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ABERGAVENNY
FOOD FESTIVAL
The Autumn Issue September / October Issue 18 / 2012 £1.50 - where sold
SPECIAL
15 & 16 SEPTEMBER 2012
Tim McDougall of
■ Abergavenny Food Festival 2012 ■ Style & Fashion ■ Local Events ■ Homes and Gardens ■ Competitions ■ call the experts ... and much more ...
Abergavenny Food Festival Saturday 15 & Sunday 16 September
Your Festival Stroller Wristband Your stroller wristband will give you access to the main festival markets – all in the centre of Abergavenny. The five fabulous venues have over 200 handpicked exhibitors from Wales, the Marches and much further afield. But there’s lots more on offer than a brilliant shopping experience. In the market hall is the Robert Price Kitchen stage which will showcases a rolling programme of dems from the region’s finest talent and some festival favourites from further afield – including legendary chef Cyrus Todiwala of Café Spice Namaste, London well-known as a regular guest on ‘Saturday Kitchen’. Local talent includes Lindy Wildsmith and Franco Taruschio OBE from The Chef’s Room Fish and Cookery School, Blaenavon. They’ll be cooking up Welsh Italian fusion finger food for you to try. James Sommerin, holder of a Michelin Star at The Crown at Whitebrook demonstrates why The Good Food Guide
2012 rates The Crown as ‘world class’ and ‘best in Wales’. The stage will also host the grand finale of the Grow your Own Pizza competition for the areas comprehensive schools. Then there’s the grounds of the town’s ancient castle where the focus is on family fun and relaxation. There’s all-day entertainment in The Dome and ‘Rude Health’ rants at Speakers’ Corner. The Children’s Food Academy will give aspiring chefs the chance to get hands-on with food. Adults can sample the Otley Brewing Company’s special beer of the festival at the Blorenge Bar. There’s lots of great food to eat on the spot and roaming street theatre to enjoy. All holders of stroller tickets will also be able to pick up a free full-colour Festival Guide – everything needed to make the most of the festival experience. It includes maps, exhibitor listings, top tips, new products, and celebrity interviews. Buy stroller tickets now through the Borough Theatre on 01873 850805 – or on the day. Strollers start from £6.50 and there is free entry to all children under 16 if accompanied by an adult.
Abergavenny | Crickhowell | Tredegar
Small Animal (01873) 852391
Your local veterinary surgeons proud to support the Food Festival 2012 Gwent | Powys | The Valleys
Equine (01873) 840069 02
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Welcome...
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to the September issue of the Gazette and Diary magazine, which as always is packed with news and views of what is going on in Abergavenny and the surrounding area. This month of course the town is gearing up to host its annual Food Festival weekend and with this in mind food and drink plays a big part in this month's publication. If you are thinking of attending the hectic weekend the G&D is an essential guide, offering you a map of what's happening where and when and giving vital information about just who you are likely to encounter on the streets of the town. Alternatively if you prefer to escape the hustle and bustle of the Food Festival with an hour or two on the golf course, then our guide to the best of the area's courses could be just what you need - especially if the traditional sunny festival weekend makes an appearance this year.
Inside...
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Page 22 - 23 Fashion on the slopes
The Abergavenny Chronicle DESIGNERS: Dave Simkiss dave.simkiss@nwn.co.uk Michaela Cox michaela.cox@nwn.co.uk ADVERTISING: Jenna Hopkins ext 26 Hazel Walding - Advertising Manager For information on how to advertise in our next issue, contact: advertising@tindlenews.co.uk or telephone 01873 852187 ext 34 or ext 26 GENERAL MANAGER - Mary Purcell
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Page 12 Celebrate Chardonnay!
In association with
Page 2 - 19 Abergavenny Food Festival Special
When you have finished reading the Gazette & Diary Magazine - please recycle it. PUBLISHING: Printed and distributed by NWN Media. www.nwnmedia.co.uk Mold Business Park, Wrexham Road, Mold, CH7 1XY.
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Page 48 Training a Puppy ▲
Page 28 How to lose weight and enjoy life
Page 42 Fifty years and still rolling
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The Food Festival 2012
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ABERGAVENNY
FOOD FESTIVAL 15 & 16 SEPTEMBER 2012
STROLLER TICKETS AT 2011 PRICES WHENYOU BUY BEFORE 30 AUGUST! Full 2012 programme on the website. Beat the queues, buy Festival Stroller and Festival Event tickets online at abergavennyfoodfestival.com Tickets also available from the Borough Theatre Box Office, Abergavenny. UNDER 16s GET IN FREE! Masterclasses, Tutored Tastings, Food Talks, Walks & Forays + street and indoor market stalls, delicious food-to-go, Children’s Food Academy, entertainment and much more... Follow us on twitter @afoodfestival or sign up for regular e-newsletter updates at our website
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Norman Musa
Pierre Koffmann
Tom Parker Bowles
Yotam Ottolenghi
www.abergavennyfoodfestival.com
Meet culinary giants at the Abergavenny Food Festival Box office is now live for the 2012 Abergavenny Food Festival. Sponsored by Brewin Dolphin - one of the UK’s largest independent private client investment managers - the weekend of 15 & 16 September is a totally immersive experience, a special time for celebration and feasting. Here’s your chance to take some risks, try something new, and up your credibility in the kitchen. Buy stroller tickets for the market venues online at www.abergavennyfoodfestival.com, or through the Borough Theatre on 01873 850805. Free entry to children under sixteen (if accompanied by an adult). The event is of course all about food and will feature over two hundred hand-picked exhibitors from Wales, The Marches, and further afield, including ‘Wales the True Taste’ award-winners. So bring your shopping bags and take the True Taste Trail. But a full-on food festival needs extra elements to deliver piquancy and depth. Abergavenny has forty two. For a quick snapshot read on. The individually ticketed special events programme kicks off with a session from ace
baker Richard Bertinet on how to make the perfect pastry. Learn how to do it yourself and puff up with pride. Join Yotam Ottolenghi and Sami Tamimi, the brilliant creative duo behind the fabulous Ottolenghi restaurants. Get a feel for the cultural melting pot that is Jerusalem, their home city, buy their brand new ‘Jerusalem Cookbook’ and recreate the flavours in your own home. Try Chinese home-cooking with Fuchsia Dunlop, share top tips with Monica Galetti, well known to fans of BBC2s Masterchef, and see hot new talent Norman Musa with his take on Malaysian street-food. Rev up to road-test Tom Parker Bowles’ latest cookbook with Matt Tebbutt and Matthew Fort; transform your daily meals with simple techniques from ultimate cookery teacher Alex Mackay; try curries of the world with Atul Kochhar – twice Michelin-starred, and watch fish expert Mitch Tonks conjure up easy fish suppers alongside vegetable supremo Jane Baxter. And then there’s the Welsh perspective. Meet broadcaster Kate Humble and enjoy a taster from some of the cooks and artisan food producers who are helping her (and husband Ludo) transform their Monmouthshire
smallholding into a centre for rural skills and animal husbandry. Plus you can savour ‘Wales at its Best’ with Tim McDougall of Celtic Manor’s three AA Rosette flagship restaurant, Terry M. Be sure to take note of two titans of the culinary world who’re appearing as part of the Festival’s ‘Food Talks’ strand: acclaimed food anthropologist Claudia Roden and legendary chef, Pierre Koffmann. Claudia will discuss her five-year immersion in the regional cuisines of Spain with Andalucianbased travel writer Michael Jacobs. Pierre Koffmann, who’s accrued three Michelin stars and a legion of famous protégés, will be talking to influential food writer Matthew Fort about the heights of haute cuisine and his lifetime love of rustic country cooking. The Abergavenny Food Festival is part-funded by the Welsh Government. It is renowned for bringing together top practitioners through an inspiring and sometimes provocative programme of masterclasses, tutored tastings, talks and debates. All guests will be appearing at book-signing sessions over the weekend. Anyone interested in finding out more should sign up for e.news bulletins at www.abergavennyfoodfestival.com
■ Kate & Myfanwy
■ Alex Mackay
■ Cross Street during last year’s Food Festival
■ Claudia Roden
■ Tim McDougall
■ Monica Galetti
■ Mitch Tonks
■ Fuchsia Dunlop ●
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Dewsall Supper Club
The Dewsall Supper Clubs are an ‘out of the box’ dining experience with exciting well-known chefs. Fully booked for 2012 but launching again in 2013 on Valentine’s weekend (Feb 16th) with Valentine Warner. Beautiful bedrooms available too! www.dewsall.com/supper-club
01432 276724 06
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Top Talent – Meet some Culinary Super-Stars Some of the most highly esteemed stars of the culinary world are heading for the Welsh Borders for the Abergavenny Food Festival. True crusaders, their mission is to inspire, motivate and encourage experimentation. Here’s your chance to take some risks, try something new, and up your credibility in the kitchen. The individually ticketed programme includes masterclasses, tutored tastings, talks and debate. There’s free wine with masterclasses in the Priory Centre, and food sampling included in all tutored tastings.
Edwards will be talking about her fascinating new book – a comprehensive guide to growing and using this extraordinary plant. Colin Boswell, her father, runs the worldfamous Isle of Wight Garlic Farm, and he’ll be bringing along some very special complimentary bulbs for all attendees to take home.
Guest performers include food legends Pierre Koffmann and Claudia Roden, Yotam Ottolenghi and Richard Bertinet. View the full programme online at www.abergavennyfoodfestival.com.
Fuchsia Dunlop, widely acknowledged to be the best western writer on Chinese food will be holding a masterclass on Chinese home cooking. She’ll be demonstrating some of the vibrant, healthy, vegetable-based home cooking of Southrern China. Fuchsia trained at one of China’s leading cookery schools.
You could, for instance, join Alex Mackay for a masterclass on Sunday 16 September. Alex has run cookery schools for Raymond Blanc and Delia Smith and is the ultimate cookery teacher. He’ll be showing you how to transform your daily meals. You’ll be able to learn some simple techniques to turn everyday ingredients into something special. If you are interested in Welsh produce then you might want to book into The Gourmet Harvest of West Wales. Presented by Scott Davis and Kirsty Manning it will be a tutored tasting of smoked meat, fish, pates and terrines from the exciting new food company Cnwd.
There are forty two special events featuring every kind of cuisine – Malaysian, Indian, Welsh, Scandinavian, Chinese, Italian and Persian. There are so many different topics: beer, cheese, fine wines, offal, cider, herbs, wild food, chocolate, raw milk, pastry and fish. Take your pick, feed the senses, and take some new skills home.
To Advertise in next months edition of the Gazette magazine contact Jenna or Becky on: 01873 852187 ext 36 or email jennahopkins@yahoo.co.uk
Chantler Teas
Selling the world s finest loose leaf teas.
Foo
d ChantlerTeas offer a wide range of high quality loose leaf and herbal teas from around 15th Festival the world.These include well known and occasional rare varieties of teas for the Septe& 16th mber discerning tea drinker. Our teas are ethically sourced from around the world from small estates who are members of the EthicalTea Partnership.They are among the top 20% of the finest tea produced by that country.
Come and see us at
Abergavenny Market South Wales
on Fridays between 9am & 4pm.
Home of Abergavenny Gold premium blend tea
The Bear Hotel High Street
As part of the Food Talks strand there’s a session on Garlic – The Mighty Bulb. Natasha
07786 593253
Email: chantlerteas@gmail.com
Abergavenny Market Cross Street, Abergavenny
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Crickhowell
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NP8 1BW
01873 810408
All about Party at The Castle The annual Party at The Castle takes place on Saturday 15 September (7.30 – 11.00pm). Its an open-air event with a line-up of hot musical talent in The Dome.
Twice Voted Pub of the Year in The last 10 years
Recommended in the Good Food Guide 07
Welcomes everyone to the 2012 Abergavenny Food Festival
Comic entertainment will be provided by Zooted Chefs Extraordinaire and Reckless Invention Comedy Waiters. There’s a really enchanted atmosphere. Enjoy a delicious selection of food to buy and eat on the spot and drinks from the Blorenge Bar. Dance ‘til you drop with the 12-piece Afro Beat Collective who play infectious, vibrant grooves – tight Afro Funk with swing brass section to match. Jazz Disasters take you through old-time, good time hits of the twenties, thirties and forties and Little Rumba play romantic bohemian tunes on violin, saxophone and guitar. In contrast Olion Byw blend fiddle, mandolin, guitar and voice to produce haunting Welsh folk music.
Recommended by the AA in The Best Places to Stay and the Good Pub Guide
THE HOTEL WITH AWARD WINNING FOOD
The evening is rounded off with a fabulous firework display. Tickets cost £15.00 and can be purchased through the Borough Theatre on 01873 850805.
Come and enjoy the atmosphere in the award winning Bear Hotel. Excellent bar food with a family bar, restaurant and accomodation. Autumn flowering baskets and log fires add to the charming surroundings.
dog friendly
www.bearhotel.co.uk ●
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The new Autumn and Winter 2012 / 13 Menu from Wiltshire Farm Foods The seasons have changed and so has our brochure. Our chefs have been working hard to develop our range of tasty and nutritious meals to keep our menu as varied as possible, while still ensuring we maintain high standards of quality and value. We are also delighted to welcome our new Dietitian, Helen Blunn, on board to bring you helpful advice. We’ve given you more information about our menu, highlighting the health benefits, while giving you some interesting facts about our range of meals. So what’s new for the winter months? We have 21 exciting new meals for you to choose from, everything from a tasty Lamb & Mint Pie, to warming soups. Our brand new Choices range offers a selection of favourite meals and side dishes so you can choose your own combination. There’s a delicious Steak Casserole, or a Chicken Tikka Masala with six different side dishes to choose from, like Extra Buttery Mash and a Minted Vegetable Selection. You may want to pair your main meal with one of our delicious side dishes, or add your own choice of vegetables or a fresh salad. Whatever you choose, our Choices range allows you to enjoy your meal exactly as you like it. For the perfect sweet treat, we’ve also added three new cakes to our Afternoon Tea range. There are over 250 tempting options to choose from in the new brochure, including breakfast and afternoon tea. We cater for all appetites –
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our Mini Meals are a great option when you’re after a lighter meal or snack, and our Hearty Meals are perfect for when you fancy a larger portion. We also cater for a wide range of special dietary needs, including Low Fat, Gluten Free, Low Salt and a range of ‘Free From’ options. All our main meals are suitable for people with Diabetes, and our range of Diabetic Hot Desserts allows you to enjoy tucking into something sweet-tasting – they just contain less sugar to help your diabetic diet. Meals are delivered FREE of charge and direct to your door by our caring, CRB police-checked drivers and if you wish, your driver will even pop the meals in the freezer for you. Whenever you’re ready, you can simply heat your meal from frozen in an oven or microwave and enjoy. So a piping hot meal is only ever minutes away! Brian and Sara Stringer from Wiltshire Farm Foods Monmouth comment: “We’re so pleased with all our new meals and desserts and they’re perfect for the winter months. If you can’t decide what to choose, try one of our menu packs, offering a selection of our most popular meals and desserts – it’s the perfect introduction to our range. Ordering is easy on the phone or online at wiltshirefarmfoods.com and we’ll deliver to your door free of charge. Give our team a call on 01600 892855 - we’ll be happy to take your order or answer any questions you may have.”
September / October
With 21 years experience, Wiltshire Farm Foods has earned a reputation for delivering quality meals and outstanding customer service, so you’ll be guaranteed tasty, nutritious meals whatever the weather this winter.
Spotlight on Abergavenny Market Two years ago Collette Crewe, her mum Cheryll and her partner Steve Bridges launched an artisan bakery business, Elm Tree Foods, from their home in Goldcliff, near Newport. In their first year’s trading they picked up three national Great British Pie Awards, judged in the home of pie-making Melton Mowbray, with gold for their Porky Pear Pie, silver for their vegetarian Butternut Scrunchie Pie and bronze for their Minty Mutton Pie. This year they did even better, with three gold awards, one silver and one bronze. The bakery is housed in a converted outbuilding at the family’s farm, where they currently produce 1,000 - 1,500 pies a week. “It all started because Mum and I loved baking,” said Collette.“At first we were making just four different pies, now we have thirteen products - everything from Boozy Beef Pie and Brie Tart to Homity Pie, inspired by the Land Girls in World War Two, which we make with potatoes cooked in garlic, caramelised onions, mature cheddar and capers.” “We source our organic beef and pork from Celtic Pride in West Wales and our mutton from Bath. We also use organic cheeses and eggs from our own free range chickens. We produce our own honey too which has just achieved a True Taste award.” The latest addition to the Elm Tree Foods range is a three-tier Wedding Pie - which weighs eight and a half kilos and serves sixty people!
“The wedding pie is something really innovative, a completely new take on the traditional wedding cake,” Collette explained.
“I enjoy getting the instant feedback from customers at places where we offer hot tastings. It helps us to develop new products,” said Collette.
“It occurred to us that, in the current economic climate, people might not have as much money to spend on wedding catering as they used to but would still be looking for something special and unusual.
On August Bank Holiday the company’s Celebration Sharing Pie reached the final of the Pies v Cakes contest at Chris Evans’ Car Fest in Hampshire - staged at Lavistock Park Farm, home of Ferrari’s former Formula One World champion Jody Scheckter.
“The wedding pie makes a striking centre piece for the reception and it’s a great alternative to a normal buffet.
The judges were so impressed they gave it a score of 94%!
“The bottom layer is our Celebration Pie (ham, If you want to sample any of the Elm Tree Foods chicken, apricots and sausagemeat) which won silver range you’ll find the stall at Abergavenny Market on at the Great British Pie awards this year. The second Tuesdays and Saturdays. layer is our gold-award winning pork pie and the third is a vegetarian option. ■ The three-tier wedding “The bride and groom have an pie - a striking centre official ‘cutting of the pie’ then piece for any reception serve it to their guests with chutneys, salads and breads.
■ Steve Bridges
■ Ros Dudley with a selection of pies at Abergavenny market
“It’s proving so popular that our next step will be to explore ways of expanding the market via wedding fayres and so on.” Collette and Steve currently sell Elm Tree’s products at food festivals and farmers’ markets across England and Wales and have acquired a large, loyal customer base.
ABERGAVENNY
MARKET
Situated in the middle of the town known as the Gateway to Wales, Abergavenny Tuesday Market is well known as one of the major markets in Wales.
M. T. CASHELL & SONS LTD High Class, High Street Butcher / Green Grocer / Delicatessen COME AND SEE OUR SPECIAL OFFERS
Local Llanbedr Black Mountain Welsh Beef Local Welsh Glanusk Lamb Local free range Gloucester Old Spot Pork MARKETS EVERY TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY, FRIDAY & SATURDAYS
Far mers Market Thursday 27th September
Arts & Crafts
Situated on Crickhowell’s high street For further details contact Geoff Harris 01873 735811
High quality family butcher Delicatessan counter Locally produced meat and poultry
Thursday 14th September
53 HIGH ST, CRICKHOWELL, NP8 1BH
01873 810405
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The Italian Job Half a century since a wave of Italian immigrants set up the first trattorias across the UK, Britain's love affair with this cuisine shows no sign of stopping. But our understanding and appreciation of Italian food has changed dramatically over the years. Celebrity chef Gennaro Contaldo, who first came to Britain in the late Sixties, says: "At the beginning, a lot of immigrants came to England but there were very few chefs. But because almost every Italian can sing and can cook, they used to open a little restaurant. "They wouldn't necessarily cook something very Italian. They would cook what we call 'Britalian' food, something between British and Italian." In fact, many of the dishes that we consider typically Italian today are actually an adaptation and not entirely authentic. "The spaghetti bolognese in England nearly gave me a heart attack!" says Contaldo. "It was full of mushrooms, peppers, some different vegetables and perhaps bits and pieces of meat. "But the original dish, ragu bolognese, is made with tagliatelle and is so simple. You just use carrots and onion, and then pork and beef in equal parts." Though 'Britalian' cuisine can still be found in thousands of restaurants, more authentic Italian
Contaldo has created some recipes to reflect modern Italian dining in Britain today. Try these for size... (For all of these recipes, Bertolli Spread can be substituted with any quality olive oil-based spread)
food is far easier to find these days. Contaldo is an ambassador for the Bertolli Spread Olive D'Oro Awards, which have been searching for the UK's top Italian delis and trattorias.
Risotto alle fragole (strawberry risotto)
The winners were announced on June 20, and include eateries across Britain, from Cardiff to Cambridge (for the full list visit www.bertolli.co.uk).
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With traditional delis now a common sight on many British high streets, it is easier than ever to source the right ingredients to make simple, authentic Italian food at home.
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Heat 30g of the Bertolli Spread in a saucepan, add the shallots and sweat on a medium heat. Stir in the rice, coating each grain. Stir in the white wine and simmer until evaporated. Add a ladleful of stock, stir and simmer for a minute, then stir in the roughly chopped strawberries. Gradually add the remaining stock, stirring all the time between additions. When the rice becomes al dente, remove from the heat and stir in the remaining 40g of Bertolli Spread and grated parmesan. Add salt to taste if desired. Leave to rest for a minute, then top with the quartered strawberries and some more grated parmesan, if desired, and serve.
"I remember when you wanted olive oil, the only place you could buy it was in a chemist. It was rubbish," Contaldo says. "Today all these ingredients, you can usually find somewhere local." By Diana Pilkington
■ Gennaro Contaldo
St. Mary’s Bakery
PA PhotoHandout
Pollo arrosto con burro bertolli all’aglio ed erbe (roast chicken with a bertolli spread, garlic and herb paste) ● ● ●
Outside Catering:
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Delicious Finger Buffets for Birthdays, Christenings, Weddings, Funerals, Children’s Parties or business lunches.
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Whatever the Occasion we can put together a tasty selection of Sandwiches, Savouries, Fruits and confectionar y to your specification. No matter how large or small the order, buffets star t at just £ 3 . 75 p e r he a d . For more information pop into the bakery or call:
01873 2 68183 St. Mary’s Bakery, 15 Frogmore St, Abergavenny
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70g Bertolli Spread Serves 4 250g arborio rice 2 small shallots, finely chopped 500g strawberries, hulled (half quantity quartered and the rest roughly chopped) ½ glass white wine 1-litre vegetable stock, kept hot 50g parmesan cheese, freshly grated, and extra to serve Salt to taste
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Small head of unpeeled garlic 5 large sage leaves, finely chopped 2 sprigs of rosemary needles, finely chopped Handful of mint, finely chopped Handful of marjoram leaves, finely chopped Juice of 1 lemon (keep the lemon halves) 1 large lemon, cut in half 100g Bertolli Spread Salt & pepper 1 chicken, weighing approx. 1.5kg ½ glass of white wine 1 glass of vegetable stock PA PhotoPackshot 4 carrots, cut lengthways in half
Serves 4
Place the unpeeled garlic cloves in a hot oven for about 15 minutes until soft. With the help of a tea towel, remove the skins while still warm. Place the Bertolli Spread and garlic in a small bowl together with the chopped herbs, lemon juice, butter, salt and pepper. Mix together well until you obtain a smooth paste. Take the chicken and carefully ease the skin away from the breasts, taking care not to tear it, but don't remove completely. With your fingers, spread the paste evenly all over the breast under the skin. Fill the cavity of the chicken with the lemon halves. Line the bottom of the roasting tin with the carrots, arranging them in two lines like a railway track. Place the chicken on top of the carrots - this is done to prevent the bird from sticking to the tin. Season the chicken with salt and pepper and drizzle with olive oil, rubbing well all over. Pour in the wine and stock. Cover with aluminium foil and roast in the hot oven for about 1 hour and 30 minutes until the chicken has thoroughly cooked through. Remove the foil 20 minutes before the end of cooking time. Remove from the oven, leave to rest for 10 minutes before carving.
Porri con pancetta
PA PhotoPackshot
Serves 4
(leeks with bacon) ● ● ●
60g Bertolli Spread ● 100g pancetta or bacon, finely chopped 1.2kg leeks, finely sliced ● 120ml hot vegetable stock Salt & pepper to taste
Melt the Bertolli spread in a frying pan, add the pancetta or bacon and stir-fry on a medium heat until crispy. Stir in the leeks, season with salt and pepper and stir fry for a couple of minutes. Add the vegetable stock, lower the heat, cover with a lid and simmer gently for 10 minutes until the leeks are soft. Remove from the heat and serve immediately.
Torta paradiso (italian sponge cake with creamy filling) To make the sponge: ● 4 eggs, separated ● 200g Bertolli Spread, extra for greasing ● 150g plain flour ● 50g cornflour ● 1tspn baking powder ● Pinch of salt ● Zest of 1 lemon ● Sifted icing sugar ● ●
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Serves 6-8
200g sugar 1 sachet of vanilla powder
1 round cake tin 22cm in diameter - lightly greased and lined with baking parchment paper. Preheat the oven to 180 degrees centigrade.
Whisk the egg whites until stiff and set aside. In another bowl, whisk the yolks until well amalgamated. In a larger bowl, cream together the Bertolli Spread and sugar, then gradually add the yolks. Gradually fold in the flour, cornflour, baking powder, vanilla powder, salt and lemon zest. Gently fold the stiff egg whites into the mixture with a metal spoon until well combined. Pour into the prepared cake tin and bake for about 30 to 35 minutes until golden and springy to the touch. You can check if it is cooked by inserting a wooden skewer in the centre; if it comes out dry the cake is ready. Remove, tip out onto a wire rack to cool, then with a sharp knife carefully cut horizontally into two layers. To make the creamy filling (makes approximately 300g): ● 50ml water ● 150g sugar ● 6 organic free-range egg yolks (make sure they are very fresh!) ● 175g Bertolli Spread ● Seeds of 1 vanilla pod or 1 sachet of vanilla powder
Combine the water and sugar in a small pan and place on a low heat, stirring from time to time until the sugar has dissolved and you obtain a syrupy consistency. In a bowl, whisk the egg yolks and gradually add the syrup. Leave the mixture to cool. Then add the Bertolli Spread and vanilla seeds or powder, and continue to whisk until you obtain a creamy consistency. Place in the fridge to use when required. Spread the creamy filling over the cooled cake layers and sandwich together. Sprinkle with lots of sifted icing sugar and serve. Tip: For a really tasty filling, mix some strawberry or raspberry jam into the creamy mix. For a lighter cake, the sponge can be eaten without the filling.
CHEPSTOW SUNDAY MEERKAT?
Car Boots Restarted! Traders from all over Great Britain attend this market ● Large Car Park & Coach Park ● Picnic Area and Kiddie’s Inflatables ● Coach Parties Welcome
E.D. MARKETS ☎ 077680 00854
PA PhotoPackshot Factory
THE BELL AT SKENFRITH Thursday 13th September at 7pm
Australian Wine Dinner We celebrate our 10th consecutive Australian Wine Dinner, a longstanding Abergavenny Food Festival Fringe event. Working in conjunction with Negociants UK, we will welcome Matthew Jukes, the Daily Mail wine columnist and recent winner of Australia Day's 'Honourary Australian of 2012 Award'. Matthew will choose wines from the outstanding Yalumba region to complement the delicious five-course menu from the kitchen team.
A B E R G A V
Tickets £65 per person.
Sunday 16th September at 12.30pm
Contented Cook Sunday Lunch We are delighted to welcome Xanthe Clay who will be talking about her new book 'The Contented Cook'. Xanthe trained at Leiths School of Food and Wine and has worked at the sharp end as a chef and a caterer. She is food columnist for the Daily Telegraph and contributes to many different food publications. In her new book Xanthe pares back all the effort and fuss to show your how to become a truly contented cook.
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The day starts at 12.30 when you are welcome to visit our Kitchen Garden with a glass of Ancre Hill's Award winning sparkling wine to help you on your way. Xanthe and the Kitchen Team have created a threecourse menu using seasonal food, much from our Kitchen Garden.
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Tickets £38 per person including a signed book or £68 for two with one book.
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For tickets to either of these events contact Janet
01600 750235 www.skenfrith.co.uk
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G E
The Bell at Skenfrith, proud winners of the 2012 AA Wine Award for Wales and the UK overall. ●
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Celebrate Chardonnay! Fancy a drink? Our drinks columnist, Sam Wylie-Harris spins the wine wheel and recommends some New World chardonnays. With its many styles and guises, chardonnay is the all-singing, all-dancing fruit of the grapevine. Versatile and abundant, it's planted the world over and when chardonnay is grown in warm, sunny places such as California and Australia, it's rich, creamy and full-bodied. Make a beeline for its spiritual home in coolclimate Burgundy, and a September harvest of ripe, yellow-gold grapes will produce lean, crisp and minerally wines such as Chablis premier crus; or buttery, nutty Meursault from the Cote de Beaune. And if you're still not convinced there's a chardonnay out there for you, Blanc de Blancs champagne is made entirely from chardonnay, and it's one of three classic grape varieties in a champagne blend.
The Beaufort Raglan Breakfast
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Seven miles from Abergavenny on the A40 junction with the A449, in the village of Raglan historically linked with medieval Raglan castle The Beaufort offers the best of old with every modern comfort.
A Taste of the Danube
Freshly prepared food available in our lounge bar, private dining room, brasserie and south facing terrace and patio, 17 en-suite bedrooms, Cask Marque ales and a large selection of wines by the glass or bottle.
A special food festival event Friday 14th September in the Brasserie Authentic dishes, wine and music from Austria, Slovakia and Hungary
To help engineer this paradox of flavours, oak plays a major influence. Oak barrels impart a richness and characteristic woody notes, while unoaked means the wine is fermented in stainless steel tanks and tastes more restrained. Unoaked chardonnay is sometimes labelled 'naked', which sounds inviting, but it just means there's not a single note of oak - and another reason to drink more of this beloved grape variety. Australia's calling card, modern chardonnay is fruity and pineappley, such as De Bortoli Family Selection Chardonnay 2011, Australia, New South Wales, Australia (£6.48, Asda). This giant winery is famous for quantity and quality, and if you're shopping for good value and flavour, it's hard to beat this bright white
with plenty of tangy stone fruits, a floral character and subtle use of oak on the zesty finish. International Winemaker of the Year Neil McGuigan's latest release, McGuigan Reserve Chardonnay 2011, South Australia (£9.99, Sainsbury's), shows a fine balance between the use of fruit and oak. Crisp and refreshing with peach and apricot flavours and a hint of lime, it has a pleasant lemon acidity offset by vanilla notes. Top chardonnays improve with age, and if you're prepared to flash the cash and spend circa £50 on a blue-chip label, the wine will reward after careful cellaring for up to five years. Brian Croser, one of Australia's most respected winemakers, only produces a small quantity of fine wine each year, such as Tapanappa Tiers Chardonnay 2010, South Australia (£50, Harvey Nichols nationwide). Elegant and understated, with delicate peach and melon flavours, subtle marzipan, good acidity and just a little oak, it shows great purity with a long, graceful finish. Chile enjoys great success with chardonnay, giving producers a great choice of climates and soils, and it is now the country's second most widely planted grape. Indeed, Chile's fertile land has even proved a magnate for Brian Croser who has made his mark there and is a consulting winemaker at Santa Rita in cool-climate Leyda Valley. And the Australian may well be the reason why Santa Rita Medalla Real Chardonnay 2010, Leyda Valley, Chile (£10.99/£8.79 if you buy two, Majestic) is such a delicious quaff. Rich, round and creamy with nectarine and citrus fruits, lightly oaked and nutty with fresh acidity, it's a drop of sunshine from one of Chile's most famous wineries.
£27.95 per person booking required
High Street, Raglan Village, Monmouthshire NP152DY Tel: 01291 690412 Fax: 01291 690935
01291 690412
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Another success story, Bordeaux winemaker Francois Lurton has estates and wineries across South America, Spain and Portugal as well as France, and his Hacienda Araucano Chilean range includes atypical chardonnays such as Hacienda Araucano Chardonnay Reserva, Valle Colchagua, Lurton 2011, Chile (£10, www.tanners-wines.co.uk). Crisp and vibrant with potent spiced pear, ripe apples and lime with no sense of oak
and a stony minerality, there's certainly no buttery fatness to this lean style of chardonnay. The Golden State produces California's most famous white wine and polished chardonnays can command the same prices as the finest Burgundy. Thanks to a long growing season and nearperfect conditions, it produces consistently good wines, vintage to vintage, in many nuances and styles. For a blonde beauty without the hefty price tag, Saintsbury Chardonnay 2009, Carneros, California (£16.99, Majestic) comes highly recommended. A rich, creamy style with pears,
■ De Bortoli Family Selection Chardonnay 2011, New South Wales, Australia, £6.48, Asda.
honeydew melon, hazelnuts and spicy oak on the toasty, long finish, it's a full-bodied chardonnay for wine lovers who don't shy away from more than a whisper of oak. Poised and stylish, Au Bon Climat Chardonnay 2010, Santa Barbara, California (£20.95, www.bbr.com) always wins stars for winemaker Jim Clendenen's deftness at ageing his wines in French oak without making them overly ripe and rich. It's a delectable fruit salad of pears, peach and pineapple with citrus-infused green apple, good acidity and tiers of flavours all gently supported by the very subtle use of oak.
■ Hacienda Araucano Chardonnay reserva, Valle Colchagua, Lurton 2011, Chile, £10, Tanners-wines.co.uk
■ McGuigan Reserve Chardonnay 2011, South Australia, £9.99, Sainbsury's
■ Saintsbury Chardonnay 2009, Carneros, California, £16.99, Majestic
■ Santa Rita Medalla Real Chardonnay 2010, Leyda valley, Chile, £10.99 each or £8.79 if you buy 2, Majestic
■ Tapanappa Tiers Chardonnay 2010, South Australia, £50, Harvey Nichols
■ Lillet Rose, 17% abv, £19.50, Harvey Nichols
The Fabulous Baker Brothers Sunday 16 September, 3.00 – 4.00pm, Borough Theatre, Abergavenny The Fabulous Baker Brothers invite you to get baking. Join the stars of the Chanel 4 hit series for inspirational talk, lively banter and hot tips. As part of their talk they will be exploding some of the myths surrounding making sourdough. They will be bringing their own fifty seven year-old sourdough culture, showing how the culture is used in bread-
making and sharing their sourdough loaves with the audience. They will also be demonstrating the Epic Trencher that fans may have seen in their first TV series. This simple yet spectacular creation encapsulates what the Brothers are all about; practical ways to turn affordable ingredients – in this case flour, water, and Hanger Steak (aka skirt) - into
food that looks cool and tastes delicious. To encourage you to join the Baking Revolution, they will be giving everyone who attends their talk a portion of their sourdough starter to take home. As Tom says ‘ Sourdough has the potential to be more viral than Facebook. You can pass on the culture and it can live forever.’ This event takes place in the Borough Theatre on Sunday 16 September at 3.00pm. Buy tickets on 01873 850805. Tickets: £6.00
Welcome to
The Bridge End Inn Crickhowell
Lunch and evening meals served Monday to Monday Traditional Sunday roast
The Bridge End Inn is quite an exceptional public house of some quality, set on the edge of the Brecon National Park right next to the river Usk - one of the principality’s best fishing rivers.
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Tom and Henry Herbert
◆ Bar
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◆ Fishing
Bridge Street. Crickhowell. Powys. NP8 1AR Tel: 01873 810338 Fax: 01873 810338 Email: info@thebridgeendinn.com www.thebridgeendinn.com ●
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St. Mary’s Priory welcomes new Catering Manager and Head Chef St Mary’s Priory is excited to be announcing the arrival of a new Manager and Head Chef at the Tithe Barn’s Food Hall. Taking over in early September, just in time for the Food Festival, will be Stuart Colbourne, currently Restaurant Manager and Head Chef at the Raglan Garden Centre. 32 year old Stuart has spent 7 years working at the Garden Centre, where he has built an enviable reputation for high quality catering, serving loyal customers from across the County. “I felt it was the right time to take on a new challenge,” said Stuart. “I’m excited at the prospect of developing the business and bringing my skills and experience to the Tithe Barn.”
Asked what his priorities would be, he explained that he is keen to engage with customers to gain feedback about what they would like to see in the future. He also wants to focus on raising the profile of the business through improved marketing. Tom Bond, Manager of St Mary’s Priory House Company said, “We are all really excited about Stuart’s arrival. I am looking forward to a productive and exciting working relationship with Stuart to keep on developing all sides of the business. We want to make sure that visitors have the best possible experience whether they are here for coffee, lunch, a conference or wedding reception, or as tourists.” ■ Stuart Colbourne
The Tithe Barn’s
FOOD HALL St Mary’s Priory is proud host to this year’s Food Festival Masterclasses and many stalls. Our Tithe Barn’s Food Hall is the perfect place to eat and drink over the festival weekend.
(01873) 851515 • www.stmarys-priory.org Monk St, Abergavenny, NP7 5ND 14
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The Inn at Penallt
In just two years Andrew and Jackie Murphy have managed to turn a run-down village pub into an award-winning country inn attracting customers from far and wide. The Inn at Penallt has acquired an excellent reputation not only for its food, where there is a strong emphasis on locally-sourced produce, but also the friendly, welcoming atmosphere that the Murphy’s have created. In recognition of the high quality of food served in the bar and restaurant, The Inn recently received their first AA Rosette for culinary excellence.
Andrew, Jackie and head chef Peter Hulsmann are delighted that their ‘vision’ has become a reality. “We were already graded by the AA and Visit Wales but the AA Rosette is our first independent award and that’s really exciting, although our focus remains very much centred on our customers and what they want,” said Andrew. “At The Inn we
have great produce at our disposal which we take time to prepare ourselves, cook well and present attractively.” Andrew and Jackie moved to The Inn at Penallt from London with baby Sian, who is now three years old. They had scoured the country for somewhere that would provide them with both a business challenge and a family home. “Monmouthshire had everything we were looking for,” said Andrew. “It’s a lovely place to live and, from The Inn’s point of view, has great independent food suppliers, Welsh micro-breweries and small cider producers.” The couple see The Inn as carrying on a Great British tradition stretching back centuries, coupling quality local food and drink with a genuinely warm welcome. “We both love good food, good wine and ale. We wanted to run a country inn where people could wine and dine in a nice, relaxed atmosphere, somewhere we would like to go ourselves.” In keeping with the time-honoured traditions of the country inn, they are also happy to welcome families, along with ‘dogs and their well-behaved owners’ and The Inn has a large garden, the size of a small field, where both can stretch their legs!) Previously known as The Bush Inn, the 17th century property had seen better days and it took time and plenty of TLC to transform it to their specifications – with painstaking restoration work running in
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parallel with reflooring, rewiring and replumbing. “The challenge was for us to get people to come here, see the changes we had made, and then to come back again and again,” said Andrew. This summer Andrew and Jackie started catering for weddings and other special functions, mainly fulfilling requests from their customers, and they say their next step will be to expand that side of the business. With the Penallt area an ideal holiday base for walkers, horse riders, artists and cyclists keen to explore the Wye Valley, The Inn’s bed and breakfast accommodation is also popular with visitors from across the UK and overseas. Although compact, the four en-suite rooms are attractively decorated and, to meet the demands of the 21st century traveller, each is equipped with a TV and DVD player, ipod docking station and free Wi Fi internet access. For Andrew and Jackie all the hard work involved in breathing new life into a struggling business is worth it and they’re thoroughly enjoying life in their new rural environment. “We’re a family business with great chefs and committed front-of-house staff who all share a passion for what we do and a determination to ensure all our guests leave wanting to return.” For bookings at The Inn please call 01600 772765 or email: enquiries@theinnatpenallt.co.uk
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Watch out for the white stuff By Lisa Salmon
An estimated one in seven cases of stomach cancer in the UK could be avoided by reducing salt intake, experts have claimed. Campaigners discuss the wider health problems linked to excess salt, and how much it is healthy to consume.
daily salt intake to 6g - a level teaspoon's worth. Salt is made up of 40% sodium, which is an essential mineral, and 60% chloride. While a small amount is essential for the body to function normally, adults need just 1g a day (a large pinch) and children need even less.
As you liberally sprinkle salt on your chip buttie, before splodging on some ketchup, bear in mind that it's not just the fat contents of your snack that could be harmful.
However, the average daily salt consumption in the UK is now 8.1g - 2.1g above the recommended amount - and the campaign group Consensus Action on Salt and Health (CASH) warns that almost everyone eats too much.
As well as the salt on your chips, just two slices of certain types of bread can provide nearly half a person's daily recommended salt intake of 6g, and some ketchups and sauces could add another half a gram. Consuming so much salt regularly can lead to numerous health problems - including cancer and heart disease. The World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF) has just revealed that one in seven cases of stomach cancer in the UK could be prevented, if everyone cut their
Hidden danger High consumption isn't just because people add extra salt to meals, but because many are unaware of how much salt food contains already. It's believed that around 75% of total intake is consumed this way, and people may have no idea that they're eating unhealthy levels. According to CASH, bread is responsible for a fifth of our daily salt intake, and one in four loaves contains as much salt per slice as a packet of crisps. "One loaf of bread can have half as much salt as another," says CASH's campaign director Katharine Jenner, a public health nutritionist. "But it's difficult to know that without looking at the label and understanding it." Other culprits include some types of ketchup and other sauces, processed meats, smoked fish, convenience foods like pizza, pasties and ready meals, and salty snacks like crisps and salted nuts. The WCRF is calling for a standardised 'traffic light' system on the front of food and drink packaging, to
T: 01983 866907 F: 01983 864733 E: info@thetomatostall.co.uk
clearly flag up sat, fat and sugar levels. In the meantime, it's important for people to read food labels before they buy, says Jenner. "The easiest thing to happen would be for manufacturers not to put so much salt in food," she says. "But people can take control of their own salt intake by adding less when cooking, using fresh foods, and looking at the labels on food and choosing the lowest salt option." Cancer link Stomach cancer was the cause of 4,966 deaths in the UK in 2010, according to Kate Mendoza, head of health information at the World Cancer Research Fund. Of these, 14% could have been prevented by cutting salt intake, as a high-salt diet can cause changes to the stomach lining, making it more vulnerable to cancer-causing substances. The bacterium helicobacter pylori (H.pylori) is a known risk factor in stomach cancer, and salt increases the bacterium's action. "Stomach cancer is difficult to treat successfully because most cases aren't caught until the disease is well-established," says Mendoza. "This places even greater emphasis on making lifestyle choices to prevent the disease occurring in the first place - such as cutting down on salt and eating more fruit and vegetables." Reduce pressure Excess salt is also linked to high blood pressure, the main cause of stroke and a major cause of heart disease, the biggest killers in the UK. Too much salt disrupts the body's natural sodium balance, causing fluid retention, which raises blood pressure. Around one in three adults in the UK (16 million people) have high blood pressure, with five million not even aware of it. CASH says that reducing the UK adult's average daily salt intake to the recommended 6g could prevent about 12,500 heart attacks and strokes a year, half of which would be fatal. Dr Wayne Sunman, a consultant stroke physician, agrees. "Consuming salt puts blood pressure up a small but important amount: the more you take, the greater the effect," he says. "Conversely, by reducing the amount of salt we take, we could all reduce our blood pressure." Brittle bones
Tomatoes have been grown in the Arreton Valley, nestled in the heart of the Isle of Wight, for over 20 years. The Tomato Stall brings the freshest, ripest and tastiest organic and conventional tomatoes from Wight Salads, here on the Isle of Wight, to Farmers’ Markets on the island, across the South and in London. The Tomato Stall ● Wight Salads Nursery ● Main Road, Hale Common ● Arreton, Newport ● Isle of Wight ● PO30 3AR
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High salt consumption is also linked to osteoporosis, a condition which causes bones to become weak and fragile and prone to fracture. An estimated three million people in the UK are affected. Calcium is a major part of bone mass, and CASH says studies show a high salt intake increases calcium losses in the urine (calciuria), some of which will be directly from bones. "Sodium and calcium work in similar ways, and the sodium displaces the calcium, leading to weakening of bones in the long-term," says Jenner. "There are lots of reasons for developing osteoporosis, but it's known that if you reduce salt, you lower your risk."
Kidney trouble In turn, this could mean bad news for kidneys, too. The calcium lost through this process will have to pass through the organs, and can lead to painful kidney stones. A high-salt diet is also linked to kidney failure, as a good sodium balance is needed for the kidneys to draw excess water out of the blood. In addition, too much salt has been shown to increase protein in the urine, a major risk factor in reduced kidney function. Jenner says: "Excess sodium puts a lot of pressure on the kidneys to try and excrete it. They have to work extra-hard, which can cause problems in the long term." Thirsty work Too much salt can also make you bloated and very thirsty, and there is thought to be an indirect link between excess levels and obesity. While salt does not in itself cause weight gain, the increased thirst it causes is believed to be linked to consumption levels of sugar-filled soft drinks, particularly among children. According to CASH, 31% of the fluid drunk by 4-18 year olds is sugary soft drinks, which can contribute to obesity.
Enjoy An Al Fresco Feast! By Diana Pilkington
Before autumn sets in, make the most of the last days of summer with an al fresco feast. Whether it's a few snacks in your garden or a proper hamper-and-rug affair on the beach, a picnic is a wonderful way to see out the end of the summer. As meals go, they're incredibly versatile, from spur-of-the-moment deli raids to proper planned-out dinners requiring cutlery. And ideal for romantic dates, catch-ups with friends and family days out alike.
Marcello Tully's Chorizo, Bean and Bulgur Wheat Salad (Serves 4) - 200g chorizo sausage, diced into small cubes - 240g bulgur wheat - 800ml water - 165g red pepper, diced into small cubes - 100g yellow pepper, diced into small cubes - 30ml olive oil - 140g onion, finely chopped - 115g tinned cannellini beans, drained - 115g tinned red kidney beans, drained - 5g parsley, chopped - 1 dash of dried oregano - 4g salt - 4g garlic - 5g caster sugar
Cover the bulgur wheat with water, bring to the boil and cook for 10 minutes. Drain and leave to cool. Heat the oil in a heavy-based pan and sweat the onions and chorizo for five minutes, stirring frequently. Add the red and yellow peppers to the pan and sweat for a further five minutes. Add the parsley, garlic, caster sugar, dried oregano and salt and cook for a further five minutes. Remove the pan from the heat and combine with the cracked wheat in a large salad bowl. Add the cannellini beans and kidney beans and mix well before serving.
Jersey-based chef Shaun Rankin is a huge fan of picnics, and believes it doesn't matter what time of year it is or where you are; there's always a place for an informal meal in the great outdoors. "A picnic can be a sandwich on a rock while you're out walking, or on a rug with a basket, a bottle of Champagne and a load of seafood. It all depends on where you are, what you're
doing and who you're with," he says. Rankin, who runs Michelin-starred restaurant Bohemia, admits his family is "spoilt for choice" when it comes to picking the perfect picnic spot.
But wherever you lay your rug, Rankin reckons his sun-dried tomato bread is a good addition to any al fresco feast. "It's a bloomer you can use in lots of ways. You can make doorstep sandwiches from it and eat it with nice robust ingredients like Parma ham, basil and mozzarella, or have it with some roast beef and horseradish. It's a flavoursome, all-round bread." Let's hope for a long Indian summer!
To garnish: - 6 tomatoes, sliced into eighths - 1 handful of basil leaves
For the gazpacho, combine all of the ingredients (but only 200ml of the olive oil) and crush with your hands into a pulp.
Shaun Rankin's Sun-dried Tomato Bread (Serves 6) - 250g strong plain flou r, plus extra for dusting - 1 tsp salt - 7.5g dried yeast - 50g sun-dried tomato es, kept in oil, - 1 tbsp of the oil reserv ed - 1 tbsp sun-dried tom ato oil - 110ml water, room tem perature Add the flour, salt and yeast to an electric mixer. Using a dough hook, start the mixer on a slow spe ed and mix for two minutes. Add the wa ter, followed by the sun-dried tomatoes and the oil. Mix on a medium speed for four minutes. Cover with a clean, dam p cloth and leave in a warm area for 25 minutes. When the dough has dou bled in volume, remove from the bowl, place on a work surface and knock the dough back with the palm of your hand.
- 2 curry leaves - 6 tbsp gram flour - 3 tbsp rice flour - 1/4 bunch coriander, chopped - 0.25 tsp fennel seeds - 500ml vegetable oil, for frying
In a saucepan, simmer the vegetable oil while you mix together the ingredients for the onion bhajis.
- 2.5kg cherry tomatoes - 80g coriander, roughly picked - 100g basil, roughly picked - 110g icing sugar - 40g sea salt - 5g black pepper, ground - 400ml olive oil For the basil oil: - 150g basil, roughly picked - 250ml olive oil
In the meantime, here is Rankin's bread recipe, plus some picnic treats from other top chefs, for you to try at home...
Place the mix into a blender, blend on a high-speed until smooth and pass through a fine chinois - making sure to extract as much of the liquid as possible.
Place the dough back into the bowl and cover with the cloth. Repeat the same process after a further 25 minute
s.
Preheat the oven to 180 ÂşC/Gas mark 4. After the second knock back, shape the dough into a round bal l and place onto a floured baking tray and leave until it doubles in size. Sift a small amount of flour onto the dough before placing in the oven. Bake for 35 minutes, or until cooked. To check if your bread is cooked, tap the base of the bread with your fingers - if it sounds hollow, then it's ready. Remove from the oven and lea ve to cool on a wire rack, then serve.
Alfred Prasad's Onion Bhaji (Serves 4)
- 2 red onions, finely sliced - 1 green chilli, finely chopped and de-seeded, if preferred - 2 garlic cloves - 8g root ginger, finely chopped - 1 tbsp butter, melted - 0.5 tsp red chilli powder - 0.5 tsp ground turmeric
Tom Aikens's Cherry Tomato Gazpacho (6 people)
"Here in Jersey we're surrounded by amazing beaches. Gorey Beach is probably our favourite place because it's sheltered and the water is nice and shallow for the kids."
In a mixing bowl, mix together the sliced onions, green chilli, garlic, ginger, curry leaves and melted butter. Add the chilli powder, turmeric powder, gram flour, rice flour, chopped coriander, fennel seeds and salt to taste. Sprinkle with water and mix well so it is thick enough to hold its shape. Check the temperature of the oil by dropping in a teaspoon of the mixture. It should should sizzle and float - turn up the heat if it doesn't.
To complete the gazpacho, pour some of the strained soup back into the blender, pulse on a medium setting and add the remaining olive oil in a slow steady stream until fully incorporated. Transfer to the fridge to cool. For the basil oil, place the basil into a pot of boiling water for 30-45 seconds, drain and refresh in ice cold water. Once the basil has completely cooled, squeeze the basil to remove as much water from the leaves as possible. Roughly chop the leaves and place in a blender with 100ml of the olive oil. Blend on a high speed, slowly adding the remaining oil until smooth. Pour into a small bottle or jar and refrigerate. To serve the gazpacho, pour into bowls and garnish with a little more basil oil, basil cress or small basil leaves and the slices of tomato. With moistened hands, drop tablespoonsized portions of the mixture into the hot oil, about five at a time. Stir gently and fry until golden brown on both sides and cooked through. Repeat the process in small batches until all the mixture is used. Drain the fried onion bhajis on kitchen towel. Serve immediately or allow to cool to room temperature if you prefer.
Great British Chefs has launched a new Summertime app in association with Ocado, available at www.greatbritishchefs.com. Proceeds go towards Action Against Hunger â—?
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Chalet Girl Chic... Look stylish on the slopes with eye-catching skiwear. Leader Living reveals how to stay warm while looking cool
Whether you’re a whiz on the slopes or a snow bunny beginner, your skiwear wardrobe should always be your first priority. “If your skiwear isn’t appropriate, or perhaps not warm enough for the conditions, you may look a little silly shivering at the top of the slope," warns Andy Barrett, Decathlon ski product trainer. “There’s a reason why the best skiers and snowboarders always look so comfy and relaxed." Thankfully, the typical ski queen wardrobe has come a long way from mismatched salopettes and jacket rentals. These days, you can hit the slopes in outerwear that’s both functional and fashionable. Turn the mountain tops into your snowcapped catwalk with our guide to looking good on - and off - the slopes. It’s time to take the ski lift to style... ON-PISTE PANACHE Technical clothing is essential to withstand those freezing climates and make like Eddie the Eagle - but that doesn’t mean you can’t look ice-hot.
Recipe Corner
Chickpea curry Ingredients: ● 1 tbsp oil ● 1 onion, chopped ● 1 garlic clove, crushed ● ¼ tsp salt ● ½ tsp cumin powder ● ¼ tsp coriander powder ● ¼ tsp turmeric powder ● ¼ tsp red chilli powder ● 1 fresh tomato, chopped ● 1 x 400g/14oz can chickpeas, drained and rinsed ● 5cm/2in piece root ginger, grated ● Pinch of garam masala ● Pitta breads or plain basmati rice, to serve
Bigwell Fly Fishery Tinmans Green, Redbrook Open: 7:30-4:30 pm summertime 7:30 - 9:00pm
Catch and Release Tickets: £12.00/Day - 10 fish limit Day Fishing Tickets: £8.00 + £3.80 for every fish killed
To join our sponsored walk and to support the work of the hospice please Contact us:
*Tea and Coffee free all day* Toilet facilities, Rod Hire, Choice of three regularly stocked lakes - Rainbow, Blues Sizes range from 2lb into double figures We sell Fly Rods, fishing tackle & accessories
Tel: 01600 772904 (day) 01600 716739 (evenings)
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Serves 4
Method: 1. Heat a deep saucepan or a medium sized wok and add the oil or butter followed by the onions and garlic. 2. Fry the mixture till the onions are caramelised. Then add the salt, cumin, coriander, turmeric and red chilli powders. Mix for a minute and tip in the tomato. Cook the sauce until it begins to thicken. 3. Add ¼ cup of water and stir. Then tip in the chickpeas and mix. Mash a few of the chickpeas while cooking. Cover and simmer for five minutes. Then add the ginger and the garam masala. Cook for another minute. 4. Serve with pitta breads or plain basmati rice.
Fashion on the slopes “Make sure you adapt your skiwear to the conditions," advises Barrett. “For example, skiing in America will require much warmer clothing than skiing in Europe. For those who are unsure of what to buy, always seek out sound technical advice." They may not be visible but base layer thermals are the essential starting blocks for your ski wardrobe. Either go with basic neutral colours, or try bold colours and quirky prints as you don’t have to worry about them matching with anything. Ski jackets and salopettes are the slope staples where you can really flaunt your fashion prowess. For stand-out ski glamour, you’ll be easily spotted in out-there animal print or flashes of neon. “The trend at the moment is the brighter the better; yellows, greens and blues are currently very popular on the slopes," Barrett says. Goggles are another necessity to ensure you can see those risky runs safely and clearly. APRES-SKI ATTIRE With technical wear hanging out to dry for the next day on the slopes, the stylish snow bunny can come out to play with an apres-ski wardrobe. Layering is key to your look since you’ll be pinging from the snowy outdoors, to bar, to sweaty dance floor. Snug ribbed leggings are a good place to start, which you can add to with chunky contrasting socks or leg warmers to ensure you can still feel your feet. Heels are a no-go when you have potential ice and snow to encounter en route to the bars invest in a good snow or moon boot instead. Famed for its wellies, Hunter has even come up with a patent-trimmed snow boot in time for ski season. Balance out your proportions with oversized knitwear that you can pull on and off easily, like poncho shapes. For a trend-led take on apres-ski style, try the Navajo-inspired look, as seen on Isabel Marant’s autumn/winter catwalk. Choose big knits with shearling-lined collars, bold graphic prints and vibrant hues to brighten up your cold weather wardrobe.
Apres-ski is the perfect excuse to overdo it with accessories, too. Go wild with woolly hats, scarves and mittens that you can stash in your bag while you’re throwing dance floor shapes after one too many peach schnapps. SKIWEAR ESSENTIALS Don’t get bogged down on the slopes with an all-style, no substance attitude. Simply wearing a neon coat isn’t going to get you promoted to the black runs. Phil Power, head of equipment at Surfdome.com, has this advice on the skiwear fashion features to look for:
BUY IT NOW
✵ Vents - Usually placed in the
She may have hung up her Dancing On Ice skates but Holly Willoughby is icehot emulating Marilyn Monroe in her spring campaign for Very.co.uk. Her sixth collection for the online retailer includes figure-flattering dresses and blouses. Available from January, priced from £29-£79 (0844 822 2321 / www.very.co.uk).
arm pits (pit zips) or on the front of the jacket, these are great for those bluebird days where temperatures can rise. ✵ Snow skirts - They attach
your jacket to your ski pants, and are very important for keeping the snow out of your underpants! You can get removable or fully fixed varieties, so investigate whichever you prefer on the jacket you’re buying. ✵ Zips and Seams - Ensure
they’re waterproof or sealed, because not all are and can let water in. ✵ Pockets - Those all-
important ski essentials including goggles, MP3 players and ski passes need a home, and pocket positioning should be dependent on where you like these items placed. ✵ Hoods - Check to see if they
have a peak, or are removable. If hoods have a faux fur trim, can you take it off so it doesn’t get wet or can be easily dried? ✵ Cuffs - Make sure your jacket’s cuffs are adjustable and waterproof, and that they fit with your snow gloves, depending on whether you wear them over or under your sleeves.
DON’T FORGET A good helmet can install confidence and ensure you’ve ticked the safety box. Worryingly, more than half of skiers (51%) rarely or never wear a helmet on the slopes, according to a recent survey by Post Office Travel Insurance.
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Blooming Lovely Easy on the eye: Bright borders look great and are simple to plant too, as long as you take some time to plan them carefully. Flax has single white flower and looks its best in the middle of a border, or even scattered around other plants. Cornflower reaches about 75cm and looks good at the back of a border. Its rich blue flowers fade to white with age. Woodruff is a dainty lavender flower that is ideal for edging.
taken into account as much as the proposed colour scheme and season of interest. You should make a simple plan of how you want the finished border to look, taking all these factors into consideration before you start anything. When you are choosing flowers to put in your border, try to pick a variety of heights and shapes. Taller flowers should go to the back of the border with shorter ones at the front. A mixture of spiky and softer-looking foliage is also a good idea to line the border and separate the flowers.
Borders are a cheap and cheerful way to brighten even the dullest of gardens.
Colour schemes vary for individuals. Some choose all the same colour, while others go for as many different colours as possible. Strong reds and yellows contrast well against shades of green and blue. White and cream blend very well with most flower colours. Bronze, orange and pinks create a warm effect compared with the coolness of blues and lavenders. Grey foliage blends or contrasts with red, pink and white shades.
Border flowers: the facts
Vibrant colours scattered around the edges of lawns not only look great but are also easy to plant.
The duration and times of flowering are also quite an important aspect to consider when choosing the plants.
Californian Poppy is ideal for the front of a border. It grows to about 30cm and comes in vibrant shades.
The size, shape and level of a flower border depends largely on the existing site. The depth and breadth of the bed should be
Pot marigold fits in well towards the back of a border. Clary Sage comes in blue, pink or white and works well at the front of a border.
Call for information on our Promotional Offers For more details contact: Chris Murphy Mob: 07719 662634 Tel: 01291 690 077 Website: www.raglanparc.co.uk Parc Lodge, Station Road, Raglan
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Borders close to the house need plants that provide year-round colour, although a traditional herbaceous border usually has a short but splendid season in summer. Small evergreen shrubs introduced in a mixed border provide a useful framework and give year-round interest. To get the soil into perfect condition, dig the ground to a spade's depth - 30cm (12in). Incorporate well-rotted manure or garden compost into the soil, especially if it is a new border. Make sure you hoe off all the weeds and past traces of plants, before raking down the soil into a fine tilth ready for sowing. When marking out the border, divide the area into sections and plan where the seeds are to go. The best strategy for sowing the seeds is to sow each type into different blocks of short rows. This will make it easier to spot weeds from annual seedlings. To avoid a regimented effect the orientation of the rows should be changed from block to block.
Food for thought Food Festivals Many old wives' tales about what we ought to eat are turning out to have a ring of truth. As scientists study the effect of food on our health, they are finding that many ideas once dismissed as myths without truth actually make perfectly good sense. Eating peas can actually help bring down your blood pressure, oysters can help stave off old age and cabbage can help you fight cancer. On top of that it has been known for some time that enjoying a glass or two of red wine a day can actually help reduce the risk of heart disease. In France, where eating is taken very seriously, scientists have discovered that much of our daily food contains medicine. And while we've been taking tablets to cure ailments and promote good health, in many cases we would have done just as well to tuck into a hearty meal - made up of the right ingredients. The scientists looked at different parts of the world and compared health records with national diets. They found Inuits, who eat large quantities of fish, hardly ever get heart disease. Likewise, people in the Mediterranean who consume fairly large amounts of olive oil are much less likely than northern Europeans to die from a heart attack. Previously the focus has been on food that can damage your health. However, many scientists still believe that people should be looking carefully for the type of foods that are positively good for us. By balancing a diet with all the right foods, they believe it will be possible for many people to live longer, healthier lives - avoiding many of the diseases which are still causing premature deaths despite decades of medical research. Bread - provides the fibre we need for good digestion Chocolate - Good in moderation. Too much makes you put on weight, but a
small amount can make you feel brighter and more optimistic Alcohol - Red wine in moderation can help reduce damaging cholesterol, replacing it with a more healthier variety. However, be careful too much wine can be harmful Salt - Your body needs salt, but not too much. It can cause high blood pressure but scientists say we should not try to live without it Fish - A regular intake of fish, particularly oily fish like sardines, kippers and mackerel, help avoid heart disease. Two fish meals a week are recommended Coffee - Many people believe it is bad for you - and too much of it is. But one or two cups a day do no harm and can help stave off the threat of stomach cancer
Liverpool Food and Drink Festival Start Date: 1st September 2012 The 5th annual food and drink festival takes place over 2 days in Sefton Park Liverpool. Try great food and drink from over 80 bars, restaurants and producers and see celebrity chefs, masterclasses and much, much more....
Fishstock Brixham 2012 Start Date: 8th September 2012 Award Winning Heritage Crafts, Seafood, Music, Dance and Arts family fun-day oneday Festival for Charity Fishermen's Mission Brixham.
East Midlands Food and Drink Festival Start Date: 6th October 2012 The finest regional celebration of British food and drink, showcasing the best local produce.
North West Food Lovers Festival 2012 Start Date: 19th October 2012 This year’s festival is set to be the best yet. There will be over 100 delicious food and drink stalls selling the best produce available from across the region as well as our celebrity chef demonstrations and children's workshops!
Leamington Food and Drink Festival
The Chelsea Wine Fair Start Date: 20th October 2012 New weekend Wine & Food fair on Saturday 20 & Sunday 21 October 2012.
Start Date: 8th September 2012 The Royal Leamington Spa Food & Drink Festival is a weekend of culinary extravaganza, inspirational cookery demonstrations and lots of delicious food and drink!
Dartmouth Food Festival Start Date: 20th October 2012 Start Date: 26th October 2012 Three days of great food in the heart of Dartmouth.
Sheffield Food Festival Start Date: 14th September 2012 A vibrant festival that continues to showcase Sheffield as an exciting culinary destination. It offers the local community the best of the areas food producers and a packed menu of foodie events and activities.
Flavours of Herefordshire Festival 2012 Start Date: 27th October 2012 Visit Herefordshire's 7th Annual Food
Cheshire Food Festival Start Date: 29th September 2012 Over 50 local producer stalls, 20 craft stalls, chef demos and hot food and great beers. Live music throughout the day.
Festival.
Noodles - Both noodles and spaghetti are good for you as they contain little fat but help satisfy a healthy appetite. Experts say you are unlikely to get fat by eating plates of pasta Red meat - Despite what some people say, moderate quantities of red meat are good for you. Meat is strong on iron content and if you don't eat enough you may suffer fatigue Oysters - A plate of oysters can help stave off some of the effects of ageing
The Perfect Gift
A flight with
Tiger Airways Visit www.tigerairwaves.co.uk
Gift Certificates Available Credit Cards Accepted
Phone 01452 854 141 Give a gift that will never be forgotten, the chance of some real ‘hands on’ flying in a 1930's designed military trainer. Perhaps even a loop and a roll? ●
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On to the cowboy trail Yee Ha! Oral health specialist Molar has drawn up a list of the top eight reasons to clean in between your teeth and how especially as we get ‘longer in the tooth’ dental woes can be avoided with a simple interdental brushing routine. A quiet corner of Canada explodes into action once a year as the famous Calgary Stampede kicks off. Cherry Wilson headed to Alberta for a taste of life in the Wild West. Green fields sprawl as far as the eye can see and I stand, mesmerised, as a herd of around 50 majestic horses gallop across them. A cowboy is directing them down a hill - it feels like I've just stepped into an old Western movie. Despite the wind and rain, I'm transfixed by the incredible scene and the grace of these amazing creatures, which have been bred for years on one of the famous ranches in Alberta, western Canada. Some of them will be taking part in what
has long been billed 'The Greatest Show On Earth' - the Calgary Stampede. The event takes place every July, with cowboys from across the globe descending on the city of Calgary for the ultimate test of their skills, including braving the backs of rodeo bulls as they buck wildly in the air.
The city certainly has a more sophisticated side, and if you prefer your hotels more polished than Wild West, a good choice is the Hyatt Regency.
Now in its centenary year, the organisers pulled out all the stops for the 2012 festival.
The 600ft Calgary Tower, which offers stunning views across the city, is just a 30-second walk away, and historic Stephen Avenue, featuring nine major shopping centres, is across the street.
As well as the usual opening parade, flagship rodeo events, funfair, host of entertainment stages and X Factor-style stampede talent search, to mark the special anniversary there's a spectacular firework display and star-studded music concert, headlined by Canada's very own country superstar, Paul Brandt. I may not qualify to compete in the Stampede, but I can certainly get into the spirit of things - starting with a trip to the famous Smithbilt hat company, where I picked up an authentic white cowboy hat. Next it was off to the world-renowned Alberta Boot Company, for a pair of proper
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cowboy boots. Now I really feel the part when I head out to find a line dancing bar.
With new theatres, festivals and art exhibitions springing up around town, it's easy to see why Calgary was named Canada's Capital of Culture for 2012. No trip would be complete without venturing into the stunning surrounding countryside, though. This part of the world is a natural adventure playground, teeming with opportunities to hike, fish, ride, paddle and climb. The Banff National Park and
Canadian Rockies are within easy reach, too. I headed to Kananaskis Country, a few miles outside the city. Getting there required a drive through snow-topped mountains and a breathtaking, untouched landscape. The Rafter Six Ranch, just a 40-minute drive from Calgary, is also perfect for exploring the region and all it has to offer. If you book early enough, you can stay in one of the ranch's cabins or chalets, but visitors passing through for a few hours are also welcome. There's a treetop rope obstacle course which is guaranteed to have you crying either with laughter or terror! But best of all, you can get a taste of life in the saddle. Their horses are trained to the highest standard and can even be trusted with children as young as three. Our hour-long trail took us through neighbouring fields with the Rocky Mountains in the distance.
For the seasoned pro or cowboy novice, a visit to Calgary is guaranteed to be a trip of a lifetime. Just don't all stampede at once... Yee-ha!
The Belgrave Hotel The Esplanade, Tenby, Pembrokeshire SA70 7DU Tel: 01834 842377 Fax: 01834 842626
TRAVEL FACTS
Come and enjoy the hotels superb seafront position overlooking Tenby’s beautiful south beach in a friendly and comfortable atmosphere.
Cherry Wilson was a guest of Canadian Affair, which offers seven-night Alberta stays from £1,073, incl direct flights exGatwick into Calgary, five nights roomonly at the Sandman Hotel (twin share) in downtown Calgary, and two nights at Rafter Six. One week's car hire from £189. (Prices apply for late August)
Midweek B&B from £37.50 pppn
Arrive Friday or Saturday Enjoy 2 nights mix and match
£89.95 pp 3 Nights £127.45 pp Dinner, Bed & Breakfast on Saturday Bed & Breakfast Friday and Sunday Candlelit Dinner & Dance Thursday and Saturday Gala Menu, Breakfast in Bed Sunday Morning
Ex-Manchester from £1,063, Ex-Glasgow from £1,025.
Ring now for Birthdays, Anniversaries and other special breaks.
For reservations call Canadian Affair on 020 7616 9999 or visit www.canadianaffair.com For more information on Calgary or the Calgary Stampede visit www.visitcalgary.com and www.calgarystampede.com FAMILY RUN GARDEN CENTRE - ESTABLISHED 1947
More seasoned riders can enjoy day-long rides and even camp out overnight with a campfire supper under the stars.
Very fresh, Locally laid free range eggs available though out September only
Just 75p per 1/2 dozen
Visit Sally's Tea room, and enjoy Scrumptious home made food, as well fantastic views over the Monmouthshire countryside.
Telephone: 01495 785237
Opening Hours
email: the_secretgarden@btinternet.com
Mon-Sat: 9am - 6pm Sun: 10.30am - 4.30pm
www.secretgardenwales.co.uk ●
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How to lose weight and enjoy life Most of us at some time of our lives gain a bit of weight and need to lose a few pounds. Dieting can be really depressing but there are some things that can give you the edge. At Designed for Beauty we can give nutritional advice such as don’t eat fruit two hours either side of your meal as it will increase your glycogen level and you will store more fat. Clinical research done in Berlin found that if you drink 17 oz of water within ten minutes of eating your fat burning metabolism increases by 30%.
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The University of Pittsburgh discovered through research that if you exercise for 10 minutes 3 times a day you can lose more than if you did one longer session per day. Eating high protein or fibre meals will fill you up for longer, which requires more energy to be metabolised therefore you burn more calories. We can offer you very effective ways to exercise and diet plus we have the latest technology to help you, power plates, lipolite machine than transforms hard stored fat into soft manual able fat which we can then burn off. We also have a Cavitation machine. This is the latest technology to be offered as a real alternative to lipo suction. We also have the world's most powerful body toning machine which is amazing at conditioning the muscles helping to bring back strong toned stomach muscles. One 20 min session is equal to doing 360 situps and all you have to do is lie there. For every pound of lean toned muscle you have you will burn between 5 and 14 calories per day. The machine is great for helping to resurrect busts and saggy bums. So if you want to be successful in losing weight come and see us, you will be glad you did.
DESIGNED FOR BEAUTY www.designedforbeauty.co.uk 3, Beaufort Arms Court, Monmouth Email: info@designforbeauty.co.uk Tel: 01600 719219
DESIGNED FOR BEAUTY
AESTHETICS TREATMENTS Wrinkle removal/reductions, Botox, Photo rejuvenation, No Needle Meso Therapy, Fillers, IPL/Lazer, Hair Removal, Peels, Removal of Hyper Pigmentation, Rosacea, Thread Veins, Acne, Scars, Stretch Marks, Sun/Age Spots, Semipermanent Makeup, Dermal Roller, Genie Complete, Laser Nail Fungal Treatment.
BEAUTY TREATMENTS Electrolysis, Manicures, Pedicures, Gel Nail Extensions, GELeration, Shellac Gel, Massages, Threading, Waxing, Tinting, Lash Perming, Spray Tans, Facials, Ear Piercing, Body Treatments, Genie Non-Surgical Facelift (The Worlds Most Powerful, a thousand times more powerful than it’s competitors such as the Caci), Minx, Semi-Permanent Eyelash Extensions, Reflexology, Sun Shower.
HEALTH TREATMENTS Weight Loss/Fat Removal, Lipo-Light (Non Surgical Lipo Suction), BioSlimming (The Latest Hollywood Craze), Genie Complete Intense Muscle Toning (one session is equal to 360 sit-ups - Amazing results!).
Introducing Cavi-Lipo New alternative to lipo suction
Courses start from as little as £120 SPECIAL OFFERS Unlimited use of the power plate £40 a month. Lipo Lite nonsurgical lipo suction plus 5 sessions of Power Plate per week for 6 consecutive weeks £195 Teeth Whitening from £99 - £150
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Designed for Beauty Monmouth The times are changing is a famous line from a Bob Dylan song and rings true for the beauty industry. The new era of beauty salons/ beauty clinics offer a huge array of treatments. No longer just for nails, waxing, facials and spray tans but much, much more. Clinical treatments for conditions such as skin tags are now fast and effectively done using a cauterize guillotine, this is considerably more effective than the old fashioned method of electrolysis, which can be slow and painful. Using this method several skin tags can be removed within minutes. Nail fungus has been traditionally treated with over the counter medication, albeit mostly successfully. The latest treatment for nail fungus is using light, either from a laser or from an IPL machine. Both work extremely well. Warts and verruca's were in the
past treated by your GP. You could dutifully attend wart & verruca clinics on a weekly basis. But now very little help is available at your GP's for such conditions. They can be very stubborn and painful. A good treatment is to pare them down with a scalpel exposing the little roots or blood supply. The blood supply will then be cauterized either by using an electrolysis needle or a laser. Hard skin can build up on the feet causing cracked heels. This can be a painful problem for many people. There are a number of very successful treatment including the amazing Foot Peel .This removes hard skin from the feet as if you were peeling back silicon from a wall. It leaves you with lovely soft smooth skin. As many people age brown spots appear particularly on their hands and faces. These are known as sun spots, age spots and liver spots. They are usually the result of sun damage and can be removed using a laser or IPL machine very successfully. Most can be treated in a couple of sessions. Little red blisters like spots can appear all over the body as we get older. They can be very easy to treat using advanced electrolysis. Scarring, whether it is from acne, surgery, stretch marks or an accident can be removed or at the very least significantly reduce and improve the appearance of the tissue. Depending upon the type of scar we can use Laser, IPL, Derma roller, dry needling, Meso therapy and peels. Medical Micro Pigmentation for skin camouflage and for areola reconstruction as well as semi- permanent make up for eyebrows, lips and eyeliner. Another of the more advanced treatments that you will find in a modern well equipped Beauty salon/clinic. Small hard white spots can appear on the face. These are called Milia and can be removed by a trained therapist. Just squeezing can lead to scarring and is not likely to remove them effectively. Thread vein removal using both Laser & Electrolysis works well on the face, but on the whole it is considered that laser is the best for thread veins on the legs. You can see from just the small sample of treatments above what our/a fully equipped beauty clinic offers. The times have definitely changed!
Abergavenny Natural Therapy Centre
“Food for The Soul” A FREE Day of Talks and Tasters to Nourish the Soul
Sat 15th Sept 11am – 4pm Call to book: 01873 858391 Details: facebook/aberhealing or www.abertherapies.co.uk Pop into the Centre at 12 Cross St, Abergavenny.
By Lisa Salmon
As new research suggests daily consumption of dark chocolate can reduce heart attacks and strokes in highrisk groups, experts discuss whether chocolate is actually good for your health, or just bad for your figure. A little bit of what you fancy is good for you - and mounting evidence suggests that includes chocolate. For while the melt-in-your-mouth treat is usually packed with sugar, fat and calories and is seen as the ultimate food sin, research suggests it has health benefits ranging from reducing cardiovascular problems and inflammation to improving mood. On the flip side, anti-obesity campaigners point out that the evidence is flimsy, whereas there can be no doubt that obesity causes health problems, and eating lots of chocolate is likely to make people pile on the pounds. I heart chocolate The latest research, published by scientists at Months University in Australia earlier this month, assessed more than 2,000 people at high risk of heart disease and found that daily consumption of 100g of dark chocolate equating to one premium-quality block containing a minimum 70% cocoa - could prevent 70 non-fatal and 15 fatal cardiovascular events, such as heart attack or stroke, per 10,000 people over a 10-year period.
PA Photo/thinkstockphotos
Can chocolate really be good for you?
lower body mass index (BMI) than those who ate chocolate less often. Those who indulged more frequently didn't eat fewer calories overall, nor did they exercise more. Nothing in the study suggested that their lower BMIs could be explained by these factors. "Our findings appear to add to a body of information suggesting that the composition of calories, not just the number of them, matters for determining their ultimate impact on weight," explains Dr Golomb. "In the case of chocolate, this is good news - both for those who have a regular chocolate habit, and those who may wish to start one."
The researchers point out that dark chocolate contains polyphenols, specifically flavonoids from the cocoa bean, which are thought to help reduce blood pressure and have anti-inflammatory, antithrombotic and metabolic effects. Researcher Ella Zomer says: "Our findings indicate dark chocolate therapy could provide an alternative to or be used to complement drug therapeutics in people at high risk of cardiovascular disease." A weight-loss aid? The Australian research is the latest in a long line of studies that have found chocolate may be beneficial to cardiovascular health. However, a study published in March went a step further, suggesting that people who ate chocolate regularly were actually slimmer. Dr Beatrice Golomb and colleagues from the University of California, San Diego, studied dietary and other information provided by 1,000 adults and found that those who ate chocolate on more days a week had a
Shine this Summer with nails to die for
In other words, whether you consume 500 calories of chocolate, or 500 calories of something more 'good' for you, doesn't matter!
when we're already feeling down... Not a health food British Dietetic Association spokesperson Jennifer Low says the problem with many of the chocolate studies is that they're not necessarily "robust" or conclusive, and further research needs to be done to establish that, if there are health benefits, exactly what is causing them. "At the moment, we shouldn't all go out and start munching chocolate for health reasons," she says. Dark chocolate is more 'healthy' than milk or white chocolate as it contains more polyphenols, which are antioxidants, and about 70% cocoa solids. It's also lower in fat and sugar. And because the cocoa solids make it so rich, people tend to eat less of it. However, Low points out that polyphenols are also found in plant-based foods such as fruit, vegetables, legumes and unrefined wholegrains.
Comfort food While it may be surprising that chocolate has been linked with a lower BMI, it comes as no shock that studies suggest it can aid mental well-being. Sunil Kochhar and colleagues from the Nestle Research Centre in Switzerland found reductions in stress hormones and other stress-related biochemical changes in volunteers who rated themselves as highly stressed and ate 40g of dark chocolate a day for two weeks. Kochhar, whose follow-up to the study was published this month, says: "Health benefits from consuming a healthy balanced diet and active lifestyle are now well documented, and our study suggests that chocolate can be part of this diet and lifestyle." But another study from the University of California, which questioned nearly 1,000 adults in 2010, found that people who ate at least one bar of chocolate every week were more depressed than those who only ate chocolate occasionally. However, the scientists didn't determine whether chocolate was the cause of the depression, or a cure for it. After all, many of us reach for comfort foods
"There's definitely robust evidence for including those foods in your diet, so they'd be a better way forward," she advises. "If you don't eat chocolate already, you don't need to start - it contains a lot of fat and sugar, which is linked to obesity and type 2 diabetes and the related health issues. "It's never going to be a health food because of all the fat and sugar it contains." As a standard chocolate bar contains around 250 calories, Low points out that eating one a day on top of your normal diet could lead to weight gain of half a pound a week. "If people want to have chocolate as a treat as part of a balanced, healthy diet, I don't think there's any harm in that. But eat it mindfully, and don't just grab it because you're hungry." She adds: "If you're eating it as a comfort food, perhaps you should ask yourself if you need a hug more than a bar of chocolate."
■ 17 Nail Xtras Crackle Top Coat
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■ Rimmel Lycra
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■ Bourjois 10
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All available from www.boots.com
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Colour me in
Gazette Giggles! Q. What did the nut say when it sneezed? A. Cashew! Q. What do you get when you cross a snake and a pie? A. A pie-thon! Q. Why shouldn't you tell a secret on a farm? A. Because the potatoes have eyes and the corn has ears!
Sudoku Challenge
September 2012
Q. What did the skeleton order for dinner? A. Spare ribs! Q. Why do seagulls fly over the sea? A. Because if they flew over the bay they would be called bagels! Q. Why was the strawberry sad? A. Because her mom was in a jam! Q. What do penguins have for lunch? A. Iceburgers!
Solution on page 45 Free singing course for male singers for six weeks. 7.30pm Llanfoist Fawr Primary School. Contact Andy 01873 830883 or andy@fretter.plus.com www.synergy-acappella.co.uk
NEWPORT SEWING CENTRE
Pen-Y-Fal Car Boot Sale. See 16, 23, 30
A family run business with over 50 years experience
Special Offers & Training
Abertillery Orpheus Male Choir, 7pm Bethesda Chapel, Llangattock. Admission £6. Prize Draw
Pen-Y-Fal Car Boot Sale, weather permitting. Sellers 10am, Buyers 11am. Tel: 07761363090, 07842521332
7.30 St Michael’s Church, Cwmdu, world famous triple harpist, Robin Huw Bowen. Adult £10, under 12 £7. Contact 01873 852572 or tickets at door
Pen-Y-Fal Car Boot Sale, weather permitting. Sellers 10am, Buyers 11am. Tel: 07761363090, 07842521332
Bernina, Janome, Brother, Husqvarna And Horn sewing machine Cabinets Sewing Machine Service and Repairs
01633 284646 Newport Sewing Centre, Curlew Close, Queensway Meadows, Newport NP19 4SY Ring for a map
www.jbsewing.com 30
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Crickhowell and District History Society, Chris Barber roaming with a camera in the Brecon Beacons. 7.30pm at The Dragon Hotel, High Street, Crickhowell
Abergavenny Farmers Market, Market Hall, Abergavenny. Fresh local produce
Pen-Y-Fal Car Boot Sale, weather permitting. Sellers 10am, Buyers 11am. Tel: 07761363090, 07842521332
Gazette Motors
Power up!
country's road network, whether you've noticed it yet or not, by striking deals with forward-thinking companies such as The Jockey Club.
Matt Kimberley looks at how one British firm is leading the way for electric vehicles
The largest commercial group in British horse racing will have electric vehicle (EV) charging points at each of its 14 racecourses by the end of 2012.
In the chicken-and-egg scenario surrounding electric cars and charging locations, there's a company right at the heart of the action. And it's British. Chargemaster is going about its business fairly quietly at the moment, but it lays claim to the title of the biggest manufacturer of charging points - 'certainly in Europe, there are no worldwide figures that we know of', to paraphrase a spokesman. The company sells to a dozen EU markets with designs on getting into 10 more in the near future. In almost every nation where the tax laws aren't quite offering enough of an incentive to buyers, electric cars face the same obstacles. Electric cars can't and won't properly take off until the public sees there is a useful network of charging points in place, including locations convenient to them. It's no use buying an electric car if the nearest charging point is 30 miles away. Chargemaster is slowly making headway into the
At 95p per full charge, the points will allow people to run their cars with an equivalent financial efficiency of a petrol car capable of more than 500mpg. And no, that's not a typo. We're genuinely talking 10 times cheaper to run than an average efficient internal combustionfuelled hatchback. Seeing is believing, and as we the public start to see charging points on our daily travels, the idea of a viable electric car will grow. This is the good work Chargemaster is doing behind the scenes, but there are still a few hurdles in the way. For example, there are a number of different charging connection types. It's massively frustrating to pull up at a charging bay only to find the wall-mounted
socket isn't compatible with your car's lead, so Chargemaster is rather sensibly pushing for standardisation. With the growth of a chunky new seven-pin standard called 'Type 2', there will also be a radical update in preparation for the hoped-
â—?
for surge in electric car sales. It seems certain that as time goes on and electric car sales explode, which they inevitably will unless tax system changes stall the growth, we'll be seeing a lot more of Chargemaster.
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I’m a celebrity... keep me in here! Fatima Whitbread has gone from Olympics champion to reality TV star. But, she tells Hannah Stephenson, her unlikely new career has saved her from financial crisis
to be yourself. Drawing on my experiences discipline, order and competitiveness - is my way."
Those who are too young to remember the Eighties will probably best know Fatima Whitbread as the muscle-bound contestant who got a cockroach stuck up her nose in I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!
But Whitbread, 51, dismisses the suggestion that going from world class athlete to reality show celebrity - she came third in the jungle challenge last year behind Mark Wright and Dougie Poyntner - has been a humiliating, undignified step.
She understands that her attitude may have ruffled other celebrity feathers but she's unrepentant about who she is.
"Oh, for goodness sake!" she retorts. "For me, it was a window of opportunity that I took and it's worked."
Whitbread, who began throwing the javelin aged 11 and who went on to compete in three Olympics, winning bronze in the 1984 Los Angeles Games and silver in Seoul, says that sport was her saviour, the focus which increased her self-esteem and gained her respect.
They're too young to remember the double Olympic medallist of three decades ago, winner of the BBC Sports Personality of the Year, MBE and world javelin record holder.
In her autobiography, Survivor, she writes: "After five very lean years, being able to pay your son's school fees without wincing is empowering. "I was seriously in need of work. I'd tried for the last four or five years to get work in athletics. Maybe reality TV was the answer." There were mixed opinions of her on the show as she flexed her rippling muscles in an animal print bikini, bossed other contestants and demonstrated her competitive nature. "The jungle was a massive discovery for all of us in extreme conditions. You need
Escape with a book There's a host of new books out this summer to keep you occupied on holiday. Hannah Stephenson leafs through some of the best and Sean French bring us the second in the Frieda Klein series, in which psychiatrist Klein is called in to help when the naked, rotting corpse of a man is found in the living room of a confused woman. ■ XO by Jeffery Deaver
(Hodder & Stoughton, £18.99) His third Kathryn Dance thriller featuring the kinesics (body language) expert sees Dance go to the aid of her friend, a young country and western singer who is attracting the attentions of a stalker. As the body count rises, there are the classic Deaver twists in the tale - his fans won't be disappointed. FOR HER Save some space in your suitcase to pack a few books this year, as best-selling novelists and debut authors alike have much to offer. But if you can't bear the thought of carrying the weight of all those pageturners, they are available as ebooks for about the price of a paperback. Here's a pick of the best... FOR HIM ■ Tuesday's Gone by Nicci French (Michael Joseph, July 19, £12.99) The husband-and-wife team of Nicci Gerrard
■ Before I Met You by
Lisa Jewell (Century, July 19, £9.99) The award-winning novelist, author of Ralph's Party and 31 Dream Street, sets this story in two time zones the Britpop Nineties and the Roaring Twenties, as a young woman called Betty moves to London from Guernsey to trace the mysterious beneficiary in her grandmother's will. Living in Soho, she has romantic liaisons with a gorgeous pop star and an enigmatic market trader while her search continues.
"I rediscovered myself and I was pleased," she says.
She's looking forward to the London Olympics, despite the fact that she hasn't been selected for an official role in the event. "With a British crowd behind them, some of the athletes will go far. They will walk away with far better performances than they expect, which will help the younger generation realise and focus more on what they want, whether in sport or not." Her application to be involved in the Olympics was rejected, however. "I would have loved to have been involved but there are so many of us, they can't take everybody on board," she says diplomatically. Perhaps her appearance in reality shows had some bearing on her not being selected to help, I suggest. "In the end, after coming back from the jungle other things came about and I had to draw a line under the Olympics and move on." She's bought tickets for the women's javelin final and will be watching the rest on TV. But then she's had much harder rejections in a life that has had more ups and downs than a world class hurdler. A childhood spent in and out of care homes, her early disappointments of her father failing
to turn up for outings, the trauma of being raped aged 13 by a boyfriend of her callous birth mother, have all shaped her unquestionable resilience. She struggled to find a way out of the darkness with the help of her adoptive mother and javelin coach, Margaret Whitbread. Fatima has been married and has a son, She is single now, although she hasn't given up on men, and has a close set of friends. "I don't get lonely. I run with my dog every day in the park, go to the gym for an hour and do whatever work comes along." As for the future, she's on the hunt for more reality TV and would love to do Strictly Come Dancing. "It would give me a chance to dress up, come out of my sports clothing and challenge myself in an area which is quite fun." She's not worried about snipes that may be made about her muscle-bound physique underneath all those sequins. "Ah, come on! I'm 5ft 5in, nine stone and I am toned but I'm not the athlete I was. I've lived with the comments all my career and I'm not going to allow that to worry me." ■ Survivor by Fatima Whitbread is
published by Virgin Books, priced £7.99
■ Perfect Strangers by
Tasmina Perry (Headline Review, £12.99) Exotic locations and glamorous people are the trademarks of this popular author and her new novel jets from London to New York to the Cote D'Azur and into a world where a case of mistaken identity unravels a web of lies and conspiracy.
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Five Minutes with... Shaun Williamson Former EastEnders star Shaun Williamson, 46, is back on TV with a new series of Daz Cleaner Close adverts. The Kent-born actor and singer talks to Roger Crow about his career, collaborating with Ricky Gervais, and working on a new stage version of movie classic The Ladykillers. TELL US ABOUT THE NEW DAZ CAMPAIGN I was asked to do one of the Daz Cleaner Close adverts. I'd been a fan anyway since the first one with the legendary Dr Legg; I can't believe there's been 30 odd now. HOW WAS IT WORKING WITH DALEY THOMPSON? Fantastic, because he was always a big hero of mine back in the day, 1980, 1984. A bit nervous, meeting your heroes and all that, but he was absolutely charming. We got on great and made the advert. In fact we made two. There's another one on later in the year, and then they came up with this lovely idea to do something called the Dazathon, which we filmed for a bit of fun and put online. Basically it was 10 fun events that tied into laundrythemed sport. I think there was washing
basket ball, all sorts of weird and wonderful things. I was up against that force of athletics known as Dean Gaffney, and Sarah Jayne Dunn from Hollyoaks. TELL US ABOUT YOUR ROLE IN GRAHAM LINEHAN'S STAGE VERSION OF THE LADYKILLERS I went to see it in the West End with Peter Capaldi in it. It's just come out of there, and it was fantastic. I was a big fan of the film. Unfortunately it has dated slightly and a lot of the scenes are set outside, so they got Graham (Linehan) in to give it a bit of a touch up and he's done a brilliant job. I've been given a chance to play the only psychopath in the whole group, which is Louis the Knife Man. It's all good stuff. That's a national tour. It goes from September to November, and then I break for pantomime.
WHAT WERE THE MOST MEMORABLE MOMENTS FOR YOU DURING A DECADE PLAYING BARRY EVANS ON EASTENDERS?
and Paul Trueman cooked up their plans to get my money. It all happened in six or seven months. It was incredible.
Well, ironically it was after we agreed I was going to leave and die. I was still in the show for about seven or eight months, and they were the best seven or eight months of my time in it. By the end of it I was half changing my mind. I think what they had to do was condense what would have happened to Barry for the next year or 18 months into seven. I think Roy died of a heart attack; Natalie ran off with the kid, and I (Barry) had a nervous breakdown, kicked Pat out of the house and then Janine
DO YOU MISS THOSE DAYS?
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Not really. Certain bits I look back on with great fondness. We filmed ones in Amsterdam - Barry's stag night. We went to France during the World Cup and filmed out there. They were great things to do. DO YOU EVER GET TIRED OF THE 'BARRY' NICKNAME? Yeah!
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Recipe Corner
Banoffee pie with pecans and caramel sauce Ingredients: For the caramel ● 100g/3½oz unsalted butter ● 100g/3½oz caster sugar ● 400g/14fl oz can condensed milk
Serve s6
For the banoffee pie 150g/5 oz digestive biscuits, crushed 230g/8oz pecans, halved 75g/3oz butter, melted 3 large bananas, chopped 250ml/10½oz double cream, whipped until soft peaks form when the whisk is removed cocoa powder, for dusting ● ● ● ● ●
For the caramel sauce ● 125g/4oz unsalted butter ● 125g/4oz soft light brown sugar ● 125ml/4fl oz coconut milk Preparation time: 2 hours. Cooking time: 10 to 30 hours Method: 1. For the caramel, place the butter and sugar into a non-stick pan over a low heat, stirring until the butter melts and the sugar dissolves. 2. Add the condensed milk and slowly bring to the boil, stirring continuously, to make the caramel. As soon as the mixture thickens and begins to smell of caramel, remove
from the heat and allow to cool. 3. Meanwhile, for the banoffee pie, place the crushed biscuits and 115g/4oz of the pecans into a bowl. Add the butter and mix well. 4. Transfer the mixture to a 25cm/10in cake tin. Press in to pack the mixture evenly into the base. 5. Add the chopped bananas to the caramel mixture and mix well, then spread the mixture over the biscuit base. 6. Transfer to the refrigerator to cool for 30 minutes. 7. Remove from the fridge and spread the whipped cream evenly over the top of the banoffee layer. 8. Place the remaining pecans over the top in a circular arrangement and dust with cocoa powder. 9. For the caramel sauce, place the butter, sugar and coconut milk into a heavy-based pan over a medium heat. Bring to the boil and cook for 3-4 minutes, until it forms a thick, light golden-brown sauce. 10.To serve, cut out slices of the banoffee pie, place onto plates and pour over the caramel sauce..
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Brighten up your kitchen with these colourful accessories ■ Cow Parsley Tea Towel £8.99 available from angel-lifestyle.com
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Nothing but the tooth Oral health specialist Molar has drawn up a list of the top eight reasons to clean in between your teeth and how especially as we get ‘longer in the tooth’ dental woes can be avoided with a simple interdental brushing routine. 1: Gum disease. Even the most advanced toothbrush won’t remove plaque from between teeth. Continued plaque build-up causes gum inflammation and redness (gingivitis). In worst cases, inflammation can affect the supporting structure of the teeth causing them to become loose and eventually fall out. Interdental brushes can remove hidden plaque. 2: Bad breath. Food and plaque left in between teeth will stagnate and cause bad breath. In fact, 85 per cent of halitosis or bad breath comes from the mouth. 3: Stain build up. Tea, red wine, smoking and blue cheese can all stain teeth but, it’s not the tooth surface that stains initially. It is the build up of plaque and tartar on the tooth surface that becomes stained.
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•Bespoke Joinery• •Restoration & Renovation• •Listed Buidlings• •Barn Conversions• •Swimming Pools• •Ecclesiatical• •New Build – Extensions etc• •Bathrooms & Kitchens• •Disabled Facilities• For more information or a free quotation please contact us or visit our showroom: Anthoney A Davies Ltd. Union Road Ind Est, Abergavenny. Monmouthshire, NP7 7RQ
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4: Interdental inflammation and bleeding gums. Brushing twice daily with a small headed, medium filament toothbrush aimed at the gum line as well as the tooth surfaces, coupled with interdental brushing once a day, will remove the plaque bacteria that causes the inflammation. 5: Tooth decay. Plaque acids are produced every time we eat carbohydrates. Interdental brushing and flossing is the only way to effectively clean away acidproducing plaque. 6: Heart disease. Experts have long suspected a link between gum disease and heart disease. 7: To maintain crowns, bridges and implants. The supporting gums around crowns, bridges and implants are just as prone to gum disease as natural teeth. 8: Interdental cleaning is so easy. Interdental brushes are far easier to manage than floss and tape, but size is important.
For more information, please visit www.molarltd.co.uk
WHEN... was King Oswald of Northumbria killed by Penda of Mercia? Answers: Oliver Twist; Nicotine; Kuwait; 642.
WHERE... is a scorpion's venom located? WHEN... did Ronald Reagan become president of the Screen Actors' Guild?
WHAT... type of electric charge is acquired through friction?
WHEN... did Sir Charles Wentworth Dilke publish his best-selling book Greater Britain?
WHO... was the US president who was ▲ formerly a peanut farmer? WHAT... is a more common name for a whirlpool bath? WHERE... was the far-right party the AWB founded? WHEN... did El Cid take Valencia?
▲
WHERE... in the UK is Halifax?
WHERE... in the body would you find gingivitis?
Answers: Bobby Robson; Admiral of the Fleet; The tail; 1947.
WHAT... is used instead of a ball in badminton?
WHAT... is the highestranking naval officer?
▲
▲
WHO... starred in the films Back To The Future and Addams Family Values?
WHO... was the former England manager who also coached FC Porto?
Answers: Jimmy Carter; A Jacuzzi; South Africa; 1094.
WHERE... was the country invaded by Iraq to begin the first Gulf War?
▲
WHO... starred in the films My Left Foot, The Last Of The Mohicans and Gangs of New York?
▲
WHAT... component of cigarette smoke causes bodily addiction?
WHEN... was the fortress of Masada seized by the Zealots?
Answers: Daniel Day-Lewis; Static electricity; The gums; 1868.
WHO... in Dickens's novels met trouble when he asked for more gruel?
Answers: Christopher Lloyd; A shuttlecock; West Yorkshire; 66 AD.
▲
Who? What? When? Where?
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Debating the gender pay gap When Harriet Harman declared men should never be left to run things on their own she woke even the most drowsy of backbench MPs. As deputy leader of the Labour party and Minister for Equality and Women, Harman’s call for one of the party’s two top jobs to always be occupied by a woman came just weeks after she introduced the controversial Equality Bill to address the gender pay gap.
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Her comment incensed former MP Edwina Currie who responded: “The woman is mad ... we need the best people to run the country irrespective of gender.” But the debate struck a chord with Gloria Moss, a senior lecturer in human resources at Bucks New University whose research focuses on the differences between male and female styles of management. In her view Currie is wrong. “People glibly say ‘the best person gets the job’, but the concept of ‘best’ is questionable. Best in whose eyes?" As Moss explains, men and women might not agree on what ‘best’ means. “Criteria of excellence are not always gender neutral,” she adds. Moss believes this is a major factor in why the gender pay gap still persists in Britain, with men earning more on average than women and the gap at its widest at the top of the ladder. Not only are women getting paid less than their male equivalents, but there are fewer women in top paid jobs. Although the pay gap between men and women has narrowed in the last decade, according to the government’s National Equality Panel women still earn on average 21 per cent less than men. Despite getting better degrees than men, four years after graduation half as many women are earning more than £30,000. This year marks 40 years since the Equal Pay Act
was created and 35 years since it came into force. Ceri Goddard, chief executive of the Fawcett Society which campaigns for equality between women and men, insists more needs to be done. “Even though many people think we have moved on from old fashioned sexist attitudes, this report shows there is clearly still large-scale discrimination against women in employment.” Harman’s Equality Bill would give employers a legal right to choose women over equally qualified men and force companies to divulge how much they paid men and women. But will such transparency help? “Transparency is certainly a help for men and women alike,” says Dr Catherine Hakim, a sociologist at the London School of Economics and author of Key Issues In Women’s Work. “But it can also simply produce greater jealousy and resentment of those who get paid more.” Moss, who recently edited the book Profiting From Diversity, believes to tackle inequality companies must open themselves up to a different, more typically female style of working. She says the style of leadership associated with women in much research, ‘transformational’ leadership, has been shown to increase productivity by 20 per cent compared to a more male, ‘transactional’ style. Transactional leadership involves a topdown approach and what is known as ‘management by exception’.
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“It’s basically ignoring your staff until something goes wrong and then you start managing,” explains Moss. “But the rest of the time when they’re doing things well, you ignore them.”
Don’t hang about
Transformational leadership on the other hand is management through teamwork and something called ‘individualised consideration’. “You focus on the employee at all times, not just when things go wrong.”
Research by Ikea has revealed that on average Brits are hoarding £1,212 worth of clothes in their wardrobes so is now the perfect time to uncover these hidden gems?
Crucially Moss says extensive research shows men value transactional leadership in others, while women value transformational leadership. If this is true it means a person’s gender will always determine how they progress. There are even researchers who suggest feminine qualities are simply not valued in the workplace. Guido Heineck claims women’s tendency to be more “passive” and “likeable” at work lets them down. “To be successful in the workplace women have to adapt to more alpha male-like behaviour,” says the researcher from the Institute for Employment Research in Germany. But Moss finds this argument tedious. “The argument that the reason women aren’t advancing up the ladder is basically down to lack of motivation makes me impatient. It may be one element, but it ignores a very large number of other variables which contribute to the pay gap.” One such variable is children. The National Equality Panel’s report found: “Women’s pay relative to men’s declines not just at the moment of first becoming a mother, but through most of the first child’s childhood.” But for Moss the future for women at work is looking bright. “There are organisations, even male dominated organisations, that have awoken to the importance of transformational leadership so they are recruiting leaders who are transformational and they are making sure their job criteria are rooted in those qualities. “They’ve anchored it in the appraisal system and the leadership training they offer to all their managers, both male and female. I guess what we need is a balance of the two genders, we’re not talking about one dominating the other, there are strengths that both men and women can bring to the workplace.”
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Despite having wardrobes filled with the latest fashion, 40 per cent of Brits claim to be bored with their clothes and only three per cent say they feel excited about choosing a different outfit each day. A third also admit to wearing only 10 per cent of their outfits, resulting in £1,090 worth of clothes left hanging on the rails untouched. According to the survey, we are not making the most of the clothes we already own and the lack of excitement around the contents of our wardrobes is due to poor organisation, as almost half of the nation describes the state of their wardrobe as 'unorganised chaos'. Almost a quarter admit to grabbing the first thing that comes to hand each morning with a further 23 per cent rotating the same old trusted outfits over and over again. Ikea bedrooms expert Pippa Swain said: "Our research shows that despite having a wealth of outfits to choose from, Brits are often left feeling frustrated and uninspired by the contents of their wardrobes. Instead of buying new clothes, moneysavvy Brits should invest in storage solutions that help rediscover the items they once loved" Celebrity stylist Grace Woodward has teamed up with Ikea to give some top tips on how to reorganise your wardrobe chaos She said: "Just as you have many different roles to play in a day, so does your wardrobe.
It needs to organise your clothes, hang them properly, show off your best bits and keep all those things you'd rather forget cleverly hidden away.
3. You Are Your Canvas: Making a great outfit is like painting, you are using colour and texture to create something interesting to look at. People think they don't have time but if you know where to reach in and grab those little extras like accessories then your look becomes more interesting. Drawers in cupboards are not only amazing space savers but they help you keep everything organised. 4. Kick Off: I encourage people to have a shoe to suit every mood, but we are emotional multifaceted creatures and so the shoe collection can get quite large. Shoe racks and boxes are the key to footloose and fancy free selfexpression - a total must for good shoe care too. Boxes with clear fronts help keep dust away and make it easy to choose the right pair for your outfit.
A good wardrobe fitted properly with clever de-cluttering solutions can transform your clothes from shabby to chic in no time. The key to great styling and feeling confident about what you wear all starts with your wardrobe - the home of your fabulous fashion and source of inspiration." Grace Woodard's Top Tips for getting the most out of your wardrobe: 1. Clarity is Key: One of the worst wardrobe habits is hoarding clothes that we never wear, I recommend clearing out your wardrobe every year considering the season coming. This is not a quick job so make sure you allow yourself enough time as you need to take everything out and try everything on - if it doesn't fit or can't be worked it into an outfit then you need to get rid! For the items you can't decide whether to throw away or not, put in a box and if in four weeks' time you have not missed them then add to the charity pile. 2. Hang with pride: Once you have de-cluttered, the next step is reorganising. It's important to make the most of the space within your wardrobe, never over fill - you don't have to hang everything.
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Fifty years and still rolling From their early years as a tight rhythm and blues covers band, through their early attempts at songwriting, their peerless output in the late Sixties and early Seventies and on to their dalliances - not always successful - with soul, funk, disco and reggae, and, finally, to their current status as the biggest band in the world, they've always been interesting. This is a band who, primarily via founders Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, were raised on a regime of delta blues and rock 'n' roll records imported from the US, absorbed all they could and created something entirely new, unique and successful. Half a century after they played for the first time, they're still the band everyone wants to see perform again. There are strong rumours the Stones will tour again in 2013, many believing they'll headline Glastonbury when it returns from its year off, although given the festival's relatively low headlining fee and the Stones' notorious hard bargaining, it seems unlikely.
The venue on the capital's Oxford Street might not be there any more, but the band are still going strong.
"Curated by us, the book features the very best photographs and ephemera from and beyond our archives."
Since that fateful night, when they played a set of cover versions including Wilbert Harrison's Kansas City, Muddy Waters' I Want You To Love Me, and Happy Home by Elmore James, and after more than a few changes in personnel, the Stones have played to more people than any other band, ever, in virtually every country on the planet. To mark the occasion, and kicking off what will be a yearlong celebration, a special book, featuring previously unseen images of the band, and an exhibition of
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Countless books have been written about the band, and summing up their rich and illustrious past, controversies and vast cultural impact is a nighon impossible task. This will be the first book Jagger, Keith Richards, Charlie Watts and Ronnie Wood (the 'new boy' who officially joined the band in 1976) have worked on together. More important than any book, timeline or context, fascinating and turbulent as it may be, however, is the band's music.
September / October
Whatever the Rolling Stones do, though, wherever they play and to however many people, it will be an event of global significance.
■ The Rolling Stones: 50 photographic
exhibition opens at London's Somerset House runs until August 27. Admission is free. For more information, visit www.somersethouse.org.uk
Remember When... The following events all occurred in a year in living memory. Can you guess the year? 1. Humphrey Bogart starred in The Maltese Falcon 2. Virginia Woolf died 3. The British government issued a recipe for 'Blitz Broth' 4. Noel Coward's Blithe Spirit was premiered in London 1. Muppets creator Jim Henson was born 2. Charlie Chaplin starred in Modern Times 3. Amy Johnson made a return flight from London to Cape Town in record time 4. Russian physiologist Ivan Pavlov died Answer: 1936
"This is our story of 50 fantastic years," says Mick Jagger, the band's much-imitated, never outdone frontman. "We started out as a blues band playing the clubs and more recently we've filled the largest stadiums in the world with the kind of show that none of us could have imagined all those years ago.
Much more probable is a giant farewell world tour. It's simply the only way they could visit all the countries they've impacted in their halfcentury. Let's also not forget their last tour grossed $558 million, more than the GDP of many African nations. Such a payday is not to be sniffed at.
Rolling Stones 50 published by Thames & Hudson, priced £29.95. Available now
1. Actress Kathy Bates was born 2. Alec Guinness starred in Oliver Twist 3. The UK's railways were nationalised 4. Director Sergei Eisenstein died Answer: 1948
It was the night of July 12, 1962 when the Rolling Stones performed live for the first time at London's Marquee Club.
similarly iconic images will be unveiled on July 12 and 13 respectively.
■ The
Answer: 1941
As the Rolling Stones celebrate their 50th anniversary, a new authorised biography and an exhibition of previously unseen images are about to be unveiled. Andy Welch pays tribute to the world's greatest rock 'n' roll band
That would be impressive for any artist announcing a concert, but for a band entering their sixth decade on the road it's utterly remarkable.
Life begins... now!
I remember as a young boy seeing adverts for Saga holidays and over 50s insurance schemes and thinking how ancient people over 50 must feel. My Grandparents were over 50 for a start and they were my parents (who also appeared old of course despite only being in their mid thirties) parents! As I approach a milestone birthday this September (I can hear you asking from here, how rude! I’ll be 40), I can afford myself a retrospective wry smile of embarrassment at my former views. How our views of age change over time. 50 is the new 40 and 65 is the new 50. With the advances in medicine over the last 50 years and the next 50 sure to see even greater strides, it’s likely that many people turning 50
this year will be only half way through their lives. That said, I do see many people over 50 in my consulting rooms who are struggling with life issues. I’m generalising, of course, however they seem to fall into one of two categories; Either they are still working, are stressed/anxious/depressed and can’t wait to retire to be free of the rat race and have some time to themselves. Or, they are retired and seem to have lost a part of themselves which again leads to loneliness, anxiety or depression. How can this be? The second group have what the first group desire and yet still they struggle. When we look at our basic human needs it starts to make sense.
Words of wisdom from our own homegrown lifecoach Mark Darlington
Two of the basic human needs that we have to satisfy as we mature to stay happy are the need for significance and the need to contribute. This is where problems can start to appear as people make transitions in their lives or situational change is forced upon them. As business has become more autonomous our feeling of significance and contribution can lower, almost as though we’re just another cog in the machine. Compare the unseen Bank Managers of today to the pillars of society that everyone revered and knew 25 years ago. Those that have retired potentially have a different set of issues, especially men. I’ve found a trend in men who have retired and are no longer physically able to do their manual labour become depressed as they feel emasculated, unable to contribute as they once did and feel insignificant. So how can we start to really enjoy our lives, whatever stage we are at? You are significant Firstly, remember how important you are to so many different people. You may not be full time parents anymore if your children have flown the nest. However, believe me, you’re still needed. If you’re lucky enough to be a Grandparent, remember the pure love you had for yours. Contribute There are so many ways you can benefit others with your knowledge and experience. What 3 ways can you think of today that you can enhance the lives of others? ●
When you give in this way, you get so much more back. Enjoy Your Freedom How did you plan to spend your retirement time while you were working? Are you at a stage where you can’t understand how you had time to work but still don’t seem to “do” anything? Take some time out for you. You’ve worked hard for this time, enjoy it! Know It’s Never Too Late If you’re in a rut make a decision that you can start living again today. You can do whatever you want. There’s no rule book that says you have to live a certain way. Life is for living, so go out and live it today! Mark Darlington is a Clinical Hypnotherapist and Success Coach who helps people work through difficult times in their lives. You can call him on 0800 043 1946 or visit www.markdarlington.co.uk for more information.
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Five minutes with... Joan Rivers Comedian Joan Rivers reveals her secrets to staying active, why she loves a naughty joke and her thoughts on Hollywood actor Mel Gibson Comedy pioneer Joan Rivers has been making people laugh for decades. The septuagenarian remains a much indemand stand-up and her career is enjoying a major resurgence thanks to a frank, heart-warming documentary about her life.
Joan Rivers: A Piece Of Work is available to buy on DVD. YOU’RE IN YOU MID-SEVENTIES NOW. WHAT IS YOUR SECRET FOR STAYING SO ACTIVE? In truth, there are three things I put it down to. I love my work, and I think that’s a big thing. That’s where the enthusiasm comes from. Number two, I’m always working on new projects that excite me, and number three, I’m totally insecure. That’s probably the biggest one. DO YOU EVER WORRY YOUR FACULTIES MAY LET YOU DOWN?
Nick Ramsay AM Assembly Member for Monmouth Hospitals - Schools - Transport Environment - Housing Write to: Nick Ramsay AM, Constituency Office, 16 Maryport Street, Usk, Monmouthshire, NP15 1AB E-mail: nicholas.ramsay@wales.gov.uk
For further information call: 01291 674 898 or 029 2089 8735
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You think that every single day. You worry about it all the time at this age. But right now I’m on stage and everything is going great and I don’t see any variation so it’s all good. It’s strange and wonderful, still being here. I never thought about the future. I’ve never had the chance to say, ‘gee, I wonder how much longer this will last'? YOU MUST BE PROUD TO BE LEAVING SUCH A LEGACY I don’t give a rat’s ass about legacy. Poor Vincent Van Gogh barely sold a picture in his entire life. Do you think some bag of bones cares that people own his stuff now? It’s so much fun now, I’m enjoying it now, and that’s it. I couldn’t care less. WHO MAKES YOU LAUGH? The ones who go too far. I love Little Britain. My jaw hurts. Ali G, I go nuts for him. It’s the naughty ones. I love things that make people say, ‘oh my God'. It’s the body of work that makes you go ‘wow'. People ask me if I wish I had come along a few decades later. I don’t know. I think maybe the reason the comedy scene is like this today is because I was doing the equivalent of it in the beginning. CAN COMEDY GO TOO FAR? Comedy is there to go too far. Comedians are here to say ‘the emperor has no clothes'. We heard all about that Russell Brand stuff. We heard about that before we heard of him as an actor and comedian, and look at how it worked out. He’s now a big movie star. It’s weird the way people get to the top now. People are getting famous for sex tapes. You tell me where the standards are. Is it frustrating? I find it more frustrating that nobody wants to do a sex tape with me. ARE YOU SEEING ANYBODY AT THE MOMENT? I stopped seeing somebody a couple of years ago. That was sad and a big relief all at once. When I’m with a man I’m different. I love the nurturing part of a relationship. I’m good at the whole, ‘do you want a coffee, can I get you a sandwich’ aspect of the relationship. That’s what I miss. I have two dogs now. I’m an age where the men are either rickety or dead.
went crazy at me. It’s a wonderful moment. HOW DO YOU STAY SO SPRIGHTLY? In half an hour my trainer is coming over to be very mean to me for an hour. I have to watch what I eat but I love my candy, so that’s very difficult. I’ll diet, diet, diet and then go past some M&Ms and eat the whole bowl. I’ll drink wine but hate hard liquor. YOU WORKED FOR A TIME WITH BRITISH COMEDY ICON PETER COOK. WHAT ARE YOUR MEMORIES OF HIM? He was very disdainful of me, didn’t want to work with me, obviously took it for the money and was not very nice. I was so disappointed because I’d been so looking forward to working with him, so the thought of him doing a show with me was so exciting, but he was having none of it. He missed the fun. He was so nasty and so rude. He was a miserable person. Most comedians are manic depressives. That’s what gets you on the stage. If you’re happy in yourself you don’t go and stand on stage in a room full of people and tell everybody what’s annoying you. HAVE YOU MET MANY OTHER PEOPLE IN THE INDUSTRY YOU DON’T LIKE? Mel Gibson, he’s a fool. Just the usual suspects, but most people are nice and professional and got there because they’re not stupid or nasty.
WHAT ARE YOUR FEELINGS ABOUT BRITAIN? It doesn’t rain! I’ve been going to England for 45 years. My husband was English and I was there very, very often and the rain I’d been promised just didn’t happen. It must be a marketing ploy.
WHAT ELSE IS IN THE PIPELINE? I’m working on two television shows. Fashion Police on E! and the other is Mother Knows Best that my daughter and I are working on. I’m working on a new Broadway play with a friend of mine who wrote Annie, and I’m performing live, as ever. I Twitter, I Facebook.
ARE YOU BUSY AT THE MOMENT? The phone never stops ringing! I just had to turn down this series. My manager
WILL YOU ALWAYS PERFORM? I want to perform until I drop. It’s my life and I love it. This is what I do.
Colour me 2012 When refreshing your make-up bag for January, the key to finding your own colour of the year lies in your hair and complexion. “Understanding your colouring is the next step in helping you to achieve a perfect make-up look," explains Pat Henshaw, co-author of new book Colour Me Beautiful Make-up Manual. LIGHT: Your overall look is pale and delicate. The undertone of your colouring can be warm, with golden tints to your hair and a few freckles on your skin, or cool, with ash tones to your hair and a slight pinkish tint to your skin. MAKE-UP MANTRA: It’s all about adding subtle definition to your Light features. “Give a hint of colour to eyebrows and eyelashes - a warm brown mascara will be more flattering than black," Henshaw advises. “Try not to overpower your delicate colouring with strong shades of eye shadow or lipstick, even when it comes to more glamorous make-up. PALETTE: Medium grey, light navy, cocoa and taupe for neutrals. Pastel pink, geranium, sky blue and apple green for accents. DEEP: Your skin can be porcelain to black but all your features - hair, eyebrows, eyes and lashes - are dark and defined so your make-up should be similarly deep and rich in tone. MAKE-UP MANTRA: Your features have a lot of depth to them and stand out on their own. “Accentuate your look by complementing it with dark, rich colours, even when it comes to more subtle daytime looks," Henshaw suggests.
Sudoku Solution
“Blushers will add some depth to balance your colouring. Lipsticks in rich shades will look fantastic on you. “ PALETTE: Black, aubergine, chocolate and pine for neutrals. Royal purple, scarlet, emerald green and true blue for accents. WARM: You’re the golden girl of complexions with skin tone ranging from porcelain with freckles to golden brown. Auburn hair tones go as light as strawberry blonde to dark rich red. MAKE-UP MANTRA: To enhance your warm and rich colouring, your make-up should always have yellow undertones. Henshaw advises: “Brown eye pencils and mascara flatter more than black for both day and night. “Choose a blush powder with a warm undertone and simply apply with a bit more depth depending on the time of day or occasion. Whether you want subtle lip colour or more dramatic lips, keep your lip colour warm with lovely, golden earthy tones."
PALETTE: Charcoal, dark navy, spruce and purple for neutrals. Light teal, rose pink, cornflower and blue red for accents. CLEAR: Your most outstanding features are your eyes, which are highlighted because of the contrast to your dark hair. They will have a clear, jewel-like quality to them. MAKE-UP MANTRA: Your eye make-up shades should always enhance and not detract from your eye colour. “Forget the rules about matching your eye shadow to your eye colour - it will only make your eyes blend in with your look and you really should make them pop. Bright colours are great during the day, whereas an aubergine pencil with purple eye shadow will be more glamorous for evenings." PALETTE: Black, black brown, royal blue and soft white for neutrals. Blush pink, ruby, Chinese blue and evergreen for accents. SOFT: You may have found a little of yourself in each of the previous colouring types, but didn’t fit exactly. You have medium depth of skin tone, blonde to dark brown eyebrows and mousy blonde to light brown hair - often with highlights.
■ Colour Me Beautiful Make-up Manual by Pat Henshaw and Audrey Hanna is published by Hamlyn, priced £12.99. Available now
PALETTE: Bronze, olive, pewter and camel for neutrals. Apricot, primrose, terracotta and lime for accents. COOL: You have blue, grey or cool brown eyes and ash tones to your hair, be it blonde, white, grey, salt and pepper, dark brown or black. Your colouring may have become cooler as you’ve aged. MAKE-UP MANTRA: Make the most of your distinctive colouring by wearing make-up colours with a cool or blue undertone. “Most cools have a striking look, so don’t be afraid to use brighter shades of lipstick and colours that will define your eyes," says Henshaw.
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Counting on Carol Telly favourite Carol Vorderman graced our screens for 26 years as co-presenter of Countdown, before joining the Loose Women team last year. She talks to Carrie Gregory about her latest projects, her ambitious plans for the summer and that interview with Piers Morgan
TELL US ABOUT YOUR INVOLVEMENT WITH CARPHONE WAREHOUSE It's to highlight the amount of money that's wasted every year by people who basically are on the wrong tariff for their usage. We're wasting almost £5 billion a year, which is horrific, but also what's interesting is that the way we use our phones is changing so rapidly because of smartphones. A large number of people on smartphones exceed their tariffs every month, and that's because I think we're largely unaware of how much internet usage we have. So that's why people really need to look at their tariffs. SO WHAT IS THE BILL ANGEL APP? The Bill Angel app is something I think everybody should get to be perfectly honest. It's free, but what it will do is monitor your usage, and will send you an alert when you're coming up to your tariff limit. A lot of us send texts because it becomes habit, not because it's something that we're conscious we're spending money on. It's available for Android and iPhones now. HOW WOULD YOU RATE YOUR OWN SPENDING HABITS?
I do spend but I hate wasting money. My life has changed, but back when I had no money, and my mum had no money, for many, many years, I never spent more than was coming in, ever, and I'd look at everything all the time. YOUR LIFE HAS CHANGED A LOT IN THE LAST FEW YEARS - SEPARATING FROM YOUR PARTNER, LEAVING COUNTDOWN, JOINING LOOSE WOMEN - DO YOU FEEL SETTLED NOW? Yes I do, very much so. I'm having a ball, to be perfectly honest. Loose Women is great, I love it, I really do. YOU OPENED UP TO PIERS MORGAN ON HIS ITV SHOW EARLIER THIS YEAR; YOU CAME ACROSS REALLY WELL, BUT ANY REGRETS? No, I don't have any. There are certain newspapers constantly trying to pump out a particular image of you that isn't necessarily the truth; it's their skewed image of you. So the show was a way of setting the record straight on a number of things. I thought it was a very nice programme and it was difficult in many places but it was an honest programme; I went in with that attitude, that I was going to be honest with everything. YOU WERE ASKED TO LEAD THE MATHS TASK FORCE FOR THE GOVERNMENT - HOW IS IT GOING?
big report which was uniformly welcomed. I think it's been quite influential on the maths side. YOU'RE SO BUSY - WHEN DO YOU FIND TIME FOR YOURSELF?! Hopefully this summer I'm going to learn to fly with my daughter and son, so we'll be the flying Vordermans. I haven't quite got it in balance at the moment. I'm working too hard and I've got to redress that for when we come back into our Loose Women term in September. I love being a parent of teenagers. CAREER-WISE, ARE THERE STILL THINGS YOU'D LIKE TO HAVE A GO AT? No, not at the moment. I'm quite happy doing live telly. Pride Of Britain obviously comes up again later this year. I'm just very happy. I've got my online maths school and on July 1 we started all our summer schools, so we'll probably have about 5,000 children on that and within seven or eight weeks we get them in to top set; that is really rewarding. :: Carol Vorderman has launched the new Bill Angel app from Carphone Warehouse, which helps customers get to grips with their bills. The Bill Angel app is available on Android and iOS
We reported last year in August for Michael Gove, and it took us two years to put it all together. It was a big piece of research in a very
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Training a Puppy Getting a puppy for the first time is exciting - they are so cute and bouncy, and they love you to pieces.
You are the leader of the pack in the dog's eyes, so when you respond with praise it makes him feel good - and he'll know from your tone if his leader is not happy.
But to keep the owner/pet relationship on a happy, even keel, your puppy must know its place within the household- and plenty of good training is required.
The five basic commands you will need to teach your dog in order to obtain a good degree of control are: sit, down, stay, come and heel (for walking nicely on the lead).
You really need to start training your puppy as soon as you bring it home. The most important words that it must quickly learn are its name - and the meaning of the word "no". It's just like dealing with children - when you say "no", you must stick to it! The tone of your voice as much as the word will help stop your puppy chewing the furniture or jumping up at you, as well as preventing little puddles around the house - but it will take a little time.
Beryl’s Diary Of course, there was no Arthur, the stranger was dreaming but I was scared to go back to bed and had to get in with my two sisters. Gran and Mrs. Morris's imprint on family life was only just beginning. The two of them would sit about the kitchen for hours, moaning every time a door was opened or closed and giving mum tips on what they would do to us kids if they were in charge.
A puppy's attention span is short, just like a child's, so 10 minutes at a time is enough. Always make it fun and always end on a positive note. If you can't manage alone, join a local dog training class.
I didn’t help matters by repeating the conversations ‘the bookends’ had at night.
Take your new young pet out frequently, especially after waking, eating and drinking and before you go to bed at night. When training, you should always praise the puppy - your tone has got to be enthusiastic and affectionate.
One I can remember was "Well our Will (meaning my dad) could have done a lot better for himself." Of course, when I repeated it to my mum she said, “Could he have indeed, not with a dragon like that for a mother.”
Your new little friend will respond well if you reward him with verbal praise. And if he makes a mistake, just use a cross voice - without shouting. Punishment should never be used in training. If you punish your dog, it will only teach him to be scared of you and may eventually teach him to be aggressive.
One morning, after the postman had been, mum informed us our grannie was coming to stay for a month. Her face was longer than a wet week!
He will mistrust you and your relationship may break down. If your dog is disobedient or naughty the best thing to do is completely ignore him (and that includes looking at him) or shut him out of the room for 5-10 minutes.
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Next day off went dad to pick her up. We all knew the score with gran, she was handy at giving us a back-hander if we said much so we always kept at arm’s length from her. There was not much love lost between us kids and our grannie. When dad's old pick-up came into the yard there was not one old biddy in there but two. It seems our gran had brought her friend, a Mrs Morris who, at 75, had just lost her husband. Mum was livid but apart from showing them the door there was not much she could do. 'I'll have to put the double bed in Beryl's room, you two will have to sleep together and our Beryl can sleep in a camp bed by the side.' 'Why me mum?' I asked, 'it's not fair!' 'Nothing is fair in this world,' said mum. I knew better than to argue with her. Nights became a funny affair. Gran would be sat up in bed with this mob cap on and the stranger by her side. Like two wrinkly dwarfs they sat there, talking to each other and drinking brandy for their nerves, they said. Most nights I fell asleep with the two ‘book ends’ sat up but one night I was woken by the stranger, she was bolt upright in bed talking to some ‘Arthur’. I listened and she said 'Arthur, you're cold - get into bed.' I was petrified. I ran into my parent's bedroom gabbling that Arthur was in my room and he was cold. Dad shot out of bed in his shirt. 'Arthur, what bloody Arthur is she talking about Brenda?'
Talk about enemy camps. Poor dad was drifting from one enemy to the other every five minutes as he tried to keep the peace - and when their brandy bottle ran dry they complained of fainting turns and heartburn that only dad's medicinal brandy could cure. Mum, being teetotal, was getting madder and madder as they got drunker and drunker. Next day poor gran fell over in her stupor and broke her hip. The ambulance came and took her to hospital. Now dad had a reason to get the stranger off our hands, which he promptly did next day. Arthur it appeared had been her late husband. God, I hoped she had taken him as well! The day my father went to fetch gran from hospital, I'm sure the staff were so relieved. She had them dancing attendance on her day and night.
Cruise is not in control As a newly divorced Tom Cruise faces up to becoming a part-time dad to daughter Suri, father-of-two David Mark tries to understand what the world's most famous film star is going through. On screen, it's easy enough to know what Tom Cruise is thinking. Look in his eyes, and you'll see his thought process pretty darned clearly. Off screen, it's harder to say. For a man who makes his career pretending to be other people, it's difficult to really get a feel for what is going on inside his head. Of course, it's hard to truly empathise with a man more famous than the sky, who earned $75 million last year alone, and who follows a religion based on the belief that we are all descended from aliens. But while Tom Cruise is a brand and a global icon, he is first of all a man. A bloke. A chap. And his inner chap must be going through agony right about now. While the world's media seems to be having a ball painting Cruise as the controlling, alien-loving bad guy of the piece and Katie Holmes as the brave heroine, I can't help feeling some degree of sympathy for the man. After all, Holmes had probably met him once or twice before she married him. There is a good chance she knew he was a Scientologist when they first started dating. She probably twigged quite early on that the biggest movie star on the planet, and a man 17 years her senior, had one or two fundamental aspects to his faith. Did she join in with them? Did she agree? Did Holmes give herself over to her husband's religion and buy in to all that alien stuff? The confidentiality agreement she signed before the wedding dictates that we will probably never get the truth on that one, and Cruise's lawyer is keen to stress his religion played no part in the split. All we know is that Holmes has had enough. She's left Cruise, and taken his six-year-old daughter, Suri, with her to New York. They had an extremely quick divorce, and although details of the settlement are being kept secret, Holmes seems to have custody
of the child. Thanks to media speculation, the world may be persuaded to view Cruise as a controlling, brainwashing cult leader intent on turning Suri into a mirror-image of himself. Cruise hasn't said very much in response. He just looks sad. And I can't help but feel sorry for a man who has just lost his wife and daughter. Knowing so little about the Cruise home life, it's hard to put him into an 'everyday' scenario. It's unlikely that the Mission: Impossible star came home from a hard day's graft, kicked his shoes into the cupboard under the stairs, made a sandwich and then went to find Suri's room empty and all of Holmes's clothes missing from the wardrobe. His life isn't like ours. But his heartbreak will be. Right now, Tom Cruise can't go home and pick up his daughter. He can't listen to her tell him stories about her day. He can't read her a book or help her colour in. He can't put on a puppet show at the end of the bed using a sock and a cushion cover.
he might not be able to without falling foul of Holmes's lawyers. He will spend his time frantically trying to stop her hearing bad things about him, and trying to preserve the truth of himself in his daughter's heart and mind. Yes, he may be Tom Cruise. He may be a megastar and believe odd things about aliens. But he's also a man, and he has just lost the most precious thing in the world - freedom to hug his daughter whenever he likes.
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He can't wake her at midnight to show her the meteor shower, or wake her in the morning by stroking her hair back from her face and whispering her pet name in her ear. He won't be spending the year looking forward to the two weeks in July when he can take her to a Center Parcs and help her with her swimming. He will probably have the Tom Cruise equivalent, which will be more expensive and a bit flasher. Yet the loneliness will be just as real. The pain at not being able to pick up his daughter when he wants a cuddle will feel just as raw. When he's broken a knuckle on a film set and wants to phone his little girl so she can say something cute and soothing,
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Weather the Storms inside and out Save money and feel warmer thanks to weatherstripping insulation tape.
acts as a barrier against dust, insects and noise, and is a lot cheaper and easier to fit than double or secondary glazing. Weatherstripping comes in different types look for one with adhesive backing to make fitting it quicker.
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Prepare your windows and doors for what the elements will throw at them this winter by fitting weatherstripping.
Weatherstripping is tape that seals the gaps between the moving parts of a window or door. As well as helping to prevent draughts, it
Period windows tend to be draughty, so weatherstripping is ideal for them, especially if you can’t have secondary or double glazing
because of planning restrictions. To prepare the window frame, remove any loose paint, then touch it up (if necessary) and leave to dry. Clean and dry the frame before applying the tape. ■ Fitting weatherstripping to sash windows is quite complicated because you need it along the top and bottom sashes (both sides), the bottom of the bottom sash, the top of the top sash and the outer meeting rail (the point where the top of the bottom sash meets the bottom of the top sash). Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for applying the weatherstripping, and consult a good DIY book or website for the order in which to fit it on sash windows. ■ If your windows are more modern, they may have a slot designed for weatherstripping, known as a kerf. The weatherstripping needed for this has a tubular edge on one side and a lip on the other to provide a tight seal. ■ To replace tubular weatherstripping, start by prising it off from the tubular edge. Ensuring that the surface is clean and dry and that no remnants of the old tape remain, press the new weatherstripping firmly into the slot and trim to fit exactly.
DIY NEWS BULLETIN Bosch has announced its new and improved power tools for 2012 - and the line-up looks impressive.
Retro Wallpapers
The tools include a new power paint roller (£129.99), available from February, which can be used with pretty much any emulsion, not just special packs, and is really easy to clean brilliant.
Earlier this year, The Little Greene Paint Company launched Retrospectives, a collection of authentic paint colours from the 1960s and 1970s, and now it’s launching Retrospective Papers, a range of wallpapers.
There’s also a new drip-free wall-paint spray gun (£179.99, available from April) and a new cordless screwdriver (£59.99, available from June), with a built-in rotating container for bits, so you’ll never have to waste time searching for the right bit again.
The eight designs (in 37 colourways) are based on 1960s and 1970s sources and will be unveiled at the end of January. For more information, visit www.littlegreene.com
Other new additions, launching this month, include a cordless tacker (£59.99) and an improved cordless glue gun (£69.99). The Bosch IXO IV cordless screwdriver (£39.99), which has 30% more power than before, will be available in May. There’s even a Swarovski crystal-encrusted version, £299.99, for DIY with added bling. One for the ladies, I think. For more information, visit www.bosch-do-it.co.uk/diy
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The Autumn Issue
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ASK THE EXPERT... Q: I’ve taken off the patterned wallpaper below the dado rail in my hall and the walls are uneven. Is there something I can do about it myself? I can’t afford to have them replastered. A: Perfect Finish Smooth & Repair, £18.98 for 2.5ltr, Ronseal, fills imperfections and is designed to make damaged walls and ceilings smooth again. It comes with a smoothing tool (and a tool-cleaner clip and holder clip) - you simply use a short-pile roller to apply the product, then smooth it out with
September / October
the tool, in a similar way to plastering. SmoothOver For Damaged Walls, from £19.99 for 2.5ltr, Polycell, is another good product. To use it, you need the SmoothOver Tool Set, which costs £7.15 and consists of a smoothing tool and a special roller. It takes a while to get the hang of using these products, and you’ll probably create tramlines applying them, which will need to be sanded when dry, but it should be cheaper than having the walls replastered.
SEASONAL TASK... The start of a new year is a good time to take stock of anything missing from your toolbox, shed or garage, and buy it in the sales. If you want to do home improvements in 2012, plan ahead and get the materials, fixtures and fittings now to take advantage of sale prices. All the big DIY sheds have good deals on at the moment, so shop around.
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ise To Advert @ Contacts:@yahoo.co.uk or kin jennahop 2187 ext 01873 85 e n o h telep 26
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The Autumn Issue
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