The Connection Magazine (Norwich) Feb/March 2023

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WIN £25

JARROLD VOUCHER

HOLLY WILLOUGHBY GADGETS TO SLASH YOUR BILLS

HEALTH SCREENINGS SUSTAINABLE TRAVEL RECIPE: CORNED BEEF HASH

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12 Whoʼs that girl? Holly Willoughby

14 Finance

18 Volunteer with The Build Charity

20 Books for Motherʼs Day

22 Interiors: Happy vibes for the home

25 Crufts dog show

26 Recipe: Corned beef hash

28 Sustainable travel

31 Competition: Win a £25

to the first edition of 2023.

If you’ve ever thought about volunteering The Build Charity has some fantastic volunteering opportunities. The charity supports adults with disabilities and their volunteering opportunities range from helping out at social events to fundraising, marketing, event management and photography. If you’ve got a few hours to spare and want to help a really worth while local charity you can read more on page 18.

If you fancy winning a £25 Jarrold voucher please do enter our ’Find the Kittens’ competition. It’s easy to do and you may very well be the next winner.

As always our advertisers appreciate your continued support, if you need a local service please check these pages to see if there’s a local business that can offer their services.

466829

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

Holly Willoughby has gone from being the girl from Brighton to a national treasure

She has that girl-next-door persona about her – and became a household name back in 2009 when she replaced Fern Britton as co-host alongside Phillip Schofield on ITV’s flagship daytime show, This Morning.

The award-winning presenters, who were fi rst put together on Dancing on Ice three years prior to Holly landing the This Morning role, have a great chemistry on-screen and have also formed a close friendship off-screen. Says Holly: “I think it’s just the fact that we’ve got a friendship fi rst and foremost. We’ve known each other for a really long time now and we pretty much know what the other one’s thinking, half the time, so it makes our working relationship really easy…and fun too!”

put together on Dancing on Ice three years got a friendship fi rst and foremost. We’ve

wedding dress – taking inspiration from her

neck and a beautiful, open back, as that’s what

Holly, 41, and husband Dan Baldwin tied the knot in August 2007 in a romantic church ceremony before hosting their reception at Amberley Castle, with Holly designing her own wedding dress – taking inspiration from her mother Linda’s 1977 wedding outfit – before asking a friend to make it. “I knew I wanted it to be very vintage, lace, with long sleeves, a high neck and a beautiful, open back, as that’s what everyone sees when you walk down the aisle. Oh, and a long train…if you can’t do that on your wedding day, when can you?,” Holly told Wylde Moon, her official lifestyle and guidance brand. Speaking previously about the secret to her relationship with TV producer Dan, Holly revealed: “Support is everything in mine and Dan’s relationship. He’s very solid ground; he is where I fall. And he knows when something is wrong – it makes me feel emotional even thinking about it. But of course, he has weaknesses; we both do. The key is holding up each other’s strengths and not poking at each other’s weaknesses.”

The presenter has a closely guarded private life, especially when it comes to her three children, Belle, Harry and Chester. Home for the family – and their pet dog Bailey and cat Bluebell – is a £3 million six-bedroom Edwardian house in southwest London.

Away from our TV screens, Holly is a brand ambassador for Marks & Spencer, while she has also collaborated with Dunelm to create

The Holly Willoughby for The Home bedding range. Talking about the inspiration behind the collection, she says: “I’m not an interior designer so whenever I design for the range, all I can do is dress a bed in a way that would make me happy in my own home. For me, your bedroom should be your sanctuary; a place of calm away from the busyness of everyday life.”

With a busy schedule that involves very early mornings, late-night events and caring for her family, being on top form is a priority: “I love the luxury of sinking into a bath before bed and if I’ve got the time, that’s exactly where you’ll find me; soaking in essential oils, listening to Desert Island Discs! I think a bath, followed by climbing into a bed with fresh sheets, is literally the best feeling in the world!”

“The key is holding up each other’s strengths and not poking at each other’s weaknesses.”

If you’re going to make a big financial decision, it makes sense to get help from the professionals. But you may worry about getting advice that you can trust and that’s right for you. That’s where an independent financial advisor comes in.

ADVICE vs GUIDANCE

Financial guidance (which anyone can give) is where somebody talks you through the pros and cons of your potential decisions. However, they legally cannot make any recommendations about your best option.

Financial advice is a regulated industry and a financial advisor can make specific recommendations of the best products for your needs. It’s only a suggestion, and you make the final decision, but that decision will be much better informed.

Financial advisors come in two forms. A ‘restricted’ financial advisor may only make recommendations for particular products or particular providers. In some cases, they may know or think there’s a better option elsewhere but don’t have to tell you about it. An independent financial advisor can consider all options.

Using an independent financial advisor also has some legal advantages. It’s a regulated status and the advisor is legally required to take into account several factors when giving advice. These include your budget, how long-term you are thinking, your tax status and the risk level you’ll accept.

If they don’t do so, you can complain to the Financial Services Ombudsman and could even get compensation. Remember, this only covers ‘bad advice’ in the sense that it wasn’t suitable for your specific needs. It doesn’t cover cases

where the product carried a degree of risk that you knew about and that risk didn’t pay off as well as you might have hoped. The Financial Services Compensation Scheme can step in if the financial advisor has gone into liquidation. Always check that an independent financial advisor is regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, which is a legal requirement. This means they have a particular level of professional financial qualifications, commit to a code of ethics and take part in ongoing professional training.

Another rule of being regulated is that the adviser must tell you up front what they charge and how their costs are calculated, letting you compare advisors before committing to a service. With new clients, advisers can no longer take commission from financial service providers. Instead, they can charge you through models such as an hourly rate, a set fee, an ongoing ‘subscription-style’ retainer, or a percentage of the money you invest.

WHO TO ENGAGE?

You could ask friends and family for a recommendation, but their needs and financial situation may be very different to yours.

There are a range of independent websites including Unbiased and VouchedFor, which can suggest advisors in your area.

Finally, whilst using someone local doesn’t guarantee that you’ll get the best person, it’s much more likely you’ll be able to get feedback. And if an advisor has given time and money to advertise their services, their reputation is important to ensure they get the best return.

PRICE LIST

THE BUILD CHARITY VOLUNTEER CAMPAIGN

The BUILD Charity are looking for people to support our social events with a small group of adults with disabilities, with all expenses covered. If it is a relaxing weekend that you are after, this could be a Sunday Roast, a Sunday afternoon Walkabout, a Grow and Go gardening session or even a Sunday afternoon cinema trip. If you enjoy even more excitement, why not head into the city for our Ten Pin Tuesdays or even a Wednesday Club Social!

Alternatively, if you have expertise in marketing,

fundraising, event management or photography and are willing to share your skills with us, we would also love to hear from you!

We believe that volunteers should get as much out of the BUILD Charity as they put in, so there are many benefits to these roles. As a BUILD Charity volunteer, you attend events whenever it suits your schedule, all volunteer expenses are covered by the charity and by becoming a BUILD volunteer, you receive your disability awareness training and safeguarding

training.

If any of these volunteering opportunities are of interest to you then either call the office on 01603 618029, email us at volunteer@buildcharity.co.uk, or check out the website for our sign up form and donation pages.

We look forward to hearing from you!

Inspirational reads to mark International Women’s Day and great gift ideas for Mother’s Day.

All You Ever Wanted – Susan Elliot Wright

A dark and sinister tale of toxic family relationships, full of secrets and lies. Life is hectic when new mum Emily returns to work, so when she meets Anna, she’s grateful to find someone who can calm her down. Anna soon becomes part of the family but Emily can’t help feeling something isn’t right: someone is keeping a big secret from her – and they know her lifechanging secret too…

You’ll Never Walk Alone – Rachel Kelly

The Sunday Times best-selling author brings you a lovely collection of inspirational poetry, designed to help you through every occasion, on good days and bad, and to bring poetry into your life. One for every week of the year, the 52 poems are organised into seasons – from the dark and wintry to the spring-like and hopeful – with insightful notes from the author.

Whatever Next? Lessons from an Unexpected Life – Anne Glenconner

From Maid of Honour at the late Queen’s coronation in 1953 to Lady in Waiting to Princess Margaret, Anne Glenconner (the author of The Times Memoir of the Year, Lady in Waiting), brings her bracing honesty, characteristic wit and courage to reflect on – and reveal more – about her fascinating life and the hard-won lessons learnt in diplomacy, marriage and motherhood.

Deliciously Vintage Baking & Desserts

The novelty of retro foods has spiked since lockdowns, with consumers returning to nostalgic recipes for a dose of comfort food and for the enjoyment of traditional baking. And it’s not hard to see why some cakes and bakes become classics, with family recipes handed down through the generations. From cookies and cakes to pastries and desserts, Victoria Glass charts the delicious range of some of our much-loved classics, guaranteed to hit all the right notes of nostalgia and deliciousness.

Good for a Girl – Lauren Fleshman

One of the most-decorated distance runners in the United States, Lauren Fleshman tells of how she fell in love with running as a girl and shares her own running journey – from being pushed to her limits and succumbing to devastating injuries to daring to fight for a better way for female athletes. It’s a powerful look at how competitive sports is designed for men and boys and routinely fail female athletes, leading to injuries, eating disorders, and mental-health issues.

The London Séance Society – Sarah Penner (out 21st March)

1873. At an abandoned chateau on the outskirts of Paris, a dark séance is about to take place led by acclaimed spiritualist Vaudeline D’Allaire, known for conjuring the spirits of murder victims and revealing their killers. Although sceptical, Lenna Wickes has come to Vaudeline for answers to her sister’s death and agrees to become her assistant. When the pair travel to London to help solve a high-profile murder, they begin to suspect they are not merely out to solve a crime, but are perhaps entangled in one themselves...

Add layers of texture to your bed with a quilted pillowcase, such as this abstract assortment of multicoloured letters on an orange base. Alphabet Soup quilted pillowcase, £42, antipodream.co.uk.

Make getting out of the shower a fancy affair with this vibrant cotton bath mat. Islands in the Stream bath mat, £49, antipodream.co.uk.

This retro-styled neon lamp emits a bird-shaped luminous glow that’s guaranteed to put a smile on your face. Eleanne Toucan neon light, £13.99, wayfair.co.uk.

Make a statement with this fun home accessory, featuring a bubble-gumpink finish and organic shape. Large amphora vase, £18, sassandbelle.co.uk.

This beautifully crafted canvas shade is teamed with a highquality crystal base and a gorgeous yellow flex. Ginkgo in Sunshine lamp with Sunshine flex, £199, annajacobsart.com.

The perfect gift for any occasion, this decorative bottle is filled with 125 colourful, 10cm-long, luxury matches. Multicoloured Joy matches, £15, heavenlyhomesandgardens.co.uk.

Playful prints, vibrant colours and silly shapes

• Choose bright shades that make you feel good. Yellow is a great choice as it’s so reminiscent of hot, sunny days (they’re on their way!). Team with other warm colours such as red, pink and orange, or add in a melange of everything for a cheerful mix.

• Impactful patterns can be used even in small doses to make a difference to your space. Or you could go the whole hog and cover an entire wall…

• Look for pieces with dramatic or unusual silhouettes – be bold and express your individuality, and you’ll add happy energy to your room.

• More is more! Layer colours and patterns without worrying too much about so-called ‘taste’. If you love it, go for it.

By Katherine Sorrell

Fend off the gloom of winter by introducing some happy vibes to your home. Our selection of joyful accessories is sure to bring a smile to your face.

Bring the groove into your interior with a colourful disco ball for an instant party feeling. Gold & Pink stripy disco ball, £53, rockettstgeorge.co.uk.

The designers liken the style of this bold, digitally printed wallpaper to a samba or a mambo, dancing across the paper with an expressive joy. Squiggle wallpaper in Lapis & Honey, £69, ohpopsi.comi.

Transform your space with an eye-catching poster, printed on luxury art paper with a premium finish. Happy Sunshine nursery art print, £5.99 (not including frame), hiddenprints.co.uk.

These one-of-a-kind baskets are made by the weavers of the Bolgatanga area, Northern Ghana, and finished with sustainable leather. African shopping basket in Joy, £65, lolaandmawu.com.

Fittedcarpetsareproperlystretched,alljoinsarehand sewn,doorscutandroomscleanedoncompletion

Only £475

The annual Crufts dog show will be taking place this year at the NEC Birmingham, from 9-12 March. Organised and hosted by The Kennel Club, it is the largest show of its kind in the world. Crufts is named after its founder Charles Cruft. Having no interest in joining the family jewellery business after leaving college in 1876, Charles decided instead to take employment with James Spratt who had set up a new venture in Holborn, London selling ‘dog cakes’.

Charles Cruft was ambitious and a relatively short apprenticeship as an office boy led to a promotion to travelling salesman. This brought him into

contact with large estates and sporting kennels. His next career move with Spratts saw him travelling to Europe and here in 1878, French dog breeders, perhaps seeing entrepreneurial talents in Cruft, invited him to organise the promotion of the canine section of the Paris Exhibition. He was still just two years out of college. Back in England in 1886 he took up the management of the Allied Terrier Club Show at the Royal Aquarium, Westminster. It was in 1891 that the first Cruft’s show was booked into the Royal Agricultural Hall in Islington with a total of 2437 competitors, and 36 breeds. Crufts now attracts over 18,000 competitors alongside hundreds of thousands of visitors each year and is broadcast to an international television audience.

Charles Cruft

CC BY 2.0 Adrian Betteridge

Serves 4 Costs 95p per person Prep time 10 mins Cook time 35 mins

Beat the winter blues – and make the most of the money in your pocket and the everyday ingredients in your cupboard –with this cost-effective yet tasty and satisfying midweek winner.

Ingredients

• 300g potatoes, diced

• Olive oil

• 1 onion, peeled and chopped

• 2 cloves garlic, minced

• 1 x 340g tin of corned beef, chopped

• 80g bag of watercress, spinach and rocket, chopped

• 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce

Method

1. Parboil the potatoes in a pan of lightly salted water for around 7 minutes before draining the water – they should be slightly softened but still hold their shape.

2. In a large, heavy-based pan, fry off the onions in a glug of oil until beginning to soften. Add the garlic and allow to cook for about 30 seconds.

3. Now add the potatoes, corned beef and chopped salad leaves, and apply a little pressure with a spatula or fish slice. Occasionally turn the mixture but try not to disturb it too much.

4. Add the Worcestershire sauce and push down on the mixture again. By this point, it should all be nicely browned.

5. Serve with baked beans or some cooked-from-frozen vegetables, if liked.

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

The benefits of travelling are infinite. However, the increase in plane travel and overcrowding of tourist hotspots has undoubtedly had a negative impact on the environment too.

If you’re looking to reduce your carbon footprint, but still want to see the world, don’t lose hope. There are lots of ways to make your trips more sustainable – whether that’s by choosing the right destinations, seeking out eco-experiences or choosing greener modes of transport.

Take the road less travelled

Nowadays, more and more destinations are becoming victims of overtourism. This is when there are too many visitors at a particular destination, resulting in locals being pushed out, damage to the area and more. While it’s tempting to visit the bucket-list destinations you see on social media, as a tourist you can make a difference by getting off the beaten path. Do some extra research and look beyond the top attractions in the area you’re staying. You could also ask locals or other travellers for recommendations. By doing so, you’ll be spreading the benefits of tourism to more remote communities!

Choose a destination closer to home

You don’t have to travel to the other side of the world to have an unforgettable holiday. There are plenty of awe-inspiring destinations sitting right on your doorstep here in the UK, or just a short plane or train journey away.

With the pandemic putting a halt to foreign travel for over a year, many of us will be more accustomed to holidaying in the UK. However, if your sights are set on somewhere far-flung, reduce your carbon footprint by taking one longer holiday per year instead of multiple shorter trips.

Škofja Loka, Szlovénia

Cornwall, England

Use efficient modes of transportation

Too often, we choose the easiest option when it comes to travelling, instead of thinking about the journey as an experience in itself.

Air travel tends to be the easiest but least efficient mode of transportation. When visiting destinations that are close to home – such as cities in Western Europe – why not consider travelling by train or coach? You’ll cut your emissions, while soaking up the scenery along the way. Once you’ve arrived at your destination, avoid renting a car and travel by bus, rail or bike instead.

Seek out local and sustainable experiences

While you’re enjoying your holiday, take advantage of every opportunity to give back to the local community. Buying gifts for your family? Snap up locally made souvenirs at smaller independent stores. Fancy a meal out? Avoid big hotel chains and find restaurants run by local residents. Homestays, local guides and programmes that give back to the community are also good ways to ensure your money is injected back into the local economy.

Pack like a pro

Plastic waste might not be a huge issue in the western world, but developing countries have been suffering from uncontrollable plastic rubbish in oceans and beaches for years.

You can avoid single-use plastics on your travels by packing reusables like a water bottle, coffee cup, steel or bamboo straw, collapsible food container and bamboo cutlery.

Throughout

COMPETITION

FIND THE KITTENS AND WIN A £25 JARROLD VOUCHE R

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.

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 March 2023 and a winner will be chosen within 7 days The Connection Magazine competition terms and conditions apply

Many serious health conditions can go unnoticed for months – and even years – but health screenings can help us to identify any underlying issues, so we can significantly reduce our risk and improve the prognosis of any illness. After all, prevention is better than cure.

Cervical screening

Cervical screenings, also known as ‘smear tests’ are offered to all women and people with a cervix aged between 25 and 64. It’s designed to check the health of cells in the cervix, to prevent cervical cancer from developing in the future. It’s offered every three years for those aged 25 to 49, and every five years between the ages of 50 and 64.

Breast screening

If you’re registered as a woman at a GP surgery and aged between 50 and 71, you’ll be offered an NHS breast screening (mammogram) every three years. A mammogram checks your breasts for signs of cancer, and save around 1,300 lives each year in the UK.

Bowel cancer screening

The NHS’s bowel cancer screening (which is a home test) is offered to everyone aged between 60 and 74. If you fall within this demographic, you’ll receive a screening every two years. However, the programme is currently in the process of expanding to make it available to people aged over 50.

Diabetic eye screening

From the age of 12, all people with diabetes are offered an annual diabetic eye test to check for early signs of diabetic retinopathy – which can lead to sight loss if left untreated.

Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) screening AAA screenings are offered to men during the year they turn 65 to detect abdominal aortic aneurysms. This is a bulge or swelling in the

aorta, the main blood vessel that runs from your heart down through your stomach, which if left untreated could burst causing dangerous bleeding inside the stomach.

Pregnancy screenings

The first screening is for sickle cell and thalassaemia, offered before 10 weeks, followed by blood tests for HIV, hepatitis B and syphilis. Mothers will be offered screenings for Down’s syndrome, Edwards’ syndrome and Patau’s syndrome between 11 to 14 weeks, before a final check of the babies’ development between 18 to 21 weeks. As with any screening, you can choose which tests, if any, are right for you.

Newborn screenings

Newborn babies’ tests start with a physical examination straight after birth that covers the eyes, heart, hips and testes (if the baby’s a boy), closely followed by a hearing test.

When a baby is about five days old, they’ll be offered a blood spot test to check for nine rare but serious health conditions.

Private screenings

While the tests outlined above are looking for specific conditions, many private screenings are often more of a preventative nature. A health adviser will review your weight, fitness, mobility, blood pressure and even mental health.

If anything comes up as a result of the test, the service will often work with you to ‘coach’ you for a time through a combination of online tools and follow-up calls.

The little buys that can make a really big difference

With the price of gas and electricity currently in orbit, the cost of living seems to be soaring ever upwards – but with a few well-chosen buys you can make a big difference to your energy bills. And you don’t need to spend a fortune either, so these gadgets will pay for themselves very quickly.

The best place to start is your central heating system. If you don’t have a smart thermostat, or worse, if you don’t have a thermostat at all, you’re probably paying to heat empty rooms or to keep the heat on longer than necessary. There are lots of smart thermostats to choose from, but one of the friendliest is the Hive from British Gas. It connects to your heating and you can use its remote control, smart speaker or phone/tablet app to set schedules, and if you use the app it can tell your heating when you’re leaving or coming home and set the heating accordingly. We installed one a couple of years ago and it made a big difference to our gas bill.

Lighting accounts for a lot of our energy use too, so if you haven’t already moved to LED bulbs you really should. For example, if you have a downlighter with halogen GU10 bulbs, swapping them for LEDs would reduce their energy consumption by as much as 90%: a 5W LED emits the same light as a 50W halogen bulb. And if you’ve been thinking about getting smart bulbs, they’re all LED too.

Don’t forget about the kitchen either. Your hob and oven use a lot of energy, and there are often much more efficient options: a 900W microwave uses a fraction of the energy for a fraction of the time. But of course you can’t microwave everything, which is why many of us are buying Instant Pots or air fryers. Air fryers are effectively small ovens with a big fan inside, and they cook faster and at lower temperatures than an oven; Instant Pots and similar devices can slow-cook, stew, pressure-cook and more, while using a fraction of the energy of a hob or oven.

Hive Smart Thermostat Mini

Smart thermostats from the likes of Hive, Tado, Google Nest and Honeywell give you much more control over your heating and can make a real difference to your bills. £119, hivehome.com

Philips Essential Air Fryer XL

You can pick up a small air fryer for under £50, but this Philips is a much better family appliance thanks to its five-portion capacity and Rapid Air technology.

£125, Philips.co.uk

Hive Smart Radiator Valve

A smart thermostat is just the start. Smart radiator valves can ensure you’re not heating empty rooms, saving even more money.

£54, hivehome.com

If you fancy smart, colourchanging, programmable bulbs then Hue is hard to beat: it has tons of indoor and outdoor lights and bulbs, and the starter kit contains everything you need to get up and running.

From £90, meethue.com

Instant Pot Pro

Don’t pay full price for any Instant Pot: they’re discounted in every big sales event. They’re all good but our pick is the Instant Pot Pro, a 10in-1 pressure cooker, slow cooker, soup cooker, rice cooker. £169, Amazon.co.uk

Philips Hue Starter Kit

The right fragrance can lift your mood, boost your confidence and (pardon the pun) really put a spring in your step.

Now that we’re heading into spring, you might prefer a lighter, fresher fragrance than the one you wore over winter. It’s worth considering some of the newer fragrance houses. Shay & Blue, for example, offer a wide range of genderneutral, modern fragrances at affordable prices. Their Tallulahs Camellia is a particular highlight. It’s floral without being overly sweet, with notes of bluebell, gardenia, lily and white tea. £55 for 100ml is great value, and the subscriber offers are also worth checking out.

Perfumes can be expensive, but even the priciest ones usually work out at just a few pence per spray. Still, you’ll want to choose wisely. When you’re trying perfumes on in a shop, spray them onto cardboard tester strips first. Consider how each scent makes you feel. Keep hold of the strips and smell them again in an hour. Fragrance is made up of top, middle and base notes. The top notes are lighter and evaporate quite quickly, so the scent changes subtly over time. Which fragrance do you like best? Head back to the counter and spray it onto your skin. Again, check whether you still like it after an hour. If you do, you’re onto a winner.

On a tight budget? It’s worth checking discount stores like TK Maxx, www.perfumedirect.com and www.thefragranceshop.co.uk. We found Calvin Klein’s Euphoria reduced to £24.99 for 30ml (RRP £42) at Perfume Direct, and Gucci’s Guilty reduced from £57 to £34.20 for 50ml at The Fragrance Shop.

It’s also worth considering dupes. While they won’t smell exactly the same as the original, they’re often a pretty close match, at a fraction of the price. Lidl’s Suddenly Madame Glamour, for example, is very similar to Chanel’s Coco Mademoiselle, but costs under £5. And many of Primark’s fragrances are remarkably similar to those of top brands.

If you have your heart set on a particular designer fragrance, you can save money by buying the eau de toilette version rather than the eau de parfum. However, as there’s a lower concentration of fragrance in an eau de toilette, it wears off much quicker, so you’ll need to spray it more often.

Easily bored? Consider buying a discovery set rather than one full-sized bottle. The Floral Street Discovery Set, for example, gets you eight miniatures for £16. You won’t get many sprays from each 1.5ml bottle, but if you don’t wear perfume every day, it’s a fun way to mix things up. Shay & Blue also offer discovery sets, and they’re often on offer.

No idea where to start? Some fragrance brands offer online quizzes or free virtual or in-person consultations. Search online or just ask in-store.

PS You Got This, £2, Primark

Across

1. Mouldable synthetic substance (7)

5. Act that incriminates someone on a false charge (3-2)

8. The first letter of a word (7)

9. Flexible twig of a willow tree (5)

10. Legally binding command (5)

11. Fragments left over after a fire (7)

12. Kidney-shaped nut edible only when roasted (6)

14. Daily news publications (6)

17. Framework that supports climbing plants (7)

19. Framework of a military unit (5)

22. Semi-solid lumps of coagulated liquid (5)

23. Any domain of knowledge accumulated by systematic study (7)

24. Small short-necked dabbling river ducks (5)

25. Painted structures of a stage set (7)

Down

1. Integer that cannot be factored into other integers (5)

2. Defence plea of being elsewhere (5)

Answers on page 46

3. Prickly plant (7)

4. Type of cloth (6)

5. Bounded, as if by an oath (5)

6. Ancient Greek or Roman warship (7)

7. Muscular weakness caused by nerve damage (7)

12. One who imitates the behaviour of another (7)

13. Malignant tumour, a major type of cancer (7)

15. Depository containing historical records (7)

16. French sweet blackcurrant liqueur (6)

18. Fertile tract in the desert (5)

20. Series of rhythmical steps in time to music (5)

21. Lament for the dead (5)

Kia is back with a three-pronged approach with its hybrid, plug-in hybrid and EV Niro. Jack Evans finds out what it’s like.

What is it?

Kia’s Niro has proved to be a hugely popular car for the Korean firm. Originally offered with hybrid, plug-in hybrid and fully electric powertrains, it’s been a consistent bestseller. Replacing a car like that is never easy, but Kia appears up to the challenge with the new Niro.

Sitting on a new platform and with a range of new technologies, the Niro has returned with a host of revisions to ensure that it can be just as successful as the car it replaces.

What’s new?

As before, the new Niro remains available with a trio of powertrains, ensuring that there’s a setup for all buyers – though it’s the plug-in hybrid that we’re focusing on here. Overall, the Niro is longer, wider and taller than before, bringing improved spaciousness and practicality as a result.

The older Niro’s rather underplayed styling has been overhauled, which gives the Niro added presence and brings it closer in terms of design to the rest of Kia’s range.

What’s under the bonnet?

Whether you opt for the regular ‘self-charging’ hybrid or the PHEV we tested, you’re getting a setup focused around a 1.6-litre petrol engine. The difference lies in the electric motor – which becomes more powerful in the latter – and the battery, which swells in capacity. Combined, you get 180bhp and 265Nm of

torque, driven to the wheels via a six-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. You should get up to 40 miles of electric range, too, while CO2 emissions of just 22g/km put this in the business car-friendly category. Kia claim up to 353.1mpg is achievable, though this will rely on the batteries being kept topped up at all times.

What’s it like to drive?

It’s straightforward to drive, with no gimmicks or strange dials to get used to, while the steering wheel is much the same as those in other recent Kia models. It’s that ‘ease of use’ theme that continues through the driving experience of the car, with the PHEV setup switching between electric and petrol power without any fuss. It’s quiet, too, with good levels of refinement. However, the steering is quite lifeless and the brake pedal feels spongy. That said, you do rely more on the regenerative braking to slow the car down, with the paddles behind the steering wheel there to adjust how harsh this regeneration is. It’s a little counterintuitive, however, that after pulling the paddle several times to get the most amount of regeneration possible, it requires an additional ‘long hold’ of the paddle to achieve maximum braking.

How does it look?

The new car has a really bold front end incorporating Kia’s latest interpretation of its famous ‘Tiger Face’.

We particularly like the sharp daytime running lights. Around the back and the upright almost boomerang-shaped rear lights continue the theme, though the large slab of panel underneath them on the sides does look a little ugly in our eyes.

What’s it like inside?

The Kia Niro has grown considerably for this second-generation car. In fact, it’s now 65mm longer and 20mm wider and this growth spurt can definitely be noticed in the cabin. In the rear seats, there’s loads of space both in terms of head- and legroom. We particularly like the USB-C charging sockets that have been integrated into the backs of the front eats, which gives the back of the car a clean look. Interestingly, this plug-in hybrid is the worst off in terms of boot space. At 346 litres, it falls some way behind the regular hybrid’s 451 litres and – most impressive of all – the full EV’s 475 litres. Lower the seats and this does increase to 1,342 litres, but you really are better served with one of the other variants if maximum boot space is what you’re after.

What’s the spec like?

In keeping with Kia’s value-orientated approach, the Niro is absolutely packed with standard equipment. Prices for the plug-in hybrid start from £33,245 in entry-level ‘2’ grade, but the level of kit that you get at this level is impressive. All cars get 16-inch alloy

wheels, automatic headlights and an eight-inch touchscreen infotainment system with both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard. Our test car was finished to ‘4’ specification which, though commanding quite a premium at £39,175, did bring a host of extra touches such as a larger 10.25-inch touchscreen, heated rear seats and an electric sunroof. However, the range of equipment fitted to ‘2’ models means it’s arguably the strongest proposition.

Verdict

As one of Kia’s best-selling models the importance of the Niro can’t be underestimated. But by making it even more practical than before while giving it a stronger identity through more eye-catching styling, Kia has really strengthened the Niro’s appeal. It’s also backed up by the same level of standard equipment that made the original Niro such a hit, while its trio of powertrain options means that, as before, the Niro should continue to appeal to all manner of buyers.

The late winter month of February brings into focus the romantic festival of Valentine. Did you know that a gift of a thornless rose is said to represent ‘love at first sight’, and a single rose of any colour other than red means ‘thank you’? The single red rose doesn’t need any explanation, but if you feel generous and buy a bunch of twelve red roses, it could mean ‘I want to marry you’.

Living roses also make a wonderful gift. They can be planted now, provided the ground is frost-free. You can include a dose of mycorrhizal fungi, which will form a symbiotic relationship with any tree or shrub.

Types of roses

There are dozens of different types of roses and thousands of varieties in each category. New roses are being bred every year, but some of the old favourites include:

• Wild roses such as Rosa rugosa and Rosa canina, which can make wonderful informal hedges.

• Old Garden rose varieties, which are often over 100 years old, such as the pink, perfumed Rosa chinensis – the China rose.

• Hybrid tea roses such as: ‘Compassion’, an apricot pink, scented beauty; ‘Claret’, a red/ crimson variety with lovely fragrance; and ‘Aphrodite’, a pink rose with good disease resistance. Hybrid tea originate from the old tea roses, which smelled of spiced tea. They have strong, single blooms that are good for cutting.

• Floribunda roses have a profusion of smaller flowers, which appear in delightful clusters. These flower repeatedly and it is possible to have floribunda roses all through spring and into late summer.

• Patio roses are smaller than the shrub varieties and suitable for pots and containers. If you have a courtyard garden or even a large window box, this might be the one for you. The Gold Standard, award winning ‘George Best’ is a rather wonderful red, fading to pink. ‘Special Friend’ is the palest of pinks with a delicate fragrance.

• Ground-cover roses can look wonderful at the front of a border or draping across a low wall. Rosa ‘Kent’ is a white variety that has many excellent attributes, including large clusters of rain-tolerant blooms.

• Shrub roses are the modern equivalent to the Old Garden variety. They have been bred to be generally fairly disease resistant, having fairly large blooms that flower for many weeks. An unusual one is ‘Ferdinand Pichard’, being striped in clashing colours of bold pink, crimson and purple.

• Rambling roses are probably not for the faint-hearted! They grow beautifully through trees but might be too vigorous for a trellis or pergola. They generally flower just once a year, but it’s a show worth waiting for, particularly the white ‘Rambling Rector’.

• Climbing roses are a more orderly bunch of characters that love to grow over pergolas and can usually be trained to obey the chief gardener. They often flower more than once per year. Try ‘Gardener’s Glory’, a yellow rose that is a Gold Standard award winner, or ‘Gloriana’, a striking purple rose that flowers almost all summer long.

By Caroline Knight: Gardendesignideas.co.uk

Rose bushes can be planted in February

New rose varieties are being bred constantly, some with striped colours

NO LONGER A WOMEN’S ONLY CLUB. LASER, SKIN, VEIN AND COSMETIC SURGERY TREATMENTS FOR MEN

A recent study at Coltishall Clinic has shown that a third of our patients are now men. We offer a range of medical treatments, unlike a lot of purely cosmetic clinics.

Men can be just as concerned about their looks as women and how society views them. It has seemed the norm for a long time for men to accept that they cannot change things. Not anymore, the trend is that more men are coming for a variety of treatments and enjoying the benefits. Men want to remain youthful and often want to keep up with their partners (who often introduce them to these treatments or bring them along to appointments.)

Here at Coltishall Clinic we understand that men don’t want to give up their masculinity. We help to navigate patients through the numerous treatments we offer and to give you the look that you wish to achieve.

The effects of ageing can be reversed and a new physique can be attained, which could not be achieved even with exercise and a healthy diet. The most popular treatments among men are photo rejuvenation for conditions such as rosacea, thread veins on the face and pigmentation

issues. Botox and filler treatments have also seen an increase in popularity. With the introduction of minimally invasive surgical treatments we see men having eyelid surgery, brow lifts, face and neck lifts, varicose veins removal and having liposuction for body contouring. All our invasive treatments are performed purely under local anaesthesia on a walk -in walk-out basis so there is no worry about general anaesthesia and hospitalisation issues.

Here is a selection of our treatments for men:

- Acne or acne scarring (chemical peels, microdermabrasion, IPL, Lasers)

- Fractional co2 laser resurfacing

- Masculine facial contouring, cheekbone and jawline enhancement.

- Shaving bumps, moles, cysts, warts and verrucae removal.

- Unwanted hair on face, back, chest, legs etc.

- Rosacea & rhinphyma (bulbous nose reduction)

- Pigmentation/ broken veins on face

- Varicose, thread and spider veins

- Frown lines, crow’s feet & wrinkle softening

- Ageing face, volume replacement, nose to mouth

Photo shows popular surgical procedures for men includeing direct browlift, eyelid surgery, face lift and direct

Rosacea- red faces/ broken veins etc often only respond to laser treatments and medications generally fail to help long term

lines softening etc.

- Age spots, sun spots and liver spots

- Radiofrequency skin tightening

- Ultrasound body contouring

- Muscle toning and building with electromagnetic device

- Liposuction for face, neck, chin, jowls, man boobs, love handles and many body areas

- Face and neck Lift

- Hair loss treatments

- Varicose veins Laser treatment

Traditionally men are not very keen to visit doctors or consider surgery. We have seen increasing number of men including older men come in for our minimally invasive but very effective surgical options such

as a direct brow lift, eyelid surgery or a direct neck lift. The beauty of these procedures is that they are relatively simple, uncomplicated procedures that provide great results with no significant recovery period or discomfort.

If you are interested in finding out more about our treatments call us on 01603 736487 or log on the website www.coltishallclinic.co.uk

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