50 PLUS MAGAZINE BLACKBURN, BURNLEY & RIBBLE VALLEY

OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2018

BLACKBURN BURNLEY & RIBBLE VALLEY EDITION 55

Anton Du Beke

THE STRICTLY COME DANCING STAR

Out and About SPONSORED BY WINTER GARDENS

October

BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH

WWW.50PLUSMAGAZINE.CO.UK

“ROOF AND INSULATION PROBLEMS

SOLVED PERMANENTLY”

REDUCE HEAT LOSS

BY UP TO

58% RENOVATE, INSULATE & PROTECT your roof FOR LIFE! THE ROOFSURE SYSTEM IS IDEAL FOR LINING, BONDING, WATERPROOFING & INSULATING YOUR HOME. STOPS SLIPPING SLATES, TILES AND LEAKS, ELIMINATING THE NEED FOR FUTURE EXTERNAL ROOFING MAINTENANCE.

REASONS WHY

100’s of Thousands

SURE: OF CUSTOMERS HAVE ALREADY CHOSEN ROOF

1

The UK’s No.1 foam insulation company

2

Our unique spray-on foam insulates, waterproofs, bonds and lines your roof

3

Will reduce heat loss by up to 58% - save money!

4

The whole process takes just 1-2 days to complete quick, easy, clean

5 6

Can be applied to roofs with or without felt It transforms your cold, damp, draughty loft space into a warm, dry, clean, useable room

30-YEAR

7 8

manufacturers guarantee + 10-YEAR insurance-backed guarantee We have the Government’s Trust Mark for “Good trading practices, good customer service and technical competence” We never use subcontractors, only our expertly trained staff For 30 years a family run business

9

FREE FREE £100

LOFT LADDER & FLOORING

WORTH £750

TO ENJOY YOUR

CLEAN DRY SPACE

WORTH OF B&Q VOUCHERS

FREE SURVEY NO OBLIGATION

OVER 60?

YOU MAY BE ELIGIBLE FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE OR A SUBSIDY PAYMENT

CLASS 1 CLOSED CELL FIRE RETARDANT FOAM

AS SEEN ON TOMORROW’S WORLD 1977

10

Find out more at: www.roofsure.co.uk

FREEPHONE: 0800 999 4880 TELEPHONE LINES OPEN 24 HOURS A DAY, 7 DAYS A WEEK

FREE roof survey applies to homeowners only and is part of your roofsure treatment

TWITTER

Twittering on With Angela Kelly Commonsense on our NHS is long overdue WE appear to be a nation that is quite comfortable with not bothering to turn up for our hospital appointments.

How else can you explain eight million missed outpatient appointments last year at an average cost of £120 each?

That meant £1 billion lost to our underfire and under-funded NHS. And it’s the patients who have caused that loss!

It seems crackers to me. Like shooting yourself in the foot several times and then complaining that your foot’s a bit sore.

According to NHS England, that money could have funded almost a million cataract operations or a quarter of a million hip replacements. At a time when people may have to wait ridiculously long times – often in pain and with a severely restricted lifestyle – for these procedures it seems a national scandal. ing people to use our health services responsibly, though, seems like a cry in the wilderness. People with coughs and colds rock up at A & E, filling waiting rooms, using resources and generally clogging up a system plainly not meant for such trivial ailments when a quick trip to the local pharmacist could get them sorted in no time.

We’ve also never had more medical help available to us at the end of a phone or online. Advice and guidance is there for all who ring the 111 services and GP surgeries are now far more streamlined to deal with the most serious cases first.

Last year, more than nine million people were sent home from A & E with just guidance and advice. Even doing this takes up important working hours and means the message is still not getting across.

There are regular arguments in favour of charging people for appointments as

inside

incentive to turn up but equal counterarguments that this hits the worst off in the population. And it still may not work.

In this 70th year of the NHS, its Chief Nurse Professor Jane Cummings is urging everyone to use the NHS properly. This includes cancelling appointments in good time to free them up for others – and being realistic about our ailments and not going to A & E unless we really do have an accident or an emergency.

Surely the time has come for genuine commonsense on this one?

STRICTLY ANTON

THE FUTURE IS LOOKING VERY ROSY 8-9

Sorry but not loving Love Island at all AM I wrong or are reality TV programmes becoming increasingly trivial?

I suppose it’s Love Island that has me all het up about the sort of viewing on our many channels.

HOME

BRING THE SUNSHINE INTO YOUR HOME 12-14

It may look wonderful – like a fantasy sunshine holiday for the under-30s consisting of beautiful young women and men - but its message of casual sex and ultra short-term relationships is an unhealthy one to send out to youngsters. Even if nine million viewers don’t agree.

While Masterchef in all its forms is actually informative, Jersey Shore and The Only Way Is Essex are the dross end of entertainment.

NATHAN OUTLAW'S FISH KITCHEN 24-26

Motorway Cops, Police Interceptors, Inside The Ambulance, 24 Hours in A & E and Nothing to Declare can actually shine a light on life as it’s lived by the majority.

But some of the house makeover programmes make you worry about the state of the British design industry today.

Viewers are actually reduced to watching paint dry.

Whatever next? Celebrity Colonscopy?

HEALTH

WAYS TO STAY HEALTHY 34-35

Bridgeman House | 77 Bridgeman Street | Bolton | BL3 6BY. Sales Enquiries : T: (01204) 238180 E: artwork@mcgrathmedia.co.uk

WWW.50PLUSMAGAZINE.CO.UK

|

3

My Life with Piles? Please ….. let’s get back to proper programmes.

Long live proper punctuation – it still matters!

SOME people doze off if you mention the word “punctuation” but I’m sure there are still people around who care about it.

I’m afraid I’m actually quite pedantic about grammar and punctuation while some people go for “the double”, abusing both at the same time.

Thanks to texting and posting online, “you’re” as an abbreviation for “you are” has now been replaced by the allpurpose “your”.

This is even creeping into emails, which are supposed to be fairly literate, to mean both a possession belonging to you and a quick form of “you are” at the same time.

And don’t get me started on the plight of the comma. The comma is meant to separate clauses in a complex sentence (sorry about the school marm bit there). More simply, it’s for when you would normally take a breath in a sentence.

As a friend once demonstrated beautifully in a Facebook post “My neighbour loves cooking children and dogs but hates commas.” Author Lynn Truss’s book on this subject, entitled “Eats Shoots and Leaves”, has a picture of a panda on the front to amply highlight what happens when commas fall out of favour.

The other victim of terrible punctuation abuse is the apostrophe. This is meant to indicate a missing letter, like “you’re”, but is the complete outcast of the punctuation world.

It crops up in the most unlikely places but refuses to appear when really needed. Examples to set the teeth on edge include a sign in a garden centre “Pansy’s ready” (is she?) and one in a supermarket “Fish Not Just For Friday’s” (Friday’s what?)

Grrrrrrr!

A spot of peace and quiet is just the job LIFE would be a lot easier if we were able to have enforced quiet moments in the day, don’t you think?

It’s so hard to escape noise these days. The TV seems to have a mind of its own when setting levels for individual programmes and then the loudness of the adverts can be quite a shock.

We have to put up with a certain amount of noise anyway – roadworks, car and lorry engines, motorbikes. People also often walk down the street shouting into their phones. Actually, I don’t care about their private lives or what they’re having for tea. Don’t share.

I’m convinced that people do talk more loudly generally now, having practised on their phones in the street. Normal conversation sounds like a fight and even children talk to each other by shouting.

A quiet time each day – say 3pm for half an hour – would do nicely. Any takers?

National Helpline 0800 917 7650 www.alcoholics-anonymous.org.uk

Alcoholics Anonymous has over 4,400 groups throughout Great Britain dedicated to helping those with a serious alcohol problem learn how to stay sober. Groups are made up of people from all walks of life and all age groups. Through friendship and mutual support, members assist each other in coping which is made easier by meeting others with the same problem. There are no dues or fees for membership and anonymity is carefully preserved.

Anyone who believes they have a drink problem can contact Alcoholics Anonymous by using the helpline number above or email; help@aamail.org Further information may be obtained from the web site above or from the General Service Office at the address below.

For information: P.O. Box 1, 10 Toft Green, York. YO1 7NJ Tel: 01904 644 026

4

| WWW.50PLUSMAGAZINE.CO.UK

Do you know how much your jewellery is worth?

We suspect not many people do.

While we are all well aware of the sentimental value of each piece of jewellery, knowing the exact replacement value can sometimes slip to the back of our minds. This is where Ainsworth Jewellers come to help.

As well as offering a wide range of fine and branded jewellery and watches, we offer a valuation service you can trust.

Insurance Valuations are the most common type of valuation we carry out. Without an accurate, up to date valuation you run the risk of being under insured in the event of loss or theft.

As well as providing you with a current replacement figure, we also offer a full package including a high resolution photograph and detailed description of each item, including stone qualities and settings. All this is carried out by a member of the Institute of Registered Valuers.

Please check your individual policy details for further information.

Home visits are available by appointment at an additional cost.

Please call or come into the store to discuss this further.

This is important for like to like replacements. Many insurance companies even insist that you have items over a certain value specified individually on your policy and regularly valued to ensure the limits are adequate.

Without this proof you may find that replacement is based on an item of lower quality rather than what you have actually lost.

Prices listed on our website: www.ainsworthjewellers.com Tel: 01254 59367

l

57-59 Darwen Street, Blackburn BB2 2BW

TRAVEL

50 Plus Travel

sponsored by

Great Rail Journeys on the Isle of Man

By Alan Fairfax from Silver Travel Advisor

Mention the Isle of Man and immediately visions of T.T. Racing come to the fore, but there is far more to this island sitting in the middle of the Irish Sea. My journey begins at Heysham boarding the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company ship Ben-my-Chree for the crossing to Douglas taking a little under 4 hours.

My stay is at the Claremont Hotel on the seafront.

The next morning, I ramble along the promenade, take in the warm sea air and surroundings, the peace only broken by the sound of horse’s hooves as they pull old fashioned trams along the promenade, an iconic form of transport that’s been operating since 1876.

The Manx Electric Railway built between 1893 and 1899 operating trams from Derby Castle to the village of Laxey in the east and the town of Ramsey in the north,

6

| WWW.50PLUSMAGAZINE.CO.UK

open sided carriages built in the late 1800’s, wood slatted seats and high roofs in pristine condition.

At Laxey board a tram to the summit of Snaefell the highest point on the island, its name coming from the Norse for ‘Snow Mountain’. The railway, completed in 1895 transports passengers on the 2036 ft ascent to Snaefells’ summit, the only stop, Bungalow Station, where some passengers alight to hike whilst others board for the last leg of the journey.

Again onwards, higher and higher, finally reaching the summit where it is said you can see the 7 Kingdoms, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, England, Mann, Heaven and Neptune. Clearly visible are the mountains of Mourne 66 miles away across the sea but all too soon it’s back on the tram for the return journey.

For those wanting to step back to the era of steam, you are not forgotten.

The Douglas to Port Erin steam train opened in 1874 still maintains the service between March and November. Board one of the original carriages, sit back, relax, the fire is well alight, steam is up and with a long blast of the whistle we are on our way to Port Erin. On arrival at Port Erin station visit the railway museum, see rolling stock and utilities from a bygone age.

Castletown the islands capital until 1869.

Visit the old House of Keys, former seat of the Manx Parliament, learn the parliaments history and that of the members who shaped the islands future.

Visit Castle Rushen, completed it is believed in the 16th century and one of the best examples of medieval castles in the British Isles.

This is an island that has much to offer the visitor. Museums celebrating the islands heritage, beaches matching those of foreign destinations, restaurants serving excellent dishes, comfortable hotels and guest houses at reasonable prices. The Isle of Man is a mix of the old and new and whichever is your preference you will not be disappointed.

Alan experienced Vintage Railways of the Isle of Man on an escorted group tour with Great Rail Journeys www.greatrail.com 01904 734 812.

From £780pp, the 6-day trip includes 4* hotel accommodation, all rail and excursions and selected meals. https://www.greatrail.com/ tours/vintage-railways-isle-of-manholidays/

QUALITY COACH HOLIDAYS WITH A DOOR 2 DOOR SERVICE QUALITY COACH HOLIDAYS WITH A DOOR 2 DOOR SERVICE CAERNARFON, ANGLESEY AND SNOWDONIA

Forty ShadeS oF Green 8 day extravaGanza

Based at Celtic Royal Hotel, Caernarfon A new tour as we venture into North Wales. First calling at the very popular resort Llandudno.

Based in WeStPort doneGaL andoftItanIC Time (half to browse and take lunch before we BeLFaSt board throughout).

We include head totoCaernarfon andKylemore our hotel,Abbey, the Celtic excursions Achill Island, Royal, situated on the edge of the town, just Glenveagh National Park and the Titanic Belfast. a few minutes walk to the centre. We have a Our classic hotels: the Castlecourt at Westport, super programme lined up including a full day Kee’s Hotel at Ballybofey and the Stormont in guided tour of Anglesey, past Treaddur Bay and Belfast.

RAF Valley, through quaint villages and visiting Beaumaris and Llanfair PG. Another day we head for Betws-y-Coed and the Llanberis Lake Railway, then a scenic circular to Pwllheli and Single Supplement : £129 19-16 June £699 Porthmadog. returning to Lancashire with time to browse Chester city.

8-12 OCT

£369

thIS Bute-I-FuL ISLand

Based at Cheltenham Chase Hotel Autumn in the Cotswolds and we have a Based at: Glenburn hotel, rothesay.

An super hotel in the Cheltenham Chase, quality included visit to Mount Stuart House and accommodation and fayre plus leisure facilities.

Gardens at Rothesay, A trip across the Kyles Our programme is National Trust based with visits Packwood House andtoGardens onwith our of Butetoand along Loch Fyne Inveraray outward admission journey. Then a day visiting Elgar's included to Inveraray Castle then hometowith afternoon Worcester. free back the the mainland overinthe Clyde toALoch day to browse Cheltenham with Lomond where Regency we include a cruise on thecoach Loch. transfers.with Our visits returntojourney takes us first to Finishing the pretty village of Luss Stratford with time to browse and take lunch and Loch Lomond shores. before we head north to Lancashire.

16-20 July

1-4 NOV

£409

£319

Limited singles: £0 Single Supplement : £80

ALL-INCLUSIVE SCOTTISH FESTIVE SPECIAL

Based at: maritim hotel, Konigswinter. We return this year to Germany’s Rhineland and Based at Palace Hotel, Inverness the superior Maritim hotel at Konigswinter.

It is without doubt one of our favourite Scottish Travelling first to the market town of Beverley hotels and we are pleased to return again for then on to Hull for overnight sea crossing on a little festive themed break this autumn. If you North Sea Ferries. We then make our way have travelled with us before you woll know that across Holland calling first at Valkenberg, the Palace offers the best all-inclusive package before crossing borderaccommodation into Germany and around with the excellent and a mid-afternoon arrival at Konigswinter. fayre - including a complimentary barThree from day 7pm excursion package included.wine Then Back to till 10pm each evening, with dinner Hull and afteraa54+ lunch time arrival in the littlelunch Dutchand item choice at breakfast, townafternoon of Sluis tea each day.

Single Supplement : £189 Single Supplement : £88

AUTUMN COLOURS OF THE SCOTTISH LOWLANDS auStrIa and LaKe Garda

Based at Barony Castle Hotel, Peebles We stay in the Scottish Lowlands for this years Autumn Colours, staying at the Barony Castle Hotel, in theBergland, village of Eddleston, Based at: hotel Seefeld - by Centrale Peebles.

The hotel offers quality and hotel, riva-del-Garda.

13 dayfayre super holiday accommodation, withFirst a small pool and leisure to Austria and Italy. we head for Hull facility.

Our journey included and overnight seaand crossings to excursions Zebrugge on take us Sea through Liddesdale, the Tweed Valley North Ferries (meals on-board and side and the coastal to North Berwick.

We the by side berths drive are included).

Next through also includetoaGermany full day inand the city of Edinburgh lowlands half-board overnight with a short guidedattour. return journey accommodation the Our superb Park Hotel, takes us through to Fussen Moffat then to Mannheim.

DayTweedsmuir 3 takes us to and the Lancashire.

Fernpass, then high into the mountains to our baseNOV for the next£375 4 nights, the Bergland Hotel, Singles Supplement: £100 5-9 Seefeld. Day excursions included.

25 July-6 august £1339

Single Supplement : £88

KonIGSWInter and the rhIneLand

13-20 august 18-22 NOV £869 £409

COSY COTSWOLDS IN AUTUMN

WInCheSter and the hamPShIre hIGhLIGhtS

BABBACOMBE TURKEY AND TINSEL

Based at: norton Park hotel, Sutton Scotney.

The Norton Park offers quality accommodation and fayre, with an included excursion package, Based at babbacombe bay hotel taking us first to city ofand Winchester, on Last seasider of the the year we returnthen to the to Bombay Sapphire Distillery for abittour and Babbacombe Bay hotel for a little of festive tasting. steam traina journey to Alton and a visit fun. TheAhotel offers full Turkey and Tinsel to Jane Austen’s House.

And finally head first programme along with good accommodation to Lyndhurst in include the Newexcursions Forest, then to Beaulieu and fayre. We visiting with included admission to the National Torquay, Brixham, Paignton, Totnes and Motor Museum Buckfast. and Beaulieu Palace.

26-30 august 3-7 DEC

£425 £249

Single Supplement : £84 Single Supplement : £20

BOOK NOW CALL FREEPHONE: 0800 9172862 BOOK NOW CALLUnit FREEPHONE: 0800 9172862 Reeves Coach Holidays, 9 Stancliffe Street Industrial Estate

Reeves CoachLancashire Holidays BB2 34 Monks Blackburn, 2QR Drive Withnell Chorley PR6 8SG

Singles Supplement: £189

BRUGGES CHRISTMAS arran, Bute and LoCh MARKETS Lomond

Based at: marine hotel, troon. A favourite Based at Acedemie Hotel, Brugge of are many, with superior hotel We pleased to offer one of accommodation. the most popular We take the ferrydestinations, to Arran then a scenic With driveits Christmas Market BRUGGES. around the top coast Christmas visiting thelights, Arranice distillery famed decorationsand rink with antoincluded lunch. Nextand up Belgian the Isle of and not mentionlight the chocolates Bute where we include a visit thebreak. splendid beers.

Relax, shop and just enjoytothe We travel

by Stuart the Channel for an early evening Mount HouseTunnel and Gardens.

Finally we arrival theClyde Academie Hotel.

Wecrossing also include followatthe coastal route the anErskine excursion to the Christmas Market at we the very bridge to Loch Lomond where popular of Ypres. includetown a cruise on the Loch.

7-11 october 14-17 DEC

£459 £379

Single Supplement : £95 Single Supplement : TBA

e: e: info@reevescoachholidays.com info@reevescoachholidays.com www.reevescoachholidays.com | 7 WWW.50PLUSMAGAZINE.CO.UK www.reevescoachholidays.com

CELEBRITY INTERVIEW

Strictly

ANTON

ANTON du Beke was just about to waltz into another series of Strictly Come Dancing when we chatted but, being Anton, he was very laidback about it all.

“It’s going to be as wonderful as always,” he assured me. “They always try to make the production better and better and the professional dancers always try to do something different and exciting.”

excelled at boxing, played county football and enjoyed golf.

Talking to Anton, who has been in the extremely popular BBC One show since it began in 2004, is just as you would expect from what you see of him on TV. He’s pleasant, chatty, genuine and completely charming.

He left school at 16 and worked in a number of day-jobs to fund his dance training, taking dance lessons at night. At 17 he was specialising in ballroom dancing and already competing as an amateur. His favourite dance was, and still is, the foxtrot – the classy, stylish romantic dance steeped in the golden era of Hollywood and his idol Fred Astaire.

He is also multi-talented. Apart from being very funny, he has a pleasant singing voice and brought out an album of songs last Christmas - and, of course, he’s quite handy when it comes to dancing as well.

Born and brought up in Kent as Anthony Paul Beke, he was a sporty youngster who

8

| WWW.50PLUSMAGAZINE.CO.UK

But when, at 14, he was sent to a local dance class to meet his sister one evening, he found a new interest. The dance classes soon tempted him in and, before long, he realised that this was the direction in which he wanted his life to go.

In 1997, Anton met dancer Erin Boag and their magical chemistry on the dancefloor soon became apparent. They began competing professionally and won many national and international awards.

As fate would have it, they also came to the attention of the BBC producers planning a new programme called Strictly Come Dancing. Soon, the two dancers became an established part of what turned into one of the most popular shows on TV. Although Erin left Strictly after Series 10 (the latest is Series 16) it’s a tribute to both their skills and wonderful partnership that they tour successfully around the country with their own show.

Over the years, Anton has proved to be a patient partner and talented teacher with many of the Strictly celebrities. Ask him who has been his favourite celebrity partner and he is far too diplomatic to highlight just one. But viewers well remember him dancing with politician Ann Widdecombe who was not the most, ahem, natural dancer. Together, however, they provided some remarkably entertaining television and each remains very complimentary about the other.

He also partnered opera singer Lesley Garrett, Esther Rantzen, Gillian Taylforth, Laila Rouass, Nancy Dell’Olio, Jerry Hall, Kate Garraway, Judy Murray and BBC Proms’ queen Katie Derham with whom he reached the final.

Anton’s own talents are seldom eclipsed by his celebrity partners but he always seems to bring out the best in them. “That’s what I try for,” he explained. “I just want people to be the best they can and to have a lovely time. It would upset me if they weren’t happy or enjoying themselves.”

Anton keeps himself very fit – “just by eating the right kind of things and looking after myself generally”. At 52, he doesn’t do anything special and thinks he has been “lucky” to avoid major injuries over the years.

“If something hurts, I don’t do it any more,” he insisted with a great laugh.

For relaxation, he still plays golf – “and I quite like going out on my own. I love that feeling of space and having some time to myself.”

His life is certainly more hectic at home these days. Early last year, he married Hannah Summers and the couple now have one year-old twins, George and Henrietta.

It’s plain that Anton is a beautifully besotted Dad. “I love being with them,” he stated. “I could look at them for hours, just watching what they’re doing.”

For all his easygoing charm, though, Anton’s current schedule is a hectic one.

The Saturday after we spoke he was taking part in the first show of the new Strictly series – the prelude to tough rehearsals and shows in an absorbing schedule until mid-December’s final.

“It’s not like getting up and going to a job you hate, though,” he said. “I still love doing Strictly.”

He also has a new book out in October.

He has already written two books: Anton’s Dance Class, a step-by-step guide to ballroom and Latin dances, and B is for Ballroom, focussing on his favourite style of dance.

The new book is rather different. It’s fiction, entitled One Enchanted Evening and is set in London’s Buckingham Hotel early in the first half of the 20th century. “This is a time

that appeals to me a lot,” added Anton.

“I love the style, the clothes, the music everything about it.”

The thrust of the book is intrigue and romance and Anton has used characters he has met during his career along with stories from dance instructors and “lots of my favourite things.”

Also on the horizon is his next tour with Erin, called Dance Those Magical Musicals, which kicks off in Northampton in January and takes in 29 venues right across the UK and Ireland. As you might expect now from Anton and Erin, it’s a production of

stunning costumes, glorious music and breathtaking choreography.

“We have the orchestra on stage with us and there’s a wonderful feeling of timeless theatre,” added Anton.

The music is from iconic shows from Mary Poppins and Top Hat to Hairspray and Jersey Boys and Lance Ellington – a favourite Strictly singer – is also performing.

So, for the contented Anton du Beke, the future is looking very rosy.

* For more information about Anton and Erin’s new tour go to www.antonanderinlive.co.uk or the national ticket hotline 0844 847 2319. One Enchanted evening is published

by Zaffre in hardback and ebook at £18.99.

WWW.50PLUSMAGAZINE.CO.UK

|

9

Real lives

Give Your Property KERB APPEAL

Are you looking to transform the front of your house with an attractive new driveway?

I

f so, then a resin drive is well-worth considering.

Resin bound surfacing is a porous paving material made from a mixture of aggregate stones and resin. It combines the best attributes of other surfaces – the appearance of loose gravel, the strength of concrete and the flexibility of tarmac – whilst being easier to maintain than all three!

It’s environmentally friendly too – unlike bonded systems, a resin bound surface allows water to drain through just as Mother Nature intended, so you can minimise the impact on the environment and avoid puddles at the same time.

Resin bound surfacing comes in a choice of over 40 unique colours and is suitable for all types of properties and projects including driveways, patios, paths, terraces and roof gardens.

The benefits of a resin driveway

Slip resistant surface Adds value to your property No planning permission required Suitable for listed buildings, urban or rural properties ✔ Completely porous, so no puddles or floods ✔ Weed adverse materials ✔ Strong and durable so it will outlast other driveway options ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔

Sarah Beeny, property developer and TV presenter, is a big fan of resin drives. “Resin is definitely the perfect drive finish,” she says. “It’s so practical — being totally porous it drains brilliantly and doesn’t create puddles. It’s lovely to walk on, has a long-lasting durable finish and is available in an amazing range of colours.”

“It’s a bit like a little black dress. You can dress it up glitzy glam if you want a real Hollywood look, or it can blend perfectly with a natural rural setting.”

She recommends Resindrives.co.uk for their professional service and high-quality work on her driveway: “They arrived when they said they would, gave us a clear time schedule for the work and were finished early”, she says.

“All the fitters were polite and charming and properly cleaned up after themselves. They did a beautiful job and were complete perfectionists.”

Resindrives.co.uk have been installing resin driveways successfully since 2007. To find out more or get a free quote, call 0800 007 5733 or visit www.resindrives.co.uk.

10 | WWW.50PLUSMAGAZINE.CO.UK

CALL TODAY FOR A FREE QUOTE AND SURVEY

0800 007 5733 OVER 20,000 INSTALLATIONS NATIONWIDE VISIT OUR WEBSITE TO FIND OUT MORE

www.resindrives.co.uk

Create extra parking space & amazing kerb appeal...

...or get the most out of your garden with a picture-perfect patio.

BUY

*

NOW PAY LATER

ORDER NOW AND WE'LL PAY YOUR VAT

Specialists in driveways, paths and patios.

• A porous surface kinder on the environment. • Slip-resistant and wheelchair friendly.

• Hand-trowelled for an impeccable finish.

• Excellent traction ideal for driving.

• Prevents flooding, puddles and • Available in a wide range of colours unsightly weeds. and styles.

Approved Materials & Systems Cert No. 18/5476

*Resindrives.co.uk is a trading name of resindrives.co.uk ltd. Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FRN743675) We are a credit broker and not a lender, we offer credit facilities from a panel of lenders.

Finance subject to status. Terms and conditions apply.

✓ BBA approved installation process. ✓ Insurance backed guarantee. ✓ Over 10 years experience.

HOME

Bring the Sunshine into

YOUR HOME

Your FRONT DOOR may be well past its prime, too, so consider buying a new door, perhaps with more glass in to allow light into the hallway. And could your hallway do with redecorating and painting a bright colour?

Start using more FOLIAGE in the home.

Fresh plants have very definite health

Although our wonderful Summer has left us and Autumn is here You don’t always need hot sun and high temperatures to make your home welcoming. There are plenty of ways to improve your property that makes you FEEL like Summer every day.

Start by taking a practical look at the OUTSIDE of your property. Is it looking tired? Could it do with a coat of fresh paint? Does plasterwork and woodwork need re-doing or replacing?

If your home looks sunny on the outside, it’s a major step to it feeling sunny on the inside. One quick way is, if you have a garage, paint the garage door in a bright and cheerful colour to make you smile every time you see it.

12 | WWW.50PLUSMAGAZINE.CO.UK

benefits around the house and the humble houseplant is fast becoming a must-have buy.

Redecorate a lounge or sitting room in the best shades, or opt for neutrals with splashes of colour.

Pop down to the local garden centre and invest in plenty of lovely plants, placing them in every room to bring the garden indoors and freshen up every space. Yes, they need watering and care but the rewards are huge. Put indoor hanging baskets in your conservatory or orangerie for a very definite extension of the garden inside your property.

If you prefer stronger colours or just an antidote to pastel shades, go for inky blues to break up spaces. This may be in the form of an imposing vase or some coloured glass for your flowers. And vary floral displays to different heights and widths to create an interesting and eyecatching addition to any room.

Pick up the green theme in FURNITURE. You don’t necessarily need to invest in a new sofa or armchairs – just use a brightly coloured throw in Nature’s best shades to bring Winter rooms to life.

They’re cosy as well for any slightly chillier evenings.

Take a fresh look at your WINDOWS as an easy way to let light and sunshine in any time. If the double-glazing is blown or misty or if they are just looking oldfashioned or don’t maximise available light, it may well be worth asking for a quote from a recommended company.

One place to start is FENSA, a Government-authorised Competent Person Scheme for the replacement of windows, doors, roof windows and roof lights in England and Wales. They are also aware of the relevant Building Regulations and work with thousands of double-glazing contractors assessed for their abilities. So it may well be worth visiting their website at https://www. fensa.org.uk Opening up roofs with windows can turn a previously gloomy spot into a lovely bright area. ORANGERIES and CONSERVATORIES are also worth considering at this time of year when work can be done easily with fewer problems caused by the weather. Again, always try to see a company’s work elsewhere before you buy and go on recommendation.

Another very effective way to bring fresh air and sunshine into your kitchen and living areas is with BI-FOLDING DOORS. These flexible glass doors offer a real opportunity to improve the amount of living space and bring in the outside.

SAFETY & QUALITY NEVER COMPROMISED The Premier Garage Door range blends the convenience of power operation with smooth, vertical opening and the benefits of insulation to provide the perfect solution for any garage.

Manufactured from foam filled aluminium lath, available in a full range of colours and four wood effect finishes. We are confident we can accommodate your requirements and enhance your property.

They’re also great for entertaining if you have your barbecue on the patio and the garden spread out before you!

All that new light may, unfortunately, also make you take a fresh look at your KITCHEN and wish it, too, was much

sunnier. Replacing unit doors is a good way to give a whole new look to this busy “heart of the home”. If you don’t want to spend that amount of money, begin by replacing utensils for any of the bright ranges currently on offer in supermarkets and homes’ stores.

Prices start from

£800

Operated by a tubular motor complete with a manual override facility and controlled by a comprehensive remote control system to include courtesy light and full safety system we guarantee all year round access.

Features include a unique auto-lock system to prevent the door from being lifted when in fully closed position and a safety brake mechanism to prevent the door from falling when in the fully open position, making your garage safe and secure at all times.

Additional benefits compared to conventional garage doors are the reduction in noise and heat loss whilst freeing up valuable garage space. A vehicle can be parked within 50mm of the door inside or out without disrupting operation.

Acorn Door Systems Your local garage door company Sample colours The above swatches are for guide purposes only and do not represent an exact match.

www.acorndoorsystems.co.uk

Phone: 01254 704132

ACORN DOOR SYSTEMS

WWW.50PLUSMAGAZINE.CO.UK

| 13

HOME A co-ordinated look among your utensils – and the coffee-maker and microwave as well if you like – breathes new life into tired-looking kitchens and takes advantage of all that extra fresh air and light.

Settle down and shop in peace at Vine Mill Furniture's showroom ACCRINGTON'S VINE MILL FURNITURE GIVES THE BIG RETAILERS A RUN FOR THEIR MONEY WITH ITS HUGE COLLECTION, TOP DISCOUNTS AND RELAXED SHOPPING EXPERIENCE.

BATHROOMS, too, can benefit from simple ideas like replacing items like tooth mugs, toilet roll holders and even shower curtains with something newer and more colourful. Complement those with an unusual ornament in the same colour or more of those great, green plants and you freshen up the whole room to look pristine again.

Furnishings in BEDROOMS for 2018 follow an unusual trend – ombre.

More recently, this has meant shading colour in hairstyles but here it applies to shading in everything from cushions and rugs to bedding, curtains and lampshades.

Just graduate different shades of the same colours. You can even do this with wallpapers by mixing and matching plain and print patterns in similar colours. The effects really are stunning.

"There's lots of unusual pieces and carved antiquities mixed in with the more contemporary displays and this is what really sets us apart."

"When they've gone to other stores there have been seven or eight people on the floor, which can make them feel uneasy."

And the best bit? As a wholesaler to the big retailers Vine Mill Furniture can pass on these discounted prices to its customers - meaning buyers can save an impressive 30 to 40 percent off the retail price.

And so far, this 'no pressure' approach to customer service has proved successful for the family-run company. Instead of an intimidating sales presence, when you pop into the Brookside Street store, in Accrington, you'll find a friendly and relaxed service and will be left alone to browse the extensive collection.

If you want to enjoy your garden more, it’s also worth making it as accessible, comfortable and as pleasing as possible. Installing a WATER FEATURE, for example, is always a relaxing and visually pleasing innovation.

The Royal Horticultural Society’s website is well worth a visit for ideas on everything from hedges and paths to furniture and containers along with planting advice. Go to https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/ design

UNIQUE COLLECTION Vine Mill's building, which it relocated to almost two years ago, boasts 40,000 sq ft of retail space, across two floors, in which to display its selection of sofas, three-piece suites, beds, and much more.

You might want a more Mediterranean garden with the sort of shrubby vegetation in big pots and gravel between to emulate the hotter conditions of the South of France, Italy and Spain. Pots in lovely jewel colours will certainly make you think of sundrenched Continental beaches and lush French countryside.

And if your bright home plan helps you think of holiday enjoyment every day then you’ve succeeded!

VINE Mill Furniture does things a little differently than its larger competitors, Mark Gerrard sales manager at Vine Mill, said "Several customers have commented on their relief at having only a couple of sales staff on our floor to advise them.

The stunning furniture shop is also home to some unique pieces that will add that special something to your house. Thanks to the owner's jet-setting ways, the store regularly stocks unusual pieces, from glasswork to woodwork, that have been inspired by trips abroad.

"We're not like the standard stores you see on retail parks," said Mark.

HUGE SAVINGS

TOP QUALITY SERVICE The store also offers a 24-hour delivery service, which has been known to exceed expectations.

"We've had situations where customers have bought a suite in the morning and had it in their home by the afternoon," explained Mark.

"Whatever you see in store, Vine Mill will deliver within 24 hours."

With customer service at the heart of everything it does, it's no surprise that business is booming.

Check out the collections at Vine Mill Furniture, Brookside Street, Oswaldtwistle, BB5 3PX. For more information visit vinemillfurniture.co.uk or call 01254 399906

Facebook and Feebo 5 Star Rating Flexible payment plans to suit all budgets, available on home buy packages.

When you have paid for each item ... your order will be deliverd in 24hrs.

14 | WWW.50PLUSMAGAZINE.CO.UK

Working in connection with 50 Plus Magazine, Blackburn, Burnley & Ribble Valley

RNITURE & FLOORING F UFRU N ITURE & FLOORING FURNITURE & FLOORING

Beds & Mattresses

Bedroom Furniture

Sofas, Chairs, Re-Upholstery

Living & Dining Furniture

Carpets - Flooring - Rugs

Sun 11am - 4pm Mon - Sat 9am - 5pm Above the Mill Cafe & Musbury Fabrics Holcombe Road Helmshore Rossendale, BB4 4NP

Tel: 01706 260806 www.parkmillfurnitureandflooring.co.uk 16 | WWW.50PLUSMAGAZINE.CO.UK

Musbury Fabrics

Park Mill The Mill Cafe

WWW.50PLUSMAGAZINE.CO.UK

| 17

HOME

Twelve Top Tips when purchasing

a New Kitchen 1. Look before you buy. Don’t make what is often a major purchase based on just a door sample – buy from a showroom where you can see the complete cabinet.

A good quality cabinet will last you for many years, the door is just the decoration.

Check out the drawer and hinge fittings; the cabinet thickness is important, but the density (weight) is also relevant, check the finish on the unit edges and the joints.

2. Buy from a reputable company. Check how long the company has been trading, and if you are unsure of their credentials, ask for referrals. Also, are they ‘Eco Friendly’?

3. Check that the goods are guaranteed - again, longevity of trading is also important here, a 5 year guarantee from a company that has only been trading 6 months may not be worth a lot.

4. Ensure that there is a local contact that you can deal with. If you have a problem, it’s much easier to deal with if you can talk to someone ‘face to face’, not at the other end of a phone.

5. If you want extra security and the company offer finance at a low interest rate or interest free, take it rather than using a bank loan or re-mortgage. The finance company will give ‘double indemnity’ ie will act as a third party in the event of any problems, and will cover you and your guarantee if the company folds. If they don’t offer facilities or you don’t want or need finance, use a credit card.

6. Check the installation procedure. Very few companies employ fitters, most will refer you to sub-contractors. This is fine, but is there someone to ‘project manage’ for you? You don’t want to be spending all your time on the phone attempting to get the right tradesman there at the right time.

7. Check the payment terms. You should be paying a deposit with your order, not the full amount! A reputable company will only ask you for full payment on delivery or just prior to delivery of the goods, and you should always retain at least some of the fitters pay until you are fully satisfied with the installation. Using in house finance gives you extra protection, as does using a credit card.

18 | WWW.50PLUSMAGAZINE.CO.UK

8. Buy a kitchen of a value in keeping with the property, unless it is something that you cannot live without! The usual ‘spend amount’ on a kitchen would be between 5 % and 10% of the value of the property, any more and you will not recover the value if you sell the house. Try to buy a kitchen that is in keeping with the style of the property, especially if you intend to sell before too long. An Orange gloss kitchen may be the height of fashion at the moment, but will it deter prospective purchasers in two or three years time?

Granite and solid surface tops are ever more popular, but on average add around £2.5k to £3k to the cost of the kitchen.

They are practical and hard wearing, and will add value, but they will be there for a long time, so make sure they are appropriate!

9. Decide from the start what your priorities are and make a ‘wish list’. It’s easy to get carried away once you start visiting showrooms and talking to designers, and if for instance you wanted a new kitchen because you didn’t like your sink where it was situated, it is important that the new design puts the sink in a better position.

Think about your family situation – if you have small children or big dogs, choose a door that will withstand the knocks – you can always change the doors in the future!

10. Consider storage. If half the units in your previous kitchen were empty, change the design to give less storage, maybe include a breakfast bar or less wall units to give a feeling of space. If you were short of storage, maximise the space you have with larders and tall wall units. Big drawers will hold more than shelved cupboards and give easier access. ‘L’ shaped corner units give great storage and are easier to access than regular corner bases. Pull-outs and carousels make access easier but can reduce actual storage space.

11. Think about the appliances carefully - they are a major part of your purchase.

Go for the best that you can afford, stick to brand names that you recognise or that you have researched on the internet, and check the guarantees. Where possible, buy them from the company fitting the kitchen, that way it is their responsibility

to make sure that they fit and are working as they should. Where possible an oven at eye level is a big advantage, especially if you have back problems or are not in the first flush of youth. A tall fridge-freezer usually gives more storage than built-under refrigeration, and an eye level fridge is easier to access. A 70cm hob gives more cooking space, useful if you have a big family. Cooker hoods are always better if they can be ducted to an outside wall, if the duct is not more than 3 metres, at which point filters can become more efficient. The sink is also important – do you need a half-bowl, which side do you want the drainer to be, is it rigid and good quality steel, is the tap suitable for your needs and the water pressure in your area?

12. Last but not least, think about the design. Ask to see a CAD (computer aided design) representation of the proposed layout. Ask the designer to ‘walk’ you round the plan in your own kitchen, showing you where everything will be.

Imagine yourself preparing a meal and working in the new kitchen. The oven and hob should not be too far apart, you don’t want to be dashing from one side of the kitchen to the other when frying your eggs and grilling your bacon. Always have some worktop area close or next to the oven, you may need somewhere to put down a dish in a hurry! Try to keep the hob and sink in the same area to avoid crossing open spaces with boiling pans of veg, this can be dangerous, especially with children around. The fridge should be near the preparation area (which is usually between the sink and the hob) and drawers and crockery cupboards are useful near the dishwasher to make emptying a bit less of a chore. Try to avoid built-under appliances in corners as access can be compromised, eg a fridge door needs to open more than 90 degrees to get the shelves out, not easy if it’s in a corner! A good design is vitally important!

With careful planning and consideration, your new kitchen will give you good service for many years to come. It will add value to your home, and give you pleasure every time you walk into it. Enjoy!

Sharon Mawdesley Sales Manager Rossendale Interiors.

Rossendale Interiors Full Page.qxp_Layout 1 17/03/2017 13:33 Page 1

Rossendale Interiors Full Page.qxp_Lay

Kitchens Bedrooms Bathrooms

One stop shop, tiles and flooring available, everything under on

• Massive choice of traditional or modern • Fabulous showroom with 60 displays open 7 days • Owned by JJO Furniture Manufacturers offering very keen prices and a quick turna Financially solid • Project-managed installation. All aspects covered • Established over 150 years with four experienced designers plus CAD designer for outstanding visual aids qualih t • ‘Buy Now, Pay Later’ subject to status is

Kitchens Bedrooms Bathrooms

Kitchens Bedrooms Bathrooms

m jjop H om e

One stop shop, tiles and flooring available, everything under one roof

• Massive choice of traditional or modern Bacup - 352-358 Newchurch Road, 7 Stacksteads, • Fabulous showroom with 60 displays open days Bacup. OL13 0LD Tel: 01706 252122 Oswaldtwistle - Oswaldtwistle Mills, Colliers Street, Oswaldtwistle. BB5 3DE Tel: 01254 30 • Owned by JJO Furniture Manufacturers offering very keen prices and a quick turnaround.

Ulverston - Kitchen House, Brogden/Market Street, Ulverston. LA12 7AH Tel: 01229 5818 Financially solid Blackburn - Blackburn Market Hall, Church Street, Blackburn. BB1 5AF Tel: 01254 6692 • Project-managed installation. All aspects covered www.rossendaleinteriors.com • Established over 150 years with four experienced designers See h o w plus CAD designer for outstanding visual aids quali ur ty fuo • ‘Buy Now, Pay Later’ subject to status r nit is

u m jjoSpelceahdoewat r e H our q.cuoam/ furnoim tuer/eV i dleitoy

r See ou ons i t installa ur o on

at jjop is made Home/lc.com/ Video

site

Bacup - 352-358 Newchurch Road, Stacksteads, Bacup. OL13 0LD Tel: 01706 252122

Oswaldtwistle - Oswaldtwistle Mills, Colliers Street, Oswaldtwistle. BB5 3DE Tel: 01254 304068

Ulverston Kitchen House, Brogden/Market Street, Ulverston.

LA12 7AH Tel: 01229 581828 Bacup - 352Bacup -- 352-358 Newchurch Road, Stacksteads, Bacup. OL13 0LD Tel: 01706 252122 Blackburn - Blackburn MarketMills, Hall,Colliers ChurchStreet, Street,Oswaldtwistle.

Blackburn. BB1 5AF3DE Tel:Tel: 01254 669215 Oswaldtwistle - Oswaldtwistle BB5 01254 304068 Oswaldtwistle -

www.rossendaleinteriors.com

Ulverston - Kitchen House, Brogden/Market Street, Ulverston. LA12 7AH Tel: 01229 581828 Ulverston - Kitc

Blackburn - Blackburn Market Hall, Church Street, Blackburn. BB1 5AF Tel: 01254 669215 Blackburn - Bl

Why should I buy insurance from a broker rather than the internet?

Here's a round-up of the pros and cons of the two:

Put your

household insurance

in our hands ARE YOU PAYING TOO MUCH HOUSEHOLD INSURANCE? Buildings Cover up to £1 million and Contents Worldwide £75,000 Annual premium from £280.

Buildings Cover up to £500,000 and Contents cover up to £60,000, on a full Accidental Policy Wording for under £200.00 Terms and Conditions apply.

FREE LEGAL INSURANCE

WITH THIS ADVERT WITH ANY NEW POLICY.

BromleyInsurance Services Limited 357 Briercliffe Road, Burnley, BB10 1TX.

T: 01282 416050 Email: info@bromley-insurance.co.uk Website: www.bromley-insurance.co.uk Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority

20 | WWW.50PLUSMAGAZINE.CO.UK

Cost vs value: These days most insurers let you buy insurance online, which means you can compare different insurance policies side by side fairly easily and cut out broker fees in the process.

However, the danger with choosing your insurance based on cost alone is that cheap policies have high excesses and lots of restrictions, so you may not be covered when you claim.

A broker, on the other hand, can help you select insurance based on value as well as cost. Because brokers are professionally trained and accredited, they can help you find a policy that's appropriate for your specific risk profile. Having said this, insurance companies have also become smarter at evaluating your risk profile, so they work harder at giving you a fair premium for your risk level.

Ease: Buying insurance directly means you have to buy the policy, administer it and do the claims process yourself. However, these days it's fairly easy to do these things on the insurer's website or through its call centre.

If you go through an insurance broker, you'll need to set up an appointment with him/her to go through your choices and buy your policy. Although this may take time, brokers can also shop around on your behalf for comparative quotes. He/She will also help you through the claims process, and if your claim is rejected, he/she can help you contest it.

Peace of mind: If you go through an insurance broker, he/ she will vet your current insurance policies, do a thorough needs analysis, identify any current gaps in cover and then recommend a product that suits your needs. He/She will also stay in regular contact with you to identify any changes in your circumstances that may alter your exposure to risk.

If you buy directly, you won't have this level of expertise on hand.

However, most insurer call centre agents have received training about the product they're selling, and the advice they give is regulated by the Financial Advisory and Intermediary Services Act, 37 of 2002.

Quality of service: Insurance brokers need to be fully accredited by the Financial Services Board to give you advice.

They also have to disclose all information (such as excesses and premiums) and are held accountable if you're not advised correctly.

On the other hand, if you buy insurance directly, you may not know the full extent of the costs and cover of a particular policy, which could cause complications further down the line.

Security of personal data: Generally, going through an insurance broker means your data is secure because you'll sign an agreement with him/her beforehand. This is not the case if you buy insurance directly – often, insurers gain your information and contact you first rather than the other way around. However, insurers risk ruining their reputation by not securing your information, so they usually make an effort to do this. In addition, the Protection of Personal Information Act, 4 of 2013, helps ensure that your information is protected and handled with care.

There are pros and cons to both buying insurance through a broker and buying it directly. On the whole, brokers offer you their expertise and look at your individual needs, so you're likely to get the right cover for your circumstances.

Enhancing homes since 1983 CONSERVATORIES, ORANGERIES, SINGLE STOREY EXTENSIONS, SOLID OR GLAZED REPLACEMENT ROOFS.

Quote ‘50

plus magazine’ when you book a home consultation

and receive a £25 M & S giftcard*. Call us on 01200 414 700 for your FREE quote.

Visit ultraframehomeimprovements.co.uk

Enterprise Works, Salthill Road, Clitheroe BB7 1PE

(* Quotation to be provided for conservatory, extension or replacement solid roof. Quote 50 plus magazine when booking the consultation.

This advert to be presented to the consultant. Gift card will be sent within 21 days from appointment)

GARDEN

Ways to Prepare your Garden for Autumn your garden. Cut back plants and clear out the shed and greenhouse before you store everything for winter.

It is also a good time to pressure wash the patio or scrub down the decking.

This will stop excessive dirt and grime build up occurring over the wet winter months.

DON’T LET LEAVES BUILD UP Leaves are public enemy number one so as they start to fall from the trees, don’t let them build up. If you do, they’ll soon turn to mulch and become slippery and dangerous.

PLANT SPRING BULBS If you like the sight of daffodils and tulips in the spring then remember to plant them in September/October.

Listed among the recommended tasks are doing a big tidy, and planting spring bulbs in preparation for next year.

Gardeners should also remember to clear up fallen leaves, pack away garden furniture and protect pots and plants.

As soon as the nice weather disappears, and the chilly days and dark evenings set in, people start to neglect their gardens.

Autumn is one of the most important times of the year for gardening – it’s the time to get the garden tidied up ready for the chilly months and to do all those little jobs to make sure plants and garden features remain in good condition.

As it gets colder it’s too easy to put the jobs off – but it really is worth investing the time so when Spring finally puts in an appearance, you’re ready to enjoy your outside space.

NET THE POND If you’re fortunate enough to have a pond, cover it with a net. Forget and you’ll be fishing out soggy plants all winter.

CUT THE LAWN Remember – your lawn will need a really good cut before the cold and wet weather sets in. If you let the grass get too long, it will be near impossible to cut it over the winter.

CLEAN AND CLEAR Just as you would spring clean your house, don’t forget to autumn clean

22 | WWW.50PLUSMAGAZINE.CO.UK

PROTECT YOUR POTS Store both your empty and in-use pots correctly over the winter months.Insulate with either hay, cardboard or bubble wrap and make sure you raise all in-use pots off the ground to prevent them from getting waterlogged during rainy weather.

PROTECT YOUR PLANTS The first frost of the year can arrive without any warning and can kill your favourite foliage. If you have any plants you know are susceptible to cold weather, get them in the greenhouse or in your conservatory.

CLEAR AWAY GARDEN ITEMS Don’t forget to pack away any garden items that may get damaged by the cold weather. If your furniture or BBQ won’t fit in the shed, make sure they’re covered up properly.

DON’T FORGET THE WILDLIFE Don’t forget about any wildlife that visits your garden. Make sure you leave out seeds for the birds and any suitable leftovers.matter – inspect these after dark and kill the molluscs by dropping them into a bucket of salty water. You could also try using copper rings around the base of susceptible leftovers.

Choose the right plants, and autumn gardens can be a spectacular sight.

OCUS The autumn weather forces crocus blooms out through the fallen leaves among the lawn and their upright, cup-shaped flowers look great in pots

and borders. Still, occasionally they can be spoiled by autumn weather so plant them beneath trees and shrubs where they will be protected from heavy rains.

HEATHER With pink, white or purple petals, heather is a brilliant plant for low-growing texture and it looks great in pots too. They handle bad weather particularly well and have a long flowering season, from November to March.

DAHLIA The striking blooms of these plants start to open in summer, but are at their best from August to September, bridging gaps in borders as other perennials begin to tire. Dahlias are best for working in borders and as they come in a range of sizes and exotic colours, they’ll work with almost any colour theme.

WINTER ACONITES These cheery plants look a lot like buttercups with their lovely yellow flowers and are suited to growing underneath deciduous trees and shrubs.

They prefer rich, moist soil in shady parts of gardens.

CYCLAMEN Cyclamen are well-loved heroes that can be brought to flower from autumn all the way through to spring. The flowers come in red, pink and white shades and look fantastic in pots or planted under trees, but cyclamen hederifolium is the usual choice for autumn flowers. Its silvery, marbled leaves follow the sugar pink and white blooms, remaining unscathed through winter weather before dying back for a dormant summer.

PANSIES Pansies are a gardener’s staple all year round. Many varieties stop blooming when it gets really cold, but then you can opt for special winter-flowering pansies which will keep going until late spring. These are ideal for filling pots and window boxes for a flash of colour to be seen from indoors.

ASTER ‘LITTLE CARLOW’ Sprays of small lavender-blue daisies throb in late summer and autumn, particularly in evening light. They like lots of sun and good, well-drained soil.

Installation Service

Supply only prices

fromAs ourGrass, 3 installation options At Choose As Good we provide a complete to achieve a professional finish. service from design to installation.

Work with the Country’s Leading Arti cial At As Good As Grass, we provide a complete service from design to installation.

Grass

Pile Height (mm)

RRP (per sqm) Residential Education & Safe Paly

Maestro*

28

£25.50

Terrazzo*

20

£22.50

Omneo*

28

£21.50

Sol*

22

£20.00

Sol Plus

38

£22.50

Luna

17

£18.50

Economy

9

£9.99

Golf Grass (Putt only)

13

£22.00

Application

Pets

Landscaping

Sports

Commercial

Work with the Northwest’s Market Leader for Artificial Grass Golf Grass (Putt and Pitch)

23

£25.00

Tennis

15

£18.50

MUGA*

17

£17.00

Cricket Wicket

9

£13.50

Various (8-60)

£15.50

40

£18.00

22-50

£18.00

Multi Grass*

Why are so many people turning to artificial grass?

Parc (football)

As Good As Grass products are manufactured at the largest 17 plus Rental Grass £7.00 pad of 10 custom built artificial grass Coloured Grass 24 £17.50 facility in Europe, enabling us As Good As Grass products are manufactured • No more mowing • largest Professional fitters * Represents products which stock on a regular All grass other facility products are subject to a 3 week lead time. at thewe custom built basis. arti cial toavailability produceor ground breaking Full rolls of 100sqm (4m x 25m) o er a 15% discount o RRP pricings. to produce ground products in a specialist • No more weeding in Europe, • enabling 10 yrsusguarantee breaking products in a specialist environment. environment.

Price • Low maintenance Produ• ct We can also undertakeDescription

Ancillary products

Highways Grass

• •

•

conform to 5kg Adhesive Tub Our products conform to European qualityCovers 10 linear metresOur products£22.50 All weather additional work

Option 1: Total solution premium sub base Covers 3 linearOption 2: Surface only to client Glue Stick metres European £7.50 (per stick) norms, meaning they are safe for the quality norms, Child and pet

such as fencing, environment, people and animals. construction basethey Seaming Tape Minimum 10 prepared metres meaning £1.00 are (per metre) safe for friendly paving, decking, shrub 5mm the environment, people Underlay (per sqm) and Involving excavation and muck away, sub base This surface only£4.50 option gives you the animals.

Soft and durable and tree stump removal. 10mm Underlay £7.50 (per sqm)

construction and stabilisation, fixed edging in either flexibility to carry out the sub base 25mm Shockpad – 1.5sqm Sheet Covers 1.4m Critical Fall Height £10.50 (per sheet) concrete or tanalised timber, two type aggregate backfill preparation and leave the specialist job 50mm Shockpad – 1.5sqm Sheet Covers 2.8m Critical Fall Height £20.00 (per sheet) and compaction, installation of Geotextile membrane of fitting and seaming the synthetic Geotextile Membrane Roll 2.25m x 100m roll £95.00 and the fitting or your chosen synthetic surface. surface to the experts.

Call: 0161 207 3007 prices available on request.

Email: Trade info@asgoodasgrass.co.uk

Visit our website: www.asgoodasgrass.co.uk WWW.50PLUSMAGAZINE.CO.UK

| 23

FOOD & DRINK

Nathan Outlaw, the owner of the world's only 2 Michelin Stars Fish Restaurant shares his recipes Barbecued grey mullet with garlic, fennel and olives There is something about butterflied fish cooked on a barbecue – somehow it just seems right. Lightly marinating the fish brings out its qualities and adds even more. The charred skin is really there for protection but if you get the temperature of the barbecue just right it will be lovely and crispy – delicious with the fennel, anise and garlic flavours.

Ingredients Serves 4 2 grey mullet, about 1kg each, scaled, gutted, butterflied and pin-boned 2 garlic cloves, peeled and finely chopped Olive oil for marinating and cooking 2 medium fennel bulbs 2 red onions, peeled and quartered Cornish sea salt and freshly ground black pepper Black olive dressing Handful of black olives, pitted and finely chopped About 150ml olive oil 2 tbsp chopped dill A splash of pastis Salad cream 2 egg yolks 2 tsp English mustard 2 tsp caster sugar 2 tbsp lemon juice 300ml light olive oil 30ml double cream

To marinate the fish, lay the butterflied fillets on a tray, sprinkle over the garlic and season with salt and pepper. Drizzle with oil and carefully rub the flavourings into the fish. Cover and leave to marinate in the fridge for 2 hours.

a bowl, stir in the cream and season with salt and pepper to taste. Cover and chill in the fridge.

Half an hour or so before the fish is required, light the barbecue.

To prepare the fennel, remove any tough outer layer, then quarter the bulbs. Thread the fennel and red onion quarters onto skewers, season with salt and pepper and drizzle with oil.

For the salad cream, put the egg yolks, mustard, sugar and lemon juice into a blender and blitz briefly to combine.

With the motor running, add the oil in a slow, steady stream. Once it is all incorporated and emulsified, transfer to

For the dressing, combine all the ingredients in a bowl and season with salt and pepper. When the barbecue coals are ready, cook the fennel and red onion skewers on a medium heat (rather than the hottest part of the

24 | WWW.50PLUSMAGAZINE.CO.UK

barbecue) until tender; this should take about 10 minutes.

Once the vegetables are cooked, take them off the barbecue and keep warm. Now lay the butterflied fish skin side down on the hottest part of the barbecue and cook for about 4 minutes.

Turn and cook for 2 minutes on the flesh side (the skin should have lifted, making it easy to turn the fish over).

Lay the fish and vegetable skewers on warm plates and spoon on the olive dressing.

Serve with the salad cream.

Plaice poached in butter with leeks, and parsley and mustard mash Poached on the bone, plaice is great. Poached in butter, it’s even better! This is a fish that is prone to drying, but the butter keeps the flesh deliciously moist. Lemon sole and brill similarly benefit from being cooked this way.

Ingredients Serves 4 2 plaice, about 1kg each, fins trimmed, head removed and split down the centre bone 500g salted butter 2 bay leaves 3 garlic cloves, peeled and crushed 1 large thyme sprig 8 small leeks, outer leaves removed and cut across in half, or 12 baby leeks, trimmed Cornish sea salt and freshly ground black pepper Parsley and mustard mash 3 large baking potatoes 150ml whole milk 4 tbsp chopped flat-leaf parsley 1–2 tbsp English mustard, to taste To serve Lemon wedges 30ml double cream

Heat your oven to 220°C/Gas 7. For the mash, put the potatoes on an oven tray and bake for 1 hour or until tender.

When the potatoes are cooked, set aside until cool enough to handle.

Lower the oven setting to 180°C/Gas 4.

the fish and cook in the oven for about 12 minutes. Meanwhile, warm the mash and leeks.

Put the butter, bay leaves, garlic and thyme in a pan and warm over a low heat until the butter has melted. Add the leeks and cook until the butter starts to turn golden, then remove from the heat and leave to cool.

Once cooled, strain off most of the butter into a roasting tin large enough to hold the plaice.

For the mash, bring the milk to a simmer in a pan and remove from the heat. Cut the potatoes in half, scoop out the flesh and pass through a potato ricer into a bowl, or mash with a potato masher.

Fold in the milk and then add enough of the reserved poaching butter to give a soft mash. Add the chopped parsley and mustard and season with salt and pepper to taste.

To check the fish is done, carefully lift a piece out of the butter and insert a small knife at the thickest point, hold it there for 5 seconds and then place it against the back of your wrist; it should feel warm, not cold or hot.

Transfer the leeks to a tray, ready to warm through to serve. Reserve the rest of the butter.

To cook the fish, bring the butter in the roasting tin to a simmer. Carefully add

Scoop the mash onto warm plates and add the leeks. Carefully lift the plaice onto the plates, spoon over some of the butter and season with a little salt. Serve at once, with lemon wedges.

WWW.50PLUSMAGAZINE.CO.UK

| 25

FOOD & DRINK

Salmon poached in tarragon vinegar with carrots in brown butter There is something about butterflied fish cooked on a barbecue – somehow it just seems right. Lightly marinating the fish brings out its qualities and adds even more. The charred skin is really there for protection but if you get the temperature of the barbecue just right it will be lovely and crispy – delicious with the fennel, anise and garlic flavours.

Ingredients Serves 4 4 portions of salmon fillet, about 200g each, pin-boned 2 carrots, peeled 200ml white wine 200ml white wine vinegar 400ml water 50g caster sugar 10 tarragon sprigs Sea salt Carrots in brown butter 250g salted butter 8 small carrots, peeled and halved lengthways, or 24 baby carrots 1 garlic clove, peeled and finely chopped 2 tsp chopped tarragon

Cut the carrots lengthways into fine ribbons, using a vegetable peeler or mandoline. Pour the wine, wine vinegar and water into a saucepan and add the sugar, a pinch of salt, the carrot ribbons and tarragon sprigs. Bring to the boil, lower the heat and simmer for 2 minutes.

Take off the heat and leave to infuse for 30 minutes.

Meanwhile, for the brown butter, heat the butter in a pan over a medium-low heat until melted and starting to bubble. At this stage, lower the heat and continue to cook until the butter turns brown and has a nutty aroma; don’t let it burn.

Immediately remove from the heat and strain through a muslin-lined sieve into a bowl.

Add the halved or whole baby carrots to a pan containing enough cold water to just cover them and add some salt. Bring to the boil, lower the heat and simmer for about 10 minutes until the carrots are almost cooked. Drain and return them to the pan. Add 50ml of the brown butter with the chopped garlic and warm through over a low heat. Season with salt to taste and remove from the heat.

Drain the carrot ribbons, reserving the liquor; set aside.

To cook the salmon, bring the reserved liquor to a simmer in a fairly wide pan and add the fish fillets, making sure they are fully submerged.

Nathan Outlaw’s Fish Kitchen (Quadrille, £14.99) Photography © David Loftus

26 | WWW.50PLUSMAGAZINE.CO.UK

Remove the pan from the heat, cover and leave to stand for 10 minutes; the fish will cook in the residual heat. To check the fish is done, carefully lift out a portion and insert a small knife into the thickest point, hold it there for 5 seconds and then place it against the back of your wrist; it should feel warm, not cold or hot.

Once the fish is ready, for the dressing, combine 75ml of the poaching liquor with 150ml brown butter, warm through and add the chopped tarragon. Place a portion of salmon on each warm plate.

Divide the carrot ribbons and brown butter carrots between the plates and spoon the dressing over the fish and carrots to serve.

WWW.50PLUSMAGAZINE.CO.UK

| 27

OUT & ABOUT

Out & About

A GUIDE to some amazing events

September 2018 - January 2019

ELHT

The East Lancashire Breast Screening Service is part of the NHS Breast Screening Programme providing free breast screening every three years for all women within the eligible age range.

To enable women to be screened closer to home, breast screening is carried out at a number of sites across the region either within our mobile unit or in the base unit at Burnley General Hospital.

Clitheroe- Dates:- Late September 2018 –January 2019 Clitheroe Hospital Chatburn Road Clitheroe BB7 4JX

3rd November - 7.30pm

Fastlove – A Tribute To George Michael

Get ready for an unforgettable evening celebrating a global superstar, as he puts the Boom Boom into your heart in the all new production, Fastlove – A tribute to George Michael. The show is packed with crowd pleasing anthems.

From the Wham classics of the new pop revival to the chart-topping success of the eighties album Faith, plus the awesome tunes of the nineties and noughties.

King Georges Hall, Blackburn www.kinggeorgeshall.com/whats-on/ fast-love-a-tribute-to-george-michael/

10th November - 7.00pm

The Lancashire Hotpots

Ohhh Matron! The undisputed kings of musical comedy The Lancashire Hotpots are “Carrying On” and they’re back to bring you their unique blend of madcap music and laughs! Stop messing about and get ready for the biggest party night of the year.

King Georges Hall, Blackburn www.kinggeorgeshall.com/whats-on/ the-lancashire-hotpots-2/

All GP Practices in the Clitheroe area will be screened while our mobile unit is on site here.

Clitheroe Hospital, Chatburn Road www.elht.nhs.uk/services/breastimaging-screening-service

20th November - 7.00pm

Jake Bugg 7th November - 7.30pm

Joanna Lumley

The legendary Joanna Lumley will embark on her first ever live tour, ‘It’s all about me’, in autumn 2018.

25th October - 7.00pm

The Nutcracker

Be swept away on a magical adventure in one of the most famous classical ballets of all time – The Nutcracker.

With its combination of enchanting choreography and unforgettable music, this fabulous ballet is a treat like no other.

King Georges Hall, Blackburn www.kinggeorgeshall.com/whats-on/ the-nutcracker/

28 | WWW.50PLUSMAGAZINE.CO.UK

Joanna will take audiences through her hilarious and interesting adventures from her incredible career spanning more than four decades, recounting some never heard before stories. She will also be joined on stage by friend and producer Clive Tulloh, who will put to Joanna questions from the audience that they’ve always wanted to ask, making the show a unique and hilarious night to remember.

King Georges Hall, Blackburn www.kinggeorgeshall.com/whats-on/ joanna-lumley/

Following the release of his critically lauded new album ‘Hearts That Strain’ last year, Jake Bugg hits the road this November for a string of acoustic headline shows and festival headline slots.

The shows continue Jake’s ‘Hearts That Strain’ tour, a series of solo acoustic shows that included 15 dates across the country last November and a further 16 this spring. This stripped back presentation allows the power of Jake’s songwriting to shine through in a live setting, attracting a glowing 4* review from The Times. The intensity and intimacy of the tour is captured perfectly in the video for latest single ‘In The Event Of My Demise’ King Georges Hall, Blackburn www.kinggeorgeshall.com/whats-on/ jake-bugg/

3rd November

Witton Park Bonfire 2018

The Annual Blackburn Charity Bonfire Night and Firework display will take place at Witton Country Park, Blackburn on Saturday, 3rd November 2018.

Save the date & we'll have more information nearer the time.

Organised by Blackburn Lions, Blackburn Round Table & Blackburn Rotary Club. All proceed go towards supporting local charities.

Witton Park, Blackburn www.visitblackburn.co.uk/whats-on/ witton-park-bonfire-2018-p105150

7th November

Blancmange

Bolton’s Award Winning Market has everything you need this Christmas

10th November

Flower School: Wedding Floristry Workshop

Learn to arrange flowers like a pro!

You will create a stunning a package of different floristry items; Hand tied bouquet, Buttohonle and Corsage, An Arrangement and a flower crown, from fresh plant materials with the expert tutor Sam Cook, Sam has been teaching for over 15 years and over the last 12 months held workshop in collabaration with The Reader, Liverpool, Dolly's Tearoom, Darwen and St Mary's, Liverpool

Bolton market has over 200 stalls including a bustling food court serving food from all over the world, cafés complement our food offer, and we even have a licensed bar.

THE NORTH WEST’S

....

Do you fancy learning a new skill or even change of career, well this is the correct course for you On Flower School, you take home the beautiful designs created by yourself, the course includes a light lunch, tea, coffee or soft drink and choice of cake.

St Marks Club, Blackburn www.visitblackburn.co.uk/whats-on/ flower-school-wedding-floristryworkshop-p876830

Blancmange will be performing at Darwen Library Theatre on Wednesday 7th November 2018.

British electronic band Blancmange first broke through in the early 80s with their mix of synthesizers and surrealism, fused in groundbreaking singles such as ‘Feel Me’, ‘Living On The Ceiling’, ‘Blind Vision’ and ‘Don’t Tell Me’.

British electronic band Blancmange first broke through in the early 80s with their mix of synthesizers and surrealism, fused in groundbreaking singles such as ‘Feel Me’, ‘Living On The Ceiling’, ‘Blind Vision’ and ‘Don’t Tell Me’. The epic synthpop of ‘Waves’ and a witty cover of Abba’s ‘The Day Before You Came’ illustrated a band who were always willing to change and adapt new styles within their electronic framework.

Darwen Library Theatre www.visitblackburn.co.uk/whats-on/ blancmange-p919580

Bolton

Council 17th November - 18th November

Gin Beer & Dance Fest

Come and join The Wellbeing Farm for the first ever Gin, Beer and Dance Fest on Saturday & Sunday 17th & 18th November 2018 With live music a DJ, great drinks and food to purchase.

Children welcome up to 7.30pm and during the day we will have activities and entertainment for children including The Gruffalo puppet show.

Wheatsheaf Hill Farm, Edgeworth www.visitblackburn.co.uk/whats-on/ gin-beer-and-dance-fest-p927800

You can buy everything from fresh fish, meat and game, locally sourced and exotic fruit and vegetables with speciality stalls selling deli meats and a huge selection of cheeses, plus there is a whole host of traditional stalls selling everything from furniture to flowers, bedding to broomsticks and much more.

Well worth a visit!

Bolton Market has it all.

Open : Every Tuesday, Thursday, Friday & Saturday from 9am to 5pm.

How To Find Us: Bolton Market, Ashburner Street, Bolton BL1 1TQ. Contact: 01204 336825 Email: bolton.markets@bolton.gov.uk Visit our website for a list of special events and activities that we are running at the Market.

www.bolton.gov.uk

WWW.50PLUSMAGAZINE.CO.UK

| 29

OUT & ABOUT

Out & About

SPONSORED BY WINTER GARDENS BLACKPOOL 26th October - 5.00pm

The Greatest Showman Sing-ALong Family Screening

Bury Market has a well deserved reputation for friendly service, fantastic produce and great value.

As one of our customers recently said ‘I love Bury Market because the atmosphere is lovely, it’s everything you need in one place, it’s a gorgeous traditional market, full of fun, food, and luxuries!’

Ladies and gents, this is the moment you've waited for...The world is singing along with the most entertaining movie of the year and now you can too with this special sing-a-long screening of The Greatest Showman, the Golden Globe winner for Best Original Song. It's your time to shine – have fun, sing loud and 'Come Alive' – It's Showtime.

Winter Gardens, Blackpool www.wintergardensblackpool.co.uk/ whats-on/the-greatest-showman-singa-long-family-screening 30th October - 3rd November

Saturday Night Fever

Saturday Night Fever will embark on a UK tour this summer, over 40 years since the classic film was released in cinemas, and 20 years since the show’s original London production.

Featuring the music of the Bee Gees (including “Stayin’ Alive” and “How Deep Is Your Love”) as well as a number of ’70s favourites, the piece tells the story of Tony Manero as he recklessly dances his way to success.

Winter Gardens, Blackpool www.wintergardensblackpool.co.uk/ whats-on/saturday-night-fever

Bury Market Hall: Open every day except Sunday Full Markets Open: Wednesdays, Fridays & Saturdays “Winner National Coach Tourism Awards” Coach Friendly Shopping Destination of the Year “Winner NABMA’s” Best Market Attraction

Bury Market Management: Tel: 0161 253 6520 Email: burymarkets@bury.gov.uk Web: www.burymarket.com : @BuryMarket

: BuryMarket

30 | WWW.50PLUSMAGAZINE.CO.UK

10th November - 7.30pm

The World Famous Elvis Show starring CHRIS CONNOR! The World Famous Elvis Show - starring CHRIS CONNOR! Endorsed by The Telegraph - 'The best Elvis tribute show in the World' Starring and produced by world renowned Elvis performer CHRIS CONNOR. With his 12 piece live band ‘THE STEELS’, & backing vocals by ‘ The Sweet Harmonies’ . A magnificent 2 hour theatre production, recreating 2 popular Elvis Presley concerts.

Winter Gardens, Blackpool www.wintergardensblackpool.co.uk/ whats-on/saturday-night-fever

24th November

Paul Heaton & Jacqui Abbott The Last King Of Pop

One of the UK’s most prolifically gifted songwriters Paul Heaton will release a career spanning album on 16 November ’18 on the Virgin EMI label. Entitled ‘The Last King Of Pop’ it will feature 23 of the finest songs from throughout Paul’s extraordinary music career, including hits from his days in the Housemartins, through his time in the multi-platinum pop co-operative The Beautiful South, his solo years, and up to the present day in his long-standing collaboration with former Beautiful South singer Jacqui Abbott.

Winter Gardens, Blackpool www.wintergardensblackpool.co.uk/ whats-on/paul-heaton-jacqui-abbottthe-last-king-of-pop 15th December

One Night Only - Christmas Party

DUE TO PHENOMENAL DEMAND AN EXTRA DATE HAS BEEN ADDED ON Friday 14 December 2018. Party in style in the world-famous Empress Ballroom this Christmas! Enjoy a glass of bubbly on arrival before taking seats in the world-famous Empress Ballroom.

Party in style in the world-famous Empress Ballroom this Christmas!

Enjoy a glass of bubbly on arrival before taking seats in the world-famous Empress Ballroom.

Including a 3-course meal before entertainment from the Midnight Soul Sisters featuring classics from legends such as, Tina Turner, Supremes, Etta James, Martha Reeves, Gladys Knight, Candy Staton, Bee Gees, Chaka Khan, Amy Winehouse, Chic, The Shirelles, Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston, Mary wells, Mary J Blige, Beyonce and many more!

Winter Gardens, Blackpool www.wintergardensblackpool.co.uk/ whats-on/one-night-only-christmasparty-night

Homeward Bound PAUL SIMON SAYS FAREWELL PAUL Simon has a particularly soft spot for England – and England definitely has a soft spot for the veteran American singer.

He is 76 now and in the middle of an extensive tour which takes in Europe and various cities in America but also includes England with gigs at the Manchester Arena and an appearance at the British Summer Time Festival in London’s Hyde Park.

Early in his career – when he and Art Garfunkel had initially broken up as a duo – he came over to England and played the folk circuits. During this time, he made a solo album called Back in America and also wrote songs including the haunting Homeward Bound.

In fact, he wrote it while sitting on the platform at Widnes railway station on Merseyside, waiting for a train to take him back to London and his girlfriend!

Born in Newark, New Jersey, Paul Simon became one of the best known singer/ songwriters of his day. In 1957, he and his high school pal Art Garfunkel wrote and recorded their first single under the name Tom and Jerry.

This wasn’t a hit but it was the start of a remarkably bright musical relationship that burned in a stellar light for several years before sputtering and then fizzling out as the two finally went their separate ways.

Paul attended Queens College and got a BA in English and also studied law for a while but quit in 1964 when the pull of his music proved too great.

He had minor hit singles under the name Jerry Landis and he and Art got back together as Simon & Garfunkel for a while, recording the album Wednesday Morning 3am. This was a failure, though, and the duo broke up which is when Paul came to England.

When he returned to America, the producer of their first album, Tom Wilson, dubbed bass, electric guitar and drums to the all-acoustic song The Sound of Silence. This then propelled the duo up the folk-rock scene. In 1966, the album of the same name featured some of their most famous songs – I am A Rock, Richard Cory and Kathy’s Song. Their next album Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme

again had seminal work still popular today including Scarborough Fair, Homeward Bound and The 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin’ Groovy).

In 1967, Mike Nichols asked Paul to write a song for his upcoming movie, The Graduate. The song, Mrs Robinson, formed part of their next album, Bookends, which is considered one of the greatest albums of the Sixties. Hits from this number Hazy Shade of Winter, America, At The Zoo, The Boxer and Cecilia.

Simon & Garfunkel split up at the height of their fame in 1970. Garfunkel had been cast in the film Catch-22 and Simon’s character had been dropped. No real explanation has been given for their breakup but Paul immediately emerged as a solo singer, still writing wonderful songs.

The success of his solo albums like Still Crazy After All These Years ultimately proved that he still had a huge musical connection with people all over the world.

However, there were periods – especially in the early 1980s - when Paul’s magic touch seemed to be waning. He became, though, fascinated by the music of South Africa and visited the country. There, he recorded with South African musicians and the album Graceland followed which became a multi-million best-seller.

In 1987, he was the winner of the British Phonographic Industry Award for International Solo Artist following the success of Graceland.

In 2003, the duo received a Lifetime Achievement Award, they have been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Paul into the Songwriters’ Hall of Fame. In 2007, he was awarded the First Gershwin Prize for Popular Music by the Library of Congress and in 2011, he was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

Of his many concert appearances, Paul is most proud of the two in Central Park in New York and the series of shows he did at the invitation of Nelson Mandela in South Africa. He was the first American artist to perform in post-apartheid South Africa.

Paul’s philanthropic work includes the co-founding of The Children’s Health Fund with Dr Irwin Redlener. This donates and staffs mobile medical vans to bring healthcare to poor and indigent children in urban and rural locations around America.

He has also raised millions of dollars for a large variety of worthy causes.

His fans realised that Paul was prepared to experiment with his music, and they loved it! As he later explained about Graceland: “I did not set out to make a political statement. I was making a cultural statement with political implications.

Paul has been married three times – including to the late actress Carrie Fisher – and has four children. Three of his children are with his current wife, the singersongwriter Edie Brickell.

“I started to build the album around rhythms in response to my frustration with the album that preceded Graceland which was Hearts and Bones.

Plainly a complex man, he once said: “I’m generally enthusiastic when I’m working and when I immediately finish I’m enthusiastic. Shortly after that, I don’t want to hear it.

“With Graceland, I thought I’ll just make tracks that I really like and then I’ll write the songs, the words, and if I don’t like what they sound like set to the music, I’d throw things out and start again. Which on a couple of occasions I did.”

Paul’s career has been littered with awards – Grammys for individual songs and his work with Art Garfunkel and then for his solo albums including Graceland as Artist & Producer of the Record of the Year.

“It’s always been my way. It’s such an intense process for me and the process itself can take so long, and I get into it so completely, that by the time I’ve finished a piece of work I’m really finished with it. I’m done.”

But for the many millions of his fans, the hope is that the huge talent that is Paul Simon will continue for a long time to come.

WWW.50PLUSMAGAZINE.CO.UK

| 31

OUT & ABOUT

Historic Park Restored to Former

GLORY

In November 2011, a gale blew down four of the Doric columns in the Italian Garden of Burnley’s Thompson Park.

When all thirty two of the columns were removed into storage, many believed that they would never be returned and that another public park was heading into sad decline.

But this unfortunate event has a happy ending! Anyone visiting the park during the last nine months will have seen a hive of activity as work to restore Thompson Park progressed and this is all thanks to a £861,000 grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund and £250,000 from Burnley Council.

Italian Garden 1930s Thompson Park was created thanks to the generosity of local mill owner James Witham Thompson. When he drew up his will in 1919, he left £50,000 (£2.2 million at today’s prices) to Burnley Corporation for the specific purpose

of constructing a park, one that would be quite different in character from the town’s existing parks. It was to be a pleasure garden, complete with a boating lake, tea pavilion, conservatory and ornamental gardens, where Burnley’s hardworking population could experience healthy outdoor pleasures previously enjoyed only by the rich.

The bequest was accepted enthusiastically by the Corporation and preliminary plans were published in the Burnley Express less than three weeks after J.W. Thompson’s death in May 1920. However, construction was delayed for eight years owing to the danger of subsidence from mining operations beneath the Bank Hall Estate.

The design of Thompson Park, its layout and principal features are credited to Arthur Race, the Borough Surveyor for Burnley from 1923 to 1935. Race’s layout for Thompson Park was ambitious; including Italian gardens, glasshouses, rose planting, classical columns, a lily pond, conservatory, boating lake and paddling pool.

The inclusion of these features and the design of elements such as the Italian Garden bear a strong resemblance to Stanley Park in Blackpool, designed by the renowned landscape architect Thomas Mawson with whom Race had previously worked.

The Park was an instant success. Indeed, such was the public excitement that the Park was temporarily opened for the 1930 Whitsun Bank Holiday weekend and then closed so that work could be finished for the official opening in July 1930.

The Heritage Lottery Fund grant has enabled all the park’s main features to be restored. The Italian Garden shelters and pergolas have been rebuilt and the flower garden planted with bee and butterfly friendly perennials that have blazed with colour throughout the hot summer.

The former boathouse has been converted into a café overlooking the popular boating lake and next to a new children’s playground featuring sand and

Paddling Pool, Summer 1930 water play and a restored rocking horse (remember those?). The paddling pool, which is one of very few remaining in the north west is being relined and the tea pavilion has been restored to its former glory and is available for booking for weddings, functions and corporate events.

For more information about Thompson Park, visit Burnley.gov.uk

THE

PAVILION thompson park

CHRISTMAS AFTERNOON TEA WITH LIVE MUSIC tuesday 11th december | 3pm | £15.95pp Enjoy a special winter's afternoon of yuletide merriment in the beautifully restored 1930's pavilion building in Thompson Park. Savour a warming mulled wine reception followed by a delicious selection of festive sandwiches, savouries and miniature sweet treats all accompanied by seasonal live music.

Call 01282 664400 to book BURNLEY LEISURE

SIMPLY CLASSIC

HOSPITALITY

WWW.50PLUSMAGAZINE.CO.UK

| 33

HEALTH

Your Doctor

Include high quality protein and fat such as such as nuts, avocados, Omega 3 fats (Mackerel, Wild salmon and tuna) virgin olive oil and eggs in every meal. This helps you to feel full and stabilise your blood sugars.

Snacks – try olives, hummus with celery sticks but avoid the temptation of processed foods such as biscuits and crisps.

Try to lose weight. Losing weight can help to increase your insulin sensitivity again and can reduce your diabetic medication requirements. In some cases, it is possible to get patients off all diabetic medications.

Diabetes increases your risk factors for other health issues so make sure you have regular check-ups with your GP. By keeping a blood-sugar diary and a food diary your GP can help you to manage your medications and encourage good lifestyle choices. Blood tests including an HBA1C (long-term blood sugar marker) should be conducted at least 2-3 times per year.

How to Manage Diabetes

Avoid sugary drinks (i.e. squashes, soft fizzy drinks) and stick to water, green tea and coffee/tea without sugar or sweetener.

It is estimated that just under 4 million people have diabetes in the UK. 90% are type 2 diabetics. It is believed that up to a further 1 million people remain undiagnosed.

Try to exercise daily. This can be as little as 10 mins of moderate activity which can even be split in to two sessions of 5 mins.

At your-doctor, we offer a personalised, bespoke service to help support and plan a programme of diabetes management.

Type 2 diabetes is due to increasing insulin resistance to raised sugar levels. This means that your insulin hormones become less effective in storing and dealing with raised blood sugar levels. This is particularly relevant when consuming large amounts of refined carbohydrates or sugary food and drinks.

WAYS TO KEEP YOUR HEART HEALTHY In the UK, 435 people lose their lives to heart disease every single day. More than 110 of these people will be under the age of 75, a very small number might even be children. Heart disease is a condition, which can affect anyone so here are ways you can make your heart healthier:

Losing weight and exercising is shown to improve, and in some cases reverse, diabetes by making your insulin more sensitive again.

If you’re a smoker take drastic steps to quit to protect yourself from heart disease. Smoking is one of the main causes of coronary heart disease but if you do quit, your risk of having a heart attack falls to about half that of a smoker.

So what can you do to help deal with your diabetes?

Try avoiding fruits that are higher in natural sugars like grapes and mangoes and stick to fruits which have a lower sugar content like apricots, raspberries and strawberries.

Reduce your consumption of refined carbohydrates (rice, pasta and bread) which will help to stabilise your sugars.

34 | WWW.50PLUSMAGAZINE.CO.UK

It is also important for patients with diabetes to consider their cholesterol and blood pressure levels as this has an effect on their heart health. It would be recommended that fasting cholesterol blood tests be carried out at least once a year. A six-monthly review of medications would also be part of the GP process.

By Dr Riccardo Di Cuffa, Director and GP at Your Doctor www.your-doctor.co.uk

You should do about 150 minutes of moderate aerobic exercise every week to reduce your risk of heart disease. This is just 30 minutes of exercise, five days a week. This can be broken down into three episodes of 10 min activities.

Stick to a diet low in fats and sugars. If you’re overweight, then you should take

continue to exercise but it is essential that you do exercises that are appropriate to you; remember even walking, stretching or housework helps. To follow are ten suggestions of how to use exercise to feel better, but make sure that you first get advice from your GP if you have any injuries or illnesses.

DEPRESSION - The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) recommends that people with mild to moderate depression do 45 minutes to one hour of exercise three times a week. Exercise helps release feel positive brain chemicals including neurotransmitters, endorphins and endocannabinoids. Increases body temperature which may have a calming effect, helps us gain confidence, takes our mind off our worries and encourages social interaction and a way of coping healthily. steps to lose weight in order to reduce your risk of developing heart disease. If you do this gradually, sugar cravings are minimised.

Drink less alcohol. Regular or high alcohol intake can lead to heart disease called cardiomyopathy. Binge drinking can cause irregular heart rhythms called arrhythmias. Alcohol contains a lot of calories that can have a big impact on how you manage your weight.

Manage stress in your life. Excessive stress over a long period of time can cause heart attacks so it’s important that you do not overwork or overload yourself in order to protect yourself from developing heart disease.

Manage your cholesterol. We need cholesterol to be healthy but an imbalance of cholesterol in your blood can lead to heart attack or stroke. In order to balance your cholesterol, you should eat healthy fats and reduce the amount of processed food, sugar and flour in your diet.

Oily fish contains huge amounts of omega-3 fats, which is a mineral that helps protect against heart disease. Salmon, sardines and tuna are all great sources of omega-3. However, pregnant women should not eat more than two portions of oily fish a week.

Start eating more fibre. Experts say that 30g of fibre a day can reduce the risk of developing heart disease. You can get fibre from foods like wholemeal bread, bran, oats, potato skins, fruit and vegetables.

Cut down the salt in your diet (particularly sodium salts) as it can affect your blood pressure which increases your risk of heart disease. The salt we consume is usually already in the foods we buy so it’s important to check the labels of what you’re buying.

Microwave meals are notorious for having a huge amount of salt in – it’s always better to cook from scratch so you’re more aware of what’s going into your food.

Eat your 5-a-day (at least)! Eating five portions of fruit and vegetables every day will mean your body is absorbing a good amount of vitamins and minerals which in turn will help your body fight against heart disease. There is a push towards 7-10 portions a day but we would encourage you to build this into your diet gradually.

HOW DIFFERENT EXERCISES CAN HELP FIGHT MEDICAL CONDITIONS Evidence of the benefits of exercising is overwhelming these days. With most medical conditions, it is still important that you

DEMENTIA - To help reduce the symptoms of dementia, activity such gentle gardening helps to keep us strong and gives sufferers some independence back which may have been lost.

DIABETES - To lower your risk of diabetes, reducing weight by trying swimming or a water aerobics class can help to keep blood glucose well controlled and blood pressure on target and improve blood circulation.

CANCER – One in every two people will be affected by cancer but the survival rate has doubled over the past 40 years.

Exercising can help prevent cancer but can also reduce the side effects of treatment, decrease the risk of re-occurring cancer and can enhance quality of life during and after cancer treatments OSTEOPOROSIS - It’s important to keep your joints moving and to do strengthening exercises such as walking, swimming and cycling. Exercising can increase bone mineral density which helps to maintain strong bones. From your twenties onwards you can help prevent bone loss by exercising regularly (women are particularly at risk after the menopause).

HEART DISEASE - Those suffering from heart disease should take it easy and not do any exercise that causes pain or dizziness. but make sure you warm-up and cool-down before any form of light workout to avoid feeling lightheaded.

STROKE - As recovery improves, repetitive tasks like stretching and gripping movements can encourage normal function. Ask your specialist or GP for guidance.

BACK PAIN – Your back may be strained from sitting down too much. Make sure you get up from your chair and move around every 45 minutes. Any form of suitable exercise will send endorphins to the problem area and help to promote pain relief, but don’t do anything that makes your symptoms feel worse.

STRESS - To alleviate stress, if appropriate try a vigorous activity such as fast skipping or kick boxing. Exercise reduces cortisol and norepinephrine associated with stress. At the same time endorphins that are responsible for the feeling of elation and positive well-being are released, as are dopamine and serotonin which give a feeling of safety and security that may offset feelings of anxiety and negative self-talk.

GUT TROUBLES – Don’t overdo it in the gym. Light to moderate activity is best as vigorous exercise can aggravate symptoms - try swimming, Pilates or yoga.

BREAST SCREENING Saves lives through detecting cancer early

The National Breast Screening Programme invites all women between 50-70, every 3 years for breast screening. Each GP practice is screened in turn and all women that are registered with a GP will receive an invitation.

found, the treatment required will often be less intense, and the chance of making a full recovery much higher.

If breast cancer is diagnosed early at screening, 97% of women will be alive five years later. *www.cancerscreening. nhs.uk.

Breast cancer

1 in 8 women in the UK will be diagnosed with breast cancer at some point during their lives. Breast cancer is now the most common cause of cancer in women in this country, with over 45,000 new cases being diagnosed every year.

Why do we Screen?

We screen women who are most at risk.

Why only invite women over 50?

The aim of screening is to increase the survival rate from breast cancer amongst those women that have taken part in the programme. Before a programme like this starts, a lot of research is done to ensure that the benefits to the population will be greater than the risks.

When you receive an invitation if it’s not at a convenient location, date or time, please call your local breast screening office on 01282-805301 and we will be happy to rearrange.

What is breast screening?

For the breast screening programme the research showed that, by inviting all women every three years from the age of 50, the benefit would outweigh any negatives.

80% of all breast cancer is diagnosed in women aged over 50, and so regular screening of this age group will be most beneficial.

Breast screening (or mammography, as it is also called), is an x-ray of the breast. By doing this x-ray, doctors are able to see at an early stage, if there are any changes in the breast tissue that could be due to cancer, so they can be investigated early.

Younger women get breast cancer too...

Early detection saves lives

This is why we don’t screen women under 50.

Most breast changes will not be cancer, but if cancer is

36 | WWW.50PLUSMAGAZINE.CO.UK

Young women do get breast cancer, but when you look at the risk across the population as a whole, the number of younger women who get breast cancer is much smaller.

If you are a younger woman and worried about breast cancer, perhaps due to finding a sign or symptom, or having a family history of the disease, you should contact your GP.

East Lancashire

Breast Screening Service

East Lancashire is your local breast screening service based at Burnley General Hospital; you will be invited to our base unit or our mobile unit which visits 11 different locations across East Lancashire. We visit Burnley, Blackburn, Accrington, Padiham, Darwen, Waterfoot, Haslingden, Clitheroe, Rawtenstall, Longridge and Barnoldswick.

Reasons WHY do 3 in 10 women living in Lancashire not attend their FREE Breast Screening Appointment?

• I DON’T HAVE TIME

A breast screen (mammogram) takes just 8 minutes and could save your life.

• IT’S UNCOMFORTABLE

Some women may find the experience uncomfortable; however the benefits of screening far outweigh any possible discomfort.

• THERE’S NO BREAST CANCER IN MY FAMILY 4 in 5 women and men who are diagnosed do not have a family history of breast cancer.

• I DON’T WANT TO KNOW

Only 1 in 100 women screened nationally will be diagnosed with breast cancer.

WE’VE BEEN SCREENED EXPERIENCES The earlier breast cancer is found, the better the chances of survival.

WWW.50PLUSMAGAZINE.CO.UK

| 37

HEALTH

Quality dentures mean a quality lifestyle The Importance of Dentures

The eyes, nose and teeth are the focal points of every face; they give the first impressions of your personality.

Natural teeth grow in proportion and in harmony with your facial features and your dentures should be made accordingly.

Your teeth, or your dentures, have many important functions: to support your facial muscles, to help formulate your speech, and most importantly to chew your food and start the digestive process.

It is very important to chew food properly, as poorly chewed food will take longer to digest, especially for the elderly who could risk problems in the digestive system.

Choice of Dentures

There are four main quality standards in denture materials.

The denture base (gum coloured on which the denture teeth sit).

38 | WWW.50PLUSMAGAZINE.CO.UK

• • • • •

Standard Quality High Impact Acrylics (much stronger) Injection Pressure Formed (Premium Denture Base) Flexible (Partial Dentures) Metal Denture

The Denture Teeth • • • •

2 Layer Acrylic (economy) 3 Layer Acrylic (harder wearing) 4 Layer Reinforced (hard wearing, natural look) N.F.C. (Nano filled composite) premium teeth.

Of course, the materials alone will not make a good denture. In the hands of a skilful and experienced Clinical Dental Technician the best results are achieved.

Dentures Need Regular Servicing

Dentures are in constant use almost 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. They are also in a pretty hostile environment in the mouth, being attacked by strong acid, bacteria, hot, cold and spicy food.

Denture material absorbs liquids and food odour.

Daily cleaning is essential as well as professional ultrasonic cleaning in a dental laboratory at least once a year. Due to constant bone resorbtion dentures will become loose sooner or later.

Loose dentures will increase damage to the gums and bone structure, and increase the risk of breakage. Have them re-lined as soon as possible to get a good fit. It only takes a day or two.

Have your dentures inspected by a Clinical Dental Technician at least every two years, or more frequently if necessary.

Your Dentures need Attention 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

When they become loose.

When teeth or denture base discolours.

When tooth surfaces become flat.

When denture base does not fit around natural teeth (in partial dentures).

When you develop deep lines around your mouth.

6.

7.

When your chin sticks out, and the corners of your lips are constantly wet, developing sores.

When you stop smiling and feel embarrassed.

My Dentures have become loose!

This is easily remedied by a procedure know as Re-lining. A new layer of Denture base is added to your existing Denture, improving the fit and restoring confidence.

Dentures with worn down teeth

Teeth excessively worn, require a new set of dentures.

Dentures on Implants This type of Denture is constructed in conjunction with the Dental Implant Surgeon. This is a very good procedure when the patient has limited control and retention of their Dentures. The finished Dentures ‘click’ into position offering the ultimate in Denture Retention.

Major improvements in Facial Features

Padding dentures to reduce lines and fill up sunken cheeks will require a new

we have to rely on our visual and artistic judgement.

set of dentures. It is advisable to have a new set of dentures made every 5 to 10 years.

At the same time we have to use our technical expertise in order to make the denture stable and functional. Denture construction is more art than science.

Should I have a spare set of Dentures made?

Yes, it is very important to have a spare set of dentures for emergencies in case of breakage.

What is a Clinical Dental Technician?

Professional Clinical Dental Technicians are members of the Dental Health Care Team. They have undergone specific training and education in the skills and knowledge necessary to provide a removable appliance service directly to the community.

No Spare Set? “Denture in a day”

Lost or misplaced your dentures? With planning, we can provide you with a new set in 24 hours!

Difficulties in Constructing a Good Set of Dentures

Equipped with solid technical training as a Dental Technician - plus posttechnician training in sciences, clinical skills, and interpersonal skills - the Clinical Dental Technician can design, create, construct and modify (repair and rebase) removable appliances to ensure optimal fit, maximum comfort and general well-being of patients.

Constructing a functional and aesthetically pleasing set of dentures is the most difficult task in dentistry. We are not only replacing lost teeth, but also lost tissue matter and bone. In other words, we have to re-create your facial features as they were before the loss of your natural teeth.

These skills enable the Clinical Dental Technician, whilst remaining a member of the Dental Health Care Team, to work independently of other Dental Health Care providers.

In most cases we do not know what your teeth looked like, what size they were or what position they were in originally.

We have a few indications but mostly

www.albertroaddenturecentre.co.uk

ALBERT ROAD DENTURE CENTRE

smile w i th co nf i d e nce

Christopher Gower is a Clinical Dental Technician with over 15 years of experience and study. Chris creates bespoke hand crafted dentures using state of the art materials and techniques for an optimum fit and maximum comfort.

Visit us for a free of charge 20 minute consultation for new dentures, implants or any denture related problems to discuss your concerns and to find out how we can help you.

We can also provide you with a new set of dentures within 24 hours!

We now offer Dental Implants in conjunction with an Implant Specialist.

These stabilise troublesome dentures and can truly change lives.

Home visits are available, where we come to you for all consultations and fittings.

Quality, Convenience and Professionalism are our watchwords and our dedicated team will be with you every step of the way, with a personal, understanding and caring service.

•

FREE CONSULTATION

•

HANDCRAFTED DENTURES

•

DENTURE IN A DAY

•

DENTAL IMPLANTS

•

EMERGENCY REPAIRS

•

HOME VISITS AVAILABLE

•

ELECTRONIC DENTURE CLEANING

•

ORAL SCREENING SERVICE

Christopher Gower Dip CDT RDT Clinical Dental Technician, Denture Provider Registered with the General Dental Council (no 208200)

71 Albert Road, Colne BB8 0BP | T: 01282 862823 2B Petre Court, Petre Road, Clayton-le-Moors BB5 5HY | T: 01254 416046 Fisher Medical Centre, Millfields, Coach Street, Skipton BD23 1EU | T: 01756 799622 WWW.50PLUSMAGAZINE.CO.UK

| 39

THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE HOME THIS CHRISTMAS! STARRING

KELVIN FLETCHER as the Tin Man

AND INTRODUCING

HOLLY TANDY as Dorothy

With Music and Lyrics by haroLd arLen and e. y. harburg background Music by herbert stothart

dance and VocaL arrangeMents by peter hoWard

orchestration by Larry WiLcox

adapted by John kane for the royaL shakespeare coMpany

based upon the cLassic Motion picture oWned byTurner Entertainment Co. and distributed in aLL Media by Warner Bros.

WINTER GARDENS BLACKPOOL * 0844 calls cost 7p per minute plus your phone company’s access charge

7 - 30 DECEMBER 2018 BOX OFFICE: 0844 856 1111 WINTERGARDENSBL ACKPOOL.CO.UK