TIPSS Content Catalogue Sept 13

Content Catalogue September 2013

Copyright TIPSS 2013

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Content Articles Special 1: The beginning of the railway boom Special 2: The Man from Galway The Better Life: Lawn to be Wild Beauty: Hair Q & A The Life List: New Rules Book Reviews: Numbers Finance: Save Money by doing Winter Things Now Gardening Feature: Weed Attack Health: Putting Your Best Foot Forward Home & Interiors: 10 Ways to Create a New Room in Your House Trivia: Around Britain - 5 Famous Trees Humour: Being An Expert At Something Totally Useless Life Begins: The Rise and Rise of Shabby Chic Motoring Feature: New Range Rover Sport Seasonal Recipe: Mediterranean Fish Bake Short Story: The Cream Jug Tech Review: Beat the Utility Bills Travel Feature: Peru - Floating Islands on Lake Titicaca

Puzzles

Cartoon 1 Cartoon 2 Children’s Page Cryptic Crossword Codeword General Knowledge Crossword Mini Cryptic Crossword Sudoku - Easy & Hard Super Duper Science Facts Hidato Pictogram Quiz 1: Musical Instruments Quiz 2: City Nicknames Simple Crossword Spot the Difference Two Minute Trial Word Ladder Wordsearch: Car Parts

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Articles Special 1

The beginning of the railway boom September 27th 1825: Opening of Stockton & Darlington Railway September 15th 1830: Opening of Liverpool & Manchester Railway If there were such an event as World Railways Month, it would have to be September, when two of the most significant anniversaries in the history of tracked transport fall.

The Stockton & Darlington Railway was the world’s first thoroughgoing commercial passenger and freight railway specifically designed for steam locomotives. It was officially declared open on September 27th 1825 and when the inaugural train – drawn

by George Stephenson’s Locomotive No 1 and carrying 600 passengers in coal wagons with a luxury coach for VIPs – completed the 26-mile journey to the Tees wharfs at Stockton it was greeted by a crowd of 40,000 and a 21-gun salute.

It wasn’t the world’s first steam railway, though. The first attempts at adapting steam engines – by then a mature technology – went back to the late 1780s when Boulton & Watt’s chief designer, Andrew Murdock, was experimenting with high-pressure steam and building prototype miniature locomotives in his back garden.

His next-door neighbour, something of a child prodigy called Richard Trevithick, took note of what he was doing and when he grew up exhibited his own loco, Puffing Devil.

That was in 1801, and by then other designers were already building steam-powered carriages designed for road use. The engines were too heavy for the roads though, so in 1804 Trevithick tried running an adapted engine (normally used to power a drop-hammer) on the tramway at Penydarren ironworks in Merthyr Tydfil.

Again, the rails, which normally carried horse-drawn wagons, were too fragile. In 1808 Trevithick exhibited a purposebuilt loco, Catch Me Who Can, on a circular track at a “steam circus” held in Euston, London.

Everything worked but although many people enjoyed the ride, no-one was buying. Trevithick gave up.

Mine owners didn’t, though.

In 1812 a short line using steam locos opened between Middleton colliery and the wharves at Leeds. George Stephenson himself built two such lines, at Killingworth and Hetton before starting work on the Stockton & Darlington.

Great engineer he might have been, but he wasn’t much of an organiser. The S&DR owned the line (which was only single track) but not the locos; instead, colliers and carriers paid to run their own trains, some steam, some horse-drawn. The confusion was indescribable. A second track was built and the need

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for timetables was soon discovered.

The Liverpool & Manchester, on which Stephenson and his son Robert also worked, was a very different operation. The 35-mile line was intended to undercut the canal-owners who charged extortionate rates to bargees shuttling raw cotton and finished textiles between Liverpool docks and the Lancashire cotton-mills.

It was two-track, steam-only, and properly timetabled.

The L&M itself owned and operated the locos (including Stephenson’s Rocket), and even invented a crude form of signalling. The line itself was a miracle of engineering: it had 46 bridges and viaducts, one of nine arches, the Wapping tunnel was 1� miles long, one two-mile cutting was 70ft deep and to lay the line securely across the 4�-mile swamp, Chat Moss, the engineers had to sink hundreds of hurdles of heather and stone.

The grand opening was marred by the death of the Liverpool MP William Huskisson, who was hit by the Rocket himself, losing his legs and his life soon after. Nevertheless, the L&M was a wild commercial success – and the railway boom was on, not just in Britain, but around the world.

By Ted Bruning

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Special 2

The Man from Galway Tom Foote, author and yachtsman

2 page article

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Rango on to P heardakistan of - introdu places at th - barely e his wife a world ced the youn time gs Tom de pregnant, ho confine apart from th ter to w ci e s of co opportu ded to acce ever, home mmun close pt ni Galway in Cor ity life w ith an ty to return to an k. back Arran and the spec Britai RAF Fy offer of a po Climbi Is ta sition at n ng the lingdal the trips lands. Soon, cular Missile ra es operat ho ex or affo nks to radio Early W , the Ballistic ar ound th tended from wever, rded To (BMEW outsta arning e coas Dublin nding m S G S ) al ys ra t way, back tem dar ba privilege North his ow se Yo n s.

Isles, an down to the to would rk Moors. H in the of Offi cabin and fre With Scilly d th re en cer stat er and be e he on to B during main for 12 us, To edoms recalls yo is nd ca . He bo years, th m y own 21 hi to saili is time, he and ug on boar s ‘boy’: an as fondly -fo re ng shipwrig ot sloop bu ht his d nearby in small di turned who “lo the ship, S sistant ilt by nghi Scarbor Crossha hts in his bi ha ok rth ough. es in the bras ed after m hjehan, Sadly, e, polis upgrad ven, and so place, s on on th the po ed to a hed and pr rth Subad and To e marriage ac 30-foot br ar m hand an tically waite oles, worke , named afte vessel, to retu made the de oke up d d aboa rn ‘boy’ is d foot.” The on me rd in In r a ship he the co to Ireland to cision term perhap di mpute a. w W especi s or rit m k for ing is an r co isleadin The em al g, other pa otiona mpany, DE Tom’s 63-yea ly since the eased C. l uphe lif fa rt rav a in Galw e; a passion of 42 year old Indian se ithful was lo little, howev al was re ay rvant w s cated er, as sea, To . During hi born sea was Tom’s seni as in D w s year E G or es m C al . tern co maintai way on s at and dr and of duty-bound Life at as ne th t, co d ea e a ficers, me to city he that w med of writ journals with st for crew alcoho would rather love. “The pl ou in ric l co ba ac from hi ld draw on g novels frivolitie nsumption t rules for reflect ckward at th e was inspira s trave and ot s, so it s. tio e st ls “T tim n he surpris . ro here w was w Indeed set of e ith grea r as only e,” he he ng was the tra motivat , so reques that the Mus t purpos one too muc ffic lights in te ion that lim bo efully ’7 retirem y ‘sahib’ d Tom, who early ye h going on at 3 and not ent fro took early m he ca (maste m DEC a nove bottle r), to ac lle traditio ars of Tom’s all.” The l. of quire a d na re the thril Within three to write flatly de whiskey for were to l Catholic co turn to a ler, Und years, hi cl ugh at mmun compl bad, so ined, but la m. Tom divorc ete an ertow, was te ees wer a time when ity d si in gn grog fo hastily hid a r felt 19 ed by certain e shun bo r a publ 97 he was ne qu Clare. isher in in the his faithful co ttle of like a so arters. “You d in laundr Count m pa re stood nion y one thumb, y Some looking out mor The sa ” he da ili a gath ys later, the ning. the wat contemplativ explains, contin ng adventur er boy he ely acro er, mug ued, an es of his ing in the co ld “P ss of eo d hi tea in ca s frien it was ple be nfi ha d’ ha ab His be bin for his w nes s nd ve oa an 43 . d as if rd Lee (rep -foot cu outcas au ed you wer t...” smartly tiful wife an ding. ghost, utedly harb tter, Mary e d Now th ou so the qu attired guests a few ou that he Tom inform ring a ai has tra gh, Galway s me), ventur invited nt ceremony. attended nsform M ed ed in as the Tom w ite to the cosmop ed into rr soon di sp as a purcha anean and scover ecial guest univer olitan city, w ev sed Pic the bo ed the an si ith cobalt nic uponentually y’ reason d boutiq ty, fine restau a de the bo s insistence ue rants, drinking cks we now whose ttl to acqu for unpret s, and an sit te a. sahib e: so that hi ire entious s belo could to so co To ph ve ha mpl m has his favo istic d ve a dr in ur heritag iment its hist ation in his lif endured so wedding ite whiskey k of e oric me rip e, not at the With a and natura . pl at sea to men l beau st (n tion st es ty and cu rong emph Tom ‘c orms knot pa otably with asis on . lture, th ame as a ss Festiv marrie hore’ in he brok age in Bis 50al is w e Galway A arts d cay whe e his rib rts orld-ren emigra in England, 1962, th n s) e ow , w and th ted to but Tom w ater ned. en Canad for air as rem memor s have calm now a tra arried to Hila ie at Dor ffic commun to work in ry the tale s are rich, aned, the va ic with A , an air stew 1974 s told He left l airport, Mon ations er ar with a d so are Irishm th she m Lingus (a pr dess an gl int in th ’s ey on to a ere and mov treal. ai of es. e re and ha ntained for 27 ession Tom Fo Saglek, mote base ed vi in of saili ng reignited years), 2013, ote’s new no in early Labrador en ng in S his love Walk W ve ga l for ca la w is publ unched rborou ith Th system arning defe ged is e gh hi he D , m ev s for M nce d self ba sport by availa il, arconi ck into ble in by Dufour an . With all maj yachts crewing ab the oa . or outle d coasta Initially, he un rd local ts.

A l passag de freelan rticle by Jam es in an rtook ce es writ Sm http://jam d arou essmith er, @jsmithw ith, nd writer.w ordpress riter .com

The rugged beauty of Galway’s Tom hails me into the cockpit wet and windswept coast is a with his distinctive Irish lilt and ed beau distant thought, and in great is soon down below preparing ty of G indswep alway’s Tom ha to the sun-baked ught, an t coast is contrast a cup of Barry’s Tea. “The best a ils me d in gr with hi into th the su eat e s distin n-bake ctive Iri cockpit is soonof d region Here, 78dalucí tea in Ireland!” he assures me. sh lilt an water, dowAndalucía. a. Her n a be an d e, 78cup of lo d a ge hman, rocks Barry’s w preparin ntle br To Picnic tea in g Tom eeze He squints in the glare of the Tea. “T Foote’s g cutte m Foote’year-old Ire Irishman, in the s r, tranqui He squi land!” he as he best Tom em ored at Picnic, is lli su ty nt . res me. erge in the a morning ssailing thePicnic glare cutter, ive wes marina 31-foot m the glare of s ,frois dark morning sun, his weathered the co brown sun, his wea of the a cup bing ab t of ckpit, pu into skin in of Bar thered oard an presently ry to st sh an ’s rik a moored at a marina es d the m in ing co head of d e riggi ntrast an from front of me, brown skin in striking contrast ng silv launch settl Galway s imm on the es into er hair. He down ed goss to tell minutes’ westesof ip, inte some mdrive cnic is iately 45 his tale to a head of silver hair. He arina rwea w . of the -------ts lifeb ell morning ved with qu -------oa throug ips -Almería. aboard and news cr Raised vessel th the bo ’sClimbing launches into some marina ackling in beau is able coup un at ’s C tif ou ra ul Cro formid dio a nty derway sshave ab in Egy -the natura Cork, it the ducking past rigging on m’s life le n, gossip, interweaved with quips As he pt. l that in was only is fusses the wor this ho to the in the I gaze m ld sea, ga across deck, Tom w ’s oldest ya e of modest Fi of the morning’s news crackling the mar lley, it’s immediately of naut ou ch shing ic in boat ld be messi t club, colour boats ready ina. him, he al s m ng arou ful craf their is At 18, isfrowell an apparent that Picnic ea t fis rly age. nd in the e aboa he join through the boat’s radio - a herman m rd ed M ilk er st y th chant ab the light, e Britis with th Nav silenc h eir m on st With its lifeboate eamsh y, setting sa acequipped. coup underway in Egypt. cent, te achinegun ips il rice in Andaluz rns dive the Fa hauling coal in to r is or the the fro East.able shaped hull, vessel m Cal P Hoogh cutta (120 m assages ly river ile As he fusses in the galley, ) to Col s up the to confront some formidable ombo, or I gaze across the marina. seas. Indeed, Tom’s life is Fishing boats ready their inextricably linked to the sea, colourful craft in the milky light, and with a plethora of nautical fisherman stab the silence adventures behind him, he is with their machinegun Andaluz clearly more at home aboard accent, terns dive into the than anywhere else.

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water, and a gentle breeze rocks Picnic in the tranquillity.

Tom emerges from the dark into the glare of the cockpit, pushes a cup of Barry’s in front of me, and the man from Galway settles down to tell his tale.

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Raised in beautiful Crosshaven, County Cork, it was only natural that in this home of the world’s oldest yacht club, Tom would be messing around in boats from an early age.

At 18, he joined the British Merchant Navy, setting sail on steamships hauling coal or rice in the Far East. Passages from Calcutta (120 miles up the Hooghly river) to Colombo, or

The Better Life

The Better Life

Rangoon to Pakistan - barely heard-of places at the time - introduced the youngster to a world apart from the close confines of community life back home in Cork.

his wife pregnant, however, Galway and the spectacular Tom decided to accept an Arran Islands. Soon, however, opportunity to return to Britain the trips extended from Dublin with an offer of a position at around the coast back to RAF Fylingdales, the Ballistic Galway, down to the Scilly Missile Early Warning System Isles, and then on to Biscay

by Derek Thompson (BMEWS) radar base in the and beyond. He bought his North York Moors. Here he own 21-foot sloop built by would remain for 12 years, and shipwrights in his birthplace, Cutting the grass seems during this time, he returned Crosshaven, and soon such a upgraded waste toofa 30-foot timevessel, to to sailing in small dinghies in nearby Scarborough.

Subadar, named after a ship he me. Just likeaboard fingernails, worked in India.

Sadly, the marriage broke up toenails and hair and Tom made the decision Writing is another(if partyou’re of to return to Ireland to work for Tom’s life; a passion reborn lucky), it’ll only grow back the computer company, DEC. in Galway. During his years at The emotional upheavalagain. was sea, Tomit’s maintained journals True, a valuable eased a little, however, as DEC and dreamed of writing novels addition the compost, was located in Galway on the thatto would draw on inspiration western coast, a city he would from his travels. Indeed, so but that’s about it. come to love. “The place was strong was the motivation that rather backward at the time,” he he purposefully took early reflects. was seeds only one retirement from DEC properly to write been able to identify in native“There wildflower and set of traffic lights in ’73 and not -aso novel.

Within three years, much for the power of the some from Flanders’ poppies, too much going on at all.” The the thriller, Undertow, was which came impregnated on internet. early years Tom’s return to a complete and in 1997 he was paper rolls. of Some judicious The joy of having wild garden traditional Catholic community signed by a publisher in County scissor work to patchwork the areas is the same sense of were tough at awith timewater whenand Clare. sections, soak excitement as buying lucky divorcees were shunned then another layer of soilinand bags as a child.

Only, in this The sailing adventures certain quarters. “You stood out sand. case, instead ofitawas disappointing continued, and aboard like a sorethe thumb,” he explains, Naturally, cat supervised car with a broken wheel, his friend’s 43-foot cutter, the Mary looking contemplatively across the proceedings, technically surprise might be scarlet a Lee (reputedly harbouring the water, mug of tea in hand. outranking Anne as chief pimpernel, wildinforms strawberries ghost, so Tom me), “People behaved aspresence if you were (Anne’s observer.

Porsha’s not keeninto - she that he ventured thesays an outcast...” was also a timely reminder to they take over),and or dog violets.

Mediterranean eventually put netting over the circle from And even today argue over Now though, Galway Picnicwe upon whose purchased the beginning. After that, it’s a speedwell vs. forget-me-nots in has transformed into a cobalt decks we now sit case of occasional watering, an identity parade. cosmopolitan with a drinking tea. watching and city, waiting.

We haven’t gone entirely au university, fine restaurants, Tom hasHaving endured some ripples The seeds and stir into naturel. previously boutiques, an life very in his life,anot mention storms quickly.

Try assophistication you might installed fewtoraised beds, unpretentious though, it’s nigh impossible at seaopted (notably a 50Anne for with violas (Avril to compliment itson historic to stop the daisies from knot passage in Biscay ), geums (Mrs when Lawson heritage and natural beauty. encroaching over the edges. he broke his ribs), but now Bradshaw ) and bellis.

None With a strong emphasis on arts Maybe they’re just arriving thewhich waters have calmed, the of explains the catmint and culture, the Galway Arts early to the party. we plantedare near theand front memories rich, so gate, are Festival is world-renowned. principally to see the tales told with whether a glint in the The edges of the garden are Porsha would appreciate it.

Tom was remarried in 1974 Irishman’s eyes. largely wild (and some of Strangely, while she loved it to Hilary, an air stewardess the neighbours are probably Tom Foote’s for when it was anew merenovel kittenmint furious), a rather(afetching with Aer Lingus profession 2013, Walk With Theshe Devil, in the conservatory, tangle of lords and ladies, she maintained for 27 years), is published

by Dufour and treats it with indifference now buttercups grasses, and having and reignited his love available in all major it’s out in the open.

Notoutlets. to with seasonal appearances of sailing in Scarborough, worry though; last year Smith, was from bluebells, columbines, launched himself back into the Articleifby James anything to writer, go by, @jsmithwriter she’ll love foxgloves and pulmonaria.

We freelance sport by crewing aboard local the next butternut squash also have something we know http://jamessmithwriter.wordpress.com yachts.

Initially, he undertook plant. as Mrs West, but have coastal passages in andnever around

Lawn to be Wild

Climbing the ranks to radio operator afforded Tom outstanding privileges. With his own cabin and freedoms of Officer status, Tom fondly recalls his ‘boy’: an assistant on board the ship, Shahjehan, who “looked after me, polished the brass on the portholes, and practically waited on me hand and foot.” The term ‘boy’ is perhaps misleading, especially since the faithful 63-year-old Indian servant was 42 years Tom’s senior. Life at sea was duty-bound for crew and officers, with rules for Whereas, one of strict the things I love most about the garden as alcohol consumption and other a whole isso itsitadaptability.

Yes, frivolities, was with great it’s an ecosystem and a boy natural surprise that the Muslim habitat, butTom, it’s also something requested whom he called more: a blank canvas just a ‘sahib’ (master), to acquire waiting my often ill-thoughtbottle of for whiskey for him.

Tom out ideas. flatly declined, but later felt Bored grass? bad, sowith hastily hid a(And, bottleby of grass, mean patches of grog forI his faithful companion grass among one the swathes in the laundry morning.of dandelions.)

There’s a remedy Some days later, the boy held that - simply down bark aforgathering in theput confines chips.

Worried thatwedding. the bees of his cabin for his andbeautiful butterflies need His wife andmore a few encouragement to stay and smartly attired guests attended thrive? Easy peasy - grow the quaint ceremony. Tom was more flowers and grow a invited guest and variety as to the suitspecial different insects. soon discovered reason for And while you’rethe about it, make the to acquire sureboy’s you insistence provide a shallow the bottle: so thatso histhey beloved source of water can sahib drink. could have a drink of his favourite whiskey at the We wanted to take the whole wedding. rural thing a stage further (no, not a‘came tractorashore’ - it wouldn’t fit Tom in 1962, through in the gate), and married England, anddecided then to create atomeadow.

Orwork emigrated Canada to rather, with our garden: a mini for air traffic communications meadow. at Dorval airport, Montreal.

First, dug out rough circle He leftI there anda moved - and it was on to abelieve remoteme, base in rough.

Next, with the turfengaged removed, we Saglek, Labrador putearly down a layerdefence of 50 / 50 soil in warning and sharp We With brought systems forsand.

Marconi.

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Beauty

Beauty

Hair Q & A - Having a bad hair day? Don’t worry, we’re here to help.

Reds are notoriously difficult to maintain. If you have a red hue then you will have to be prepared to colour your hair more frequently.

Reds fade fast; washing, blow-drying, styling, sunlight and chlorine all contribute to your colour fading quickly.

Don’t despair however as there are specialist shampoos designed for red colours that can help.

Shorter 1 page format also available

After having your hair coloured wait at least 48 hours before washing to protect your new shade - this extra time will allow the colour to settle. Always wash your locks with water at a cool temperature because hot water opens the cuticles on the hair shaft, allowing dye to escape - cooler water will give your colour more longevity.

Avoid clarifying shampoos - these are products which Image courtesy of Lisa are designed to deep clean Shepherd Hairdressing the hair. Not surprisingly they also strip out colour Q. I spend a lot of money stay in until it is cut out or causing it to fade fast. each month on my salon re-coloured, however if it is Always buy shampoo colour but it seems to a semi-permanent dye then and conditioner which is fade very quickly. I want it you should expect it to wash specifically designed for to stay looking vibrant for out after approximately 18 to coloured hair because they longer; what can I do?

20 washes – and remember, are formulated without the although permanent colours harsh chemicals that are A. Check whether your have a lot more staying responsible for stripping out colour is permanent or semipower, they are much colour. permanent. Many women harsher on your hair, so if it visit the salon and don’t is in bad condition, stick to a If you have a holiday in know which dye is being the sun planned, pack semi-permanent dye. applied to their hair. If it is hair products with SPF permanent, the colour will What colour is your hair? protection and UV filters to

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protect against the sun’s rays. If you are in the pool, keep your hair out of the water, or coat it in conditioner before you take a swim.

Q. No matter what I do with my hair it always ends up looking flat. How can I inject some volume?

A. Use a volumising product on your roots when your hair is damp. Tip your head upside down to blow-dry until your hair is nearly dry, then flip your head back and use a round brush with a metal barrel to add lift and volume throughout the top sections.

Think carefully about your hair colour as one all-over colour can make your hair look flatter; choose highlights in several shades

to create more interest and give the illusion of a thicker, fuller and more voluminous mane.

Q. My hair is really frizzy; what can I do to make it look shinier and smoother?

A. Fight frizz by using a deep conditioning treatment every time you wash your hair. Remember to apply it to the lengths and ends only to avoid greasy-looking roots. Before you dry your locks, apply a serum or oil, section off your locks and direct your hairdryer’s nozzle downwards as you dry, to create a smooth finish. If you are still finding that your style is frizzy when you have finished, add a little more oil or serum.

Q. My hair looks damaged, dry and dull. I have been using straighteners on my long hair every day for some time - are they to blame?

A. Yes. Any heat styling - straightening, curling, blow-drying - can have a damaging effect, especially on long hair styles. Heat tools dry out the lengths and ends of hair leaving locks looking frazzled.

Although we all depend on them to create the looks we want for our hair, it is important not to over-use them. Always use a good quality heat protection spray before blow-drying, straightening or curling. Try to leave hair to dry naturally when you can and always deep-condition your mane.

By Helen Taylor

Life List

The Life List New Rules

you know who you are.

3. The Horse Racing Safety Charter – especially for the jumps. If they decide to shoot the horse, the jockey has a 10 second start and then...well, you get the idea. I predict a 99% reduction in equine fatalities within two weeks.

Portrait Unlike Harry Secombe, if I ruled the world, format also putting everything in order wouldn’t require 4. The Child’s Play Act. All Playstations, fixing the seasons, compulsory singing oravaila bland Wiis e whatever else you call them any lunar joviality. Practicality - that’s the are henceforth manufactured - or reway forward:

1. The Minus Five Rule. Everyone must drive at five miles an hour less than the appointed speed limit. Some of you are underdoing this already.

2. The Apostrophe Tax. Dear God in Heaven, the abuse those poor pieces of punctuation have to contend with. It’s £2 per use, with a £10 fine for incorrect use. Plus a separate £15 fine if they’re not used where they should be. Any revenue raised will go towards muchneeded English courses. Greengrocers,

engineered - so that they can only work for two hours at a time, and that’s after a ten-hour resting period.

5. The Utilities Initiative. No water, electricity or gas bill can be despatched with an estimated reading. If you can’t be bothered to turn up - and at a civilised time, when I’m actually in - you don’t get your money.

Now, surely, that’s not a lot to ask?

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© Derek Thompson www.alongthewritelines.blogspot.com

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Book Reviews

Numbers

Numbers, Rachel Ward Imagine that every time you look into someone’s eyes, you see the date on which they’ll die. Such is fifteen year old Jem’s secret. Understandably, she tends to keep away from people in general. Then along comes Spider. He and Jem strike up a friendship that will bring Jem out of herself. It’s all going quite well, until they take a day trip into London. What happens when you realise that everybody in a massive queue has the SAME number?

Impending doom seems likely and only Jem and Spider can save them.

Slaugherhouse Five, Kurt Vonnegut Told through the eyes of World War 2 soldier Billy Pilgrim, this satirical novel is deemed to be one of the greatest anti-war books ever written. Chaplain’s assistant Billy refuses to fight and is captured by the Germans during the Battle of the Bulge. He and his fellow POWs are kept in a disused slaughterhouse and, along with their German guards, are some of the few survivors of the firebombing of Dresden.

Billy’s funny, often bittersweet story is an odyssey through time and is another ‘must-read’ for everybody searching for meaning in life.

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It’s back to school in September and to help with your mental arithmetic, we’ve put together some of the best novels that feature numbers. Some may be more mentally challenging than others, but pay attention in the back, and it’ll all add up.

A Tale of Two Cities, Charles Dickens ‘It was the best of times, it was the worst of times…’ begins Dickens’ classic set in prerevolutionary France, following the life of the aristocrat Charles Darnay who, despite his kindhearted nature, will become a victim of the tumultuous times that lie ahead. His life is paralleled with that of English Barrister Sydney Carton, who is suffering the pain of unrequited love. The object of his affection: Darnay’s wife. Originally published in weekly instalments, it was a veritable Dickensian soap opera about the days of their lives and the build-up to the French Revolution.

I am Number Four, Pittacus Lore They killed Number One in Malaysia. Number Two in England. And Number Three in Kenya. John Smith is Number Four. Just a teenager, John moves from place to place, anxious that those hunting him will catch up. This is science fiction writing at its best and you’ll definitely be sucked in, especially when you realise that Earth isn’t the only planet in the universe that can sustain life.

John has escaped from a rival caste on his own planet and is now one of nine in hiding. The fugitives can only be killed in their number order and they

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will survive… as long as they remain apart.

The Three Musketeers, Alexandre Dumas If you’re thinking dogs and cats then you’re confused with Dogtanian and the Three Muskehounds. This is the original historical romance

by Dumas, chronicling the adventures of D’Artagnan and the King’s Musketeers, aka Athos, Porthos and Aramis.

Defending the regiment against the forces of Cardinal Richelieu, we’re transported back to seventeenth century France for some dramatic encounters, fastpaced action and drama, not to mention the villainous ‘Milady’, who goes down in history as one of the best female baddies of all time.

One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, Ken Kesey Told through the eyes of the seemingly-mute American Indian, Chief Bromden, this is the story of the inmates at an Oregon State mental hospital, where Nurse Ratched rules the wards with a tyrannical arm. Into this mix comes McMurphy, the twinkle-in-hiseye, cat-among-the-pigeons livewire who’s ready to turn Ratched’s regime on its head.

Kesey’s masterpiece is moving and compelling, very funny at points and at others, absolutely terrifying.

Finance Did you know?

Boilers account for around 55% of what you spend in a year on energy bills.

You can save as much as £310 a year by replacing it.

Winter might seem like some time away but you can save money by preparing for it now; plumbers are cheaper while the weather is warmer and there are still offers on insulation and boilers so start work now before winter arrives and the prices go up.

Switch your bills now It’s a great time to switch to a cheaper provider as the major providers typically start to increase their prices any day now, just in time for winter.

Find a copy of your last gas and electricity bills, go to the energy-switching page on Moneymagpie.com and find a cheaper deal for yourself.

It’s often worth considering one of the smaller suppliers however if you want to stick to a major supplier you may be eligible for discounted bills through the government’s ECO (Energy Company Obligation) scheme which offers heating and insulation improvements for low-income and means tested households. Visit www.gov. uk/energy-company-obligation or call the Energy Saving Trust on 0300 123 1234 for details.

Boilers If your boiler is coming to the end of its life, now is a good time to have it replaced. Most boilers over 15 years old can be repaired to keep them working, but they will be less efficient than modern ones. Even factoring in the cost of a new boiler you could save money by replacing it now.

Save Money by Doing Winter Things Now

ate r r e Sep ion fo s Ver otland Sc

Also, you could receive up to £270 cashback for updating your boiler through the new government energy improvement scheme, The Green Deal Cashback Scheme, which gives you money back if you make energy efficiency improvements in your home.

The Green Deal is available to households in England and Wales and operates on a firstcome, first-served basis, even if you are renting privately or in social housing. Firstly, have a Green Deal assessment carried out on your property which will provide you with a report of what could be improved. Then agree to a quote or Green Deal plan with a Green Deal Provider. You can find them online at www.greendealorb. co.uk/consumersearch. Apply for the Green Deal Cashback Voucher at www.gdcashback. decc.gov.uk. Make sure you have the work completed before the voucher expires and you’ll receive your cashback within 30 days.

Insulation Now is a great time to get up-to-date insulation as it’s a quiet period for installers.

Insulation materials are also much cheaper to buy in the summer and early autumn.

Efficient insulation can cut the cost of heating and cooling by 40%, while loft insulations save an average 20% on your energy bills annually.

Don’t forget you can also find loft insulation vouchers on

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Jasmine Birtles, Moneymagpie.com

Longer 1½ page format also available

websites like Groupon as well as applying for the Green Deal.

Draught-proofing Draught-proofing is one of the cheapest and most efficient ways to save energy in your home. The Energy Saving Trust claims you can save £55 a year.

You could save more money by taking the DIY route but remember some older properties with single glazing will be more difficult to draughtproof and if you are not comfortable with your DIY skills, hiring a professional could save you money in the long run.

Check your home insurance policy before carrying out work yourself to ensure that you’re covered for DIY. Plumbers Summer and early autumn is a slower time of year for plumbers so you could find the rates more favourable, and you’ll also be able to get the work completed quickly. Have any pipe repairs or radiator work done now to eliminate cold spots and fix wasteful dripping taps. It’s also worth having the plumbers in just to check everything is ship shape for winter.

Moneymagpie.com has up to date information on hundreds of ways to earn a bit on the side and boost your income – and more are being added every week. There is also a wealth of information on best-buy financial products, plus heaps of articles to help you be a clever consumer and make the most of your money.

9

Gardening

Weed Attack

by Pippa Greenwood

Ask a dictionary the definition of a weed and you’ll read that it’s ‘a plant growing in the wrong place’. Ask a gardener, and they’ll tell you that weeds are often the number one menace in their garden. So if you want to wage war on those pesky weeds, and stand a chance of winning, take a look at my multipronged attack strategy.

Off with their Heads Whatever the weed problem, it’s essential to prevent them from setting seed. Make sure you cut off its head before it has a chance to even start to set seed. The old saying that ‘one year’s seed is seven years’ weed’ isn’t far from the truth.

Stop Stowaways When you’re next shopping for plants in your local garden centre or nursery make sure that you only bring home what you want, not those pesky weed stowaways that often lurk on the compost surface. I always do a bit of weeding before buying: especially for weeds such as the innocent looking hairy bittercress (Cardamine hirsuta).

Spaghetti roots Some weeds like couch grass, bindweed and nettles have amazingly resilient and farreaching underground stems or roots. Whatever you do, don’t succumb to the temptation to use a powered cultivator or

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longer 1½ page format also Lawn Louts vaisuch Lawna weeds labasle dandelions and daisies are

rotovator as this will chop the roots in to little bits and end up spreading and increasing the problem in the process.

difficult to control as unlike the taller weeds, these rosetteforming plants won’t be harmed as you mow the lawn. One of the best, albeit slow, methods is to tackle them with a sturdy old kitchen knife or a daisy-grubber tool.

Deep Rooted Problems Some weeds such as docks and dandelions have tough and chunky roots that are very difficult to kill. And to make matters worse, if you leave any sizeable bit of the root in the soil, it’s likely to form a new plant. Do everything you can to take out the entire root as you’ll be saving a lot of time in the long run.

Laying Carpet For large areas, try the carpet option; literally covering the surface with a layer or two of carpet, held in place with bricks.

If the carpet is placed fluffy side down and left in place for at least 18 months, the weeds will start to die off from lack of light. Make sure that the carpet is made from natural fibres, not synthetic or else you’ll be left with it in the soil, and for allotments, check that there are

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no restrictions on using carpet.

Time it Right Some weeds such as the purple flowered oxalis spread by forming tiny ‘bulbils’ or miniature bulbs below ground.

If you try to dig these weeds out now, the bulbils will be shed into the surrounding soil as you lift the plant out, making matters worse. Wait until next spring when the bulbils will be firmly attached and weed them out then.

Hoe, hoe, hoe An old fashioned and still just as useful method of weed control is the hoe. They’re a great way to weed your garden, especially if it’s largely annual weeds such as chickweed or groundsel that invade your plot.

Keep the hoe sharp and use it regularly.

Careful what you Compost Only compost the green, leafy bits of weeds; avoid any chunky roots, and never put any flowering or seeding weeds in the compost heap. Some weed seeds will easily survive most domestic composting systems.

Visit Pippa’s website www. pippagreenwood.com for a great range of gardening products including Pippa’s favourite weeder, Nemaslug, Nemasys caterpillar, slug, ant and other biological controls, Enviromesh & Envirofleece and lots more besides.

Health

Putting Your Best Foot Forward

By Julia Faulks Bad foot health isn’t just embarrassing, it can also be painful. From verrucas, to bunions, calluses, athlete’s foot and ingrown toenails, without the right treatment or preventative care you could end up in a lot of pain and discomfort.

Treating foot problems Many foot problems can be helped with prescription or over-the-counter treatments, but some may require further help from a podiatrist (also known as a chiropodist).

They can supply tailor-made insoles, padding or arch supports to help relieve heel or arch pain, or help to get rid of all that hard skin you’ve been building up for years.

You will get priority NHS treatment by a podiatrist if you have diabetes, arthritis or blood circulation problems.

But if you have a foot problem that is just a bit ugly but isn’t causing you pain, then you may not be eligible for treatment on the NHS. Smelly feet If you notice people moving away from you when you talk, it may be worth checking your foot odour (if not, then your breath, armpits, you get the idea) - no one wants to be known as the person with

the smelly feet, or having the less offensive medical term, ‘bromodosis’.

Luckily there are some simple solutions to stopping your feet from getting too stinky, which when you consider the fact that we have around 250,000 sweat glands in our feet, is a very common problem.

As well as making sure you don’t wear the same pair of shoes two days in a row (to help the sweat dry out), you should wash and dry your feet every day and avoid wearing socks more than once before they are washed.

If you still can’t get rid of the smell then try the following: • Use surgical spirit after a shower or bath, using cotton wool between your toes to help dry out the skin.

• Use a foot spray, deodorant or antiperspirant on your feet.

• Buy anti-smelling foot insoles or feet-fresh socks.

• Wear light sandals and go barefoot at home whenever you can.

Wearing the right shoes High heels, flip flops and unsupportive trainers won’t do your feet any favours – especially if you wear them Copyright TIPSS 2013

on a regular basis.

As tempting as it is to wear flip flops for comfort, you should try to avoid wearing them every day. Along with the possibility that you will stub your toe or sprain your ankle tripping up as you run to catch the bus, they also won’t give you that all-important heel and arch support to prevent foot pain or tendonitis.

Final steps to take for healthy feet Many of the most common feet problems can be avoided or treated alongside conventional medication by following many of the tips above on foot hygiene, as well as the following: 1. Keep pedicure kits clean and don’t share them with others.

2. Avoid walking around barefoot at swimming pools or communal showers - these are a breeding ground for foot infections.

3. Trim your toe nails regularly to avoid in-grown toenails.

4. Regularly moisturise and smooth dry and rough skin.

5. Seek professional help if you can’t treat a foot problem on your own.

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Home & Interiors Ten ways to create a new room in your house Just had a baby? Started working from home? Run out of storage? Then you need to stretch your home.

Convert a loft space into an extra bedroom. Hammonds Furniture (0800 021 4360; www.hammonds-uk.com)

1. Build an extension Pros Adding a rear extension to a kitchen can be a great way to create a multifunctional family room. Filling in the side return in a typical Victorian terrace is popular.

It may be possible to add a second storey for a new bedroom or bathroom on the first floor, too.

Cons Reduces garden size.

Unsympathetic extensions feel like an add-on.

Regulations Can often be done without planning permission, depending on size and height. Check your permitted development rights with your local council’s planning department. You’ll also need building regulations approval and, if you’re semidetached or in a terrace, party wall consent from neighbours.

Visit www.planningportal.gov. uk for more information.

2. Convert the loft Pros Create a bedroom (perhaps with a bathroom), a home office or playroom, without taking space from the garden.

Cons Not every loft has the headroom or enough useable

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space. More difficult and expensive if your roof isn’t traditionally built.

Regulations As for extensions.

Shorter 1 page format also available

3. Convert the cellar Pros Turn a cellar into family living space, a useful utility area, a home office or even a self-contained annexe, without altering the outside of your home.

Cons Often more expensive, per square metre, than other ways of creating extra space.

Can be difficult to get enough headroom and light into the new room.

Regulations If you just want to turn an existing cellar into a normal room, it’s classed as a change of use and doesn’t need planning permission.

But if you lower the floor or extend, you’re likely to need permission, so check with your local authority. And you’ll need party wall consent from any adjoining neighbours. In both cases you must comply with Building Regulations.

4. Add a conservatory Pros Adds extra living space and brings the garden into your home. Relatively

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By Katherine Sorrell inexpensive.

Cons A poorly built conservatory can be too hot in summer, freezing cold in winter and full of condensation. Takes space from your garden.

Regulations Many conservatories are exempt from planning permission and building regulations, but check with your local planning department first.

5. Build a room in the garden Pros The building work will hardly bother you.

Cons Not suitable for small gardens. Could look like a shed, security is an issue, and if not properly insulated it will be too cold to use in winter.

Regulations A simple garden room may be exempt from planning permission and Building Regulations, but if it’s laid on permanent foundations and connected to mains power, water and sewerage, you’ll need both.

6. Divide a room into two Pros Carving up a large space to add another room is useful and can add value,

even though you’re not actually creating any extra space.

Cons You’ll need to create a separate doorway for the room, and include an opening window.

Regulations Planning permission is not usually needed, but Building Regulations apply to new walls, doors, windows and electrical work.

7. Put in an ensuite Pros Loved by buyers. Can be fitted into quite a small space.

Cons Installing an ensuite at the expense of a bedroom could knock your property’s value.

Regulations Planning permission isn’t usually needed, but Building Regulations approval is.

8. Build on top of your garage Pros A first floor extension on top loses no garden space and is often relatively easy.

Cons Foundations may not be strong enough, so the garage will have to be underpinned.

Regulations You’ll need planning permission and Building Regulations.

9. Convert your understairs space Pros Turns a poorly used area into a valuable extra room – perfect for a groundfloor loo, an extra shower room or a study area.

Cons You’ll have to find extra space to store that understairs stuff. If putting in a loo or bathroom, ventilation and connecting to drainage may be a problem.

Regulations Building Regulations approval is necessary if you’re installing a bathroom.

10. Convert your garage Pros It’s a relatively straightforward job to turn it into a valuable indoor space.

Cons Foundations may need strengthening. Avoid if you live in an area where parking is at a premium.

Regulations Planning permission is not usually required, but Building Regulations approval is.

How much value can I add?

Before you embark on any major home improvement project, ask a local estate agent to value your home, and to estimate how much value they think your project would add.

Trivia

Around Britain 5 Famous Trees 1. Boscobel, Shropshire - Boscobel Shropshire Boscobel House in Shropshire was once home to The Royal Oak, the tree in which Charles II hid whilst fleeing from the Roundheads after the Battle of Worcester in 1651.

The original tree was destroyed in the 18th century, but one of its descendants, now 300 years old, stands in its place.

2. Fortingall, Perthshire - A yew tree in the Perthshire village of 2. Fortingall, Perthshire - A r Fortingall is almost certainly the oldest tree in Europe, with estimates of its age reaching y a staggering 5,000 years old – it would already have been 1,000 years old when the Pyramids were built.

Hatfield, Hertfordshire - On 17 November 1558, Elizabeth Tudor was sat beneath an 3. Hatfield, Hertfordshire - On re oak tree in the gardens of what is now Hatfield House when she received news that her sister Mary had died, and that she was now Queen of England. The tree, now known as the Queen Elizabeth Oak, is found on the Hatfield coat of arms.

Runnymede, Berkshire King John signed the Magna Carta beneath the Ankerwyke 4. Runnymede, Berkshire - King Yew in Runnymede, Berkshire, in 1215. It is also thought that the tree served as a meeting place for Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn in the 1530s.

Nottinghamshire The first Bramley apple was grown in Southwell in 5. Southwell, Nottinghamshire - The 18 Nottinghamshire from a seed planted by Mary-Ann Brailsford in 1809.

The apple takes its name from Matthew Bramley, a local merchant who bought the garden containing the tree in 1846.

© Taken from The British Isles: A Trivia Gazetteer by Paul Anthony Jones, out now.

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13

Humour

Being An Expert At Something Totally Useless

by Chris Russell

I can do a few things. I have the odd skill.

I can play the piano, cook a decent chilli and touch my nose with my tongue. I taught myself to snowboard, can juggle a bit, and when I was fourteen I was really quite good in goal.

However, the one thing that I am best at in the whole world - the single skill I am yet to find anyone to best me on - is spelling. I can spell like an absolute beast. I can spell pretty much any word on instinct, and I’ve been able to do this since I was a kid. I am the Ryan Gosling of spelling.

All of which would be great if, in the modern world, spelling hadn’t become as outdated a skill as minstreling.

I’ve been robbed of my own magnificence here. My greatest intellectual asset is being able to do something which even the simplest of computers can carry out in micro-seconds, with minimum effort. In short, I am lucky enough to have found a skill at which I am uselessly brilliant.

You see, being able to spell almost any word is pretty much the lamest superhero skill in the box. No one’s ever going to spell the human race from the brink of destruction, are they? When extra-terrestrials commandeer the White House and threaten to eradicate all

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our major cities, President Obama isn’t going to call me up and beg that I hotfoot it to Washington to vanquish our alien oppressors with a perfect rendition of the word ‘ambidextrous’.

I can’t spell people into finding me charming and sophisticated. I can’t aim to one day snag the Nobel Peace Prize for services to humanity.

At best I could go to America, enter a spelling bee (why are these called ‘bees’, by the way?) and probably do rather well in one of those - but that’s the height of achievement possible in my special skill sector. Whoop-de-doo.

Here’s the issue. Technology has rendered the ability to spell all but obsolete. It’s not just that computers can smooth out your mistakes, it’s that they now do it without you even noticing. A friend of mine pointed out the other day that he has never been quite sure how to correctly spell ‘definitely’ - probably never will - and yet he writes it flawlessly in e-mails and text messages every single week, because auto-correct has the courtesy to do his dirty work before he’s even noticed the error.

The drummer in my band is of the belief that the entire English language should be re-written phonetically, as in Italian. Rates of dyslexia, he

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says, are lower in Italy for this very reason. And while I can’t help but see the sense in this proposal, wouldn’t it butcher our beautiful, complex language, leaving behind a bland and functional shell? Or, maybe, I’m just clinging onto an archaic discipline simply because I happen to be quite good at it.

Either way, at the end of the day, there remains only this to be said. If you ever need me, if you’re ever in trouble, shine the ‘i before e except after c’ callsign into the night’s sky, and I’ll come running.

Because, as sure as the sun doth rise, society will always need its superheroes.

[Disclaimer: Any spelling mistakes in this article are to be attributed to the editer. Sorry, editor.]

Chris is a freelance writer and musician with internationallyrenowned rock band The Lightyears. The Lightyears, voted the UK’s BEST POP/ ROCK ACT at the Indy Awards, have played Wembley Stadium, toured across four continents and released a record with Sting’s producer.

Chris has recently completed his first book, “Mockstars”, based on The Lightyears’ tour diaries. Find out more at www.

MockstarsTheNovel.com.

Life Begins

Life Begins The rise and rise of Shabby Chic

Visit any antique fair in any town in Britain nowadays and you will find an array of items that, twenty years ago, would have been considered better suited to go in a builder’s skip than take pride of place on a dealer’s stall.

It may seem extraordinary that people are willing to part with their hard-earned cash to purchase pieces that are worn and damaged, but these items are popular because they meet the British public’s voracious demand for anything that can be described as “Shabby Chic”.

So what is “Shabby Chic”, and why does this style now dominate the marketplace for home decoration and household goods?

The term was originally coined in the 1980s by The World of Interiors magazine. Inspired

by Mediterranean culture, the style reflected the increasing popularity of holidays in places such as Provence, Tuscany, France and Greece.

In the 1990s TV programmes such as “Changing Rooms” encouraged homeowners to experiment with eclectic styles

Longer 1½ pag and at that time a number ofe fodecoration new home rmat products also emerged onto the market.

These triggered a surge of a v a able interest in differentilpaint effects, including the ageing and layering techniques used by fans of Shabby Chic to mimic the weathered, sun-baked surfaces found in traditional Mediterranean buildings.

The look combines bleachedout, subtle colours for furniture, walls and paintwork with household items that are either genuinely old and displaying signs of wear, or new and deliberately treated to look as though they have had a lifetime of use.

At a time when we are all under pressure to work harder for less money, it’s not surprising that we are drawn to a fashion that evokes the past, harking back to a gentler, more relaxed way of life. Suzanne Rowett, owner of the Dorsetbased vintage style shop Shy Violet (www.shy-violet. co.uk), runs popular courses on specialist paint techniques.

She believes the fashion for Shabby Chic is partly due to

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By Kate McLelland an increase in female buying power.

“The 20th century vogue for Brown furniture was a very masculine fashion, largely dictated by men, but current trends are much more feminine and women have much more influence when it comes to furnishing and decorating their homes.”

If you want to learn how to transform pieces of furniture yourself, you can find several excellent “How to” videos on YouTube, but it’s best to start with a low-cost item from a charity shop or car boot sale.

A flat matt finish is a must and if you want to create an illusion of age you should avoid pure white in favour of creams, gentle yellows, pinks and soft browns.

For the Mediterranean look you can use bolder colour combinations, layering bright shades for a contrasting effect and rubbing down with different grades of sandpaper so the undercoat shows through at points where age and constant use would naturally rub away the surface.

Once you have mastered a few simple techniques you will find it’s relatively easy to create your own Shabby Chic interior. Suzanne Rowett believes that these days the home is one of the few places where people can truly express their individuality and adds that reviving unique pieces of furniture can be very rewarding.

“Once they start, many of my customers find it completely addictive”, adds Suzanne. “In fact, I’d say it changes their lives.”

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Motoring

New Range Rover Sport James Bond star Daniel Craig drove it through New York for the launch, now James Baggott has his chance behind the wheel of the new Range Rover Sport… in the equally glamorous Cotswolds.

What is it?

For years the Range Rover Sport has reigned supreme in the SUV market and now Land Rover is back at it again, with an all-new variety. Lighter, faster and more capable than ever before, the new model is no longer based on the Discovery, but now takes its underpinnings from the full-fat Rangie. Design DNA comes from the incredibly popular Evoque and mixed with the luxurious surroundings from the daddy of the line-up, it’s a potent combination and will be an absolute winner.

What’s under the bonnet?

A choice of diesel and petrol units, plus there’s a diesel hybrid on the way later this year. The petrol station-crushing supercharged 5.0-litre V8 510bhp lump hits 60mph in five seconds dead and on to a top speed of 155mph. Ok, it emits 298g/km and returns 22.1mpg, but it’s so worth it. The SDV8 arrives later this year and in the meantime you can pick from the 3.0-litre V6 diesel in 258bhp and 292bhp guises – the more powerful of the two hits 60mph in 7.1 seconds.

What’s the spec like?

Palatial. It’s awash with fresh technology, from wade depth sensors to traffic sign recognition. A real innovation is the two extra seats in the boot; these are for occasional use only, but the electrically

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powered perches will come in handy with families. The front seats are adjustable 14 ways, heated and cooled and so too are those in the middle row.

There’s a powered tailgate, cooled centre console that you can fit a bottle of champagne in and soft-close doors. The Meridian 1700W stereo is brilliant and buyers can choose from nine different wheel designs in sizes from 19 to 22-inch.

Any rivals?

Land Rover chalk up the Audi Q7, BMW X5 and Porsche Cayenne as the biggest contenders, but it’s the latter that really gives it any serious challenge. The German firm’s badge might hold a little more brand cache, but we’d pick the Sport over it every time. As a combination of jaw-dropping looks mixed with ability and agility, it’s hard to beat.

What’s it like to drive?

With 420kg shaved from the weight, heavily revised steering and all-new lightweight suspension, the car feels incredibly different to drive on the road to its predecessor. In 5.0-litre form it’s ludicrously quick on all road surfaces and can claim the title of the fastest ever Land Rover to be made.

Flick it into Dynamic mode and it becomes a different car – the steering quickens, it corners harder and the throttle response

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sharpens. It’s worlds apart from the standard mode which is far more sedate. As all-rounders go, this Sport is without doubt one of the best.

Verdict Make no mistake - this is the new benchmark in the SUV market. I’ve been racking my brain for faults and if I’m picky the plastic feel of the paddle shifters is a little cheap and the infotainment system looks a little old in terms of graphics and speed. But that’s about it.

This is a car that would please sports car drivers as much as traditional SUV drivers and the best bit? It’s considerably cheaper than the equallybrilliant Range Rover – so it’s a bargain too…

The Knowledge Model: Range Rover Sport 5.0 V8 Supercharged Autobiography Dynamic Price: £81,550 Engine:5.0-litre, V8 supercharged Power: 510bhp, 625Nm Max Speed: 155mph 0-60mph: 5.0s MPG: 22.1 Emissions: 298g/km

By James Baggott, managing director of BlackballMedia.co.uk, an automotive services specialist

Recipe

Mediterranean Fish Bake Serves 4

Ready in 50 minutes This is a great one-pan dish full of fresh flavour. Monkfish is quite pricey but the meaty flesh is delicious and bakes really well, however you can replace it with cod loin, salmon steaks or thick pieces of haddock fillet if you prefer. Serve with a green salad and warmed ciabatta bread to mop up all the lovely herb and lemon flavoured pan juices.

Ingredients:

• 2 tbsp olive oil (choose a good olive oil (choose fruity one) quality fruity one) • 350g small new potatoes, new potatoes, halved • 1 red pepper, deseeded and • 1 1 pepper, deseeded chunks cut into chunks • 1 yellow pepper, deseeded • 1 1 pepper, deseeded and chunks and cut into chunks •• 1 green pepper, deseeded and 1 green deseeded and cut into chunks cut into •• 225g small plum tomatoes, 225g small halved • 4 monkfish fillets (each 4 monkfish fillets weighing about 150g) weighing about 150g) • 50g butter, softened butter, softened • Pared rind and juice from rind and juice from 1 small lemon, plus extra lemon, plus extra wedges to serve • 1 tbsp fresh chopped oregano • Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Tip Replace the peppers with sliced courgettes, chunks of celery and baby button mushrooms, if liked.

Preheat the oven to 200C/400F/Gas Mark 6. Place the oil in a large non-stick non-stick roasting tin and heat in the oven for 5 5 minutes. Add the potatoes to the tin and and toss to coat in the hot oil. Roast for 20 20 minutes, turning once. peppers to the Add the peppers and tomatoes to the roasting tin and toss to coat in the hot tin and toss the hot oil. Make a space in the tin and add the oil.

Make a space in and add the monkfish fillets. Return the roasting tin monkfish fillets. Return roasting tin to the oven for 10 minutes. to the oven minutes.

Dot the butter over the fish fillets and the fish fillets sprinkle over the lemon rind, juice and the lemon rind, oregano. Season with salt and freshly oregano.

Season with salt ground black pepper and roast for a ground black pepper further 5-10 minutes until the fish is just further 5-10 minutes cooked cooked through and the potatoes and peppers are tender.

Slice each monkfish fillet and arrange with the potatoes, peppers and tomatoes on four warmed serving plates. Spoon over the pan juices and serve immediately with lemon wedges.

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17

Short Story

Short Story The Cream Jug Cheryl said, “You know what I’d like to try?

Potholing.” You could have knocked Ken down with a feather. He said, “Where’s this idea come from?”

She explained that Donna tried it recently and had been raving about it ever since. Cheryl never liked to be outdone by Donna. That’s sisters for you.

Ken joked, “Aren’t you worried about breaking a nail?” And she said tartly, “Sometimes, Ken, you’ve just got to get a bit dirty.” He was surprised and said, “Fine, you arrange it.” So he left it with her.

They turned up on the day at a car park on the edge of Bower Crags and met the instructor, a nice lad called Frank.

There was also a couple from Kidderminster and an older chap who never spoke. Frank took one look at Cheryl’s peep toe mules, and said, ‘You’ll need to change your footwear.” He offered her some battered Wellington boots, which she pulled on most begrudgingly.

Then Frank handed them all a set of waterproof overalls.

Cheryl turned very sulky.

Ken tried cheering her up by pointing out that her linen slacks were dry clean only, and it was better to be safe than sorry. She had to agree with him in spite of herself.

Ken thought they’d finally

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come to blows when Frank insisted she wear a safety helmet. It was all very well for him but Ken knew how long Cheryl spent on her hair every morning. She gave that mop more attention than she gave him. Reluctantly, she clipped the thing on muttering about health and safety gone mad. Ken didn’t dare let her see him laughing.

They assembled at the mouth of the cave and Frank gave an introductory talk on potholing.

Ken wished Cheryl could have paid more attention but she was texting Donna. She insisted she could text and listen at the same time. ‘Who’s she trying to kid?’ Ken thought, ‘Cheryl can’t listen even when she’s not doing anything at all’.

Finally Frank said, “Right we’re ready to go in.”

Cheryl looked up from her phone and asked, “Is that where we’re getting the clay from?” He looked surprised and said, “Yes, there’s lots of slippery clay in these caves, so go steady now.” Cheryl nudged Ken gleefully saying, “Donna never got her clay from a cave.”

Ken had no idea what she was on about, but was pleased that they were finally one up on Donna.

One by one, crocodile-style, they entered the mouth of the cave.

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Cheryl did Ken proud. She squeezed through every tight passageway, crawled on her hands and knees, and even dragged herself along on her stomach, getting absolutely filthy with not a peep of complaint. Though Ken was right at the back and couldn’t hear a word anyone was saying anyway. But Cheryl did it, and that’s the main thing.

“You’re a star Cheryl!” Ken said, as they emerged, squelching, into the daylight.

Yet Cheryl seemed bewildered.

“When do we get started on the potter’s wheel?” She frowned, looking around.

“Why would we need one of them dear?” Ken asked gently, concerned the darkness had affected her mind.

“I thought we were going potholing,” she snapped.

“That’s right, and we did,” he said. “Potholing, caving, spelunking – call it what you like.” Her mouth dropped open, “I’ve only gone and mistaken potholing for pottery making,” she said, turning pale. “All I wanted was to make a cream jug like the one Donna made.”

“You could still make a jug,” Ken replied. “After all, you’re wearing enough clay.”

By Jackie Brewster

Technology Review

Beat The Utility Bills The gadgets that’ll save you cash and do your bit for the planet too

With summer already a distant memory, energy companies are rubbing their hands with glee. Cooler weather means bigger energy bills. Time to review a few energy saving devices then.

period of time. If you have an outdoor security light, consider swapping that too: while halogen security lights can use 400W or more, LED ones can be surprisingly bright with bulbs rated at just 10W.

You don’t need to spend a fortune: some of the most effective changes are the simplest. For example, one of the best bill-busters is to replace existing bulbs with lowenergy ones. Halogen bulbs are better than incandescent ones, but LED bulbs are better still: for example in a typical 6-light kitchen spotlight, you can replace six 50W halogen bulbs with six 3W LEDs - so the total energy use would drop from 300W to just 18W. Look for “warm white” LEDs if you want a natural light: some LEDs have a bluish light, an effect not everybody likes.

Note if you want dimmable lights you’ll need dimmable bulbs and LED-friendly dimmer switches.

Turning things off can slash your energy usage too, and computers are particular offenders. Investing in the Ecobutton, which costs around £15, can pay for itself very quickly: press it when you take a break and it’ll put your PC into the most energy efficient standby mode. For TVs, a TV standby saver can put all your home entertainment kit to sleep when you put the TV into standby mode, and there’s an equivalent for PCs. Expect to pay £21 for a TV standby saver and around £16 for a PC one. The Energy Saving Trust also recommends the WAHL Eco Kettle, which uses 60% less energy than a normal kettle - but don’t spoil the savings by boiling more water than you actually need.

While the bulbs do cost more than traditional ones the price is coming down, and they last much, much longer than even halogens, so they’ll pay for themselves quickly and save you money over a long

Don’t forget about batteries either: swapping from normal batteries to rechargeable ones can save you hundreds of pounds in a relatively short space of time: according to

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Which? magazine, you could save as much as £500 over 100 charges.

Cutting down your gas usage isn’t quite as simple, but it’s still possible. Fitting a flow regulator such as the £5 Showersave to your shower slashes the amount of hot water your showers use, and the £25 Radiator BOOster can reduce the time it takes to heat a room, cutting energy usage in the process. Shower flow reducers can reduce your bills if you’re on a water meter too, as can the Hippo water saver, which reduces the amount of water used to flush your toilet.

For really big savings on gas, give some thought to a new boiler: by replacing a D-rated boiler with an A-rated one, you could save around £181 per year in a typical detached house. If that’s a step too far, don’t forget the obvious, affordable options: you’ll save a fortune by insulating your house if its current insulation isn’t up to scratch and by turning the thermostat down a notch. You’ll find that energy efficiency work is often subsidised by government grants, and you might even be able to have it done for free.

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Travel

Peru Floating Islands on Lake Titicaca

By Solange Hando At 12,507 feet, Titicaca appears like a dream, framed by pastel-coloured hills shimmering at the water’s edge under the crisp Andean sky. Stretching for over 100 miles and into Bolivia on its eastern side, fed by five rivers and numerous streams, it’s said to be the world’s highest navigable lake. The nature reserve created in 1978 protects 60 species of native birds and in the sheltered bay of Puno, the Uros Indians live peacefully on man-made islands. They were here long before the Incas built Machu Picchu but on their flimsy abodes ignored by the Conquistadores, they have outlived them for over 400 years.

fresh reeds to strengthen or extend his domain and meet growing family needs. The reeds are cut near the shore, towed back then assembled and anchored on the spot.

It’s an on-going task for the ‘people of the lake’, 2000 of them, though it never feels like it. Sailing around clusters of tiny islands, you spot a few huts on this one, a shrine on that one, a school on another, a clinic or a couple of craft stalls. The islands are fully movable but if you can’t jump across to see your neighbour, there are plenty of reed boats to travel around. Most stunning are the majestic dragon-headed vessels gliding silently on blue waters, ready to carry a handful of wide-eyed visitors.

Soon after dawn, the first tourist boat sets off from Puno towards the nearest of 40 islands or so sprinkled around the bay. Built with local totora reeds, they glow coppery gold in the early sun and before long, the islanders begin to stir. Smoke rises from the huts, pots and pans tinkle in the semi- darkness, a man paddles in search of

Stepping ashore on a bouncy patch of reeds may be unnerving but no one seems to mind. ‘Please come inside,’ says a man with a bright woolly hat, ‘this is my home.’ It’s just one room, no furniture, but there are rugs on the floor and a small black and white television in the corner. Outside the sun is dazzling, the air is cold

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but ‘Mama’ is used to it. An imposing figure in an ample skirt and traditional bowler hat, she has lit the fire on a bed of stones and proudly shows the fish caught by her man that morning. Nothing grows on the reeds but you can catch fish and ducks, for meat and eggs, chew the white root of a reed or two and head for the market in Puno to sell embroidered cloth, knitwear and trinkets and buy whatever you need.

Historians believe the Uros set up home on the lake to escape trouble on land but legend says otherwise. It claims they were here before the dawn of time, protected by ‘black blood’ when the earth was ‘dark and cold’, and few today would wish to change their traditional way of life. A cell phone may ring now and then but somewhere on the edge of the water, a child plays an Andean flute as a sudden breeze sends ripples across the reeds. The tourist boat heads back to the mainland then slowly, on the ‘Black Puma’ lake, the islands vanish, floating like a mirage between water and sky.

Puzzles, Quizzes & Cartoons Cartoon 1

Cartoon 2

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Children’s Page

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Cryptic Crossword Cryptic Crossword 1

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Across 1 A petal found in the mouth? (6) 4 Sweet stuff from Missouri girls (8) 9 Hot spring which sounds like an old man (6) 10 Tonic Lee serves up for the vote (8) 12 A bird, let out, moved slowly back and forth (8) 13 Odd space-time feature (6) 15 Stupefy with backward idiots! (4) 16 Duly ran round for the washing (7) 20 Word nun put out, being belittled (3,4) 21 Tree to long for? (4) 25 Ulster transmutation effect (6) 26 The beard moved, respired! (8) 28 Copied mitt idea, perhaps (8) 29 Worship always covered by theology (6) 30 Tag I knew would provide fine-tuning (8) 31 Dad takes advantage of breaks (6)

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Down 1 Lips I tug to reach a boxer (8) 2 Song concerning an idler (8) 3 Top ace becomes a protective cover (6) 5 City found in Czechoslovakia (4) 6 Progenitors from any crest (8) 7 Oldies turned dirty! (6) 8 Musical composition from an oast (6) 11 Sees red rags shaken (7) 14 Ignorant of a new aura (7) 17 Complete support for a sportsman (4,4) 18 Stockings that anglers prefer! (8) 19 Unnecessary and lessened somehow (8) 22 Unusual traits for a painter (6) 23 Aim for praise somehow (6) 24 Picture taker arrived before artist (6) 27 Miserly sort of name (4)

Solution Copyright TIPSS 2013 23 Across: 1 Palate, 4 Molasses, 9 Geyser, 10 Election, 12 Librated, 13 Aspect, 15 Stun, 16 Laundry, 20 Run own, 21 Pine, 25 Result, 26 Breathed, 28 Imitated, 29 Revere, 30 Tweaking, 31 Pauses.

Codeword CODEWORD

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Each letter in this puzzle is represented by a number between 1 and 26. The codes for three letters are shown. As you find the letters enter them in the box below.

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19 24

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General Knowledge Crossword

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nun (6) General Knowledge Crossword 24. Plant with soothing 1 2 3 4 5 6 juice used to treat burns (4,4) 7 25. A bet on four or more horses in different races (6) 8 9 10 Down 1. Universe seen as an ordered whole 11 12 13 14 (6) 15 2. Vehicles from outer space (inits) (4) 16 17 18 3. Extract (metals) by 19 heating (5) 4. Light, plastic disc 20 21 22 23 used as a plaything (TM) (7) 5. Unit of length equal 24 to 1760 yards (4) 25 6. Large case of strong fabric for sleeping on (8) 15. Short preview of a gold or silver, to 9. Croatian city on the ďŹ lm or TV programme determine its make-up Adriatic Sea (5) (7) (5) 12. Heavy, woven 18. Capital of Zimbabwe 21. Chief port of Yemen fabric used in rugs (6) (4) and bedspreads (8) 19. Analysis of a 23. Friar associated with 14. Apartments (5) substance such as Robin Hood (4)

Only f or sub scriber paying s for tw o or more p ostcod es exclus ivity

Copyright TIPSS 2013

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Across 1. Closed political meeting (6) 7. Sweet almond paste used on Christmas cakes (8) 8. Black marine bivalve with a brownish-black elongated oval shell (6) 10. Case for a knife or a sword (6) 11. Long oar mounted at the stern of a boat (5) 13. Drink given to people who are ill (4,3) 16. Tall stand with a sloping top to hold a book or notes (7) 17. Ngaio ___, writer of whodunnit stories (5) 20. Hindu Festival of Lights (6) 22. Title given to a

Mini Cryptic Mini Cryptic Crossword Across 1 2 3 4 5 1. The arm Meg twisted to get weight 6 (6) 6. Extreme displeasure out of range 7 (5) 7. Gold symbol and flame turns 8 reddish-brown (6) 8. Protect from heat in harsh Adelaide (5) 9 10 11 12 9. Qualified as an accountant, having been hired (9) 13 14 15. Direction of a wandering thorn (5) 16. Take exception to an article as well 15 (6) 17. Pit worker who sounds underage 16 (5) 17 18. Canter round plant juice (6) Down 18 1. Regal sort of look (5) 2. Morning shrub to make a surprise Špuzzlepress.co.uk attack (6) limbs (5) 12. Former shelter’s limit?

3. Red Rum turns to kill (6) 10. Learnt about bony (6) 4. Ship-holding appliance fashioned outgrowth (6) 13. Opponent of Yemen (5)

by Charon (6) 11. Fit to be eaten when I 14. Alert to change? Not 5. Equipped with both weapons and bleed badly (6) now! (5)

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Sudoku - Easy

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2 8 1 3

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EASY

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EASY

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V. HARD

www.WayneGouldPuzzles.com

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Super Science Facts

Only f or sub scriber paying s for tw o or more p ostcod es exclus ivity

Hidato

Pictograms

HIDATO Starting at 1 and finishing at 34, track your way from one hexagon to another (touching) hexagon, placing consecutive numbers into the empty shapes as you go. Some numbers are already given.

Pictograms 3 words

I I I I

4 words

THEGASPRASS 6 words GET ON GET OFF GET ON 12” P 12” O 12” P ©Puzzlepress.co.uk ©Puzzlepress.co.uk

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Quiz 1 Musical Instruments 1. What is the name of the long plastic horn that came to worldwide attention during the 2010 FIFA World Cup with many supporters blowing on one to produce a loud monotone sound?

2. Which musical instrument features on the Guinness logo?

3. Jazz musician Charlie Parker is best known for playing which musical instrument?

4. Consisting of two metal strips bound around a cotton tape reed, a swazzle is an instrument that is held in the mouth and traditionally used to provide the voice of which character?

5. How many black keys are there for every eight white keys on a piano?

6. Which famous person popularised musical instruments called the wobble board and the stylophone?

7. How many strings are there in total on the four instruments that make up a standard string quartet?

8. Who famously set his guitar on fire at the 1967 Monterey Pop Festival?

9. Which musical instrument features a part called a chanter, which the player of the instrument would use to create the melody?

10. Which musical instrument has a name that roughly translates as “jumping flea�?

Quiz 2 City Nicknames Choosing from the list on the right, can you work out which British cities are associated with the nicknames on the left?

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

The Potteries City of Discovery Only r sthe Knightsbridgefoof ubNorth scrib p a y i ng forTrades ers City of a Thousand two or moreCity The Granite postco des City of Dreaming Spires exclus ity City of Perspiringiv Dreams Granadaland Copperopolis Steel City

Copyright TIPSS 2013

also available as a quarte r Aberdeen page Birmingham

Cambridge Dundee Leeds Manchester Oxford Sheffield Stoke-on-Trent Swansea

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Simple Crossword QUICK CROSSWORD

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Across

1 Entrance (6)

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4 Be owned by (6) 9 Hold (7)

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10 Previous (5) 11 Brush (5)

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13 Promises (11)

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18 Sediment (7) 20 Undressed (5)

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22 Avoid (5) 23 In the open air (7) 24 Guard (6) 25 Grown Grown-ups (6) Down

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5 Banish (5)

15 Caught fire (7)

6 Belief (7)

16 Snakes (6)

1 Blame (6)

7 Car repair centre (6)

17 Worships (6)

2 Type of light boat (5)

8 Directive (11)

19 Curse (5)

3 Soap (7)

14 Make clear (7)

Spot the Difference

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21 Small hill (5)

Two Minute Trial AE E S LV You have two minutes to find all the words of three or more letters that can be made from the letters above. Plurals are allowed, proper nouns are not. The 6 letter word will always be just a normal everyday word.

3 letters: 9 4 letters: 15 5 letters: 9 6 letters: 1

Word Ladder 6 Letters 3 Letters ales Wordvase Ladder leaves veal ease ale letter at a 5time (but not the position of Letters eave ave Change one to make a new word - and move from the easel eel any letter)eels top of the ladder to the word at the bottom, eaves else eve word at the exact numberelves of rungs provided. lea using theeves laves lave lee lease sale sea leave save see salve seal vas slave 4 Letters seel vales vale alee

B I R D

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N E S T

Wordsearch Car Parts Air Bag Axle Battery Body Bonnet Boot Brake Bumper Car Seat

Carburretor Child Seat Clutch Door Engine Fuse Heater Horn Indicator

Mirror Radio Roof Sat Nav Starter Tyres Wheel Rim Wheels

Find the names of the car parts in the grid and the remaining letters will spell out a related phrase

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