My Local Magazine ®
Issue 88 | October 2018 | The BEST of Middlesbrough’s Business, News, Reviews and To-Do’s
Local Stories | Local Businesses | Gardening | Car Reviews Health & Beauty | Home
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This Winter… STAY WARM, STAY SAFE, STAY WELL As the night is starting to close in and I do believe I had the first frost on my car this week. HomeInstead Senior Care Cleveland would like to share the following tips on how best to say fit and healthy this winter. Get a flu jab. Everyone over the age of 65, living in the UK is eligible for a flu jab and is encouraged to take up this free NHS service to protect themselves from the flu virus, which can be unpredictable and serious. You can get a flu jab at your GP’s surgery or at participating pharmacies. See your pharmacist if you aren’t feeling well. Even if you have just a cough or a cold, your pharmacist might be able to help you prevent it from becoming more serious. If you can’t physically get to a pharmacy, make sure to call them to discuss your symptoms. If you
Keep mobile. Try not to sit still for more than an hour at a time. Even simply standing up to stretch your legs for a few moments can help to increase your body temperature. If you have good mobility, moderate exercise is an excellent way of keeping warm when temperatures are low.
need more urgent advice, ring the NHS helpline on 111. Keep warm. During the cold winter months, it is advisable to wear several layers of clothing, rather than one thick layer. Clothes that are made from cotton, wool or fleecy fibres help to maintain body heat, and are better than silky and thin materials that don’t insulate well.
Drink warm beverages. When you get up to stretch, why not make yourself a hot drink to help keep you warm? It would help if you also tried to eat at least one hot meal a day. Making sure warm foods and drink are going into your system will keep your weight up and contribute to keeping your body temperature up. Keep your medicine cabinet stocked. If you treat early-onset symptoms of illness they are less likely to develop into anything more serious. By keeping your medicine cabinet stocked, you could avoid having to go out in the cold, if you do find yourself unwell. The temperatures were really cold last year, so it’s important to think about what you can do to protect yourself and any vulnerable friends and family from the ill-effects of the cold. At Home Instead Senior Care, our wonderful CAREGivers can help older people to stay well and can help with many of the tips mentioned here. If you or your loved one need help or support, please call us on 01642 309650
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Quality in the materials that we use for all our installations and the fact that all our loft packages are fitted by time served tradesmen so our customers are assured of the best job. Integrity in that we will turn up at the time we The company, based locally, say and make sure the house offers homeowners the opis spotless when we leave, portunity to maximise their and Value in that we offer storage space with a loft our services at a price people ladder, 50 sq ft of boarding can afford. Our business and a light all fully fitted in relies on referrals and we got less than a day from just a huge amount of our calls £277 + VAT. But it’s not just from people who have been the affordability of the pack- referred to us by our existing age the company offers that customers - that simply makes Yorkshire Loft Ladwouldn’t happen if we didn’t ders stand out as manager adhere to our overriding Mark Hodson explains: principles. These days most homeowners suffer from a lack of storage space. So many precious items that need to be kept – but where to store it all? That’s where Yorkshire Loft Ladders come in.
‘Our watchwords are Quality, Integrity and Value.
lead to more happy customers is true and we work hard to make that happen for every installation we carry out!’ So, if you want to make use of your loft space, however
big or small, call Mark on 0800 612 8359 and he’ll be happy to pop round and give you a no obligation quote so you too can make use of your loft!
At the end of the day the old adage that happy customers
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Editor’s Letter
October 2018 Disney World in Florida. As
I Hopefully, everything has got back to normal, and all the children who have started new schools have settled in. Also good luck to all who are starting new beginnings this Autumn.
usual, lots of great memories were made. If you would like something included in the Next Edition of My Local Magazines, the
Summer does seem to have gone quickly, but as we are going to press we are still getting a few good warm days. The winter pansies are really appreciating the warmer soil, so hopefully, we might have some colour throughout the winter.
deadlines are always the last Tuesday of the month. Enjoy October, and you will see our local magazines coming through your letterbox in December.
@mylocalmag
Contents
Over the summer months, we were lucky enough to visit
/mylocalmagazine
Features Recipe
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Making an entrance
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Time for some TLC
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Great Health, Wellbeing and Fitness Gifts 11 Hallway Storage
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Quirky Britain
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Literary Gift Guide
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Finance
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Motoring 22 Gardening
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Remembrance Day
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Trades
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Jeremy Middleton Managing Director T: 01642 924847 M: 07533 265 475 E: jeremy@mylocal-magazine.co.uk W: www.mylocal-magazine.co.uk My Local Magazines Ltd, Office 4, Walker House, 3rd Floor, High Street Stockton on Tees TS18 1BG My Local Magazine does not endorse any advertisement within this publication. My Local Magazine cannot be held responsible for breach of copyright arising from publication artwork supplied. It is the advertiser’s responsibility to ensure conformity with the Trades Description Act 1975 Business Advertisement Disclosure Order 1977 and The Consumer Act 1974. Reproduction of this magazine is in any way is strictly prohibited. If you wish to use any of the advertisements or content within this publication, please contact Jeremy Middleton 01642 924847 While we, the publisher take great care to be accurate, no liability will be accepted under any circumstances should any of the contents of this publication be incorrect.
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how to save £1,000s and get a new kitchen in just 48 hours Buying a new kitchen can be a
Buying a new kitchen can be a stressful experience. stressful experience.Highpressure Highsales are lengthy by pressure followed sales areby followed delays, then onethen of the most used lengthy delays, one of the roomsused in the homeinisthe totally out most rooms home is of bounds forbounds a weekfor or amore. totally out of week or more.
But customers in the north east
But in the Anorth east havecustomers another option. welcome have another welcome alternative thatoption. is halfAthe cost of alternative half the cost an average that new is kitchen, can be of an average new the kitchen, can be delivered within month, and delivered thea month, fitted in aswithin little as day. and fitted in as little as a day.
From its showroom in Yarm,
projects always seem daunting. But
From its showroom in Yarm, Dream Doors DoorsTeeside Teeside supplies Dream supplies time and money-saving time and money-savingkitchen kitchen makeovers –– as makeovers aswell wellas asappliances
Quality Kitchen Facelifts
and complete kitchens if required
appliances and complete kitchens all fitted –byallapproved if–required fitted by local approved installers. It is also part of a local installers. A family-run national franchised of business owned by network Kevin and Dream Clarke, Doors showrooms that Katrina it is also part of a national stretchesfranchised all the waynetwork down toof Dream Doors showrooms that Cornwall. stretches all the way down to “Major home improvement Cornwall.
“Major home improvement there's far less upheaval with our projects always seem daunting,” kitchen makeovers. For afar door says Kevin. “But there's less swap we're in and out in a upheaval with our kitchen day, and for a facelift,For witha new makeovers. doorworktops swap and a in sink, an we're andwe'll out probably in a day, need and for aextra facelift, day.with new worktops and a sink, we'll probably need an Dream Doors asks for just a 50 extra day.
www.dreamdoors.co.uk
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Contact Jackie on
Contact kevin or katrina on 01642924956 918984ororvisit visit 01642 www.dreamdoors.co.uk www.dreamdoors.co.uk
A fresh new look
AReceive fresh new this winter a free sinklook and tap or hob when you order a makeover for at least £3,500
from the 1st October-20th December 2018. Please call us for terms and conditions
Why replace when you can reface?
• The whole process managed from design to completion • Huge choice of doors, first hour is worktops, appliances, free parking sinks and taps in Yarm • UK’s leading kitchen facelift expert
percent deposit from customers
Dream Doors asks for just a 50 on order, and guarantees all its percent deposit from customers doors and work free of charge. on order, and guarantees all its doors and work of charge. Customers alsofree benefit from Customers also benefit from dealing with local business owners dealing with local business who arewho alsoare part of apart national owners also of a brand. “Dream the is national brand. Doors “DreamisDoors UK's biggest name in kitchen the UK's biggest name in kitchen facelifts. But unlikesays. other national facelifts,” Katrina “But unlike companies, customers buy from other national companies, customers buy from us – the us – the business owners – and business – andthe webest know we knowowners we'll deliver we'll deliverservice.” the best customer customer service.”
Est. 1999
Call Kevin For a Free Estimate:
01642 918984 ts@dreamdoors.co.uk Dream Doors Teesside, Yarm, Stockton on Tees, 21 High Street, TS15 9BW
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CHEATS’ CHICKEn TIKKA BIRYAnI If you fancy a midweek curry but don’t want to spend hours in the kitchen, then whip up this quick and easy version of a classic Indian rice and chicken dish in next-to-no time. Using tikka curry paste and pouches of microwave spiced pilau rice, it’s the perfect cheat! Serves 4 Ready in 35 minutes 400g chicken breast fillets, cut into chunks 2 tbsp natural yogurt 1 tbsp tikka curry paste Squeeze of lemon juice 1 tbsp sunflower oil 1 red onion, peeled and roughly chopped 450g frozen mixed vegetables with cauliflower 3 x 250g sachets instant pilau rice Sprigs of fresh mint, to garnish Mango chutney and poppadoms, to serve 1 Toss the chicken chunks in the yogurt, curry paste and lemon juice, then spread them on a baking sheet lined with foil. Cook under a
medium-hot grill for 12-15 minutes, turning frequently, until the chicken is cooked through and lightly charred in places. 2 Meanwhile, heat the oil in a large non-stick frying pan. Add the onion and fry for 2 minutes. Pick the cauliflower out of the frozen vegetables. Add to the pan and cook for a further 2-3 minutes until browned in places. 3 Stir in the remaining vegetables, the rice and 90ml water or vegetable stock. Cover and cook over a low
heat for 4-5 minutes, stirring once or twice until piping hot all the way through. Toss the hot cooked chicken tikka chunks into the rice. Garnish with sprigs of mint and serve with chutney and poppadoms. TIP To make a cooling cucumber and mint yogurt to accompany the biryani, mix ¼ of a grated onion and ¼ of a grated cucumber with 300ml natural yogurt, 2 tbsp freshly chopped mint and ½ tsp ground cumin.
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Making an entrance Your hallway is the first part of your home you see when entering. A well thought-out design helps make an impression. Hallways are crucial to the look and feel of a house, acting as a ‘welcome home’, a connection between rooms and a vital storage area for everything from shoes and umbrellas to coats, gloves and scarves, plus all kinds of things that don’t have a specific place elsewhere. on the wall In a narrow hallway, pale colours emphasise a sense of space. Specialist light-reflecting paints may help, or look for patterned wallpaper with a metallic sheen, and add large mirrors. Choose an extra-tough paint if you expect wear and tear, or add a dado rail and clad the walls below it with panelling, tiles or hard-wearing vinyl wallpaper. Period-style tiles or embossed wallpapers suit older properties with period features. Durable floors Flooring should be non-slip, durable, dirt-resistant and easily maintained. Darker colours are generally better than pale, especially if you have pets
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and children. Stone, ceramic or quarry tiles, or Victorian encaustic tiles, are all easy to care for, while solid wooden boards or parquet simply require regular polishing or waxing. Linoleum or vinyl can look impressive but carpet is more problematic. Choose a colour or pattern that won’t show the dirt, and make sure it’s suitable for a hallway: an 80:20 twist classified for heavy domestic use is often the best. Lovely lighting Light in the hallway should illuminate steps, stairs and thresholds clearly and help provide an even flow of light.With a high ceiling, a beautiful chandelier, or a series of pendants, looks great; otherwise, a row of downlights set into the ceiling is better. Avoid protruding wall lights in a narrow hall where they become obstacles. Sensible storage Built-in storage makes the most of available space. Shallow, floorto-ceiling cupboards with doors painted the same colour as the walls, or mirrored, are discreet but hold masses. Alternatively, use free-standing cupboards, sideboards, tables, benches, hooks or racks that suit your layout
and style. Somewhere to keep post and keys is useful: perhaps a bowl and rack on a console table, radiator cover or shelf, or a small, wall-mounted cupboard and hooks. Finishing touches Windows will benefit from shutters, blinds or curtains, with fabric coordinated with cushions or upholstery. A long, thin floor runner works beautifully on hard flooring. Fit shelving above doorways or above head height along the hall’s length for books and delicate items. And, finally, add a personal touch with paintings, photographs or other artworks. Katherine Sorrell
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Time for some TLC Central heating and cold weather can take their toll on your skin, so make the most of the darker evenings by indulging in a welldeserved pampering session. Relaxing in a warm bath with music, candles and a glass of wine is one of my favourite winter experiences. If you’re the same, check out Tisserand Aromatherapy’s Ascot Bath Oils Collection (£35). As you’d expect from Tisserand, each of the five bath oils is fragranced with pure essential oils, so they smell lovely but aren’t overpowering. Choose between Misty Mellow, Sweet Solace, Hope & Cheer, Blissful Joy and Happy Elation, depending on which mood you want to create. My personal favourite is Hope & Cheer with its uplifting blend of ginger, lemongrass and rosemary. The Ascot range launched earlier this year and also includes a body wash, hand lotion and more. See www. tisserand.com/ascot-collection. Many of us suffer from dry skin patches, chapped lips and sore hands in the winter. A multi-purpose balm can work wonders.Weleda’s Skin Food (£12.50) is my usual go-to balm, but I’ve been reaching for ESPA’s Skin Rescue Balm (£29) lately. It’s made from beeswax and a long list of plant and seed oils, including castor, orange peel and blackcurrant.The balm is incredibly moisturising and a little goes a long way, see www.espaskincare. com. I generally prefer a wash-off cleanser in the summer and a wipe-off one in colder months. I’ve switched to Odylique’s Creamy Coconut Cleanser
(£18) for winter.The cleanser has won multiple awards and for good reason. The blend of extra-virgin olive oil and coconut oil do a great job of removing makeup (even waterproof mascara), and they also nourish the skin as they cleanse. Rose extracts help to soothe inflammation, while lemon detoxifies. The cleanser is suitable for all skin types, even those prone to eczema, rosacea or other skin complaints. It’s very light so won’t clog pores, but it’s still rich enough to leave skin feeling pampered, softer and more hydrated. Massage the cleanser in and then remove it with a damp muslin cloth for a daily cleanse and exfoliation session in one. See www.odylique. co.uk. Fancy a full spa experience? If a weekend away is out of the question, why not look into a day spa experience with a friend? Spas often offer 2 for 1 deals that work out at around £20 a person.You’ll usually get use of the pool and other facilities, as well as a dressing gown and slippers. Or why not splash out on a package that includes a treatment and lunch? Try searching for offers on www.
spaseekers.com as you’ll often get a better deal than going direct to the spa itself. Buying a gift for someone who deserves a bit of pampering? Spa Seekers offers vouchers, or try www. buyagift.co.uk for gift experiences. The Smartbox Indulgent Pamper Treat costs £39.99 and gives the recipient the choice of a wide range of treatments at venues across the UK. So whether they fancy a spa day in Berkshire or a massage in Manchester, they’ll have you to thank for the experience. Kate Duggan: www.kateduggan.co.uk
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Great Health, Wellbeing and Fitness Gifts Stuck for gift ideas for your nearest and dearest? Here are some presents that could bring them a happier, healthier new year. Weight Loss Gifts Warning: Only buy these for someone who has stated they need, want and plan to lose weight! • Slimming World offer 6-week and 12-week gift cards for new members (£34.75 and £59.50 respectively). Prices are lower for existing members or those over 60. Available at www.slimmingworld. co.uk/downloads/gift_vouchers.pdf. • Weight Watchers don’t offer gift subscriptions but do sell cookbooks, magazine subscriptions (starting from £8.25) and handy SmartPoints Kitchen Scales (£39.95), which automatically calculate the SmartPoints in food. Available from www. weightwatchersshop.co.uk. • LighterLife don’t offer gift vouchers either, but you can buy food packs for friends interested in trying the plan from around £15. Available from www.lighterlife. com/shop/foodpacks/bundles.html. Mindfulness Gifts NHS doctors are now recommending mindfulness to improve mental health and manage long-term pain. • The Introduction to Mindfulness Gift Box uses simple task cards and a week-long challenge to help users learn simple mindfulness techniques and integrate them easily and effectively into their day. It includes four token gifts to celebrate successes. Available from Amazon, £4.95.
Just a few minutes’ practice a day can bring great benefits, not just for those struggling with mental health issues but for anyone wanting to improve their wellbeing in today’s hectic world. Available as a book, eBook, audio CD and CD-ROM from various retailers including Amazon and WHSmith. Wellbeing Gifts • Spa Days Red Letter Days offer spa days from £39 (£59 for couples) and for that special couple, two-night spa breaks from £390 (includes lunch, one-day spa pass and accommodation in a luxury yurt). Available from www.redletterdays. co.uk. • The Positive Planner This hardback 12-week planner and journal features inspirational quotes, art therapy, mindfulness activities and a mood tracker (noting connections between their activities and feelings could help your recipient make positive changes). There are also meal planners, shopping lists and monthly diary spreads, helping reduce mental clutter. Available from www.thepositiveplanner.co.uk and www.notonthehighstreet.com at £23 plus p&p. Fitness Gifts • Gaiam Beginners’ Pilates Kit This includes a body-sculpting ball, resistance band and instructional workout DVD, great for firsttimers or improvers.
Available from John Lewis, Amazon and other retailers at around £26.49. • Weight Training Equipment Experts recommend weight training because muscle burns more calories, even at rest, than fat – and we’re prone to losing muscle tone as we age. For beginners, light dumbbells and/or wrist and ankle weights are ideal. Kettlebells are popular, and for more serious weightlifters, barbell sets will allow them to add or remove weights to suit them. All available from major retailers such as Argos, Amazon and John Lewis, and fitness stores or websites. Pairs of low weight vinyl dumbbells, 2 kg kettlebells and pairs of wrist and ankle weights all start from around £5. Expect to pay at least £28 for a barbell set but check reviews – some poorer quality sets have inferior fixtures that allow weights to slip off.
• Mindfulness: A Practical Guide to Finding Peace in a Frantic World by Mark Williams and Danny Penman, an NHS ‘Book on Prescription’, teaches MindfulnessBased Cognitive Therapy (MBCT). www.mylocal-magazine.co.uk | E: jeremy@mylocal-magazine.co.uk
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Hallway storage Coats, shoes, umbrellas and scarves – with so much to store in what is often a small space, it’s important to choose products that work hard as well as provide a good-looking welcome to your home. Make an entrance • When storage space is at a premium – as it so often is in a hall – use the full height of your walls as much as possible. Tall, shallow units are very useful, while little-used items can be stored on a shelf above hooks and racks. • Try to unify design so that your hallway blends seamlessly with the rooms it adjoins. A coat cupboard could have the same style doors as kitchen units, for example, or hooks could complement your door handles. A colour theme will tie the look together, too. • Cupboards or consoles with doors and drawers help conceal mess, while baskets are a great way to store bits and bobs. Storage benches are also great choices, providing somewhere to sit while putting on footwear and the
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chance to personalise the space with pretty cushions or upholstery. • Make it easy for children to keep their stuff tidy by hanging their coat hooks at a lower level and labelling shelves, baskets or boxes so they can kick off their shoes and (hopefully) pop them away instantly. 1 Add character and heaps of storage with an industrial-style bench stand, reminiscent of a school corridor. Harlem vintage industrial hall bench, £545, Alexander & Pearl. 2 This minimal, hard-wearing design adds a bold accent of fashionable yellow. Essentials Alana shoe rack, £69, Made.com. 3 Simplicity is the key to this coat hook made from distressed wrought iron hooks and a wedge of reclaimed elm. Withnail coat hook, £65, Loaf. 4 Robust and sturdy, this row of five aluminium hooks is ideal for heavy items and has an elegant, vintage style. Coat hooks, £24.95, live laugh love.
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Britain’s quirkiest Bonfire Night celebrations November is the month for firework displays, when adults and children gather together on a chilly field to spend half an hour ‘oohing’ and ‘aahing’ as fiery fountains erupt, Catherine wheels spin and rockets light up the night sky. It’s a fun family event, but our 21st century firework displays seem like pretty tame stuff when compared to the bonfire festivities enjoyed in times gone by. Fire festivals have been held for thousands of years but the practice of marking 5th November with bonfires and fireworks began as a rowdy celebration to mark the deaths of the conspirators who tried to blow up England’s parliament in 1605, with activities calculated to make any modern-day health and safety officer run for cover. While it’s no bad thing that firework displays are now controlled and regulated to avoid accidents, some of the devil-may-care spirit that was once the hallmark of November 5th seems to have been lost. However, there are certain parts of the UK where risk and excitement are an essential part of the enjoyment. Anarchic fun in Sussex
Welcome to Bonfire Night in Lewes, Sussex, where the smell of burnt gunpowder is always accompanied by a faint whiff of anarchy. It’s a night of celebration that promises activities that are – to quote the website lewesbonfirecelebrations.com – “not suitable for very young children … the frail or if you have breathing problems.” Each year this bonfire event turns the normally sleepy town of Lewes into a heady combination of raucous street bands, rowdy processions, heaving crowds and huge effigies – usually in the form of hated public figures of the day – made for the sole purpose of being consigned to the flames amidst cheers, jeers and cat-calls. The town uses Bonfire Night as an opportunity to uphold the traditions of free speech and to remember the dead, particularly the seventeen Protestant martyrs who were burned at the stake in Lewes between 1555 and 1557 under the reign of ‘Bloody Mary’ (Queen Mary I).Their martyrdom is marked annually by a procession of 17 burning crosses. Tar Barrel Racing in Devon Another place you might prefer to avoid on Bonfire Night if you are of a
nervous disposition is Ottery St. Mary, in Devon.This tranquil West Country town changes character on the night of 5th November, becoming the stage for a perilous and fiery race through the streets. This exhilarating and risky spectacle involves setting light to huge wood and iron barrels soaked in tar.The barrels are then carried through the town at great speed. Some families have been taking part in the races for many generations and almost 10,000 people turn up each year to cheer them on. Another quirky and high-spirited bonfire event is Shetland’s Viking fest Up Helly Aa, which takes place at the end of January.These celebrations – tapping into our primitive feelings about fire as something to be loved, feared and respected – are a powerful way of bringing communities together. Although no-one would want to return to the days when members of the public could be injured when activities got out of hand, it’s good to know that some UK communities are still prepared go to such lengths to let their hair down and celebrate together.
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Literary Gift Guide Stuck for the perfect present? Our literary gift guide might help…
memoir that will stay with the reader long after Christmas is over.
For autobiography addicts
For crime lovers
Educated – Tara Westover Tara Westover was born to strict Mormon parents who didn’t agree with school, modern medicine or women’s equality. Tara spent her childhood attempting to become the dutiful daughter her parents demanded, while keeping on the right side of her violent, manipulative older brother. Education was to prove a way out, but eventually Tara had to choose between becoming the Tara she wanted to be, and the one her parents would accept. A stunning
Girl on Fire – Tony Parsons A terrorist attack on a shopping centre sees DC Max Wolfe on the hunt for the culprits before they can strike again. He also has battles closer to home to deal with in the form of his ex-wife, who wants custody of their daughter. A gripping story with plenty of twists to keep you guessing. For historical fiction fans The Seeds of America Trilogy (Chains, Forge and Ashes) – Laurie Halse Anderson
It’s 1776 and the American Revolutionary War is raging. Isabel is offered the chance of freedom from slavery in exchange for spying on her owners. It’s an opportunity she can’t pass up, however dangerous. While Chains, Forge and Ashes are marketed as children’s books, this well-researched trilogy will appeal to teens and adults alike. For family saga fans The Distant Hours – Kate Morton A long-lost letter sets Edie on a quest to uncover more about her mother Meredith’s experiences as an evacuee. Meredith was taken in by the three Blythe sisters, including the enigmatic Juniper. As Edie soon discovers, her mother isn’t the only one who’s been keeping secrets. An enjoyable, atmospheric novel that treads the line between family saga, gothic mystery and historical fiction. For young fans of Roald Dahl and David Walliams Alice Dent and the Incredible Germs – Gwen Lowe In Alice’s world, cleanliness is crucial, illness is not tolerated and laughter is strictly forbidden. So when Alice gets a cold and a case of the giggles, she’s in big trouble. She manages to escape the clutches of the Best Minister for Everything Nicely Perfect, but for how long? Alice Dent and the Incredible Germs is very funny and perfect for sharing at bedtime. For people looking to change their life Do Fly - Find your way. Make a living. Be your best self – Gavin Strange Know someone who’s stuck on the wrong career path? Treat them to Do Fly. As the intro says, the “ultimate goal is to blend what you enjoy doing and what you get paid to do, so they’re one and the same.” Far from being a stuffy ‘how-to’ business book, Do Fly is a short, enjoyable read that feels like a conversation with a friend who’s achieved the life you want to lead.
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How to make your Conservatory Feel like a Proper Room If you’ve ever tried to use your conservatory in the winter, you’ll know that it can feel like a cold, damp and dismal part of the house. In all the glossy conservatory sales catalogues, the sun is always shining, the garden is blooming and everyone is having fun being in the bright and clean ‘new room’. The reality is that most conservatories are too hot to use in comfort in the summer, and certainly too cold to use in the winter. Condensation can be a problem in the winter, and it’s too bright to watch a tv in there in the summer. And when it rains, the noise can be deafening! Most conservatories have been built as temporary structures and usually as a less expensive alternative to an extension. This means that they don’t comply with the building regulations that an extension would have to do especially in terms of the thermal efficiency. The team at local specialists Inceil talk to homeowners every day
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who want to be able to use their conservatory all year round and not on the handful of days when the temperature is just right! Their cost-effective solution is to fit an insulated ceiling fitted to the existing roof structure in just 1 or 2 days. The new plastered ceiling follows the contours of the existing roof and uses the most thermally dynamic insulation available. Your conservatory will feel like a proper room with a better temperature year round. And you don’t have to do anything to the external roof. It’s important when having any works done that you are happy with the people working in your home. Customers frequently comment on how polite and friendly everyone is in the Inceil team – and that they cleaned up when they had finished! On the Inceil informative website www.inceil.co.uk you can watch
an installation video which shows exactly how the process works, and request a free survey and quote. Or give them a call on 01904 891936. In just one or two days, your conservatory can be transformed into a comfortable and usable part of your home.
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Can you still get a mortgage if you are an older borrower? Whether you are moving house or remortgaging an existing property, you may find it difficult to secure a mortgage as you get older. Some mortgage lenders are reluctant to take pension income into account, which means you could be refused if you have already retired, or want a mortgage term that continues past your retirement date. Is there an age limit for getting a mortgage? Officially there is no upper age limit for a mortgage, but providers use their own in-house criteria when assessing a mortgage application. They may apply an age limit for older people taking out new mortgages, and another for when the mortgage must be paid off. These limits are typically 65-70 years of age, and 70-85 years old respectively. This means that if you are aged 60, for example, and looking for a mortgage term of 25 years, your options may be limited. Is there anything you can do to increase your chances of securing a mortgage?
Mortgage affordability checks New regulations introduced following the 2008 recession, known as the Mortgage Market Review rules, mean that lenders must make more stringent affordability checks prior to lending. As a result, all regular payments leaving your bank account will affect the affordability calculation, and reduce the amount you are able to borrow.
• Reduce your outgoings By reducing your spending, and paying down debt over six months or so prior to your mortgage application, you stand a better chance of success and may be able to access a wider choice of products that offer better terms.
Acknowledging longer life expectancies
• Use a mortgage broker Obtaining the services of a mortgage broker who understands this particular market is a good idea. If too many mortgage applications are rejected, it can adversely affect your credit status, which then has a knock-on effect to any future applications you make.
The higher cost of housing, helping children onto the property ladder, or late entry into the housing market, can all result in the need for a mortgage after you have reached 50 years of age.
There has been a trend in recent years for longer life expectancies to be acknowledged, along with the fact that, for a variety of reasons, people need to borrow money later in life.
Mortgages for older people It is often smaller building societies that offer flexibility with regard to
age, with high street banks remaining steadfast in their cautionary approach to mortgages in retirement. • The Family Building Society offers mortgage terms of up to 25 years for a 70 year old, and up to a fiveyear term for someone aged 90 years old.¹ • Aldermore Bank is a specialist mortgage lender that allows repayments to continue up to the age of 99.² According to the Building Societies Association (BSA), some building societies operate with no upper age limit at all for mortgages. These include, but are not limited to, Cumberland, Bath, Chorley, Cambridge, Ipswich, and Buckinghamshire Building Societies.³ ¹ familybuildingsociety.co.uk/ Mortgages/Later_Life_Lending.aspx ² www.aldermore.co.uk/mortgages/ later-life-lending-mortgages ³ www.bsa.org.uk/information/ consumer-factsheets/mortgages/ building-societies-lending-age-limits
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road, there’s a scream and it goes black. You come ‘around’ to the screaming of the injured driver. The legs of one of the back-seaters are across the dashboard, the rest of them is through the windscreen. You look down to see your virtual legs smashed against the glovebox. Outside, the emergency services are
passengers as to how these devices are used in-car, but daily I see drivers still using phones,
undeterred by fines and points. There is enough happening on our roads already, so yet another distraction within a driver’s reach seems insane.
“Alexa! I’m In The Car”
A virtual reality presentation of being in a car crash left me feeling sickened recently. Picture this: you’re the front seat passenger in a hatch-back, whizzing down a lane. To your right the driver is laughing with the two back-seat passengers, who are passing him a phone. He shows the phone to you and looks at the screen. As we round a corner to see a tractor across the road, there’s a scream and it goes black. You come ‘around’ to the screaming of the injured driver. The legs of one of the back-seaters are across the dashboard, the rest of them is through the windscreen. You look down to see your virtual legs smashed against the glovebox. Outside, the emergency services are tending to the injured as the roof is being cut off. It’s very realistic.
creating conditions for a crash with the policeman running the demo. This chimed with a news piece that Amazon are aiming to put Alexa incar. I note its hands-free operation, to request traffic information etc., but I am also aware of the distraction chatting to ‘her’ will create: two friends of mine nearly rear-ended a car because they had been talking to Siri on a phone and weren’t paying attention to what
By Iain Betson
was happening outside. I know it’s the responsibility of drivers and passengers as to how these devices are used in-car, but daily I see drivers still using phones, undeterred by fines and points. There is enough happening on our roads already, so yet another distraction within a driver’s reach seems insane.
I discussed the many in-car distractions that go towards
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The Great Cover-Up There is a lot to be said for some variation in the height of the plants in your garden. Any garden, whatever its size or location, will look more interesting with ‘ups and down’ in the planting, so by all means include some tall plants as well as those which are just a bit closer to the soil. Don’t forget how attractive and useful ground-cover planting can be, covering the soil with good-looking foliage which, in some cases, is decorated with a fair smattering of flowers or berries. Some ground-cover plants are available as ‘bare root’ plants, lifted from a field and ready for putting in to the ground whilst they are
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dormant, so now is a great time to get ordering and buying ready to plant during suitable weather over the next few months. Look at what is available in local nurseries and garden centres but also visit a few websites. Ground-cover plants are also often available in potted form, especially if it is some of the smaller, less woody plants which appeal to you. These can be planted now too, but as their roots come well-encased in compost, they can be planted at any time of the year. For best results avoid extremely cold and wet weather, and the very hottest and driest period in summer.
Ground-cover planting is an excellent way to reduce the amount of work you need to do – perfect if your garden is too big for the time or energy you have to spare. Rather than having a flower bed full of herbaceous plants or summer bedding, a ground-cover bed, once planted, needs little maintenance and pretty well looks after itself. It will need watering during the first year or two, especially in dry weather, so that the roots have a chance to establish. One of the best uses for this sort of planting is on a steep slope, where access for weeding, watering, feeding and pruning is difficult or even
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dangerous. The initial planting up may be a tough job, but once growing well a ground cover-clad slope will be far simpler to look after than a steep grassy slope. Gardens on slopes or indeed windswept spots can suffer quite serious and irritating soil-slippage or erosion if left unplanted. But once planted up, the roots of your groundcover planting will help to secure the soil and the stems and foliage will help to protect the soil surface. Weeds just love open spaces, but cover spare bits of ground with ground-cover planting and the weeds will often be swamped out: literally starved of light and suffering such competition from your chosen planting that they cannot thrive. For best effect choose plants which are evergreen and so hold their leaves throughout the year. Evergreens just shed their leaves little and often, rather than their deciduous relatives which drop them all in one go in the autumn, which means you won’t suffer from the bare, twiggy effect that deciduous plants would give. If you choose a ground-cover plant such as Cotoneaster horizontalis you will be able to enjoy really attractive berries as well as the neat foliage. Ground-cover planting like this will often offer a useful source of shelter to local wildlife and food for berry eaters too. Sometimes it can be difficult to spot suitable ground-cover plants unless the nursery or garden centre has a
designated area for them, so, when searching out plants for ground cover, always read the information given about each plant thoroughly. Ideally you want those where the stated height is smaller than the stated spread – it is outwards not upwards you are after! Look for clues in the plants’ Latin names too – those with words suggesting spread out or horizontal are good indicators e.g. prostrata (prostrate), horizontalis (horizontal), repens (creeping).
Visit Pippa’s website www. pippagreenwood.com and you’ll fi nd some great gardening items and perfect Christmas gifts for gardeners: a ‘Grow Your Own with Pippa Greenwood’ gift card (great vegetable plants and weekly advice from Pippa), stylish cloches, the fantastic SpeedHoe, raised bed kits, gardening tools, Grower Frames, signed books and more! Or why not book Pippa for a gardening talk at your gardening club?
Twelve Great Ground Cover Plants Taxus baccata ‘Repens Aurea’, Hypericum calycinum moserianum, Hedera, Lonicera pileata, Pernettya mucronata, Rosmarinus officinalis ‘Prostratus’, Euonymus fortuneii, Ceanothus prostrates thyrsiflorus var. repens, Cotoneaster horizontalis, Cotoneaster ‘Gnom’,Vinca
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The History of the Remembrance Day Poppy
With celebrations to mark the centenary of the end of the First World War, the humble but striking poppy will once again be evident as a symbol of hope and remembrance. But what is its history? Over the four years that the Great War raged, the fields of Flanders in Belgium that saw much of the bloody trench warfare were decimated. But like some miracle of life triumphing over death, out of this devastation grew hundreds of field poppies. Part of the papaver family (papaver rhoeas), the Flanders Poppy, as it came to be known, thrived in the barrenness – its bright red colour echoing the bloodshed and a perfect symbol of hope for the future. Canadian WW1 soldier and poet John McCrae wrote the now famous poem ‘In Flanders Fields’ about their significance in 1915. After reading a copy of McCrae’s poem, American University Professor Moina Michael was so moved that she promptly went out to Wannamaker’s – a department store in New York – and 26
bought all the artificial poppies they had. She then sold them as souvenirs of remembrance under the banner ‘keep the faith’.
The Disabled Society to help provide employment for disabled veterans. His initial staff were five disabled ex-soldiers.
Due to Moina’s efforts, the National American Legion adopted the poppy as their symbol, agreeing to wear it on Armistice Day, 11th November.
Today there are two poppy manufacturers in the UK – The Poppy Factory in Richmond (the original poppy factory relocated) and The Lady Haig Poppy Factory in Edinburgh. The Scottish poppy is slightly different to the English in that it has four petals instead of three and no leaf.
While attending an American Legion Convention in 1920, Anna Guérin, a member of the French YWCA, saw the poppy not only as a global symbol of remembrance but also as a way of raising funds. She decided to start mass producing artificial poppies to sell as badges in France. The proceeds would be used to help war widows and orphans. After they proved a success in France, Anna took them abroad. In England, she met Field Marshall Douglas Haig, also the first president of the (Royal) British Legion founded in 1921 and the first British Legion Poppy Day Appeal took place in 1921 with nine million poppies sold and over £100,000 raised. The other allied countries soon followed suit. In 1922, Major John Howson opened the first UK poppy factory in London. Howson had received the Military Cross during the First World War and had subsequently set up
Both are staffed by ex-servicemen and women and produce millions of poppies annually. The Poppy Factory also does free tours which are open to all. Along with the crosses and wreaths that will be placed on war memorials across the country on Remembrance Sunday this centenary year, armies of volunteers will sell millions of poppies in the run up to 11th November. The idea behind them remains the same – a non-religious, non-cultural symbol of remembrance that helps to raise money for veterans and their families. By Catherine Rose
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advertisers index Aerial Installers
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