Local Magazine for the over 50s by 50 Plus Magazine

FEBRUARY - APRIL 2020

EDITION 49

Sir Cliff Richard

CELEBRATING HIS 80TH BIRTHDAY

Adapting 2020 Ideas TO BRIGHTEN YOUR HOME

Gennaro Contaldo SHARES HIS ITALIAN RECIPES

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HOTEL MARCH Somerset Hotel – Llandudno North Shore Hotel - Blackpool Russell Hotel – Weymouth Sands Hotel – Bournemouth Devonshire Hotel – Torquay Barrowfield Hotel – Newquay APRIL Regent Hotel – Weymouth North Shore Hotel - Blackpool Barrowfield Hotel – Newquay Sands Hotel – Bournemouth Regent Hotel – Weymouth Daish’s Hotel – Isle of Wight MAY North Shore Hotel - Blackpool Devonshire Hotel – Torquay Barrowfield Hotel – Newquay Sands Hotel – Bournemouth Russell Hotel – Weymouth

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CONTENTS

Inside this issue ...

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Travel

6-7

TWITTERING ON By Angela Kelly

8-9

JOHN SUCHET Takes a Danube River Cruise

10-11

SIR CLIFF RICHARD Celebrating his 80th birthday

12-13

A SECURE FUTURE With Equity Release

16-17

HOME Adapting 2020 ideas to brighten your home

24-25

WHAT'S ON A guide to what's happening in your region

26-27

STEVE HOWARTH'S TEST DRIVE A look at two popular models

29-31

FOOD & DRINK Ginnaro Contaldo's Italian recipes

32-33

HEALTH Exercising in older age

JOHN SUCHET TAKES A DANUBE RIVER CRUISE WITH UNIWORLD

Home

Ginnaro Contaldo

IDEAS TO BRIGHTEN YOUR HOME

ITALIAN RECIPES

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TWITTER

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TWITTERING ON BY ANGELA KELLY “mockumentary” which will take what they see as gospel. They will, wrongly, assume that this is true history being played out by actors and definitely happened. In fact, as in The Crown, there are some scenes “imagined” – in other words, they made it up. Although accepting that it can be used by those with an agenda to shape public opinion, it’s not necessarily always a damaging ploy. In the hit 2017 film Darkest Hour set in May, 1940, and about Winston Churchill winning the hearts and minds of both Parliament and the public during World War Two, there is a scene on the London underground which is pivotal.

Do film and TV dramas really tell the truth? VETERAN broadcaster John Sergeant raised an interesting point about how fictionalised versions of history may fool people into believing this is actually what happened. He was concerned about the Netflix hit series The Crown. He felt the way it depicted the Royal Family might not be “appropriate” and that timelines and events were “massaged and altered” to assist the drama. This comes after the Queen’s ex-press secretary called imagined scenes “distasteful.” However accurate or otherwise such dramatised versions of real-life are, there is definitely a concern there about how near the truth such versions may be. They are, after all, created for entertainment and perhaps some periods of history, some lives, are just not that interesting for quite a large part of them. When there are occurrences (and, goodness me, the Royal Family had a year packed with them in 2019) then they tend to be the ones on which, quite naturally, dramatists focus. More worrying – which I think is John Sergeant’s point – is that there will be a large portion of any audience of this kind of 6

Churchill meets and chats to Londoners who give their opinion about the war which alters, or possibly cements, his own views. As a result, he makes an inspirational speech to Parliament.

However, researchers who observed people meeting in local government, public organisations, the police and health bodies found decision-making is actually very limited. These findings will be balm to all those harassed souls forced to attend endless meetings with their job. Furthermore, the researchers say that these meetings are often more like “therapy”, allowing people to air complaints, justify their job or clarify their own status. Brilliant! Some decisions are best taken by a very small number of purpose-driven individuals who will get on with what’s important. Ready for my 10 o’clock meeting? Sorry, it’s just not productive enough.

Apparently, there is no evidence that this ever happened. We don’t mind, though, because it is artistic licence and adds to the points being made about Churchill which were historically accurate. I suppose the problem is that most of us have either forgotten what we’ve learned of some specific period or event in history or are simply too lazy to find out the truth. We go with the version that entertains us, happily accepting that this “seems right” so it must be true, which is possibly dangerous naivety.

When meetings really take us nowhere I LOVE the latest findings about business meetings: that they may be more about status and showing off than actually getting anything done. According to academics from Malmo University and Lund University in Sweden, some managers spend more than half their working week in meetings.

YouTube is the go-to place for practical skills ARE you a Bake Off fan? I watch it sometimes but it always leaves me feeling hungry. I do love, though, Junior Bake Off because it’s not only inspirational but fascinating to witness the skills that these youngsters display with so much confidence. The latest winner was 13 year-old Finley Woodward. Far from having to be prised off his X-box, Finley plainly loved to cook and was absolutely amazing at it.

He learned his skills from his grandmother and from watching YouTube videos and, while the former seems so logical, us older types have had to come to terms with how people pick up new talents these days. In fact,YouTube is a fantastic tool. I’ve learned how to put my hair up in quite an enviable style, can now re-wire a plug and regularly watch “how to massage” videos purely for the relaxation. OK, it’s not Bake Off, but what other clip can make your eyelids shut and you feel totally relaxed. Oh, sorry, forgot Newsnight.

Cheers to the wine tasters – and good luck! I DON’T know about you but I’ve always been in awe of those wine buffs who really understand their subject. You know the type: they study the bottle before it’s even opened, pronounce on the year or the region in some knowledgeable way, swill the first mouthful lovingly around before swallowing and then talk about its nose or undertones.

Walliams’ wicked humour makes him top author DAVID Walliams may be a comedian but he is definitely laughing all the way to the bank as the writer of children’s books. The creator of Mr Stink, The Boy in the Dress and Gangsta Granny has notched up sales of £100 million. This puts the Britain’s Got Talent judge into an exclusive bracket of children’s authors. Since he first started writing children’s literature in 2008, the former Little Britain star has written 25 books including seven picture books and four short story collections. Perhaps what helps the talented Walliams is that he now has a six year-old son but I’m sure what is equally important is his own quirky personality and lack of fear when it comes to performing in public. He’s worth a book in himself.

Now, research suggests that many so-called wine connoisseurs cannot tell one bottle from another. Food scientists at Oxford University had experienced tasters convinced they were sampling a delicious rose when they actually drinking a white wine – made from an entirely different grape but dyed pink with food colouring. Now, there is concern that wine snobs may not actually be able to distinguish one tipple from another by taste and aroma but are primarily driven by colour. In that case, minesh a red!

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might like a glass of champagne.” We hadn’t ordered any. She had read our minds.

JOHN SUCHET TAKES A DANUBE RIVER CRUISE WITH UNIWORLD I was a great fan of river cruises before I ever took one. There must be something to see every day. Was I right? There was only one way to find out, and the opportunity presented itself last October - a Danube River Cruise with Uniworld, on which I would give talks about Vienna, City of Music, also describe how the waltz came to Vienna, and introduce a concert in an ornate Viennese palace.

It got better. We went up on to the sundeck and sat round a table admiring the beautiful city of Budapest from the river. I spotted a waitress climbing the steps, one hand on the handrail, the other balancing a tray with six glasses of champagne. I wonder if she’d bring some for us, I thought. Smiling, she put the tray down and said: “I thought you

I decided to combine pleasure with business. For the last decade or so, every October I have had a reunion with my oldest friends in the world, fellow students I graduated with over half a century ago. We were at university in Dundee, so in past years bottles have been opened and consumed in Scotland’s great cities. This time, why not make it extra special, and toast our friendship aboard S.S. Maria Theresa, gliding gently along the Danube, surrounded by exquisite scenery you might almost be able to reach out and touch? It took a masterpiece of planning. Let me tell you how it began. My wife Nula and I had barely unpacked in our state room (cabins are so passé), when I received a text message: ‘We’re in the Habsburg salon.’ 8

Boat Exterior in Budapest

That was a hallmark of the trip. Impeccable service on a truly beautiful ship. The captain addressed us all on the first evening, and it was evident how proud he was of her. The S.S. Maria Theresa is done out in the style of the Empress she is named after. Luxurious, splendid, glass doors and walls, gilded mirrors and chandeliers. He acknowledged, in his welcome speech, that the state rooms were not large. How could they be on a river cruise ship which needed to negotiate some narrow passages of river and many locks? “But have you noticed the space underneath the bed?” There was a collective intake of breath. Bed coverings are so luxurious they reach the floor. It had not occurred to us to lift them up, to reveal a vast space underneath specially designed to take your suitcases. Clever.

Uniworld Lobby Our cruise began in Budapest and travelled west, via Bratislava and Vienna to Passau in Germany. Over the course of a week you see more variety than you could ever predict. Big city life in Budapest and Vienna. Small city life in Bratislava and Passau. Country life as you cruise down the Wachau Valley, Austria’s wine growing area. You want activity? Every day excursions were available - from city tours to walking tours and bike rides, from a visit to a winery to an exclusive visit to a saffron workshop. You want to stay nice and quiet? Just lounge on the sundeck or in your state room. You might want to join some of the more energetic tours, if only to work off the weight you put on in the restaurant. The food was exceptional, and just as the ship itself reflects life in the historic Habsburg Empire, so the food brings you a taste of the area the ship is in on that particular day. There is no doubt about it. Uniworld river cruises - from Portugal in the west to Russia in the east - are the height of luxury. Several experienced river cruisers told us they always travel Uniworld - with a knowing look and a comment along the lines of “You get what you pay for.” Yes, they are not cheap, but everything is included, and I mean everything. That means all food and drink. Not just wine

and soft drinks, but all drinks. That first tray of champagne is already paid for - so is very other drink you consume on the trip. Experienced Uniworld travellers know to pace themselves. Tips too are all included.You are not expected to tip, but several discreet handshakes were given for exceptional service.You really could leave your credit card at home. So was I right about river cruises? In a word yes, and now I really can speak from experience. The only problem: much as I love the cities of Scotland, next year’s reunion will have a lot to live up to.

Uniworld’s (uniworld.com / 0808 301 2705) eight day Enchanting Danube cruise from Budapest to Passau is priced from £2,499 per person, twin share, for departures between March – November 2020. All-inclusive price includes luxury onboard accommodation in a riverview stateroom onboard the S.S. Maria Theresa, all meals and unlimited beverages onboard; onshore excursions, all transfers on arrival and departure days and return flights from the UK. Offers are regularly available, check www.uniworld.com/uk/current-offers/ for details.

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CELEBRITY INTERVIEW

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SIR CLIFF RICHARD CELEBRATING HIS 80TH BIRTHDAY FEW artists can lay claim to the kind of stellar career that Sir Cliff Richard has enjoyed – and even fewer can say they are still touring successfully.

been there for him for several decades. But the reality is that Sir Cliff has managed to keep in tune with the times very astutely throughout his long career.

He is, though, amazingly celebrating his 80th birthday this year (2020). And it’s probably no surprise that this celebration involves a new tour.

He is the only singer in the history of music to have a No.1 hit in the 1950s, ‘60s, ‘70s, ‘80s and 1990s. He is the third artist, after Elvis Presley and The Beatles, with the highest number of No.1 hits in the UK and more Top Ten hits than any other artist.

It is certainly a tribute to the man and his music that demand for The Great 80 Tour means that two shows at London’s Royal Albert Hall have already been added and ticket demand is likely to be extremely high. It would be very easy to dismiss the bulk of those fans as being older – and he certainly has a great many loyal followers who have

In 1989, he became the first British recording artist to release 100 singles with The Best of Me. Behind all the statistics, however, lies a genuine home-grown music legend who helped to build the UK’s music reputation over all those decades and since. The man

has musicality running right through his veins. That was all obvious to fans even when the young Cliff burst onto the rock ‘n roll world of the 1950s. Music was just moving away from the Sinatra crooning years and offered exciting possibilities to young fans across the world who were, finally, getting music that belonged just to them. Cliff Richard was young, good-looking and considered the UK’s answer to America’s Elvis. His first hit single Move It in 1958 appeared to confirm that and Cliff - with his quiffed hair, moody looks and sexy moves - soon became a screamable star at home and abroad.

He had a good voice and savvy management as he quickly moved into films in 1959 with Serious Charge in which he played a young tearaway, adding to his then “bad boy” image. He also sang Living Doll in this film, creating just one of his popular classics. The same year, he appeared in another film, Expresso Bongo, in which he prosaically, played a young singer at the start of his career. The Young Ones followed in 1961 and then in 1963 he and his backing group, The Shadows, made Summer Holiday. The wealth of hits from this feelgood film really helped cement his reputation in the home market and across the world. He made three more films – Finders Keepers in 1966, Two a Penny in 1967 and Take Me High in 1973 – which also pleased fans but by then Cliff was box-office gold wherever he went. Interestingly, Cliff was a great admirer of Elvis. “He was my idol from the beginning,” he has said. “Even today, when I’m alone, I’ll often put on the King Creole album. He’s produced the most exciting pop music sounds of all time.” For Cliff, We Don’t Talk Anymore in 1979 proved to be his best-selling single, notching up more than five million sales worldwide. Private Collection in 1988 was his best-selling album with almost two million copies sold. His reputation now settled into being a wholesome entertainer with fans across the age divide. Cliff was chosen to represent the UK in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1968 with Congratulations and in 1973 with Power To All Our Friends. With the former, Cliff was beaten to the title by just one point when the Spanish entry – long forgotten – won. Ironically, Congratulations has endured to enjoy the same international popularity as Happy Birthday as a celebratory song. His long popularity has been underlined by a whole clutch of awards over the years. He won the British Record Industry Award for British Male Solo Artist n 1977,

the British Phonographic Industry Award for British Male Solo Artist in 1982 and a Brit Award for Outstanding Contribution in 1989. In 2004, he was inducted into the UK Music Hall of Fame for his outstanding contribution to British music and as an integral part of British music culture. He is still recording and in October, 2019, collaborated on a duet, Samstag Nacht, with Howard Carpendale, and the album Symphonie Meines Lebens was released physically and digitally worldwide. Cliff Richard and the Shadows: The Best of the Rock ‘n Roll Pioneers was also released in November last year, focusing solely on Cliff’s output with The Shadows and featuring many of his top hits. Born in Lucknow, India, as Harry Rodger Webb, Sir Cliff always had a strong family with three sisters. He has never made a secret of the fact that he is a Christian and has been perceived by all, not just his fans, to have lived a wholesome life. This may explain the outcry in 2014 when his home was very publicly searched by

police following an historic allegation of sexual abuse of a minor. Sir Cliff was questioned by police but not arrested and the allegation was subsequently dropped. His many fans were never in doubt of his innocence and his popularity remains undimmed. Although he has always been generous in praise of his pop peers throughout the decades, Sir Cliff’s own remarkable, record-breaking success has not always been acknowledged. As he stated himself: “My only gripe is when critics writing the history of rock ‘n roll leave me out altogether.

“I don’t subscribe to the view that if you’re not No.1 , it’s a failure. Maybe that’s why people disappear so quickly these days, because they have that attitude.” For Sir Cliff, entering his eighth decade still on-song and still entertaining the fans, longevity in the notoriously fickle world of pop is obviously just not an issue.

* For details of The Great 80 Tour go to www.cliffrichard.org/latest-tour/ 11

FINANCE

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Also check whether you have the right to remain in your property for life or until you need to move to long-term care, provided the property remains your main residence and you abide by the terms and conditions of your contract. It’s worth checking whether you have the right to move to another property, subject to the new property being acceptable to your product provider as continuing security for your equity release loan and whether the product has a “no negative equity guarantee”.You will also need to know what level of maintenance you’ll be expected to carry out and how often your property will be inspected – this could be every few years.

A SECURE FUTURE WITH

EQUITY RELEASE? THESE days we have to look at a variety of ways to raise cash and ensure that our future will be secure and one popular way for anyone over 55 to do just that is via equity release, with research carried out by the Equity Release Council showing that 72% of homeowners over 45 questioned wanted to stay in their property for as long as possible, with 41% also looking to invest in home improvements. Equity release offers the chance to access the cash – the equity – tied up in your home, which can be released either as a lump sum or in several small amounts, or a combination of both. There are two equity release options: a home reversion and a lifetime mortgage. A HOME REVERSION involves you selling part or all of your home to a home reversion provider in return for a lump sum or regular payments.You have the right to continue living in the property until you die, rent-free, but you have to agree to maintain and insure it.

You can ring-fence a percentage of your property for later use, possibly for inheritance - the percentage you retain will always remain the same, regardless of the change in property values, unless you decide to take further cash releases. At the end of the plan, your property is sold and the sale proceeds are shared according to the remaining proportions of ownership. You will get a lump sum or regular payments – normally between 20 per cent and 60 per cent of the market value of your home, or the part you sell. With home reversions, it’s worth checking whether or not you can release equity in several payments or in one lump sum and the minimum age at which you can take out a home reversion plan. Some providers insist you’re at least 60 or 65 before you can apply. Keep in mind the percentage of the market value you will receive. This will increase the older you are when you take out the plan but might vary from provider to provider.

The Money Advice Service explains that a LIFETIME MORTGAGE means that you take out a mortgage secured on your property, provided it is your main residence, while retaining ownership. You may be able to ring-fence some of the value of your property as an inheritance for your family or you can choose to make repayments or let the interest roll-up. The loan amount and any accrued interest is paid back when you die or when you move into long-term care. Most people who take out equity release use a lifetime mortgage. Usually you don’t have to make any repayments while you’re alive and interest “rolls up” (unpaid interest is added to the loan), meaning the debt can increase quite quickly over a period of time. However, some lifetime mortgages do now offer the option to pay all or some of the interest. Some will let you pay off the interest and the capital. In the same way ordinary mortgages vary from lender to lender, so do lifetime mortgages, and if you’re looking at this option it’s worth knowing that the minimum age for this is usually 55. As we’re now all living longer, the earlier you start the more this is likely to cost in the long run.

The average borrower in their late 60s can usually borrow around 35% of the value of their home, but how much can be released is dependent on your age and the value of your property. The percentage typically increases according to your age when you take out the lifetime mortgage, while some providers might offer larger sums to those with certain past or present medical conditions. Many lenders offer interest rates which are fixed or, if they are variable, have a “cap” or upper limit which is fixed for the loan’s duration. Check whether the product has a “no negative equity guarantee” This means that, when your property is sold and agents’ and solicitors’ fees have been paid, even if the amount left is not enough to repay the outstanding loan to your provider neither you nor your estate will be liable to pay any more. Again, it’s also worth finding out if you have the right to move to another

property, subject to the new property being acceptable to your product provider as continuing security for your equity release loan, as different lifetime mortgage providers might have slightly different thresholds. Consider whether you can pay none, some or all of the interest. If you can make repayments, the mortgage will be less costly. However, with a lifetime mortgage where you can make monthly payments, the amount you can repay might be based on your income. Providers will have to check you can afford these regular payments. Look at whether you can withdraw the equity you’re releasing in small amounts, as and when you need it, or whether you have to take it as one lump sum. The advantage of being able to take money out in smaller amounts is you only pay the interest on the amount you’ve withdrawn. If you can take smaller lump sums, check if there is a minimum amount.

Overall, equity release might seem like a good option if you want some extra money and don’t want to move house, but it’s worth bearing in mind that equity release can be more expensive in comparison to an ordinary mortgage. In addition, it’s worth considering any additional changes taking out equity release could make to existing arrangements, with the potential to lose means-tested benefits being key among them. It’s also worth considering involving your family throughout the process, as any equity taken out of the home will impact their inheritance later down the line.

Speak to an independent financial adviser to find out if equity release is right for you, and whether it could help in supporting your financial future.

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Speak to one of our advisors for your free, no obligation quotation and to find out how much tax-free cash you can access to spend as you wish. They will explain how equity release could affect the amount of inheritance you can leave and if your entitlement to means-tested benefits could be affected now or in the future. Equity release may involve a home reversion plan or a lifetime mortgage which is secured against your property. To understand the features and risks ask for your personalised illustration. Equity release requires paying off any existing mortgage. Any money released, plus accrued interest, would be repaid upon death or moving into long-term care. Only if your case completes would a typical fee of 1.95% of the amount released be payable (minimum £1,495). 1 You only continue to own your own home with a lifetime mortgage. *UK’s No1, based on volume of plans, source: Touchstone data Jan 2018 - Sept 2019.

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Steve Howarth's

WEEKENDS AWAY THE WHITE HORSE IN DORKING

The White Horse at Dorking

he Surrey Hills is an area of outstanding natural beauty with lots to see and do… and a perfect base for that short break getaway is the recently refurbished White Horse Hotel in picturesque Dorking.

Owners bespoke hotels spent £4 million on the refurbishment and it shows with tasteful yet quirky boutique facilities and accommodation. All the rooms have top quality fixtures and fittings en-suite showers, complimentary water, security safes and high-speed Wi-Fi.

Just a few miles from the hustle and bustle of London, Dorking is a world away with a relaxed atmosphere, lots of pubs, bars and shops - the perfect place to unwind and explore. We took a weekend break at the historic hotel, which boasts 56 boutique bedrooms alongside a lively restaurant and bar. Housed in an 18th century coaching inn, parts of which date back almost to the Middle Ages, it features unique character and atmospheric charm.

The Dozen Restaurant

And with its concept The Dozen restaurant featuring the finest products and ingredients from the local area the food also leaves guests with a truly lasting impression, thanks to a versatile and locally sourced menu that promotes Dorking’s finest products.

One of the 56 boutique bedrooms After exploring the town centre, including one whole street which is mostly made up of antique shops, we enjoyed a terrific and reasonably priced meal at The Dozen. I tucked into delicious fish and chips while my much better half enjoyed her chicken salad, all washed down with some excellent local beer and a bottle of very acceptable house white. Following a great night’s sleep in our comfortable and spacious room overlooking the busy High Street, we set out to explore what the Dorking area has to offer. As well as some great walks and cycle trails along the North Downs Way there are historic houses like nearby Polesden Lacey Estate and Gardens, Chartwell and Hampton Court Palace or if it is a trip to top up on your favourite tipple that takes your fancy then the likes of Denbies Wine Estate or GreyFriars Vineyards are recommended. There are also local breweries which open to the public – all within a short drive are the Dorking Brewery, Crafty Brewing Company and Pilgrim Brewery and if gin is your thing then why not try visiting Silent Pool Gin, The Gin Kitchen or Elstead Village Distillers. There’s also lots of history here with Dorking being the home of one of the original Pilgrim Fathers families who set off for the New World on the Mayflower almost 400 years ago. The Mullins’ house on West Street still survives and special events are planned next year to mark four centuries since their historic and epic journey.

White Horse interior

The White horse offers bespoke walking, getaway or wine and dine breaks and for the latest offers check out their website at: www.bespokehotels.com/dorking-white-horse Steve Howarth's short break stay at the White Horse Hotel in Dorking cost £154 per night for 2 sharing a comfy double room with dinner and breakfast.

Fully fitted. For specification and enquiries, contact sales@pocketliving.com

We found Dorking and the White Horse to be the perfect place for a relaxing get away from it all short break with lots to see and do and beautiful countryside on your doorstep.

3.5m

Also waiting to be explored are areas of natural beauty in the rolling Surrey Hills including Box Hill, Mayfield Lavender and Leith Hill.

3.5m

Dorking also has a quaint museum for visitors to enjoy and there are historic trails to trod plus local caves to explore.

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ADAPTING 2020 IDEAS TO BRIGHTEN YOUR HOME

so why not choose a colourful front door? Flank it with tall planters, a big quality doormat (well worth the investment) and luxury lighting overhead for a big welcome. De-clutter areas like this as much as possible: stow coats, umbrellas and shoes away so they don’t detract from this welcoming space. Getting rid of boxes, ugly cupboards or just piles of items in any room will really allow you to appreciate your home space and improve it. Ditch dated FURNITURE. If your old sofa in your living room makes you wince every time you look at it, invest in something new – or just new to you. The same for LIGHTING throughout the home. Nothing detracts from anywhere more than poor or old-fashioned lighting. New ones aren’t necessarily expensive but they can bring a room alive!

HOME décor is very much about personal taste but we all like to feel we are keeping up with contemporary trends, don’t we?

These are available online or in the shops and show how various shades complement and enhance each other.

So, our homes tend to be a blend of what we’ve always liked and what is currently available in the shops, stores and online. If something is promoted well as “this year’s trend” then we probably evaluate it.

Before you start any changes – even to buying major new items of furniture – it’s worth taking a holistic look at your home.

In other words, we look at whether it’s right for us and whether or not we feel we can comfortably live with it. However, style is very subjective and it’s always useful to know what is a New Year will bring to the market. For 2020, there are plenty of new ideas to appeal – and if you haven’t the finances for expensive items or makeovers, there are always ways to adapt them to your budget. The good news in 2020 is that there are plenty of styles to choose from, and plenty of shortcuts to take to achieve them. Devising a completely new COLOUR CODE for any room – or for your whole home – can be costly and may be hit and miss if you are simply trying to match up shades. Investing in a colour wheel can help.

Start where a visitor would with the ENTRANCE. This should be a focal point

Opt for CLASSIC interiors that don’t just pander to the latest fads but offer a minimalist palette that gives a high-end feel. Abstracts are going to be major force in the interior design world this season. Work with bold geometrics, hand-drawn sketches and blocks of colour around the home in décor that expresses your personality. If you don’t think that this trend will fit entirely with your decor, try a taster with cushion covers in one room or a sketch you

like in a quirky frame you might pick up in a charity shop.

Accessories need to be tactile, whether in natural wood, weaves or sculptured forms.

Stripped back style will continue from 2019 as a popular trend this year to give a happy, chilled-out space for relaxing and regenerating.

Oriental prints are still popular for walls and echoed in soft furnishings. Keep the colour palettes soft though with that feeling of wellbeing and mindfulness coming through. After all, your home is a place where you want to feel good.

The new neutral colours are warming and calm to offer understated style with unfussy pieces. So take a serious look at that shelf of knick-knacks and decide whether you really want to look at them for another year!

Keep NATURAL LIGHT in mind wherever you are around the home but especially in the living room and kitchen. Look where it falls and see how the sun moves around your home.

There is a shift away from cool grey with warmer neutrals like oatmeal and natural buff and beige to the fore. Natural pigments are also likely to be popular this year.

This will affect how the colours you use are perceived and can help you divide up your space for the various activities you want – watching TV, reading, socialising and relaxing.

Layer up comforting CUSHIONS, throws, knits and faux furs to ensure any space is more inviting and cosy. The Winter is the ideal time for this look as you feel instant warmth here, however cold outside, and then this space is still fashionable for Spring.

Create SOCIABLE SPACES where people can actually talk to each other happily. Two sofas facing each other, for example, offer a sociable space but keep the room scale in mind.You don’t want this to dominate or to look lost in a room.

TEXTURES are big in 2020 – whether that’s a rich velvet, handsome leather or a warm wood. Go for furniture with rounded curves and fluid shapes to ensure a pleasant flow and use them centre-stage as a feature. Or go for a plush statement sofa to anchor your interior design theme around.

There are lots of reasonably priced floorings to be had, especially in natural woods, that provide a complete change for any room. Invest in cosy rugs if you feel this is too cold a look but make sure they are the right size and don’t upset the proportions of the room. Bear in mind though, that wood’s warm tones can easily provide an impressive backdrop for furniture and fittings. CURTAINS can bring a fresh design feel to any room but you may feel in need of a change to BLINDS. The latest looks are created to complement the contemporary home interior styles and well worth investigating. Updating INTERIOR DOORS is a simple way to give a modern look to the whole property. Dated BATHROOM accessories do the same here and don’t cost a fortune; new soft white towels and a few imaginative accessories will brighten the look here. The same applies to BEDROOMS. The latest calming colours and rich textures work well in here and promote deep sleep. So get rid of any clashing colours, buy a dimmer switch and prepare to enjoy your home for another year.

Have statement walls in contrasting colours to more neutral areas to make them stand out. And take a proper look at all your flooring. Does it enhance the room? Is it in a matching style or completely at odds? Does it offer flow from one room to the next? Is it comfortable?

23 years ago David designed and installed our new kitchen Now we have been back for a refurbishment “The kitchen that David fitted 23 years ago is still in good condition,” says Mike & Tracy Mason of Wroughton

Over 40 Years Experience

BEFORE

“We just wanted a new look, so David suggested replacing the doors. The existing kitchen had non standard doors, but we can supply made to measure replacement doors and door fronts. “It has made the room look brighter and refreshed,” says Tracy. “David`s son Oliver did the fitting, he was still at school when the original kitchen was fitted. I would recommend nuimage to anyone, they are a friendly family business who care about their customers.” Nuimage don’t employ commissioned salespeople like a lot of their competitors, there is no pressure just help and advice.

Tracy with David Dukes from nuimage

AFTER

Book your free no obligation visit today, call us on:

01793 644600 www.nuimagekbb.co.uk

REPLACEMENT DOORS

KITCHENS

BATHROOMS

BEDROOMS 17

HOME

50 PLUS MAGAZINE

INCREASE YOUR LIVING SPACE AND ADD VALUE TO YOUR HOME you could install a conservatory. You’ve acquired a new room, full of light. A fabulous place to have your morning coffee and enjoy views into the garden.You can also reflect on the cheering thought that you’ve added around 15% to the value of your house. The Conservatory Centre based at Cheney Manor have a large showroom displaying a wide range of styles and finishes. They provide a full conservatory package including tiling and furniture all under one roof, using a professional surveying service. The whole project from initial design to completion usually takes only six to eight weeks.

ne of the fundamental requirements and first requests made by people contemplating a conservatory or glazed garden room is that they wish to use it THROUGH THE YEAR, not solely a glazed room for grey Summer days. Those familiar with well designed glazed sun rooms, may suggest they are not really suitable for that purpose. However, the many thousands of people who have such buildings and find them to be by far their most popular and well used room, thoroughly wish to disagree! Many enjoyable evenings are spent well into the early hours, comfortably enjoying the unique opportunity of dining and being entertained in a conservatory. The temperature outside was well below freezing and often snow on the ground. Heating was of course required - but not much more than will be required within your home if the conservatory is designed and constructed to a suitably high specification. If you’re pushed for space, and have considered moving to a larger home, think again. For a fraction of the cost of moving,

They offer the best quality roofs, frames and smart glass, available on the market at the best possible value. They also supply the best in lightweight tiled roofs, ensuring that you get great value while helping to keep your energy bills low. For NU-Look tiled roof conservatories with vaulted ceilings, call The Conservatory Centre in Swindon. They

guarantee a comprehensive service and real value for money, every time. COMPREHENSIVE SERVICE If you’re looking for a tiled roof for your conservatory, that is in-keeping with the roof of your home, then consider a NULook tiled roofing system. They build each system from scratch because no two conservatories are exactly the same, giving you peace of mind that the finished system will be perfect for your conservatory. 10 YEAR GUARANTEE The Nu-Look system has substantial heat retention and reflection benefits over other conservatory roof products, which will not only transform the comfort of your conservatory, but will also save you money on your energy bills. Incredibly, they achieve U-values of 0.18 which is the Building Regulations requirement for an extension. And provide a full 10 year insurance-backed guarantee on all installations. They will remove your old conservatory roof, and their specialists in joinery will construct your roof in the same way as the roof on your house.

TRANSFORMATION By replacing your conservatory roof with a new light weight solid roof, it will transform the outside of your conservatory, but they will also transform the inside, their highly skilled plasterers will finish the inside to a high standard, they can also install stunning energy saving lighting or a lighting pelmet which will make a wonderful focal point to your new room. The ceilings of our NuLook Conservatories are vaulted, giving you even more space. TAPCO SLATE The Tapco Slate highlights the handsome character of slate, at the same time enhancing roof performance through innovative design, the slates are created with mould cases from real slate to capture genuine peaks, plateau and curves. The colour through design and UV stabilisation ensures “stay-true” richness of colour. The most popular colours are Pewter Grey,

Chestnut Brown, Brick Red, Stone Black, Plum, and Red Rock, but alternative slate colours are available. ROOF INSULATION The Conservatory Centre install 3 layers of insulation, Alumaflex multifoil insulation is installed between the membrane and the timber rafters, they then fit 40mm insulation boards between the rafters, this is then covered with 27mm insulated plasterboard, which is then skimmed to provide a smooth perfect finish to your vaulted ceiling.

The Conservatory Centre attain Which? Trusted Trader status

The Conservatory Centre based at Manor Garden Centre at Cheney Manor was recently endorsed as a prestigious WHICH? Trusted Trader. Much like the successful WHICH? Best Buy Scheme, WHICH? Trusted Traders can use the icon. Each Trader is put through a rigorous assessment meaning that consumers get the best service and WHICH? Trusted Traders get the business and recognition they deserve. The Conservatory Centre is one of a very exclusive section of their industry to achieve this award.

Visit the Conservatory Centre’s Large Showroom at Cheney Manor

One of the many testimonials from The Conservatory Centre, Swindon. “Both Joanne and I had to write and let you know how happy we are with our new conservatory and are very pleased we decided to go with The Conservatory Centre. Martin and Joanne Buck.

Buy a conservatory and get an eco-friendly room with up to * £2,000 Free...

2019 PRICES HELD

... towards any combination of: ✦ Cane - Rattan - Laminated Wood Furniture ✦ Tiled Floors ✦ Ceiling Fans ✦ Electric Heaters ✦ Lights Conservatory Furniture Collection Comprehensive range of Cane, Rattan, Laminated Wood combinations. Over 300 fabrics. FREE LOCAL DELIVERY AND FREE SCATTER CUSHIONS

SALE

WITH FREE SCATTER CUSHIONS

Experts in home improvement. With over 50 years experience we can project manage your new conservatory from start to finish, creating an additional room - tailor made to suit your needs all year round. Market Leaders in conservatory technology *Terms & conditions apply

The

Conservatory Centre

NOT ALL TILED ROOFS ARE THE SAME

Show site at: Manor Garden Centre Cheney Manor, Swindon SN2 2QJ.

Telephone 01793 526691 - OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK www.conservatorycentres.co.uk email: conservatoryworld@btconnect.com

GARDEN | 50 PLUS MAGAZINE

Create a window in a boundary wall

NEW YEAR, NEW LOOK Gardening writer Julia Heaton looks at ways of making the most of your outdoor space in 2020. It’s a new year. Time to start afresh in the garden and turn those ideas you’ve been dreaming about over winter into reality. Whether a major transformation or simply disguising an ugly drain cover, making plans and acting on them is exciting and rejuvenating for

you and your outdoor space. One of the best moves I made last year was to give my wooden panel fencing a facelift. The dark protective coating had done its job but really made the garden feel much smaller and enclosed than it needed to be. Admittedly the lighter paint finish I chose required a few coats to mask what was underneath but the difference it made justified all the hard work – not only has the fencing receded from view but the paler backdrop really sets off plants growing against it.

Quality TGB garden buildings for any situation Bespoke sizes available Base laying & installation available

SALE

NOW ON

Stockists of

Manor Garden Centre Cheney Manor, Swindon SN2 2QJ. Conservatory Telephone 01793 526691 - OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK Centre www.conservatorycentres.co.uk

The

ColourFence A low maintenance alternative Traditionally wooden fence panels, if they are not treated regularly rot and therefore require yearly maintenance. A long term option is using ColourFence, who's product requires no painting or repairs and is guaranteed for 25 years* meaning that the fencing part of your garden is totally maintenance free. *see website for details. Here’s a few more ideas to give your outdoor space a lift in 2020. Borrow the view Is there a view or attractive feature beyond your garden that you could focus the eye on to make your plot feel bigger than it actually is? It could be a church spire, a group of trees or perhaps some hills on the horizon. Trimming an opening in a hedge will frame the scene and draw the eye to what lies outside as will creating a ‘window’ in a boundary wall. Some rustic screening or trellising with an archway in it can have the same effect. Alternatively, use a simple pair of trees in pots or two attractive tall urns either side of a feature to direct attention to it. Grow wild Many modern flowers offer wildlife little or no nectar or have such large and intricate flower heads that insects can’t find a way inside to reach it. Provide a helping hand by planting a native wildflower patch that will offer food, in the form of pollen, seeds, fruits, nectar and foliage to feast on, as well as shelter and nesting sites. Go for plants like common knapweed (Centaurea nigra) and oxeye daisy (Leucanthemum vulgar). Field scabious (Knautia arvensis) has lovely lilac flowers, shaped like a pin cushion on tall upright stems and flowers between July and September. For scent try chamomile with its apple-like aroma in June to August. Wildflowers are not only easy to grow but fairly pest resistant too.

Take it easy

Devise a plan Grab a diary or calendar in the new year sales or programme your phone to remind you about jobs, like pruning and sowing, that need to be done at a particular time. If it’s major design work you’re considering then don’t underestimate the importance of planning before digging. It’ll save time and stop you from making costly mistakes

Take it easy Having a gorgeous garden doesn’t mean you have to be a slave to it. Keep things low maintenance by growing plants that are reliable, easy to care for and offer a long flowering season. Evergreen shrubs like viburnums, mahonia and camellias have attractive flowers, provide year-round interest and need little pruning. And don’t forget bulbs will come back year after year. In spring snowdrops (galanthus) look wonderful planted in drifts under trees or brightening up bare space between border shrubs. Crocuses inject much needed colour at this time too. Choose perennials like Geranium ‘Rozanne’ that just need deadheading to encourage more flowers and go for trees like acers that will add height but need little to no pruning. when you’re tempted to buy at the garden centre. Knowledge is key so get to know everything about your plot from soil type to which areas are in sun and shade. Are there large trees that will affect plant growth or structures, like a bin store, that you’d like to disguise. Know what you want to use your garden for and how much time and resources you can devote to it.

Get the seasons covered Whatever the season you can never predict the weather. A veranda or gazebo will take all the guesswork out of the equation, leaving you free to entertain outdoors whenever you want or just relax and enjoy the garden year-round under cover from rain or full-on sun.

Will your Fence weather the next storm? With Winter upon us - it’s the perfect time to start preparing your garden. At the point the fence blows down, rots and falls it becomes a headache and an urgent problem to ﬁx in order to keep your garden secure.

BEFORE

AFTER

“Brilliant product and excellent staff. My whole garden is now beautifully furnished with this metal garden fencing! No more painting for me and no more worries about windy weather. So pleased!” Anne Brown, Cornwall

Many customers install ColourFence for the peace of mind that storms won’t leave the bill involved in getting urgent repairs. ColourFence stands up to British weather, resisting rotting in the rain, warping in the sun, and fallen panels when the wind blows. Available in 4 different colours, there is no need to spend hours painting the fence for the length of the 25-year guarantee.* Don’t wait for your fence to blow down, install our revolutionary metal garden fencing today. Call now for a free, no-obligation quote. Mix & match 4 colours

GREEN

BLUE

BROWN

CREAM

* Terms and conditions apply, hose down several times per year.

Don’t wait for your fence to fall this Winter, call now for a FREE no-obligation quote on

01793 261261 colourfence.co.uk 21

GARDEN | 50 PLUS MAGAZINE

Field scabious is a magnet for bees

be discovered, is effective too as it provides an element of surprise. Love your lawn If you don’t have time to do anything else then the quickest and best way of giving your garden a lift is to make sure lawn edges are looking neat and tidy. It’s amazing what a difference a trim can make. Well-defined edges against paving show you care and look really stylish. Do it at least once every other cut using long-handled edging shears or a special half-moon edging iron. A powered nylon-line trimmer will make quick work of a larger lawn.

Add water Tap into the relaxing sound of running water. These days we’re spoilt for choice when it comes to designs and size of water features. From traditional ponds with built in electrics for larger plots to solar fountains for smaller ones, water adds an extra dimension to your outdoor space and also encourages wildlife. Make it a focal point or use it in amongst planting or a quiet corner for added interest. A still water feature, hidden from view ready to

Manor Garden Centre Cheney Manor, Swindon SN2 2QJ UP TO HALF PRICE Clearance sale of display suites

LARGE SELECTION ON DISPLAY Free local delivery l Open 7 days a week

Tel: 01793 526691

www.conservatorycentres.co.uk 22

Think outside the border Don’t confine plants to borders and patio pots. Create extra space for them to grow in by lifting slabs and planting up the gaps with tough rock plants, low growing herbs and succulents. If you’ve got a large expanse of patio that you want to keep for entertaining, it’s a simple way of softening the look of it and makes the space much more inviting and individual. In the same way see a broken slab as a planting opportunity rather than an eyesore. Choose drought tolerant types that are happy with limited root space like Thymus serpyllum, houseleeks and aubretia. Less hard landscaping is good for the environment too. Create a stylish office Exchange the rush of your daily commute for a stroll across the lawn. Having a dedicated space for work or hobbies, where you can spread out rather than be confined to a corner of a spare room, is life-changing. And the beauty is that you get to look out onto your garden every day. Make it an inviting space year-round by choosing designs made from energy efficient structured insulated panels, which are also tougher than timber-framed buildings. Look for a professional firm working with these materials who can provide a free survey and advice on any planning restrictions. Make your garden glow Experiment with mains powered lighting, solar and batteryoperated lights to emphasise the best features of your garden and turn it into a useable space after dark. When angled correctly spotlights will help show off a specimen plant or sculpture or the beautiful peeling bark of trees like that of Tibetan cherry. At the other end of the spectrum the portability of battery-operated lanterns makes them ideal for special events – use them to guide party guests along a garden path or to make an alfresco dining table glow. Going for one colour type – either a warm or cool white – will help unify the scheme.

The five year Guaranteed Investment Bond Our current investment bond (Series 4) pays 2.25% annual interest, equating to 11.76%, if held for 5 years* Apply today by phone quoting ‘GIB 2020’ and receive a free entry into our prize draw for a weekend away for two** For more information and to apply, please call 0161

214 4628.

*Early withdrawals will not receive the full 2.25% per annum rate. T&Cs apply

For full terms and conditions visit: www.unitymutual.co.uk/savings-for-you/investment-bond/ **www.unitymutual.co.uk/competition Unity Mutual is a trading name of The Independent Order of Odd Fellows Manchester Unity Friendly Society Limited, Incorporated and registered in England and Wales No. 223F. Registered Office Oddfellows House, 184-186 Deansgate, Manchester M3 3WB. Authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority, registration No. 109995.

GIB2020

LEISURE

50 PLUS MAGAZINE

WHAT'S ON A GUIDE TO WHAT'S HAPPENING IN YOUR REGION ... CURIOUS ABOUT WINDSOR SUMMER HOURS UNTIL 31 OCT 2020 9AM TO 6PM

Have fun discovering Windsor with two quirky heritage walks with an optional treasure hunt. Are you curious about Windsor? Looking for an unusual and quirky activity which gets you out in the fresh air whatever the weather? Take one of our self-guided walks with a treasure hunt theme – looping around the betterknown sights, as well as some of the more unusual and quirky ones, which combined make Windsor a charming place to explore! Resident or just visiting, you'll see things you've never noticed before. As well as the two walks, you'll get detailed directions, maps, clues (with answers in the back!), and interesting snippets about the history of Windsor and the people that have shaped it.

WINDSOR GREAT PARK

With over 4,800 acres for you to explore at Windsor Great Park you are never short of something to do if escape and fun is high on your list.With a Royal history spanning over 1,000 years, you can encounter historical monuments, ancient forests and stunning horticultural displays, as well as rare wildlife, plants and fungi. The Crown Estate, The Crown Estate Office, Windsor Great Park, Windsor SL4 2HT

4 APRIL - 5 APRIL RHS SPRING ORNAMENTAL COMPETITION

Celebrate spring at the RHS Spring Ornamental Competition returning to The Savill Garden. Competitors from all over the South will be displaying Camellias, Rhododendrons and spring flowering plants in the hope of winning prestigious prizes in the Royal Horticultural Society's competitions. Come and learn more about these fantastic plants and quiz the experts from the Camellia Society and the RHS Rhododendron, Camellia and Magnolia Group. Adult Ticket Price: £12 per adult. £6 per child. Includes all-day entry to The Savill Garden. The Savill Garden Wick Ln, Englefield Green, Egham TW20 0UJ 01753 860222

Buy in booklet or instant download format from https://www.curiousabout.co.uk/ windsor.html and explore in your own time. One booklet is enough for four people of all ages to enjoy.

HOLME GRANGE CRAFT VILLAGE

Holme Grange is located in beautiful countryside – and yet is within one mile of Wokingham Town Centre. We offer a wide range of goods and services and a fabulous tea shop in a historic barn opening onto a beautiful enclosed courtyard where you can sit and relax while you enjoy your refreshment. We are close to other leisure facilities including fruit picking in season, fishing, walking, cycling trails and good local pubs. The village has extensive and free car parking and is open all year except from 25th December to 1st January inclusive. Some of the shops may open between Christmas and New Year and others close one day a week and on Bank Holidays, so please contact them to check before visiting. Holme Grange Craft Village Heathlands Road, Wokingham RG40 3AW

Windsor Town Centre, Starts: Windsor Castle, Peascod Street, Windsor SL4 1LN Tel: 0115 950 2151

SATURDAY 4TH APRIL 2020 SWINDON JAZZ & SOUL FESTIVAL TIME: 12:00

Over 12 hours of live music across two performance areas, bars, stalls, and swing dancing - an event for Over 70 performers and the days event headlined by RAY GELATO & THE GIANTS! Advance Tickets £12 (under 16’s free) online, from the venue or at The Royal Oak’s #JazzOnTheCorner Tuesday nights from 8pm. Christ Church, Old Town, Swindon

2ND MAY 2020 - 3RD MAY 2020 MAPLEDURHAM FOOD FESTIVAL

14TH – 16TH AUGUST 2020 WHITE HORSE FOR FESTIVAL

A tantalising line up of chefs, artisan producers, free interactive features and children’s entertainment in store for the whole family.

White Horse Folk Festival website takes place in Grove, near Wantage in rural Oxfordshire. It is a small, intimate, relaxed festival for folk fans who enjoy making new friends, and has an emphasis on creating an inclusive atmosphere where everyone can play a part in the weekend’s events.

10am - 5pm Each Day - Free Car Parking available onsite

1ST MAY – 2 MAY 2020 THE GIN TO MY TONIC FESTIVAL SWINDON 2020

Friday 1st May 2020 6.30pm - 11.00pm Saturday 2nd May 2020 12.00pm - 4.30pm Saturday 2nd May 2020 6.30pm - 11.00pm Your ticket will provide you with guaranteed entry to the session of your choosing, along with a beautiful 'Gin To My Tonic' Copa balloon glass, tote bag, pen, and a Gin Explorer guide detailing the range of gins available and brief tasting notes. The Gin To My Tonic Festival brings together over 100 different gins from across the UK and beyond. Each gin stocked behind the bars has been selected based on outstanding craftsmanship, delightful flavour and the most enjoyable drinking experiences. The festival is here to take you on a journey of gin discovery! What's more, we believe gin should be served correctly which is why we offer 35ml serves (as opposed to the average 25ml) as standard! The Gin To My Tonic Festival will take place at STEAM Museum, a beautifully restored Grade II listed railway building in the heart of the former Swindon railway works. We pride ourselves on our relationship with distilleries, and are therefore delighted to be able to bring together a range of established and emerging craft gins in person to enrich your gin experience.You'll also be able to pick their brains and discover even more about everybody's favourite juniper-based tipple. The bar will operate on a token system with each token costing £5 for a 35ml measure of gin, garnish and an appropriate mixer. Cash and card payments are accepted. There will also be live music to get you into the party spirit and a few gin 'surprises' along the way! Love gin? Then join us for something totally unique! TICKETS £14.50 PER PERSON Museum of the Great Western Railway Fire Fly Ave, Swindon SN2 2EY Book your tickets online at www.thegintomytonic.com

Admission Prices In Advance: (Available until 9pm 1st May 2020) Adults: £6.00. Seniors: £5.00 Children (Age 6 - 16 years): £1.00 www.mapledurhamfestival.co.uk Mapledurham House, Mapledurham, Near Reading RG4 7TR

FRIDAY 22ND MAY 2020 FOR 4 DAY(S) CHIPPENHAM FOLK FESTIVAL

A festival which still retains its 'village' atmosphere, providing three and a half days packed with song, dance, workshops and dance displays. Described as "one of the friendliest festivals" with "a superb town setting" and "a great line up", we think it really is the best way to start your summers folk activities. Chippenham, Wiltshire TICKETS: www.chippfolk.co.uk

SATURDAY 6 JUNE 2020 TO SATURDAY 13 JUNE 2020 SWINDON'S OLD TOWN FESTIVAL

Old Town Festival Swindon is back after an extremely popular event last year! The festival is by the people of Swindon, for the people of Swindon and offers many performance opportunities from the very young to those in their golden years. Join Old Town Festival this year for a week of events in June, starting with the Old Town Festival Parade on the 6th of June. During the week, you can enjoy various heritage events at Christ Church and at the Swindon Museum and Art Gallery before finishing the week at the Bowl for an evening of local pop and rock bands. The Old Town Festival 2020 will be a themed VE Day celebration marking 75 years since the end of World War Two. The Old Town Festival isn’t just about bringing the community together and showcasing the very best of what our area has to offer, but it also raises funds for its Charity of theYear Old Town, Swindon. Further information, visit www.theoldtownfestival.co.uk

The festival guests host workshops, miniconcerts or give special presentations as well as performing in the Saturday evening concert in the Village Hall.They are encouraged to be part of the general goings-on over the weekend, and there is plenty of opportunity for everyone to sing, play or tell a story with singarounds (sometimes set around a particular theme) and music sessions every day. It has been described as just like a weekendlong party - and that’s just how we like it!! For tickets and pricing visit www.whitehorsefolkfestival.co.uk Grove Rugby Club, Recreation Lane, Grove OX12 0AA For more information: E-mail: WhiteHorseFolkFestival@gmail.com Mobile: 07510-353066

21 JUNE 2020 - 11.00AM TO 1PM BUBBLE RUSH

The UK's foamiest fun run is coming to Reading for second incredi-bubble year! Bubble Rush is a fun run with a difference – lots of coloured bubbles!You'll start in a sea of foam and then take on four different coloured bubble stations, where foam canons create a 4ft deep bubble bath! Run, walk, toddle or dance your way around the family-friendly course. Don't worry if you're not a runner – the event isn't timed so you're not racing against anyone and there's no time limit.The course is suitable for pushchairs and wheelchairs, and there's no minimum or maximum age limit, so everyone can take part. The event isn't timed, so you're not racing against anyone and there's no time limit. Bubble Rush - Reading is raising funds for Marie Curie Your ticket price only covers the cost of putting on the event. However all proceeds from fundraising, individual and corporate sponsorship and event day activities including bag drop and merchandise sales will go directly to the charity. Location: Prospect Park Liebenrood Road READING RG30 2ND Tel: 01270 524075

MOTORING

50 PLUS MAGAZINE

STEVE HOWARTH'S TEST DRIVE

MINI AT 60 LIKE many other people of my generation my first car was a battered old Mini… it was falling apart and struggled to hit 50mph but I loved it. Fast forward to 2019 and the mighty Mini has hit a big milestone because it was in 1959 that Sir Alex Issigonis unveiled his revolutionary little car to the world. Yes the Mini is 60 and to mark the occasion the company released a commemorative edition of their big selling motor, which we got our hands on for a week. Meet the Mini Cooper S 60 Years Edition, of which 500 have been be made exclusively for UK customers. At a fiver under 30 grand it’s not cheap – but is exclusively available with an eight-speed automatic gearbox and in British Racing Green special edition paintwork with brown leather interior. Many other options boxes have been ticked as standard bringing a touchscreen sat nav, CarPlay, reversing camera and sporty spotlights up front. The two-litre turbo petrol Cooper S engine gives 192bhp and a 6.7sec 0-62mph time 26

with a 145mph top speed so it is brisk enough to back up those sporty looks and is accompanied by a tastefully noisy exhaust note. Despite that impressive performance this is still a Mini so around 43 mpg is achievable. The seats are upholstered with exclusive MINI Yours Leather Lounge in Dark Cacao, complemented by contrasting green seat stitching and piping. The bonnet is highlighted with unique black bonnet stripes, into which is integrated the special edition 60 Years Logo. Customisable ambient lighting, a wireless smartphone charger and parking sensors are fitted too and as another exclusive addition to this model you get two-tone 17in alloys as standard.

The car also has automatic LED headlights and rear lights and Mini's Navigation Plus pack is included with an 8.8in touchscreen and sat-nav, Apple CarPlay (but no Android Auto), Bluetooth and wireless charging as standard. It's controlled by touch or a rotary dial between the seats and you also get a rear view camera, power folding door mirrors plus front and rear parking sensors as part of the Comfort Plus Pack. Build quality certainly lives up to Mini's 'premium' image but with only two somewhat cramped rear seats and three doors it's not a car for buyers who require practicality, especially as the boot is more compact than those of cheaper small car rivals. On the road however the Mini is great at nipping in and out of modern traffic around town with a usefully tight turning circle and is just as at home on the fast lane of the motorway during a long journey. Also, if you fold the rear seats down flat, there is a useful luggage space available. The standard Mini Cooper S costs £22,285 and once you've added the Navigation Plus pack (£2000), Comfort Plus pack (£1600) and that metallic paint as well as a leather interior then the £29,995 price tag does not seem too big a step up saying you also get a degree of exclusivity as this is a limited edition for Mini's birthday celebrations. I had forgotten just how much fun Minis – even the modern ones – can be with go kart like handling that gives lots of smiles per mile... so much so that I am now adding a modern-ish Cooper to the fleet at Howarth Towers. More details at www.mini.co.uk

With 210mm of ground clearance, an approach angle of 37deg and breakover and departure angles that better the Jeep Wrangler the Jimney can hold its own off road against the best. Inside the latest version is a great improvement over the 20-year-old interior of its predecessor but is still not what you could call luxurious although the controls have all been clearly designed for ease of use when traversing the rough stuff with chunky switches for things like traction and hill descent control easy to reach from the driver’s seat. In the back the rear seats may be a bit of a squeeze for larger adutls and when up leave very little luggage space but than this is not really a car designed for doing the weekly shop.

SUZUKI JIMNY GREAT off-roaders have to big rough-tough vehicles… right? Well not always. Step forward the latest Suzuki Jimny, a mountain goat of a car which can go almost anywhere despite it only being about the size of a city car. And this small 4x4 has a big selling point… it is one of the cheapest ways to true off road performance with prices starting from just £15,210. Suzuki have radically upgraded the ‘light jeep’ they first created in the 1970s – the first major overhaul of the model for almost 20 years - for this fourth generation version which has the look of a mini Mercedes G-Wagon or even shades of the upcoming and much awaited Defender. It is a bit of a retro look but works really well for the SUV that has sold millions around the world in the past four decades But it is not all about looks – this is a working vehicle and, like the Jimny’s that went before it, this one really delivers down in the dirt. A bit wider and taller but shorter than before, the new car is just a little longer that a VW Up but has that all important elevated driving position.

A week with the Jimny proved that to be true as it drew lots of attention both on and off road. Our car had the 100bhp 1.5-litre petrol unit (up from 1.3 litres) with a five-speed manual gearbox (a four-speed automatic is available). While the 0-62mph time is around 12sec and top speed 90mph, as you would expect the fuel bills are also small by SUV standards – up to a shade over 41mpg. Off road the Jimny still surprises, it retains a separate ladder chassis beneath a steel body – the former half as stiff again as before – with three-link, rigid-axle suspension at both ends with extra cross-members to improve durability and further increase stiffness. There is selectable low-range transfer gearing - its driveline mechanically switchable between ‘2WD-high’, ‘4WDhigh’ and ‘4WD-low’ modes - what you don’t get is a set of mechanically locking differentials but an electronic traction control system that automatically brakes a slipping wheel to redistribute torque.

With the rear seats down there is a useful amount of space (up to 830 litres). Out test Jimny SZ5 has the same 7.0in touchscreen infotainment system as in the Swift supermini, which includes features such as Bluetooth connectivity, satellite navigation, DAB radio and voice control. . The Jimny’s engine has to rev quite hard at motorway cruising speeds but it is a low speeds off road where the car really comes into its own. The lack of weight, tight turning circle and small footprint inspire confidence over tricky terrain that would catch heavier 4x4s out but the 320mm wading depth could be a drawback. The electronic stability control seems to need to grab quite harshly at the brakes at times to keep the body in line and shiny side up - but, since it’s effective, you’ll be glad of it if you So it is a hugely competent proper dualpurpose 4x4 with live axles, low-range gearing and rough-stuff readiness capable of going where some more expensive SUVs would fear to tread and all for a little more than £15,000 – which puts the Jimny in a league of its own. For more info see www.suzuki.co.uk

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Gennaro Contaldo

Italian chef and restauranteur known for his association with his British protégé Jamie Oliver and his partnership with fellow Italian chef Antonio Carluccio and their television series 'Two Greedy Italians'. Here we present recipes from his new book 'Gennaro's Pasta Perfecto'.

RIGATONI ALLA ZOZZANA This robust Roman recipe takes its name from zozza, which in Roman dialect usually means ‘dirty’, but in the case of this recipe means ‘rich’, because all sorts of ingredients are added. It’s a cross between the other classic Roman pasta dishes cacio e pepe and carbonara, and uses up all the typical leftovers, making it a substantial but extremely delicious dish. Serves 4 300 g/101/2oz rigatoni pasta 2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil 1 onion, finely chopped 100 g/31/2oz pancetta, finely chopped 100 g/31/2oz Italian pork sausage, skinned and crumbled 1 egg yolk 30 g/1oz/scant 1/2 cup grated Pecorino, plus extra for sprinkling 2 tbsp single (light) cream sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

Bring a large saucepan of salted water to the boil and cook the pasta until al dente (check the instructions on your packet for cooking time). Heat the olive oil in a frying pan (skillet) set over a medium heat, add the onion and sweat for 1 minute. Add the pancetta and sausage meat, and sauté for 10 minutes. Meanwhile, whisk together the egg yolk, grated Pecorino and cream, along with some salt and pepper, in a small bowl. Drain the cooked pasta, add to the pan with the pancetta and sausage meat, mix well and cook for 1 minute over a high heat. Remove from the heat and mix in the creamy mixture. Serve immediately, with an extra sprinkling of black pepper and Pecorino.

PEPERONI RIPIENI DI PASTA Filled vegetables are very common throughout Italy and started off as a cucina povera dish to make the veggies go further, adding whatever ingredients were available. Commonly, (bell) peppers are baked and then filled and the addition of pasta makes this dish a very different and enjoyable way to eat our favourite Italian staple.When you first roast the peppers, make sure you do not overcook them – they need to be sturdy to be filled with the pasta mixture. I have used red and yellow peppers as they are sweeter, but you could use the green variety too, if you prefer.

Serves 4-6 6 mixed (bell) peppers (yellow and red) 300 g/10 ½oz sedanini pasta or pennette (small penne) 2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil, plus extra for drizzling 1 garlic clove, left whole and squashed 4 anchovy fillets 20 black pitted olives 2 tsp capers 300 g/101/2oz baby plum tomatoes, halved 10 basil leaves, roughly torn 125 g/41/2oz mozzarella, cut into small cubes sea salt Preheat the oven to 200oC fan/220oC/425oF/gas mark 7.

Slice the tops off the peppers and scoop out the seeds inside with a spoon. Replace the tops on the peppers to resemble little hats. Put them into a baking dish or onto a baking sheet and roast for about 15 minutes, until the peppers soften but are not mushy. Meanwhile, bring a large saucepan of salted water to the boil and cook the pasta until al dente (check the instructions on your packet for cooking time). Heat the olive oil in a saucepan over a medium heat, add the garlic and anchovies, and sweat until the anchovies have melted. Add the olives, capers, tomatoes and basil, cover with a lid and cook over a medium–low heat for about 7 minutes, until the tomatoes are soft. Discard the garlic. Drain the pasta and add to the tomato sauce, mixing well to combine over a high heat for a minute or so. Remove from the heat, then stir in the mozzarella. Reduce the oven temperature to 180oC fan/200oC/400oF/gas mark 6. Drizzle a little extra-virgin olive oil into a baking dish. Place the peppers in the dish and fill them with the pasta mixture, covering them with their little ‘hats’. Drizzle with a little more olive oil and bake in the oven for 20 minutes. Remove from the oven, leave to rest for a couple of minutes, then serve.

LINGUINE AL CARTOCCIO CON GAMBERI E PESTO This light pasta, steam-baked with king prawns (jumbo shrimp), will surely delight your guests as they open their parcels of delicious goodness! Steam-baking is not only a feast for the eyes, but a lovely light way of cooking that locks all the flavours in. I have used ready-foiled parchment paper, but if you can’t find it, use a sheet of parchment paper inside a sheet of foil and make sure you wrap tightly so that none of the juices can escape during cooking.

Serves 4 150 ml/5 fl oz/ 2/3 cup Basil Pesto extra-virgin olive oil, for drizzling 8 raw king prawns (jumbo shrimp), cleaned

Bring a large saucepan of salted water to the boil and cook the pasta for half of the cooking time stated on the packet. Drain well, mix with half of the pesto sauce and set aside.

125 ml/4 floz/½ cup white wine

Spread 4 x foil-lined parchment paper sheets out on your work surface (foil-side down) and drizzle each with a little extra-virgin olive oil. Divide the linguine into 4 portions and place a portion on each sheet, top each with 2 king prawns, followed by the remaining pesto and a little salt and pepper.

4 slices of lemon and a few basil leaves, to garnish Preheat the oven to 180oC fan/200oC/400oF/gas mark 6.

sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

Drizzle white wine over each portion and a little extra-virgin olive oil. Wrap the parcels well, place on a baking sheet and bake in the hot oven for 12 minutes. Remove from the oven and serve each parcel on an individual plate with a slice of lemon each and a few basil leaves to garnish.

Extracted from Gennaro’s Pasta Perfecto by Gennaro Contaldo. Photography Adriana Contaldo.

HEALTH

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research showing that the more exercise you do, the less likely you are to be searching for that word. Benefits of strength training The benefits of strength training are many-fold for all ages. Strength training fights the effects of aging by strengthening muscles and increasing muscle mass. This is important because you lose between five to seven pounds of muscle every decade after the age of 20, and strength training is the only way to counteract that loss.

Exercising in older age For many people, exercise and nutrition are common for a New Year’s resolution topic. People are full of good intentions and flood into the gym and get started on a new and healthier lifestyles. It is something important to work towards and some of these people are successful in working towards a healthier lifestyle, but some lose sight of their good intentions and fall back into old habits and unhealthy patterns. If a healthier New Year is what you want, keep that desire strong throughout the year. New habits are not born overnight; you have to keep working at them. According to new research, just a minute of exercise a week can drastically improve the general function of over 65s. So, doing something - even if it’s just for a minute really is better than nothing. Staying active helps to improve physical ability, and make daily tasks, such as getting up to answer the door - that bit easier. The way people talk about exercise, you’d think it could cure anything at all; it’s been proven to reverse physical decline, protect your brain, improve your mood, and keep your heart healthy. Even if you have never exercised before, it’s never too late to begin… In fact, research suggests taking 32

up exercise after retirement can help to prolong your life , increasing your chances of living until 90. It’s even been called a miracle drug. The NHS recommends 150 minutes of exercise per week at a moderate intensity (or 75 minutes at a vigorous intensity). Surprisingly however, only 2% of older adults in Britain achieve this. A mixture of cardio and strengthbuilding exercise is recommended. Benefits of cardiovascular exercise Cardio raises the heart rate, getting blood pumping around your body and the sweat flowing. Its role in maintaining and improving heart health could hold the key to preventing cognitive impairment as we grow older. Some parts of the heart can stiffen with age, with the left chamber more susceptible to age-related damage. This is crucial, as the left ventricle is responsible for pumping freshly oxygenated blood around the body, including to the brain. In turn, the parts of the brain that are susceptible to low blood flow affect memory and are also affected by Alzheimer’s. So a healthy heart really does mean a healthy mind. Aerobic fitness can even improve your ability to communicate, with recent

Increasing functional fitness helps with everyday tasks, improving balance and core stability, making you less susceptible to a fall. It can help reduce symptoms of osteoporosis and lower back pain, common in older people. It can also improve the quality of your sleep, posture and make you feel more in tune with your body. Exercise ideas for getting started l Swimming. This is a fantastic option as it’s non-weight bearing so it takes the pressure off your joints, while still offering the benefits of a cardio workout. It can be a group activity too, and meeting up with others to exercise is sure to brighten your mood further. If you’re feeling brave, you could even try cold water swimming, which this 76 year old swimmer has said makes her heart beat “like a hammer” and she hasn’t been ill in 25 years Find exercise in every day. Even tasks like carrying home the shopping, gardening and gentle housework benefit the body as they create movement. Activity like this also replaces (or breaks up) sedentary time, which has been claimed to be as dangerous for our health as smoking.

Yoga or Pilates. These can be really beneficial for flexibility, core stability and strength, which are key to maintaining independence and preventing falls. They can also be done in a class with others or, if you prefer there are plenty of online YouTube channels where you can bring the workout into your living room Exercise for balance. Regular exercise such as Thai Chi and walking can reduce the risk of a fall by 12% in people over 65.

ELECTRIC BIKES ARE NOT JUST FOR HOLIDAYS Swindon’s largest selection of electric bicycles. NEW LARGE WORKSHOP OPENING SOON

Cycling Cycling is fun - and it’s a great family activity. But by making cycling part of your - routine, you will be doing some great things for your body and giving you a sense of wellbeing that you’ll never find in front of the TV.

Cycling is an aerobic activity, which means your heart, lungs and blood vessels all get a work-out. Over time, cycling will reduce your blood pressure and your resting heart rate. E-bikes E-bikes have loads of benefits including a healthy lifestyle, lowering commuting costs and cut down commute times.

Regular exercise is well documented in helping improve many aspects of life, and decreasing the risk of serious health issues. Just a few of the benefits of regular exercise can be: - up to a 35% lower risk of coronary heart disease and stroke - up to a 50% lower risk of type 2 diabetes - up to a 50% lower risk of colon cancer - up to a 20% lower risk of breast cancer - a 30% lower risk of early death - up to an 83% lower risk of osteoarthritis - up to a 68% lower risk of hip fracture

- up to a 30% lower risk of depression - up to a 30% lower risk of dementia Commuting With e-bikes you can forget the woes of arriving to work sweaty or contending with the ascents, leaving you with the best bits of cycling. No more sitting in traffic, just A to B with minimal fuss. With the added assistance you’ll likely find yourself becoming more ambitious with the regularity and distance you start to ride too.

Lots of e-bike riders use an electric bike purely for the fun-factor. It can be an exciting experience on an electric assisted cycle. The feeling of the assistance adding to what you do on a bike is really exhilarating. Be it on a Sunday afternoon countryside ride with the family, or a fully blown mountain bike expedition, which of course you get whatever you ride up, you get to come back down. It’s important that whatever stage of fitness you feel you are, you begin within your capabilities. Start slowly, and build up from there, ensuring a mix of cardio, strength and flexibility. Try and find something you like, as you’re far more likely to stick at something you enjoy and it could even double up as a social occasion!

Here at e-motion we’re in our 11th year and stock 8 of the very best e-bike brands. E-bikes cut the cost of your commute, help increase ﬁtness levels and safeguard the environment. Do you own an e-bike and wish you could ride out occasionally with like minded people? You’re in luck. Our E-motional Social rides are on the 1st Sunday of each month and take in a new route each time. If you don’t have an e-bike and fancy a go we’ll loan you one for the morning. So if you're wondering what all the fuss is about and fancy a go on an electric bike we’ll loan you one for a test ride from the shop or if you want to go further, join us for 2 to 3 hours on a Sunday morning. To reserve a spot call and ask for me, Mark.

www.e-motionevc.co.uk 01793 251200 373 Cricklade Road Swindon SN2 1AQ Visit our showroom and come for a test ride today! 33

FASHION

50 PLUS MAGAZINE

Know what style suits you from the length to the neckline to belted or not, from cosy shearing to wool capes to tailored belted coatigans, we have never had more choice. Check which length and style suit your body shape. Consider changing buttons as this kind of detail can make all the difference in showing our style and character. Explore the huge variety of textures and materials to choose from this season from features to faux fur to cashmere and velvet. Retro Fair Isle and Argyle patterns are in and look cosy and chic paired with a sleek skirt and boots or perfectly proportioned trousers if they suit your style personality. Exaggerated sleeves are, excuse the pun, huge this season. Curved and billowy, feathered and textured, or chunky knit; they make a big statement, but are best for those with Natural or Dramatic in their style. Have fun standing out. Jumper or cardigan - which suits you best? Belted cardigans are flattering for hourglass figures because they show off the small waist. Pear-shapes suit shorter jumpers, rather than longer ones finishing across the hips.

THE SWEATER By Helen Venables, MD of House of Colour In the winter we are greeted by mother nature with ice-grey skies and frosty HELEN VENABLES Managing Director mornings, which www.houseofcolour.co.uk means snuggling up in cosy knitwear is a must, so here are our ten top style tips for this season’s knitwear. Look out for strong, distinctive colours in your seasonal palette and be colour confident. Jumpers and cardigans are a great way to give your look a colour boost

and if you get it right, because the colours are close to your face, they will give you a radiant complexion and brightness to your eyes. Choose colours that don’t suit you and you will look drained. Make sure you know if you suit rich, earthy colours; warm, clear hues; cool bright colours; or cool, subtle tones. Mélange knitwear is in all the shops, many with a twist of two or more colours. Look out for knitwear in one of your favourite wow colours with neutral harmonising colours, great for Autumns and summers or a bold contrasting colour from your colour palette, fantastic for Springs and Winters to really stand out. Alternatively let a scarf in your colours lift your knitwear look.

A coatigan is lovely for those milder, inbetween days or to pop on in the office if you feel chilly. Snug yet stylish coatigans on the right body architecture are extremely flattering. They can be worn oversized for the tall and pulled in at the waist to flatter an hourglass figure. Invest in sumptuous cashmere because it is now the modern autumn and winter musthaves; sustainable, wearable and durable, and an excellent investment with longevity in mind. Cashmere is around eight times warmer than sheep’s wool. Cashmere comes in a much wider choice of styles, sizes, patterns and beautiful colour selections than ever before. Look out for cashmere blends for smaller budgets. Buy a blanket scarf or wrap to update your winter wardrobe – Update a classic or neutral jumper with a chunky wrap with a fur collar or soft blanket scarf in a striking wow colour. There is something for everyone from tiger orange, sleek pistachio green to burgundy or vibrant pinks. Capes are a big style trend this season for a bourgeois French look. Perfect, if you are tall, with a rectangle frame, plus capes are so comfortable.

TIPS ON HOW TO TAKE CARE OF

YOUR CLOTHES As soon as you get home, take your drycleaned garments out of the plastic bag to allow the fabric to breathe freely and put the clothes on good quality hangers. Recycle the hangers from the cleaners. Hang your trousers full-length, from the hem if you have the vertical space, using a sturdy hanger with the little clamps. Keep knitwear folded on shelves, never hung on hangers to avoid those horrible little stretched triangles they create. Folding leather items will create creases and wrinkles which you should never iron or steam out! Roll your clothes into three sausages for packing to avoid creased clothes. Lay out your tops and dresses, one inside the other, with the most crushable fabrics on the outside and roll them into a sausage. Trousers and skirts go in the

second sausage. Everything else goes in the third from swimwear, sarongs and pashminas in your wow colours of course! Turning jackets inside out will help avoid creases, but if space is limited, wear your jacket while travelling. Don’t tumble dry your bras! Lie them flat to dry. Don’t stuff them in a drawer as bending the cups will damage them long term. Stack bras inside of each other like you see in the shops. Make sure that you wash your garments as instructed on the label to preserve them for longer. Washing your coloured clothes inside-out will help maintain dark colours. Try not to wash your clothes needlessly and reduce trips to the dry cleaners to make clothes that need dry-cleaning last longer. Wringing your swimsuits by twisting them and tumble drying them will damage the elasticity! Lie the swimsuit flat between

towels, press and roll the water out and then let it dry flat. Address spills and stains as soon as you can – If you spill or drop liquid or food on your clothes dab with soda water or iced water immediately to make sure that the stain does not set. Dab the stain instead of rubbing it to avoid spreading the stain or damaging the surface of the fabric and before washing, spray the area with a stain pre-treatment. Always dress after you have put on your make up and done your hair to prevent lipstick, eyeshadow and hairspray ruining your clothes. www.houseofcolour.co.uk

Research shows that managing hearing loss may help to prevent dementia.

Make 2020 t you hear bet he year ter

Being proactive earlier in life by keeping active, having a good social life and managing hearing loss could all contribute to preventing or delaying dementia. The hearing professionals at Mary Hare Hearing Centre have the expertise to help you take care of your hearing health. To book your free hearing assessment call us today on 01635 523343. 10 Weavers Walk, Newbury, RG14 1AL newburycentre@maryhare.org.uk www.maryharehearingcentres.co.uk

IT MAY NOT FEEL LIKE IT BUT CHANGE IS AN OPPORTUNITY Take your time. Demands for change can trigger our fight or flight instincts, cause stress and debilitate our decision making. Follow your gut feel is not just a metaphor; our brain and gut are connected by an extensive network of neurons and are in constant communication. It’s harder though to make good decisions when stressed as we are less reflective and more impulsive. Try to take a little time to make hard decisions so allow yourself time to reflect before you respond and to summon your strength in case it is needed.

By Dr Lynda Shaw, neuroscientist, business psychologist and change specialist.

Changes like a relationship breakdown, redundancy or serious illness can generate stress, fear and seriously impact your well-being. Your first feelings may be of shock, anger, or anxiety, or it may trigger ‘flight or fight’ reactions, but change is an opportunity to embrace and grow beyond what feels comfortable, build resilience and experience new things that we might otherwise never have done. Change is going to happen whether you like it or not, so it is not enough to just survive change, we need to use it to thrive. Here are some tips on how to embrace big changes in your life: Challenge yourself. Are you approaching it with a ‘can’t do’ fixed mindset? We are inclined to choose options with a familiar and known outcome. Push yourself to consider other options and do your research. Avoid having a narrowing or shrinking fixed mindset, aim for a growth mindset. The brain is fantastically adaptable, and the chances are you can do it. It’s an opportunity to move into your learning zone. Be nimble. Control your emotions, so they don’t control you. It is completely fine

to feel emotions like anger, anxiety, fear or sadness and it is important to sometimes just sit with those emotions. But your mood can influence your decisions and interactions so there is also a point when you should acknowledge them and try to move past them. A positive mindset can be the deal breaker between you doing something or not. The outcomes are predictably in favour of someone who is often positive rather than someone who is usually negative. Being positive and facing change is the best way to learn and move on. Be your own friend and praise yourself. Whilst it is important to enjoy non-toxic, supportive relationships with your partner, friends, colleagues and family, having your own strong inner support system is important during times of change. Talk to yourself in the same way you would speak to and coach a friend. Dismiss constant negative internal chatter and replace it with gratitude and an occasional self-pat on the back for trying your best. Fail well. Some say reach for the stars and push yourself over and beyond. Others advise you to have reasonable, achievable expectations to avoid deep disappointment. Either way learn that its ok to fail and learn how to fail well by picking yourself up and trying again using different tactics.

Are you stuck in making familiar, habitual choices? Doing something unfamiliar and unhabitual can be harder and time consuming but helps you to make new important neural connections. Taking a leap of faith can feel scary so we often delay starting or we convince ourselves that we don’t have the knowledge, money, etc. to pull it off. Try to just take a first step and choose your most productive time of day to do it. A first step may just lead to a lifechanging path for the better. Schedule in creative/ innovative time. This way you have the space to think, and reassess what is your calling, what are your passions, what you need and what is important to you. We need time and space to create lightbulb moments. Good health is crucial to giving you strength. Make sure you are sleeping enough and eating well. Obstacles can seem insurmountable when you are overtired and you will feel less motivated, have trouble concentrating and be less productive. Watch out for feeling overwhelmed by stress during times of change. Stress alters practically every part of our body including brain functions such as memory and cognitive ability. In times of change and stress, allocate time for stress combating exercise such as yoga, meditation, walking, or going to the gym. There is also nothing better than some down time in a nice bath, listening to your favourite soothing music or just having a cuddle with someone you love. www.drlyndashaw.com

MONEY SAVING TIPS FOR 2020 Cut electrical and water bills: To fight rising utilities prices, stop leaving electrical gadgets on standby when they’re not in use and always turn off the lights in unoccupied rooms. Water usage and costs can also be reduced by taking a quick shower instead of a long bath and using sink or cooking water to quench plants’ thirst.

Penny pinching Brits have been urged to keep their receipts and ditch contactless cards if they want to watch their wallets and save money in 2020. Create a budget: Taking a step back to create a budget will open your eyes to where all your money has, is and will be spent, and make it straightforward to cut out unnecessary outgoings in the future; make spreadsheets your new best friend. Leave the gym: Fitness fans can reduce the strain of gym memberships on their personal finances by going for a run on the streets, taking up an alternative sport or improvising their own exercise routines at home. Ditch contactless cards: Having up to £30 of impulse purchases available at the mere tap of plastic is not healthy for Brits’ bank balances. Try sticking to cold hard cash for small purchases like the good old days – this will allow you to keep better track of personal finances and make it easier to assess if you’re getting good value items for the money being physically handed over. Get smart to stay warm: Save on heating costs by keeping an extra jumper on at home, plugging any little gaps around the house to draft-proof, closing curtains to hold warmth indoors, moving furniture to unblock radiators and investing in a cost rug or hot water bottle. Keep receipts: Hanging on to receipts helps with week to week budgeting and could mean you avoid shelling out for costly replacements if something needs to be returned or replaced whilst it’s still under warranty. Start a loose change jar: Instead of letting coppers collect dust down the back of the sofa, place an empty jar in the kitchen for all of the family to throw their 1p, 2p and 5p coins into. Higher value change can be included too of course, and the pot will eventually be able to fund some spending that won’t come out of your monthly income.

Pass on takeaway coffee: Skip grabbing a coffee on the way into work every morning and instead make one at home in a flash or reusable cup to save money on a daily basis. At lunch time, have one before leaving the office or upon returning, rather than a brew from a chain on the go. Walk, walk, walk: Vehicles are expensive to own, fuel and maintain, whilst most public transport is not as affordable as it used to be. So to save significant money in the new year, ditch the pricey bus, car or train whenever possible, in favour of travelling on foot – which is free. If it’s within a mile or two, try walking to work, the shops, friends or family and any activities; going for a leisurely stroll could become a cheap alternative hobby in itself, too. Look for yellow stickers: When in the supermarket, hunt for items that have been marked with a yellow sticker due to their use by or best before date, or the condition of packaging. Eagle-eyed Brits could grab up to 50% off on some of their favourite foods, with some retailers known to up the discount to as high as 90% off if the items remain unsold near to closing time. Even if you can’t eat it all immediately, lots of produce is still perfectly edible beyond their best before date or suitable to be frozen for use at a later date. Make your own lunch: Even seemingly good value meal deals can cost at least £3 a day; as a cheaper alternative, make sandwiches and snack at home or take last night’s leftovers to work. Sell unused items: Post items that have never been opened or aren’t used regularly anymore onto popular resale apps, website or social media One person’s junk is another person’s treasure, so you could be sitting on a small fortune; great

items to consider include clothing, collectibles, entertainment items (such as DVDs, CDs and Vinyls) and technology or gadgets. Consider going vegan: In addition to the ethical and moral considerations, meat and fish prices have risen significantly in recent years, so even adopting part-time veganism or vegetarianism – such as meat free Mondays – could benefit Brits’ bank balances, as well as their health. Find online discounts: It’s simply sensible to seek out the best value for money, so wisely shop around online like you would in person by using voucher codes and exclusive offers from a site such as PromotionalCodes.org.uk Choose a staycation: Avoid expensive flights and other costs that could mount up, such as health insurance, data roaming charges and common tourist attractions, by holidaying at home – consider a caravan or camping if UK hotels are still out of budget. Swap takeaways for self-made: Rather than shelling out shedloads of cash on takeaways, prepare some of your favourite international cuisines yourself at home with fresh ingredients. This makes for a much cheaper meal, as well as healthier, more nutritious food and could even be a romantic gesture to your partner. Entertain at home: A monthly movie night is a great family activity that will save significant cash over regular trips to the cinema. For adult friends, invite them round to your house for drinks and nibbles instead of going to a pricey bar; household versions of karaoke or quizzes will keep the laughs rolling. Prepare for shopping: Always go to the shops with reusable bags to swerve the rising surcharges, write a shopping list and stick to it to avoid purchasing unnecessary duplicate items and shrewdly research if the offers instore are actually giving you a good deal or not. Go Freeview: TV enthusiasts can get most of their favourite shows for free on Freeview, so it’s time for budgeting Brits to cut out the costs of cable. Set savings goals: One of the best ways to save money is to visualise what you are saving for. If you need motivation, set savings targets along with a timeline to make it easier to reach your goals.

Committed to fighting FRAUDLENT ACTIVITY Council Tax Benefit Council tax bills are based on the assumption that two adults occupy the property as their main home. If it’s occupied by only one adult, and the property is their main home, the bill is reduced by a single person’s discount of 25%. In addition, there are certain groups of people who we do not count for Council Tax purposes when counting the number of adults in the household. These groups are known as ‘disregarded persons’. If there is an adult from one of these groups living in your property, they may not be counted for Council Tax purposes and you may be entitled to a discount. Examples of disregarded persons are: • people on some apprentice schemes • 18 and 19-year-olds in full-time education • full-time college and university students • student nurses • foreign language assistants registered with the British Council • people with a severe mental impairment • live-in carers who look after someone who isn’t their partner, spouse or child • diplomats Fraud within the Council Tax system costs each lawful Council tax payer. Fraud can get into the system a number of ways but the most common issues are: • Making a false statement at the outset, i.e. misleading the Council into accepting information which at the time was not true. • Failure to report relevant changes to circumstances to the Council Tax service, for example; someone over 18 has moved into your address and you receive a Single person’s discount. If you suspect that someone may be defrauding the Council Tax system in any way you can help by reporting you concern’s in confidence to: CALL 0118 937 2143 Email antifraud@reading.gov.uk Report via web pages http://www.reading.gov.uk/ internalaudit

Who is eligible for a blue badge? If you are disabled, you may be able to park in restricted areas under the blue badge scheme. The scheme is for drivers and passengers. Who can get a blue badge? Some people can get a blue badge automatically. This is called being eligible without further assessment. You fit into this group if one or more of the following applies to you: • you are registered as blind/severely sight impaired • you receive the War Pensioners’ Mobility Supplement • you receive the higher rate of the mobility component of Disability Living Allowance (DLA) • you receive the mobility component of Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and you scored at least 8 points in relation to the ‘moving around’ activity in the PIP assessment, or least 12 points in the mobility activity for planning and following journeys • you have been awarded a lump sum benefit from the Armed Forces Compensation scheme (tariffs 1 to 8). You have also been certified as having a permanent and substantial disability which means you can’t walk or find walking very difficult • you receive a government grant towards your own vehicle. If you were on higher rate mobility component of DLA, but you had to claim PIP instead and didn’t get enough points to be eligible for a blue badge, you can continue to use your badge until it expires. If none of these apply to you, you may still be eligible. This is called being eligible subject to further assessment, and will apply to you if you meet one of these criteria: • you have a permanent or substantial disability which means you can’t walk or find walking very difficult • you are a driver and have severe upper limb disabilities • as a result of a mental disorder you are unable to follow the route of a familiar journey without the assistance

of another person. Anyone aged over two years can be eligible under this condition, including people over 65. • you are applying on behalf of a child under three with a medical condition that requires them to be close to a vehicle for emergency medical treatment or transporting bulky medical equipment. If you have any queries about whether you’re eligible for a blue badge, you can contact the national blue badge helpline on 0844 463 0215. How are you assessed? If you are eligible subject to further assessment, your local authority will look at the evidence of your disability to decide whether you can have a blue badge. You may need to have an independent mobility assessment. If you have applied for or held a blue badge previously, your GP may have carried this out. Assessments may now be carried out by an independent mobility assessor. This is usually a medical professional such as an occupational therapist or physiotherapist, who has never treated you before. If your local authority wants you to have a mobility assessment, it will refer you to the assessor. You will not be charged for the assessment. You may not be required to undergo an assessment if your council says it is very obvious that you are eligible or ineligible. Blue Badge (disabled parking permits) Fraud: Disabled Parking Permits or Blue Badges are issued by your Local Authority to persons with a genuine need to access facilities and park within easy reach of these. However there are some people who are prepared to misuse or fraudulently acquire these badges. The Investigation Team are committed to fighting fraudulent activity but need your help to do so! If you suspect someone of committing Blue Badge fraud please contact us in confidence. CALL 0118 937 2143 Email antifraud@reading.gov.uk Report via web pages http://www.reading.gov.uk/fraud

Tenancy Fraud in Reading We’re closing in

When somebody with a council or housing association home rents it out without permission or obtains a home through providing false information, they are guilty of housing fraud. They are using up valuable housing spaces and depriving families and vulnerable people on the waiting list. It’s not fair.

CALL: 0118 937 2143 Email: antifraud@reading.gov.uk Report via web pages: http://www.reading.gov.uk/fraud

If you suspect someone of unlawfully sub-letting tell us. Your report will be treated in the strictest confidence and can be given anonymously.

barnes Coaches Theatre Trips by Coach

STRICTLY COME DANCING THE PROFESSIONALS

Hamilton

Fri 24th April £114.00

Sat 23rd May £92.00

THE LION KING

TINA: the tina turner musical

Thurs 4th June £82.00

Thurs 4th June £77.00

MAMMA MIA

les miserables

THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA

WICKED

Sat 13th June £86.00

Thurs 25th June £80.00

Sat 11th July £74.00

MARY POPPINS

sister act

Sat 11th July £147.00

Thurs 30th July £84.00

joseph & the amazing technicolor dreamcoat

Fri 14th August £84.00

hello dolly!

Thurs 24th September £132.00

View our full list of Theatre & Concert Trips on our website!

01793 821303 www.barnescoaches.co.uk

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