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                                

               

  



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      

       



     

 



 

























































  

  

  

  

























































































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  

 

Great south coast holidays SELF-DRIVE & COACH INCLUSIVE BREAKS

GREAT VALUE 5 DAY HALF BOARD BREAKS

from

79

££124

from

per person

When it comes to inviting, relaxing breaks in the south, we have the ideal holiday for you.

Whether you’re after family-friendly holidays, a romantic getaway or a group break with like-minded people, our seven hotels cover the south’s finest locations. From the popular beaches of Cornwall to the cosy Isle of Wight, there’s something for everyone.

Our coach inclusive option allows guests across the UK to travel in comfort, while our self-drive holidays offer the freedom of having your own car.

Every break includes: • Return coach travel (self-drive option available) • Comfy en suite accommodation • Breakfast & 3-course evening meal • Live nightly entertainment

Trio awarded Certificate of Excellence We are proud to announce that three of our group – the Barrowfield, Devonshire and Daish’s hotels – have been awarded the coveted TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence.

Six fabulous locations, seven great hotels

newquay

Barrowfield Hotel

torquay

Devonshire Hotel

weymouth

Hotel Prince Regent

weymouth

Russell Hotel

Request your new 2015 brochure now!

Don’t miss these coach inclusive breaks!

Local pick up points from Cannock, Dudley, Frankley, Halesowen, Hanley, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Oldbury, Stafford, Stourbridge, Walsall and Wolverhampton make it easy to get away.

DATE DESTINATION HOTEL

COACH UP DAYS BOARD INCLUSIVE PICK CODE PRICE

DATE DESTINATION HOTEL

COACH UP DAYS BOARD INCLUSIVE PICK CODE PRICE

July

March January

09 Russell Hotel - Weymouth

5

Half

£139

WM

07 Sands Hotel – Bournemouth 13 Devonshire Hotel-Torquay

55 Half Half

£99 £129

20 Hotel Prince Regent 09 Barrowfield Hotel Weymouth – Newquay

Half 54 Half

£129 WM ST £79 WM,

April

14 Daish’s Hotel – Isle of Wight

5

19 Russell Hotel – Weymouth 16 Devonshire Hotel-Torquay

55 Half Half

17 Russell Hotel - Weymouth

8

Half

09 Barrowfield Hotel - Newquay

5

Half

Half

WM WM

15 Daish's Hotel -Hotel Isle of–Wight 05 Claremont Eastbourne

57

Half Half

£294 WM, WM ST £164

20 Sands Hotel, Bournemouth

5

Half

£204 WM,ST

13 Devonshire Torquay 30 Daish's Hotel -Hotel Isle of –Wight

55

Half Half

£129 WM £204 WM,ST

24 Hotel Prince Regent- Weymouth

4

Half

17 Barrowfield Hotel - Newquay

5

WM

25 May Barrowfield Hotel – Newquay

5

Half

£94

£89

5

£154

WM

£174

WM

58

Half Half

£334 £144

WM WM

8

Half

£354

ST

£334

ST

April August 01 Sands Hotel, Bournemouth

09 Barrowfield Hotel – Newquay 02 Claremont Hotel, Eastbourne

5

Half

£134

ST

Half

£144

WM

£149

ST

01 Devonshire Hotel – Torquay

5

14 Barrowfield Hotel - Newquay

02 Barrowfield Hotel – Newquay

Half 55 Half

£134 £99

20 Daish's Hotel - Isle of Wight

5

£164 WM,ST

Half

16 Devonshire Hotel – Torquay

5

Half

£144 WM, ST

WM WM

17 Russell Hotel 10 Barrowfield Hotel– -Weymouth Newquay

87

Half Half

£229 WM £234 WM,ST

14 Devonshire Hotel-Torquay

7

Half

07 Hotel Prince Regent- Weymouth

Half

£264

ST

£274

WM

4

Half

£109 WM, ST

14 June Barrowfield Hotel – Newquay

5

Half

£109

ST

04 Devonshire Hotel-Torquay

15 Daish’s Hotel – Isle of Wight

55

Half Half

£154 £114

17 Claremont Hotel – Eastbourne 09 Claremont Hotel, Eastbourne

55 Half Half

£124

ST WM

£139 £204 WM, WM ST

WM

Pick up points:

10 Sands Hotel, Bournemouth

18 Barrowfield Hotel – Newquay

Half 55 Half

£169 £109

ST WM

WM – Cannock, Walsall, Wolverhampton, Dudley, Oldbury, Frankley

17 Claremont Hotel, Eastbourne

7

Half

Half

20 Sands Hotel – Bournemouth

5

25 Claremont Hotel – Eastbourne 27 Barrowfield Hotel - Newquay

55 Half Half

26 Devonshire Hotel-Torquay

7

Half

Half

WM

£334

ST

£254

WM

£124 WM, ST £139 £164 WM, WM ST

22 Sands Hotel – Bournemouth

8

29 Hotel Prince Regent- Weymouth

5

WM

WM

06 Hotel Prince Regent – Weymouth 4

£124

WM

£244 WM

£129

WM

5

Half

Half

20 Hotel Prince Regent – Weymouth 4

09 Sands Hotel, Bournemouth

£104

29 Claremont Hotel, Eastbourne

WM

03 Devonshire Hotel-Torquay February

05 Daish's Hotel - Isle of Wight

ST

£229

£159 WM,ST

Half

ST

WM

£109 ST £144 WM,ST

Half

Half

£244

£124 £254

£139

Half

Half

Half

Half Half

Half

5

Half

6

57

5

ST

WM

22 Sands Hotel, Bournemouth

5

03 Claremont Hotel, Eastbourne

03 Daish’s Hotel – Isle of Wight 07 Devonshire Hotel-Torquay

09 Russell Hotel – Weymouth

£94

£144

23 Hotel Prince Regent – Weymouth 4

13 Sands Hotel, Bournemouth

March

19 Daish's Hotel - Isle of Wight

5

7

Half

Half

£159 WM, ST

ST – Hanley, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Stafford, Wolverhampton, Dudley, Stourbridge, Halesowen

Prices shown are per person based on two people sharing a Standard Room. Supplements apply on twin/double rooms with sole occupancy.

Optional local excursions can be booked at the hotel. Many more coach or self-drive holiday dates available in 2015. If you would prefer to self-drive, deduct £20 per person from prices shown.

bournemouth

isle of wight

eastbourne

Call 01803 201 432 or visit daishs.com quote 50PLUSBIR facebook.com/daishs

Bournemouth Sands Hotel

Daish’s Hotel

Claremont Hotel

@daishs

Door to Door

Home Collection now only

£30 £15

Northbound Tours Southbound Tours prices per person, per journey

Robinsons Own Hotels

2015

Sunny Sussex Eastbourne

The Garden Isle Isle of Wight

Delightful Devon Torquay

Eastbourne is an “all year round” holiday destination with one of the best sunshine records in the UK.

The Isle of Wight offers stunning landscapes, award winning beaches, breath taking seascapes and not forgetting its extensive history.

With its mild climate and trademark Palm Trees, Torquay is one of the UK’s premier seaside resorts and has been fashionable since the 19th Century.

The Ocean View Hotel is an elegant hotel commanding magnificent views across Sandown Bay, the balconies provide the perfect place to enjoy the sunset on summer evenings. Guests can unwind in the piano lounge before enjoying an evening meal in the spacious restaurant. A night porter ensures 24 hour reception service.

The Abbey Lawn Hotel is an elegant Georgian hotel, in the grounds of the former Torre Abbey, with it’s newly refurbished conservatory / lounge offers the discerning holidaymaker an exceptional standard of comfort throughout.

The Imperial Hotel is an impressive Victorian hotel situated at the seaward end of Devonshire Place, an imposing tree-lined boulevard, less than fifteen minutes walk from the facilities and amenities in the town centre and across the road from the promenade and the bandstand. The hotel offers the guest a good standard of accommodation, spacious lounge areas and a majestic restaurant all in a dignified and tranquil ambience for the discerning holidaymaker.

Hotel amenities l All rooms have private facilities, telephone, television and complimentary tea/coffee and hairdryers l Traditional English breakfast l Lunch snacks available daily l Table d’hote evening meal with choice of menu, plus tea or coffee l Live entertainment most evenings l Lift serving all floors l Porterage.

Hotel amenities l All rooms have private facilities, telephone, television and complimentary tea/coffee and hairdryers l Traditional English breakfast l Lunch snacks available daily l Table d’hote evening meal with choice of menu, plus tea or coffee l Live entertainment most evenings l Indoor heated pool l Indoor bowling green, table tennis and snooker room l Lift serving all floors l Porterage.

Freephone: 0800 083 9900

Many of the bedrooms offer panoramic views of the bay.

Hotel amenities l All rooms have private facilities, telephone, television and complimentary tea/coffee and hairdryers l Traditional English breakfast l Lunch snacks available daily l Table d’hote evening meal with choice of menu, plus tea or coffee l Live entertainment most evenings l Indoor and seasonal outdoor pool l Lift serving all floors l Porterage

Groups: 0800 785 1025

The Robinsons Difference

Includes excursions Friendly staff l Own hotels in great locations l Peace of mind security l Payment in instalments * Robinsons own hotels l

Local joining points l No single supplements* l High standard of accommodation l Great choice of menus l Executive coaches with extra legroom l

l

*NEW Five Day Departures

*price reductions on brochure

5 Day Tours

7 Day Tours

8 Day Tours

4 Nts dinner, bed & breakfast

6 Nts dinner, bed & breakfast

7 Nts dinner, bed & breakfast

Date Imperial Ocean View Abbey Lawn 13 Apr* £189 £189 £189 20 Apr* £199 £199 £199 26 Apr* £199 £199 £199 04 May* £219 £219 £219 11 May* £219 £219 £219 18 May* £229 £229 £229 25 May* £239 £239 £239 01 June* £249 £249 £249 08 June* £249 £249 15 June* £249 £249 22 June* £249 £249 29 June* £249 £249 06 July* £249 £249 13 July* £249 £249 20 July* £249 £249 27 July* £249 £249 03 Aug* £249 £249 10 Aug* £249 £249 17 Aug* £249 £249 24 Aug* £249 £249 31 Aug* £249 £249 07 Sept* £249 £249 14 Sept* £249 £249 21 Sept* £249 £249 28 Sept* £249 £249 05 Oct £229 £229 £229 12 Oct £229 £229 £229 19 Oct £219 £219 £219 26 Oct £219 £219 £219 02 Nov £209 £209 £209 09 Nov £209 £209 £209 16 Nov £199 £199 £199 23 Nov £189 £189 £189 30 Nov £179 £179 £179 07 Dec £169 £169 £169 14 Dec £169 £169 £169 * Reduced

Date 12 Apr 19 Apr 26 Apr 03 May 10 May 17 May 24 May 31 May 07 June 14 June 21 June 28 June 05 July 12 July 19 July 26 July 02 Aug 09 Aug 16 Aug 23 Aug 30 Aug 06 Sept 13 Sept 20 Sept 27 Sept 04 Oct 11 Oct 18 Oct 25 Oct

Imperial Ocean View Abbey Lawn £249 £249 £249 £259 £259 £259 £279 £279 £279 £319 £319 £319 £339 £339 £349 £349 £359 £359 £369 £369 £369 £369 £369 £369 £369 £369 £379 £379 £379 £379 £379 £379 £379 £379 £379 £379 £379 £379 £379 £379 £379 £379 £379 £379 £379 £379 £379 £379 £379 £379 £379 £379 £379 £379 £379 £379 £379 £379 £379 £369 £369 £369 £369 £369 £369 £359 £359 £359 £329 £329 £329 £289 £289 £289 £279 £279 £279 £269 £269 £269 £269 £269 £269

Supplements per person 7 Days: Imperial: Premier Room £30 Ocean View: Premier Room £45 -Sea View Room £13 Abbey Lawn: Premier Room £40 - Front Facing Room £13

* New Tour

Supplements per person 5 Days: Imperial: Premier Room £20 Ocean View: Premier Room £30 -Sea View Room £10 Abbey Lawn: Premier Room £30 - Front Facing Room £10

Loyalty Bonus Here at Robinsons, we are committed to ensuring that our customers are rewarded for their loyalty to us. For 2015, we are pleased to offer all our passengers the opportunity to take advantage.

A voucher will be given to all passengers by the tour driver whilst on holiday. This can either be redeemed on the next holiday booking, or can be saved in multiples towards a future holiday.

We offer you ...

4 4 4 4

Accommodation of dinner, bed & breakfast 2 included excursions Local pick-ups Service of driver/courier

price

Date Imperial Ocean View Abbey Lawn 02/03 May £369 £369 £369 09/10 May £369 £369 £369 16/17 May £379 £379 £379 23/24 May £389 £389 £389 30/31 May £399 £399 £399 06/07 June £399 £399 £399 13/14 June £399 £399 £399 20/21 June £409 £409 £409 27/28 June £409 £409 £409 04/05 July £409 £409 £409 11/12 July £409 £409 £409 18/19 July £409 £409 £409 25/26 July £409 £409 £409 01/02 Aug £409 £409 £409 08/09 Aug £409 £409 £409 15/16 Aug £409 £409 £409 22/23 Aug £409 £409 £409 29/30 Aug £409 £409 £409 05/06 Sept £399 £399 £399 12/13 Sept £399 £399 £399 19/20 Sept £389 £389 £389 26/27 Sept £359 £359 £359 03/04 Oct £319 £319 £319 10/11 Oct £309 £309 £309 17/18 Oct £299 £299 £299 24/25 Oct £299 £299 £299 Supplements per person 8 Days: Imperial: Premier Room £35 Ocean View: Premier Room £50 -Sea View Room £15 Abbey Lawn: Premier Room £50 - Front Facing Room £15

9 Day Tours 8 Nts dinner, bed & breakfast Date 02 May 09 May 16 May 23 May 30 May 06 June 13 June 20 June 27 June 04 July 11 July 18 July 25 July 01 Aug 08 Aug 15 Aug 22 Aug 29 Aug 05 Sept 12 Sept 19 Sept 26 Sept

Imperial Ocean View Abbey Lawn £399 £399 £399 £399 £399 £399 £409 £409 £409 £419 £419 £419 £429 £429 £429 £429 £429 £429 £429 £429 £429 £439 £439 £439 £439 £439 £439 £439 £439 £439 £439 £439 £439 £439 £439 £439 £439 £439 £439 £439 £439 £439 £439 £439 £439 £439 £439 £439 £439 £439 £439 £439 £439 £439 £429 £429 £429 £429 £429 £429 £419 £419 £419 £389 £389 £389

9 DAYS ~ ONLY STANDARD ROOMS AVAILABLE

Visit us online at www.robinsons-holidays.co.uk and book a great deal today!

Park Garage, Great Harwood, Blackburn BB6 7SP.

www.50plusmagazine.co.uk

7

CONTENTS

WWW.MAGBILITY.CO.UK l

SALES

l

SERVICE

l

REPAIRS

INSIDE...

STAIRLIFTS FREE FITTING

6-7

14-15

TRY BEFORE YOU BUY

18-19

NEW FROM £1595/RECON FROM £595 One of the largest stairlift service centres in the Midlands.

Curved and straight stairlifts now on display in our showrooms.

RING NOW FOR YOUR FREE HOME SURVEY.

BEDS & CHAIRS This Fireside Chair with This Comfort Back Motor Riser Recliner Orthopaedic Back and Queen legs ONLY

NOW ONLY

£265

£599 Adjustable Beds with Reflex Foam Mattress FROM

£599

SUPERLIGHT WHEELCAIRS

£225 RRP

Lightweight fold-away wheelchairs with attendant braking

NOW

Only 9kg. Folded Width = 11" (28cm) Folded Height = 31" (79cm).

Unique folding mechanism

£149

SCOOTERS

NEW BOOT SCOOTERS from

£545

26-28 6-7

Affordable peace of mind holidays ...

From Robinsons Holidays

9

Twittering on ...

More funny tales from Graham Smith

10-11

River Cruising in Style ...

Advice for Mature Travellers

14-15

Jane McDonald ...

The no-messing Yorkshire lass with a powerful singing voice

18-19

Low Fat Recipes ...

From the Hairy Dieters

20-22

Out and About ...

Places to visit and things to do

26-28

New Looks for your Home this Spring ...

Freshen your home with our guide

30

Top Tips for Tackling Loneliness ...

RECONDITIONED MODELS available from

£299

THE MOBILITY CENTRE

Becketts Farm, Alcester Road, Birmingham B47 6AJ. A435 to B'ham from Junction 3 M42

Tel: 01564 829541

ALSO AT Fairfield Court, Stourbridge Road, Bromsgrove, B61 9NJ 8

Tel: 01527 837076

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TWITTERING ON use of the procreation verb or adjective and coming out of that falsely constructed generous gob it sounds like fingernails down the side of a ship.

Keeping abreast of the times Celebrity culture is big business. To join this band of elite, dysfunctional people you need certain qualities. You should preferably be verbally challenged to the point where you cannot string a sentence together, tattoos over most inches of exposed flesh are a necessity, metal objects inserted in each bodily orifice add to the attraction, oh, and you must be vulgar.

My 2015 award for vulgarity has to go to Leeds lass, I think, Josie Cunningham who hit the headlines after having a boob job on the NHS and then employing an agent of dubious origin to publicise the episode and subsequent miscreant meanderings of a sexual connotation which included offering to have an abortion so she could take part in Big Brother. Worrying isn’t it?

In a “fly on the wall” TV documentary this fearsome looking specimen came over as a complete half wit whose antics are capable of extracting large amounts of money from today’s downmarket tabloid media. Her baseball capped agent was shown ferrying her around in a taxi to various photo shoots and locations in his quest to make a financial killing. He’s an oddball who has a grasp of how to manipulate social media so the femme fatale thinks she is rising to iconic proportions in the popularity stakes while, truth is, he is lining his own pocket.

There’s enough collagen in her lips to keep a small trawler afloat in heavy seas and her so far untended teeth would mean most sane men would need an anaesthetic and several strong men to drag them under the mistletoe with her. Her dulcet Leeds accent makes a Billingsgate fish wife sound like an elocution expert and she uses enough profanities and vernacular to keep Gordon Ramsay going for six months.

Barely a sentence goes by without

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In a scene of blissful domesticity she was shown with her mother painting skirting boards at the family home and holding a tasteful discourse about how much they ******* love each other and anyone who doesn’t like it can go forth and multiply. Their application of the gloss paint was as thick as their awful accents and the result was very similar to their sordid way of life, runny, lacking in finesse and full of drips.

Josie describes herself as a model, for what I’m not quite sure. She sets out to shock and invariably succeeds. If your son brought her home you’d leave it. she is surely an ambassador for the cause of celibacy if ever I saw one.

In one of her outbursts, proudly sticking out her prosthetically enhanced chest, she said fat people did not deserve a gastric band on the NHS. She deserves two. One around her vile, over inflated gob and the other strategically placed and tightened about six inches lower.

Maxxzandra Ford's son Avery is the heaviest ever baby to be born at St Joseph's Women's Hospital in Tampa, Florida.

Graham Smith

Avery, who was delivered in a natural birth lasting 18 hours, is one of the largest-ever born in the state.

Ms Ford did not know she was pregnant until about 35 weeks in, according to media reports in the US. She told television stations WFLA and WFTS that after she rapidly gained weight last autumn, doctors confirmed she was pregnant.

Ms Ford said she thought she was having twins at first.

Debbie Moore, a registered nurse at the hospital, said they would "definitely not" have recommended a natural birth if they had known how much Avery weighed, the Tampa Bay Times reported.

Avery's father, Allen Denton, told the newspaper: "I got a linebacker now instead of a fullback."

Musical boob

Ms Ford, who already has a one-year-old son and a five-year-old daughter, said she "just melted" when she finally held Avery.

Now here is a much more tasteful story about the female form.

Weather you like it or not

A tattooed model who became a viral star by jiggling her breasts to Mozart has repeated the trick for Valentine's Day.

Perhaps it’s my age but female weather presenters are beginning to get to me.

I’m old enough to remember Bert Ford and Michael Fish in their tweeds and sombre suits but today it seems an overwhelming number of presenters are women and more attention is supposed to be paid to the glamour than occluded fronts and deep depressions.

Sara X Mills, whose unusual rendition of Mozart's Eine kleine Nachtmusik notched up 37m hits on YouTube, has this time performed to Beethoven's Fur Elise.

The 27-year-old US model, who also jiggled her breasts to Jingle Bells for Christmas, plays Cupid with a bow and arrow for her latest video.

She wrote: "Celebrate Valentine's Day with a silly new interpretation of this piece, Fur Elise. Much love and happiness to all!"

Is it me or are the isobars and low pressure areas being replaced by in your face cleavages and painted smiles? Are the flickering eyelashes and mascara supposed to detract from the fact that it’s below freezing in the Trossachs and scything down in the Gorbals, or is it all a femme fatale front to bluff us that half the time they get it all wrong?

Stone me!

And the scripting is getting on my cold front too.

A woman in the US has given birth to a baby weighing 14.1 pounds (6.4kg) - and he is already eating double the amount of an average-sized newborn.

“As we go into the first half of the weekend”…is that Saturday? “The start of the new working week”…that’ll be Monday then?

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50 Plus Travel

sponsored by

River cruising in style

By Chrissy Nason from Silver Travel Advisor Following a long travel career, Chrissy Nason brings her experience and eye for stylish detail as an advisor and travel writer for Silver Travel Advisor, the information and review website for mature travellers.

For my first river-cruise experience I was delighted to be invited by Avalon Waterways on their inaugural 3 night sailing of Poetry II, from Cologne to Amsterdam.

First impressions didn’t disappoint: sleek, elegant, with a full-length sky deck, spacious lounge and dining areas, the ship exudes style. The staterooms (cabins) have the benefit of wall-towall panoramic windows to facilitate maximum viewing and create a balcony within the room. Beautifully decorated

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in contemporary style and furnished to a high standard, the staterooms are luxurious and comfortable. Storage in small spaces, always a challenge, was plentiful. The marble tiled bathroom and shower was a decent size, beautifully appointed, with complimentary L’Occitaine toiletries.

Ready to explore, I opted to join a walking tour of the city centre, keen to get a feel for Cologne before sailing later that afternoon. All destination excursions have an expert local guide and individual audio sets to give a personalized experience.

Cologne is home to Eau de Cologne, the fragrance created in 1709 by Johann Maria Fabrina. The original shop has its own little museum and although they now offer a wide range of fragrances, the original cologne is still sold.

The Cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is an architectural masterpiece and famous as the home of the shrine of The Three Wise Men, whose remains were brought to Cologne in the 12th century. The Cathedral miraculously escaped the WW2 bombing, apparently the spires were used as a navigational

landmark to target the main railway station located immediately next door.

A few minutes walk back to the ship, a short mandatory safety drill and with the sun setting behind the Cathedral’s spires, we set sail.

Relaxation and dining room facilities are plentiful and spacious for the ship’s 128 passenger capacity. After a pre-dinner drink in the lounge we headed down to a delicious dinner: typically, a three or four course a la carte menu, including regional dishes, with complimentary wine or local beer. The food throughout was very good with a choice of hot food to order or a buffet and salad bar.

The next morning we docked at Tiel with a choice of sightseeing: Arnhem or the Kroller-Muller museum (Van Gogh paintings). Most of us opted for Arnhem.

We drove over the famous reconstructed bridge to Oosterbeek and Villa Hartenstein, now an excellent museum.

We also visited the Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery. Surrounded by woods, viewed through mist and rain it was deeply moving.

After lunch we sailed a short distance to Willemstad, a small picturesque town

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TRAVEL with well-preserved fortifications and a lovely octagonal church where we were treated to an organ recital. Back to the ship, another memorable supper and a great night’s entertainment from a local group who had everyone tapping and clapping and yours truly on the dance floor.

Overnight we sailed to Dordrecht with a choice of excursions: the worldfamous Keukenhof tulip gardens or the Kinderdijk Dutch windmill heritage site.

I opted for the Keukenhof Gardens, an hour’s drive. Open only 8 weeks each year, the gardens offer a stunning horticultural display: 7 million spring-time flowers within a wooded landscaped park with 700 tulip varieties.

Back on board, I requested a tour of the ship. Erik, the Cruise Director, pointed out some subtle design features: “slightly higher chairs and tables, perfect for those guests who can no longer touch their toes” he said giving me a knowing look. Coffee tables that can be raised to dining table height to allow guests inroom dining, should they prefer. The skydeck, a tremendous space for sunbathing and watching the world go by, with a hot-tub, loungers and a bistro area for lunchtime barbecue grills.

Certainly, for someone like me who suffers from seasickness, one of the joys of this cruise was the gentle, relaxing, motion of the ship. I rarely felt any vibrations and in the superbly comfortable beds (complete with memory foam mattress topper) I slept very well. Soundproofed cabins, Avalon’s state of the art design, quiet engines and generators no doubt helped, though the wine probably played its part too!

A river cruise with Avalon ticks a lot of boxes: inclusive guided on-shore excursions; full-board a la carte dining with complimentary local wines and beers; onboard gratuities; transfers and a private chauffeured taxi from your home to the nearest UK airport or Eurostar station (within a 100 mile radius). How good is that?

We arrived in Amsterdam all too soon.

Most people chose to add an additional hotel night to allow for sightseeing, but my flight home beckoned. After such a wonderful experience I’ve already got my eye on Avalon’s themed Opera cruise next year: on-board performances as you glide down the Danube from Budapest to Prague. I can’t think of a better way to experience Europe’s rich heritage.

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Sample Itinerary for 2015 ‘ Tulip Time’ The eight day Tulip Time cruise takes in the tranquil, open landscapes of Holland and Belgium and the Keukenhof’s magnificent spring flowers and the wooden windmills of Kinderdijk on this memorable river cruise. Highlights include an orientation walk in Veere, a canal cruise in cosmopolitan Amsterdam, sights with Local Guides in Antwerp, Ghent and Middelburg and the fascinating city of Maastricht. Cruises run from 31 March until 1 May 2015 and prices include return flights and airport transfers, a door-to-door home pick up service, a seven night full board deluxe cruise with wine and beers served with dinner, on-board gratuities and included excursions.

Avalon Waterways 0800 668 1801 or visit www.avaloncruises.co.uk

Silver Travel Advisor is a travel review, information and advice website exclusively for over 50’s, packed with articles, suggestions, tips and ideas. For free and independent travel advice as well as reviews about holidays, hotels, restaurants and days out, please visit www.silvertraveladvisor.com or email service@silvertraveladvisor.com. It’s free to register as a member of Silver Travel Advisor, and you could win a fabulous holiday prize.

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Jane

McDonald IT’S amazing to think that it’s 17 years since Jane McDonald first captivated viewers in the BBC documentary-soap “The Cruise.”

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The no-messing Yorkshire lass, a singer on the cruise ship, immediately fascinated everyone with her broad Yorkshire accent, warm heart and undoubtedly powerful singing voice.

Right from the first sight of her, we knew she was a straightforward type of person, and she became the enduring image of that first series. The programme also provided a very useful springboard to success for Ms McDonald. But by then she had more than earned the right to it.

Jane grew up in Wakefield. Her father, Peter, was a miner who doubled as a chimney sweep and Jane’s mother, Jean, and Jane’s grandmother ran a boarding house.

Singing was what Jane was destined for, however, and for 12 years, she sang in the clubs throughout the North, honing her singing skills and learning to handle every kind of audience.

She also entertained on cruise ships and in 1995 she met her future husband, Henrik, onboard The Century. They married in May, 1998, and in January, 1998, the BBC began broadcasting its fly-on-the-wall documentary.

The programme was watched regularly by 14 million viewers and her wedding to Henrik, also televised, was watched by a large audience although the couple later divorced.

Such was her instant fame that in July, 1998, Jane released her first, self-titled album which spent three weeks at No.1 and went platinum.

In November the following year, she released her concert video, followed in 2000 by her second album, “Inspiration.”

TV proved to the nation that here was a girl who could not only sing but who was funny and could present. She became a guest presenter on BBC’s “National Lottery” before being given her own show, “Star for a Night”, which helped launch the career of singer Joss Stone.

Because of the way the public first got to know Jane, it’s always been difficult for her to shake off the image, as she says herself, of “‘er off the cruise ship.”

But, in fact, not only has she carved out a very successful TV career but she has regularly toured all over the country, and all over the world including America, bringing her own brand of glamorous glitz and powerful, entrancing singing to her legions of fans.

And she appreciates those fans. “To me, twenty fans are equally as important as twenty thousand fans,” she states.

“When I look out, I don’t see a sea of people but individual faces.”

She also has very loyal fans. “They travel around the country to see me,” she explains, “write to me, send me things and

are all so supportive. I always make sure when I do a concert or a TV show that I meet the fans afterwards.

“There’s been a time when the signing session after the show has lasted longer than the show itself! But I wouldn’t miss that for the world. Without them …. well … I woudn’t know what to do.”

Jane especially appreciates her fans since she became wellknown and started touring because of her tough years in the clubs. “When I sang before I’d have to compete with the bingo callers and people chatting at the bar,” she says. “I thought I’d gone deaf on this tour because the audience was so quiet. It took a while to realise they were quiet because they were listening to me.”

As well as her touring, Jane became a regular presenter on ITV daytime programme “Loose Women” where her forthright opinions were always loved by viewers. She finally left the series last year after 10 years to concentrate on her music career and toured the country at the same time as her latest album, “Singer of Your Song”, came out.

She’s made numerous guest appearances on mainstream TV - from “Ready, Steady Cook” to “All Star Family Fortunes” and “Ant and Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway”. She’s reviewed newspapers and had her own autobiography, “Follow Your Dreams” which was published in 2000.

Her shows are unashamedly showbizzy and fun with eye-catching sets and costumes, and Jane belts out all the favourite standards to please her fans. Indeed, she always seems to enjoy herself as much as her audience does.

She’s 51 now, divorced twice but happy finally with musician Eddie Rothe. They first dated at 18 when he was in the band Liquid Gold, but split up and Jane met him again on the set of “Loose Women”.

Her fans are a cross-section of ages, including her own age-group. “I see the same three rows wherever I go,” she states. “I’ve seen them grow up and go through marriages and losses.” And it’s to these loyal fans that she dedicated last year’s album and tour.

She’s just finished a stint in panto at Birmingham Hippodrome, in “Jack and the Beanstalk” playing The Enchantress, before going off on another series of sell-out appearances around the UK. But to all those fans who were first enchanted by her in “The Cruise” and who have remained keen to follow her career ever since, it’s plain that – while life may not have been all plain-sailing for Jane McDonald – she’s determined to continue putting a smile on other people’s faces.

For details of her latest appearances go to www.jane-mcdonald.com

For more articles like this one, please visit our brand new revamped website at www.50plusmagazine.co.uk ! www.50plusmagazine.co.uk

15

Lasting Power of Attorney Planning ahead to this?

Who will take care of you if you lose capacity?

By Riffat Sultana

Every year, thousands of people become incapable of making their own decisions because of losing capacity due to a number of reasons including: • • •

A stroke or brain injury A mental health problem Dementia

• A learning disability • Substance or alcohol misuse.

“1 in 4 British adults experience at least one Diagnosable mental health problem in any one year” (The Office for National Statistics Psychiatric Morbidity report, 2001).

If a person becomes ‘mentally incapacitated’, a relative or friend would usually assume responsibility for day-today activities including banking, paying mortgage and making health related decisions, however this process is rarely simple. We all have at some stage experienced how difficult it is to pay a utility bill if you are not the account holder so it is not difficult to image the problems faced by families trying to make decisions for a loved one who has lost capacity.

Although nobody wants to imagine it happening to them, making preparations early could save family members at least the headache, if not the heartache.

The Mental Capacity Act is designed to protect people who can’t make decisions for themselves or lack the mental capacity to do so. One of the purpose of the act is that it allows the appointment of another decision maker in advance of losing mental capacity through the setting up of a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) .

We regularly come across many families who fail to understand why Lasting Powers of Attorney (LPA) is such a vital documents. In many cases, those that do have an LPA in place only have one, when there are actually two different types of LPA’s: A Property and Financial Affairs LPA - provides your attorney (s) control over financial & property related

matters for example should you be taken in to care, your attorney (s) can let your property to generate income to supplement your care cost.

A Health and Welfare LPA - covers medication and care.

Due to the Data Protection and Access to Medical Records Act, only the attorney(s) with a Health & Welfare LPA can access medical records. If you hold an Enduring Power of Attorney made before October 2007 or only hold a Lasting Power of Attorney for Property and Affairs, the NHS will refuse to review decisions made and accept challenges regarding wrongly charged care costs.

Despite the many benefits of having an LPA in place, many people still tell us: 1. I am not likely to lose capacity and if I do my children can take care of things.

If you lose capacity without an LPA in place, your family are required to submit an application to the Court of Protection to appoint a ‘deputy’ to manage your affairs. The Court can also appoint a suitable deputy, leaving your family to pay for their fees. This is a costly and time consuming process therefore it makes sense to plan a head.

2. I am on my parents bank accounts.

In the event that your parents lose capacity, their account could be frozen and as a result you would be unable to access funds to pay regular bills.

We would be happy to discuss the options for planning for a time in the future when you may no longer have the capacity to make your own decisions.

For more information about Lasting Power of Attorney or Court of Protection Application, please feel free to contact us at:

Crystal Wills & Trusts, Kings Court, School Road, Hall Green, Birmingham, B28 8JG

Tel: 0121 693 53 80 Email: enquiries@crystalwillsandtrusts.co.uk Web: www.crystalwillsandtrusts.co.uk.

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NO WILL? THE LAW DECIDES! WITH A WILL? YOU DECIDE Did you know without a Will: ●

Your unmarried partner could end up with nothing

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Crystal Wills & Trusts, Kings Court, School Road, Hall Green, Birmingham, B28 8JG

FOOD AND DRINK THE HAIRY DIETERS EAT FOR LIFE "We've cooked the recipes in our first book over and over, and they've become much loved standards in our kitchens, along with our other favourite dishes. We enjoy them so much that, like you, we wanted, more so now we've come up with some new ones that we hope you're going to like just as much."

ALL-IN-ONE SPICY PORK AND RICE 395 calories per portion Lean, tender pork with spicy rice and lots of veggies - what more could you want? This is a scrumptiously simple family supper with big flavours that fulfils all your needs. Only problem is stopping yourself eating too much of it!

Heat the oil in a large, non-stick deep frying pan or sautÊ pan. Fry the onion wedges over a medium heat for 3 minutes until they’re softened and lightly browned, stirring regularly.

Season the pork with salt and black pepper, then add it to the pan and stir-fry with the onion for 2 minutes until lightly browned. Add the chorizo, garlic, peppers and beans and stir-fry together for 2 minutes more. Sprinkle with the spices and stir in the rice, then pour over the stock and bring to the boil.

Reduce the heat to a simmer and cook for 20 minutes, stirring regularly, until the liquid has been absorbed and the rice and pork are both lovely and tender.

Serves 4 Prep: 15 minutes Cooking time: about 30 minutes 2 tsp olive oil 1 medium onion, sliced into thin wedges 500g pork tenderloin, trimmed and cut into 1 cm slices 50g chorizo sausage, skinned and cut into 5mm slices 2 garlic cloves, thinly sliced 1 red and 1 orange pepper, deseeded and sliced 100g green beans, trimmed and cut into short lengths 1 tsp ground cumin 1 tsp ground coriander 1/2 tsp hot chilli powder 150g easy-cook long-grain rice 750ml chicken stock, made with 1 stock cube flaked sea salt freshly ground black pepper.

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A BIG SOUP 157 calories per portion A big soup to make you smaller, this is a tasty wholesome lunch on a cold day. Add a tablespoon of half-fat crème fraiche and a sprinkling of paprika for a guiltfree garnish that adds only 25 calories more per portion.

Heat the oil in a large non-stick saucepan or a big flameporof casserole dish. Add the onion and garlic and fry gently for 5 minutes until softened but not coloured, stirring often. While the onion is frying, peel the carrots and slice them into rough 1.5cm chunks. Trim the green beans and cut them into pieces about 3cm long.

Add the chorizo, paprika and carrots to the pan with the sliced onion and cook over a low heat for 2 minutes, stirring until the chorizo begins to release its fat. Season with salt and lots of black pepper. Tip the tomatoes into the same pan, add the stock and sugar, then turn the heat up to medium.

Bring the liquid to the boil. Reduce the heat slightly and leave the soup to simmer for 12 minutes. Add the canned and fresh

THE EDGEMOOR INN Approximately half way between Stroud and Gloucester, The Edgemoor Inn overlooks the beautiful, picturesque Painswick Valley and the village of Painswick, a quintessential English village known as ‘The Queen of the Cotswolds’.

There are over 100 listed buildings in the village, which is a total conservation area.

It has a rich history with a particularly colourful period during the Civil War when the Roundheads took refuge in the parish church of St.Mary, which dates from the eleventh century.

The late 19th century Inn, constructed from Cotswold stone, has picture style windows and is well known for its pretty panoramic views. Our property boasts an extensive terraced patio overlooking Painswick & surrounding countryside.

Edgemoor Inn sources as much fresh meat, fish & vegetables from local suppliers.

An extensive range of home cooked meals and daily specials are served each day lunchtime and evening. Vegetarian menus are always available. We serve the finest selection of local real ales from Uley, Wickwar and Stroud.

The Edgemoor Inn offers the very best in traditional Cotswold pub and restaurant dining - a warm welcome in delightful surroundings with well-presented home-cooked food. This is a combination that’s hard to beat.

TEL: 01452 813576 WWW.EDGEMOOR-INN.COM EDGE, NEAR STROUD, GLOUCESTERSHIRE GL6 6ND

beans and the kale and bring it back to a gentle simmer. Cook for 10 minutes until all the vegetables are just tender, adding a little extra water if the soup is looking too thick. Season the soup with salt and black pepper and serve in deep bowls.

Serves 6 Prep: 15 minutes Cooking time: 30 minutes 1 tbsp sunflower oil 1 medium onion, finely sliced 3 garlic cloves, finely sliced 3 medium carrots 150g green beans 75g chorizo sausage, skinned and cut into 1cm slices 1 tsp hot smoked paprika 1/2 tsp flaked sea salt, plus extra to season 400g can of chopped tomatoes 1.4 litres chicken stock, fresh or made with 1 stock cube 1 tsp caster sugar 400g can cannellini beans, rinsed and drained 150g curly kale, thickly shredded freshly ground black pepper.

OUT & ABOUT

JUNE - AUGUST 2015

both the tools to bake like a pro and decadent delights to buy. Plus all tickets include entry to BBC Gardeners’ World Live so you get two great shows for the price of one!

Tickets from £24.25 Halls 17 - 19 Car Parking: £12.00 per day The NEC, Birmingham, B40 1NT Tel: 0121 780 4141 Cheltenham Food & Drink Festival 12th to 14th June 2015 This Festival at Cheltenham is a gastronomic delight, with over 226 exhibitors; the scope of local & regional products on show ensures there is something for everyone.

BBC GOOD FOOD SHOW SUMMER

Thursday 11 June 2015 - Sunday 14 June 2015 Join us at The NEC from 11-14 June 2015 for a great summer day out packed with entertainment, shopping, tasting and inspiration.

All tickets include a seat in the Supertheatre†, to see your favourite chefs and experts cooking live on stage. See this year’s star line-up - Mary Berry, John Torode, James Martin and back by popular demand the Two Greedy Italians: Antonio Carluccio & Gennaro Contaldo. You can taste, try and buy from 100s of speciality producers in the Producers’ Village and stock up on cookware and kitchen gadgets from famous brands.

If you are a baking enthusiast then don’t miss out on the Bakes & Cakes Village packed with

You’ll find an astonishing variety of victuals from oatcakes to aphrodisiac Quince, the widest range of baked goods, meats, fish, cheeses, jams, chutneys and much more on offer; this is the regional food event not to be missed.

The Taittinger Champagne Pavilion, an exclusive corner of Montpellier Gardens invites you to enjoy the finest perfectly chilled glass of champagne or why not sample the full decadent experience and share a bottle of Champagne on ice, with friends.

Open Times: Friday 12noon to 7pm; Saturday 10am to 7pm; Sunday 10am to 5pm.

Tickets: www.garden-events.com Free Festival Programme and online ticket sales visit: www.cheltenham-food-festival. garden-events.com

WED 1 APRIL 11.00 & 2.00

CHRIS & PUI ROADSHOW

£12.75*/ £10.75* (disc) / £43 (fam)

FORTHCOMING ATTRACTIONS FOR SPRING

BOX OFFICE

01527 65203

THUR 2 APRIL 7.30

A NIGHT OF DIRTY DANCING

£19.25* & £18.25* (disc)

THUR 16 APRIL 7.30

69 SHADES OF BLACK £22.00* & £20.00* (disc)

FRI 17 APRIL 7.30

A BLACK COUNTRY NIGHT OUT £15.75*

THUR 9 APRIL 7.30

SAT 18 APRIL 7.30

£20.75*

£19.25* & £18.25* (disc)

TALON The Best of the Eagles SAT 11 APRIL 7.30

ESSENCE OF IRELAND £22.25*

BIG GIRLS DON’T CRY

Guildford will host celebrations for Armed Forces Day 2015

Saturday 27 June 2015.

Guildford, with its strong historic and present day military links, has been chosen to host the prestigious Armed Forces Day national event on Saturday 27 June 2015.

Guildford Borough Council is planning an exciting line-up of events including a special service at Guildford Cathedral, a formal parade in Guildford High Street, and a spectacular military show at Stoke Park followed by ‘picnic and proms in the park’. An impressive air display will complete a memorable day.

Mayor of Guildford, Cllr David Elms will lead the Council’s team organising the event. He said: Guildford will be the focus for the whole country and this wonderful celebration will allow local people and the wider community to thank all those working within our Armed Forces. We expect to welcome tens of thousands of residents and visitors. I hope that everyone enjoys their time with us on this special day.

WED 13 MAY 7.30

MIDGE URE

Breathe Again £18.75* & £17.75* (disc)

THUR 21 MAY 7.30

AN EVENING WITH PAM AYRES £23.75*

SAT 23 MAY 7.30

THE DRIFTERS

The Rebranded Tour £26.75* & £25.00*

WED 29 APRIL 8.00

THUR 28 MAY 2.00

Live and Unleashed But Naturally Cautious £15.75*

£14.75* & £55.00* (family ticket)

ANDY PARSONS

THE CHUCKLES OF OZ

Online booking www.redditchpalacetheatre.co.uk *inclusive of booking fee 75p per ticket up to a max of £3 20

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Cornbury Music Festival

10, 11, 12 July 2015 The 12th Cornbury Music Festival is one-of-akind: an eclectic and eccentric musical carnival – a dynamic summer festival disguised as a country fayre – a lovingly crafted, top notch, very English open air party, tailor-made for the whole family.

Like the best of England, The Cornbury Music Festival is eccentric, charming and irresistible – a homespun melting pot where musiclovers share pies and a glass of champagne with superstars, toffs, rockers, crooners, Morris dancers, farmers, urbanites, fashionistas, gourmet chefs and the little old ladies who make exceptional cakes.

Web: www.cornburyfestival.com.

The Great Tew Park Estate, OX7 4AF

The Battle Proms Concerts at Blenheim Palace

11th July 2015 Every summer thousands of concert-goers pack up a picnic, stock up on fizz and join the party in the stunning grounds of Blenheim Palace for the Battle Proms Concert.

air you will have the opportunity to visit her on the ground for a small donation to the Vulcan to the Sky Trust.

On the weekend (18/19 July) you can enjoy a thrilling 7.5 hour flying display each day featuring fast jets, giant transporters, historic aircraft and much, much more. There will be a chance to meet the crews, get close to the aircraft and enjoy a feast of first class entertainment including the Techno Zone, an interactive showcase designed especially for youngsters, the Adrenalin Zone and the Vintage Village.

Add this to FREE entry for accompanied under16s and FREE parking for ticket holders, it’s clear that the Air Tattoo, held in support of the Royal Air Force Charitable Trust, offers unbeatable value for money.

Few events can rival the intensity, drama and spectacle on offer at the world's greatest airshow. The Air Tattoo, one of the UK's premier outdoor events, returns this summer with an

extravaganza of entertainment for all the family.

Alongside the thrilling flying action, visitors will be treated to non-stop entertainment on the ground - so whether a wide-eyed first timer for a seasoned airshow veteran, the experience is breathtaking.

Visit www.airtattoo.com or call our FREEPHONE ticket hotline 0800 107 1940

Fishing Festival

29 to 31 August 2015 THIS AUGUST BANK HOLIDAY * 48000 VISITORS * THE UK TOP ANGLERS *ATTRACTIONS FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY * FREE ENTRY * CRAFT VILLAGE & FUN FAIR The Evesham Festival is like no other angling festival in the country. Fierce competition, star names in action, a tented village to explore and a fun day out for all the family is always guaranteed. I cannot think of a better place to be for an August Bank Holiday weekend! It's a spectacle that you cannot afford to miss! www.eveshamfestival.com

Every summer thousands of concert-goers pack up a picnic, stock up on fizz and join the party in the stunning grounds of Blenheim Palace for the Battle Proms Concert.

The 11th annual Blenheim Palace Battle Proms Picnic Concert will be on Saturday 11th July 2015, and takes place directly overlooking the impressive South Front of the Palace.

In a very special Blenheim Palace Battle Proms event, 150 re-enactors will participate in a skirmish as part of the Road to Waterloo programme of events marking 200 years since the Battle of Waterloo.

Web: www.blenheimpalace.com/whats-on/ events/summer2015/the-battle-promspicnic-concert.html

The Royal International AirTattoo,RAF Fairford

17 July to 19 July 2015 RAFCTE is best known for staging the world's largest military airshow - The Royal International Air Tattoo - each year at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire. The origins of the Royal International Air Tattoo stretch back to an airshow first held at North Weald Airfield in 1971. Inspired by two air traffic controllers, Paul Bowen and Tim Prince, this modest event, organised wholly by volunteers, was originally held in support of the Royal Air Forces Association. Over the years this volunteer force has grown into an army, more than 3,500-strong, who bring with them a wealth of aviation and event-management experience that has helped the Air Tattoo grow into the enormous event it is today.

Vulcan XH558 will fly into the show on Friday 17 July and will then be on static display as part of our 'pit' experience where you will get a chance to get up close under the stewardship of the Vulcan to the Sky volunteers.

On Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 July she will soar into the skies above RAF Fairford and perform in the flying display. When not in the

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The 4,000 year old dog

Did you know that greyhounds make great pets? It’s not news, it is history.

The greyhound is one of the oldest breeds in existence and some scholars say they can be traced back about 4,000 years to cave drawings and they are the only dog breed mentioned in the Bible.

Even though our ancestors understood and loved this breed, is your ‘greyhound knowledge’ based in fact or do you believe the old common myths?

Greyhounds need a lot of exercise.

This is a myth. Greyhounds may be the fastest dog breed but they do not need excessive exercise. Most are happy with two 20 minute walks a day.

Greyhounds cannot live with cats or other small animals. This is a myth.

Not all greyhounds are interested in chasing and some can live perfectly at home with other small creatures such as cats, rabbits or chickens, however

it is best to speak to an RGT volunteer to find a perfect hound to fit with your family.

Greyhounds are aggressive. This is a myth. Greyhounds are by nature very gentle, people-oriented dogs and most are excellent with children and the elderly.

Greyhounds are low maintenance animals. This is a fact. Greyhounds are the ultimate low-maintenance pet.

They sleep a lot and they need little grooming.

Now that you’ve got the facts, why not find out for yourself? The Retired Greyhound Trust takes pride in matching the right greyhound to the right household and will help you find your next perfect pet. We have over 70 branches across England, Scotland and Wales and over 800 greyhounds of all ages and temperaments looking for loving homes.

Visit www.retiredgreyhounds.co.uk/Branches to find out more.

About the Retired Greyhound Trust

· The Retired Greyhound Trust (RGT)is a national charity dedicated to finding loving homes for ex-racing greyhounds · Since it was founded in 1975, the RGT has found more than 70,000 homes for greyhounds · The RGT finds almost 4,000 homes for greyhounds each year, making it one of the world’s largest single breed rehoming charities · The RGT has 72 volunteer-led branches across the country, dedicated to finding homes for the dogs in their area. There are over 1,000 volunteers that work to support the Trust.

21

RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show

           

Special 25th anniversary celebrations atthe Great Garden Festival 30 June – 5 July

From 30 June – 5 July, the world’s biggest annual flower show, run by the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), returns to the grounds of Hampton Court Palace in Surrey to celebrate the best in gardening through an eclectic mix of gardens, displays and shopping, as well as a very special silver anniversary.

 

There will be a range of exciting displays to mark the 25th year of RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show, including a 30 x 30m maze, which will greet visitors at the entrance to Thames Gate. The maze, designed by Tony Smith, will incorporate a mix of turf and hedging in celebration of the anniversary. An exclusive silver anniversary turf sculpture, in partnership with Rolawn, and a giant floral birthday cake courtesy of Ball Colegrave will form part of the celebrations.

 

This year a new zone is introduced to the Show as Feast replaces Escape to create, with Inspire and Grow, three zoned areas:

   

               

• In the Inspire zone, visitors can enjoy seven Conceptual Gardens following the theme of sensations, which will create an immersive and interactive experience.

• Grow will provide keen gardeners with access to a range of nursery displays, flower beds and plants for sale, as well as four new Historic Gardens.

•

The indulgent Feast zone will house all edible and grow-yourown exhibits, an array of food stands, and the ever-popular Cookery Theatre, which this year includes a pop-up Children’s’ Cookery Class to teach kids the importance of a balanced diet.

World-class gardens will range from the inspiring designs in the larger-scale Show Gardens to compact Summer Gardens and an exciting new category – World Gardens – which will transport visitors around the globe.

 

Additional show highlights this year will include:

 

The RHS Hub, based in the Inspire zone, will focus on bringing families and communities together,.

 

The Floral Marquee hosts 90 award-winning nurseries from around the UK. The Plant Heritage Marquee will house eight National Plant Collection holders, offering specialist advice and plants for sale.



Carrying on the history theme, the Festival of Roses will showcase a wide range of beautiful, colourful and scented roses within a historic walled garden setting.





Once again, the Preview Evening will start the show, taking place on Monday 29 June from 5 to 10:30pm. Visitors can spend time listening to live music with friends and family while viewing the beautiful gardens and floral displays, before tucking into a picnic or a meal in one of the restaurants.



 

 

The RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show will run from 30 June – 5 July. For further information or to buy tickets, please visit the RHS website at www.rhs.org.uk/hamptoncourt

Tomatoes, Prostate Health and the Mediterranean Diet The Mediterranean diet is often associated with healthy living. Research suggests that the humble tomato is a key constituent of this diet and may play a significant role in human health, especially of the prostate.

The belief that tomatoes have health benefits can be traced back to South American Indians, ideas that were brought to Europe by Columbus in the 15th century. Tomatoes were also thought to be aphrodisiacs, sometimes being referred to as Pommes d’Amour or “love apples”.

The key ingredient of tomatoes is lycopene, one of the world’s most powerful, naturally occurring antioxidants.

Responsible for tomatoes’ distinctive red colour, it is a member of a large family of coloured compounds called “carotenoids” that are found throughout the natural world.

Humans possess no mechanism to make carotenoids, instead we accumulate them from our diet. Some, such as betacarotene, are easily accumulated whereas others are much less easily absorbed.

Our bodies are hardly able to take up lycopene from raw tomatoes and need the fruit to be cooked or processed prior to eating. Alternatively, “bioavailable” lycopene supplements are becoming increasingly popular.

Lycopene is sometimes presented in the National media as a panacea, a miraclefood that cures almost everything. Whilst many claims are exaggerated, there is a large and credible research base that reports lycopene health benefits, particularly in relation to prostate cancer, heart disease, breast cancer and skin health.

The most extensive research has been conducted in the area of prostate cancer.

Lycopene is known to accumulate in the prostate gland and this has driven scientists to try to investigate its impact on the disease.

Some of this research has shown not only a positive association between high lycopene intake and a reduced risk of prostate cancer, but also benefits for those who already have the disease.

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Professor Ed Giovannucci from Harvard Medical School has been following the progression of 50,000 men since 1986, investigating the relationship between prostate cancer and lycopene consumption. In his latest 2014 report he notes: ‘Dietary intake of lycopene was associated with reduced risk of prostate cancer, especially lethal prostate cancer’.

A smaller trial at King’s College Hospital, London concluded: ‘Our clinical study lends weight to the probability that dietary supplementation from lycopene slows disease progression in men with prostate cancer.’

Although the exact mechanisms are not fully understood, many researchers think that lycopene’s antioxidant properties help to protect the body’s DNA from damaging free radicals. Others believe that lycopene improves cell-to-cell communication, reducing the risk of the uninhibited growth seen in cancer cells.

In all likelihood, several mechanisms are at work.

Every time a damaging free radical is removed by a lycopene molecule, the antioxidant becomes “spent” – the lycopene sacrifices itself to protect the body’s DNA. However, research has shown that the presence of plenty of vitamin C allows the “spent” lycopene molecules to be reactivated, rejuvenating them and preparing them to quench another poisonous free radical.

Staying Informed Professor George Truscott and two internationally renowned colleagues formed George & Partners back in 2000. The company provides readable, up-to-date, scientifically robust information about lycopene research, particularly that related to prostate cancer, breast cancer, heart disease and skin health. The company also develops food supplements based on the latest research.

To sign up for a free newsletter, please call 08000 234 235 or visit www.lycoplus.co.uk.

SPECIAL OFFER FOR 50 PLUS READERS

Natural Lycopene Each Lycoplus EXTRA capsule contains 15mg of natural lycopene plus 60mg of vitamin C which reactivates "spent" lycopene, enhancing and prolonging the effect of the supplement.

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To order: call 0333 088 0331, visit www.lycoplus.co.uk or write to Freepost PROSTATE and quote discount code “50plus” George & Partners Limited, Med IC4, Keele University Science Park, Staffordshire ST5 5NL

23

Leave a legacy to support retired greyhounds.

Every year the Retired Greyhound Trust finds thousands of homes for retired racing greyhounds. We have found over 60,000 homes since we were established in 1976.

Our priority as a charity is to look after these wonderful dogs, but we simply couldn’t continue our vital work without your support. The generosity of those who leave a gift in their Will is particularly important to us.

A gift in your Will can make a difference to the lives of retired racing greyhounds nationwide.

Yes, I would like to know about leaving a gift to the RGT I would like to help today by donating £ ______________ Title: _________ Name:_________________________________________________________ Address: ______________________________________________________________________

Please return coupon to: Retired Greyhound Trust Park House, 1-4 Park Terrace, Worcester Park, Surrey, KT4 7JZ

www.retiredgreyhounds.co.uk

____________________________________________________ Postcode: _________________

50+ 2015

Cheque or Postal Order (Payable to Retired Greyhound Trust)

Visa/Mastercard

Card number: Expiry date: Security Code:

Valid from:

Issue No:

Signature: _____________________________________

Tick if you do not wish to receive future postal communications. We’ll never sell your details.

Charity numbers 269668 & SC044047

Getting a safe taxi in Solihull There are 2 types of taxis operating within Solihull, Private Hire vehicles, also known as minicabs, and Hackney Carriage vehicles, also known as black cabs.

The main differences between the two are that a Private Hire vehicle can be a saloon car, people carrier or minibus and a Hackney Carriage is a London style cab or purpose built vehicle. Only a Hackney Carriage can wait in a rank, ply for trade and legally stop when hailed in the street whereas a Private Hire vehicle must be pre-booked through a licensed operator. Hackney Carriages can also be pre-booked through an operator.

Be safe: Only use licensed hackney carriages and licensed private hire vehicles.

your taxi is due to arrive with the vehicle details or they will ring you to say they have arrived at the pick up address.

•

If you don’t feel comfortable with the taxi that arrives for you or stops for you then trust your instincts and take another one.

•

Reporting any problems to the police or licensing authority as you may help protect future passengers. If you are going to report a problem try to remember as much detail as possible about the vehicle, driver and where and when you were travelling.

Private hire vehicles can look like this

Private Hire vehicles display 2 yellow identification plates, 1 small one on the inside of the windscreen and 1 larger plate on the exterior rear of the vehicle. Hackney Carriages display 2 white identification plates, 1 small one on the inside of the vehicle and 1 larger plate on the exterior rear of the vehicle.

Keep safe by: •

Never getting into an unmarked car. If this happens there is often no way of tracing the offender as they are not registered taxi drivers and if you were to be involved in an accident you will not be insured. An unlicensed taxi is operating illegally and has not gone through the checks on drivers and vehicles that a licensing authority enforces.

•

When the taxi arrives, before you get into it make sure you ask the driver the name of the customer he/she is there to pick. Many operators will send you a text when

Hackney Carriage vehicles can look like this

Available on request @tccarsltd T.C. Cars Ltd

Be booked, be insured!!

Why Trust Anyone Else?

Download our app

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25

Soothing, stylish dining is on the menu with the help of Colours at B&Q

New Looks For Your Home This Spring IF there’s one thing the freshness of Spring brings it’s the chance to take a new look at our homes.

26

Winter-time tends to make us close the curtains, keep cosy and just enjoy being indoors, but Springtime is all about renewal – and our homes are at the front-line of these plans.

This may be the year, for example, when you finally add that muchneeded EXTENSION, SUNROOM or ORANGERIE to your home. Or you can make your living room and kitchen into a major open-plan space that could quickly become the heart of family living.

You may want to add the light and space of a CONSERVATORY. The key here is to ensure that it doesn’t look “tacked on” to your property. It’s important to give the appearance of flowing from the main house with the same flooring and décor.

Be careful not to over-extend your property, though, at the expense of your garden. Most of us value that bit of green space especially in the Spring and, if you’ve got the time and the interest, your garden can become a pleasing feature of both your home and your lifestyle.

Converting your garage into an extra bedroom or a kitchen extension works well in many homes. Most of us don’t use our garages properly anyway. They

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HOME Steam-clean your KITCHEN area – you’ll be amazed how this lightens the place and update white electrical sockets with chrome. Kitchens are a central area in most homes these days so it’s worth investing in new cupboard doors or work surfaces for a more modern look.

can easily become cluttered and many are never employed for their prime use as somewhere to keep the car, so using what your property already has available makes sense.

Changing your old FRONT-DOOR to a more modern design, preferably with glass to allow in plenty of light, is a simple way to freshen up both the outside and the inside of your home.

This can help update the HALLWAY which, after all, is the first opportunity you have to make an impression on any visitor. Bold wallpaper in bright colours on a white background is a great modernising option here. Hallways need light so look at your lighting and consider updating and add a mirror or two to maximise this.

Brighten up that home office space with a lively blind from Direct Blinds at www.directblinds.co.uk

Go for inexpensive plain tiles in toning colours to highlight smart units and one of the new textured floor coverings or rustic tiles. Even treating yourself to a set of brightly coloured kettle, toaster

0121 745 7475 Freephone 0800 783 8250

Before you start buying items or investing in paint and wallpaper, a simple way to brighten up your home and give it a fresh feel is to undertake some serious de-cluttering.

Take an honest look at every room and see what you can take out to allow clearer surfaces, cleaner lines and a general feeling of space. It can be hard breaking the emotional link to many of the items we insist on hoarding but try to be objective about possessions.

Most of us happily take the same items through each house move as though they had a right to be in the new place when, in fact, they’re of no real use to daily life.

Chuck out what you can’t give to the local charity shops. The same applies to dated pieces of furniture – especially those surplus to requirements. Some charities, like the British Heart Foundation and homeless charity Emmaus, sell second-hand furniture to boost their funds and are often glad to collect saleable items in good condition.

Changing your home doesn’t need to be all about costly major changes, though. Going for a new COLOUR SCHEME or using WALLPAPER cleverly on a feature wall in an otherwise plain room can transform your property.

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27

HOME and coffee-maker can make your kitchen look chic.

Your DINING ROOM or dining area needs to be a place where you enjoy spending time so, even if this is a small space, create something special here.

Buy a lovely chandelier and choose cool light greys and other pleasing shades so that you can eat in a pretty area that makes the whole experience a pleasure.

You don’t need to change everything in your BATHROOM – although if you’ve still got an avocado suite that might prove the exception! The most enduring contemporary look for bathrooms these days is still a white suite.

SHOWERS are quite futuristic now, as well as being very lifestyle-friendly, so changing your old shower is a practical improvement that won’t break the family budget. Going for natural colours on the walls, whether in tiles or emulsion, can be off-set by jewelcoloured towels and other accessories that can be picked up relatively cheaply.

If you’re wanting a major change here and want to invest in your home, having a WET ROOM has become popular. Even smaller bathrooms can be adjusted with concealed shower trays that give the appearance of a wet room which can prove very practical.

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Turn your bedroom into a contemporary and relaxing place with Somers bedding from LUMA bathroom in particular. Ditch the laundry basket for a start – you really don’t need to keep laundry here.

Replace it instead with a pop-up laundry caddy for each bedroom.

Invest in an over-door towel rail, which is great for hanging up your damp towels. And go through all those lotions and potions that everyone has in their bathroom. They take up a lot of space and it’s a safe bet that you’ll never use most of them!

New BEDDING can alter a tired-looking bedroom, especially if you complement the shades in the rest of the décor.

Jarring colours don’t work well here as this room is all about relaxing and winding down, so go for soothing neutrals with restrained colours.

Now so many people work from home, many of us have a HOME OFFICE but the temptation is just to hive off a space and stick a fitted desk in there. Instead, how about creating a work area that really does promote positive thinking with a fresh lick of white paint and a feature blind on the window with a splash of colour?

Don’t forget the WALLS throughout your home, either. An eye-catching painting, much-loved family photo or just a print that you like can come to life with a beautiful frame that adds interest to your home, and helps promotes the feelgood factor of Spring.

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ISOLATION EPIDEMIC CAN BE FIXED BUT WE NEED OUR COMMUNITY BACK Forget terrorism and a lack of savings, feeling lonely is keeping us awake at night according to neuroscientist and cognitive psychologist Dr Lynda Shaw who says isolation of the elderly and the vulnerable is becoming an epidemic and the only solution is trying to rebuild a sense of community that has been largely lost in the UK this century.

“Facebook and online social networks may encourage ‘virtual’ communities but they are no replacement for a sense of community in the real world.

We are turning more and more into a work and electronic gadget obsessed nation, who are losing our green spaces for children to play in and our local amenities, spending less time with our families and with different generations, and older people are losing their independence and dignity.”

Shaw says: “The elderly, the bereaved, the disabled and individuals suffering from either mental or physical illness feel isolated which has a profound effect on their health and well-being and on us as a society. Whilst it is commonly acknowledged that isolation is rife, intervention is not forthcoming and we need to start combatting the growing problem by mixing age groups, religions and so on. We need school classes to visit care homes or go on a meals on wheels outing. We need different religious groups to socialise. We need to have more local events raising money for more local projects.

“If we carry on with our day to day lives oblivious to those in need around us, particularly within our own community, we are losing key structures in society including trust, understanding, patience and open-mindedness. We are also losing our feeling of belonging. We are all going to need our community at some point so it is important to give whilst you can, be it something as simple as giving someone a lift somewhere, or knocking on someone’s door for a chat if they know you.”

Shaw describes that whilst over the years a community often changes, sometimes for better but sometimes for the worse, we need to be able to adjust whilst falling back on good old fashioned values of welcoming new neighbours, helping someone in need or hosting a pub quiz for a community project.

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Scam Watch What’s your favourite prank to play? Whether it’s with unsuspecting friends or the grand-kids, we’ve probably all pulled – and been on the receiving end of – a trick or two in our time. But what about those tricks that aren’t quite as innocent – the ones that are designed to part you with your cash. Well, you’ll be glad we “made you look” as we go through some of the more common pranks you should be on the look-out for.

Shoulder surfers: one of the most common ways for fraudsters to acquire your PIN is not through sophisticated techniques of card cloning, but simply by watching over your shoulder as you enter it. Always be wary of people standing behind you at cash points and when entering your PIN in a shop.

Phishing: have you won a lottery you didn’t enter? Had a

request from “your bank” to confirm your details? These are all phishing scams and you will end up losing money. Look out for the email originating from an unusual address, or failing to address you by name. Some can be more convincing and even look like they have been sent to you by friends. If in doubt, don’t give your details out.

Hang-up, no you hang-up: imagine it – you receive a call from

your bank telling you your account had been compromised and you need to act fast to save your cash! You’d do exactly as you were told right? But stop, this is a scam. Your bank would take its own steps to prevent fraud on your account, it would never require you to give out your full account number, password, PIN or hand over your card to a courier – ever. Even if you’re convinced you’re on the phone to your bank – never give out this information.

Payment protection insurance (PPI) refunds: you receive a text or call from someone claiming to be your bank, the Ministry of Justice, or a PPI company telling you that you’re owed money from mis-sold PPI. But, you must pay an administration fee before the refund can be processed. Don’t give away any money! If you have a PPI complaint, you can come to the ombudsman for free and save yourself giving your cash to claims managers unnecessarily.

Online shopping scams: many of us are beating the queues

by shopping online these days – and the good news is that the majority of transactions are completed with no problem. But always be wary of a seller (or buyer) who asks you to complete transactions outside of the official payment channels like PayPal – as you may find you’re not protected if the item you’re buying, or the money for the goods you’ve sold, doesn’t show up.

We hope these tips help you get ahead of the game. But if you’ve lost out to a fraudster, don’t panic. Tell your bank what’s gone wrong but if you’re still not able to get things sorted out, the ombudsman may be able to help on 0300 123 9 123 or www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk.

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TOP TIPS FOR TACKLING LONELINESS Whether your family has flown the nest, you’ve moved to a new area or you’ve lost your loved one, we can all find ourselves lonely at times. Sandy Sidhu, Founder of Silver Villages suggests tips to tackle loneliness.

By Sandy Sidhu, Founder of Silver Villages

1. Find the time - Think about old friends you may have fallen out of touch with who you think might just love to hear from you! Websites such as Facebook make it much easier to track old friends down. If you haven’t already sign up for an e-mail account and skype to make free video calls.

2. Be around children - Children have a natural joy and exuberance that makes us feel good and smile, so make time to play with your grandkids or family - their innocence and joy is infectious!

3. Holiday – Arrange a holiday either abroad or in this country with either your friends or family. Or consider going on your own. Companies such as Solos travel specialise in packages for single travellers. It’s wonderful to have something so exciting to look forward to.

4. Consider a pet - Having a pet is more often that not a very loving experience. Getting an easy to look after pet dog encourages you to get out the house and get some fresh air. If you can’t have your own dog, help someone else out and help look after their dog at www.borrowmydoggy.com.

5. Start something new - Why don’t you take up a hobby or learn something new? It provides an opportunity to meet people and start a friendship. Join a group, club or a community to have lovely things to look forward to. If you have the time, voluntary work is also a wonderful way to give back and to meet new people.

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Getting to know your elderly care options in the West Midlands A guide to help you plan for your needs in later life.

If you’re concerned about the care of a loved one, it can be difficult to know where to turn. It’s not always easy to talk about elderly care and you may go through a range of emotions, or feel that you’re on your own.

Aside from the emotional strain, families also have to get to grips with the implications of paying for care, which can be complex. There’s also the decision about which care to choose, which will depend on a number of factors, including the level of care required.

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It’s common for someone needing a care home to feel a burden and for relatives to feel guilty about not being able to provide the care themselves. However, life in a care home can bring great benefits; helping people to stay independent for longer in a safe and homely environment, while ensuring help is at hand when needed.

Care homes can also offer a real community spirit, where people can interact with their fellow residents, families and friends and enjoy a more active social life based on their interests and hobbies.

If you would like advice based on your personal circumstances, or you are just not sure where to start, whether it’s queries about funding, getting help to look after someone at home, or just starting the conversation with a loved one about care, Bupa offers a free advice service run by experts.

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