The Connection Magazine (Norwich) April/May 2023

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JARROLD VOUCHER

KING CHARLES III A MONARCH FOR MODERN TIMES

ROSEMARY CONLEY TRANSFORMING LIVES

SPRING FASHION PRINTS

FIRST DRIVE: MG4 LOOK BACK IN TIME

OLD CATTON SPIXWORTH HORSHAM ST FAITH WEST SPROWSTON

We’re more than just a garden centre...

For over 20 years our independent, family-owned garden centres have evolved to become destination shopping experiences that are bursting with value!

We’re known for our vast selection of quality plants at amazing prices, and many are grown by us in our own nurseries! Make your outdoor space fabulous with our great value furniture that’s perfect for alfresco entertaining. Our teams are on hand to help you create your ideal gardenwhatever the size!

Throughout the garden centre you’ll find inspirational ideas for your home, and everyday essentials at Archie’s grocery store and treats for your four-legged family members at our Scallywags pet shop.

Relax and enjoy refreshing beverages and freshly cooked meals in The Watering Can Cafe. And look out for our exciting events throughout the year.

12 Rosemary Conley transforming lives

14 King Charles III a monarch for modern times

18 Finance with Wensum Financial Planning

20 Look back in time

24 Recipe: Jersey royals, scallops & chorizo

26 Fashion: Prints for spring

30 General knowledge

32

14

In this edition we have British fitness and health icon Rosemary Conley, who talks about her own health struggles and her rise to fitness fame.

With the King’s coronation on 6th May we look at the coronation ceremony on page 14; have reviewed some Royal books on page 32; and if you are celebrating the coronation, or just want a piece of coronation memorabilia, we have some great coronation themed home products on page 34.

We also have a new fashion feature, this edition we look at some spring prints for when the weather brightens up. Until next time….

Annette Editor 01603 466829

for booking an advert in the June/July edition is 28

Email:the-connection@outlook.com Tel: 01603 466829 www.the-connection-magazine.net

See

Probably the UK’s most unique attraction, a tropical minibeast zoo, showing over 200 different tropical invertebrates, some of which you can hold in the handling experience which can be booked in advance, together with a gift shop and Chrysalis café.

Book handling sessions early to avoid disappointment!

Open 10am to 4pm, Nowhere Lane, Lenwade, Norfolk, NR9 5PD @bugz_uk and bugzukpark

EAR CARE AT HOME

Are you suffering from excessive wax or wax build up? I am experienced in ear irrigation offering home visits for advice, assessment and irrigation if indicated.

When Oswald and Celia Weston were told that their daughter Rosemary was unlikely to reach her tenth birthday due to acute asthma, few could imagine that today she would be one of the nation’s leading health and fitness gurus, marking 50 years in the business.

Born and bred in Leicestershire, where she lives today with her second husband Mike Rimmington, Rosemary Conley was brought

up in a house with an acre of garden in the countryside. Her father was a hosiery wholesaler and her mother invented a beauty cap to go over ladies’ hair curlers. Both were entrepreneurial, and they may be where Rosemary got her business sense from.

Having launched her first slimming class just over 50 years ago, Rosemary is also celebrating the recent publication of her autobiography,

Through Thick and Thin, in which she candidly talks about building her business empire, broken relationships, battling her own health issues and her belief in God.

In 1972, after leaving school at fifteen for a secretarial college, then working in an office before becoming a Tupperware lady, Rosemary began running diet classes, known as Slimming and Good Grooming Clubs (SAGG), with an investment of £8, across the city and county. “They were very popular, so I started opening more and more,” she recalls. The classes grew into a successful UK-wide business, which Rosemary sold to IPC in 1981, overseeing the operation as managing director until the company disbanded in 1985. The highs and the thighs!

The following year, in 1986, Rosemary recalls: “I had to eat a low-fat diet to avoid surgery for gallstones. I lost a lot of inches off my body, and what I learned through that resulted in my book Hip and Thigh Diet.” And the rest, as they say, is history: the subsequent book sold more than four million copies, with more books following, along with chart-topping diet and fitness videos, plus regular presenting slots on TV.

That same year she married Mike and became a Christian. “We’d been going out for quite a while, but two days after I invited Jesus into my life, I felt God was telling me I should marry Mike. So, I proposed to him five days later.

“I will always remember 1986 as the year my life took off, spiritually, emotionally and financially. It was a golden year, a trailblazer for many exciting times to come.”

Rosemary has a daughter, Dawn, from her first marriage, and a grandson whom she adores but she admits she’s not a hands-on granny: “‘I’m not a natural with children, but he and I get on brilliantly when I have him to myself,” she has said in a previous interview.

“My daughter and my husband have influenced me hugely. I have a lot of respect for their opinions. They’ve always been very supportive.”

In 1993 Rosemary and Mike launched Rosemary Conley Diet and Fitness Clubs, a national network of clubs run as a franchise operation. “I loved receiving letters from grateful dieters who had transformed their health, including one from the then Bishop of Bath, the Right Reverend Dr George Carey. He and his wife had followed my Hip and Thigh Diet and both reached their respective goals. When Dr Carey became Archbishop of Canterbury, the press reported how he had slimmed down for his new role by following my diet,” said Rosemary.

Indomitable spirit

As one of the nation’s leading diet and fitness experts, Rosemary, who was awarded a CBE in 2004, has helped thousands of people to live a healthier life. But her own has not been without health battles – she has arthritis in both feet. At her lowest point, she was wheelchair-bound. “When I was diagnosed the doctor said to me, ‘these feet have done a few miles,’ and he was absolutely right! After wearing high heels for 50 years and teaching over 10,000 aerobics classes they really do look grim!”

In 2001, two years after she was appointed as Deputy Lieutenant of Leicestershire, Rosemary became the first woman ever to be granted the Freedom of the City of Leicester. So, with accolades and achievements aplenty, when is this formidable businesswoman, fitness and diet guru, wife, mother, grandmother, author and presenter at her happiest?

“I have a lovely life. Fortunately, I love everything I do – working, relaxing, writing. I feel so utterly blessed!”

Rosemary Conley’s autobiography, Through Thick and Thin is published by SPCK Publishing, and is priced at £19.99. Signed copies of the book are available at the discounted price of £17.99 (plus p & p) from the website, www.

rosemaryconley.com, where you can also find hundreds of free health and wellbeing videos, including recipes, exercises, interviews with health professionals, and hints and tips to help you live longer, live healthier and live happier.

King Charles III: a monarch for modern times

When the coronation of King Charles III takes place on 6th May at Westminster Abbey, the ceremony – which will be conducted by the Archbishop of Canterbury – will be rooted in longstanding traditions and pageantry. However, it will also reflect the monarch’s role today, and look to the future.

Then and now

The Queen’s coronation on 2nd June 1953 was one of the greatest events of the twentieth century. More than 8,000 guests filled the abbey to witness the crowning of the young mother, while crowds lined the route that took her and the Duke of Edinburgh to and from the abbey. Millions more were lucky enough to watch the event on the still novel phenomenon of television, this being the first time the event had been televised.

It has been speculated that King Charles, who ascended to the throne following the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, on 8th September 2022, will have a toned-down affair. Spending will be reduced partly as an acknowledgment of the cost-of-living crisis – something the monarch referenced in his first King’s Speech on Christmas Day. Suggestions are that it will last just one hour, with around 2,000 dignitaries in attendance, compared to the three-hour-long ceremony and 8,000 attendees at his mother’s coronation.

Acclaimed royal historian Christopher Wilson says: “It’s been 70 years since the last coronation but, inevitably the next one will come

along sooner. When his time comes, the Prince of Wales will have to do as his father has done – assess the economic climate and the state of the country before deciding how lavish, or paredback, his own crowning will be.”

Break with tradition

Initial reports had suggested the King’s coronation would be held around the same date as his mother’s 1953 coronation, which took place on 2nd June – but 6th May was reportedly chosen in consultation with the government, the Church of England and the Royal Household. However, the date does have some symbolic references to family members:

• Firstly, the coronation of George VI, the King’s grandfather, was in May.

• 6th May is also the birthday of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s son, Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor, the King’s grandson, who will be turning four on the day.

• It’s also the same date as the late Queen’s sister, Princess Margaret, was married in 1960.

During the ceremony – which has the codename Operation Golden Orb – the King will be anointed with holy oil, receive the orb, coronation ring and sceptre, and be blessed and then consecrated by the Archbishop. Monarchs traditionally sit in the fourteenth-century King Edward’s Chair, and Charles will be crowned with the St Edward’s crown, becoming the fortieth British monarch crowned at the Abbey since William the Conqueror in 1066.

Camilla, Queen Consort, will also be anointed and crowned, as was the Queen Mother when George VI was crowned in 1937.

Man and boy

Charles will be 74 at the time of the ceremony, the oldest ever new monarch. In 1953 the then-Prince Charles was just four years old when his mother was crowned. He sat in the royal box at Westminster Abbey to watch the coronation, flanked at the time by the Queen Mother and his aunt, Princess Margaret.

get used to its 5lb weight. He also recalled being kept awake by the “thousands of people gathered in The Mall outside Buckingham Palace chanting: ‘We want the Queen’”.

Royal author Robert Jobson says: “Charles has adapted to his new role very well and is out connecting with people, which sadly the late Queen wasn’t able to do towards the end of her life.”

King Charles’ coronation will be followed by a Bank Holiday on 8th May.

to the big day. Charles’ boyhood

As with royal ceremonies, there had been behindthe-scenes preparation and practices in the lead up to the big day. Charles’ boyhood memories include how, the night before, the Queen came to say goodnight wearing the St Edward’s Crown as she was trying to

Royal author Robert Jobson says: is moment our

Announcing the decision, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said: “The coronation of a new monarch is a unique moment for our country. I look forward to seeing people come together to celebrate and pay tribute to King Charles III by taking part in local and national events across the country in his honour.”

Where’s The Risk? PART 2 Gilt

or Equity?

Last time I talked about two main types of investments Gilts and Equities. If you recall Gilts are loans to the British Government and Equites are what most of us would call shares.

Let me now expand on that a bit. Gilts fall into a category known as fixed interest. Fixed interest can be one of the hardest things to get your head around, so for example when the yield goes up (often thought of the same as the interest rate) goes up, the capital value goes down.

I won’t go into that now as that could fill an article on its own, but suffice to say that a fixed interest investment is a loan, in the case of Gilts to the Government, but it can also be to companies.

Both Equities and Fixed Interest form the major component of many investment and pensions. So if your pension is invested in a Managed fund or is called a Lifestyle arrangement then it will mainly be made up of Fixed Interest and Equities, but each of those will have many subdivisions.

Whilst there are exceptions, for example a fixed interest investment in Joe Bloggs About To Go Bust Ltd (apologies to anyone called Joe Bloggs) is probably riskier than owning shares in BP, generally speaking Fixed interest has been considered lower risk than Equities.

So what is the point of all of this?, Most financial risk profiles will be mainly made up of a mix of fixed interest and equities. The lower the risk you say you want to take the higher the Fixed Interest element.

Historically that has worked very well, and may do again in the medium to longer term, but what if you are coming up to retiring or about to cash in your investment?

By Trevor Goodbun

The chart below shows the returns of the last 3 years for what used be called the Defensive (now called 0 – 35% shares) Cautious ( now called 20 -60% shares) Balanced (now called 40-85% shares) and Flexible (as far as I can remember its always been called that!)

In terms of traditional risk profiles the 0-35% would be considered the lowest risk and the Flexible the highest, but as you can see from the chart (well you can if you get your magnifying glass out!) it’s the wrong way around.

If you have a lifestyle pension it works slightly differently but as you get closer to retirement it will be moving to what historically has been seen as the “safer” investments.

So what it the answer? I am afraid there isn’t a simple one, it will be different for everyone, but this is one of the few times when I do a bit of an Ad and suggest that if you are within 3 years of retiring it may be worth getting some advice.

100 YEARS

Wembley Stadium in London opened (as the British Empire Exhibition Stadium, commonly known as the Empire Stadium). It was demolished in 2003. The new Wembley Stadium opened on the same site in March 2007.

90 YEARS

The first modern sighting of Scotland’s Loch Ness monster was reported in the Inverness Courier

70 YEARS

New Zealand mountaineer Edmund Hillary and Sherpa Tenzing Norgay became the first people to reach the summit of Mount Everest.

The coronation of Queen Elizabeth II at Westminster Abbey, London. This was also the first event where the British TV audience (20 million) was greater than the radio audience (12 million).

50 YEARS

1.6 million British workers took part in a oneday general strike to protest against the government’s pay restraint policy and price rises.

50 YEARS AGO (1973)

• The average price of a property in the second quarter of 1973 was £8,144 (c. £92,000 at today’s prices). This compares with an average UK price of £296,000 today.

• Chart-toppers in the music singles charts included “Can the Can” by Suzi Quatro and “Rubber Bullets” by 10cc.

• Sir Edward Heath was Prime Minister (Conservatives), staying in office until 1974.

40 YEARS

Around 70,000 anti-nuclear weapons protesters formed a fourteen-mile human chain in Berkshire, England. They linked the U.S. airbase at Greenham Common, the nuclear research centre in Aldermaston and an ordnance factory in Burghfield.

The first cordless telephone went on sale in Britain. British Telecom’s Hawk could be used up to 100 metres (330 feet) from its base station.

30 YEARS

The recession of the early 1990s was officially declared over in Britain as new figures that showed the first economic growth for more than two years.

25 YEARS

The world’s first solid-state portable digital audio player (MP3 player) went on sale in Japan. The MPMan F10 could hold 8 songs (32 Mb version) or 16 songs (64 Mb version). It was not a commercial success.

British woman Diane Blood, who won a two-year legal battle over her right to be inseminated with her dead husband’s sperm, announced that she was pregnant. The baby was born in December. A second was born in July 2002.

Tenzing Norgay and Edmund Hillary. Jamling Tenzing Norgay, CC BY-SA 3.0

MPMan F10 by Michele M. F, CC BY-SA 2.0

Serves 2 Preparation time 30 minutes Cooking time 12-15 minutes

A versatile ingredient, known for their flaky skins, nutty flavour and creamy consistency, Jersey Royals are available from now until July each year.

Ingredients

• 3 tsp olive oil

• 225g Jersey Royal potatoes, sliced or cubed

• 2 spring onions, cut diagonally

• 25g chorizo, chopped

• 8 scallops

• Salt and black pepper

• 25g butter

• ½ tsp lemon zest

• 2 sprigs of lemon thyme

• A handful of rocket

Spud Stars For more Jersey Royal recipe inspiration, visit www.jerseyroyals.co.uk.

Method

1. Heat 2 tsp of the oil in a small frying pan, add the potatoes and fry, turning regularly, for 7-8 minutes until just tender and golden. Add the spring onions and chorizo and cook for a couple of minutes more until the chorizo has released its oil and the spring onions are wilted. Remove from the pan, set aside and keep warm. Wipe out the pan with kitchen paper.

2. Dry the scallops with kitchen paper and season with salt and pepper. Heat the remaining oil in the pan until hot, add the scallops and sear them for a minute until just beginning to brown, then turn them and cook for a further 30 seconds. Remove from the heat, add the butter, lemon zest and thyme, allowing the butter to melt and coat the scallops. Spear the scallops onto skewers (allowing 2 per skewer).

3. Spoon the potato mixture onto 2 warm plates, add 2 scallop skewers per portion, drizzle over the buttery juices before serving and scatter around the rocket.

“Place your Easter order with us today. Local Norfolk lamb available but stocks are limited so don’t hesitate! Or who knows, the sun might appear so you can dust off the BBQ. We’ll have you covered for that too with our delicious burgers, sausages, kebabs and many more mouth watering products. Plus, we have some exciting news. Launching in time for Easter, Hewitt and Grant Butchers, after extensive renovations, will be opening up another room in the shop to pack full of more delicious goodies. Fruit and veg, bread and pastries, grocery and drinks, locally produced products and much more”

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Fabulous rocks to see you through the spring and summer

Leave your LBD in the wardrobe because this season it’s all about print – from bold florals to statement stripes.

Matalan Papaya Maxi Dress, £26, www.matalan.co.uk

FatFace Lottie Sketched Floral Dress, £56, www.fatface.co.uk

Joe Browns Marnie Boho Dress, £65, www.joebrowns.co.uk

Oliver Bonas Green and Pink Feather Print Midi Dress, £79.50, www.oliverbonas.co.uk

New Look Black Animal Print Tie-Waist Mini Shirt Dress, £31.99, www.newlook.co.uk

Cath Kidston 30 Years London Toile Tie-Front Shirt Dress, £90, www.cathkidson.co.uk

Only £475

New Veterinary Surgery Opening

Rackheath Vets is a brand-new Independent Veterinary Clinic to support the health and wellbeing of your pets, whilst also providing work experience and possible employment opportunities for Neuro and Physical Diverse people within the Community.

8.30am

Answers on page 46

Across

1. Pale yellowish- green colour (4)

3. Unconsciousness induced by drugs (8)

9. Musical setting for a religious text (7)

10. Famous American battle, Davy Crockett's last (5)

11. Offensive against an enemy (5)

12. One of a kind (6)

14. Changeover (6)

16. Disease of the skin (6)

19. Hindu or Buddhist mystical or magical text (6)

21. Vertical pipe in a building (5)

24. Sign of the zodiac, the Ram (5)

25. Protective shoe-coverings (7)

26. Put aside for a special purpose (8)

27. Form of charge imposed and collected (4)

Down

1. Ball game played with long- handled racquets (8)

2. Priory residents (5)

4. Counting frame (6)

5. American raccoon (5)

6. Act passed by a legislative body (7)

7. Native of Edinburgh, for example (4)

8. Acid found in milk (6)

13. Room in a church where a priest prepares for a service (8)

15. Slanted letters (7)

17. Migratory shorebird of the sandpiper family (6)

18. Armed fight (6)

20. Weapon that delivers a temporarily paralysing electric shock (5)

22. Person held in servitude (5)

23. Wild animal's den (4)

To mark the King’s coronation, we round up some revealing royal reads.

Spare – Prince Harry

It will go down in history as the bombshell book that rocked the British royal family – as well as becoming the fastest-selling non-fiction book ever, selling more than 400,000 copies across hardback, ebook and audio formats on its first day of publication. It’s a no-holds barred memoir in which the Duke of Sussex makes a number of revelations about his own life, as well as his relationship with his father, his brother and other senior members of ‘the firm’. Royalist or not, read it and decide for yourself.

King Charles – The Man, the Monarch and the Future of Britain

An exhaustive biography of our new monarch by Robert Jobson, dubbed “the godfather of royal reporting”, who has been at the forefront of royal reporting for well over 25 years. He received unprecedented cooperation from Clarence House, what was the Prince’s office, in writing this illuminating biography. Revelations include the truth about his deeply loving but occasionally volatile relationship with Camilla, now Queen Consort. The result is an intriguing new portrait of a man who has at last become king.

Behind the Crown – Arthur Edwards

A collection of photographs capturing the modern British monarchy as never seen before, taken by the royal photographer for The Sun, who has covered them for nearly half a century and is the man behind the most iconic photographs of the most famous family in the world. With commensurate skill and unprecedented access, he has captured the candid moments when protocol is put aside, revealing the true personalities behind the Crown.

The Duchess of Cambridge – Bethan Holt

Thrust into the global spotlight on her engagement to Prince William, Kate Middleton chose to wear a sapphire-blue wrap dress by London-based label Issa, which promptly sold out. It was the first step in Kate becoming the modern royal style icon she is today. This is a highly illustrated journey through a decade of her style evolution.

Queen Elizabeth – Gyles Brandreth

A personal account of the life and character of Britain’s longest-reigning monarch by someone who met her, talked with her and kept a record of those conversations. Gyles Brandreth knew the Queen and her husband well, and knows the new King and Queen Consort. Told with authority, a refreshing dose of humour and moving honesty from a totally unique viewpoint, he writes movingly about the Queen’s deteriorating health. “The truth is that Her Majesty always knew that her remaining time was limited. She accepted this with all the good grace you’d expect.”

The Crown Jewels, The Official Illustrated History – Anna Keay

The Tower of London has over two million visitors a year, with the Crown Jewels as its centrepiece. This sumptuous and highly readable publication tells the story of the most famous jewellery collection in the world, along with spectacular photographs with stunning details. A gem of a read for anyone interested in British history and monarchy.

All Electrical Installations

Rewires & Repairs

Fault Finding & Testing

Domestic & Commercial

Landlord Certificates

EV Chargers & Solar

By Katherine Sorrell

Bring out the bunting and celebrate the coronation of King Charles III. These colourful homewares will help you mark the occasion – and will become mementoes to keep long afterwards.

Six individual pennants of hand-embroidered pure wool depict the King’s CR insignia, the Crown and the Union Jack, joined to form a beautiful piece of commemorative coronation bunting. Coronation bunting in navy, £125, janconstantine.com

FUN, FOOD AND FRIENDSHIP

• As part of the Coronation Weekend, people all over the UK are invited to take part in a Coronation Big Lunch on Sunday 7 May. From a cup of tea with your neighbour to a street party with trestle tables and live music, it’s a great way to bring the celebrations to your neighbourhood – and get to know your community a little better. Thousands of events are expected to take place as people take to their streets, gardens, parks and community spaces to join the celebrations and mark the historic occasion. Find out more at the Eden Project’s Coronation Big Lunch website.

This tea cosy is made from a heavy, golden-yellow cotton drill with a striped lining and a design in freestyle machine embroidery. Coronation tea cosy, £75, poppytreffry.co.uk

Add a royal touch to any dining occasion with this limited-edition printed tray, made from birch, dishwasher-safe and suitable for use with food. King’s Coronation tray, £22.50, sophieallport.com

• For a perfect accompaniment, add some celebratory bunting, flags, and other decorations. You’ll need teapots, mugs and glasses, cake stands, plates and cutlery, trays, vases, napkins and perhaps a cushion or two. And when it’s all over, many of these special items can be kept, used, admired and enjoyed for ever.

Hang it on your Christmas tree when the time comes, or use it to embellish your party atmosphere – this elegant decoration combines pearls, glass beads and gold embroidery. Coronation orb decoration, £12.95, shop. westminster-abbey.org

This new range of commemorative homewares from Emma Bridgewater includes several different mug designs as well as plates, teapots, tea towels and more. Prices start at £10. emmabridgewater.co.uk

Use a smart set of napkins and add a touch of class to your teatime. Coronation napkin set, £29 for a set of four, nologo-chic.co.uk

Beautifully hand-cut with an intaglio floral design incorporating a rose, thistle, shamrock and daffodil, this crystal vase will be an heirloom to cherish. King Charles III Coronation crystal barrel vase, £75, shop.westminster-abbey.org

Designed and made in the UK, this quirky cushion is based on artist Catriona Hall’s paintings and features His Highness’s beloved Jack Russells, Beth and Bluebell, within the royal coat of arms. Commemorative cushion, £70, doganddome.com

Made from pure wool felt, this handembroidered pennant is appliquéd with His Majesty the King’s insignia and the royal crown, and is stitched with antique gold thread. Coronation pennant in duck-egg blue, £65, janconstantine.com

Ask anyone what their ideal garden would feel like and the phrase ‘low-maintenance’ will likely be high on the list. Maybe even ‘no-maintenance’ from those with little garden knowledge. Does this type of garden exist? In the latter example, the answer is an easy ‘no’. But low-maintenance is definitely achievable. It’s largely down to the choice of plants and ratio of lawn or paving to beds and borders.

No digging

This is exactly as it sounds – gardening without digging. This allows mycorrhizal networks of fungi to spread. Plants require less water and fertiliser because the fungi, in effect, extend the root system of plants so that they have a wider area in which to source nutrients and moisture. It’s good for the environment as the soil develops better drainage. It also contains more carbon and is less prone to lose nutrients in water runoff during rainy periods. You can add mulch to the soil, when required (early winter is best). Plant directly into the soil – you will be surprised how quickly things become established and start growing.

Mind the gaps

Fill any blank soil spaces with plants to prevent weeds from growing. Nature fills a void! Plant shrubs for the easiest gardening experience, but be sure to select wisely.

Right plant, right place

A plant in the wrong place will always need attention. If you’re not sure what type of plants are suited to the soil in your area, take a look at your neighbour’s gardens. Evergreens provide year-round interest, but they are not necessarily those with the most interesting flowers. Watering

is a high-maintenance requirement, as are the tasks of weeding and deadheading. Gardening is a balance between practical solutions and aesthetic interest, and much of your choice will be based on personal preference.

Can lawns be low-maintenance?

Some say that a lawn represents the most intensive maintenance requirement of any garden feature which explains why artificial grass has become so popular. But contrary to popular belief, fake lawns are not maintenancefree. Weed seeds will eventually take hold and weeding a lawn of this nature is not easy. Artificial turf also requires washing, on occasions, especially when used as a toilet by dogs and cats. Artificial grass is an emotive topic and there is still a lack of scientific knowledge and a shortage of research when it comes to assessing the environmental impact of such a relatively new product.

However, there’s no doubt that professionally installed artificial turf will cut down on maintenance when compared to a living lawn that requires regular mowing. The lack of biodiversity on a fake lawn is an obvious drawback, but some say that we should view them as another non-living component of a garden, similar to a patio.

By Caroline Knight

No garden is maintenance free

There are FIVE kittens hiding in the pages of this magazine (just like the ones here but smaller) Find all the other five to be in with a chance of winning

TO ENTER:

1) Read this copy of The Connection cover to cover and find the other FIVE kittens and make a note of the page they were found on.

FIND THE KITTENS AND WIN A £25 JARROLD VOUCHE R COMPETITION

2) Apply via our website, just go to: www.the-connection-magazine.net/competition and follow the instructions (if you don’t have internet access or struggle with using the internet please give us a call on 01603 466829. You can leave a message with the page numbers, your name and telephone number and you will be entered in to the competition)

The closing date for entries is 15 May 2023 and a winner will be chosen within 7 days The Connection Magazine competition terms and conditions apply

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MG is broadening its EV line-up with the new MG4. Ted Welford gets behind the wheel.

What is it?

Owned by Chinese automotive giant SAIC Motor, MG is the fastest-growing car brand in the UK and sales grew by 70 per cent in 2022 alone (up to the end of October).

It now sells more cars here than the likes of Land Rover, Mini and Skoda, with much of its success due to its electric models – the ZS EV crossover and MG5 estate. The brand is now expanding further with the new MG4, its first electric hatchback. But is it set to succeed?

What’s new?

The MG4 uses a bespoke EV platform destined for a number of electric MGs in future years – the key advantage to this being that it’s rearwheel-drive and uses a thin battery that takes up minimal space.

The MG4 also shows a more adventurous design direction for MG. Crucial to the appeal of the MG4 is its price, which starts from £25,995, undercutting rivals significantly.

What’s under the bonnet?

MG offers two power-train options, the Standard Range and the Long Range. The Standard car features a 51.1kWh battery and 168bhp electric motor, with MG claiming 218 miles from a charge.

The Long Range version we’re trying has a larger 64kWh battery for an impressive claimed range of 281 miles, or 270 miles in the case of our top-spec Trophy test car. The more powerful motor produces 200bhp and 250Nm of torque, though performance is almost identical to the Standard Range car because of the additional battery weight – 0-60mph takes 7.7 seconds with a maximum of 100mph.

It can also charge at up to 135kW, meaning a 10 to 80 per cent charge at an ultra-rapid charger would take 35 minutes. A 7kW home wall box would take nine hours to top it up.

What’s it like to drive?

The MG4 feels a real step up compared to the brand’s other models. It has a 50:50 weight distribution and the rear-wheel-drive setup makes it quite entertaining to drive. Acceleration is brisk and instantaneous, and feels quicker than the 7.7-second 0-60mph figure suggested. There are various driving modes and levels of regen available. It rides well but with quite a lot of wind and road noise at speed, and it doesn’t feel as refined as other EVs in this class.

How does it look?

The MG4 has a bold design with sharp angles all over the place, and doesn’t give the impression that it’s one of the cheapest EVs on sale.

There are great touches, such as the twin aero roof spoiler, while the imposing LED rear lights feature a fancy ‘hatched’ pattern on top-spec Trophy models. We’re not a fan of the car’s front end, as it looks a bit squashed and busy, though styling will always be subjective.

What’s it like inside?

The MG4’s interior adopts a trendy minimalist look, with very few buttons and a central touchscreen instead, which includes climate menus alongside traditional media and navigation functions.

It’s a slick-looking cabin, particularly with the floating centre console – housing the drive selector – that offers loads of storage space beneath. The squared-off steering wheel features configurable shortcut buttons, which you can use to change the climate. It’s a clever feature, and the interior certainly doesn’t feel as ‘cheap’ as its price.

The MG4 offers decent space, with that new platform ensuring there’s room in the rear seats for adults. The 363-litre boot is smaller than a Volkswagen ID.3 and Nissan Leaf’s but is still practical and usable.

What’s the spec like?

The talking point with the MG4 is what it costs. Its £25,995 starting price for the SE Standard Range not only undercuts cars in its class – it’s £3,000 cheaper than the entry-level Nissan Leaf

and £5,000 less than an entry-level Citroen e-C4 – but cars from the class above. An electric Vauxhall Corsa, for example, starts from £29,000.

The level of standard equipment is superb and includes LED front and rear lights, a 10.25-inch touchscreen, seven-inch digital dial display, 17-inch alloy wheels and adaptive cruise control. The SE Long Range car costs £28,495, while the top-spec Trophy (£31,495) brings a 360-degree camera system, wireless smartphone charging and heated front seats. However, this still undercuts the cheapest Volkswagen ID.3 by £5,000.

Verdict

The MG4’s starting price suits those wanting a lower-cost electric car without any sacrifice of range or equipment. It’s hardly any more expensive than a like-for-like petrol or diesel car. Despite some areas where it doesn’t score top marks – interior quality and refinement – the MG4 has no real weakness, and how it manages that at this price is remarkable. It should give established brands something to worry about.

Advertorial

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RF Therapy uses radiofrequency energy to tighten the underlying skin without damaging the surface, and contours the face to create firm, toned, and youthful-looking skin. This procedure heats the deep layer of the skin to stimulate and create new collagen. The rejuvenated collagen results in a tighter, more

Dr Sanjay Gheyi and his award winning team, five years in a row, at Coltishall Cosmetic Clinic

supple, contoured face.

When used to target the neck and jowls, RF therapy is one of the best non-surgical face contouring options, especially when paired with other skin tightening skin treatments such as microneedling.

More advanced options

We do offer a variety of minimally invasive options such as laser facelift, one stitch facelift or full face and neck lifts under local anaesthesia if surgery is your only option.

Give us a call on 01603 736487 or log on to the website www.coltishallclinic.co.uk to book your appointment and start your journey towards a tighter jawline and neck.

If you are tired of feeling tired, try out these five tips for boosting your energy levels. Reduce stress

Stress has also been linked to many mental and physical health problems. Take some time for yourself, lose yourself in a book or go for a walk outside. Mindfulness or meditation techniques can help reduce anxiety.

Move more

Research has proven that regular exercise can fight feelings of fatigue, increase energy levels and improve your sleep. Physical activity also triggers the release of ‘happy hormones’ dopamine and serotonin, boosting your mood long after you’ve finished your workout.

Stay hydrated

Water can have a huge effect on your body’s mood, energy and brain function. Particularly as you age, the sensation of thirst decreases, so don’t rely on that to remind yourself to drink.

Eat healthily

Discover simple steps to help look after your mental wellbeing

Search Every Mind Matters

Sweet snacks can combat feelings of tiredness in the short term, but high-sugar foods cause a sharp spike in blood sugar levels, followed by a crash. If you want to satisfy your sweet tooth, try snacking on fresh berries and ‘no sugar’ drinks.

Supplement

your diet

No matter how nutritious your diet may be, there’s a chance that your body could still be lacking certain nutrients. For example, being deficient in vitamin B12, a vitamin only found in animal products, has been known to cause feelings of fatigue.

If you’re unsure which supplements you need, talk to your doctor to find out if you’re deficient in any key nutrients.

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