ALAN INE CONSID ine served

Alan Consid nstable as a police co st force e with a North Wtiring is and since re und usually to be foa on, or near golf course!

Golf jargon buster Types of golf shot m Hook A shot that moves dramatically, curving from right to left. (For left handers, it moves left to right). m Slice A shot that moves dramatically, curving from left to right. (Again, the opposite for left handers). m Draw A shot that moves slightly, curving from right to left.

m Fade A shot that moves slightly, curving from left to right. m Pull A shot that goes straight left. m Push A shot that goes straight right. m Skied A shot you get ‘underneath’, ﬂies high in the air, but nowhere near the distance you intended. m Topped A shot that goes low, again unintended, has many nicknames, an example being a worm burner!

Some not so serious golfing terms As most golfers know there’s a whole underworld of joke names for golf shots. I’ll just give you a handful and I’ve left out the rude ones - no oﬀence intended! m An Arthur Scargill A great strike, but a bad result.

m An OJ One you got away with.

m The son-in-law Not everything you had hoped for, but you’re okay with it.

m Peter Pan golf Spent all day ﬁghting a Hook.

m Adolph Hitler Taking two shots in the bunker.

m Army golf Left, right, left, right……

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HOBBIES

Whilst you’re on holiday… Have you ever considered taking in a day at a PGA Tournament while you are on your well-earned break? By Alan Considine I took my partner, the lovely Angela, to Portugal in October 2013, staying in a villa with all the mod cons. We sunbathed, walked along beautiful beaches and enjoyed nights out in exotic bars and restaurants. Before we had landed in the Algarve, I had given the European Tour Schedule the once over on the PGA Tour site (in fact it was the reason I was keen on the Algarve!). The Portuguese Masters was being played at the Oceanico Victoria Golf Course, in nearby Villamoura. You can buy tickets from the website and they were £15 each for a pre-booked day pass or £20 if you paid on the day. You get the beneﬁts of a professionally run tournament but without the larger British crowds.

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You get the feel of years past when following golf tournaments meant no ropes holding back the crowds and you actually walked along the fairways with the competitors. After a little consternation from Angela at the suggestion I had planned this all along, the refreshment bars on the course served her large glasses of chardonnay that appeared to cheer her up no end! Whilst we found our feet walking the course, we visited the tented village and adjacent to the sprawling clubhouse, Angela spotted the practice area. She was taken by the practice routines of Miguel Angel Jimenez, who was practicing after his round had finished. Now there’s dedication I have never managed to achieve! The fifty-year-old Spaniard is still performing at the highest level and goes to show golf is for all ages. There’s still time to get off that chair, get involved and see if golf is for you.

Practise makes perfect We stood a few feet away from Jimenez while he was loosening up between shots, weaving his bendy legs one way and then the other. He was also chomping on a large cigar, muttering away in undiscernible Spanish tones as the odd practice shot misbehaved and flew a few yards off target. Later on, near the sparsely filled grandstand on the finishing hole, we were able to open another bottle of chardonnay and watch the contenders finish day three of their tournament. From our side of the green, with an unobstructed view, we were 20ft away from the golfers who putted on that last hole. Something to which is hard to match when compared with other ‘professional’ sporting events.

Silloth on Solway Golf Club, Cumbria www.sillothgolfclub.co.uk

Knowing the police service’s extended family and its instincts (far too well) let’s get the money out of the way first. 18 holes mid-week all through the summer costs £49. Add transport and lunch and you’ll have a good idea of whether you consider that value for money. On the basis of golf alone, it is a real bargain. It is a linksland course measuring just under 7,000 yards and appears in a few ‘Best 100 Golf Courses’ lists. Silloth has hosted Regional Open Qualifiers and, as recently as 2012, it hosted the English Amateur Championship. If the winds blows, one of the 9 holes will be challenging… the other murderous! The direction of the wind on the day you play works out which is which. A visit to the website will give you a feel for the place and, having played it a few dozen times over the years, I am happy to confirm that the course pictures are realistic as it is a joy in real life. Silloth is a pleasant town but one thing you should know for your first visit is the drive up to the Club House is not what you would expect. The last few hundred yards pass a cement factory and induce a feeling of foreboding that you have not got the right place. However once you pass through the front doors, the golfing world you expect hits you; wooden panelling, historic pictures and interesting memorabilia. The view onto the first tee and 18th green will then hopefully give you a little tingle that it is indeed a hidden gem. The course is full of thick heather and gorse in areas where you shouldn’t hit your golf ball!

Hidden golfing gems You may care to visit a golf course that is a special place, off the beaten track. Most of us can’t afford the £360 green fee that you have to find to play the West Course at Wentworth or the £235 at Royal Birkdale. However, there are quality championship courses that are steeped in history, will test your golfing prowess and don’t require you to take out an unsecured loan for the privilege.

If you’re new to links golf (that’s the phrase you will hear the golf commentators use for the actual word linksland) you will find out all about the joys of heather and gorse and don’t worry, until you actually experience a golf ball in heather, every golfer alive starts out by thinking he can get away with a 5 iron and has an outside chance of the reaching the green ahead. After a few visits you will scowl, select your wedge and resume your quest by hacking it out to the nearest fairway. The staff are pleasant and helpful, the bar/food prices moderate, and the practice facilities are spacious. The course speaks for itself and they wouldn’t host major events if it wasn’t top notch. For the really keen, they have two rounds and basic overnight accommodation on offer for £155 which includes breakfast at the club. If you can find a reason to visit or you are passing with an afternoon free, you could do a lot worse than give this charming course a go.

If you know of any hidden gems along similar lines, please let me know. The reason we call them ‘hidden’ is because we don’t all know about them! There are some out there and let’s get to them before they realise and hike up their prices.

Golf memorabilia

A lot of keen golfers collect golf memorabilia and I'm no different. To give you an example of how to start a collection, check out the golf flag pictured below. I knew someone who was lucky enough to go to the Masters this year and I asked them to buy me one of this year’s flags. I then, knowing the winner, went to Royal Liverpool for our British Open and managed to get Bubba Watson, the Winner of the Masters, to sign it. I'll frame it up and hang it on some obscure wall in the study. Golfers are very good at giving autographs but it is best to catch them finishing on the practice days, when they are expecting it and not trying to make their weekly pay cheques during the competitive rounds.

TAKING A CAREER BREAK

Taking time out...

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Ryan and his partner Lois dreamed of taking some time out to travel the world. Here they talk about their plans and how the police force supported their career break.

Although the majority of my work deals with visiting victims of volume crime, mainly burglary, we deal with anything from criminal damage to murder and suicide. I’ve worked in the forensics department for just over ﬁve years and I’ve completed various training courses with the NPIA/College of Policing. During my time as a SOCO I have gained some very valuable skills and experience. Lois works in our Forensic Resourcing and Submissions Team and she deals with any submission that comes in and needs to go to an external forensic provider. This could be anything from handwriting for analysis to blood samples from a drink driving case, to toxicology samples from a murder victim. When submissions come in it is Lois’ job to decide which will give the best result. The other half of her job is to control incoming police logs listed for forensic attendance and task SOCOs to the scene as the jobs come in across the whole force.

Ry an Howe ll is a Sc es of Cri me Off ice r (SOCO) an d his pa rtn er Lois woen rks in the an d Re sou rcin g De pa rtm ent. At Foren sic Su bm iss ion s tra vellin g the wo rld an d broad the mo me nt the y are en ing the ir horizo ns.

The travel bug hits...

Lois and I have worked together for five years and we met at work… but now we’re torn as we both decided that we wanted to travel. Our first thought was South America for four weeks, as this was the longest period of time we could have off from work in one go. But that just wasn’t long enough. What other options did we have? We had only two. Resign and see where we end up or take a career break. Many organisations provide policies for career breaks or sabbaticals, but not many people know about them. We both work for a large constabulary and they, like most of the forces in the UK, have a career break policy. Ours was easy to find as all of our policies are retrievable from a work intranet system. It was very easy to understand, as all of the important information was clearly set out.

After much deliberation, we decided that we wanted to travel through Iceland, USA, Fiji, Australia and South East Asia. Although we had one problem: our travel plans would take seven months and the career break policy at work was for a minimum of 12 months with the unpaid leave policy only covering a period of four weeks. There’s nothing to cover the period in-between.

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TAKING A CAREER BREAK

Forms to fill in...

We spoke to our Unite rep and were told to apply for a career break specifying the seven-month period. We were also told to apply separately but reference each other’s application. The policy required that we gave two months’ notice of our intentions and the organisation then had 28 days to respond. The application form was a basic Microsoft Word document, spread over only two sides of A4. Personal details, such as a name and address, then the dates of the career break. There was a box, which allowed four lines for the reason behind the career break.

We wanted to be thorough and both added another side of A4 with our reasons for wanting to take the break. This bit is important: the organisation need to know what you’re going to get up to and more importantly, that you plan on coming back. We wanted to show them what we would gain from the break and, in turn, what they will gain when we return. Going on an extended holiday probably won’t wash!

Breaking new ground

We both work in the same department, so the applications had to be handed in on the same day. Lois and I were both very nervous. We were asking for 7 months off and no one else in the department had ever done this before. We were unsure of the response we were going to get and how well the application would be received. The request had to go to our first line managers, then to the department head and then to the HR manager. Each would add their supporting (or not) comments at each stage. My line manager called my name from his office...

“Ryan - have you got a minute?” My heart skipped a beat and my hands were sweating. He sat me down and explained that he completely understood the reasons for me wanting to take a career break, but couldn’t support it at this time. The disappointment showed on my face. I could do nothing to hide it.

He explained that the organisation had spent a lot of money on me and they wanted to see more return on that investment before letting me go. I felt like banging my head against the wall because the main reason for applying for a career break was to return with new skills and give them a return on that investment. I tried to explain that none of that money is or will be wasted if I go away for 12 months and come back. However, my insistence seemed to fall on deaf ears. I left his office feeling deflated but not defeated. I knew that his refusal alone didn’t mean it was a ‘no’ from the organisation. The department manager and HR had to have their say yet… The next day, the department manager emailed me to say that she’d received both of our applications and was meeting with other managers in the attempt to find cover for us both. This sounded like they were happy for us to go and they were trying to find a way to cover us. Brilliant!

Follow us around the globe! We’re going to share our travel experiences via social media and our blog. We’ll tell you the best days/times to visit all the amazing sights in these places; Iceland, USA, Fiji, Australia and South East Asia.

We’ll also give some tips on how where and how you can eat for free and where to find free accommodation. Find us here: Blog: www.AnAdventureAwaitsYou.Wordpress.com @RyanAndLois

www.facebook.com/AnAdventureAwaitsYou

The decision was made

When she came back to me, it was good news… and not so good news. She saw ‘ no justiﬁable reason’ to refuse our application but it would have to be for a minimum of 12 months. The policy didn’t allow for any lesser period of time. We hadn’t planned to stay away for 12 months, as it’s a long time to be away without an income. However, after some deliberation we decided to go for it. Lois and I knew we wouldn’t have an opportunity to do anything like this again. We needed to leave on our last day and be prepared not to return to the department at all. This meant that we both had an awful lot to do before we went so I had to make sure statements are prepared, exhibits were dealt with or stored and colleagues were aware that I’d be away for at least 7 months.

Our career break advice If you’re applying for a career break, make sure you read and fully understand your organisation’s policy. What happens if there are redundancies whilst you are away? What happens if you fall pregnant? Can you resign during the career break? What notice period should you give? Check if you’re eligible for a career break. Have you worked for the organisation for long enough? Are you in a probationary period? Most organisations will consider career breaks for most reasons. The only reason that many will flat outright refuse is if you plan on seeking paid employment during the break. One thing to be wary of is that, although most organisations will probably guarantee you a job at the same grade, when you return it’s not necessarily going to be in the same role. Are you happy to potentially return to a completely different role? Have a good think about this before you apply. Our Force is recruiting people to fill our positions. This will mean that our jobs won’t be there when we come back. We’ll be offered three positions over 6 months before we return and if we don’t take one, we’re off elsewhere.

For now, our world wide travels are no longer a distant dream… they are a reality.

HOMES

The only way is up grad ing By Julia Gray,

Press Association

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If you're looking for a renovation project, you may be joining a long queue, as properties that need work often sell fast. It is still possible to bag a bargain though, says Julia Gray. It's no secret that buying in the right location, location, location is key. Indeed, how many times do house hunters on TV shows say a property would be perfect if only it could be picked up and put in a diﬀerent location? Of course, an exasperated presenter tells them that this would add thousands to the asking price. But then there's no point buying somewhere you already know you don't like, even if the property is better value - you've got to spend the foreseeable future there, after all.

So what's the solution?

A good strategy is to look for an up-andcoming area, perhaps on the fringes of your preferred one, or the fringes of the fringes. If prices have risen and other buyers on a budget have been pushed further and further out, this can lead to once undesirable areas becoming more popular and improving as a result. If you can spot improving areas, or areas subject to investment and infrastructure changes, it often pays to get on the local property ladder before prices rise. However, if you're concerned about resale values, be careful not to get carried away and spend more on a property than it will be worth. Even if a property seems like a steal, remember that it may cost more to buy and renovate than somewhere that's more expensive to buy but needs less work. This is where research comes in. Not only do you need to ﬁnd out how long a property's been on the market, what position the seller's in, what comparable properties are selling for and what property prices are doing locally, but also how much this property will cost to renovate. Get a full structural survey (the RICS Building Survey) and then quotations for the work needed, so you're realistic about your budget. To get an idea of costs before making an oﬀer, go round the property with a good builder or surveyor. Some properties are in such a bad state that only cash buyers are welcome. This can also be the case with properties of unusual construction, so if you need a mortgage, you're more limited to what you can buy. Mortgage lenders usually expect the property to be habitable and although it's perfectly possible to buy an unmodernised property with a mortgage, lenders sometimes retain some of the money until essential repairs are done.

With interest rates likely to rise fairly soon, property repossessions should increase, which is another way to find a bargain. You have to move very quickly when buying a repossession though, as the seller usually wants to exchange contracts and complete the sale within weeks. They'll check that you're in a position to do this before accepting, or even considering, your offer, so it's not a route open to all buyers. It's also a stressful way to buy, as the property remains on the market until exchange. Moving quickly applies to buying at auction too. You have to exchange contracts on the spot, and complete within a set time, often 28 days, so buying with a mortgage isn't always possible. Auctions are full of renovation projects and can be a good place to find bargains, providing you don't get carried away in the heat of the moment and pay too much.

How-to tip

Worried about getting the best out of your boiler now that winter is here. It's usually as simple as getting it serviced, but that's something many of us forget - research by boiler manufacturer Worcester reveals that less than half of the homeowners questioned had their boiler serviced annually, as recommended, and a fifth had never had it done - but even new boilers benefit from a service. A good service should include checking the operating pressure or heat input (or both), checking the ventilation and flue, and checking the boiler's safe, among other things. Only Gas Safe Register or OFTEC heating engineers should service a boiler - visit www.worcester-bosch.co.uk to find a recommended one, or download Worcester's free app from iTunes.

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Getting Divorced…

What You Need To Know! Gorvins Police Divorce specialists have been representing Police Officers and their families for over 15 years and helping them to resolve their family law issues. Sally Leaman, Partner and Head of the Family department at Gorvins Solicitors sets out some advice about pensions and divorce: One of the most common questions I get asked is what will happen to my pension when I divorce? I hope this guide will answer some of the questions you may have about what happens to your pension in that situation. If you are a Police Officer going through either a divorce or a civil partnership dissolution, the Court can consider what is an appropriate financial settlement. Whilst I refer to divorce below, the same rules will apply to a civil partnership dissolution. In many cases it is possible to agree a financial settlement with the assistance of a Solicitor and ask the Court to approve that in what is called a Consent Order, without the need for either party to physically attend Court. Where agreement cannot be reached however either party may make an application to Court for a “Financial Remedy Order” i.e. for the Court to determine what the settlement should be. The Court can consider how the assets should be divided between the parties including their respective pensions.

How is a pension valued? The cash equivalent transfer value (called a “CETV” or sometimes “CEV”) needs to be obtained from your pensions department. This is the value the scheme puts on your pension. It values in essence the cost of providing your benefits within the scheme and is based on actuarial principles requiring assumptions to be made about the future. For a Police Officer the CETV can be a figure running into hundreds of thousands of pounds, particularly after long service. Your spouse will also need to provide a CETV in respect of their pension, including if relevant, a valuation of any additional State pension.

What are the main options? 1. Depending on the value of the respective pensions (and how other assets are to be divided) it may be appropriate in some cases for each spouse to simply retain their own pension. So for example if you are both Police Officers with exactly equal pension provision, it may be you will each simply keep your own pension with no adjustment being made in respect of the pensions. 2. Alternatively it may be that other assets will be used to ‘offset’ any pension claim. Say for example a settlement may be reached whereby you keep your pension but give a larger share of the non-pension assets, e.g. equity in the family home, to your spouse, as part of the financial settlement. 3. Another option is for a Pension Sharing Order to be made. This provides for a percentage share of a pension to be transferred to the spouse. Where a Pension Sharing Order is made against a Police pension this is done by debiting the Police Officer’s CETV by that percentage and giving your spouse an equivalent pension credit in their own Police pension. Therefore any further contributions you make to your pension after the pension share has been implemented will go towards your remaining pension (i.e. not towards your spouse’s pension credit) So for example if a 25% Pension Sharing Order was made against your pension and the CETV at the time of implementation was £100,000 this would reduce the CETV by 25% to £75,000. 4. Another possibility if you are close to retirement may be to pay your spouse a lump sum from your commutation on retirement. In some cases that can be an attractive option for both parties. It can be beneficial to the Police Officer in leaving your pension income intact on retirement and to your spouse by providing a cash lump sum earlier than they may get the benefit of any Pension Sharing Order (e.g. at 60).

What else do I need to consider? Quite a lot! Deciding what is the best way to deal with pensions on divorce, can be complicated which is why specialist advice should be sought. For example what if some of your pension has accrued before you embarked on a relationship or got married; or since you separated, if there has been a long period between separation and getting a divorce? It may be appropriate to exclude some of the pension that is being divided. If you are going to offset the pension i.e. give up more cash assets now in lieu of a Pension Sharing Order being made against your pension, it may not be advisable to give up a pound of cash assets for every pound of pension saved. In other words trying to compare the value of a pension against the value of say a house is like comparing apples and oranges, they are both assets but very different in nature. It is generally accepted that cash assets which can be realised now are more valuable then pension for the future (as important as that is) and that some discount for accelerated receipt should be made. I am frequently asked “if my spouse can make a claim against my Police pension, can I potentially make a claim against their non-Police pension too?” Whilst the answer is generally yes, (subject to some of the provisos above) this does not mean that it would be appropriate to have for instance two separate Pension Sharing Orders. Rather if for instance your spouse’s pension is smaller than your Police pension, it can still be taken into account, thereby for instance reducing the Pension Sharing Order being made against your Police pension, or the figure being used for offsetting purposes. “Does my spouse automatically get half my pension?” Not necessarily. As above, is there an argument that some of the pension should be excluded as “non marital” e.g. accrued before you met? Also their pension needs to be taken into account (having regard again to any arguments some of that is ‘non marital’). When sharing a pension what are you seeking to achieve? If equality of the value of the CETV this is going to be different than if seeking ultimately to achieve equality of income on retirement (because of the different ages you will take your pensions). In very general terms the earlier you retire the bigger the pension pot will need to be to provide the pension income stream for life. This is where it gets very complicated and expert Actuarial advice is frequently necessary. Also be aware that whilst the pension scheme provides a CETV this itself can be open to challenge. For instance it is sometimes argued that because of the assumptions made by the scheme in the way they calculate the CETV that it undervalues the CETV and that an Actuary will ascribe a different value based on different assumptions. Again this reflects the fact that pensions are not like other assets, and valuing a pension is not like valuing for instance a bank account, where you can say the current value is exactly the amount of money in that account.

You have worked hard for your pension and it is natural you will want to protect it. It is imperative that you take specialist advice in this area if you are contemplating a divorce or dissolution, to make sure that you take the right decision for you.

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One of the most common questions I get asked is what will happen to my pension when I divorce?

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SALLY LEAMAN Sally Leaman is head of the Family Law team at Gorvins Solicitors. With experience of working with several federations. With over 20 years’ experience, Sally has a wealth of family law experience and is committed to providing proactive and constructive advice to her clients. As specialists in police family law we provide advice and support on: UÊ UÊ UÊ UÊ

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GARDENING

Beat the

winter

chill By Hannah Stephenson, Press Association

There's still time to finish all those outdoor tasks before the frosts make the ground unworkable and it's more tempting to be indoors next to a roaring fire. Hannah Stephenson oďŹ&#x20AC;ers a reminder of all those jobs to do before winter sets in. We may have had storms and rain, but while the ground's workable, gardeners should make the most of the time they have left to do the jobs which will give them a head start next year. Whether it's revamping your lawn, dividing perennials, trimming hedges, clearing weeds or preparing the greenhouse for winter, you should leave no stone unturned if you want to get things in order for spring.

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GARDENING

Don't delay in completing these tasks: Plant new trees, shrubs and roses. These should benefit from the warm soil, which encourages root growth to develop quickly. You will need to give them a good soak when planting initially, but hopefully rain will play a part too. Just keep an eye on newly-planted specimens and don‘t allow them to dry out if we don't have wet weather. The plants should establish over the winter, giving you a head start for spring. Revamp your lawn. With all the autumn rain we've had, the ground will be soft enough to either turf or reseed a new lawn, or repair an old one. If you are laying new turf, good preparation is the key, which will mean removing weeds and stones, digging over the soil adding compost Orwell-rotted farmyard manure and incorporating sharp grit on heavy soil, and levelling the area off to a fine tilt on which to sow seed or lay turf. It needs to be kept well watered, although the rain should help at this time of year, and seed needs to be protected from birds with netting, elevated by placing shortened twigs or canes around the area and securing the netting to them. Divide perennials. Now is the perfect time to split those plants which have become congested while they are dormant but before the ground becomes too hard to dig them out. Perennials which benefit from dividing every few years include hosts (but you'll need a knife to cut through the thick roots), cranesbill geranium, montbretia, rudbeckia, heleniumand aster. You can also move plants which aren't happy in their allotted space to a spot where they may be happier. Trim hedges, tidying evergreens which should remain neat until spring. Evergreens should not put on much new growth during winter, so should save you the job of pruning them in spring, when you may risk disturbing nesting birds. Deciduous shrubs can be pruned into winter. Weed out the worst culprits. If you do a final weed before the perennial weeds disappear for the winter, you should hopefully make your task lighter when they come back in spring. Look out for ground elder, couch grass and bindweed, which are among the most pernicious weeds and try to dig up all the white roots which, if left in the ground, will just sprout up again next year. Increase your stock. Take hardwood cuttings in late autumn to propagate shrubs including roses, willows, philadelphus, weigelas and dogwoods. Cut woody shoots for the base of the current year's growth, trim below a leaf joint and remove the tip to leave the cuttings 20-30cm (8-12in) long. Dip the base into hormone rooting powder, make a slit trench in a well cultivated but vacant area of the garden, push the cuttings in vertically, 30cm (12in) apart and firm the soil back around them, closing the trench. Water them in. This time next year they may have rooted enough to be moved.

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Spruce up the greenhounnsy,e

ill su If the weather's st e to wash tim there's no better e the shading, ov the windows, rem d do any structural an clean the stagingThen you can insulate repairs needed. with bubble wrap in the greenhouse for winter. preparation ouse may A cleaner greenhth e coming in u encourage yo y annuals rd ha w so to s th mon r the fo s ial nn re pe d an e. m co to ar ye

Good Enough To Eat - Sowing hardy peas

Now is the time to sow the hardiest pea varieties such as 'Douce Provence' and 'Feltham First' for a very early crop next spring. Start them oﬀ in a spare border in the greenhouse in well-drained soil, or sow seeds in a length of old guttering drilled with drainage holes along the base. Fill to the top with seed compost and space the seeds 7.5cm (3in) apart. Keep them in the greenhouse or a cold frame, keeping the compost moist and transplant them into the garden once they’ve established, digging out a shallow trench and gently sliding the seedlings into it.

Cover seedlings and plants with cloches. Rows should be 30cm (12) apart and protected from birds with netting, and you’ll need to add twiggy supports to stop slugs feasting on the young stems which will otherwise straggle over the ground. Keep the crop well watered and weed free. Peas should be ready for picking by May.

Best of the bunch

- Callicarpa Autumn may be famous for its rich foliage colours of yellow, burnt orange and deep red, along with bright red, yellow and orange berries -but there's a place for purple in every garden and the Callicarpa bodinieri giraldii 'Profusion' makes an eye-catching change. Also known as the beauty berry, this deciduous shrub which grows 3m x 3m has upright branches with large, pale green leaves which are tinted bronze in spring. Following pale pink ﬂowers in midsummer, it produces clusters of shining, bright violet beads which stay on the bare branches after leaf fall. It likes full sunshine or dappled shade in well-drained, fertile soil. The more you plant, the better the fruiting is likely to be.

What to do this week...

n Dig up Jerusalem artichoke tubers as required, which can be done until spring. Leave a few to produce next year's crop. In cold areas protect the crowns. n Clear out and take under cover decorative containers that aren’t frost hardy. n Prune climbing and rambling roses and cut back hybrid tea roses to reduce damage from windrock. n Prune wisterias to ensure and increase flowering next year. n Consider installing a pond heater to keep a small area of water ice-free if you keep fish. n Check your bonfire pile for hedgehogs and toads hibernating in there. If there are, leave them in peace. n If pots are too large to bring inside, insulate them from the cold using bubble wrap or horticultural fleece. n Remove yellowing leaves from Brussels sprouts and other winter brassicas such as cabbages and broccoli. They are of no use to the plants and encourage diseases such as botrytis. n Finish planting spring cabbages.

n Empty compost bins of well-rotted compost to mulch over borders.

PHOTOGRAPHY

in the frame

Nicola Johnson is a self-taught professional ďŹ ne art, lifestyle photographer. She has a passion for teaching photography at all levels and developing the skills of professionals.

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Nicola Johnson explains how a bit of attention to framing, leading lines and depth of field can make all the difference to your photography… When I learnt about the rules of photography, the first sentence I read was: ‘Don’t forget - all rules are made to be broken.’ In some cases this is true, however, a rule generally needs to be broken deliberately for this to work. And in order for it to be a deliberate rule break, you need to know the rules in the first place but that’s not to say you should swallow them whole and remember them forever. If it helps, try learning or practising one rule at a time and adding another each time you’re confident you’ve learnt the one before. I think it’s important to remember that no-one knows it all, so be happy to make mistakes - just have the courage to learn from them.

Get to know the basics first

The basic rules of framing are a great place to start as there are no restrictions bound by the type of camera you use. In fact, you could apply these techniques to any type of camera. Most are based around portrait photography but a lot apply to landscape and other styles. Undoubtedly, there is an instinct that comes with framing but thankfully there is some logic too. The first tip, and possibly the one that is the most important, is the creative decision you make when you choose the focus of an image. With a portrait it is generally the individual’s eyes, no matter how far back you are. But whatever the point is, whether it’s a baby’s soft toes or an earring, the general rule is that the point which you chose to centre your image on should be the one your eye is drawn to first. There are lots of reasons this notion can go wrong but let’s first look at some of the simple approaches to getting it right.

The right light Ensuring the light is slightly brighter on your subject is a great way of drawing the eye in.

This is why phone apps like Instagram are such a huge success as the images are square and they bank on the fact that the subject is at the centre of your photo. They also use ﬁlters to ﬂood the centre of the image with light.

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PHOTOGRAPHY

Putting your subject slightly oﬀ to the right or the left of the centre box is a great way of leading the eye and being creative.

Rule of thirds Studies have shown that with all art and graphic forms, when looking at a rectangular image, your eye is drawn in to the rule of thirds - there is obviously scientific evidence to support this but for now we’ll just accept it as fact. As you can see in the image, it actually offers you the rule of thirds when you crop an image in Photoshop.

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The rule works on the assumption that all images are split into three horizontal and three vertical sections and your eye is naturally drawn to where the lines meet or to the centre box in the middle of the grid.

Putting your subject within the rule of thirds is a great way to play with more creative framing. If you put your subject just slightly oﬀ you will see the images suddenly feels more uneasy to the eye and yet putting them within the lines suddenly makes it more pleasing.

You can see in the wedding image that the lines from either side of the pond lead you into the couple

Minimise distractions Leading lines

Leading lines are those that you can use from the surrounding area to draw the eye in. As most of us are trained to read from left to right, the eye line often (not always) reads an image left to right and you can use this to your advantage. Images that have fences, hedgerows, even roads can all be used to draw the eye and a strong enough line can draw the eye from any direction. I used to have a handful of locations for portrait shoots when I ﬁrst started as a business that could guarantee these things. Places like stately home ruins that had gravel drives with fences each side or majestic tree lines where you can pop your subject at the top of a slight gradient and get down low to utilise some great leading lines.

Distractions are the one thing I always warn clients about.

Add some depth

Adding depth to your image can make same difference between a 1970’s TV and a modern HD set. My friend once described depth as the difference in feeling that you could lean in to an image and touch the subject. Leading lines are a great way of adding depth as is incorporating the floor as it gives you the sensation of understanding the distance between the photographer or viewer and the subject.

T-shirts with pictures or stripes will lead the eye of the subject as will strangely placed bins, lamp posts and street signs and don’t forget the basics like avoiding trees growing out of heads. The best piece of advice I can give is, don’t let it stress you out! Practise doesn’t actually make you perfect but it does generally make you an awful lot better. Everything comes with time: just remember the pointers and acknowledge when you’ve got it wrong - it’s a great way to make sure you don’t make the same mistake twice. I will always remember shooting with tips written on the inside of one hand and poses (drawn of stick men) on the inside of the other.

Everybody starts somewhere...

Next time: I will be comparing phones and apps to digital SLRs and asking: what can you do with a small phone camera?

FOOD

Another chapter in

Sellers' tasty story By Keeley Bolger, Press Association

From pot washer to Michelin-starred restaurant owner, Tom Sellers' foodie star continues to rise.

Now, the Story chef tells Keeley Bolger why he's teamed up with Lurpak to help butter up home cooks... Among the truﬄes and foie gras on the menu at Michelin-starred restaurant Story, sits the unlikely foodie oﬀering of bread and dripping. As crowd-pleasers go, the traditional post Sunday lunch treat isn't perhaps what you'd expect to see in such an establishment, but nevertheless, it's winning Story's upcoming chef and owner Tom Sellers plenty of praise, not least from his old man.

"The bread and dripping goes down well in the restaurant," explains the 27-year-old, who opened the London hotspot last year. "It's a playful dish and also there's a lot of history behind it, so people really like that one. My father used to eat it, so that's where the influence came from." Brought up in Nottingham, the chef's own history reads like a Cinderella story. Starting off on the bottom rung of the kitchen ladder as a pot washer, Sellers went on to cook at Noma in Copenhagen, which was this year ranked number one in Restaurant magazine's World's 50 Best Restaurants list, and won his first Michelin star a mere five months after opening Story, his first restaurant.

Not bad for the boy who had no formal training. "I just fell into cooking, to be honest," explains Sellers, who also won Food and Travel magazine's Breakthrough Chef of the Year award in 2013. "School wasn't really for me," he adds. "I left school at an early age and kind of fell into food and cookery. I learned on the job with the chefs I was working alongside and for." He's a big fan of pickling vegetables, a hangover from his days in Denmark where condiments and pickling were all the rage, but "sadly doesn't get much time" to cook at home any more, though Sellers seems pleased with the constant stream of work. For his latest project, he's teamed up with Lurpak to become the face of their Cook's Range Clarified Butter, alongside TV chef Valentine Warner. He hopes he can encourage people to be more "comfortable with butter" when cooking at home, whether that's using it for herb butters, cooking meat in it or to confit fish. "It's something I've always used in the restaurant," Sellers adds. "I've worked with it in other restaurants and I'm a big fan." Fancy emulating Sellers' kitchen wizardry in your own kitchen? Here are three recipes he's created for the Lurpak campaign which use their clarified butter.

FOOD

Rib of beef with wild horseradish

SERVES 2

- 800g rib of beef - 750g butter - 1 stick (1tbsp) of grated wild horseradish (or, if you can't ﬁnd this, use 1tbsp of chopped horseradish root) - 10 sprigs of thyme - 5 peppercorns - 1 bay leaf - Salt and pepper

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Preheat oven to 100C. In a large frying pan, seal oﬀ the beef so that it's nice and caramelised (use a little butter for this). Season well with salt and pepper and remove from the pan In the same pan, add a small amount of butter. Sweat oﬀ the horseradish, thyme, bay leaf and peppercorns. Once the ingredients are sweated, place them in a baking dish with the beef on top. Warm the rest of the butter and pour over the rib, covering it.

Place in a low oven and cook for about 30 minutes. Take a digital probe and check the centre of the beef. You want to aim for it to be at 50C. Continue to cook the beef until it reaches this temperature. Once the beef is 50C, remove from the oven and allow to rest for 20 minutes. The temperature of the beef should rise to about 55C during this period.

Remove the beef from the pan and carve...

Potted shrimp

SERVES 2

- 250g brown shrimps - 1 clove of garlic, thinly sliced - 1 chopped shallot - 10g chopped parsley - 1 wild garlic leaf, sliced (if you can't ﬁnd this, try adding an extra half clove of garlic to the clariﬁed butter, but be sure to remove the green heart to prevent bitterness) - Fresh nutmeg - Zest of 1 lemon - 1/2 chopped chilli - 200g butter - Black pepper

In a sauté pan, warm half of the butter, sweat oﬀ the shallot, chopped chilli and sliced garlic.

Place in a kilner jar. The aim is to have a layer of butter on top of the mixture. Use the remaining butter to ensure that the pot is sealed and chill the potted shrimp until the butter has set hard on the top.

Once sweated, add the shrimps and remove from the heat. Then add the wild garlic and chopped parsley.

Serve the potted shrimp with toast or Melba toast. You can make your own Melba toast by slicing regular toast horizontally through the crust and then blasting it in an oven for ﬁve minutes until it curls up.

Season with a little fresh nutmeg, a twist of black pepper and some grated lemon zest.

Herb butter pasta

SERVES 2

- 150g butter - garlic clove - 2 sprigs of picked rosemary - 4 sprigs of picked thyme - 10 wild garlic leaves (if you can't ﬁnd these, try adding an extra half clove of garlic to the clariﬁed butter, but be sure to remove the green heart to prevent bitterness) - 5 sprigs of picked parsley - 10ml bergamot vinegar (or an additional 1tbsp of lemon juice to taste) - 100g Parmesan - Lemon juice - 400g of fresh tagliatelle - Salt and pepper

Place all of the herbs and Parmesan in the blender and add a twist of pepper. Warm the butter with the garlic clove. In a separate pan, boil some salted water, add the pasta and cook. This should take three to four minutes. While the pasta is cooking, pour the warm butter over the herbs in the blender and blend until smooth. Add the vinegar and adjust the taste with a little lemon juice. Strain oﬀ the pasta and toss it in the herb butter and serve.

WINE

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An introduction to

wine

Jon Back has an unpretentious relationship with wine. Here he celebrates its history, shares a few facts and has a recommendation for you to try. A question I am often asked is:

“What’s a good wine, Jon?”

The answer I always give is: “One that you like!” There is so much superﬂuous ‘wine speak’ knocking around that puts many people oﬀ trying to have an enjoyable conversation about wine. I try to cut out all the ‘emperor’s new clothes’ nonsense, and talk in easy and straightforward terms about the world of wine. I don’t pretend to be a Robert Parker or a Janicis Robinson (two very well-known wine critics). I’m one of you, a wine lover. I think it’s only fair to give you a little background about myself and how I got into wine, so you know who you’re dealing with.

A bit about me. . .

I own and run a wine shop, bar and café in Ormskirk, Lancashire, called La Cantina. I have been importing wine directly from the vineyards of Sicily and Northern Spain for about four years. I spent seven years living and working in Sicily, as an English language teacher, and that’s how I got into wine. One of my pupils, Antonio Pappalardo, with whom I became good friends, owns a couple of vineyards, and he got me interested in wine.

One thing I will confess is that, for obvious reasons, I am a major supporter of Sicilian wines, and the wines of this incredibly interesting island are becoming increasingly more popular. In my youth in the pubs of Liverpool, I used to drink pints of lager and the odd Pernod and black or Malibu and pineapple, and that was just about the sum of my drinks knowledge. I did know the odd few names of wines of the time, Blue Nun, Matteus Rose’, Asti Spumante. Those were just about the only wines you‘d see around in Liverpool or anywhere in the UK. If a fella asked for a glass of wine in a pub or bar in those days he would have got a few sideways looks, that’s for sure!

There are thousands of grape varieties, which get used to make tens of thousands of different wines. When there is so much to choose from you are obviously going to get good stuff and bad stuff, that’s the way it is with any product. The hard part is getting your choice right more than you get it wrong. As they say, the best place to start is at the beginning, so let’s get to grips with a little wine history:

WINE

A brief history of wine The earliest evidence we have for the cultivation of

grapes and the supervised fermentation of their juices dates back to 6,000 BC in the ancient Middle East. Wine was considered a drink of the elite in ancient Greece, and it was a centrepiece of the famous symposia, immortalized by Plato and the poets of the period. But it was during the Roman era that wine became popular throughout society. In Roman cities, wine bars were set up on almost every street, and they exported wine and wine-making to the rest of Europe. Soon, production and quality of wine in other regions rivalled that of Rome herself: After the fall of Rome, wine-making was primarily the business of monasteries throughout Europe, because of the need for wine in the Christian sacraments.

Stronger, more full-bodied wines replaced their sweeter ancient predecessors (which usually were mixed with water before drinking) and during the Renaissance, the virtues of various wine regions were appreciated by the increasingly sophisticated wine drinkers. By the 18th century the wine trade soared, especially in France, where Bordeaux became the prominent producer of ﬁne wines. The development of distinctive strains of wine grapes led to the production of regional wines with easily recognisable characteristics.

New world wine In the New World the first successful wine-making occurred in the 19th century. Somewhat surprisingly, Ohio was the first region in America to successfully cultivate grapes for wine, but it was soon eclipsed by wine production in California. In the Old World, Champagne was establishing itself as a favourite luxury beverage; and fortified wines such as ports and sherries were becoming increasingly popular, especially in Britain. But despite the growing success of the industry, there was also a catastrophe: late in the century, the phylloxera epidemic (a disease that infects vines) destroyed many old European vines, a disaster that affected wine-making for decades. The plague was overcome by grafting cuttings of European vines onto disease-resistant American rootstock.

Today wine-making is a global industry. Machines that can harvest huge areas by day or night have increased production, and modern viticultural science has ensured that the resulting product meets uniform standards, though sometimes at the expense of quality and ﬂavour. Indeed, there has been a recent trend toward more traditional methods of wine-making such as unﬁltered wines that preserve more of the grapes' true character, and it is indeed my humble opinion that these are the wines that we should be looking to buy whenever we can.

wine Facts about

A lot of wines, especially reds, are commonly said to be served at ’room temperature‘. But what does this really mean? The standard was actually established in Europe long before central heating was invented. So your standard ’room temperature‘ is likely a lot warmer than it was back then. The problem with a warm wine at today’s current room temperature is that you can get a very strong and pungent ’alcohol’ flavour and miss out on the flavours designed to be tasted in that wine. A robust red should be served between 16˚C-18˚C. Swirling aerates your wine. It releases compounds which combine with oxygen to create the bouquet or aroma. Red and white grapes both produce clear juice. The colour of red wine is created by fermenting the skins of red grapes, in addition to the juice. Rose wines start like reds, but the skins are removed early in the fermentation process. Soil type has a huge impact on the taste of wine. The French science of terrior was developed to pinpoint the exact climate, topography and soil type best suited for each grape. Legend has it that Benedictine monks even tasted the soil to find ideal planting conditions.

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wine

My recommendation The nights have drawn in, so weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll all probably start to switch from our light summer whites to more fuller robust reds. Malbecs are the signature Argentinian red grape from the Mendoza region near the border with Chile.

Intis (Sun God)

comes from the Finca Las Moras and is a blend of Malbec and Merlot. It has a lovely deep ruby colour with masses of fruit taste that really hits the spot! Argentinian wine is really coming into its own and this one is well worth a try.

You can buy Intis priced ÂŁ9.99, from The Belpasso Oil & Wine Co. Tel: 01695 581176 email: info@belpasso.co.uk www.lancantinaormskirk.co.uk

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BOOK REVIEW

Still banking on his top cop By Hannah Stephenson, Press Association

YORKSHIRE-BORN CRIME WRITER PETER ROBINSON FOUND LOVE AND SUCCESS AFTER MOVING TO CANADA, BUT HE STILL MISSES HOME - IN FACT IT WAS HOMESICKNESS THAT INSPIRED THE CREATION OF DCI BANKS. HANNAH STEPHENSON DIGS A LITTLE DEEPER. Peter Robinson laughs at the recollections of his first ever meeting with actor Stephen Tompkinson, who plays his creation DCI Banks in the hit ITV drama. The actor, he recalls, offered to meet him at his home in Toronto, Canada, where he lives for much of the year with his wife Sheila - but it was winter, and winters in Toronto are pretty cold. "Stephen wanted to talk about the character and offered to come over to Toronto to see me in the middle of winter. I said, we're going to Tampa [Florida], so he came over to see us there instead, which was a much sunnier place to do his research." The bestselling author, whose 22nd Banks novel Abattoir Blues is about to be published, also has a home in Richmond, Yorkshire, which he returns to two or three times a year to help avoid homesickness (he was born in Armley, Leeds) - and to stock up on Yorkshire Gold tea. During his stay in the UK this summer, he appeared at both the Harrogate and Edinburgh book festivals, making the most of the chance to keep connected with fans. There is a lot he misses about England when he is not here. "I miss the view of the Dales and the walks and the pubs. In Canada, I live in the city and it's great there. My wife's family and friends are there. It's two sides of a coin. Whichever way we go, everyone thinks we are on holiday."

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Abattoir Blues by Peter Robinson is published by Hodder & Stoughton, £18.99 Robinson, now 64, emigrated to Canada in 1974, to continue his studies after doing an English Literature degree at Leeds University. He went onto do an MA in English and creative writing at Canada's University of Windsor, with American author Joyce Carol Oates as his tutor. For years, he only wrote poetry. He created Banks to stave oﬀ the homesickness he was feeling, imagining himself back in Yorkshire. "At night, I would write crime just to relax. Before crime ﬁction I was writing poetry and had a part-time teaching job, which was enough to get by."

Since he introduced Alan Banks 27 years ago, in his debut novel Gallows View, the character has changed, he says. "He was a lot more brash in the early books, but he now has less of that youthful brashness and energy and, as he's got older, there have been changes in his life. He's moved from the town to the county. He's become more melancholy. He's not as excited about getting his teeth into a case as he once was." In the latest book, the story begins with what seems like the unexciting theft of a tractor, hardly a job for DCI Banks and his homicide team. But at the same time, police are investigating a mysterious bloodstain in a disused hangar, and two local lads are missing. Soon the oﬃcers ﬁnd themselves branching in all directions in a race against time.

How does Robinson keep his fictional detective fresh? "I throw a load of crap at him and see how he handles it," he says wryly. "Banks has unfolded very slowly over the years, which still leaves me plenty to work with.

"Sometimes the situations I give to him make him brood about things, and I don't know how he's going to react. I understand him because I have written about him for so long, but I don't plan the plots of the books."

How much of Banks is Robinson?

"We're not really alike, though we share some tastes in music and agree on a number of political issues. We also share the same working-class background, and I think our lives followed a similar course until our late teens when I went into university and a career in literature, teaching and writing, and Banks joined the police. "I don't think I could do his job. I like sitting with a glass of wine and a book." While the books have been translated into 20 languages and Robinson has won numerous crime-writing awards, one critic observed that he has 'for too long, and unfairly, been in the shadow of Ian Rankin'. Robinson is philosophical and pretty modest about the comment. He has been friends with Rankin for years, since before the Scottish writer became famous, after they met at a crime convention in Toronto. "Ian Rankin is a phenomenon," he says simply. "You can't imagine achieving that level of familiarity. He's a very proliﬁc, well-known writer and deservedly so."

For now, he has no plans to send his most famous DCI into retirement. "He won't get to the point of retiring. I see him possibly getting promoted and dealing with the demands of being more oﬃce-bound. I can see Annie becoming more of a lead, but at the moment, I look at them as a team." Robinson's wife, Sheila, a lawyer whom he met in Canada after giving a writing talk at a school her son attended (they've both been married before), is the ﬁrst person who sees each new book.

Robinson says programme-makers were keen to include him in the process when the series started in 2010, although the TV adaptations are very different from his books, but he even had a Hitchcock-style walk-on part in the first episode, and hopes to be in a future pub scene. It has been difficult to get Tompkinson out of his head when writing Banks, though. "I have to put TV out of my mind when I'm writing," the author explains. “Stephen is taller than the Banks in the books, and my Annie (DS Annie Cabbot) is a brunette, whereas Andrea Lowe plays her as a blonde. "It doesn't matter. You can't expect exact duplication. No actor is going to satisfy everybody's image of the way a fictional character should look, but that doesn't mean he or she can't capture that character's spirit. I think it's a good TV series."

"When the manuscript is fit for human consumption, she's the first person I give it to. I don't like to be in the same room when she has her pencil out, but she's a very good first reader and picks out things that need to be changed." They've been married for 21 years; Robinson inherited a stepson and now delights in his 16-year-old grand-daughter. He never had any children of his own and admits that he occasionally regretted it, but not now. "It was a choice I made, wholly in that I was going to devote my younger years to writing rather than starting a family. I had wanderlust." That wanderlust paid off. A new DCI Banks series has been commissioned, to be filmed this year, and Robinson has no shortage of ideas for further storylines. "If I finish with Banks, it will be because it comes to a natural end,” he says. "And I would then write stand-alone novels."

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GADGETS

Six of the best: gadgets to get you seen By Peter Jenkinson, Press Association

The nights are drawing in, so we've gathered some illuminating items to get you seen, keep you safe, and make you look cool too.

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THREE'S THE MAGIC NUMBER

Energy tube, 3-in-1 - £24.95 from red5.co.uk We're quite impressed at how this device manages to pack away three very separate functions into its very diminutive outer frame. The energy tube combines a nicely eﬃcient hand warmer, a torch and a power backup, with enough stored power to give your mobile a boost to full battery. It's all charged via micro USB, too. Very tidy indeed.

HEAD LAMP

Neonight helmet light - £53.99 from evanscycles.com There are cycle light solutions a plenty that employ conventional LED or halogen bulbs, but the Neonight uses a much cleverer patented electroluminescence technology. The lamps are double-sided doped phosphorous strips which, when an electrical current is passed through, produce a highly visible (even in fog) blue-green band of light. Easy to aﬃx to any helmet too.

PORTABLE PLANET

LED Lenser X21R - £399.95 from red5.co.uk Packed with just about as much tech as the humble torch could manage, this award winner is mighty impressive.

PROJECT YOURSEhtLF

It can project an impressive 1600 lumens over a distance of 600 metres, delivered through seven ultra-bright LED lights, which can be focused via seven individual lenses to create a sharp, deﬁned circle of light that can outshine a cars headlamps. There is a microchip inside to control eight light functions, three separate light programs and two energy modes and to top it all oﬀ, it's rechargeable.

STRIP LIGHTING

Fuze light striper - £16.99 from boots.com You'll get two metres of light-up material here, plenty to wrap around the entire frame of your bike or to enable you to get creative in other ways.

Blaze lig

m blaze.cc they've - £125 fro d this creation say

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Complete with 10 clips and 20 elastic bands, you can put it almost anywhere and then select from a solid glowing hue or one of a few blinking patterns - it will certainly get you noticed!

CANINE ILLUMINATOR

Night Dawg light up collar - £14.95 from glow.co.uk A glowing dog collar any pooch will be proud to wear. Made from super tough materials, the waterproof collar lasts up to 150 hours on battery power and illuminates the entire way around your dogs neck. Set yours to ﬂash or glow and we wager this could be both entertaining and slightly confusing.

79 FACEBOOK.COM/NICKEDMAGAZINE

our.co.u www.ukcophum

HANDY HINT HANDY

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HANDY HINT

FAN STORIES

A police man just justst stopped me in the park with y dog and said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;If y ou leave that dog mess ou will face ace a penalt penalty y.â&#x20AC;? I used to play in goal a bit bitffor or school so I thought, f *** it, and took my chances.

CROSSWORD & PRIZES

Crossword Competition Competition Ends January 31st

How to play

Use the letters from each highlighted square and rearrange them to form the name of a common police term. 1

Win!

Gerber Multi-Tool! 11

The Gerber Crucial Multi-Tool collects an entire toolbox of full size components in one rugged stainless steel package.

ACROSS

DOWN

9. What we're tackling every day on the job 10. John Grisham novel, later made into a film, about a boy who observes a lawyer's suicide (3,6) 11. Till proceeds 12. Wacky 80s film franchise about the shenanigans of a group of unhinged cadets, Police ... 13. Totted up 15. North American espionage body (1,1,1) 16. Simon Pegg and Nick Frost are officers in a seriously crazy town in their 2007 film, ... Fuzz 17. Token surname given to an unidentified body 19. Children's nurses 20. Common colour for a double-decker 23. Number of bath stars on the epaulette of an inspector 24. Bar 25. Conspiracy (3-2) 27. Raid document, search ... 29. Somebody who's seen an offence take place (like the boy in 10 across) 31. Temporary street barrier used to control traffic 32. Luckily, our jobs are usually safer than those of the officers in the game series Grand ... Auto

1. Headquarters of 26 down, New ... Yard 2. The title of the fresh new mag in your hot little hands 3. Sign-light gas 4. Automatic tellers (1,1,2) 5. Rest & recreation - well-earned after a busy shift 6. Defendant's statement 7. A polygraph is more commonly known as a lie ... 8. Remained 14. Famous catchphrase from Hawaii Five-0: “Book 'em ...” 15. Guilty judgment 16. Party-givers 18. Outside 21. Puts (money) into account 22. A cash payment oﬀered to the public to help nab a suspect 26. Nickname for London's Metropolitan Police (3,3) 28. Civil order served to a person, often a youth, for anti-social conduct 29. Rouse from sleep 30. Comedienne Catherine, or a well-known art gallery

Email info@nickedmagazine with the answer, your name, telephone number and full postal address. One winner will be selected at random. See terms and conditions for more information.

The pliers handles are ergonomically curved for a better grip and more torque. The liner locking knife blade is half ﬁne edge and half serrated. It has a carabiner clip that folds out for easy attachment to a backpack, vest or belt loop. Built with a clip and weighing just ﬁve ounces, the Crucial can also be carried as an everyday pocket tool.

9 TOOLS IN 1

- Needlenose pliers - Regular pliers - 'V-Cut' wire cutters - 1/2 fine edge & serrated knif - Phillips screwdriver - Large flat screwdriver - Bottle opener - Carabiner clip - Pocket clip TERMS & CONDITIONS One entry per person/per household. Email info@nickedmagazine with the answer, your name, email address, telephone number and full postal address. Entries must be received before January 31st or will not be valid. One winner will be selected at random. The Crossword Competition promoted by Nicked Magazine, Lemon Tree Media Ltd and Gerber. Nicked’s choice of winner is final and no correspondence will be entered into in this regard. The winner will be notified, by phone (by the number provided) between 7-10 days after the competition has ended. Nicked Magazine will call the winner a maximum of three times and leave one message. If the winner does not answer the phone or respond to the message within 14 days of the competition’s end, Nicked Magazine will select another ‘winner’ and the original ‘winner’ will not receive a prize. Entrants must be 18 or over, a resident in the UK and not employed by Lemon Tree Media Ltd. The prize is non-negotiable with no cash alternative. Nicked Magazine is not responsible for late delivery or unsatisfactory quality of the prize. These terms and conditions are not applicable to any other offer or competition related to Nicked Magazine or Lemon Tree Media Ltd.

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Loans for the police family

WHAT YOU SEE, ISN’T ALWAYS WHAT YOU GET. As a ‘mutual’ organisation, we’re here purely to help our members, not to pay profits to external investors. That’s why our loans offer: s Interest based on your reducing balance - so you pay less s No early redemption fee s Assessment of every application by a person, not a computer s Life cover* at no extra cost, to repay your loan in event of a claim s Competitive interest rates

APR representative

Monthly Total amount Extra you repayment payable pay

PCU Resourcer

8.9%

£121.08

£5,811.84

Tesco Bank

12.3%

£129.10

£6,196.80

£384.96

Post Office

14.9%

£135.43

£6,500.64

£688.80

HSBC

18.9%

£145.51

£6.984.48

£1,172.64

Halifax

18.9%

£145.51

£6.984.48

£1,172.64

22.9%

£155.98

£7,487.04

£1,675.20

(existing customers only)

Barclays (via Branch existing customers only)

Loan comparisons based on an average PCU unsecured personal loan of £4,875 arranged over 48 months. Competitor information source: Moneyfacts (September 2014). Repayment calculations source: PCU Acumen.

*Life Insurance is offered subject to conditions including a six month pre-existing limitation. For full terms and conditions about the policy, please contact Police Credit Union or visit the PCU website. Loans subject to status, conditions and credit checks to members aged 18 or over. The Police Credit Union is a member of the Financial Services Compensation Scheme. The Scheme guarantees to pay 100% up to a maximum £85,000 of savings, should the Credit Union fail. The Police Credit Union Ltd is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority & the Prudential Regulation Authority (Registered No 213306). 0845 telephone numbers are charged at local rate for landlines but may attract a premium from mobile phone providers.

Police Credit Union Guardians House, 2111 Coventry Road, Sheldon, Birmingham B26 3EA Tel: 0845 241 7501 Fax: 0121 700 1118 Email: enquiries@policecu.co.uk PoliceCU. Loans and savings for the police and law enforcement family. Honorary President: Lord Stevens of Kirkwhelpington, QPM, DL

More than 21,000 members use our services

policecu.co.uk