Reader's Digest UK Nov 2022

“Thank

you Marian for holding us all together.”

(Macular Society member)

Join the SocietyMacular today for FREE

You can feel alone, isolated and fearful when you’ve been diagnosed with macular disease.

When you’re a member of the Macular Society, you’ll get support, information and a friendly ear from our team. People like Marian, who really understand what it means to have macular disease.

You’ll get the very latest research news and essential tips for living with macular disease, plus you can tune in for free to our ‘virtual clinics’ and our annual conference. All from the experts who really know what they are talking about.

Join the Macular Society today and together we will Beat Macular Disease.

Call us on 01264 350 551 quoting “Readers” to start your FREE six month membership trial or sign up online at macularsociety.org/Digest

Macular Society is the trading name of the Macular Disease Society. A charity registered in England and Wales 1001198, Scotland SC042015 and Isle of Man 1123. A company limited by guarantee, registered in England No. 2177039. Registered O ce: Macular Society, Crown Chambers, South Street, Andover SP10 2BN. UK Membership: £22 per year; first six months free. Following the six month trial, we’ll be in touch to ask if you would like to become a full member. UK residents only. For full terms and conditions please visit macularsociety.org/6monthsterms

Features

16 IT’S A MANN’S WORLD

Olly Mann discovers he owns a fridge magnet collection

ENTERTAINMENT

20 INTERVIEW: IDRIS ELBA

The beloved British actor on bravado and James Bond

28 “I REMEMBER”: BARNABY JAMESON

The memories of a bold counter-terrorist barrister HEALTH

36 CYSTIC FIBROSIS

A real-life story of living with the debilitating disease

42 STOMACH PAINS

Symptoms to look out for INSPIRE

56 QUEEN ELIZABETH II

Looking back on the remarkable life of our Queen

66 THE PAUL O'SULLIVANS

How one Facebook message led to a lifetime of friendship

72 NATURIST CRUISING

Why sailing with no clothes on is the most stress-free holiday you will ever experience

82 MARIANA STARKE

The 19th-century woman who pioneered the modern guidebook TRAVEL

90 THE SHORES OF DEVON

Rediscovering the beauty of the southern England county

MAF is the world’s largest humanitarian air service, bringing Christian help, hope and healing to those in need.

COME ON A JOURNEY THIS ADVENT WITH YOUR FREE ADVENT CALENDAR

Join our trusty trio of friends – Mike, Alpha and Foxtrot – as they discover fascinating facts and share great stories about MAF along the way.

Order your FREE* printed Advent calendar so you and your family can enjoy opening the doors each day to find out who — or what — Mike is transporting in his MAF plane each day during Advent.

Then, follow the link on the Advent calendar to explore that day’s destination in more detail.

Find out how MAF helps the people there, watch inspiring videos, download fun Christmas activity sheets, complete a daily kindness challenge and, of course, enter the grand competition! Perfect for keeping the whole family entertained this Christmas, it’s going to be so much fun!

To rder your FREE Advent calendar now scan the QR code, or visit our website

www.maf-uk.org/readersdigest2

We all have different milestones for retirement, and whether your plan is to take a series of dream holidays, gift to family and friends, or simply spend more time doing the things you enjoy, these goals can be costly.

As you start to work out what you could achieve, you will be looking at the sources of funds available to you. You may decide that you need to seek out an additional solution so that you can enjoy the budgets you deserve. Think about these three options as you consider your next steps:

1 Pension

If you are nearing retirement, your first consideration will likely be your pension. As well as the state pension, you may have also paid into a private pension. Take the time to find out exactly how much you are entitled to and when you can access this money so that you maximise the savings you have made throughout your working life.

2 Downsizing

You may discover that there is a shortfall in your pension pot and that an additional solution would help you fund the lifestyle you deserve. If you want to move closer to loved ones or are finding your current property difficult to maintain, downsizing can be a great way to address this.

Downsizing involves selling your current home and moving to a cheaper property. Once your home is sold, you get to keep the money leftover and use this cash to tick off your wishlist.

3 Equity release

However, if you love where you live or would prefer to avoid the upheaval and cost involved in moving, downsizing might be off the cards. Instead, you could unlock the value of your home by releasing equity.

A Lifetime Mortgage is the UK’s most popular form of equity release, allowing you to retain 100% homeownership whilst borrowing a tax-free cash sum. Should you wish to find out more, Reader’s Digest Equity Release can offer you a no-obligation appointment with a fully qualified adviser in your local area.

Your adviser will be able to explain the benefits and risks, including the fact that releasing equity will reduce the value of your estate and could affect your entitlement to means-tested benefits. They will work with you to help you decide the best solution for you as you plan for your retirement.

Call the Information Team today on 0800 029 1233 to find out more and book your free initial appointment. n

SENIOR EDITORS

Anna Walker, Eva Mackevic

EDITORIAL ASSISTANT

Becca Inglis

ART DIRECTOR Richard Cooke

ADVERTISING Jigs Pankhania

HEAD OF FINANCE Santwana Singh

FINANCE MANAGER

Irving Efren

MANAGING DIRECTOR Julie Leach CHAIRMAN Steve Wilkie

TRUSTED MEDIA BRANDS INC (USA)

President and Chief Executive Officer

Bonnie Kintzer

Editor-in-Chief, International Magazines

Bonnie Munday

WE PAY...

£50 for the star letter and £30 for regular letters.

Email readersletters@readers digest.co.uk or go to readers digest.co.uk/contact-us

WE ALSO PAY...

£30 for the true stories, anecdotes, jokes in Laugh! and You Couldn’t Make It Up…, and contributions to end-ofarticle fillers and My Great Escape

Email excerpts@readersdigest.co.uk or go to readersdigest.co.uk/contact-us

SORRY!

We cannot acknowledge or return unpublished items or unsolicited article-length manuscripts. Do not send SAEs. Article-length stories, poetry and cartoons are not requested.

CUSTOMER SERVICES

Contact Customer Services for renewals, gifts, address changes, payments, account information and all other enquiries. Call 0330 333 2220* or email customer_service@readersdigest.co.uk

TALKING MAGAZINES

Reader’s Digest is also available in audio and accessible etext editions from RNIB Newsagent, for blind and partially sighted readers. Call the RNIB Helpline on 0303 123 9999 or visit rnib.org.uk/newsagent

SUBSCRIPTIONS

Annual subscriptions are available to be delivered monthly direct to your door. For our latest offers please visit readersdigest.co.uk/subscribe Or telephone us today on 01778 392461.

Gift subscriptions also available.

UK rates may vary. Overseas rates: Republic of Ireland £45, Europe £50 and Rest of the World £60 for 12 month subscription.

In This Issue…

The global quiet that descended following the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II was, for most of us, unlike anything we’ve experienced. Beloved across the world, our longestreigning monarch’s death moved even the most stoical, as we came together to mourn her— whether reflecting on her reign, queuing to see her coffin, or simply watching the Paddington films.

Her Majesty had a long and generous relationship with Reader’s Digest. Back in 1985, she sat for a portrait by Michael Leonard, commissioned by us for her 60th birthday. It now hangs in the National Portrait Gallery, and you can see it on p61. In it, she sits smiling in an Easter-yellow dress, one of her beloved corgis sat contentedly on her lap. And just this year, she took the time to send you, our readers, a message celebrating the 100th anniversary of our magazine. All that remains is to say thank you, Your Majesty. It was a pleasure to serve you. Turn to p56 to read our final farewell.

Anna and Eva

Over To You

LETTERS ON THE September ISSUE

We pay £50 for Letter of the Month and £30 for all others

LETTER OF THE MONTH

Words cannot describe how much I needed to read Dr Max’s article about forgiveness. After struggling for years with the effects of bullying at school, I feel like I have finally been given a clear reason to forgive the boys who set out to hurt me.

People like Nelson Mandela and Malala Yousafzai famously forgave their oppressors and it is recommended we do so in the Lord’s Prayer, but I have never felt able to, particularly as the boys who bullied me never showed any remorse.

HOME TRUTHS

Comedian Glenn Moore

had a good idea in If I Ruled, namely that during election campaigning, there should be an independent vote deduction committee.

Meaning that if any

Dr Max has clarified it for me in such a way that I have a new determination to set myself free from the effects and release myself from the bullies’ hold on me. One thing to keep in mind is that forgiveness takes time; it is not something that can be rushed, nor is it saying that what the perpetrator did was OK. It is simply loosening their grip on your heart, which is what I needed to lead a peaceful life free from the tormenting influence of my bullies.

Annabel Barker , Sussex

party was found to be lying,during their campaign, then there would be a percentage of the votes deducted.

Yes, it might get boring because politicians would have to only tell you things they could stick to, but

it would restore my faith in them. In a world that places truth so low down in the pecking order of societal values, is it any wonder that politicians continue to show such casual disregard for it?

Josie Drury, Flint

SAGE ADVICE

I’m so glad I read “Ask the Expert: Life After Menopause”. If you’d asked me 19 years ago if I would still be getting menopausal symptoms I would have laughed in your face, but I am. The menopause is a natural condition of course. It is not a disease that needs medical treatment. However, some women have to seek treatment for the relief of peri-menopausal symptoms. I’ve tried HRT but it didn’t do well for me. However, I noted your expert’s advice about a Mediterranean diet, focusing on aerobic exercises to keep my heart healthy and weight-bearing exercises to protect my bones. I’ll also be taking omega-3 and, importantly, managing stress with mindfulness and yoga.

I’m taking all this on board and can I just say I am really grateful because sometimes it’s felt like I was very alone, b ut I don’t feel that way anymore. I can help myself endure the menopause, and maybe one day the symptoms will go completely. I live in hope!

karen yetton, Cambridgeshire

THE DANCING QUEEN

It was really interesting to read about the B lack ballerina, Julie Felix, who was unable to pursue a care e r in the UK after being told by the London Festival Ballet that she could never perform simply due to the colour of her skin. I loved learning that Julie Felix eventually travelled to New York and joined the Harlem Dance Theatre.

Abroad, she began an enriching and successful career, going on to lead B lack excellence in dance. I hope that her story will be a help to others who may also be facing obstacles and prejudices in their working world. Thank you for sharing this uplifting story.

Manisa Kuinkel, Harrow

Love the Love reading?

Reader’s Digest and Mirthy Book Club!

JOIN TODAY

Find out why Mirthy are loved by over 45,000 people

✚ 100+ live online events each month

✚ Winner of the Mental Wellness Social Enterprise of the year 2022 at the SME News UK Enterprise Awards

JOIN MIRTHY FOR FREE TODAY. SIMPLY VISIT WWW.MIRTHY.CO.UK/RD FOR MORE INFORMATION. WE HOPE TO SEE YOU AT AN EVENT SOON!

I particularly enjoy the Mirthy book group because I have met people from all over the world and exchanged ideas about more than books

Reader’s Digest is pleased to announce that they are now Mirthy’s Book Club partner!

Bringing you fantastic author talks, engaging reads, book recommendations and more - all to enjoy from the comfort of your home, and all for free.

And if books aren’t quite enough, Mirthy offer over 100 online events per month to try. So whether you have a desire to get fitter, to try your hand at a new skill, or simply wish to sit back and relax with a virtual tour whilst being part of a friendly online community, signing up for classes and events with Mirthy could be just what you have been looking for.

As a Reader’s Digest reader, you get to enjoy any 4 events every month, for free!

Simply sign-up at Mirthy.co.uk/rd and then choose which class to join (or join each class if you’re up for it!). If you can’t make the live event, Mirthy will even send you an email with a recording for you to enjoy at a convenient time.

Mirthy’s events are enjoyed by over 45,000 people - find out why by joining for free today.

Here are a few upcoming events to look forward to:

✚ Book Club Coffee and Chat

✚ A virtual guided tour of Blenheim Palace

✚ A talk on the History of Witches

✚ Creative Photography

✚ Plus regular Early-morning stretch, Tai-Chi, Pilates and Dance Classes

Photo: © Getty Ima G es/Jens s chott Knudsen

…DIFFERENTLY

The Fujian Tulou in southeastern China are a Unesco World Heritage Site. The multi-storey buildings are made of clay—tulou means “earthen house”—and served as both homes and fortifications. The oldest are more than 700 years old and were designed to have no blind spots, and only a single, easily defensible entrance. All other doors, as well as the windows of the lower floors, open to the courtyard. The group of tulou pictured here is nicknamed “four dishes and a soup.”

Photo: © s hutterstoc K / m ar I a Passer

That's

MyLot

Olly Mann muses on the worth of a very personal collection

WOlly Mann presents Four Thought for BBC Radio 4, and the podcasts The Modern Mann, The Week Unwrapped and The Retrospectors

hen The Queen died, and newscasters were bedecked in black, and Gyles Brandreth was suddenly everywhere, one royal factoid jumped out at me: Her Majesty, it transpires, was an avid collector of stamps. She’d picked up the hobby when her grandfather George V, a pioneering philatelist, passed his precious albums down the family tree (my gramps did this, too; but sadly the stamps he collected were of the Green Shield variety. Worthless in the 21st century, they at least make for a more charming heirloom than a Nectar card).

This got me thinking about how few "collections" I keep myself. I certainly possess the collecting gene: Dad sold classic cars for a living and, as a kid, I prodigiously picked up West End theatre flyers and stuffed them into a drawer. By my teenage years, I owned thousands, including some pamphlets promoting productions that had flopped and quickly closed—The Hunting of the Snark, Which Witch, Moby Dick… curios that might,

I suppose, be worth a few quid on eBay by now. But, aged 19, keen to put away childish things, I ruthlessly chucked them into the bin, in a ritualistic pre-university purge of my possessions (at which time I also sent my vintage Mr Potato Head packing off to Oxfam. Mistake!).

These days, my cabinets are teeming with keepsakes. They topple from huge piles. They prop up broken beams and slats.

my daily history podcast, and a box of old lanyards from various conferences, which I retained at first because I couldn’t bear to throw away all that plastic, and then because I thought one day I might make some sort of artsy display out of them using clothes pegs, which of course has not and never will actually happen.

Anyway, I was waffling on to my wife about how weird it is that I don’t

SUDDENLY I LOOKED AT THE FRIDGE DOORS AND SAW, AS IF FOR THE FIRST TIME, THAT I OWN 57 FRIDGE MAGNETS

But could any of these fairly be termed a "collection"?

There’s a stockpile of my own ephemera—an exercise book from primary school; the first article I wrote for a mag; posters for plays I directed at college; on-air scripts I’ve used in radio programmes—but amassing memorabilia from one’s own career and tacking it up on the wall doesn’t really count as a collection, does it? That’s more like a creative filing system (incidentally, I wonder if this explains how the Queen maintained her passion for stamps? It’s easier to keep a personal interest in objects that have your face on them).

Looking around my office, the closest things I have to a collection are a pile of "on this day in history" books, which I use for researching

collect anything, and she sighed, and gestured behind me, at the fridgefreezer. At first, I thought she just wanted me to shut up and get out of the way so she could hit the white wine. As indeed she did. But then I looked at the fridge doors she’d been pointing at, and suddenly I saw—as if for the first time—that I own 57 fridge magnets.

How bizarre it is to have spent 20 years traversing the world, scouring souvenir shops, airport duty-frees and hotel boutiques for novelty fridge magnets… without once consciously being aware I was curating a "collection"!

I guess it’s because fridge magnets are, seemingly, so inconsequential and silly—basically just trinkets you stick up on a stainless steel

slab to cheer it up a bit—that they don’t seem worthy of serious contemplation. Particularly my ones, as I have a preference for the cartoonish and humorous: there’s a starfish with sunglasses on (Siesta Key, Florida), one that’s shaped like fish and chips (Southend), and, my pride and joy, a stunningly recreated scale-model of a bubbling paella pan, complete with yellow rice and googly-eyed shrimp (Marbella).

These tchotchkes are so knowingly naff—like the furry dice I once dangled from the mirror of my first car, a lime-green 1985 Austin Metro—that until now, I’ve never considered their worth. Financially, they’re valueless, since even the ones that might interest a fellow connoisseur (the Gaudí-style lizard from Barcelona? The chunky gold skyscraper from Dubai?) have all at some stage fallen to the floor, and then been superglued back to health.

But, for me, the "collector", they are… well, I hesitate to say priceless, but I’d happily hand over another couple of hundred quid for them, as they hold so many memories. Some even include photos of me, like the one from our honeymoon at a San Pedro safari park. Others effortlessly conjure up nostalgia, youth and enthusiasm: our lastminute getaway to Kaliakra, Bulgaria (the kind of spontaneous weekend that seems more possible before children); the Radio 4 one I bought at the BBC shop just because I was so proud to work in the building; even the depiction of Oregon woodland creatures, which I purchased solely to receive the receipt (it said "beaver magnet").

By no means is this a collection my grandchildren will want to inherit. It is, essentially, only meaningful to me. But, in the end, isn’t that the best kind of collection to have? n

I Do-Nut Believe It

In 2011, a dougnut shop in Portland, Oregan was told by the FDA to stop adding medicine to its food, because they were using NyQuil and Pepto-Bismol in their doughnuts

The creator of The Simpsons, Matt Groening said he based Homer’s love of doughnuts on his dad, also named Homer

Winchell’s Donut House in California made the world’s largest doughnut, weighing in at 5,000 pounds and measuring 95 feet wide source: today.com, nypost.com

GETTY IMAGES

LIdris Elba On Bond, Bravado, And Being A Dad

James Mottram catches up with the Hackneyborn mega-star and Renaissance man at the Cannes Film Festival

ike all the best artists, Idris Elba can surprise you when you least expect it. The British actordirector-DJ is sitting in front of me, espousing on his love of all things literary over his morning coffee. “I love poetry,” he insists when we meet in a suite in Cannes’ Majestic Hotel. “I wouldn’t say I’m an anorak for poets. I couldn’t tell you, ‘Oh, this one said that.’ But I love the art of words and forming sentences and beautifying language.”

To look at—6ft 2in tall, six-pack, tattoos—you’d think this 50-year-old spends more time in the gym than the library. He’s frequently played the tough guy in shows like The Wire,

“a massive changing point in my life”, when he excelled as drug kingpin Russell “Stringer” Bell. Or movies like American Gangster and The Suicide Squad. But look further and you’ll also find him giving a soulful turn as anti-Apartheid freedom fighter Nelson Mandela in Long Walk to Freedom.

When we meet, it’s the day after the Cannes Film Festival premiere of his recent new movie, Three Thousand Years of Longing. In this swooning modern-day fable, another left field choice, he plays a Djinn who arrives in the hotel room of Tilda Swinton’s solitary academic, offering her three wishes. “I find it really poetic in the sense that you cannot buy love, you

PHOTO

cannot wish for love,” he says. “It’s either there or it isn’t there… which is a cautionary tale for all of us, isn’t it? Maybe that’s romantic!”

Last night, accompanied by his wife-of-three-years Sabrina, Elba was playing genial host at one of the festival’s most glamorous afterparties. Porte Noire, his very own wine label, sponsored the event, while he got up on stage to introduce Matteo Bocelli—son to the great Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli—who sang new composition “Cautionary Tale” from the film. “Oh, yeah, Matteo, what a treat,” he reflects.

“That was a beautiful treat. I think that song should be recognised. Because it’s very beautiful.”

Again, there’s that ingrained sensitivity. “Music is therapy for me,” he explains. “It’s nourishing. And I can close my eyes and find myself somewhere else when I listen to music.” Over the summer, he released “Walk of Shame”, the latest track on his own label 7Wallace, which he founded in 2015 to bring new hip-hop and dance acts to the fore.

Every Friday, he’d jet off to Ibiza to DJ, sweating behind those turntables. “I prefer to actually work,” he says. “I try not to take gigs where it’s more about a personal appearance.”

Born and raised in Hackney, Elba started DJing for his uncle at weddings when he was a teenager.

“WHILE OTHER KIDS WERE RIDING THEIR BIKES TO SCHOOL, I HAD A MINI COOPER AND A GOATEE”

Shortly afterwards, he began to act. “I had a very good drama teacher—who I also had a crush on!” he chuckles. “But she was so instrumental in helping me structure a plan. At 14, she recognised I was good at drama. By 16, she had already helped me figure out what the next stages were for taking it seriously. She gave me a lot.”

He was also advanced for his years. “I’m a good student. I’m just not very good with authority, so it’s a bit of a strange one there. I was like, ‘I know it all!’ I’ve always looked older than I actually am. Always. So that was an

issue for me. When kids were riding their bikes into school, I had a little Mini Cooper and a goatee beard—so I never got stopped by the police! I was a man! That was an issue for me, being at school. I was like, ‘I don’t need to do this. I can get into clubs if I want.’”

For all this youthful bravado, Elba had an industrious intent about him, even in his teens. His late father Winston, from Sierra Leone, was a shop steward at the Ford Dagenham plant, while Ghanian mother Eve worked in housing for the council. When he told them he wanted to be

an actor, they came in with some very practical advice. “They were like, ‘Why don’t you go and work with your dad at Ford for a year and then you can save up some money?’ And that was exactly what happened.”

After he left the plant, he started auditioning, gradually getting regular paid work on British television. But he did it the hard way. “Listen, man… I never got a silver spoon. I didn’t come from a drama school background. I came from the open audition background—‘OK, show us what you got then.’ That’s where I started my career.”

Elba’s very first job came in a government infomercial, encouraging people to lock their bikes. “I didn’t have to do much

acting. I just had to run after a bike that had been stolen.” Crimewatch recreations soon followed.

It wasn’t until he moved to New York that his career accelerated. Though not an overnight smash, The Wire gradually became recognised as one of the great shows of the 2000s, just as television went into its golden age, with Elba’s Stringer Bell a key character. He based him “on dudes that I knew when I was growing up in Hackney”, streetwise guys selling weed in the local pubs that his father would take him too. “They weren’t gangsters, they were the nicest fellas in the world.”

Elba’s career built steadily thereafter—from playing the titular

(Left) Elba behind the turntables

(Right) With his wife Sabrina Dhowre at the wedding of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry

detective in BBC show Luther to directing 2018 Jamaican gangster tale Yardie. He also featured in Marvel’s Thor as the gatekeeper of Asgard, a role he’s returned to several times since. “Those Marvel movies are actually a little more difficult to make,” he says, “because they live in a realism that isn’t something we can all relate to: I’m in the realm, I’ve got a sword that does this and that! To try and make that somewhat believable actually does require a bit of acting.”

The same can be said for Elba’s other new movie Beast, a thriller set on a South African game reserve, in which he plays a fatherof-two who has to protect his two daughters when a lion goes rogue. The incredibly realistic creature was entirely computer-generated—a remarkable sight when Elba’s Dr

Nate Samuels is being pawed at underneath his jeep. “This was a physical being, an animal that was literally ripping me apart, that wasn’t there. That was a skill set that I had to learn. I haven’t done that before.”

He didn’t have to try too hard when it came to acting out the adrenaline-fuelled fears of being a parent, though. He has two kids of his own from past relationships— daughter Isan, 20, with ex-wife Hanne Nørgaard and son Winston, eight, with former girlfriend Naiyana Gart. Isan even auditioned for the part of one of Samuels’ kids but didn’t get the role—which did not make Elba the most popular father on the block. “She’s great, but the relationship in the film and the relationship between my daughter was… the chemistry wasn’t right for

“WHEN I GOT TO A STAGE WHERE I DIDN’T HAVE TO AUDITION, IT BLEW MY MIND”

the film.” A B-movie with A-list visual effects, where Elba gets to show his more vulnerable side—it’s another slick trick from him. “This is a man that doesn’t fight, he can’t fight, let alone fight a lion.” Even the trailer shows Elba punching the beast in retaliation, a scene he questioned. “I was thinking, I’m not sure how this guy’s going to punch a lion. No-one punches a lion! These are the things that we had to really dissect and understand. I was conscious that this isn’t an action hero guy. This is a normal guy that just can’t fight.”

That’s Elba all over: a man that walks the tightrope of what audiences

crave. He recently ruled himself out as the next James Bond (“It is not a goal for my career,” he told The Shop podcast), instead completing the long-awaited movie version of Luther. It’s another “pinnacle” in a career full of them. “I remember I got to a stage where I didn’t have to audition so much and that blew my mind,” he muses. “Even now, if I get a phone call from a director who wants to work with me, it still feels the same: ‘Can I get this job? Can I do it?’”

The answer is yes. Idris Elba can do it all. n

Beast is available to download and keep on November 14, 2022

Starringin Beast

Barnaby Jameson, 48, is a counterterrorist barrister who has appeared in some of the most infamous terrorism trials in recent UK history, including prosecuting members of the Islamic State and British neo-Nazis. He has just published his first book Codename: Madeleine and lives in South London with his adopted son Firo

Barnaby Jameson KC

I GREW UP IN WHAT I THINK NOW WAS PROBABLY A HIGHLY

UNUSUAL HOUSEHOLD just off the King’s Road in the 1970s. My dad is American and he had lots of counter-cultural friends. I remember Benjamin Zephaniah turning up for a dub poetry reading and my mother insisting that the strange smelling fumes coming from the living room were legal. I did believe her then but I don’t believe her now!

CHELSEA IN THE 1970S WAS FULL OF ADVENTURE. Our neighbours were Bianca Jagger and John Paul Getty II, who had a red phone box installed in his house as he was sick

Barnaby’s parents, Conrad and Tricia

of people turning up to make long distance calls on his account!

I remember looking for a lion with a friend of mine. It was rumoured to be roaming in the Moravian Burial Grounds. The adults said it was just a myth but it turned out that it was actually true!

A boutique had bought a lion cub to put in their shop window and the owners used to walk it in the gardens outside a church until a vicar complained it was now too big and was going to start eating his parishioners.

I REMEMBER FINDING IT QUITE HARD TO REBEL AGAINST ANYTHING with the upbringing I had, so I suppose I went the other way and became quite conservative and definitely apolitical. I’m still pretty phlegmatic when it comes to

politics today to be honest. I’ve found that not being too partisan, even when I’m the prosecutor, works better with a jury. It’s more effective to be reasonable and calm as my hope is, with that attitude, a jury will be even more convinced of a person’s guilt if they can see that someone as rational as me believes he or she is guilty.

MY FIRST EXPERIENCE ABOUT THE POWER OF MASS ACTION

that really affected me was seeing the work of a group called SLAG in Chelsea in the 1970s and early 1980s, which stood for Save London Action Group. There was a glut of demolitions around the King’s Road at that time and the old Kensington

Town Hall was pulled down in the middle of the night! Local residents started lying in the middle of the road to stop the bulldozers and it was the first time I saw people tying themselves to trees.

Legally speaking, doing that is still a very difficult thing for the police to deal with and it can be effective. Extinction Rebellion weren’t the first people to try this kind of action and it worked in Chelsea’s case to a large degree as many of the grand old squares did survive.

I HAD A HUGE LOVE OF HUGE RUSSIAN NOVELS when I was a teenager, especially Tolstoy and Turgenev. I was into acting as well and I performed in a staging of

(Left) Barnaby’s son, Firo

Twelfth Night alongside a very young Nick Clegg (who played Sebastian, the twin brother of the woman who disguises herself as Cesario). He was actually a very good actor, though there were lots of other interesting people I went to school with.

Lord Lucan’s son, George, was in my first school and he came into the playground on the day after the infamous murder. He just described it as “a bit of a commotion last night” and we all went back to class!

I STUDIED HISTORY AT MAGDALENE COLLEGE, CAMBRIDGE. I did have a good time there but I remember being slightly

disappointed by the quality of the teaching. I’d had some of the best teachers in the country when I was at Westminster, while at Cambridge a lot of the tutors were, frankly, a lot more interested in their own PhD research than they were in teaching us.

I REMEMBER DOING A LAW CONVERSION

COURSE

IN

LONDON after my history degree at Cambridge, and wishing that I was on the Trans-Siberian Express. Doing a law conversion in a year is a bit like eating an entire loaf of bread in one mouthful, and it was absolutely brutal. I’d done a bit of freelance

journalism and book reviewing in New York in between and I got offered a well-paid gig to ride the train across Russia for two months. It would have been my Dr Zhivago dream come true and I did wonder if I’d done the right thing when I was sitting through yet another tedious, utterly incomprehensible lecture about tort law. The sad thing is that I’ve still never ridden the TransSiberian to this day.

ONE OF MY FIRST COURT CASES WAS DEFENDING MY DAD! He was an architect and was accused of a crime through his work which related to money, but I don’t want to

,

go into any more detail than that. I was only in my early twenties and what started as a civil case ended up as a criminal case in the Old Bailey. It was pretty overwhelming for me at that time, but the case against my dad failed and I do feel a lot of pride that I was able to help him when he needed it.

I’VE BEEN INVOLVED IN SOME PRETTY HIGH-PROFILE COUNTER

TERRORISM CASES but one that I’m very proud of is the case of Alex Davies, who was the UK leader of a neo-Nazi group called National Action. Often, in these types of cases, you’re prosecuting people quite far

The Old Bailey; (Opposite) True Blue Dinner, Cambridge

down the chain of command. Davies was a rarity as he really was the leader of this group who were planning to murder the MP Rosie Cooper and were extremely dangerous. It was chilling when Davies stated in court to me that he wanted all Jewish people to be deported. He had a degree from the University of Warwick so he did have intelligence. This is why I always believe that terrorists can take many forms; you can pass the most innocuous-looking person on the street and have no idea about their beliefs or intentions.

I REMEMBER WORKING ON ONE REAL “COLLECTOR’S ITEM” CASE where we managed to prosecute a London taxi driver called Anis Sardar who, years earlier, was planting bombs in Iraq. The case involved him and an American soldier who was killed in a bomb blast, so it was a real international affair. He was tried here rather than being extradited to the US and was given a 38year sentence. He would probably still be a cabbie now if he hadn’t been randomly stopped at Heathrow and had his fingerprints taken, which matched those found on two of the bombs.

MY GRANDFATHER, SQUADRON

LEADER GEOFFREY CURRAN, went on an SOE (Special Operations Executive) mission to Ethiopia during the Second World War. He met the Emperor, Haile Selassie, and my connection to the country enabled me and my then-wife Natasha to travel there to adopt a baby in Addis Ababa. We first met Firo (who has allowed me to

tell his story) when he was six months old and he was very malnourished. We were given some bleak assessments of the future health issues he might face in London but one brilliant paediatrician called Mando Watson told us he just needed filling up. She was right and he’s now a very brilliant 12-year-old who, at the moment, wants to be either an actor or a chef.

I’M A HUGE FAN OF KITESURFING, especially in Greece on the Aegean. There’s something about the sport that really blows the cobwebs away after I’ve been working on a difficult case. You can’t let your brain be distracted when

you’re kitesurfing or you’re liable to crash into something! I’ve had a few knocks over the years but I love to just focus on something right in the here with total concentration. In fact, I’m taking myself away with my board and my laptop next week to write the second volume of my Resistance novels series. n

As told to Rob Crossan

Codename: Madeleine by Barnaby

Jameson is out now, published by WhiteFox, £12.99

I Can Just Be Her Mum

For years, I feared for my child’s life. Then science did something amazing for people with cystic fibrosis

By Abby Alten Schwartz

From The WashingTon PosT

by Jim Wright

Two years ago, my daughter, Samantha, graduated from university. She went on to start her first full-time job and go flat hunting with her best friend. These milestones, bittersweet for most parents, have felt monumental to me. As Sammie steps into her future, our family stands on the precipice of a life we didn’t dare contemplate before now. Because, until recently, I still believed I would outlive her. that impairs breathing and leads to lung infections. It has been described as trying to breathe through a narrow straw all day long.

My daughter was almost two when we learned she had cystic fibrosis (CF), a progressive genetic disease that affects breathing, digestion, and other functions while slowly destroying the lungs. She had been dropping weight for months, her once plump arms reduced to sticks, her belly distended. A sweat test detected CF, which a blood test confirmed.

“The good news is the life expectancy for someone with cystic fibrosis is almost 31 years,” her paediatrician said.

My husband, Stuart, and I sat in stunned silence. I was 31 at the time.

CF is caused by a mutation in the gene that controls how salt passes through cells. This causes a buildup of thick, sticky mucus in the airways

After her diagnosis, Sammie’s daily routine was daunting. She took more than a dozen prescription drugs, including pancreatic enzymes at every meal to digest her food.

She did twice-daily respiratory therapy, breathing a nebulised cocktail of drugs to thin the mucus in her airways, while an oscillating vest on her little body shook the mucus loose. When she was small, we pounded on her chest and back with cupped hands, distracting her with children’s videos. “Treatment should be a treat, right, Mummy?” she’d say, parroting what I told her.

To reduce my daughter to a diagnosis was to dismiss everything about her

Stuart and I worked as a team. We acclimated the way parents do when living with chronic illness, a current of anxiety always humming in the background. As her mum, I was more than a caretaker.

I was the eyewitness, recordkeeper, connector of dots, making sure every doctor, nurse, insurance provider, pharmacist, and teacher was aligned.

Raising a child with CF was like driving through a blizzard. Gripping the wheel, it took all my strength to keep from careening off the road. I focused only on what I could see in my headlights, relying on blind trust to get through the most difficult patches. I was terrified to look too far ahead.

For a while, Sammie’s lung function held steady, and it felt like we were in control. Only once in the first decade after her diagnosis and initial hospitalisation did she need to be admitted for a gruelling two-week course of IV antibiotics. Many kids with CF were hospitalised yearly or even more often.

I knew people died young from CF, but I refused to believe she’d be one of them. Then my worst nightmare struck one night when I got a call at 3.45am. It was one of my friends in our CF parents support group.

Her voice was a monotone. “The hospital just called. Sam’s gone.”

My friend’s daughter, also named Samantha, was 22. She’d flown home for Thanksgiving and checked into the hospital for a routine course of IV antibiotics to help clear out a lung infection. Her death was a devastating gut punch.

Though our family life was structured around Sammie’s disease, I never treated her as if she had a fatal illness. I saved my rare breakdowns for the privacy of my shower or a phone call with a CF mum-friend. Stuart and I put money aside for her university and talked about the future.

To reduce my daughter to a diagnosis was to dismiss everything about her. Her intelligence and sharp wit. Her creativity and kindness, the strength of her will. Her ability to make me laugh so hard I cried. For her, laughing hard would lead to a fit of coughing, a defining

Stuart, Abby, and Sammie at home in Pennsylvania, US, in the months leading up to the CF diagnosis

I was a mess the week Trikafta was approved. It felt like I could finally exhale

characteristic of this disease. In secondary school, Sammie and I argued regularly as she pushed back against my hypervigilance. The more she struggled for independence, the more tightly I held on. If she missed a respiratory treatment, I accused her of being cavalier with her life.

The truth was, I was terrified.

The summer before her final year of school, Sammie was hit with a triple lung infection. She was hospitalised, given intravenous antibiotics and airway clearance therapy every three to four hours,

A DRUG WITH PROMISE

Known as Kaftrio in Europe, Trikafta has been approved for use in the United States, Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom, and the European Union for patients aged 12 and older. It targets the specific genetic mutations that are present in 90 per cent of cystic fibrosis cases and can drastically reduce or even eliminate the presence of mucus in the lungs, enabling easier breathing. Research suggests that Trikafta has the potential to increase the life expectancy of someone with cystic fibrosis by roughly a decade.

around-the-clock. Despite weeks of intensive treatment, first at the hospital and then at home, she didn’t bounce back as we had hoped.

At 18, her routine included hardcore prescription pills with terrifying warning labels and insulin shots for CF-related diabetes, a common development. It felt like my daughter had veered down a path with narrowing possibilities.

Another friend’s daughter succumbed in her twenties. At her funeral, I sat between two other CF mums. We were the lucky ones whose daughters were still alive. Silent, we stared ahead, clutching one another’s hands. I envisioned the three of us on a rowboat, in the middle of a stormtossed ocean, sharks circling—waiting to tear us apart.

At 22, Sammie joined a clinical trial for a triple-combination drug to target the underlying cause of CF: its mutated protein. For years, we’d heard about this new generation of drugs in the pipeline that focused on restoring that protein’s function. Less powerful versions had come to market for smaller CF populations with rare mutations, and those were gamechangers. This new drug would address the most prevalent mutation, and Phase 2 trials looked promising.

For the first few months of the Phase 3 trial, nothing changed for my daughter. We assumed she was among those taking the placebo. Then the study entered its open-label stage when all participants received the drug.

Within hours of taking her first pills, Sammie began coughing violently as her airways were purged of mucus. Within a week, her lung function skyrocketed, and her chronic cough disappeared. Within months, her blood sugar levels normalised, and she could stop injecting herself with insulin, although she continues to take other medications.

The drug, Trikafta, received approval by the US Food and Drug Administration in November 2019. It arrived like the hero in an action film, snipping the wire on a ticking time

The family taking in a baseball game in 2019

bomb with only seconds remaining on the clock. I was a mess the week Trikafta was approved. It felt like I’d been holding my breath for 20 years and could finally exhale. I inhaled stories about young adults with CF suddenly moved off lung transplant lists or able to have kids. My daughter got tired of hearing me talk about it.

“I know you’re excited about the drug, and I get it, but you have to understand. I was never afraid of dying from CF,” she said.

I sat with that a moment.

“Good,” I said. “That means I did my job well.”

Parenting a child with a chronic illness is, in many ways, like parenting any child. It requires trust and a willingness to live with uncertainty. Eventually, you have to let go and hope your child has absorbed the lessons you tried to impart.

My daughter has grown into a remarkable young woman. Strong, confident, and capable. She no longer needs me to be her caretaker. I can just be her mum. n

Abdominal Pains

Which ones should you worry about?

By Susan Jara

What many of us refer to as a stomach ache can indicate different things that are happening in the abdomen, not all of which affect the stomach. Often the discomfort we’re feeling is due to indigestion, gas or an intestinal virus.

But certain symptoms may signal something more serious that you should have checked by a doctor, especially if it involves severe pain or persists beyond a few days. Here are four examples.

Dull burning pain, often in the upper part of the abdomen

This is the hallmark sign of a peptic

ulcer, and usually comes with bloating, burping, poor appetite and weight loss. The pain can often be relieved by taking antacids or eating certain foods, such as those high in fibre (like oatmeal).

Peptic ulcers are sores on the lining of the stomach or at the top of the small intestine. And despite what many think, they’re not caused by stress. Instead, you can blame one of two major culprits: Helicobacter pylori (or H. pylori), a type of bacteria that damages the mucous coating of the stomach; or the overuse of nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen.

If you also experience symptoms including nausea, vomiting, blood in your stool, chest pain or back pain, you should see a doctor right away.

Sharp pain in the lower right side

This kind of pain could be caused by appendicitis, especially if you also have a low-grade fever, vomiting and constipation or diarrhea, according to the Mayo Clinic. If you do have

IF YOU’RE OVER 40 AND HAVE BEEN PREGNANT, YOU’RE AT GREATER RISK OF GALLSTONES

appendicitis, the pain will likely increase whenever you move around, take deep breaths, cough or sneeze.

Appendicitis happens when the appendix becomes inflamed and filled with pus, often from an infection. Treatment usually requires surgery to remove the appendix before it ruptures and spreads infection throughout the abdominal cavity.

Discomfort around the belly button

If this type of pain is coupled with dull pain near the shoulder, and seems to act up after eating fatty meals, gallstones may be to blame. And if you’re over the age of 40 and you’ve been pregnant, you’re

at greater risk than the rest of the population. This is because spikes in oestrogen, common during pregnancy, may cause these tiny stones to form in the gallbladder.

According to Dr Lawrence J Brandt, a gastroenterologist at Montefiore Medical Center in New York, gallstones can go undetected for years. They are generally painless unless they get stuck in the cystic duct—a tube that connects the gallbladder with another tube that carries bile from the liver—in which case you should discuss surgical and medication options with your doctor.

Sudden pain in the lower left area

If abdominal pain strikes suddenly, along with gas, it may signal diverticulitis. This is an inflammation of small pouches called diverticula that can form in the large intestine. Diverticulitis is a fairly common gastrointestinal disorder among older adults, and risk factors include being overweight, smoking, the overuse of NSAIDs, and having a diet that is high in animal fat but low in fibre.

Most people don’t experience any symptoms, but when they do occur, they usually include fever, nausea, cramping and a change in bowel habits.

According to the Mayo Clinic, mild diverticulitis can be treated with rest, changes to your diet and antibiotics. But severe or recurring cases may need surgery. n

7

Ways To Be Healthy On A Budget

Household costs are rocketing.

What cheaper choices can you make that will also benefit your health?

Susannah Hickling is twice winner of the Guild of Health Writers Best Consumer Magazine Health Feature

1 Go to bed an hour earlier

Lighting and electronics, including TVs, laptops and games consoles, account for around 30 per cent of your electricity usage. So it’s obvious that going to bed earlier could save you money. Getting adequate sleep makes you less stressed and puts you in a better mood, as well as bolstering your immune system and helping to protect you from heart disease, diabetes and dementia. Research has even shown that people who go to bed later gain more weight.

2 Get fit on the cheap There’s no need for an expensive gym membership or classes, or costly kit; the internet is a rich resource for videos on activities as varied as yoga, high intensity or lowimpact workouts, Pilates or dance. If you want to get more fresh air, then opt for brisk walking or running

(invest in the right footwear) or cycling. Being outdoors in nature is also good for your mental health.

3

Ditch the car for short journeys For local errands or meeting people, walk or cycle. This will save money on fuel, plus help prevent you from being too sedentary. Inactivity has been called the “silent killer” and linked with conditions like heart disease, strokes and Type 2 diabetes.

4 Turn the heating down a notch

We don’t want anyone to be living in a cold home, but many of us still keep our thermostat higher than necessary. A room that’s too hot can dry out sinuses and cause skin problems, dry eyes and dehydration, which can trigger headaches. According to the World Health Organisation, 18°C is the ideal temperature for healthy, adequately dressed people.

5 Cut back on the booze

much smaller than the ones we pour at home) per week for both men and women. Have at least two alcohol-free days and try setting a weekly alcohol budget and not exceeding it. Another way to cut down is only to drink when you eat. Benefits of drinking less alcohol include lower cholesterol, weight and blood pressure.

HAVE AT LEAST TWO ALCOHOLFREE DAYS AND TRY SETTING A WEEKLY ALCOHOL BUDGET

6 Drink water Soft drinks are often high in sugar or additives. Opt instead for water, which is vital in keeping your mind and body functioning properly.

Repeated lockdowns led to many of us upping our alcohol intake. Given that a bottle of wine adds £5 or more to your shopping bill, now would seem a good time to refocus on the recommended limits—14 units (and those units are

7 Make smart food swaps Meat is expensive, so substitute other, cheaper forms of protein a couple of times a week. Eggs, canned fish and dried beans and pulses are inexpensive and nutritious. Buy cheaper frozen or canned veg instead of fresh—they’re usually just as good for you. Skip highly processed foods, from biscuits to ready meals, as these are often high in fat and salt, and choose simple, fresh ingredients you can cook yourself. n

For more weekly health tips and stories, sign up to our newsletter at readersdigest.co.uk

Beware Carer Burnout

Many people look after a loved one, but it can take a toll on your mental and physical health. You can cope by adopting some self-care strategies

Know the signs Caring can be very stressful, so be alert to the warning signs that it’s all getting too much so that you can do something about it. Anxiety or feeling unhappy most of the time, being angry or irritable, including with the person you’re looking after, exhaustion, eating too much or too little, resorting to alcohol to calm yourself and sleep problems should all ring alarm bells. There are physical signs too, such as feeling dizzy or breathless, and even cramps and chest pains.

Talk about it

Accept your difficult feelings—you’re perfectly entitled to feel negative about your situation—and discuss them with family and friends. Have someone you can vent to from time to time. Consider joining a

local carers’ group. As well as sharing experiences, you may also find it useful in getting information about ways in which you might get a break from caring. Contact your GP if you feel it’s affecting your health.

Do one thing at a time Try to tackle one task at a time, and be prepared to say no sometimes.

Have a list of back-up carers You cannot be expected to carry the whole burden of caring. Try to organise a small network of people who can help out from time to time.

Don’t ignore your own life

Ministering to the needs of someone can be all-engulfing. But make sure you nurture your own relationships, including friendships. Make a date—a regular one if possible—with your significant other or with a good friend, or commit time to an activity—for example a hobby or TV show—and stick to it. The important thing is to schedule in some “me time”, however brief.

Exercise every day

Physical activity is a great stress reliever and will mitigate the effects of burnout. Even a brisk walk to the supermarket can help. But exercise needs to be consistent.

Ask The Expert: Lung cancer

Thomas Routledge is a cardiothoracic surgeon at London Bridge Hospital (part of HCA UK) and at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Hospitals

How did you become a lung cancer specialist? I’ve been a consultant lung cancer surgeon for 15 years. I was drawn to this patient group because it is historically underserved. Lung cancer is often seen as self-inflicted. The surgery is technically demanding and high risk, and so it’s technically satisfying.

(cancer that hasn’t spread outside the lung) is normally asymptomatic. This is why there is increasing emphasis on screening. There have been local pilots and a programme called Targeted Lung Health Check—a lowdose CT scan for over 50s—is being rolled out across the UK. Lung cancer is eminently treatable in the early stages.

What are the most common misconceptions about the disease?

What are the causes and risk factors?

Smoking and genetics. At least 75 per cent of cases are caused by smoking. Asbestos exposure is also a significant risk factor. This has been cleared as a hazard for some decades but there are still people around getting asbestos-related cancers. Traditionally we’ve said that ten per cent of lung cancers are people with very little smoking history, and this is probably a genetic phenomenon.

What are the symptoms to watch out for? Lung cancer can cause people to cough, cough up blood or be breathless. But early stage cancer

Firstly, that it’s a death sentence. Early stage lung cancer can be very effectively treated by surgery or targeted radiotherapy. Surgery is getting gentler all the time. Even frail people can weather robotic keyhole surgery. 70 to 80 per cent of people who have surgery for lung cancers that have not spread are cured. Advanced lung cancer survival scores are vastly better now than even ten years ago, thanks to personalised drug treatments.

How can you help protect yourself against developing lung cancer?

Stopping smoking, even later in life, always improves health outcomes. Engage with the screening programme where available. n

For more information go to finder.hcahealthcare.co.uk/hca/ specialist/mr_thomas_routledge_1

Tied To The Apron Strings

This month, Dr Max is fed up with overprotective parenting and its impact on young people

Max is a hospital doctor, author and columnist. He currently works full time in mental health for the NHS. His new book, The Marvellous Adventure of Being Human, is out now

“

We think she’s depressed,” explained her mother, almost whispering. I nodded. The teenager in front of me stared at the floor. “She’s off her food, she’s crying all the time and she won’t come out of her room.”

We were sitting in A&E after the mother had insisted that the GP refer for an emergency assessment. These were usually reserved for severely suicidal teenagers or those who had become very disturbed or psychotic.

I looked rather sceptical as the young girl took out her phone and started texting someone. “How long has this been going on for?” I asked.

“Nearly two weeks,” came the mother’s reply. “Ever since she split up from her boyfriend”, she added simply. I stared at the mother and then at her child, wondering where to begin. When you’re a teenager, feeling sad and locking yourself in your room while you mope about after you’ve split up from your boyfriend or girlfriend is not a mental illness. It’s normal, for goodness sake. This sort of thing was far from uncommon when I worked in child and adolescent mental health, taking time and resources from children with real, serious mental health problems. I was astonished at how molly-coddled and cosseted children had become with parents seeming to have lost all sense of perspective. Of course, I get that parents are worried about their teenagers. It can be a strange, confusing time not just for the child but for the parent too, as your sweet little baby seems to morph and change right in front of your eyes. I also understand that it’s sometimes difficult to differentiate between what’s normal and what should be setting off alarm bells. But there seemed to be a deluge of referrals from the middle class worriedwell—those who were hovering over

their children all the time, paranoid that every little twinge or tear was evidence that they needed urgent psychiatric help when what they’d really benefit from is a kind word and a cup of tea. Talk about wrapping kids in cotton wool—these days they are hermetically sealed in their own little bubble entirely removed from the world, not even allowed near cotton wool in case it irritates their delicate skin.

WE HAVE CREATED A GENERATION

WHO LACK ANY SELF-RELIANCE

The type of parenting that creates this “snowflake generation” might make childhood easy, but it makes them profoundly unprepared for the real world. It does children a tremendous disservice because it gives them no life skills for enduring the difficulties they will face when they are adults. We have created a generation who lack any selfreliance and strength, who believe the world revolves entirely round them and that their feelings are paramount. It is the ultimate “megeneration” where they are so sensitive and lacking in resilience, that even the slightest perceived slight or offence is experienced as being utterly catastrophic.

What worries me is how they will cope in the big bad world once they finally grow up. They’ll all be jabbering wrecks. n

The Doctor Is In

Dr Max Pemberton

Q: Dear Dr Max, I hope you can help me. I am in my sixties and have noticed that when I stand up after sitting down, my back, neck and legs are really stiff and achy.

Is this a normal part of ageing or should I be worried? Thank you.

- Mary

A: Dear Mary, I’m sure there’ll be a lot of readers who can relate to this question. This kind of ache and stiffness when getting up is, I’m afraid, very common as we get older. It is usually caused by osteoarthritis in the joints. This is a common type of arthritis that happens when the cartilage (the protective cushion in between bones) wears away. Without this protection, the joints become painful and stiff.

Osteoarthritis tends to develop slowly and usually starts during middle age. Losing weight and keeping active can help. Many people find gentle exercise like swimming also helps, as the water supports the joints and avoids

putting too much strain on them. If the pain in the joint becomes too severe, then a doctor may consider prescribing painkillers, physiotherapy and, depending on the joint, a steroid injection or surgery is sometimes considered.

There are some other conditions that can cause muscles and joint stiffness and aches. Other types of arthritis and joint conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis and gout, can cause pain, although these tend to be more localised to certain joints.

Stiffness can also be caused by some medications, so if you have recently had a change in your medication, then this might be worth exploring with your doctor.

The NHS recommends that someone see their GP if the pain or stiffness lasts for more than two weeks, or if it is starting to affect their ability to do their everyday activities or to sleep. n

Got a health question for our resident doctor?

Email it confidentially to askdrmax@ readersdigest.co.uk

See Your Memory In A Whole New Way

Perspective has a powerful impact on recall, says our memory expert, Jonathan Hancock

In one of my strongest memories of school, I’m on a muddy sports field trying out for the football team. Desperate to be noticed by my teacher and picked as goalkeeper, I scramble to stop every shot.

With seconds to go, a long-range attempt sails towards me. Even now I can see myself diving to the left, getting my fingertips to the ball and pushing it around the post—the save that secured my place on the team.

But hold on: there’s something wrong with this memory. When I replay it, I always see it from the teacher’s point-of-view, not my own. And that’s impossible.

Most people report having at least some memories that play out from an imagined, external point of view. Researchers think that this phenomenon reveals important things about memory in general, along with some useful ways to boost our brains.

For starters, we’re more likely to recall something “in the third person” if it made us self-conscious at the time (ie, aware of our audience). That’s fine for happy recollections. But if they’re negative, it’s worth questioning just how accurate they are, or even

choosing to view them from a more positive point of view.

• Pick an uncomfortable memory that you always see from the outside, and imagine it from your original perspective. Focus on all your good intentions at that time, too, and see if you can change the way this memory feels now.

Third-person thinking is more likely with distant memories. It gets harder to recall details, so we tend to rely more on photographs to prompt us, and our brain takes on more of a “reporter” role.

• Choose an old memory in which you’re looking at yourself, and imagine experiencing it from your real viewpoint instead. Research suggests that you’ll remember key parts more vividly, and probably unearth some new details too.

The fact that we sometimes remember from an impossible point of view reminds us that all memory is partly an act of construction.

• When you need to learn something actively, switch on your imagination. The pictures you paint with your mind’s eye can become realistic, lasting memories from whatever angle you choose.

• Finally, treat even the clearest recollection with healthy scepticism (yes, even my world-class soccer save!). The accuracy of human memory is very much in the eye of the beholder. n

It’s Normal To Not Spontaneously Want Sex—And It’s Not A Bad Thing, Either

We’re taught that sex drive goes something like this: if you’re attracted to someone and want to have sex with them, desire should bubble up spontaneously.

But if you’ve been in a relationship for a while, when was the last time you had the sudden urge to tear your partner’s clothes off?

If you answered “Some time ago”, don’t worry—this is perfectly normal and is no reflection of how much you love or are attracted to them.

Sex drive has long been misunderstood as a kind of innate

hunger that wells up from deep within us. And, according to the hugely influential work of sex researchers Masters and Johnson in the 1960s, desire is what sets it off. We feel this first, their thinking goes, which then gets us aroused and ready to go.

But this isn’t really how it works. For women, sexual desire is more likely to be responsive, which means that we start to feel aroused after there’s been some pleasurable physical stimulation. We start to enjoy ourselves and think, Actually, yes, sex sounds good. Ever got in the mood after your partner has started kissing your neck?

Desire doesn’t leap up and consume us, but is instead given the space to develop.

The feeling that we suddenly want sex, on the other hand, is known as spontaneous desire. This is that immediate, pounce-on-you sort of desire we see in films.

But despite what the name suggests, these thoughts don’t just materialise out of thin air. Rather, they’re driven by our anticipation of

Monica Karpinski is a writer and editor focused on women’s health, sex, and relationships. She is the founder of women’s health media platform

The Femedic

pleasure and other underlying motivations for sex. We might want to feel close to someone, for example. Once this puts us in the mood, our body then gets the memo and we start to become aroused.

According to sex researcher Emily Nagoski, 75 per cent of men and 15 per cent of women say that they feel spontaneous desire, while five per cent of men and 30 per cent of women say they mostly experience responsive desire.

After you’ve been in a relationship for a while, you might find that your desire becomes more responsive than spontaneous

It is possible to feel either and for your primary style to change over time. For example, after you have been in a relationship for a while you might find that your desire becomes more responsive than spontaneous.

This isn’t a sign that anything is wrong with you or the relationship, just that different things are sparking your interest in sex as you become more familiar with someone.

That’s perfectly normal. Expecting ourselves to want the same thing, in the same way, for the duration of an entire relationship can add unnecessary pressure to sex and even set us up to fail.

If you wore your favourite outfit the same way every day, wouldn’t you get bored of it at some point?

Could you be put off the look altogether?

Instead of waiting to be struck by desire for sex, then, we should create space for it to happen. After all, not wanting sex out of the blue doesn’t mean that it isn’t important to us!

Although you might not actively be thinking about sex, you may still be open to it happening. Exploring this feeling could mean taking things slower and seeing where kissing or cuddling goes, for example, without any sense of pressure or guilt about the fact that you’re not instantly ready to go for it.

You could deliberately carve out time to be intimate with your partner, which may involve something as simple as lying skinto-skin together in bed and seeing what happens.

But perhaps most importantly, understanding how desire works for us can stop us from worrying about what we “should” be doing in bed. There’s no right or wrong when it comes to what turns us on—and no “bad” way to want sex. n

Relationship Advice

Monica Karpinski

Q: Recently, I’ve been having some pain in my lower back, to the point where I’ll start having sex with my partner and have to stop. How can I manage this without our sex life disappearing or becoming boring?

- Victoria

A: I’m sorry to hear that you’re having some trouble with your back. First things first: if the pain is affecting your day-to-day life, I’d recommend speaking with your doctor about treatments and stretches that could help.

Certain positions and types of support may make things easier in the bedroom. What works best for you will depend on the nature of your pain: where exactly is it and do certain movements make it worse?

The answers to these questions should give you some idea of which positions will cause pain, and therefore which ones to avoid. For example, if your back hurts when arched, you might want to try positions where you’re lying down and can keep it straight.

If you are lying down flat, say in missionary position, you could support

your lower back by putting a rolled towel or pillow under it. You can put your knees up for extra stability or put pillows under them when you’re lying down to take pressure off the back.

These precautions might sound like they’re taking the fun out of sex, but there’s no reason why they should. Going slow and telling your partner what’s working for you can be a very sexy thing! Try to focus on the pleasurable sensations of touch and intimacy, rather than getting fixated on what could go wrong. But if things start to get too painful, stop—it’s not worth the injury.

Once you’ve got some idea of which positions are comfortable, you can experiment with types of touch and play. For example, you could try stimulating different erogenous zones, like your fingertips or inner thighs. n

Got a question for our resident sex and relationships expert? Email it confidentially to thelovedoctor@readersdigest.co.uk

Just Cycle And fold away

There’s no excuse not to get on your bike this Winter. Get your indoor cycling fix and feel the benefits.

Great for general cardio fitness, exercise bikes can be a brilliant way of training at home. However, choosing the right bike is incredibly important, which is something that Roger Black and his team recognised when creating the Roger Black Folding Exercise Bike.

“Best Present EVER are the words from my 77-year old father who received his Roger Black fitness bike for his birthday. He said it is so simple and easy to use, with no complicated gadgets. The seat is VERY comfortable, so using it everyday is a pleasure. It folds away neatly so it can be stored behind a door if need be” Anna, Farnham

Roger Black is o ering a 10% discount on the full www.rogerblackfitness.com range of home fitness equipment for all Reader’s Digest readers. Please use discount code DIGEST10 at checkout. Standard T&Cs apply.

HER MAJESTY

Queen Elizabeth II

1926-2022

As the world mourns the passing of our longest-reigning monarch, we look back at the woman who defined a generation and made us proud to be Elizabethans, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

by Caroline Frost

PHOTOGRAPH BY Chris Jackson/ PA Images / Alamy Stock Photo

Many years from now, historians will surely debate in what ways the reign of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II was significant. What will remain without doubt is that, in the length of her time spent on the British Throne, the social changes that she witnessed and ways that the monarchy itself evolved while she presided over it, her position demanded certain personal qualities that she was uniquely able to offer.

Why so? Because the fates conspired to thrust an unassuming young woman into an extraordinary position, with responsibilities and challenges she could not have dreamed of in her earliest years.

Princess Elizabeth Alexandra

Mary Windsor, the elder daughter of the Duke and Duchess of York, was born on April 21, 1926. With her younger sister Margaret, she enjoyed a childhood of stability and contentment, until the first of a series of extraordinary events altered her path forever.

That was her uncle’s abdication in 1936, when the uncrowned King Edward VIII decided he couldn’t abide the thought of life as a monarch without his beloved-butdivorced partner Wallis Simpson by his side. So he quit, passing the Crown to his hesitant but dutiful younger brother. Unexpectedly, the Duke of York became King George VI and his elder daughter first in line to the throne.

Even then, the Princess’s life continued to run smoothly into adulthood and her time as a new wife and mother. When the Second World War disrupted every British life, Elizabeth didn’t shy from joining in the nation’s effort and raising its morale, training as a driver and mechanic with the Auxiliary Territorial Service.

She had the good luck to meet her lifelong companion, her distant cousin, Prince Philip Mountbatten of Greece, when she was still very young, and soon prepared for life as the wife of a handsome naval officer. Although their marriage endured its own bumps in the early years, the

pair settled into a happy union of shared interests and extraordinary mutual support.

By all accounts she was a shy but fun-loving friend and family member, often more comfortable with dogs and horses than people, fond of brisk country walks, dances and a Dubonnet at dinner time. All of this could have made for a perfectly pleasant and ordinary life, except for the second, equally shocking brush with fate that propelled her into a very different station.

Princess Elizabeth was devoted to her father, so it was a terrible blow on February 6, 1952 when the King

died unexpectedly in his sleep at Sandringham, aged just 56.

Elizabeth had just embarked on a trip to Australia and New Zealand. On the way there in Kenya, she had stayed at the Treetops Hotel the night before the news came through. As observers remarked, she unknowingly went up the tree a Princess and came down a Queen.

By the time she returned home two days later, to be greeted at London Airport by her first Prime Minister, Sir Winston Churchill, it was clear that life was never going to be the same again.

Her Coronation marked the beginning of a new Elizabethan age.

Smiling on the balcony during her coronation on June 2, 1953, joined by (L-R), her children King Charles III and Princess Anne and her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh

HER MAJESTY QUEEN ELIZABETH II

While this gave way to the swinging Sixties, the rise and fall of trade unions, the coming and going of 14 Prime Ministers, the impact of digital technology on everything (including increasing scrutiny on her own family), the Queen remained a constant, seemingly unchanging figure.

Because of her long life and exalted position, it is probable that she met more public figures on the international stage than anyone else in history. She visited an estimated 110 countries, and in return entertained world leaders at home, where the regal hospitality she

Pictured in Sierra Leone in 1961 alongside her husband, Prince Philip

offered along with her own personal tact and charm contributed hugely to Britain’s position in the world.

Wildly popular at home from the day of her Coronation, the Queen also enjoyed the devotion of her hundreds of millions of subjects worldwide, even as this number depleted through the course of her reign, as Empire gave way to Commonwealth and many British territories moved towards independence.

With all of this, plus her palaces, the long list of world leaders hanging on to her discreet wealth of wisdom

In 1985, Reader’sDigest commissioned this portrait of Her Majesty (by Michael Leonard) to celebrate her 60th birthday. It now hangs in the National Portrait Gallery, London

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II with her son King Charles III and his then fiancée, the late Diana Princess of Wales at Buckingham Palace in 1981

and experience, her huge personal fortune and subjects waiting to curtsey and bow wherever she went, the Queen could have been forgiven for letting it all go to her crowned head. Instead, tales of her down to earth nature, mischievous sense of humour and kindness behind the scenes all abound.

Like so many other people, she was tested by the personal trials of her family. Her younger sister Margaret publicly dithered over whether to marry her divorced lover in the 1950s, and three of the Queen’s four children were divorced in the 1990s, all producing their own share of headlines. This, together with a huge fire at her beloved Windsor Castle, contributed to what she termed her “annus horribilis” of 1992.

Privately, she did her best to stay out of her children’s business, while always doting on her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Publicly, she simply carried on with what she regarded as the main purpose of monarchy—serving her people.

The Queen faced other challenges. In 1997, the death of her daughter-inlaw, Diana, Princess of Wales, tested her connection with her public, when her natural reserve jarred with the wider emotions of the day.

Expressing her sadness in unprecedented fashion on that occasion saw her change course and adopt a more open, accessible style. It served her well in the later years of her reign as she moved with the changing world around her—whether that was taking part in the opening ceremony of the London Olympics in 2012, sending text messages or

chatting to other Commonwealth leaders via the wonders of video call.

She was known by family members to be a sharp-eared mimic, who loved a good giggle with her husband when the most ceremonial of events suffered a mishap.

Given her exalted status, she was surprisingly without airs and graces, as one garden party guest discovered when he was presented to Her Majesty and, to his horror, his mobile phone started ringing. She told him, “You’d better answer that, it might be someone important.”

Paradoxically, it was this solidness that served her so well in the rarified air of her unique position. Her Majesty never once was seen to

exploit her regal standing; instead she surrendered to the duties that came with it, while remaining personally understated and without artifice.

Her constancy made her symbolically significant as well as personally respected. Even as many Republicans expressed their desire for a nation without a monarchy, there were very few who had a bad word to say about the woman at its heart for seven decades. For them as much as her natural fans, she represented the very best of Britain—devoted to her family, dedicated to her public, and tireless in her service. Historians will surely agree that, following the reign of Queen Elizabeth II, it is unthinkable we will see her like again. n

Queen Elizabeth II smiles with the Duke of Edinburgh on Horse Guards Parade during the annual Trooping the Colour parade, 2009

Alison Sudol

Alison Sudol is an American singersongwriter, musician, actress and video director. Having released three critically acclaimed albums under the moniker A Fine Frenzy, she has toured with Rufus Wainwright and opened for The Stooges. Her new album Still Come The Night is out now via Kartel Music Group

I would redistribute wealth. No single person needs billions of dollars, and taxes would be so high for that bracket that people would gladly donate substantially to avoid it.

I’d teach everyone to count to ten when they’re angry. I would also teach breathwork to help people to emotionally regulate. Everyone would learn emotional language for what they are feeling and how to use it. So we’d count, and breathe, and then communicate. The modern world is moving so fast. It’s difficult to process emotions at the speed we’re living. We don’t have time to walk in nature, to check in with what we’re feeling, to dig underneath the quickfire response and see what’s actually going on. We’re often not taught emotional language when we’re small, so when something hurts us, we react—we cry, we scream, we hit, and either get punished or soothed

If I Ruled

The World

depending on what kind of parents we had. But if we don’t learn to sit with and voice what we feel—not suppressing it or negating it, simply naming it so it can be addressed— then we don’t learn how to handle those immediate impulses.

Meditation, yoga, healthy eating, healthy self-esteem, kindness, art, music, compassion, gardening, and care for the earth would be taught in school, regardless of income bracket. There would be more after-school activities, trips into nature. Lots of camping. Star-watching. All schools would have gardens for the kids to learn how to help things grow. Useful things like how to change a tyre, how to do taxes and laundry, regardless of gender. Algebra would be optional.

Childcare would be free and parental leave would be a year for both partners. In the UK, paternal/partner leave is one to two weeks. At two weeks postpartum I was barely going downstairs. I don’t know what I’d have done if my partner had a job he had to return to that early. We are incredibly lucky that we are freelance and he worked during the pregnancy so we could have a long chunk of time together postpartum. In the US, paid maternity leave is 12 weeks but there are multiple exceptions to this rule that leave a lot of holes for people who need support the most. Having a baby is nuts and especially the first

time round it just knocks you sideways. It’s also the most exquisitely magical time where you just look at your baby and cry with joy randomly.

Sanitary products would be free. Half of all women and girls in developing countries are forced to use things like rags, grass and paper as sanitary products, which pose a dangerous risk for infection. Plus, in many countries, girls are forced to stay home on their periods, which can cause them to fall behind the boys in their class. It needs to change!

There would be at least an hour per workday to be spent in green spaces (which would be funded by our billionaire friends’ tax fund). Offices would have nurseries so people could see their kids during the day. Lunches would be served together, family style, with families invited. Counselling and wellbeing services would be offered at every workplace (not just fancy Silicon Valley mega businesses). People would be cared for and compensated better. Work wouldn’t have to suck your soul.

I’d create a better system for getting the duvet cover on the duvet. No matter how I do it, it always takes forever and often results in me walking around inside the thing jabbing around blindly, trying to work out where the corners are. Surely there’s a better way. n

Together Banding

Illustration by Gel Jamlang

There was so much more to this unlikely friendship than a common name by Emma Taubenfeld

With

additional reporting by Paul

Robert

Paul O’Sullivan lounged around his apartment in the US city of Baltimore one evening in 2014, feeling bored. So, like a lot of people with nothing better to do, he logged on to Facebook. Just for fun, he decided to try to find out how many other people on the social network shared his name. Moments later, dozens of Paul O’Sullivans, name twins from around the world, filled his screen. On a whim, the then-27-year-old human resources employee sent friend requests to them all.

Many of his fellow Paul O’Sullivans ignored him, but a few felt too curious to pass up his invitation. Says Paul O’Sullivan from Rotterdam in the Netherlands, “My first reaction was, ‘Who is this guy and what does he want from me?’ So I thought about it for a while .” Ultimately, he couldn’t resist the unusual friend request.

As Baltimore Paul scrolled through the profiles of the Paul O’Sullivans who accepted his invitation, he noticed something four of them had in common: they were all either amateur or professional musicians.

There was Rotterdam Paul, a singer and guitarist; Manchester Paul, a bass player; and Paul from the US state of Pennsylvania, a drummer. Four men with the same name who all love making music? Baltimore Paul had an idea.

Wouldn’t it be funny, he asked the other three musical Pauls, if they formed a band called The Paul O’Sullivans? They all agreed that, yes, it would be funny. And so they did it.

Starting a band across multiple time zones—the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and the United States—proved to be tricky.

Friends named Paul O'Sullivan (left to right): Baltimore Paul, and Rotterdam Paul

“We decided to try to write a song, but it was impossible for us to play together live from four different places,” says Rotterdam Paul. They would have been out of sync, and being even half a second off from one another would have wrecked their sound.

Fortunately, Manchester Paul, a 59-year-old former professional musician who now works in public

“I listen to the song over a few days to get a feel for what bass arrangement seems most appropriate,” he says. “It’s not my usual way to record, but the technology does make it very easy.” Once he records a bass track, he emails it back to Baltimore Paul, who then builds it into the main song. Later, Pennsylvania Paul adds the drumbeat. Round and round the

THE PAULS SHARED PHOTOS, CHATTED ONLINE, AND CHECKED IN ON ONE ANOTHER

health, knew how to fix that: they would create a kind of musical assembly line between countries. “I have done a lot of studio work, including some online sessions,” he says. “It’s not that unusual. Even Stevie Wonder has worked that way.”

The production line starts in the United States. “Baltimore Paul comes up with the musical ideas,” says 54-year-old Rotterdam Paul, who works as a counsellor in a mental health facility. “I’ve written songs before, so I help with the lyrics.” Baltimore Paul and Rotterdam Paul then record a basic track with guitars and vocals, and email it to Manchester Paul, who, in addition to the electric bass, plays guitar, wind instruments and the upright bass.

track goes, with each member adding on his own layer until they achieve the sound they want.

The Paul O’Sullivan Band released its first original song, “Namesake,” in March 2016. It’s an upbeat poprock track about long-distance relationships—not romantic ones, but friendships like those they had begun to develop.

But just months after the song’s release, Baltimore Paul began experiencing health issues that forced him to take time off from making music. The other Pauls also decided to take a break from the band. But they didn’t press pause on their friendship.

Instead of supporting each other in the recording studio, they supported one another more generally. The other Pauls made sure Baltimore Paul never felt alone, even with

the long distances between them. They shared family pictures, chatted online, and checked in on Baltimore Paul and on one another.

“We developed a lasting friendship, despite the fact that we have never met,” says Manchester Paul. “I honestly don’t think that we could get any closer.”

Rotterdam Paul wholeheartedly agrees: “We share our lives through group chats on Facebook Messenger and on Instagram. We always cheer each other up when we hear that things aren’t going so well. Sometimes I’m in touch with them more than with my friends in the Netherlands.”

Adds Pennsylvania Paul, 58, “The other Pauls are gentle, dear, caring people. They are a fountain of joy.”

Even their age difference— Baltimore Paul is two decades younger than the others—was of no consequence.

“At first the only thing we had in common was that we shared a name, but friendship took over,” says Manchester Paul. “It is probably because of the music. Musicians tend to gravitate together and age doesn’t matter. In my work I play with people who are anywhere from 30 to over 60.”

Finally, after a four-year break, Baltimore Paul was well enough to start making music again. The first thing the band did was create a music video for “Namesake,” which debuted on YouTube in February

Dr Steve Simmons

2020. In its first two weeks online, the video pulled in more than 20,000 views. It has now been watched more than 50,000 times.

And when COVID-19 slowly shut down the world just weeks later, the Pauls didn’t miss a beat.

After all, the band had already gotten the hang of remote work. But now their international connection took on new meaning.

“Writing a song with someone across the ocean makes you feel less trapped,” says Baltimore Paul. They used their time during the pandemic to record their first EP. Titled Internet Famous: A Retrospective, it was released in April 2021. Half of the proceeds from Internet Famous were donated to the COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund, which supports the World Health Organisation’s work in fighting the pandemic.

“Life is tough sometimes,” says Pennsylvania Paul. “When you have an opportunity to generate joy, you have to put aside the other stuff.”

Amid the pandemic and the lockdowns, the four Pauls were discovered by the media. They appeared on the national US

television programme The Kelly Clarkson Show, and they have been interviewed by high-profile media outlets such as The Washington Post, CBS News, and Forbes magazine— not so much about the music, but about the unique way the Pauls met, the feel-good story behind the band. Some media incorrectly presented The Paul O’Sullivans as a project that started during lockdown, when in fact the band came together five years before the pandemic.

Although he enjoys the publicity, Manchester Paul bristles at the portrayal of the band as a gimmick.

“The music that Baltimore Paul writes is in fact really excellent,” he says. “It would be interesting to take it further.”

After so many years of getting together remotely, they would love to meet in person one day, but so far only two of the Pauls have done so. In the fall of 2020, Baltimore Paul surprised Pennsylvania Paul at his

Friends named Paul O'Sullivan (left to right): Manchester Paul, and Pennsylvania Paul

home after coordinating the visit with his fiancée. It was the first time any of them had met face-to-face without a computer screen in the way. The two saw each other again the following summer and they hope to add the other two Pauls to the mix soon.

“It would be great to meet and perform with the band,” says Rotterdam Paul. “We talk about it a lot. I do want to take my family to the United States for a vacation and meet the other Pauls.” So far, personal commitments and pandemic restrictions have stopped them from making specific plans.

Manchester Paul, who already plays in two professional bands and is involved with numerous recording projects, agrees: “It has been a lovely journey that has lasted seven years so far. Where it will go, I don’t know. A world tour would be great.”

That is exactly what Baltimore Paul dreams of: a whirlwind fourstop international tour—one concert in each of their hometowns.

“What are the odds,” he says, that a random Facebook request would lead not only to new music but to lasting friendships as well? “Some things are just meant to be.” n

photos courtesy of the paul o’sullivan band

Sailing into Kotor, Montenegro

Rocking The Boat

Why naturist sailing is the most stressfree holiday you will ever experience

words and photography By Chris Moore

Royal Clipper

Iwas leaning against the rail watching the sun lift above the horizon. A warm westerly breeze tousled my hair and filled the vast, white polyester sails above me, pushing us gently south-eastwards. I turned to the lady standing a few feet away and raised my coffee cup in an early morning toast. “To the start of another perfect day.” She smiled and nodded. “Cheers”. We were both naked.

We weren’t sleep walking, hadn’t forgotten to get dressed, nor were we on a schoolboy dare. We were, after all, in our sixties and double dare days were long over. We were sailing in the Adriatic on the world’s largest

it felt as though we were attending a conference, for people with no pockets these things were a godsend. After all, just where are naturists supposed to keep their room key?

After a couple of days on board, I became proficient at surreptitiously glancing somewhere between neck and tummy button to impressively remember someone’s name without coming across as a gawker. If it had been an Olympic sport, I would have been on the podium.

On a steamy Saturday afternoon in late June, my wife and I joined a couple of hundred undercover naturists who had been drawn to Venice’s San Basilio dock like moths

“SHIRTS, BRAS, PANTS, EVEN A PROSTHETIC ARM, WERE LYING ABANDONED ON THE DECK”

clipper, a graceful five-masted ship with 42 sails and another 200 or so fellow naturists, most of whom were still snoring away in their cabins.

I turned to my fellow nudie and wished her a cheery “Good morning”. Her name was Amy and she was from Australia. I was pleased with myself for remembering her name; well, you try remembering the names of 200 naked strangers. Actually, I have to confess to having some help. Each of us was given a lanyard upon boarding which had our first name printed on the front and a pocket to keep our room key card. Although

to a 60w light bulb. We greeted friends old and new like excited school children on the first day of term. We had migrated from all over the world—Canada, Germany, Australia, US, South Africa and the UK—and in the Venetian heat, we definitely felt over-dressed. However, the queue to be processed and allowed on board was not the place to strip off. Finally, with paperwork completed and negative COVID tests in hand, we were allowed to head up the gangplank.

By early evening, we had been successfully re-united with our

Royal Clipper

luggage (yes, even naturists have to bring some clothes, though why some need two large cases for a twoweek nude cruise still beats me) and joined the rest of the passengers on deck as we readied to head out into the Adriatic Sea.

“Sailaway"—that magic moment when the captain gives the nod to weigh the anchor and set the sails—is a grand occasion. As the crew set the sails (somewhat disappointingly with a push of a button rather than a hearty heave-ho) and assisted by a couple of tugs to guide us down the Grand Canal, we processed gracefully towards

the open water, tourists in St Mark’s Square momentarily turning their cameras on this unexpected floating attraction. Losing the tugs, we turned south and headed to Ravenna.

Many of the passengers were return sailors. In fact, according to Bare Necessities—the US travel company that has been chartering ships and organising nude cruises for over 25 years—the passenger return rate is almost 80 per cent. A staggering number given the industry average is nearer 30 per cent. There’s a reason people keep on returning.

As the tugs left us, the captain announced that the pilot had left the ship, which was code for “OK, you can get undressed now”.

Before he had finished the announcement, shirts, bras, pants, even a prosthetic arm, were lying abandoned on the deck (though I think the latter probably just got caught up in the moment) and we all breathed a collective sigh of deep relief that sounded very much like “Freeeedom”.

And that’s what naturism is all about. Losing one’s clothes is a very liberating feeling. As our clothes fell to the floor, so did our inhibitions and life’s stresses. You really have nothing

with. By the end of the cruise, we had met everyone else on board. Thank goodness for the name tags—all bums look pretty much the same to me.

Meals were dressed affairs—after all no-one needs to see your nipples dipping into the salad bowl at the self-service buffet—and dinner often went late into the evening with good conversation and laughter. Groaning as we lumbered from the dining room to the bar—strangely, all paths seemed to lead to the bar on the mid deck—we worked off our dessert each night with dancing.

“AS OUR CLOTHES FELL TO THE FLOOR, SO TOO DID OUR INHIBITIONS AND LIFE'S STRESSES”

to hide and without the entrapment of clothing it’s very difficult to judge people or peg them into a certain box. It doesn’t matter what title you have (we’ve met doctors, professors and reverends), what job you do (there were anesthetists, an actress, IT and financial professionals and a former ballet dancer, to name a few) or how much money you have—we are all the same.

Removing our prejudices along with our underpants makes for a much more open, tolerant and respectful environment, which is why everyone is so easy to get on

We headed to Pula, on Croatia's Istrian Peninsula, famous for its impressive and wonderfully preserved Roman amphitheatre, before hop-scotching down the coast to Game of Thrones fans’ favourite Dubrovnik and popping into Krk, Zadar, Split, and Korcula along the way. Each stop offered Instagram-ready photos of colourful harbours, ancient ruins, magnificent churches and impressive walled cities.

Shore excursions were available at every port of call for those keen to walk like sheep behind a flagcarrying guide. Not our thing, so we wandered off to explore on our own. In a number of places, the ship

was unable to enter the small town harbours so we were tendered to shore. The tenders shuttled back and forth to the ship, giving us enormous flexibility.

Tours to local nude beaches or naturist resorts were also offered for those who wished to feel the sand between their toes. The beaches are beautiful, though much of the Croatian coastline is pebbly and sand is only to be found at the bottom of the sea some yards away.

My wife and I hired a local guide from WithLocals in Dubrovnik for a personal tour—a much more intimate, fun and rewarding way to see a new place and well worth an

We boarded the ship and immediately made our way straight to the back. It’s amazing how quickly you can remove your clothing almost without breaking stride and we were on the marina deck and ready to skinny dip in the warm, clear aquamarine Adriatic in seconds. Our eagle-eyed crew were on hand to look out for our safety. Now this is the way to cool off after a very hot and sticky morning of plodding around historic, picturesque towns.

We climbed out of the water, towelled off, stopped off at the “we never close” bar before collapsing on our sun loungers.

“Where did we leave our clothes?”

“THANK GOODNESS FOR THE NAME TAGS—ALL BUMS LOOK PRETTY MUCH THE SAME TO ME”

extra few euros. We met Anastasia the cat (google: Anastasia Dubrovnik Cat), met a local couple still living within the walls of the Old City selling an array of herbs and spices, and walked the route of Cersei’s Walk of Shame (sadly my wife declined to re-enact it). Games Of Thrones fans will know what I’m talking about.

Returning hot and sweaty from one of the many daytime excursions, we approached the ship on the tender and could see the marina platform at the back of the ship was open for passengers to swim, kayak, float or paddle.

I asked my wife.

“Can’t remember” she shrugged. Never mind.

On the way back to Venice, we ticked off another “country visited”—San Marino. I had always associated San Marino with an easy England win in Euro qualifiers (though that’s no longer a given) and knew very little about it. What a delightful place. The charming medieval walled old town and quaint, narrow cobblestone streets set on a mountain top from where you can see for miles is worth the effort of a short hilly climb. You can

also get your passport stamped here from one of the world’s oldest—and smallest—republics, though strictly speaking it’s a tourist stamp, and some killjoy governments will tell you it’s illegal to “deface” a passport. We paid our five euros for ours.

Sailing on this beautiful, tall ship is a unique experience whether you are clothed or not.

We ate delicious food, visited interesting places, and enjoyed the company of like-minded people. The ability to do this sans clothes gave us a tremendous sense of freedom, relaxation, and wellbeing.

Our favourite location was at the stern of the ship where we would watch land slip away or the sun dip below the horizon.

We sipped rainbow-coloured drinks with names like “Hugo” and “Yellowbird”, not knowing exactly what was in them but remembering that too many made you forget how your legs worked. We would exchange war stories with new friends and put the world to rights. We stretched out like cats in front of the hearth and didn’t want the sun to go down—ever.

The sky was cloudless and we hadn’t a care in the world. n

Dubrovnik, Croatia

Day 1: Depart UK Fly with Qantas / Emirates from your most convenient airport: London Heathrow, Manchester, Birmingham, Newcastle or Glasgow.

Days 2-4: Singapore Enjoy a city tour including Merlion Park, Marina Bay, Thian Hock Keng Temple and the fabulous orchid gardens. As an alternative, you may choose to stop in Dubai at no extra cost.

Days 5-7: Melbourne Visit Victoria Markets, Federation Square, the MCG. Perhaps take an optional excursion to explore the Great Ocean Road or Fairy Penguin Parade.

Days 8-9: Adelaide We take a sightseeing tour of the city’s historic buildings and attractive parks and gardens. Our Freedom Day provides an opportunity to tour the wine region of the Barossa Valley, or visit Kangaroo Island.

Day 10: The Ghan Experience

One of the world’s most iconic rail journeys. Covering 1,555 kilometres, we see the everchanging landscape as

22 days from only £6,245 per person Other

we journey north. Enjoy all inclusive Gold Service with on board meals included as are a wide selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks.

Days 11-12: Alice Springs Visit the Royal Flying Doctor Service, the School of the Air, and the Old Telegraph Station. On our Freedom Day, perhaps take an hot air balloon trip or an excursion to the Western MacDonnell Ranges.

Day 13: Uluru (Ayers Rock) We enjoy a refreshing glass of sparkling wine and witness the changing colours as the sun sets. There is a chance to explore the rock in the morning, before visiting the impressive Olgas.

Days 14-17: Cairns & The Great Barrier Reef

Snorkel in the sheltered coral lagoon and view the reef from the semi-submersible reef viewer or underwater observatory. Lunch is included. Optional tours on our Freedom Days in Cairns include a scenic railway journey to Kuranda, and a day trip to the nearby World Heritage listed Daintree Rainforest.

SAVE UP TO

£632 PER COUPLE BOOK BY 30 NOV

distantjourneys

Your Time to Explore

Days 18-21: Sydney

A morning’s tour includes the beautiful waterside suburbs of Bondi Beach, Double Bay, and Rushcutters Bay. We continue to the city centre and Hyde Park, Parliament House, and the Royal Botanical Gardens. The tour finale is a fabulous luncheon cruise with amazing views of the Opera House and Harbour Bridge. Why not use your Freedom Days in Sydney to visit the spectacular World Heritage listed Blue Mountains?

Days 18-21: Sydney A morning’s tour includes the beautiful waterside suburbs of Bondi Beach, Double Bay, and Rushcutters Bay. We continue to the city centre and Hyde Park, Parliament House, and the Royal Botanical Gardens. The tour finale is a fabulous luncheon cruise with amazing views of the Opera House and Harbour Bridge. Why not use your Freedom Days in Sydney to visit the spectacular World Heritage listed Blue Mountains?

Day 22: Arrive UK We arrive at your chosen airport; London Heathrow, Manchester, Birmingham, Newcastle or Glasgow bringing an end to our incredible adventure.

¸ Award-Winning Tours

¸ Award-Winning Tours

¸ First Class Hotels

¸ First Class Hotels

¸ 99% Customer Satisfaction

¸ 99% Customer Satisfaction

¸ Daily Breakfasts included worth £349pp

¸ Daily Breakfasts included worth £349pp

¸ Flexible Tour Options

¸ Flexible Tour Options

¸ Price Promise & Covid Guarantee

Day 22: Arrive UK We arrive at your chosen airport; London Heathrow, Manchester, Birmingham, Newcastle or Glasgow bringing an end to our incredible adventure.

Book by 30th November 2022 and enjoy a homebound stopover from only £29* per person (£48 for singles).

Book by 30th November 2022 and enjoy a homebound stopover from only £29* per person (£48 for singles).

Stopover choices are Singapore, Bangkok, Dubai, Sentosa Island or Bali and include return transfers and four-star accommodation with breakfast.

¸ Price Promise & Covid Guarantee

¸ 100% ATOL Protection

¸ 100% ATOL Protection

Stopover choices are Singapore, Bangkok, Dubai, Sentosa Island or Bali and include return transfers and four-star accommodation with breakfast.

Other destinations: New Zealand

destinations:

• South Africa • Japan • Vietnam

Terms and conditions: Special offer is £29pp in twin / double room (£48 for single occupancy) is for a two night stopover in Dubai, Singapore, or Bangkok, and is subject to the availability of flights and accommodation. * Stopover offer is not available on 28 July 2023. A two night stopover on Sentosa Island is £149 per person (£298 for single occupancy) and three nights in Bali is £129 per person (£248 single occupancy). The saving of up to £632 per couple is available on tours departing from October 2023 and is on the price of the homebound stopover. Single occupancy supplement on tour £1,245. For more details and full booking conditions, please request a brochure or visit www.distantjourneys.co.uk

Terms and conditions: Special offer is £29pp in twin / double room (£48 for single occupancy) is for a two night stopover in Dubai, Singapore, or Bangkok, and is subject to the availability of flights and accommodation. * Stopover offer is not available on 28 July 2023. A two night stopover on Sentosa Island is £149 per person (£298 for single occupancy) and three nights in Bali is £129 per person (£248 single occupancy). The saving of up to £632 per couple is available on tours departing from October 2023 and is on the price of the homebound stopover. Single occupancy supplement on tour £1,245. For more details and full booking conditions, please request a brochure or visit www.distantjourneys.co.uk

The Surprising Feminist History Of The Travel Guidebook

The little-known story of the 19th-century woman who broke convention to pioneer the modern guidebook

by Brendan Sainsbury

Scour the internet for famous 19th-century explorers and, chances are, 99 per cent of them will be men. Furthermore, there’ll be little mention of Mariana Starke. It’s a striking oversight. A pioneering travel writer who circumnavigated the battlefields of France and Italy during the age of Napoleon, Starke was a woman years ahead of her time who has a valid claim to being the inventor of the modern guidebook.

Sharing the same publisher as Jane Austen, the industrious Mariana undertook much of her research on the bumpy post-roads of continental Europe several decades before the advent of the steam train and continued to perfect her craft until she was well into her sixties.

Her debut travel book, Letters from Italy published in 1800, evolved over a period of 40 years (and numerous editions) from a collection of personal reflections on art and culture, into a consummate travel guide that included meticulous details on everything from steamship timetables to medical supplies. Many subsequent guidebooks, including the iconic Baedeker and Murray brands, borrowed heavily from Starke's ideas, while most modern travel writers indirectly owe her a debt.

So, who exactly was this unorthodox, trailblazing woman and how did she enter the fickle world of travel writing?

Mariana Starke was born into an upper middle-class family with literary leanings in Epsom, Surrey in 1762. Her father had served as a regional governor in British India. Her mother was a thespian and lover of literature who counted the writer and poet William Hayley among her friends. Educated mostly by her mother, Mariana proved to be an erudite and able student. In 1787, at the age of 25, she helped translate the French plays of StéphanieFélicité de Genlis into English. The following year, her self-penned play, The Sword of Peace won enough plaudits to be performed at London’s Haymarket theatre.

In an era when it was customary to disregard women writers as lightweight and unqualified, Starke published both works anonymously. Yet, undeterred by the obstacles in her way, she continued to challenge the inherent sexism of the era, appearing as a character in her second play The British Orphan dressed as a man. Such intrepidness set the tone for many of her subsequent adventures.

Starke’s nomadic lifestyle began in 1792 when her family travelled to Italy in the hope of finding warmer weather to cure her sick sister’s tuberculosis. Tragedy hit when her

sister died in Nice en route to Rome. In a double blow, Mariana’s father succumbed to the same illness in Pisa two years later. However, rather than turning around and heading home, Starke spent the next four years musing on Italy’s art and culture, using her experiences to form the basis of a travel book.

Mining her good literary contacts, Letters from Italy was published by Richard Phillips in 1800 with an updated version, entitled Travels in Italy Between the Years 1792 and 1798 coming out in 1802.

Starke’s books were groundbreaking, not just because she was a woman. Dispensing of romantic Dr Steve Simmons

A map of Europe after the Peace of Tilsit, 1807

descriptions of natural landscapes in favour of more practical information, they were written with the express intention of encouraging readers to follow in her footsteps, a concept in marked contrast to most of the effusive travelogues that preceded her.

While not short of admirers, the guides remained little used for nearly two decades, primarily because Europe was still embroiled in the Napoleonic wars, and not a particularly inviting place for culture-seeking tourists. The situation changed in 1815 when victory by the Seventh Coalition at the Battle of Waterloo ushered in a period of peace and prosperity as the well-to-do members of the middleclasses, encouraged by better roads and cheaper prices, expressed an increasing desire to travel abroad.

changed the order of things, with respect to roads, accommodations and works of art, that new guides for travellers are extremely wanted in almost every large city.”

Published in 1820, Travels on the Continent went a step further than her earlier tomes, covering the breadth of Europe from Portugal to Russia and including concise advice on inn accommodations, how to hire a horse carriage and the intricacies of personal safety.

STARKE'S BOOKS WERE SO POPULAR THAT PIRATED COPIES BECAME COMMON

“English travellers, even when going post, have rarely been robbed; unless owing to imprudence on their own part, or on that of their attendants,” she sagely remarked.

Starke’s restructured book struck a chord, not just with aspiring "budget" travellers, but with her new publisher, John Murray II.

As the map of Europe had been substantially redrawn since Starke’s 1802 guide, the author—by now well into her fifties—produced a more comprehensive update. Writing in the book’s introduction, she commented: “I determined to revisit the continent; and become an eye-witness of the alterations made there by the events of the last 20 years: events that have so completely

A shrewd Scot, Murray was a foresighted man with an uncanny knack for spotting ground-breaking ideas. In 1815, he published Jane Austen’s third novel Emma (and all her subsequent books) while, decades later, his son, John Murray III went on to publish Charles Darwin’s On the Origin of Species.

Starke had first approached Murray in 1814 at a time when the

notion of travelling for pleasure was entering a new chapter. What had once been the domain of rich young aristocrats on a "grand tour" of Europe’s great art cities with an assemblage of servants and tutors in tow, had become accessible to a wider selection of people. Suddenly, Starke found herself poised at the head of a new trend.

Under Murray’s tutelage, the book and its subsequent editions sold well and Starke—now publishing under her own name—became a minor celebrity.

Stendhal, Dickens, and Mary Shelley were all said to have dipped enthusiastically into her guides and even pirated copies of the book became common in Europe.

home without bringing pistols, a rhubarb grater, a medicine chest with pure opium, and a sword case.

Some of the book’s more popular sights would remain recognisable to modern travellers.

NOW PUBLISHING UNDER HER OWN NAME, STARKE BECAME A CELEBRITY

Written primarily in the third person, post-1820 editions were more like a tailored guide than a reflective memoir. Sights were ranked in a system of one to five exclamation marks, journeys were laid out in suggested itineraries and detailed appendices contained exhaustive lists on how to behave, what to take and how to travel.

Among priceless nuggets of on-the-road advice, Starke recommended readers not leave

“The Louvre, though recently despoiled of many treasures, still boast[s] one of the finest collections in the world of paintings and sculpture,” wrote Starke, alluding to the repatriation of works looted by Napoleon after 1815. In an illustration of changing tastes, she gave Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa (“a celebrated Florentine beauty”) a measly one exclamation mark, his androgynous John the Baptist a middling two, and his Virgin and Child with St Anne a more generous three.

Starke undertook several more research trips between 1824 and 1830 enabling Murray to update and enlarge her book well into the 1830s (by which time it counted over 680 pages).

However, with the author approaching 70, the publisher started looking to milk the emerging travel market for himself. In 1836, Murray’s Handbook for Travellers on the Continent ignited one of the world’s first long-running

guidebook series and quickly established a prototype for all books that followed, including the concurrent Baedeker brand launched in Germany in the 1830s. While refining the genre over a period of decades, Murray plundered numerous ideas from Starke including the adoption of inn listings, route itineraries and a subjective star system.

coined in 1811). Murray guidebooks remained in publication until 1968; Baedekers are still produced today and have been complemented by an abundance of Rough Guides, Lonely Planets, and other brands.

Superseded by these iconic guidebooks, Starke’s pioneering volumes had slipped off the radar by the late 20th century. But our collective amnesia doesn’t diminish their importance. Defying the conventions of the era, the maverick Starke was a rule-breaking protofeminist who crisscrossed Europe by horse-carriage rather than car and wrote with a quill rather than a pen, covering thousands of miles to report on the best places to wash a petticoat, or buy decent milk. Modern travel writers would struggle to emulate her.

Murray and Baedeker guidebooks proliferated in the mid-19th century with regular updates covering everywhere from Switzerland to the lightly mapped expanses of Algeria and India. Successive editions became more and more detailed, feeding a new appetite for "tourism" (the word had first been

Starke died in Milan in 1838, aged 76, while travelling between Naples and London. The last edition of her book was released posthumously, in 1839. Perhaps unsurprisingly considering her workload, she never married or had children. Instead, her rich catalogue of books stands as her legacy, along with the compelling travel culture it helped create. n

Portrait of John Murray II; Murray’s Handbook for Travellers on the Continent

The shores of Devon in southern England tell a story of dinosaurs, Romans, and much more

IF THESE COULD TALK CLIFFS

by Ben Lerwill

From NatioNal GeoGraphic traveller

England’s Jurassic Coast includes prehistoric cliffs that loom over Sidmouth in Devon

From a remote sandstone ledge drops a bewildered man in a wetsuit. It’s taken an eternity for him to work up the nerve to jump, and he plummets through the air with an expression somewhere between elation and terror. The rocks zooming past behind him are hundreds of millions of years old; the bay he’s arrowing into has witnessed visitors ranging from plesiosaurs to pirates. And, with the sun illuminating the red cliffs and ivied, coastal woodland, there comes an almighty splash as the October-cold sea rushes up to swallow him. For the man—me—it’s an unutterable thrill.

Tom Devey, the guide who’s just patiently coaxed me into stepping off a 25ft precipice, gives a thumbs-up from the shore and gestures to a cove nearby. We’ve been clambering over the boulders of Devon’s southeastern coastline near the hamlet of Maidencombe and Devey, who works for Rock Solid Coasteering, had been leading me through some jumps. We’d swum under natural arches, climbed rocks, then plunged back into the sea. At one point, a grey seal appeared, bobbing in the swell just feet away. Now it was time to call it quits and warm up.

“I’ve got hot chocolate,” he grins, patting his pack and leading us to a tiny beach walled off by giant shelves of rock. As he pours from the flask, he points out the storage

holes and camping spots favoured by generations of smugglers who used this shoreline to spirit illicit shipments of liquor and tobacco into the West Country. “On the subject,” Devey says, producing a hip flask, “tot of rum in that?”.

On Devon’s southeast coast, the history is spread as thickly as the clotted cream this place is famous for. I’m here to discover more about the area’s past and present on a journey from the ancient city of Exeter to the Jurassic Coast, via the pub-dotted ports of the Exe Estuary.

Devey tells a tale from local folklore of three bootleggers blockaded into a sea cave by the authorities. “They were trying to drown them,” he explains, as we look east along a series of hefty headlands. “But when they unsealed it three days later, there was no sign of the bodies. People think the men found a way into the wider cave system and escaped inland.”

The busy quays and taverns of Exeter, 19 miles to the north at the head of the estuary, would’ve been the obvious place to flee. Devon’s capital city was no stranger to smugglers and seafarers during the 17th and 18th centuries. Long before that, its plum location had attracted Roman and Norman invaders, then Saxon settlers.

“When the Normans turned up, the citizens of Exeter lined the city’s

walls and made obscene gestures at William the Conqueror and his army!” says David Radstone, one of the city’s Red Coat guides, with palpable relish.

Our meeting place for a (free) city tour is Cathedral Green, which is shadowed by one of the mightiest religious buildings in England: Exeter Cathedral. The streets around us are filled with a mixture of timbered, medieval buildings and harsher post-war architecture. Gargoyles and grotesques glower down from the cathedral.

Home to a large university, the city is fascinating. After the Normans arrived, Radstone explains, Exeter took on various guises: it went from prosperous merchant city and a major hub of the English cloth trade—in the late 17th century, 80 per cent of Exeter’s residents were employed in the wool industry—to an ill-fated Luftwaffe target, when 1,500 homes were destroyed in a single night in May 1942.

As we wander the centre, we run our hands over the original Roman city walls, admire imposing Georgian townhouses, and stand agog in front of beforeand-after photos of the bomb-damaged city. In the distance, green hills bulge into view. With a population of around 130,000, a lot of

them students, “It’s an easy city to live in,” says Radstone. “You can see the countryside from almost anywhere.”

We end up at the handsome quay, once abuzz with ships full of yarn. Today, its old warehouses are home to pizza restaurants, vintage stores, and bike-hire outlets.

Away from the quay is one of Exeter’s most notable attractions, the fantastic Royal Albert Memorial Museum & Art Gallery. I’m particularly wowed by a hoard of 22,888 Roman coins found by a local metal detectorist, and the 100,000-year-old hippo fossils discovered while building a road in nearby Honiton. The soaring cathedral, meanwhile—mainly unscathed by German air raids—very much lives up to the hype. At 8:15 am, I walk self-consciously into morning prayers to find the dean leading a congregation of just two. High above the nave, the world’s longest stretch of gothic stone vaulted ceiling fans out like a giant forest canopy.

“P

eople say it makes sense to make rum

in Devon,” says Gemma Wakeham, one half of the Two Drifters Rum wife-and-husband team. Just outside Exeter, the world’s first carbonnegative rum distillery

is stocked with stills and barrels that recall the coast’s spirit-smuggling past. Strung from the rafters is a flag bearing the St Petroc’s Cross, the county’s emblem: a black-and-white cross on a green background. That’s more or less where tradition ends.

“The distillery is electric and runs on renewable energy,” says Wakeham, explaining that her husband’s chemistry background has driven their green ethos. The rums themselves taste great, full of zest and warmth. “When we launched in 2019, we were producing 80 bottles a week,” says Wakeham. “That number is now 2,500.” The distillery aims to offset every single element of its production, from carbon-capture technology to the growing of spices to the shipping of sugar cane.

This is in my mind as I head along the Exe Estuary to Topsham, once the second-busiest port in England. I arrive to the sound of baying gulls and mast-slapping halyards, with the river shimmering out towards the sea, surrounded by saltmarshes.

“When William of Orange arrived in England in 1688 to take the throne, this is where most of his fleet landed,” says Ed Williams-Hawkes, a powerboat navigator complete with eye patch. He points toward the quay. “You can imagine the scene: brass cannons being pulled by Shire horses, platoons of Swiss mercenaries, soldiers from Scandinavia. Incredible to think about.” His son Tom is the owner of nearby Salutation Inn, a few minutes’ walk away past Dutchgabled townhouses.

Above: the magnificent Exeter Cathedral. Opposite: Adrenaline junkie Tom Devey leads a coasteering session at Maidencombe Beach

Like the rest of the town, the inn creaks history. Its 300-year-old wooden door—broad enough for Victorian coaches to pass through— is still marked with apotropaic carvings to ward off evil spirits. These apparently didn’t stop some lively activities from taking place here in centuries gone by, from attempting to get a horse to jump over a table in the dining room to wrestling matches.

It’s a lot less rowdy on my visit, largely because the inn is now geared to serving local products such as crab, partridge, and West Country cheeses. An in-house fish deli, opened during lockdown to support local fishermen, is still going strong.

The marshes and mudflats that stretch between Exeter and the English Channel are a site of international importance for wading birds, which flock here in the tens of

thousands to feed on invertebrates. At a nature sanctuary near Topsham run by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, I find a seat in the hide overlooking the reed beds.

I’m too early for the throng of winter visitors—geese from Siberia, godwits from Scandinavia—but the scene is a lively one nevertheless. Pretty teals fuss on the banks, and shovelers dabble past, waggling their wide, flat beaks. Elsewhere in the hide, I can hear a hushed conversation about moorhens.

It’s a peaceful spot, and mighty easy to linger at, but looking up I see heavy clouds rolling in, as relentlessly as waves, from the direction of the sea.

It’s Thursday, folk night at Exmouth’s The Bicton Inn, just a few streets from the sea where the rain clouds are massing overhead.

The historic port town of Topsham

Forty voices ring around the pub, surging in unison as they sing and fogging the dark windows. Nautical flags are strung around the walls and tankards are being downed.

“This song is about how the news of Nelson’s victory travelled across the land,” announces a well-oiled greybeard, as another local gets his accordion ready, “although it’s said there are a few north of Tiverton who still haven’t heard!”

The local sailors of the Battle of Trafalgar era wouldn’t have witnessed the kitesurfers that busy the headland these days, but the sea air—and the lingering hint of journeys to faraway lands—would have been as restorative then as they are now.

“Well, heave ’er up and away we’ll go!” roars the chorus of voices, “She’s a fast clipper ship and a bully good crew.”

Exmouth is also the official western starting point of the 93-mile Jurassic Coast. This Unesco World Heritage Site is where local history does a few somersaults, kisses goodbye to the human race, and speeds away into the mists of time. But the coast’s name is something of a misnomer: the rocks here actually yawn back farther, to the Triassic era. Some of those near Exmouth are 250 million years old.

The resulting scenery—wild, wave-bashed headlands—makes it a glorious place to hike, dawdle, or just simply gawp. The geological timescales are brain-spinning: the

red cliffs here were originally part of a vast desert, which was later flooded by a tropical sea. Around 140 million years ago, the waters receded, freeing up more space for roaming dinosaurs, before sea levels rose again 100 million years ago.

My final stop is the town of Lyme Regis in neighbouring Dorset county—though geology knows no borders. Here, as much as anywhere, the region’s multilayered history is on full show. I walk past a long line of pastel-painted beach huts to reach Lyme Regis Museum, which tells tales of smugglers’ ships, naval brigs, and British palaeontologist Mary Anning, portrayed by Kate Winslet in the 2020 film Ammonite.

The museum sits on the site of what was once Anning’s home, and I follow the advice of a staff member to wander out to Black Ven, a nearby cliff. “Erosion means there are always new fossils being exposed,” she explains.

It’s early evening and there are seven others searching the rocks as a stiff breeze comes in off the sea. After 20 minutes, with the light fading, I turn a stone and find a partial ammonite imprint the size of my thumb. It’s not the prettiest find—or the most intact—but it represents about 130 million years’ worth of history, and that’ll do for me. n

NatioNal GeoGraphic traveller (UK) (JaNUary/FebrUary 2021), copyriGht © 2021 by NatioNal GeoGraphic traveller (UK), NatioNalGeoGraphic.co.UK/travel

Subscribe and start saving today

Subscribing to the Reader’s Digest won’t just get you a fantastic magazine bursting with stories, articles, advice, recipes, reviews, tips, jokes and anecdotes, all at a discounted rate.

Becoming a subscriber also unlocks exclusive benefits.

Sign up today and receive access to some amazing offers from our newest partner, Tripbeat.

If you love to travel, you’ll love their discounts offered on hotels, resorts, car hire, flights and much more.

Offering more choices, more adventures, and more ways to see the world for less, it’s just another reason to subscribe and save.

SUBSCRIBE TODAY FROM AS LITTLE AS £22.99 AND UNLOCK TRIPBEAT BENEFITS!

Your great value subscriber benefits

Enjoy a read that offers something for everyone - and plan a holiday that offers discounts for everyone too!

Whether you’re travelling home or abroad, with the Reader’s Digest and Tripbeat, you can enjoy:

Hotels up to 60% off more than 600,000 hotels worldwide

Resort stays from £299 per week

Car hire – explore in the right vehicle with member preferred rates

Activities – over 200,000 across the globe, handpicked for you.

Flights – get where you want to be at competitive prices

Our best price yet - It’s only £22.99 for a full one-year subscription - a saving of over 50% OFF the usual £47.88 retail price! Plus what’s more, we will deliver your magazine direct to your door for free!

And if you don’t want to commit to a full year, we have the perfect taster package with 3 Issues for ONLY £3.

Visit www.readersdigest.co.uk/subscribe to buy today.

So why not subscribe today!

Kerala’s Backwaters My Great Escape:

Our reader Anaita Vazifdar-Davar takes a slow boat in Kerala

India’s southwestern state of Kerala lives up to the moniker it shares with Yorkshire, “God’s own country,” with its variety of offerings—backwaters, beaches, wildlife, waterfalls, tea estates and spice plantations—and it was the first of these that I got to enjoy recently. Travels with my family (senior citizen parents blessed with enviable fitness, my husband and our three school-going children with extraordinary energy levels) usually involve plenty of sightseeing, walking and activity, but this trip was different. The backwaters beckoned and exploring this network of canals and waterways leisurely seemed the ideal choice.

Kumarakom is a village that sits serenely on the banks of Lake Vembanad, the largest lake in the state. It serves up a slice of times

gone by, but on a modern platter. Resorts abound, each with a range of amenities and almost all with the obligatory swimming pool. Instead of being in the water, we chose to be on it.

You can hire a boat for a few hours, a day or even an overnight stay, waking up to fishermen casting nets in the morning tide. We enjoyed a five-hour cruise around the lake, dropping anchor midway for a lunch of local dishes—including fish caught

of a lady who spoke no English but whose smile conveyed her welcome, our daughter tried her hand at mat-weaving from coconut husks, squatting beside the custodian of this dying trade. One of our sons attempted to spin thread from coir while the other undertook to climb a coconut tree. A lithe man, clad in a lungi (the traditional garment somewhat like a skirt), slid down another tree with fresh toddy (palm wine) to quench our thirst.

Before we said goodbye, our guide leaned over the boat to pluck a waterlily. This, he fashioned into a delicate necklace for me. It sits here now, its fragrance forgotten, petals almost all gone, stem wilted, but keeping afresh the memory of our wonderful time in what truly seems like God’s chosen land. n

before our eyes—cooked fresh onboard, washed down with coconut water, which is ubiquitous here. Afterwards, the silence of the lake and the boat’s gentle motion lulled us to sleep in Mother Nature’s lap.

On another day, we took a government-run tour that provides a glimpse of village life. In the house

Tell us about your favourite holiday (send a photo too) and if we print it, we’ll pay £50. Email excerpts@readersdigest.co.uk

SUBSCRIBER

BENEFIT: Exclusive travel discounts with Tripbeat

See page 96 for details

AUDIORAMA Mexico City

For us rain-soaked Brits, the very notion of an outdoor library sounds sufficiently exotic. But an outdoor library in a sacred, leafy Aztec grotto? Where do we sign?

You’ll find this edition of Audiorama inside Chapultepec Forest, Latin America’s second-largest city park and home to many sights that lure tourists. Chiefly, the national history museum is here, inside the former presidential home of Chapultepec Castle.

But while those can be busy, Audiorama’s vibe is far sleepier. Found along one of the park’s numerous wiggly walking paths behind that castle—immediate access is behind the Monumento a los Héroes del Escuadrón 201 obelisk—and close to Chapultepec metro station, it’s a circular, shady and lush grove that’s sheltered on three sides by rock faces.

Yonks ago, the Aztecs believed that the cave entrance here—now blocked up—was a gateway to the underworld, and that the overall space was considered to be capable of energising visitors. Today, however, you’ll find a smattering of supine guests lulled into a snooze.

There’s a lovely petrichor aroma mingling with the perfume of calla lilies and small rose bushes. Occasional fruit trees overhang some of the many benches. A table stocks mostlySpanish books, which are free to borrow as you lounge, as music originates from speakers attached to trunks.

That music changes each day. Mexican folk songs are played on Wednesdays; jazz soundtracks Fridays, on Saturdays it’s chill-out and Sundays see classical music, including occasional live performances. n

By Richard Mellor

Christmas is one of the key times of the year when we like to splash out. Whether it’s getting in a few luxuries to eat and drink, making sure we celebrate with family and friends or showing our love with gifts, big money can easily be spent.

The desire to do the same will be strong this year, but the circumstances will mean that might not be possible.

For a start, everything, from presents to travel to food, will be more expensive than usual thanks to ever-increasing inflation. Add to this higher costs and bills which may dramatically reduce the budget you have available.

Essentially, you’ll have less spare money and your money will buy you less. So you’ll be faced with a choice: spend more or prepare for a paredback celebration.

It might be that you can afford to get your usual Christmas, or close to it, without racking up debts. But if you don’t have the cash, or you feel that money would be better spent elsewhere, then the next month is going to be key.

These tips should help you to get as close to a perfect Christmas as you can on your budget.

Work out what you can afford

This is an important first step every Christmas, but especially this year. Take a look at what you’ve got

available to spend, or what you are likely to be able to add to your funds from the next few pay cheques.

When working this out, don’t forget to factor in whether you’ll need to also save a little bit more for other costs. Energy bills are set to go up again in January, and that’ll have an impact on spending elsewhere too.

Prioritise where you will spend

You probably won’t be able to do everything you usually do, so work out what’s most important. Is it all about gifts for the kids and grandkids? Or will the bulk of your money have to go on trains so you can be with your family?

From this you can start to break down your available Christmas money into a spending plan. Split it out based on what you think those priorities require, then work out if other things will have to be ditched, or if you’ll need to steal money from one area to fund another.

Plan your shopping

Don’t just pop to the shops and see if you spot anything suitable as a gift. You’ll end up overspending. First you need to set a budget for each person and shop within that. It will help to let the person know your budget when you ask them what they want.

Once you’ve found something you want to buy, shop around to see if you can get it for less. Price trackers such as PriceSpy and Idealo can notify you when there are sales and offers, while buying things online at the same time can save you on delivery costs too.

Do the same for your food and drink shopping. A plan and list will prevent you buying more than you need. Opt for cheaper brands or special offers to make things more affordable.

Earn as you spend

Use cash back cards and websites so that you get a little back on all your spending. The money might

not be in your account to help with Christmas this year, but you’ll have a little extra to ease the strain next year.

Do things differently

If you can’t afford the Christmas you want, you could look at making changes that mix things up a little, rather than do a budget version of how you’d normally go about things.

You could introduce a one gift maximum, or set individual present price caps. Perhaps go further and give your time and skills, on anything from babysitting to DIY.

This works elsewhere too. Rather than a traditional meal, does it have to be turkey? Or even a roast? You

could choose to send email Christmas cards rather than physical ones in the post.

Leave it late

I wouldn’t do this for absolute essentials, but if there are things you can give or take, buying them right before Christmas might mean you can pick them up in the sales. This is particularly good for decorations and festive food, though it can work for gifts too.

Have conversations about Christmas spending

If costs will force you to make changes to your traditional celebrations, it’s well worth discussing that with others involved. That way, you’ll be able to manage their expectations.

This kind of chat could also come as a relief to friends or family members who are equally worried about their own spending at this time. It could take the pressure off them if you tell them that it’s OK if they don’t buy you a present, and it’s a chance to make cheaper plans together.

Be wary of borrowing

It might be tempting to use services like Buy Now, Pay Later so you can spend a little more now and deal with it next month. Be careful here

that you don’t overextend yourself. You’ll still need to pay the money back, and it’ll just mean things are a lot tighter in the new year.

And if other costs grow, you might not have the available cash to cover these delayed payments. It’s best avoided and sticking to what you can afford now.

Give if you can

If you’re fortunate to have enough money to weather the cost of living crisis, do consider if you can do anything to help those who will barely be keeping their heads about the rising water.

Food banks are always in particular need at Christmas time, and this year things will be much worse as people struggling to cover their owns costs are less likely to donate supplies.

Most supermarkets have drop off points where you can leave food, or you can check the Trussell Trust website (trusselltrust.org) to find details of your local food banks.

Ideally, try to provide essential foods that don’t require much energy to cook or heat. n

Andy Webb is a personal finance journalist and runs the award-winning money blog, Be Clever With Your Cash

Tom Daley Shows Us How To Knit

A

Cute Hat For Your Furry Friend

The diver-turned-knitterextraordinaire shares his skills

Imean, who doesn’t love a dog in a hat? I love dressing up dogs; the first item I was photographed knitting at the Olympics was a jumper for Izzy the Frenchie!

This fun and playful hat is knitted in neon colour stripes with contrast black, and two pompoms for added cute factor. Ideal for all pooches, from your neighbour’s greyhound to your auntie’s poodle—and of course Ned, pictured opposite.

Note of caution: a dog should never be left alone wearing any garment or with a pompom.

Measurements (one size)

Head circumference 32cm (12½ in)

Finished length 22cm (8¾ in)

Will fit medium to large size dog breeds

What you will need

• Schachenmayr Bravo: 100% acrylic, 133m (145 yards) per 50g (1 ¾ oz)

Quantity:

• A 1 x 50g (1 ¾ oz) ball in black (08226)

• B 1 x 50g (1 ¾ oz) ball in neon pink (08234)

• C 1 x 50g (1 ¾ oz) ball in neon green (08233)

• 1 pair 3.25mm (US 3) knitting needles

• 1 pair 3.75mm (US 5) knitting needles

• Stitch holders

• Pompom maker or cardboard for pompoms

• Scissors

• Yarn needle

Tension (gauge)

23 stitches and 30 rows to 10cm (4 in) over stocking/stockinette stitch on 3.75mm (US 5) needles. Change needle size as necessary to achieve correct tension (gauge).

Abbreviations

St(s): stitch(es)

K: Knit

St st: Stocking (stonkinette) stitch

*: Repeat instructions following a single asterisk as many times as directed afterwards.

P: Purl

Dec: Decrease/decreasing

Tog: Together

Tbl: Through back loop

RS: Right side

To make Stripe sequence

2 rows A

2 rows B

2 rows C

Using 3.25mm (US 3) needles and A, cast on 71 sts and follow stripe sequence as given working in rib as follows:

Row 1 (RS): *K1, p1, rep from* to last st, k1.

Row 2: *P1, k1, rep from * to last st, p1. Repeat

last 2 rows a further 11 times.

Next row: Rib to last 9 sts and slip these unworked sts onto a holder.

62 sts.

Next row: Rib to last 9 sts and slip these unworked sts onto a second holder. 53 sts. Change to 3.75mm (US 5) needles and starting with a knit row, continue in St st and follow stripe sequence as set until work meas 23cm (9 in) from cast-on edge, ending with RS facing for next row.

Shape crown

Row 1 (RS): K34, k2tog tbl, turn. 1st dec.

Row 2: Sl1, p15, p2tog, turn. 1st dec.

Row 3: Sl1, k15, k2tog tbl, turn. 1st dec. Rep last 2 rows until 17 sts rem. Leave rem 17 sts on stitch holder.

With RS facing, slip 9 sts from second holder onto a 3.25mm (US 3)

needle, keeping stripe sequence correct pick up and knit 33 sts along side of hat, k17 sts from crown holder, pick up and knit 33 sts along other side of hat, then rib as set across 9 sts from remaining holder. 101 sts. Starting with A and following stripe sequence as set, work 9 rows in rib. Cast off (bind off) using a 3.75mm (US 5) needle.

To finish

Weave in any yarn ends. Join neckband at front.

Masterclass: adding pompoms

Who doesn’t love a pompom?

They bring such joy and they’re a great way to use up scraps of yarn.

They’re really easy to make, either with a store-bought pompom maker or in the traditional way with two circles of stiff cardboard, slightly wider in diameter than the finished size of the pompom with a hole in the centre of each, measuring just under half the diameter.

Pompoms (make two)

Make two pompoms using a pompom maker or cardboard circles approx. 6cm (2½ in) in diameter. Measure 8m (9 yards) each of two colours and hold together to wind the

pompom. Using the long yarn ends on the pompoms, sew securely to the hat in the ear positions.

1. If you’re using a pompom maker, open out the two parts and hold them together. Wind two yarns along each half in turn until the semicircular gap is filled, then fasten the catches. If you’re using cardboard, thread a large-eyed needle with two long strands of yarn. Holding the circles together, stitch the yarn continually through the centre and around the outer edges, keeping the strands close together, until the centre space is almost filled.

2. Insert the tip of sharp scissors between the two sides of the pompom maker or two cardboard circles and snip through the layers of yarn all around the edge.

3. Slip a length of yarn through the centre space and wrap it tightly around the yarn strands. This will be the centre of the pompom. Firmly knot the yarn, leaving long ends that can later be used to attach the pompom. Remove the pompom maker or cardboard circles.

Made with Love

Tom Daley is published by HQ, HarperCollins on October 27, 2022 (Hardback, £28)

WILL YOU BE OUR PROTECTION AT SEA WITH A GIFT IN YOUR WILL?

Writing a Will is easier than you might think. And you’ll have peace of mind knowing that your loved ones are looked after. It’s easier still when you use Farewill, the UK’s favourite Will-writing service.

6 in 10 launches are only possible thanks to the generosity of supporters, like you, who leave us a gift in their Will.

We’ve teamed up with Farewill to offer you a free Will writing service. Although there in no obligation to leave us a gift, we do hope that you consider it.

Photo: RNLI/Nathan Williams

Grieving FourLegged Friends

How to cope with the loss of a furry friend

Grieving the loss of a pet can be a sad and difficult experience. Many of us see pets as part of the family; for others, their pet may have been their only family.

We all tend to share an incredible bond with our pets. They provide

companionship, bring happiness and for some, even provide a sense of purpose. So, when a pet passes away, or goes missing or is stolen, it can trigger all sorts of painful emotions. Life can suddenly feel very empty.

Remember:

• You are normal. Some may not understand how upsetting the loss of a pet can be and can make you feel as though you are overreacting. You should not feel ashamed of your emotions, and the grieving process cannot be forced or sped along. Be patient with yourself. Understand that what and how you are feeling is perfectly normal.

• Don’t ignore pain. Bottling up your feelings will only make matters worse in the long run. To heal, you need to actively face your grief. Don’t be

afraid to show your emotions. It’s OK to cry or feel angry, after all you have lost someone very special and dear to you. Try not to be hard on yourself if you find that some days are more difficult than others. There will be events that trigger your grief. These can be places you often went to, the date of your pet’s arrival or their birthday, for example.

• Open up. Talking about your feelings and your pet can really help. Don’t be afraid to speak to family and friends, especially if they knew your pet, as they can support you. If a pet is lost or stolen, then there is often no closure, and this can be very difficult. One thing we suggest is writing down how you feel and what

you would have said to your pet. This can work for any form of loss.

• Seek help. If you find that your grief is severely impacting your ability to function day to day, seek professional help.

• Practise self-care. Losing a beloved pet can be very stressful, often throwing your normal routine into havoc. Make sure you continue to care for any other animals in your home and of course, yourself. n

The Blue Cross Pet Bereavement Support Service is available 365 days a year between 8.30am-8.30pm via a free and confidential helpline on 0800 096 6606 or email

pbssmail@bluecross.org.uk

READER’S DIGEST’S PET OF THE MONTH

Email your pet’s picture to readersletters@readersdigest.co.uk

Age: 12

Breed: Burmese

Owner: David M

Fun Fact: I have debilitating arthritis. Suu will walk all around my body to find a flare-up, taps it with her paw, and rubs her head on it, purring. Sometimes she washes the area too!

Kenny Tutt is a chef and restaurateur. He won MasterChef in 2018, and went on to open his first restaurant, Pitch in Worthing just a year later. Since then, he has gone on to launch Ox Block and Patty Guy at Brighton’s Shelter Hall, and Bayside Social on Worthing Seafront. Most recently, Kenny took part in BBC1’s MasterChef Champion of Champions, and appeared as a guest judge on the latest series of MasterChef. Follow him on Instagram and Twitter at @kennytutt

Kenny

Tutt

Spiced cod loin and puy lentil dhal with sautéed greens and samphire

Ihave been privileged to live on the south coast of England for a big part of my life and have spent the last 20 years in sunny Worthing.

I always remember days spent on the seaside with my mum, dad, and brother, jumping in and out of rock pools and learning about the bounty that the sea provides. In later years I have enjoyed nothing more than getting to the fisherman’s first catch.

I love to cook with local produce, and the array of fresh fish and shellfish available in this part of England is fantastic. This dish is packed with healthy lean protein and packs a comforting spiced flavour. Pollock or haddock would also work just as well. A perfectly simple but also impressive meal to serve up to family and friends.

Method :

1. Start by making the spice rub for the cod. Mix the oil, curry powder, turmeric and a squeeze of lemon in a bowl with a pinch of sea salt. Brush the mix all over the cod loin and set the cod aside in the fridge. This can be done in advance and is best left to marinade for 1-2 hours.

2. To make the dhal, sweat off the onions, garlic, ginger and chilli in a large saucepan for a few minutes over a medium heat until soft. Add the ground cumin and coriander and cook for a further 2 minutes, stirring occasionally. Gently stir in the lentils and then add the cherry tomatoes, chopped coriander and a touch of vinegar. Season to taste and cook for a few minutes until hot through. If it seems a little dry add a small splash of water. This can be made in advance and lasts well in the fridge for up to three days.

3. To sauté the greens, add a little oil to a pan over a medium high heat and add the sliced greens and a handful of samphire. Sauté for a minute and then add the onion seeds, a touch of salt and a squeeze of lemon before giving a final stir. Set aside.

4. Now for the cod. Like most proteins it’s best to take out of the fridge 15-30 minutes before you cook. Heat a non-stick pan over a medium/high heat with a splash of oil. When the pan is hot, place the cod into the pan skin side down. The main thing now is patience. Let it cook for 4-5 minutes. Keep an eye on the heat and take the temperature down if the heat is too fierce. Gently turn the cod over and cook for a further 2-3 minutes on the other side. Squeeze a little lemon over the cod and then let it rest for a few minutes. The fish is done when it is golden and flakes away easily.

5. Serve the sauteed greens and samphire on top of the hot puy dahl then carefully top with the spiced cod fillet. This dish goes really well with a light, slightly chilled Pinot Noir-style red wine.

Ingredients :

Spiced cod loin

• 2 skinless cod loin pieces, approximately 200g each

• 1 tbsp light rapeseed oil and a drizzle to cook

• 2 tsp mild/medium curry powder

• 1 tsp ground turmeric

• Squeeze of lemon

• Pinch of salt

Quick Puy lentil Dhal

• 250g packet of pre-cooked puy or green lentils

• 1 medium brown onion, finely diced

• 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped

• 1 thumb-sized piece of ginger, peeled and finely chopped

• ½ green chilli, finely chopped

• ½ tin of cherry tomatoes

• 2 tsp ground cumin

• 1 tbsp white wine vinegar

• 2 tsp ground coriander

• Fresh coriander, stalks removed, finely chopped

• Sea salt to taste

Sautéed greens and samphire

• 1 head of baby or spring greens, stalks removed and finely sliced

• Good handful of fresh samphire

• 2 tsp of nigella/onion seeds

• Pinch of sea salt

• Squeeze of lemon

• Small drizzle of vegetable/ rapeseed oil

CÁCERES, SPAIN Caldereta De Cabrito

Originally from Talaván in Cáceres, a beautiful village in Extremadura, celebrated chef José Pizarro now considers London his home and has restaurants in the City, Bermondsey and at the Royal Academy.

José believes that tapas is for everyone and that home cooks shouldn’t be scared by the idea of cooking lots of dishes—it’s all in the preparation and keeping it simple.

Here he shares his mother’s recipe for “caldereta de cabrito”, a very popular stew in Extremadura made from a kid goat. It’s a long-held family tradition to have the stew on Christmas Day, when his mum prepares it in the morning. The goat meat is so tender that it only requires minimum preparation and one hour of cooking over a medium heat.

Serves: 8-10

Cooking time: 1 hour

Ingredients:

• 1 whole kid goat (approx 5kg), jointed

• Sea salt

• Freshly ground black pepper

• 6 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

• 4 choricero peppers, or 1 tbsp pimentón de la Vera dulce (mild smoked paprika)

• 4 garlic cloves, peeled

• 1 bottle dry white wine

• 2 bay leaves

Method:

1. Season the kid with salt and pepper. Heat the oil in a big casserole over a medium to high heat, add the kid goat and the peppers and fry until the joints are browned.

2. Remove the peppers and pound them in a pestle and mortar with the garlic cloves to make a paste (if you are using pimentón instead of the peppers, simply add this to the mortar with the garlic). Mix the wine with this paste and stir it into the meat.

3. Add the bay leaves, then cover the casserole with a close-fitting lid and simmer slowly for about one hour, until the kid is tender. Add water or more wine from time to time to keep the meat moist.

4. S erve with a green salad. For my dressing I use one part honey, one part Moscatel vinegar and two parts extra virgin olive oil.

José Pizarro

State Of The Art:

Jo Dixon

Award-winning figurative artist Jo Dixon speaks to Alice Gawthrop about what inspires her, from her travels to her family, via the female figure

How would you describe your art?

I’m a figurative artist. Drawing is very important to me, and it underpins all the work that I do. Art school was a terrible disappointment, because it was all about abstract expressionism. Drawing and figurative work weren’t really encouraged.

Who are your influences?

I think I’ve been influenced by all the usual brilliant ones, you know— Rembrandt, Johannes Vermeer, John Singer Sargent, Edgar Degas.

A lot of the figures in your art are female figures. Is this deliberate?

I do draw a lot of male figures too but female figures appeal to me.

Perhaps it’s because I grew up in a family of mostly women. My dad used to get fed up, because I’ve got three sisters and he’d say even the pets were all female, too. I suppose there’s just something about female figures, perhaps women are prettier? But last year I had a solo exhibition on India and that one featured a lot of male figures.

How have your travels influenced your work?

I’m quite captured by the images that I’ve seen while travelling, which can influence my work in various ways. For example, while figurative work is my preferred genre, I will do landscapes and waterscapes inspired by India, Japan, Morocco. It depends on where you are, what moves you and what you really want to capture. The work is defined by where you are in space and time.

You’re currently based in Devon. Has that influenced your work?

It has in a way. I’m a member of the

Southwest Academy of Fine and Applied Arts, which promotes and supports the arts in the southwest. Being able to work alongside artists who work in all sorts of different genres influences what you do, I find. I’m a member of the Society of Women Artists in London, too, which is a wonderful outfit. It’s rubbing shoulders with all sorts of different artists working right across the spectrum.

What do you hope people take away from your art when they see it?

It’s interesting, because one can be in a gallery with all sorts of different types of art around, and somebody will come in and a specific painting will speak to that person. You can produce a sort of resonance that means something to somebody else, and you may never quite know what

it is. When my youngest daughter had finished university and was finally leaving the nest, I painted this canary on a shocking pink background for her because I thought it was funny. She absolutely loved it, and then so did a lot of other people! I thought, this is extraordinary—I was really only amusing myself with the painting! That’s how you find these amazing things that come out of a moment’s passing thought. She’s had that painting on her wall ever since, and people always ask me about the birds. n

Jo Dixon is an award-winning figurative artist working mostly in oils and charcoal. Her work has been widely exhibited, including recently at The Brownston Gallery and Zari Gallery. Learn more at jodixonart.com

H H H H

TRIANGLE OF SADNESS

From the double Palme d’Or winner Ruben Östlund ( Force Majeure, The Square ), comes this biting modern twist on The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie . Split into three distinct chapters, the movie follows a young couple of social media “influencers”, Carl and Yaya, who embark on a luxury cruise for the ultra-rich. To no one’s surprise, the world they inhabit is a tad weird: requests so bizarre they seem surreal, a staggering lack of self-awareness, and the occasional outbursts of absurdly ostentatious generosity— whether called for or not.

When an unexpected tragedy strikes (the cause of which we won’t reveal, but let’s just say it’s Östlund’s satirical genius in précis), the ship sinks, and the few remaining survivors find themselves on an

uninhabited island where the tables are turned, and practical life skills become the new currency.

The film is far from perfect; the run time is considerably overstretched, the allegories are too on the nose, and the three chapters—too incohesive. Nevertheless, it’s a riotously fun spectacle, and Östlund doing what he does best: mercilessly skewering Western society. Bonus points include Woody Harrelson as an alcoholic captain, a fantastically orchestrated sequence featuring a grotesque symphony of vomit and diarrhea, and one of the best film intros we’ve seen in recent months, explaining the film’s cryptic title— which, by the way, is pretty genius in itself.

By Eva Mackevic

DECISION TO LEAVE

Director Park c han-wook , the notorious maestro of gory violence, epic tales of insurmountable tragedy and over-the-top revenge, surprises us with one of his biggest twists yet: a relatively mild romantic thriller. Mind you, the emphasis lies on the word “romantic” here, with the “thriller” aspect amped up by the PR messaging around the film.

Nobody does obsessive fixation quite like Chan-wook and he returns to his pet subject yet again.

The obsessed: do-good detective Hae-joon (the captivatingly earnest Park Hae-il) investigating the death of a man who fell off a mountain under suspicious circumstances. The obsession: the man’s quietly alluring widow, Seo-rae (the steely

but soft Tang Wei) who seems all too composed after her husband’s demise.

The film unravels like a simmering game of cat and mouse, twisting and turning so that we’re never too certain who’s the hunter and who’s the hunted.

Typically for Chan-wook, the film is brimming with atmospheric symbolism and slightly hamfisted recurring motifs, that begin to feel a bit tiresome in the course of the film’s hefty two-and-ahalf-hour runtime.

Nevertheless, Decision to Leave has already won Chan-wook the Best Director award at this year’s Cannes festival and a Best International Feature nomination at the upcoming Oscars. Regardless of the occasional selfindulgent tedium, it’s a cracking film noir number with a razing gut-punch ending that’ll haunt you for days.

The most discussed show online in recent weeks has been The Rehearsal (NOW), the latest from Canadian superbrain Nathan Fielder.

Fielder broke through with Nathan for You, a send-up of a familiar reality-TV format in which our troubleshooting host provided real-life business owners with just about the worst advice imaginable. The Rehearsal takes the form of a much bigger social experiment, offering its participants the chance to run through potentially tricky or unmanageable situations (addressing a lie, raising a child, etc.) with the help of trained actors and expensive sets built to resemble actual locations. It’s a supremely clever conceit, an exercise in generating empathy without ever letting on it’s about anything that sappy—I have only one note, concerning whether it’s especially funny, or even means to be.

(BBC2; iPlayer), the most original new comedy series in years. Wilson is a lifelong videographer who takes snapshots of everyday life in New York—people in parks, shop signage, objects left at the kerb—and stitches them into halting yet oddly touching and philosophical essays. With, it turns out, unexpected twists in the telling: Wilson’s quest to dispose of old batteries leads him into the field of reincarnation, while his attempt to cook the perfect risotto… well, best discover where that one goes for yourself. If for Fielder, life’s something that needs controlling, Wilson finds value in simply setting out into the world, even if just to the end of the road, sensing something can be gained from every interaction, however fleeting or awkward. Each episode here is its own adventure.

No such doubts about the Fielderproduced How To with John Wilson

by Mike McCahill

Retro

Pick:

Nathan for You S1-4 (PrimeVideo/YouTube)

Fielder as a malevolent John Harvey-Jones in the show that made his name: watch him bamboozle big business and incur the wrath of the Starbucks legal team.

Album Of The Month: The

Car

by Arctic Monkeys

The latest stopover on the genre-spanning evolution of Arctic Monkeys, The Car, finds the band brooding in a darkened corner of a lavish ballroom, dirty confetti stuck to the floor, all the other guests long gone. Vibrating through the air are tangles of gorgeous string arrangements, smoothly cascading piano notes and Alex Turner’s measured but tender vocals.

A lush, yearning album that leaks heady Sixties nostalgia out of every nook and cranny, it faithfully pays homage to David Bowie, navigates Scott Walker’s well-trodden lyrical paths and occasionally nods to the rich ensemble pieces of The Moody Blues.

The lead single “There’d Better Be A Mirrorball” is a beautifully crafted, doleful ballad that makes heartache sound like a maddeningly stylish affair, while “Jet Skis on the Moat” offers some sun-soaked respite with its funky wah-wah guitar. “Body Paint” channels Queen through its playful harmonies and whimsical lyrics easing off the tongue like it’s a verbal sparring session.

The stylistic allure and listenability of each track belie the carefully planned complexity; The Car is packed with hidden little audio morsels and deliberately humble touches that are only detectable with a good pair of headphones. It’s a delectably sombre album, marking a new, poetic era for Arctic Monkeys—and they wear it well.

By Eva Mackevic

Also out this month…

La Dolce Vita

Film buffs rejoice; on October 28, CAM Sugar will release the restored and remastered soundtrack for what is often regarded as one of the greatest films ever made. Directed by Federico Fellini, this Oscarwinning masterpiece features the timeless soundtrack by composer Nino Rota, who scored over 150 films during his lifetime, including the first two films of Francis Ford Coppola’s Godfather trilogy, the second of which earned him the Academy Award for Best Original Score.

An instantly recognisable blend of jazz, rock ‘n’ roll and circus music, this colourful score is inseparable from the iconic scenes of Roman nightlife of Fellini’s opus.

November Fiction

This month, we review yet another riveting read from the master of the thriller genre

LongShadows

by David Baldacci (Macmillan, £22)

Don’t get me wrong. When it comes to fiction, I’m all in favour of sensitive renderings of one woman’s journey into something or other; one man’s anguished struggles to understand himself; thoughtful if largely plotfree mediations on today’s world. Nonetheless, there are times when nothing hits the spot like a no-frills, foot-to-the-floor American thriller of the kind that David Baldacci has been producing for 26 years.

Sure enough, his new one doesn’t disappoint. The main character is FBI operative Amos Decker, who loves life

James Walton is a book reviewer and broadcaster, and has written and presented 17 series of the BBC Radio 4 literary quiz The Write Stuff

and would rather play by the rules than get results. I am, of course, only kidding. Even by thriller-protagonist standards, Decker is fantastically world-weary, and his wildly unorthodox methods mean that his exasperated bosses alternate between wanting to sack him and being forced to admit that “the man got the job done” (this is the seventh novel he’s featured in, but by regularly reminding us of Decker’s past, Baldacci ensures that it works as a stand-alone).

Here, Decker heads to Florida to investigate the murder of a judge and her bodyguard—and to give us American-thriller fans exactly what we want all over again. In a series of lean, short chapters, he and his latest longsuffering partner follow any number of leads in order to discover that nothing is

as it seems. Their interviewees are briskly but tellingly described (“Jerome Drake was a soft-spoken, moroselooking fellow”; “Gloria Chase was a knockout in her mid-thirties”). The dialogue is unfailingly taut. On the whole, if anybody appears a likely suspect, it won’t be long before they’re killed too.

And yet, despite sticking so closely to the trusty methods of his genre, Baldacci always keeps us guessing, dropping in twists at just the right moment and serving up a plot that’s both spectacularly tangled and satisfyingly coherent.

So quickly do the pages turn, in fact, that it takes a while to notice how vivid all of the many characters are, and how neatly Baldacci creates a sense of place with his unflattering portrait of Florida.

Long Shadows, in short, confirms the huge amount of entertainment to be had from spending a few hours in the hands of an old pro. n

Name the character

Can you guess the fictional character from these clues (and, of course, the fewer you need the better)?

1. He first appeared in the 1975 novel Last Bus to Woodstock

2. His first name is the same as Captain Cook’s ship on the first voyage to Australia.

3. He’s been played on TV by Shaun Evans and John Thaw.

Answer on p126

Paperbacks

TheOxfordBookofTheatrical Anecdotesed by Gyles Brandreth (OUP, £12.99). Brilliantly wide-ranging collection of showbiz tales with an anecdote-packed introduction from the man himself. No loo should be without one.

TheHidingPlaceby Amanda Mason (Zaffre, £8.99). A ghost story set in modern-day Whitby, complete with a spooky house. Properly creepy and unsettling.

AnimalVegetableCriminal:When NatureBreakstheLaw by Mary Roach (Oneworld, £9.99). Roach is one of the best non-fiction writers around—a thorough researcher who’s also very funny—and this historical compendium of animals behaving illegally doesn’t disappoint.

TheFell by Sarah Moss (Picador, £8.99). Page-turning thriller set against the still-strange background of COVID lockdown.

AVillageintheThirdReich by Julia Boyd and Angelika Patel (Elliott & Thompson, £10.99). A superb work of micro-history, exploring how the ordinary inhabitants of a picturesque Bavarian village reacted to the coming of Nazism.

RECOMMENDED READ:

In The Spotlight

In his new book, Hugh Bonneville opens up about luck, Downton Abbey and meeting Barack Obama

Two of the biggest British screen hits of recent times—Downton Abbey and the Paddington films— have a couple of obvious things in common: bags of charm and Hugh Bonneville. Reading Playing under the Piano, it’s clear that these are closely related. Bonneville tells of his life with appealing modesty and, while it’s not exactly unusual for actors to stress how lucky they’ve been, he really seems to mean it.

His big break, for instance, came while touring Europe in A Midsummer Night’s Dream. By

complete chance, one performance in Florence was attended by Jonathan Lynn, best-known for co-writing Yes Minister but at the time directing plays at the National Theatre. Lynn was impressed enough to get the 22-year-old Hugh a National audition—after which his professional life hasn’t done much in the way of looking back. “Had Jonathan Lynn not chosen Florence for a long weekend in the autumn of 1986, would I have played Henry Brown in the Paddington films?” Bonneville wonders. “Or been asked to write this book?”

Once his theatrical career takes off, he gives us plenty of backstage gossip, including a rather hair-raising anecdote about Judi Dench’s taste for rudery. He does the same after landing a lead part in a new countryhouse TV drama that even its own executive producer didn’t think would last more than seven episodes.

Instead, as we know, Downton Abbey became a global smash, so

much so that in 2012 Bonneville was invited to the White House as part of a delegation of famous Brits. Following a State Department lunch hosted by Hillary Clinton, he found himself preparing to meet President Obama— and on a mission for his son Felix…

“That evening we joined a line to shake hands with the President and the First Lady.

‘Just make sure you give it to the President.’ “

Just before we’d left for the trip, Felix, then aged ten, had thrust a letter into my hands. ‘Will you give this to Mr Obama?’

It asked two specific questions, about the President’s views on the police being armed and what he felt about the potential effects of violent video games on children.

‘If you could get back to me,’ Felix’s letter concluded, ‘that would be hugely appreciated. It’s OK if you don’t reply – I’m only 10.’

‘Right, well. Um . . . ’ I said.

I didn’t tell him this was about as likely as him getting the raise in pocket money he’d been campaigning for, but I said I’d do my best. So, during lunch at the State Department I asked what the protocol was on such things. If I were to reach for something in my inside pocket on being introduced to the President, would I immediately sense four red dots on my forehead? My lunch companion assured me it would be fine and the President wouldn’t mind in the least.

It was my turn next, as the line of guests in black tie moved into the Blue Room. ‘Oooh look, he’s taller than on the telly,’ I thought. The President’s handshake was firm, his smile efficient. I asked if he watched Downton Abbey with the First Lady, as we’d heard she liked the show. He replied that he was currently glued to Homeland but maybe some time he’d get to a Downton Abbey box set on Air Force One. It was my cue to move on. Carpe diem, I told myself.

‘Mr President, my son would never forgive me if I didn’t at least give you this.’

I pulled the envelope from my inside pocket. No red dots on my forehead. His smile was broad now.

‘Tell you what, let’s get a photograph, so you can prove you did.’

A turn to the photographer. The handover of the envelope. Click.

The dinner was memorable. The President remarked in his speech that the last time there were this many Brits in the White House, they burned it down, in 1814. Next day we boarded the plane home.

Some weeks later a letter arrived in a cream envelope. ‘Dear Felix, thank you for your thoughtful letter,’ it began. ‘It was a pleasure to meet your Dad this spring, and I appreciate hearing from you . . . ’

The letter went on to commend Felix for addressing the challenges of the age as his generation had an important role to play in shaping the future. It finished by urging him to improve the lives of others. And below the text, the unmistakable signature of Barack Obama.

‘Felix,’ I said, choking up, ‘that is from the President of the United States of America.’

‘I know,’ said the ten-year-old, ‘but he hasn’t answered my questions.’

Other new celebrity autobiographies this autumn

RisingtotheSurfaceby Lenny Henry. Sir Lenny remembers the 1980s and 90s, when his British TV success led to a starring role in a (not so successful) Hollywood movie. He also reflects movingly on the death of his mother.

CallingtheShotsby Sue Barker. Tennis and television star Barker pulls no punches on her sacking from AQuestionofSport—or on what she considers the excessive focus on her relationship with Cliff Richard (including by Sir Cliff).

Answer to Name the Character:

Inspector Morse, as created by Colin Dexter. When Morse’s first name is finally revealed, we learn that he was named Endeavour because his dad was a big Captain Cook fan.

CallMeMrsBrownby Brendan O’Carroll. O’Carroll was the youngest of 11 children, whose father died when O’Carroll was nine, and whose mother became Ireland’s first female Labour MP. All that and world stardom too— thanks to MrsBrown’sBoys.

TheFirstHalfby Gabby Logan. Logan picks out her life’s biggest highs and lows, from dancing on Strictlyto dealing with her father’s alcoholism, her time as an international gymnast to her brother’s tragic early death.

Books

THAT CHANGED MY LIFE

Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock is a space scientist, science communicator and presenter of the BBC’s The Sky at Night. Her new book, Am I Made of Stardust? is available now, £12.99, published by Buster Books

Heidi by Johanna Spyri

As I’m dyslexic, reading at school was never fun. Watching the TV series Heidi, though, as she went to live with her grandfather and the adventures she had, inspired me to read the book. The novel opened up a whole new world to me. It was magical because I realised the power of my own imagination through picturing the mountains and the version of Heidi that I wanted to see. I hadn’t realised that books could do that. It led me onto other things, like TheSecretGarden, which I also loved. Heidiis what got me started in reading.

Chocky by John Wyndham

What really got me hooked on reading was science fiction and fantasy. The first book of that genre that I remember is Chocky, by John Wyndham. It’s quite short, and almost dry, about a young boy who has an alien living in his mind that makes him see things from a different point of view. Sometimes he gets upset with the alien, and when he says, “I’m hearing voices” people start wondering what’s going on. My sister mentioned the book and it sounded so intriguing. It was the first book I read cover to cover in a day. I’m a bit obsessive with books. When I’m in a good story I don’t want it to end—I was one of those kids under the covers with a torch!

Flowers for Algernon

by Daniel Keyes

This tells the story of a young chap with a reading disorder and I could really identify because of my dyslexia. He’s then given a drug that makes his brain more powerful and he becomes more intelligent than his teachers and the professor who’s running the experiment. I don’t want to give too much away, but it was a roller-coaster ride seeing all the things he became aware of as his intelligence grew. Science fiction plays an important role in the lives of many scientists and what we do. A lot of the best sci-fi comes from a kernel of something that’s really happening and is explored and expanded upon in a magical way.

How Britain Started The Digital Government Revolution

Something that you might not expect happened last time I renewed my passport: it was completely painless.

All I had to do was log on to the government’s GOV.UK website and click a few buttons on a page that was clearly laid out, which explained what I had to do in simple terms. No printing out forms or trips to the post office required. I didn’t even need to find a photo booth to take a formal picture—I could upload a photo from my phone, as long as I’d taken it against a blank wall with a fairly miserable expression on my face.

Within a few minutes, I was done, and just had to wait for the new passport to arrive in the post.

This might sound crazy if you’ve not experienced it for yourself. Everyone knows that if you ever have to do some tedious life admin, you

need to mentally prepare yourself to spend hours on the phone, or pingponging emails back and forth to wrestle through the bureaucracy. I know that whenever I need to phone a utility company, I brace for a long, annoying call.

So why are passport renewal and a surprisingly comprehensive range of government services so straightforward? It all stems from the decision over a decade ago to radically transform the way the government organises digital services, with the launch of GOV.UK. It was more than just a new website. It was a new philosophy about how public services should work in the age of the internet.

The genius of GOV.UK is that it breaks down the barriers between government departments. The idea is that you don’t need to know whether it is HMRC or the

James O'Malley hits "refresh" on government websites

Department of Work & Pensions where you need to file your tax return—instead, the website is organised around “user-centred” design principles, and is focused on improving the user experiences where people interact with government the most: things like pensions, benefits, passports and so on.

Unusually though, the goal of GOV.UK is different from almost every other website on the internet. Unlike everything from Facebook, to your local newspaper’s website, the goal isn’t to make you stay on the site for as long as possible, but to help you solve whatever problem it is that you’re having as speedily as possible, knowing that the less time you spend interacting with public services the happier you will be.

These simple principles have revolutionised how the government works on the internet. Today, doing everything from checking your taxes to registering to vote is a breeze.

But ten years on, GOV.UK is a long way from being "finished". Because the government is big and lumbering, some government departments are changing how they work faster than others—sometimes all the GOV.UK website does is put a shiny cover on a system stuck in the digital stone age.

I saw this myself recently when updating the address on my driving licence. After clicking through from

the modern webpage, I was taken to the old DVLA website, which looks like it hasn’t changed since around 2002. Then the worst thing happened. The digital form refused to let me update my address because it hadn’t been programmed to handle the apostrophe in my name. So after trying many times and getting increasingly frustrated, I, a professional technology journalist and someone who knows a thing or two about computers, found myself at the post office, filling in a paper form.

But at least it's all heading in the right direction. And though there are still problems, surprisingly this is something we should actually be proud of, as when it comes to digital government, Britain is arguably the best in the world. So much so that since the launch of GOV.UK, other countries have copied how we do it.

In fact, some governments have even taken advantage of the fact that lots of the designs of GOV.UK webpages are “open source”, meaning anyone can use them.

So if you go to GOVT.NZ, the New Zealand government’s website, or the websites of the governments of Canada, or the Republic of Ireland too, you might notice it looking strangely familiar—because it’s literally running on the same code. Let’s just hope they remembered to change the name of the country on the passport page. n

SANDWICH

What four-letter word belongs between the word on the left and the word on the right, so that the first and second word, and the second and third word, each form a common compound word or phrase?

THE FIRST CORRECT ANSWER WE PICK WINS £50!*

Email excerpts@readersdigest.co.uk

ANSWER TO OCTOBER'S PRIZE QUESTION

SYMBOL SUMS 21 + 21 −3 ÷ 3 = 13

You Couldn’t Make It Up

Win £30 for your true, funny stories!

Go to readersdigest.co.uk/contact-us or facebook.com/readersdigestuk

As a passionate Beatles fan, it gives me great pleasure to teach and hear my primary-aged pupils sing some of their songs.

I recently taught them the final repetitive part of "Hey Jude". However, my pronunciation skills obviously need improving, as some pupils in the playground asked me why we sing the song "Hate You"!

KEITH LODGE, Hull

Our church was in its 75th year and a meal to be held in the church hall was planned by way of celebration. The minister and a handful of members were to say a few words after the meal.

One of the elder members, who was well into his eighties, surprised and delighted some of us when he stood up and said, "I have calculated, making allowance for holidays and sickness, that over the years I must have listened to over 3,250 sermons. FUN

And do you know what? I haven't understood one of them!"

COLIN BOWES, Lancashire

When I was working on the electronic security to a home for people with dementia, we were asked to ensure that no residents left through the main door, and told that they would try anything to leave.

A short while later, a small man shuffled towards us and reached for the door handle. “Sorry,” we said, “we can’t let you through.”

He looked quite confused, and said in a soft Irish accent, “But I must go. I have places to be and people to see."

Not being fooled and leading him back along the hall, we insisted that we had been told not to let him out.

At that time, a member of staff appeared and said to him, “Everything alright, Mr O’Connor?”.

“Well, no,” he replied. “These gentlemen won’t let me through, and I have calls to make.”

My colleague and I looked at each other and smiled sympathetically.

“Oh no,” said the member of staff, “I didn’t mean him. He is the local priest and visits all the local retirement homes in the area.”

IVAN DUNNE, South London

When the lady in front of me presented her new bus pass the wrong way up, it didn't register and she flew into a panic. "It's all right, Madam," the driver said patiently. "It

"KIDS, IS EVERYTHING READY?"

only works if you put your face onto the scanner."

She did just that, and I'll never know how that man kept his own face straight.

MAGGIE COBBETT, Ripon

My bank manager rejected me for a much-needed car loan, so I arrived at work late and preoccupied. I quickly sent my husband a text message—just three little words— and hurried to my desk.

Suddenly, my telephone rang and my bank manager’s name flashed on the display. Chuckling, he said, “Thank you for your message. I’m very flattered that you love me, but I think my wife might have something to say about that!”.

Humiliating, but those three little words got me my car loan in the end.

LEAH ROTTIER, Epenede, France

PRIZE DRAW

For your chance to win the new 2022 Sovereign gold coin simply answer the question below

The new 2022 Sovereign gold coin from The Royal Mint (current value £392)

Where did the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II on June 2, 1953 take place? A) Windsor Castle B) Westminster Abbey C) St Paul’s Cathedral Name: Address: Email:

By post: complete and send the coupon to FREEPOST: WARNERSGROUP (READ) WAYS TO ENTER:

Online at www.readersdigest.co.uk/gold-sovereign

Word Power

Our species sure accomplishes a lot. In fact, some psychologists suggest we should be called human doings rather than human beings. In celebration of our need to keep busy, here’s a quiz featuring words from our endlessly active language

1. quash

A: suppress completely.

B: scrape clean.

C: mix together.

2. shear

A: cling to.

B: cut something off.

C: prolonged and high-pitched scream.

3. abscond

A: scramble up a difficult incline.

B: slip and fall.

C: leave with something that doesn’t belong to you.

4. inculcate

A: ward off.

B: teach through frequent instruction.

C: breathe deeply.

5. lambaste

A: soak in brine.

B: criticise harshly.

C: cook at very low heat.

BY ROB LUTES

6. skulk

A: move secretively.

B: worry excessively.

C: excavate hurriedly.

7. lollygag

A: laugh out loud.

B: spend time idly.

C: eat sweets.

8. vitiate

A: impair the quality of.

B: talk negatively about.

C: embark on a new journey or activity.

9. nettle

A: cause physical harm.

B: prevent someone from escaping.

C: aggravate.

10. convoke

A: make more bearable or less severe.

B: quick and clever reply to an insult.

C: call a meeting.

11. impute

A: attribute blame.

B: gauge importance.

C: complain about.

12. blandish

A: bore.

B: coax with flattery.

C: conceal from view.

13. cadge

A: tease about a physical limitation.

B: to make a defamatory statement.

C: receive something without paying for it.

14. avulse

A: tear away.

B: twist.

C: immerse in water.

15. yammer

A: snore deafeningly.

B: talk loudly and at length.

C: prop with planks.

Answers

1. quash—[A] suppress completely. A day after the president fled the country, the military sent in troops to quash the uprising.

2. shear—[B] cut something off. Each autumn, Angus would shear every sheep in the flock and sell the wool to private traders.

3. abscond—[C] leave with something that doesn’t belong to you. Kelly hoped none of the tenants would abscond with the crystal light fixtures in her rental home.

4. inculcate—[B] teach through frequent instruction. It took just one summer for Todd, a staunch environmentalist, to inculcate Oleka with respect for the natural world.

5. lambaste—[B] criticise harshly. After every performance, the obsessive director would lambaste any cast member who made errors.

6. skulk—[A] move secretively. With closing time near, thieves skulked behind the restaurant.

7. lollygag—[B] spend time idly. Alvaro didn’t lollygag after the tour, and recorded six new songs in his first week at home.

8. vitiate—[A] impair the quality of. The rookie lawyer’s many mistakes vitiated the contract, rendering it worthless.

9. nettle—[C] aggravate. The tour guide’s superior attitude nettled Ted, but he soon grew to appreciate her depth of knowledge.

10. convoke—[C] call a meeting. Seeing the dire quarterly report, Sameer decided to convoke his advisers to discuss the future of the firm.

11. impute—[A] attribute blame. With subtle jibes, Irene imputed the broken chair to Harry’s fit of anger.

12. blandish—[B] coax with flattery. Telling him he was the best student in the school, Jenny tried to blandish Jeong into sharing his class notes with her.

13. cadge—[C] receive something without paying for it. Billy cadged not only drinks but a meal from the wealthy club members.

14. avulse—[A] tear away. Elijah’s awkward sideways move with his right ankle was enough to avulse a part of bone from his tendon.

15. yammer—[B] talk loudly and at length. Glenda tends to yammer on, unaware no one is listening.

7–10: fair

11–12: good

13–15: excellent

Menopace® is chosen by more women than any other supplement range for during and after the menopause.

Each formula has been developed by Vitabiotics’ experts to include Vitamin B6 which contributes to the regulation of hormonal activity, Vitamin D which helps to maintain healthy bones and natural Soya Isoflavones.

Pioneering innovation in menopause nutrition for over 30 years, trust Menopace® during a time of change.

Menopace® works with Women's Health Concern, which provides independent advice and services for women's health and lifestyle concerns.

womens-health-concern.org

From , Superdrug, Holland & Barrett, supermarkets, chemists, health stores & www.menopace.com

†Based on a survey of 1000 women. For more detail on this research visit menopace.com/mosttrusted.

*Nielsen GB ScanTrack Total Coverage Value and Unit Retail Sales 52 w/e 16 July 2022. Menopause brand. To verify contact Vitabiotics Ltd, 1 Apsley Way, London NW2 7HF.

BRAIN TEASERS

Cookie Cutter

Difficult Everything in this neighbourhood is logical. What number should be painted on the blank mailbox?

Shopping Spree

MeDiuM Nizam has been shopping online using an amount of money he saved. On Monday, he spent one-fifth of the money. On Tuesday, he spent one-third of the money he had left. On Wednesday, he spent one-half of what remained after Tuesday’s purchases.

After all this shopping, Nizam still has £60 remaining. How much money did Nazim have originally?

DARREN RIGBY (Cook

Speed Reading

MeDiuM Five young friends competed to see who could read the most books in one month. From the following clues, determine who won (assume no ties).

Kids: John, Mary, Robert, Michael, and Ann Clues:

✦ Robert read one more book than Ann did.

✦ Ann read more than John but less than Michael.

✦ John did not finish last.

Shapely Math

Difficult Find the pattern to complete the missing number in the last equation.

Number Search

easy Find two identical three-digit sequences (one vertical, one horizontal) that intersect at the middle to form the shape of a plus sign.

For answers, turn to p139

SUDOKU BRAINTEASERS ANSWERS

Cookie Cutter

55. Each mailbox displays the total you get when you multiply the number of panels on the door by the total number of window panes.

Shopping Spree

£225

Speed Reading

Michael won, followed by Robert, Ann, John, and Mary, in that order.

Shapely Math

3 (a three-dimensional figure has a value of 3; a two-dimensional one has a value of 2). Number

By Jeff Widderich

To Solve This Puzzle

Put a number from 1 to 9 in each empty square so that:

✦ every horizontal row and vertical column contains all nine numbers (1-9) without repeating any of them;

✦ each of the outlined 3 x 3 boxes has all nine numbers, none repeated.

SOLUTION

Laugh!

WIN £30 for every reader’s joke we publish!

Go to readersdigest.co.uk/contact-us or facebook.com/readersdigestuk

Me: I hate U2.

My pro Bono lawyer: This won’t work. JOHN DARBY, via Twitter

Instead of a swear jar, I have a negativity jar. Every time I have a pessimistic thought, I put a pound in the jar.

It’s currently half empty.

Seen on Reddit

I called into work this morning and whispered, “Sorry boss, I can’t come in today, I have a wee cough.”

He exclaimed back to me, “You have a wee cough?”

I said, “Really?! Thanks boss, see you next week.”

Seen on Reddit

I just finished a job interview for a new position. They asked me, “Can you perform under pressure?”

I replied, “I’m not sure, but I do an amazing ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’!”

Seen on Twitter

I wish that room temperature water was as cold as room temperature coffee. NOAH GARFINKEL, via Twitter

My attempts to combine nitrous oxide and OXO cubes made me a laughing stock. Comedian OLAF FALAFEL

I used to live hand-to-mouth, do you know what changed my life?

Cutlery.

Comedian TIM VINE

What kinds of magazines do cows read?

CATTLE LOGS! Submitted via Twitter

My dad recently suggested that I register as an organ donor. He’s a man after my own heart.

Comedian MASAI GRAHAM

I was in the gym yesterday, and I decided to jump on the treadmill.

People started giving me weird looks though, so I decided to jog instead. @THEPUNNYWORLD, via Twitter

What’s the difference between a literalist and a kleptomaniac?

A literalist takes things literally, and a kleptomaniac takes things, literally. Seen on Twitter

My friend asked if I wanted to hear a really good Batman impression, so I replied, “Go for it!”

Full of energy, he shouted, “No! Not the Kryptonite!”

Slightly puzzled by this I replied, “That’s Superman.”

“Thanks man”, he laughed. “I’ve been practising a lot.”

Seen on Reddit

A man walks into a library and asks for books about paranoia.

The librarian leans in and whispers, “They’re right behind you!”

KEVIN KLEIN, via email

Google Earth is incredible. They’ve photographed every road in the world and put them on the computer. You just type it in and you go there.

You sit in front of the computer and you think, I can go anywhere in the world. Where shall I go? And we all come to the same conclusion: My house.

Comedian MICHAEL MCINTYRE

I like an escalator because an escalator can never break. It can only become stairs. There should never be an “Escalator Temporarily Out of Order” sign, only “Escalator Temporarily Stairs”.

Comedian MITCH HEDBERG

I enjoy doing stand-up. Especially now that my life is so busy and so hectic. With stand-up, I can just go out and relax, and enjoy the silence.

Comedian STEVE MARTIN

CROSSWORD ANSWERS

The Loneliest Number

Twitter users share the relatable reason they’re single

@StayBarefoot: My ex girlfriend texted me asking if she’d gained weight. I answered “Nooo”, but it autocorrected to, “Mooo”.

@RyanRawlings: Even though I tell myself not to, at the end of every first date I can’t help but blurt out, “Good night, I love you!”

@VashoKanath: I play Hide and Seek with my cats at night.

@SabinaEGarcia: Books are generally better.

@DunLahfAtMae: I asked a cute guy if I could borrow his pen. When I finished using it, he smiled and held his hand out. I thought he wanted to hold my hand, so I did… He was just waiting for me to return his pen.

Across: 1 Swallows, 5 Ceased, 9 Adapted, 10 Set down, 11 Comprehend, 12 A T Ms, 14 To date, 16 Holy war, 19 Gabriel, 20 Sorrow, 23 Door, 24 Casseroles, 26 Refuses, 28 Ireland, 29 Spying, 30 Stiffens

Down: 3 Scarcity, 2 Alarm, 3 Literature, 4 Widths, 6 Eat, 7 Shorthair, 8 Danish, 10 Senior, 13 By yourself, 15 Dragonfly, 17 Petals, 18 Two sides, 21 Adores, 22 T-shirt, 25 Leave, 27 Sin

Beat the Cartoonist!

Think of a witty caption for this cartoon—the three best suggestions, along with the cartoonist’s original, will be posted on our website in mid-November. If your entry gets the most votes, you’ll win £50.

Submit to captions@readersdigest.co.uk by November 7. We’ll announce the winner in our December issue.

SEPTEMBER WINNER

Our cartoonist’s caption, “I’m guessing your children have gone back to school?” failed to beat our reader Paul Sarre this month, who won the vote with his caption, “I come from the year 2022. You might want to sit down. And you won’t be needing that banner.” Congratulations, Paul!

cartoons by Royston Robertson

IN THE DECEMBER ISSUE

The beloved British actor opens up about his remarkable life and working on The Crown

I REMEMBER…

The iconic Sixties model looks back on hanging out with The Beatles and being a muse for Eric Clapton

The heartwarming story of a 70-year friendship between two goalkeepers + FOOTBALL FRIENDSHIP

Timothy Dalton

Pattie Boyd

YEARS

A Century

Of Change

As we continue our centenary celebrations, we look at the evolution of Bonfire Night over the last 100 years…

Ah, Bonfire Night: the glowing sparklers, the vibrant fireworks and the smell of smoke in your hair for days afterwards. There’s nothing like it!

It’s changed a little over the years, of course. For a start, its name has undergone some variations. Initially known primarily as Guy Fawkes Night and then Bonfire Night, in the early 1900s firework manufacturers started branding it as “Fireworks Night”. It was an efficient marketing tactic, as it saw their sales increase by 20 per cent year on year.

All three names are used interchangeably, although Guy Fawkes Night has fallen in popularity, as has the practice of burning effigies of Guy Fawkes. This used to be a Bonfire Night staple, with Guys being made weeks before the event.

Children would take their effigy from door to

door to collect money, or display it on street corners.

These days it’s less common to see, although the town of Lewes has kept up the tradition. Every year, up to 5,000 people take part in a parade, with spectators numbering up to 80,000. Effigies are carried through the streets and then burned at the bonfires.

Some health and safety changes have occurred in the last hundred years, too. In 2004, laws were passed making it illegal to sell fireworks to under-18s. I think we can all agree that that’s probably for the best! Nowadays, Bonfire Night is all about getting down to your local park, being talked into buying an extortionately priced flashing toy that will break within 20 minutes, and enjoying the show! n

BY ALICE GAWTHROP

Better light improves your life. Enjoy what you love, without straining your eyes.

FLOOR LAMP Electra

daylightcompany.com

• Available exclusively from WINDSOR MINT® £19.95 for just 5 instalments of or the full amount of £99.75 (instead of £339)

• With stunning colour detailing

• Strictly limited to only 9,999 sets worldwide

• Highest minting quality 'Proof'