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Paul O’Grady chats to Yours about his passion for pets, growing older and why he has no regrets

By Christine Smith e’s one of the country’s most popular and cheerful TV stars, but Paul O’Grady admits he will find it hard not to cry when he hosts an ITV awards show later this month celebrating animal heroes.

Paul says he can’t help but shed a tear whenever he hears a story about an animal or a person who goes way beyond the call of duty in the care of pets. But he also reveals how he sheds tears of despair when he hears of animal cruelty.

Paul, a passionate animal lover who lives on a farm in Kent and owns four dogs, six pigs, one goat, nine sheep, 12 hens and four owls, says there is nothing that makes him more angry than if someone is cruel to an animal.

“I see the results of animal cruelty at Battersea Dogs Home and it’s disgusting,” says Paul (57).

“What I find the most upsetting is that the dogs wag their tails.

You think ‘after all you’ve had done to you by human beings, you are still coming up to us’. It’s heartbreaking, it really is.”

Paul thinks it’s everyone’s responsibility to treasure our pets.

“I couldn’t imagine a life without pets. When I go away without the dogs, it feels like something is missing. Eddie, one of my dogs, follows me everywhere and they are all part of the family.

“I am really looking forward to hosting the awards; it’s such a lovely idea. It’s not just the animals who are being honoured but also the people who look after them as well.”

PIcS: EYEVINE aNd baTTERSEa dOGS aNd caTS HOmE

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He thinks the dogs that work for the military are particularly inspiring: “All the stories are heartwarming, but the military category for me is the real tear jerker. They are so brave – especially the dogs that sniff out bombs.”

Aside from the British Animal Honours, Paul has also made a Perspectives documentary for ITV about Gypsy Rose Lee, the burlesque dancer, and he’s currently filming a new series of his Battersea Dogs Home show. He says he enjoys the variety of filming different TV shows and he

‘The military category for me is the real tear jerker’ reveals he still counts his blessings that he is able to enjoy such an amazing career.

“I would definitely have told my 18-year-old self not to worry,” says Paul laughing. “When you are young, you worry too much. You worry about spots on your neck and whether you are going to cop off or not! We just panic and panic and I would say don’t worry at all.

It all comes out in the wash.”

Still smiling, the gregarious TV presenter says there are a “million things” he’d like to change about himself. “Where shall we start?

I would love to change a million things! I am 58 this year and you do notice that when you get off the sofa or off the couch, you do make groans more often! I am getting older and you do start to slow down a bit.

“But I also don’t fear anything.

I knew the helicopter driver who died in that crash in Vauxhall in London (in January). I had travelled in that helicopter several times. He was a nice guy. My friend, who had flown with me, phoned and said: ‘you do never know the moment do you?’.

Something like that really does make you think.”

He also doesn’t have any regrets in life, choosing to live life to the full instead. And being a grandfather to two children, he says, definitely keeps him active.

“They do make me laugh so much. The things they come out with are so funny. They stayed at Easter and it was so much fun.”

Paul says he loves living on his farm in Kent so much it has inspired him to write a new book about what it is really like living in the country.

“People think it’s heaven in the country, but it’s not,” says Paul. “Far from it. You are out in the elements and you can get rats in your loft. My book will be about how to cope in the country; how to make your own soap and how to fish.

“I am also writing another book about me! This will be the fourth

l stories

k my heart’ one and it’s longer than Lord of the Rings now! I’m enjoying it though.

“I really like getting out and about. I’m going off to Africa this summer to film a documentary about elephants and orang-utans. It will be really interesting.”

Paul has vowed to carry on working but insists he has never once been driven by ambition.

“I have never been ambitious,” he reveals. “I have never had a game

‘When I go away without the dogs, it feels like something is missing’

✢ Perspectives: Paul O’Grady: You Gotta Get a Gimmick is on Sunday, april 14.

The british animal Honours is due to be screened on ITV, Thursday, april 18.

Paul with adorable Eddie – a member of his animal menagerie!

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plan as I can’t be bothered! My mum said I ambled through everything and it’s very true. I have just got on with it and kept my fingers crossed.”

For someone who has ‘just got on with it’, Paul has certainly achieved a great deal over the last five decades with his National Television Award earlier this year for his Battersea Dogs show, well and truly cementing him as one of the nation’s favourite TV stars.

So how does it feel to be one of the most liked people on TV? “I don’t know about that,” he declares. “It is very nice and I guess I would rather this than being the most hated person on television!”

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Health monitoring could be as much a part of our day as a cuppa

By Laura Bradder eeing a GP to check out a health complaint is part and parcel of our lives – even if it can take forever to get an appointment. Imagine, though, if you could diagnose your symptoms, administer medicines and check your progress all from the comfort of your own living room without seeing a GP? Well, that may not be too far from becoming reality.

The Department of Health has launched a campaign, 3millionlives, to improve access to ‘telehealth’ – where patients monitor their own conditions through home devices hooked up to the internet. The initiative, which helps people remotely monitor the symptoms of long-term health conditions, such as diabetes, heart disease

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and chronic lung problems, is currently being piloted in seven areas across the UK, with a view to three million people using telehealth by 2017.

Speaking to Yours, Care and Support Minister Norman Lamb said: “We know that telecare and telehealth can give people much more control over their health and care. Over the next few years we hope to have millions more people benefitting from telehealth.”

So what are the benefits? The government says telehealth will save the NHS money. According to Department of Health statistics, people with long-term health conditions make up just 30 per cent of NHS patients, yet take up 70 per cent of the health budget each year – a whopping £70 billion. They believe that, if these patients can monitor their own symptoms daily, it will save money on nurse visits and GP appointments. Although a

ment The Govern f us to o re o m s t n wa own monitor our me, health at ho and but is it safe itching d n a e m it l il w surgery ’s r o t c o d e th for good? recent study by the British Medical Journal says trial results so far for telehealth show it’s less cost effective than normal treatments.

It’s also hoped that it will help to reduce the number of emergency admissions and free up hospital beds because patients regularly monitoring their own health would be less likely to experience sudden problems.

For the patient, the positive side of telehealth focuses on convenience and independence.

It’s meant to make a GP’s life easier too, but Yours health expert Dr Trisha Macnair has mixed feelings. “Telehealth can, in theory, make everyone’s life easier, saving trips to and from

It’s planned that three million of us will be using teleheath by 2017

eady to be

r own GP? the surgery, and patients having to wait around,” she says. “It’s a quick way to check on how your patients are getting along, but it has to be used properly and for the right conditions. Ultimately nothing is better than face-to-face contact to really connect with someone and discuss problems, to examine them thoroughly when necessary and react to their needs.

But for monitoring long term conditions once a diagnosis is well established, or when you know a patient well, telehealth can be very efficient.”

In this self-service age, though, is being asked to effectively take the place of our GP a step too far? If the self-service electronic checkouts at supermarkets can prove testing, we can’t imagine how complicated it might be to take our own blood pressure and electronically report back to our doctor on how we’re getting on!

Dr Trisha says: “Of course we all have stressful times with technology, and if it’s not working well, it can cause a lot of disruption and effort to sort out. But many people safely monitor their own health – for example, many diabetics very

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competently monitor their blood sugar levels and adjust their insulin appropriately, then discuss this with their clinic via telephone or the internet. A lot of devices are being made to be patient-friendly so that people can use them relatively easily.”

Equipment would be supplied by the specific NHS department already dealing with your condition.

Whether we like it or not, it seems telehealth is something we’re going to hear a lot more about. Dr Trisha says it’s likely that home health equipment will become as common as mobile phones and computer games: “Telehealth has to be a part of the future – with ever greater demands on the health service and more stretched resources, we have to go as far as we can to use technology where possible.

New generations who have grown up on hi-tec approaches are coming along and will expect telehealth to be a normal part of their lives.”

B Would you be happy to monitor your health at home?

Write to us at the address on page three and let us know.

Making a difference

Retired nurse Emelie Agyei (67) has been trialing the TeleHealth system in her home. She suffers from Congestive Cardiac Failure (CCF), a condition leading to problems such as fatigue and shortness of breath.

Using TeleHealth, Emelie takes her own blood pressure, weight, pulse and oxygen levels each day. The readings are taken with special

equipment linked to a set-top box connected to her television. Results are automatically uploaded to a team of healthcare professionals who view them daily and can contact Emelie if anything is out of the ordinary. Emelie, a retired nurse, says she enjoys the part she plays in managing her own health. “I can see how my health readings are related to my diet and how much physical activity I do… if

In the

Spotlight

What’s already out there?

Here are just a few of the self-test kits currently available over the counter.

B Coeliac disease You can test yourself for intolerance to gluten by taking your own fingertip blood sample – if you’re brave enough! (rrp £20.42) B Bowel cancer Aimed at helping to detect bowel cancer in its early stages, this test indicates the presence of blood in the stool by detecting human haemoglobin. (rrp £12.25) B Heart disease Monitoring your cholesterol helps assess your risk of developing heart disease.

This test works using a dye that changes colour depending on your cholesterol level. (rrp £12.25) B Menopause Using test strips, you can interpret your symptoms and get a firmer idea of exactly what stage your menopause is at. (rrp £17.99) All the above are available from Boots Chemist

DR TRISHA SAYS: No kit or device is infallible – things can go wrong or be misunderstood. If your symptoms or problems don’t match the results, always get human help! they change, it makes me think ‘What have I done? What did I eat?’

“One day I took my BP after exercise and the nursing team sent me through a message straight away to say it was extremely high and if I knew of a reason for the sudden change. Of course I realised right away that I should have waited before I did my readings after I exercised. But I definitely now know someone is looking out for me!”

This is a case study taken from the Whole System Demonstrator programme– the largest randomised control trial in the world undertaken for telecare and telehealth.

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Fab & flattering DAY DRESSES A dress can be as comfortable and practical as separates.

Don’t believe us? These are our every day wear top choices – we know you’ll love them! By Fashion

A demure neckline and hem length, but racyred makes it stand out.

PHOTOGRAPHY RUTH JENKINSON; STYLIST JO WINCH; HAIR AND MAKE-UP ANNA THOMPSON AND SARAH JANE GREEN.

Editor, Michelle Nightingale

We love this clever dress, which has a hidden power mesh support across the tummy and hips.

CLASSIC & BOLD CHOICE

JACQUI WEARS: Savoir Confident Curves print dress, £29, 10-24, Isme; shoes, £49.50, 3-7, Marks & Spencer.

JOAN WEARS: Red dress, £29, 10-28, Savoir at Isme; bracelet, £8, Mood at Debenhams; shoes, £15, 3-7, Marks & Spencer.

✢ Navy floral dress, £25, 12-24, Bonmarché; bracelet, £8, Mood at Debenhams; shoes, £49.50, 3-7, Marks & Spencer. ✢ Wrap dresses are great for pear shapes.

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STOCKISTS: Bonmarché 01924 7001 00; Debenhams 0844 561 6161; Fifty Plus 0871 231 2000; George at Asda 0800 952 0101; Isme 0844 811 8112; Marks & Spencer 0845 609 0200; Next 0844 844 8939. Details correct at time of going to press EVERY FORTNIGHT

Style

SIMPLE SLIMMING SHAPE

✢ Print dress, £60, 6-22 (regular, tall and petite), Next; shoes, £16, 3-9, from a selection at George at Asda.

notes

A great outfit starts with strong foundations and these shapewear solutions will knock off extra inches in seconds.

✢ Perfect whether you’re tall, petite or anything in between, this bold print dress is brilliant for hiding a wobbly tummy and bigger hips with its simple slimming shape.

✢ Magisculpt Underwired Bodyshaper, from £22, 32B-48D, Fifty Plus.

Smoothes curves and features full cups for extra support.

✢ Print belted dress, £49.50, 8-22, Autograph at Marks & Spencer; bracelet, £8, Mood at Debenhams; shoes, £19.50, 3-8, Marks & Spencer.

✢ Shapewear waist shape slip, £32.50, 8-20, Marks & Spencer.

Wear with your own bra for ultimate fit and comfort. Helps emphasise your waist for a more shapely look.

✢ Prints can be really flattering.

Add a belt to show off your shape.

✢ Vintage Lace Hipshaper, £27.50, 8-22, Marks & Spencer.

Streamlines the waist, hips and thighs for a sleeker silhouette. Ideal for those with more pear-shaped figures. ✢ Bum Lift Waist Cincher, £19.50, 8-22, Marks & Spencer.

Flattens the tummy and helps shape the waist and bottom.

FASHION EDITOR’S CHOICE

✢ Selling fast – grab it before it goes!

Colour block dress, £16, 10-20, George at Asda; shoes, £29.50, 3-8, Marks & Spencer.

it

✢ Block colour panels give a modern feel, plus they’re very clever, too. Panels at the waist will help slim your frame by drawing the eye in – no dieting required!

››

✢ Bodysculpt Front Control Briefs, £6, 1022, George at Asda.

Tummy flattening for a smooth shape – and for a great price.

✢ Navy print shirt-dress, £45, 8-18, Jasper Conran at Debenhams; shoes, £10, 3-9, George at Asda. ✢ Shirt-dresses are a big hit this year and this one is a classic in the making. Great for hourglass shapes, this dress will help balance out your proportions and show off your waist.

Now visit www.yours.co.uk for more great fashion advice

››

✢ Bodysculpt Control Top, £3, S-L, George at Asda. Features compression fabric that smoothes the upper body and arms.

Next issue: Don’t miss our Yours 50+ Fashion Awards

Sail through the

Menopause Menopausal symptoms can be distressing, but there are safe, effective treatments available By acting health editor, Martine Gallie Meet our experts Ali Cullen is a nutritional therapist for Bioforce and has a busy practice in Glasgow.

Dr Heather Currie is a gynaecologist, obstetrician, and MD of Menopause Matters.

id you know that the level of oestrogen in your body peaks at around the age of 30? It then drops until you no longer have enough to keep your menstrual cycle going. As a result your periods eventually stop, usually between the ages of 45 and 55, and this is known as the menopause.

Some lucky women sail through it without a second thought. But about 70 per cent of us suffer a range of distressing symptoms, including hot flushes, sleep problems, loss of libido

and ‘fuzzy brain’. These may start before your periods stop and can make life very difficult.

Early menopausal symptoms may include: B Hot flushes (these affect 60-85 per cent of women) B Night sweats B Heart palpitations B Poor sleep B Joint aches B Mood swings B Headaches In the years following the menopause, lack of oestrogen increases the risk of heart problems and osteoporosis. It can also lead to vaginal dryness and bladder problems, such as needing to pee more often and a higher risk of urinary infections.

So that’s the bad news – but there is plenty of good news too! There’s lots we can do ourselves to help minimise menopausal symptoms like hot flushes and mood swings. And many of the things that

D levels

oestrogen levels in women peak around the age of 30

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start. Taking regular exercise will help reduce symptoms, too.

Not smoking and sticking to no more than two units of alcohol a day won’t just reduce symptoms, it will lower your risk of heart disease and osteoporosis, too.

“Reducing caffeine can also help and will promote healthier bones,” adds Dr Currie.

But what if, despite making lifestyle changes, troublesome symptoms like hot flushes or joint pains are making life impossible?

Some women find natural therapies helpful, and you’ll find some suggestions below.

in this recipe contain phyto-oestrogens to gently relieve symptoms such as hot flushes. tastes good, too!

B 400g (14oz) wholemeal or spelt flour with 4 tsp baking powder B 3 medium carrots, grated B 5½ tbsp golden syrup or agave syrup B 2 tsp cinnamon B 1 tsp ground ginger B ½ tsp nutmeg B 3 eggs B 300ml (10floz) sunflower oil B 2 tsp vanilla essence B 150g (5½oz) pumpkin, sunflower and sesame seeds, mixed B 200g (7oz) chopped dried apricots Mix all the ingredients together and bake at 190ºC/Gas Mark 5 for 50 minutes.

pICS: ISTOCk; GETTY IMAGES

can help us cope better also help protect us against later-life diseases such as heart disease and osteoporosis.

“It’s always a good idea to try other things before turning to medication,” says Dr Heather Currie, a gynaecologist and obstetrician at Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary. “If you are very overweight and you smoke, your symptoms may not improve if you take HRT anyway.”

Losing excess weight and eating a healthy, varied diet with lots of fresh fruit and veg is a great place to

the GReat Menopause BAKE-OFF Carrots and apricots

natural menopause relief

✤ see your Gp before taking supplements or herbal remedies, particularly if you take prescribed medicines. always speak to your Gp before stopping any medication or before starting any diet or exercise regime.

If you are experiencing distressing menopausal symptoms, reducing stress levels is vital, says Ali Cullen, a nutritional therapist.

“A lot of 50-plus women I see are trying to do the impossible,” says Ali. “put your health first, and prioritise sleep and relaxation.

“Make sure you are breathing properly, look at your eating habits, and drink enough water,” says Ali. “Try drinking it warm – it goes down more easily. It also helps prevent cystitis, which you are more likely to get when you are menopausal.”

Some women find phyto-oestrogens helpful and soya is a great source.

“Fermented soy isoflavones have gentle oestrogenic effects,” says Ali. “Women who eat traditional Eastern diets containing lots of soya don’t have as many menopausal symptoms because their oestrogen levels are buoyed up.”

You’ll also find phyto-oestrogens in brown rice, millet, oats, rye, kidney beans, red lentils, sesame, pumpkin and sunflower seeds, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, liquorice, and apricots. Or you could try making our delicious menopause cake (above).

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How to...

DIVORCE (and stay financially secure)

Divorce is on the rise among the over-60s – finance editor Sarah Jagger explains how you can make sure ‘silver separation’ works as well as it can for you ore than two out of five marriages end in divorce.

The emotional side of separating obviously takes its toll, but the legal process and fees can leave a serious dent in bank balances with the average divorce costing £13,000.

Many of us have to hold the purse strings for the first time – and this alone can be incredibly stressful. Read on for ideas to help ease the burden following a split.

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| DID YOU KNOW? | The number of divorces in England and Wales in 2011 was

117,558

DIY divorce

containing all the forms to A DIY divorce can be costobtain a divorce. effective if both parties agree: “You also have to pay your “You can simply contact your local county court’s standard local court offices or court fees, currently £340 download the forms when you file your In any from www.justice. petition, and £45 gov.uk, and get when you apply for relationship – don’t going,” says the final divorce let one partner deal with Marilyn Stowe decree. This of Stowe happens with the money alone. Find out Family Law every divorce, what’s going in and coming and author online or of Divorce & otherwise,” says out – it could save you a lot Splitting Up Mark Keenan of of trouble (financial and (digital copy Divorce-online. A 99p, Amazon). solicitor-managed emotional) if you Alternatively, divorce including split up online divorce sites legal advice is available can cut costs and speed for £299 – plus court fees. up the process. Divorce-online.

“A high-street solicitor will co.uk (0870 626 0419) charges charge around £2,000 to £3,000,” a fixed fee of £69 for a pack says Mark.

Checklist: FINDING YOUR FINANCIAL FEET ■ Gather financial information so you feel more in control ■ Create a budget – list bills and fixed outgoings to establish a monthly budget you can stick to ■ Claim benefits – check with Citizens Advice or

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use the benefits checker at www.turn2us.org.uk ■ Check your credit report with Experian (www.experian.co.uk), Equifax (www.equifax. co.uk) and Call Credit (www.callcredit.co.uk). If you’ve always borrowed

money jointly, you may need to build your own credit rating ■ Check you have relevant insurance – for example life insurance if you are a child’s sole carer ■ Check the rates on all your financial products

(including utilities) and switch to better deals ■ Think about longer-term priorities, particularly saving for retirement ■ Draw up a new Will ■ Tell the taxman of your new situation. Visit www.hmrc.gov.uk

10 STEPS TO DIVORCE

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arrangements if there are children.

Respondent acknowledges the petition and indicates whether they defend.

If no defence, petitioner files application for decree nisi and signs a statement of truth.

Judge looks at papers and grants the decree nisi.

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Hiring a solicitor

‘We worked through it all together’ Fiona (50), from Buckinghamshire, found it straightforward to manage her divorce ten years ago without a solicitor. “I was lucky enough to have an amicable break up so we worked through the process together. We completed the legal forms that we obtained from the county court on a step-by-step basis.” Fiona says divorcing or not, it’s important for you both to have a good knowledge of everything you own, individually and as a couple, and to be able to locate paperwork.

“Where there are major decisions to be made a good lawyer will help,” says Marilyn Stowe.

Many solicitors don’t charge for the first appointment, but ask for a schedule of charges so you know what you’ll pay from then on. Legal aid cuts due to come into force on April 1 will mean an estimated 200,000 people who previously got state funding for their divorce will no longer be able to get access to solicitors unless they pay for it. Divorce-online will be able to offer those couples lowcost advice.

| DID YOU KNOW? |

63%

of women who divorced in their 50s said getting to grips with their money helped them gain a sense of power and control

Splitting finances

Every asset you have will need to be divided up. “What you brought into the marriage may be taken into consideration and a spouse’s ability to earn after a split will also count towards a final settlement,” says debt consultant Steve Rees.

Pensions are usually the second biggest asset after the matrimonial home.

Patrick Murphy, chartered financial planner at Zen Wealth, explains the three approaches

Decree nisi – an interim order – is pronounced.

Six weeks later petitioner files for decree absolute.

Decree absolute granted; parties are now divorced.

Between steps 7 and 8 parties can file their financial consent order and the judge will make the order if they are happy that it is fair on both parties.

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to dividing pensions: “1: Pension offsetting is where one party keeps the pension in exchange for other assets.

“2: Ear-marking allows an ex-wife to get 50 per cent of her exhusband’s pension.

“3: Pension sharing is where you split the pension pot at the time of the divorce settlement. This gives both parties their own pension pot for retirement.

“It’s essential you get pensions advice given what’s at stake,” says Patrick. Find out more on pensions and divorce from www.pensions advisoryservice. org.uk

Sorting money after divorce

Divorce can create new money pressures for the newly single, especially for those who’ve had limited financial independence in the past. For many, the task of organising finances gives a sense of order but it can also be daunting. A good tip is to tackle one area of your finances at a time. Follow our checklist (far left) to get on the right track.

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PICS: MASTERFILE; ALAMY

You can divorce if you have been married at least a year and your relationship has irretrievably broken down.

Parties choose a ground for divorce (most commonly twoyear separation).

Petitioner files the divorce petition and statement of

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GARDEN clippings Geoff Stebbings on the importance of the humble spud…

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– I use old compost bags, as long as they are black on one side. Turn them inside out so the black side faces outwards, roll them down and unroll the sides to increase the depth as you earth them up.

This is impractical for large numbers of plants, but it’s fine for some early potatoes and they should be ready to harvest about three months after planting.

Second earlies take a month more and maincrops are ready about five months after planting.They are all planted at the same time but when that is depends on the weather and where you live. The traditional time for planting in the UK is Good Friday but this varies every year!

What is important is that the foliage is prone to frost damage so don’t plant too early. Also plant your potatoes ‘on the flat’ in flattopped ridges, and earth up the plants with soil as they grow to cover them and protect from frost.

This year, I’m going to plant

Blight-resistant potatoes

✢ Sarpo Mira Good early maincrop of floury potatoes. Large foliage smothers weeds. ✢ Sarpo Axona Pink-skinned potato with floury flesh and relatively resistant to slugs, too. ✢ Orla Irish-bred variety with yellow, waxy flesh and great taste. Ideal in blight-prone areas. ✢ Cara A maincrop with floury, white flesh and heavy crops of pink-skinned tubers. Stores well.

Geoff is in charge of a private garden in Co Wexford, Ireland, with a two-acre walled garden and acres of woodland to plant.

This fortnight I’ll be...

✢ Sowing bedding plants like marigolds and cosmos (right) ✢ Sowing leaf y salads in pots and growing bags ✢ Pruning early-flowering shrubs once they have finished flowering ✢ Repotting my Christmas cacti ✢ Planting lilies in the garden and planting begonias in pots in the propagator some in bags in the greenhouse and move them out in May, for an extra early crop. Other earlies and second earlies will go in the ground.

With planning we can produce beautiful, tasty potatoes as early as late June and have plenty to store for winter. Although the spud is often called humble, if you have a favourite and grow it well, it’s one of the highlights of the gardening year to lift, cook and eat your own. ✤ Next issue: Soil – and how to love it! ✤ Geoff trained at Kew Gardens and has been writing about gardens and what to grow in them for more years than he cares to remember!

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PICS: THINKSTOCK; ISTOCK PHOTO AND ALAMY

eing an Englishman in Ireland I am acutely aware of the importance of potatoes! Last autumn farmers blamed home gardeners for spreading potato blight by their lack of expertise in controlling the disease and then prices rose because of the poor crop due to the weather (cool and wet encourages the fungus that causes potato blight). A forecast shortage of seed potatoes (which are planted to grow a crop) also made the news.

Here in Ireland it’s reported that farmers are turning from potatoes to other crops because of the virility of the new strains of blight. So perhaps it’s more sensible than ever to grow your own? I always say that unless you have a big plot, it doesn’t make much sense to plant a lot of spuds, but perhaps it does now.

Potatoes are easy to grow everywhere in pots and bags, as well as the soil. You can buy special potato-growing bags but really you should save your money