BANKFIELD HOUSE is an independent, privately owned care home. Situated in a quiet corner of Woodley in the tranquillity of its own attractive landscape gardens consisting of a pond, barbecue and pergola.
l Organised activities by our experienced full time Activities Coordinator
l Outings to the Theatre, Canal Boat Trips, Museums & Garden Centres etc.
l Links to the local community through Churches
l CCTV within the home and grounds
l Accommodates 30 residents
which their importance.
who Choice •
• Up to 30 residents, 24 single and 3 Twin Rooms
• 3 Lounges / 2 Dining Rooms / Large Conservatory
We offer dedicated care, providing each individual resident with security, dignity and peace of mind in a homely family environment.
• Permanent / Short Term / Respite Stay
• Day Care Service
• Home Made Cooked Food
l Located in private grounds with landscape gardens, pergola, stone barbecue and pond
l Hairdresser, Chiropodist, Ophthalmic and Dental Services, Church Services
l Six Weekly Resident Relative Meetings
• Social Activities on a Daily Basis
• Beautifully Appointed Formal Gardens
Our ethos is to assist our Residents in continuing to live their lives as independently as their specific needs determine by providing holistic care and support conductive to those needs.
• Visiting Practitioners
• Regular Outings
Our extensive person-centred activities itinerary is coordinated by our experienced full-time dedicated member of staff five days per week.
• Weekly Hairdressing
• CCTV/ 24hr Security
Activities take place within the care home and in the community through local Churches and Nursery Schools. During the summer months Bankfield House Residents are able to enjoy our gardens, planting herbs and tomatoes etc, in the raised garden beds.
You will also find us on our Facebook page ‘Bankfield Bellbows’ which has been invaluable during COVID-19 for families and friends to connect with their loved ones and interact remotely in their activities and 6 weekly resident/relative meetings.
We also hold our annual barbecue, (weather permitting) together with bring & buys and raffles to raise money for our resident’s fund, to help purchase theatre tickets and entrance fees on their outings.
HARRISON FORD - A CREDIBLE HERO
Twittering On
BY
6-7 TWITTERING ON
By Angela Kelly10-11 TRAVEL
Lord of the Highlands
16-17 CELEBRITY FEATURE
Harrison Ford tackles a tough adventure role at the age of 81
32-33 HOME
Buying just one thing can make a difference
36-37 FOOD
Theo Randall showcases the best of Italian cooking
40 GARDENING
Tips for Autumn
45-46 MOTORING
Steve Howarth test drives a BYD and a Citreon E-C4 X Shine.
Bridgeman House
77 Bridgeman Street | Bolton | BL3 6BY.
Sales Enquiries : T: (01204) 238180
E: artwork@mcgrathmedia.co.uk
Chiropractors use a range of techniques to reduce pain, improve function and increase mobility, including hands-on manipulation of the spine. As well as manual treatment, chiropractors are able to offer a package of care which includes advice on self-help, therapeutic exercises and lifestyle changes.
Chiropractic treatment involves safe, often gentle, specific spinal manipulation to free joints in the spine or other areas of the body that are not moving properly. Apart from manipulation, chiropractors may use a variety of techniques including ice, heat, ultrasound, exercise and acupuncture as well as advice about posture and lifestyle.
Back pain is very common. Most people will suffer one or more episodes of back pain during their lives. In many cases, it starts suddenly and gets better quickly, without the need for any treatment.
However, back pain can be painful, debilitating and persistent, and some people suffer repeated episodes. It can also be associated with other symptoms, such as leg pain or sciatica. It may start following a specific incident, such as bending awkwardly or lifting a heavy weight. Or it can develop gradually, perhaps as a result of poor posture, an uncomfortable work position or repetitive strain.
Neck pain is very common. Most people will suffer one or more episodes of neck pain during their lives. In many cases, it starts suddenly and gets better quickly, without the need for any treatment.
However, neck pain can be painful, debilitating and persistent, and some people suffer repeated episodes. It can also be associated with other symptoms, such as arm pain or headaches. Neck pain may start following a traumatic incident, such as a road traffic collision, or it may start gradually, perhaps as a result of poor posture or an uncomfortable work position.
By Angela Kelly
Let’s hope Lewis can rest now and eventually return to his performances with all his usual impressive commitment. We need to hear that beautiful voice – and see Lewis back on form.
How can we condone competitive eating in 2023?
I CAN’T be the only person who feels that competitive eating events are completely at odds with life in a country where so many struggle just to pay for enough daily food.
Reading about eating champion John Dawes’ ability to eat 20 sausages and a kilo of mash in five minutes offers an uncomfortable reality.
THE moment that singer Lewis Capaldi’s Tourette’s Syndrome symptoms prevented him from singing at Glastonbury made heartbreaking viewing.
Even for TV viewers not privy to that live moment at Worthy Farm, seeing the talented Lewis unable to carry on was very upsetting.
He had just had a three week mental health break in order to fulfil this appearance but, sadly, Tourette’s (the neurological condition which causes unwanted, involuntary muscle movements and sounds).is a cruel curse, striking sufferers randomly.
In the middle of all this, the audience came to the rescue, taking over the singing of his haunting hit Someone You Love. Unsurprisingly, there wasn’t a dry eye in the house - in my house, either.
Lewis also wrote the song and it’s opening line “I’m going under and this time there’s no one to save me” was particularly poignant.
Genuine affection between performer and audience is the staple of huge popularity, especially among today’s headliners. But the deal can still mean a “them and us” situation which puts our heroes on pedestals.
To see and hear the real empathy of an audience prepared to offer unconditional support was very touching. All of them knew that Lewis was in anguish, physical and mental, over his inability to perform as he wanted to, in spite of having already delivered some fabulous songs.
Their answer was simply to sing it for him.
Although Glastonbury like any major festival, is built on practical affection for enduring musical heroes, it was rare to see it in action in quite such a deliberate way when it was needed.
The fact that he wants his 18 year-old daughter to continue his legacy with rigorous “training sessions” seems an odd sort of suggested career path for anyone.
Consuming huge amounts of food in mere minutes feels wrong on so many levels when we still urgently need food banks and thousands of children attend school breakfast clubs just to give them a decent start to the day.
Surely promoting gluttony as entertainment - or, worse, as a genuine “sport” - is crazily out of kilter with Britain in 2023?
Cheesy chat-up lines still working
CHAT-up lines are always fascinating, don’t you think?
They are probably a great indication of the social trends of the time but most have one thing in common: they are relentlessly cheesy.
So it was reassuring to see the results of a poll of single Brits and what their current chat-up lines are.
Roughly a quarter of those aged between 16 and 29 (categorized as Gen Z) say they have used corny one liners on someone else compared to just 11 per cent of singles aged from 30 to 49.
The youngsters also prefer to deliver their chat-up lines via online dating rather than face-to-face.
According to them, the best flirty phrase was “ Is your name WiFi? Because I’m feeling a connection.”
Another ranking highly was “Is your name Google? ‘Cause you’re what I’ve been searching for.” Or “Are you a parking ticket? ‘Cause you’ve got fine written all over you” and “Should we get coffee? ‘Cause I like you a latte.”
When you’ve finished groaning, it is rather interesting that today’s youngsters still value this kind of preliminary social action. And quite touching that they believe it will work.
I think I still prefer the old classics like “You dancin’?” You askin’?” “I’m askin’.” “I’m dancin’“. How could that fail?!
YOU really have to admire the attitude of Paralympic gold medallist Ellie Simmonds to her birth mother.
Ellie was born with dwarfism but has never let this define her.
At 10 days old, she went into foster care and was later adopted by a plainly remarkable couple who have done everything possible to encourage her and allow her to develop as an individual and as a champion, Ellie became the youngest of five children, growing up with adoptive parents Val and Steve in Walsall in the West Midlands. From an early age, she loved swimming and was just 13 when she won two golds for Britain at the 2008 Paralympics in Beijing.
She retired from sport in 2020 and it was then that she felt the urge to trace her roots. Now, in a new ITV documentary Ellie Simmonds, Finding My Secret Family, Ellie, aged 28, refuses to judge her birth mother, who already had a daughter without dwarfism.
Her birth mother had separated from Ellie’s father before she found out she was pregnant. She felt guilty about her daughter’s disability and wished she’d had an abortion or that her baby had died.
Ellie explains: “It sounds like she had a fear of not just me but of living with dwarfism.”
Ellie also realized that not enough was known or understood about dwarfism (achondroplasia, the most common form of dwarfism) then.
When Ellie ultimately discovered her mother, they met up and, critically, she told Ellie that she had suffered with guilt and selfhatred ever since.
She did, though, feel happy that Ellie’s adoptive parents and siblings had provided her with such a loving environment.
On that first meeting, they spoke for over five hours “and were howling with laughter as we’ve got the same sense of humour.”
Not every adoption story has such a happy ending and not every child has the courage and understanding of Ellie Simmonds. This proved a really heartwarming story all round.
£229
Whether you’re looking for a romantic break for two, a family holiday or getting away with friends, Daish’s Holidays offers 12 hotels in 10 of the most popular UK destinations. Our fleet of 35 luxury coaches provide return travel in comfort and style from your pick up point and will take you directly to your hotel, aiming to arrive between 3 – 5pm.
If you’d like to get out and about to explore the local area on your holiday, then all of our breaks can also be booked on a self-drive basis so you’ve got the freedom of having your own car.
Every break includes:
Self-drive & coach inclusive breaks Live nightly entertainment
Trip Advisor’s Travellers’ Choice
your brochure now!
We are proud to announce that six of our group – County, Devonshire, Abbey Lawn, Bournemouth Sands, Daish’s, Imperial – have been awarded the coveted TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice award for 2023.
When it comes to inviting, relaxing breaks, we have the ideal holiday for you...
Prices shown are per person based on two people sharing a Standard Room. Supplements apply on twin/double rooms with sole occupancy. Optional local excursions can be booked at the hotel. Many more coach or self-drive holiday dates available in 2023/24. If you would prefer to self-drive, deduct £20 per person from prices shown. Offer ends 31st September 2023
moored canal boats and houses on the water’s edge. Onwards through swing bridges and locks to arrive at our overnight berth of Fort Augustus.
Tonight, is the first Gala Night where we are welcomed to a Champagne Reception by our Captain.
Wednesday, we continue along the canal berthing at Cullochy Lower. An area of flowering bushes, red and white in various stages of bloom are a delight, trees so tall they seem to touch the sky. We meet a group of canoeists having to take their canoes and drag/carry them as they are not allowed to paddle them through the lock. Back aboard we progress through locks, passing small villages, watching birds diving for fish, fields of sheep and a swan sitting with her young, fish causing ripples in the mirror smooth water can be seen.
Snow-capped mountains, azure blue skies, history, sea and inland waterways yet less than 90 minutes flying time from London, yes, Scotland, the Highlands and Western Isles, some of the most spectacular scenery in the world.
From Inverness airport it’s a short coach journey to Hebridean Islands Cruise ship, Lord of the Highlands, moored on the Caledonian Canal, my home for the next seven days.
My cabin on Richard Hannay deck is impressive, large picture window, single beds with stowage and drawer space under each, UK style electrical sockets, two usb ports by the beds, individual flexible reading lamps, wardrobe, drawers and shelves provide more than enough storage for the seven day voyage. Air conditioning, hair dryer, flat screen tv, kettle with tea/coffee/milk sachets, iron and little extras other ships don’t provide, shoe horn, shoe polish pad, clothes brush and dressing gowns. The bathroom boasts a large walk in shower, toilet, wash basin, extending magnifying mirror, large soft towels, complemented by toiletries of shower gel, shampoo, conditioner, body lotion, shower cap, soap and much more, all bearing the Molton Brown name. Finally, a small decanter of Whisky and glasses await ready for that night cap and if Whisky is not your tipple, it can be changed for Gin or Brandy.
The following day, Tuesday, I wake to a clear sky and sunshine. After breakfast some depart on a visit to Culloden and Clava Cairns. I stay on board and take in what a beautiful vessel Lord of the Highlands is. Everything of the highest quality, woodwork, panelling, chairs, glass topped tables with inset marquetry, cutlery and glass ware. Lunch over, our transit of the canal begins. Gliding peacefully past the vast Inverness Tomnahurich Cemetery, banks of bright yellow gorse,
Following lunch, we moor at the head of Neptune’s Staircase. A set of 8 locks that lower the ship from the Caledonian Canal to sea level 64 feet below at Fort William. We have a choice, stay on board and go through the locks or to take the excursion, I decide on the excursion visiting the Glenfinnan Monument, erected in 1814 in memory of the Highlanders who fought in the Jacobite rising of 1745. There is a small gift shop and museum taking you through the area’s history. From this point can be seen the Glenfinnan Viaduct, Harry Potter fans would recognise this as the viaduct the Hogwarts Express passes over.
Now to visit Fort William on the shores of Loch Linnhe, ithe largest town in the Highlands, and see the sights of this old Scottish town which during the 2nd World War was home to HMS St.
Alan Fairfax travels the locks and lochs surroundedby magnificent scenery, on water and land.Locks on the Caledonian Canal Lord of the Highlands
Christopher, a British Navy training unit. Fort William is popular with tourists as Glen Coe is nearby as is Ben Nevis, a favourite with climbers and hill walkers. Arriving back to the ship berthed at Corpath the ‘Hogwarts Express’ steams through the station to the delight of Harry Potter fans. Our mooring has views of Ben Nevis, the snow still visible to let us know that for this area winter is not long gone.
Thursday, we enter our 22nd and final lock, the ‘Sea Lock’ as we travel Loch Linnhe on route to Oban. On arrival the sun is shining from a clear blue sky, a great time to go ashore and visit one of my favourite towns in Scotland but not before the Whisky Vault Experience on board from a representative of the Oban Distillery. Oban’s a busy town with tourist and fishing boats plus the Caledonian MacBrayne ferries that travel between the islands. We sail as the sun is beginning to set for our overnight berth at Craignure on the Isle of Mull.
residents have taken into private ownership. Eigg truly has ‘picture postcard’ scenery, hills rolling down to silver sand beaches and inlets, fields that are home to over 1,400 sheep. Unfortunately, we were only here for a short time before crossing to Armadale on the Isle of Skye.
The excursion this afternoon is to Armadale Castle and Gardens
Friday begins with a coach trip to Duart Castle ancestral home to the Clan Maclean since the 14th Century. However, due to Clan Wars, the castle changed hands several times and became almost a ruin before being purchased in 1910 by Sir Fitzroy MacLean, 26th Clan Chief. Situated on a peninsular overlooking the Sound of Mull and the entrances to Lochs Linnie and Etive it affords breath taking vistas.
In the grounds are a tea shop selling wonderful homemade scones, fruit cake etc and a small but well stocked gift shop. Driving back to the ship, a bright sun shines from a cloudless blue sky, the fields have become alive with sheep and lambs, their white coats contrast with the rich yellow Set amongst gorse hedgerows and green grass, Highland cattle with their long horns and woolly coats ignore us as we pass.
Back on board it’s time to set sail again, this time for my all time favourite, Tobermory a small town on the Isle of Mull featuring brightly coloured houses, cafes, restaurants and shops, its busy small harbour making it a popular location for visitors to Western Scotland and used as the location for the children’s television programme ‘Balamory’. It’s a beautiful warm day and the small sand beach is busy with families. Another interesting visit is the Tobermory Distillery, one of the oldest in Scotland. We remain here overnight allowing passengers to explore the town in the evening.
Saturday, first port is the Isle of Eigg, an amazing island that the 90+
now cared for by the Clan Donald Land Trust. The castle is now a ruin but you can imagine what a magnificent structure it used to be looking out over lawns to the sea.
A late afternoon departure as we head for our final berth of the journey, Kyle of Lochalsh arriving early evening.
Sunday, our last day, takes us on tours to Eilean Donan Castle believed to be named after the Irish saint, Bishop Doran and in the afternoon to Plockton often said to be the prettiest village in Scotland, and yes, it is beautiful with stunning views. The evening is the final Gala Night and in true Scottish tradition the Haggis is piped aboard and the ancient address made by the hotel manager. A fabulous ending to a great cruise.
Alan travelled as a guest of Hebridean Island Cruises. Contact our Silver Travel Advisors on 0800 412 5678 to discover more about their Scottish voyages on Lord of the Highlands and Hebridean Princess.
And then we snorkel over Buccoo Reef, carefully watched by Captain Markus and Tanja, sighting multi-coloured fish large and small, including my favourites, parrotfish. As ever, life under the water is a delight, reminding me that there is a whole other world surrounding us on land. And as a treat Markus takes us to the ultimate deserted beach, no name is given, for a true Robinson Crusoe moment.
Birding in Tobago
And this is the absolute joy of Tobago: stunning surprises at every turn on land and at sea. It’s only 25 miles long and just over six miles wide, with a population of around 61,000. For its relative size it is certainly punching above its weight in terms of natural attractions.
‘Run your hand through the water and see it glitter’, says our guide, Brett. I do and it does. We’re on a night kayaking trip from Pigeon Point Beach to Bon Accord Lagoon in search of bioluminescence –glowing plankton. I’m captivated, we all are. I dip my paddle in the water, raise it and watch the sparkles trickle through the air. Some of our group swim amid the silvery glowing light. My co-paddler and I share a meditative moment or two, alternately gazing upwards to the starry sky and then down to what look like liquid fairy lights.
Bioluminescence safaris are the brainchild of Radical Sports here on Tobago’s Pigeon Point: you’ve got to pick the correct time for this, a fortnight each month when the moon is just right. I’m no expert kayaker and the 2.5 hour round trip sounds a bit daunting, but it’s not. Brett paces us perfectly and there’s plenty to see, from flocks of fish-eating bats skimming the dark waters off the lagoon, to sea cucumbers and glow worms. Plus the water is warm and I’m fascinated to visit the mangroves on the edge of the lagoon. If kayaking is a tad tame for you, there’s stand up paddleboarding, wind surfing, kite-surfing and the latest impressive water wonder, wing foiling, where you rise above the sea on hydrofoil fin. It looks totally amazing and I suspect it’s probably not for me in this lifetime. But I could watch the antics of the wind and water circus for hours. Pigeon Point Heritage Park hits the spot for every beach lover, a sandy playground and it’s ideal for the perfect wedding photo too.
Sailing
A morning spent aboard the comfortable, sleeps four, catamaran Picante takes us to Nylon Pool, so named by Princess Margaret on her honeymoon here, for calm shallow water and safe swimming.
The Tobago Main Ridge Forest Reserve, the backbone of the island, is the oldest legally protected forest reserve geared specifically towards conservation. Created in 1776 at the behest of British MP Soame Jenyns, whose belief in the correlation between trees and rainfall was prescient, the Reserve is a shining example of ecotourism and sustainability, with many endemic species of birds and animals. Birders really do flock (!) here and there are exceptional guides to take you on tour to track down the 260 species the island boasts.
We have the slightly cheating version by visiting Shurland’s Adventures on the edge of the rainforest, looking down a valley. It’s a simple place, devoted to the birds. Ms Shurland has created a magnet for hummingbirds through dozens of feeders, and the air is quite literally buzzing with the vibrations of their wings as birds
swoop to feast on the sugar water. Are they jewelled-coloured mice with wings and long beaks? Whatever the case, they are mesmerising and in this particular spot, pretty tame. We take a seat with a front row view, eat lunch with an outstanding dessert of soursop and guava ice cream, surrounded by the hummingbirds, hovering inches from our faces.
On the west coast
Yes, we visit more beaches. Worthy of note, although frankly my jaw keeps dropping on the entire drive from Arnos Vale and Bloody Bay, is Castara Bay. Viewed below from the cliff, it’s a picture-postcard stretch of sand with the clearest blue water. My instinct is to run into the sea immediately. Fishermen land their catch here, so you can get a slice of local life early morning. High in the hill is Castara Retreats, where timber built eco-cottages exude barefoot luxury: this is undoubtedly my place and I will return.
Further on at Parlatuvier Bay, we have an unexpected marine experience. Standing on the jetty, watching fishermen clean their catch and lob the unwanted bits into the sea, we see a large dark flat shape emerge in the shallows. And another, followed by half a dozen more. These sting rays are keen to avail themselves of an easy meal, one almost beaching itself in its hurry. It’s a bizarre thing to watch, almost other worldly, ghostly somehow. And, we are told, not at all uncommon.
Of family importance to me is Little Englishman’s Bay where Swiss Family Robinson (1958) was filmed. I feel as if I know every tree and rock personally as I watched it so many times with my kids.
Tobago’s capital
Scarborough, the capital, sits on the Atlantic coast and is in the south of the island, where many of the tourist hotels are. We overnight at the new Comfort Inn & Suites, which is far more than we expect with Tobagonian touches, like a rooftop pool, cool outdoor cocktail bar and shuttle bus to the beach. It’s a hybrid business and holiday for a few days’ property.
We are hit with history at Fort King George run by the local National Trust. The island has changed hands an astonishing 33 times and this building is the result of both English and French occupations. However, the real story, and it’s movingly told by our guide, is that of the enslaved people brought here. Hideously small spaces where people were crammed in, walls with execution bullet marks still visible and brutal barracks buildings instil a sense of horror and shame in us.
The museum beside the preserved fort and its associated buildings is illuminating and eclectic. Maps, weapons, artifacts and images show
the diverse races who have lived here, what they left behind and what they have contributed to Tobago today. We leave thoughtful.
Food
We eat well. Goat rotis at a Store Bay food stall; Z’s Grill Shack offers a choice of lobster, fish, chicken or steak all grilled by the dancing chef/owner and absolutely outstanding, and from a food van, we sample doubles, made with two baras (flat fried dough) and filled with curry channa (curried chickpeas). Beyond delicious all of it! And of course, there are more formal restaurants, with local and international cuisine, which we enjoy in hotels. I really like the Seahorse Inn & Restaurant: there’s great atmosphere sitting in an outdoor courtyard surrounded by fairy lights. Fine dining or fried chicken always tastes better outside, especially when you can hear the sea.
To sum up
Tobago has a soul: it’s warm and relaxed, aware of its natural attributes and keen to share them with visitors. There are smart hotels, Coco Reef Spa Resort for example, yoga eco retreats such as Kariwak Village and Holistic Haven, and the absolute full neverneed-to-leave complex at Magdalena Grand Beach and Golf Resort as well as top quality holiday properties to rent at Stone Haven Villas and family-friendly Plantation Beach Villas.
What glitters in Tobago, for me at least, apart from the bioluminescence, is that it’s thoroughly genuine, well-priced and has exceptional, unspoilt natural beauty. Go quickly before everyone finds out about it! Tobago will go beyond your expectations.
Find out more
Go to Tobago for information. Our Silver Travel Advisors on 0800 412 5678 can offer information, quotes and make bookings for holidays in Tobago. Jennie travelled as a guest of Tobago.
Four years after that came that pivotal role as Han Solo in Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope where people worldwide paid attention to the soft-voiced young star with the charismatic personality.
Four years further on and Harrison was cast as swashbuckling archaeologist Indiana Jones in the first film Raiders of the Lost Ark. Industry insiders and audiences of all ages loved his winning combination of understated emotion, light comedy touch and willingness to be an energetic part of the impressive action. Harrison’s film stock rode high.
HOW many actors could happily tackle a tough adventure role at the age of 81 and make a credible hero? Well, Harrison Ford can.
And he is still wowing audiences with his latest film – predictably as enduring favourite Indiana Jones.
Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny is now delighting fans and box-offices around the world - the first of the highly successful series without Steven Spielberg behind the camera.
Scroll back the takes to the 1940 Chicago childhood of young Harrison, though, and it’s hard to spot the superstar potential. An ordinary student who failed to excel at sports, he dropped out of Wisconsin’s Ripon College where he had done some acting and later Summer stock.
Harrison’s next move, however, was more noteworthy. He signed a Hollywood contract with Columbia and then later Universal, enjoying roles in some – admittedly, fairly unremarkable - films and TV series including Ironside and The Virginian.
In fact, he was so discouraged that he turned to a career in professional carpentry before the silver screen called him back in 1973 for the surprise film hit American Graffiti.
He won more fans in the 1982 classic Blade Runner and then reprised his Han Solo role in 1983 with Star Wars: Return of the Jedi.
Roll on 1985 and he received an Academy Award and Golden Globe nominations for his sensitive handling of the role of undercover cop John Book in the Amish community in another hit film Witness.
Further success beckoned with subsequent Indiana Jones’ sequels Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984), Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989) and Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008).
By the time the last film was released, the brand was perhaps looking in need of a refresh and adding popular British star Phoebe Waller-Bridge into the mix for Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny as the college professor turned adventurer hero-s goddaughter certainly seems to be helping revive its fortunes.
The public’s love of Harrison Ford, though, has never wavered. And it has never seemed to matter what role or what genre was involved.
In the 1988 film Working Girl he impressed audiences in a contemporary romantic comedy alongside Melanie Griffith and Sigourney Weaver. The role seemed effortless for him and played a large part in the film’s enduring success.
He played thriller writer Tom Clancy’s engaging hero Jack Ryan in the excellent Patriot Games in 1992, following up the role two years later with another hit movie Clear and Present Danger.
The following year, he earned a Golden Globe nomination for the part of Dr Richard Kimble in compelling thriller The Fugitive. Then in 1997 was promoted to President – be it an action-packed version – for the political thriller Air Force One.
Harrison is nothing if not flexible with his talents and in 1998, played the down-on-his luck pilot to Anne Heche’s stroppy New York magazine editor marooned together after a plane crash in Six Days Seven Nights.
More diversity came from the 2002 blockbuster K-19: The Widowmaker in which he played an inspirational leader in the historical submarine film charting the maiden voyage of a Soviet nuclear sub.
Part of Harrison Ford’s understandable popularity comes not just from an effortless acting style that offers relaxing viewing for audiences but also in his willingness to throw himself into the action, whatever it is.
He holds a private pilot’s licence and owns both fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters, providing emergency helicopter services on several occasions.
On set, his concern for his own safety seems equally cavalier. He scared director Steven Spielberg and the crew during the making of Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom when, without warning, he ran out across the rope bridge used in the film’s climax to test its safety.
Spielberg is later reported stating: “What can I say? Harrison really IS Indiana Jones.”
Nor is he an actor without his own ideas on the films in which he stars.
He is reported to have said: “It’s a little-known fact but I wanted Han Solo to die at the end of Star Wars: Return of the Jedi. I thought it would give more weight and resonance. But George Lucas wasn’t sympathetic. He didn’t want me killed by those teddy bear guys.”
Harrison was also apparently initially against casting Sean Connery as his father in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade because Connery was only 12 years older than him.
He later changed his mind and found he enioyed working with the former Bond star immensely. Certainly, the screen chemistry underlines that result.
Away from films, twice-divorced Harrison married Ally McBeal star Calista Flockhart in 2010. They have a son of their own and he has four other children from previous marriages.
He owns an 800-acre ranch in Wyoming, around half of which he has donated as a nature reserve.
Harrison is known for his quiet and charming personality – a world away from the action-first heroes he has long played onscreen. Although it’s reported that Dial of Destiny is his last hurrah as Indiana Jones, Harrison isn’t sad. He told film website Decider:
Nor does this particular “ending” signal his screen retirement. Harrison can still be seen in the Paramount series 1923 alongside Helen Mirren.
“I’ve been able to deliver amazing films developed by Steven (Speilberg) and George (Lucas) over a 40-year period and to end it not with a whimper but a bang has been my greatest ambition for this excursion.”
In the tapestry of life, few things are as precious as the threads that weave us together as a family. As we navigate the currents of modern living, it’s easy to lose sight of what truly matters: the shared moments, the heartfelt conversations, and the unbreakable bonds that tie generations together. Amid the hustle and bustle, the idea of owning a caravan emerges as a captivating opportunity to create memories that will be etched in the hearts of our loved ones forever.
In a world where technology often distances us, the allure of the open road beckons us to come closer. Imagine evenings under starlit skies, where laughter mingles with the crackle of a campfire, and stories are shared with a genuine eagerness to listen. Caravanning encapsulates the magic of moments that transcend generations.
Life’s most beautiful stories unfold against the backdrop of nature’s canvas. Caravanning gifts families the opportunity to escape the ordinary and immerse themselves in the extraordinary. Whether it’s waking up to the gentle symphony of birdsong or witnessing a sunset that paints the horizon with hues of gold, these are the experiences that shape our hearts and stir our souls.
History comes alive as you explore quaint towns, geography unveils wonders in the landscapes you traverse, and cultural understanding deepens through local interactions. Every journey becomes a chapter of growth, turning curious minds into lifelong learners.
Within the cosy confines of a caravan, families are not bound by walls, but rather, bound by love. Whether it’s the giggles shared over a card game, the collaborative cooking endeavours in a compact kitchen, or the simple joy of setting up camp together, these are the stories that become the fabric of your family’s history.
The decision to embrace the world of caravanning is a decision to embrace each other. It’s an investment in the treasure trove of memories that will outlast material possessions. Caravanning takes us on a journey of the heart, where the destination is not a place but a state of togetherness. So, let’s embark on this adventure, not merely for the now but for the generations that will inherit the legacy of love, laughter, and shared experiences.
At Glossop Caravans, we understand the importance of family and a caravan’s role in bringing generations closer. With a wide range of caravans to choose from, our team is dedicated to helping you find the perfect home on wheels for your family adventures. Our experts take the time to understand your needs, preferences, and the unique dynamics of your family, ensuring that you embark on your caravan journey with confidence and excitement.
In the end, life is a story, and a caravan is the vessel that carries our family’s story forward, painting it with colours of joy, depth, and enduring connection. With Glossop Caravans by your side, this journey becomes even more exciting as we help you find the perfect caravan to weave your family’s dreams into the fabric of reality.
With so many beautiful landscapes and exciting attractions on your doorstep now’s the time to hitch up and hit the road.
Let us help you prepare for your next adventure – with hundreds of new and quality used caravans & motorhomes to choose from and the support of a friendly experienced team we can guide you to the perfect vehicle of your dreams.
The experts at our long established family business are on hand to help everyone from first-timers to experienced caravanners and we welcome thousands of new and returning customers every year as they keep their caravan in tip top condition and stock up on awnings and accessories.
that special celebration. The extensive menu includes always freshly made sandwiches and now so much more besides and as much as possible the ingredients and produce are sourced locally.
Broadstone Mill Shopping Outlet is the place to go for your Christmas shopping this year. Forget the days of wasting hours mindlessly scrolling through hundreds of items on websites looking for gift inspiration, Broadstone Mill Shopping Outlet is THE destination for a fun and successful shopping trip. With free parking plus two beautiful new cafés to choose from, there’s no need to go anywhere else!
Now in a new position and much bigger than our previous tearoom you’ll love the decor, the light that the large mill windows allow in, the spacious feel as well as the new menu too! Angelica’s is a contemporary twist on a traditional tearoom with a stylish décor which is appealing to all who visit. The tearoom opened just before Christmas but had it’s official launch in February so it’s still feels and looks brand new.
Here in store, we are bringing back the glory days of Christmas shopping; with
Angelica’s Tearoom is the perfect place to meet with friends for breakfast, brunch, light lunch or afternoon tea – perfect for everyday or even
Alongside the ever-popular sweet Afternoon Tea there is a new savoury addition as well. Gorgeous cakes, pastries, freshly made scones and sweet treats are available seven days a week. You can also add a glass of fizz to your Afternoon Tea or lunch, or even a glass of wine or beer.
Womenswear and Menswear, Footwear, Home, Gifts and Accessories, plus a brand-new Christmas Shop! There’s amazing choice all under one roof, with helpful and friendly staff to assist you along the way. We have gorgeous gifts to suit everyone no matter the budget, or if you want to give the gift of choice we sell gift vouchers at the till to delight that special someone. Are you shopping for a discerning son-in-law or a picky partner? No fear! With big name brands such as Roman, Klass, Regatta, Craghoppers, Kipling, Rieker, Apricot and many more, you’ll be sure to complete your Christmas list here.
We can also let you into a secret… We will be getting a visit (or two) from Santa! Our Breakfast with Santa events will give your little ones a chance to dine with the man himself, chat Christmas lists
and bring so much joy and excitement to the festivities. Bookings are open now on our website.
Gift vouchers are available, this is the perfect gift to say happy birthday, thank you or for an occasion such as Mother’s Day, for example. Why not pop along for the perfect cup of loose-leaf tea or bite to eat, and see for yourself?
Without a doubt, Angelica’s Tearoom will become a new favourite.
So, make a plan with your bestie, or pop a date in the diary with your daughter, enjoy the experience of shopping in an up-to-date and welcoming store with a sprinkle of Christmas magic at Broadstone Mill Shopping Outlet.
www.broadstonemillshoppingoutlet.co.uk
HOW DOES IT WORK?
WE ARE FULLY FINANCIALLY BONDED
On the morning of travel we pick you up at a prearranged time and take you to our waiting coach at Birch Services or Stockport.
And use some excellent privately-owned hotels. All visits and excursions are included in the price. We use moder n coaches ans mature friendly drivers.
WITHIN 30 MINUTES.
We normally have everyone on board and we’re on our way. We often have a second pickup at Stockport, but again this is timed for minimal delay.
SUPER HOTELS, ALL INCLUDED!
On the morning of travel we pick you up at a prearranged time and take you to out waiting coach a Birch Services.
We use a wide range of mainly 3 and 4 star hotels, some privately owned many part of larger chains. All entrances and excursions are included in the price stated.
All our tours include our ‘Door to Door’ service
That means that you are picked up by a taxi or small minibus right from your front door. No feeders, no interchanges, no changing coaches, no
All our tours include our ‘Door to Door’ service. That means that you are picked up by a taxi or small minibus right from your front door. No feeders, no interchanges, no changing coaches, no changing drivers and definately no hassle!
We are members of the Bonded Coach Holiday group overseen by The Association of Bonded Travel Organisers Ltd. This is a Government Approved Protection Scheme.
We normally have everyone on board and we’re on our way We often have a second pickup at Stockport, but again this is timed for minimal delay
The same happens on the way back too, taxi back to your front door!
COACHES AND DRIVERS.
We use modern executive coaches and all our drivers are experienced, mature and friendly!
WE NEVER DISCOUNT. therefore everybody on board pays the same price.
WHAT HAPPENS ON THE RETURN. Your taxi will be waiting for you to take you home.
TRAVEL INSURANCE?
All our customers are offered our coach specific insurance, pre existing medical conditions are covered for UK travel with no upper age limit.
SO WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?
in the UK, we will refund the difference to the whole coach!
Nothing we can think of!
TO SAVE £10.00 PER PERSON
Join our facebook community by ‘liking’ our page to view latest offers, customer comments and various photographs. ellensmithtours
We’ve been established for over 120 yearsso we know a bit about coaching holidays!
How many times have you visited a favourite holiday destination and thought how blissful it would be to own a holiday home there?
As we move into darker nights and the vagaries of the British Winter, making plans around our favourite sunshine destinations is a pleasant way to while away the evenings.
But if you thought that owning this kind of dream property was totally outside your budget, it might be worth looking at genuine calculations and reconsidering.
It may just be that this dream could become a reality.
Owning a holiday home is not just an indulgence but also, if you want to and if handled properly, a second income stream.
So, it’s not just somewhere to get away for the weekend, a restful week in a “home from home” or somewhere for family and friends to stay, it’s also a way to insure your future.
First decide on the location. This may be abroad or in the UK and if you’re just looking for a delightful getaway, it will probably be in an area you already love and know well.
Buying a holiday home abroad requires specialist knowledge. So choose a well-established company that has experience of the country
and area you have chosen, which understands local laws and can guide you through the whole process.
The top 10 countries where Brits have chosen to have homes are: Australia, USA, Canada, Spain, Ireland, New Zealand, France, South Africa, Germany and Italy.
If you’re thinking of the UK and looking for a return on your investment by letting, your home choice needs to be in an area of high demand where other people will also love to stay. So it’s important to research staycations most people choose.
It’s definitely worth being realistic about how much you can afford to spend. If you have a cash windfall or pension money to invest, for example, a holiday home is a great place for your money to grow.
If you need a mortgage to buy your second home, mortgage rules change to a holiday home mortgage and consulting a trusted mortgages’ expert in this field is vital.
Some holiday lets are also seasonal. Rural cottages and log cabins may be more popular in the Winter while seaside properties and those with outdoor lifestyle additions, like a pool, do better in the Summer months.
Families do, though, often choose to spend special holidays like Christmas and New Year in holiday lets. To ensure bookings, place your
property with an established agency that is already dealing in similar lets.
Consider your policy on pets. Many people, particularly those with dogs who don’t want to leave them in boarding kennels, are looking for animal-friendly holiday lets.
Toni Norman, senior marketing manager for Tingdene Parks which has hundreds of holiday and residential homes across England, says the renting and buying market is “pretty steady” currently.
“There is slightly more movement in the more affordable homes, as you would expect at the moment, but we are doing well throughout,” she stated.
The company, in business for over 50 years, has noticed a change in the market since lockdown.
“People are opting for more frequent and shorter holidays, often with family members which after lockdown has become even more important, and a holiday home is a great way of achieving this,” she added.
Toni advised anyone buying a caravan on a park to check on both the site’s licensing, which could mean use for only 11 months of the year, and the site fees involved.
“We do have some all year round residential sites and we are always very transparent on site usage and costs,” she said. “It’s always important to ask these questions before buying.”
Like any other property, you’ll need property insurance. If you’re letting it out commercially, there are tax implications so sort these out with a tax expert initially.
Bringing a knowledgable solicitor on board early is also a sensible move, whether you’re letting or not.
Victoria Marshall, Solicitor and Head of Residential Conveyancing at Pearson Solicitors and Financial Advisers Ltd in Oldham, urges caution.
“If you’re planning on buying a holiday home,” she stated, “it’s important to sometimes have a re-think and not get swept away by the moment. Take time to consider the practicalities and long-term consequences to see if it’s right for you.”
Your conveyancer will sort pre-contract checks and searches, review your contract, verify the title deeds, and check legal ownership as well as advising on a property survey for any possible structural issues or maintenance concerns.
Added Victoria: “Depending on the property’s value and location, you may also be required to pay Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT).Your solicitor will assist with the calculation and payment of this tax.”
As a holiday let landlord, you are responsible for your guests’ health and welfare.Your property needs to be safe, with any hazards pointed
out in signs, and basic elements like risk of fire addressed properly. A good agency will help you with these practicalities.
Information on the local area – places to go, special events, public transport and other useful information for visitors – is also something you should supply.
If your holiday home is just for the use of you and your family and friends, you will probably treat it like a second home and furnish it accordingly.
However, if it is a holiday let, leaving much-loved items around as you would at home is a mistake because accidents do happen.
Furnish this new property adequately, attractively and suitably for the building, the area and the likely occupants and their activities. Just don’t put in anything you’d be heartbroken to lose.
Think about how you will maintain the building generally and about the practicalities of changeovers between to-let clients.You’ll need to arrange cleaning and renewing welcome packs and necessary basics like soap and toilet rolls.
But there is no doubt that having somewhere to escape to on a regular basis, in a place where you feel totally relaxed, IS one of life’s joys.
You’ll exchange contracts once all checks are completed and both parties are satisfied. At this point, the transaction becomes legally binding, and a completion date is set.
On the agreed completion date, your solicitor will transfer the purchase funds to the seller’s solicitor. Once the funds are received, you’ll be the legal owner of the holiday property.
After completion, your solicitor will register your ownership with the Land Registry. This process ensures that your ownership is officially recorded and protected.
UK holiday home ownership has soared in recent years, a trend that has continued following the pandemic - whether it be a country cottage, bolthole by the sea or a spot on a caravan or lodge park.
People want a place to escape to without the need to travel abroad, and if you are planning on buying a holiday home, it is essential to consider the practicalities and long-term consequences to see if it’s the right move for you.
Solicitor and Head of Residential Conveyancing, Victoria Marshall at Pearson Solicitors and Financial Advisers, states:
“The same legal issues apply to holiday homes as any other property, and your conveyancing solicitor will undergo the usual searches and check the seller’s title. For apartments and caravan parks, it will be a bit different.
If you’re buying a holiday home, your conveyancer will:
Your solicitor will conduct various searches and checks on the property, including local authority searches, environmental searches, and title deeds. These searches ensure there are no hidden issues, such as planning restrictions, disputes, or environmental concerns.
Your solicitor will review the sale contract provided by the seller’s solicitor. They’ll ensure that all terms and conditions are fair and accurate, including the price, boundaries, fixtures and fittings, and any special conditions.
Your solicitor will verify the title deeds to ensure that the seller has legal ownership of the property and has the right to sell it.
While not strictly a part of conveyancing, it’s a good idea to conduct a property survey as this will help identify any structural issues or maintenance concerns with the property.
Depending on the property’s value and location, you may be required to pay Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT). Your solicitor will assist with the calculation and payment of this tax. Your solicitor will also check any special considerations, for example, if the property is listed, located in a national park, or an area of outstanding beauty, or has planning conditions restricting it, all of which determine what you can and can’t do to it.
“Whilst we don’t want to be killjoys and understand the excitement of buying a dream holiday home, it’s advisable not to forget a second residential property will incur extra stamp duty charges of an additional 3% of the purchase price,” adds Victoria.
“That needs to be factored in as it considerably bumps up the costs. Lenders will generally look at your projected level of rental income to see if you can comfortably cover your mortgage interest payment.”
Some clients come to us having considered apartments to purchase to perhaps minimise upkeep, but this brings into effect leasehold arrangements, and it could be that the flat cannot be let out on a short-term basis.
For legal advice on buying a holiday home, contact our residential conveyancing solicitors on 0161 785 3500 or email enquiries@pearsonlegal.co.uk
1. Did you excel at drama at school
Of course! Except for one failing...my first report card said “with so much in her favor this student is hampered by the weakness of her voice. If she does not work on her projection, it will the ‘the films’ for her, and that would be such a pity.”
2.
So many! But I have to say that I went through a particularly bonding experience on “Clandestine Marriage” with Nigel Hawthorne, who I made lifelong friends with; Mark Burns, who, excuse the pun, I already had bonded with on The Stud; Tom Hollander and Timothy Spall, whom I adore and Emma Chambers whom I think is a superb comic actress.
5. Favourite restaurant
Restaurants...Harry’s Bar but I also love The Wolseley, Colbert, Ivy Chelsea Gardens, Annabels, 5 Hertford Street and Oswalds.
6. and who with for company
Any single one of my close friends – I have so many! I don’t have friends that bore me.
7. Best holiday you’ve ever had
The best holidays are always at my house in the south of France for the summer. It’s an idyllic, peaceful, heavenly place that never fails to recharge my batteries.
3.
Never refuse to work with anyone. The business is too fickle for one to have ego. Billy Wilder famously said right after working with Marilyn on Some Like it Hot that he would “never again” work with her, and a few months later admitted he would go on his knees begging to do it again.
4. Favourite decade of your life
Every single one of them.
8. Why are so many Geminis famous
I don’t know...are they more than other star signs?
9. Has the current cost of living crisis affected your lifestyle
I have been lucky and, not to blow my own trumpet, also wise not to weight myself down with credit and always have a healthy cushion, but I have noticed that things cost more.
10. Favourite Brands …. Make up, clothes etc
The clothes I design for myself!
Transport for Sick Children is a charity based in Greater Manchester. Our volunteer drivers use their own cars to take accompanied children with no other means of transport to hospital and clinic appointments throughout the Greater Manchester area.
Our mission is to reduce stress and barriers to a family by enabling children to attend important medical appointments despite any transport, financial or social issues they have.
Over the past 5 years we have helped almost 4000 children, undertaken 32,000 trips and driven over 500,000 miles.
Volunteer drivers (who are all checked for their suitability to work with children) use their own cars to collect the child along with their carer and drive them to their medical appointment.
They then wait until the appointment has finished and take them home.
Some drivers are out on the road most days and others a few times a month. We supply child car seats and drivers are reimbursed for petrol costs (50p a mile) on a monthly basis.
‘I’ve met some really nice families and feel at the end of each drive that I have made a difference to that family and to the local community as a whole. Also the support given by the office team and other drivers means you never feel isolated and are always on hand to support you when the need arises’
John Kirkham, volunteer driver.
Making the vital link between families, referrers and volunteer drivers is a friendly, experienced team in the office. The Support team assigns drivers to appointments and co-ordinates communication between drivers and carers to ensure trips run smoothly.
Transport for Sick Children is a charity based in Greater Manchester. Our volunteer drivers use their own cars to take accompanied children with no other means of transport to hospital and clinic appointments.
All we ask is that you have:
A caring attitude
Your own car
Some spare time
YOU decide how much time you want to give and your expenses are reimbursed.
It’s really worthwhile and is so appreciated by the children, their families and the NHS.
For more information about the service or to volunteer:
0161 443 4122
E-mail: to@transportforsickchildren.org
Web: www.transportforsickchildren.org
can usually throw up useful reviews and sites like Mybuilder.com can give a good overview of local builders.
The same care in choice applies to new WINDOWS. We take the effects of doubleglazing for granted these days but now that we are so conscious of our energy bills having good, double-glazed windows makes real sense.
Dougle-glazed windows come in all shapes and sizes and not only make your home more energy efficient but also add to the value of your property. New frames also look much smarter than old, decaying frames to give your home a real face-lift.
MAKING a house into a home in 2023 has become more complicated financially thanks to higher interest rates, soaring energy costs and general inflation.
We may have had to put major improvement plans on hold until the situation looks more positive but it’s still possible to improve your lifestyle on a budget right now.
So, the key this year may be to opt for just one change that will make your home-life more enjoyable, comfortable and simply better.
Since lockdown, we have all spent more time at home and our lives are definitely more involved with our property than ever. We socialize more there, spend more family time there and enjoy more home-based activities.
So, we deserve to have the best surroundings we can afford. Whether this year that means a big project or just a small change, it’s a great time to invest in your lifestyle.
Big projects can include an EXTENSION OR CONSERVATORY to give you more much-needed space and which can be as big or small as you feel financially able.
The good news is that conservatories and extensions fall under the same building rules and are classed as permitted developments.
This means that most of them will not need planning permission but this is subject to some specific rules so it’s best to check with your local planning authority first.
Like any big project, it’s best to see your preferred builder’s work beforehand and get an idea of what previous customers’ experiences have been. Fortunately, these days just going online
Another big project that can really alter your home is new FLOORING throughout. This can be new carpets or you may prefer floor tiles or wooden flooring.
Experts say the trend for carpets in 2023 is for bright colours and bold patterns, checked carpets and gold shades. Woodgrain remains a contemporary favourite but any real change will brighten up your home.
If your KITCHEN is in need of updating it’s definitely worth investing in new units. Modern kitchens tend to be minimalist and clutter-free so go for simple, clean looks that fit your lifestyle. Monochrome colour schemes with large windows to allow plenty of natural light form a main kitchen image currently but a local kitchen expert can help you make the most of what space you have available.
A way to cut costs, however, is to just opt for new unit doors or worktops in a useful makeover. There are plenty of firms around offering this kind of new kitchen look. Again, checking out previous reviews will help you make the best choice. A new FRIDGE OR FREEZER is a more modest buy that can really alter how your kitchen style and storage. Big American fridges fulfill both functions and can add a special cachet to a kitchen. Shop around online and in-store for the best bargains.
For the LIVING ROOM, investing in a new SOFA and/or COMFY CHAIRS is an expense you can justify every time you sit watching the TV or have a cosy evening in with your partner or friends.
This can prove an expensive buy but you can cut costs considerably by going for second-hand furniture instead. Charities like Emmaus and the British Heart Foundation have their own furniture premises so find out if there is one near you at emmaus.org.uk orbhf.org.uk.
Another cost-cutter is to go for tailormade new covers for your existing sofa and chairs - which really brings them back to life!
Buying new CURTAINS is another investment which can really change the look of a room. This, though, needn’t be a major project. There’s plenty of choice around or buy the material yourself from a mill or discount outlet and find a good seamstress or sewing firm to make them up.
Some fabric companies actually make them free if you buy the material from them so it’s worth investigating.
Investing in RE-DECORATING is also never wasted. Traditional neutrals like grey, taupe and timber brown can add a calm feel to any room although warmer, richer tones are still popular.
Get creative with an accent wall, too. Now that so many of us work from home, having an attractive background for Zoom calls is important – and noone believes you’ve read all those books behind you, anyway!
Natural wood effect wallpaper is rustic and charming and bringing Nature indoors very much on trend. Alternately, vivid colours and designs can say much about your personality and personalize your background.
One buy that can really transform a room is a new FIREPLACE
Heat output used to be the most important thing as people didn’t necessarily have central heating but now it’s the decorative style that matters more.
Energy efficiency may be paramount but equally important is the visual appeal that adds to home décor.
The trend towards open-plan homes means that fireplaces are more important than ever as a central feature.
Our greater emphasis on enjoying life outdoors has also meant that outdoor fires, including fire pits, are also proving very popular.
THURSDAY MARKETS
Thursday 7th September
Thursday 5th October
Thursday 9th November
WEEKEND BAZAARS
Saturday 9th and Sunday 10th September
Saturday 30th September and
Sunday 1st October
SATURDAY BAZAARS
Saturday 4th November
Sunday 23rd July
ARTIST AND DESIGNER FAIRS
Saturday 16th and Sunday 17th September
Saturday 11th and Sunday 12th November
GREAT PEAK DISTRICT FAIR
Saturday 7th and Sunday 8th October
Adlington homeowner Pam is happy not to have the worry or the hassle of managing a property herself. Her partner, Mike, said: “I think one of the perceptions of retirement living communities is that the service charge is expensive. There’s a tendency to look at it in isolation as a charge that you didn’t pay before, but when you sit down and work out all the different services that you paid for at home, it’s actually not bad.”
We often hear from our Adlington homeowners that they ‘feel like they’re on holiday all of the time’. When you go on holiday, one of the greatest pleasures is casting aside your worries and day-to-day responsibilities and letting somebody else take care of everything for you. That’s the joy for many of us - no jobs around the house and no never-ending ‘to-do list’! But why limit that feeling to just a few weeks each year, when you can feel like that all year round?
Since moving to an Adlington Retirement Community in December with her husband Harry, Ann is enjoying her newfound freedom from DIY: “You don’t have worries here. When you have a house, you become a servant to it. You have to do all these things to keep it sellable and up to scratch. I’m quite good at DIY but the days come when you don’t want to do that sort of thing anymore. You come here and it’s like being on holiday all the time. We’re having such a wonderful time.”
Plus, with level access, a heated summer house, well-maintained garden paths and raised planters, you can also enjoy the beautiful gardens all year round at an Adlington community. There’s no need to worry about clearing gutters or jet washing slippery paths.
“Pam had a gardener and a cleaner before she moved. Here the service charge covers both of those and building maintenance, buildings insurance, water utilities. Obviously, the whole idea of this type of independent living is the fact that you don’t have to worry about these things. You’re not picking the phone up every five minutes to organise things.”
When you move to a retirement community you can do as much or as little as you like. It’s entirely your choice.
Ann said: “We’re busy, but busy doing things that we like.” Ann enjoys dancing and goes to a weekly movement with music class in the activity studio: “It’s good having it in the same building because in winter, the bad weather can put you off and if you don’t go, sometimes you stop going. But if it’s here, you’ve only got to pop downstairs.”
Why not get a real feel for your options? Join us for one of our coffee mornings, arrange a private tour or we can book in a spot of complimentary lunch for you in the restaurant.
If you would like to find out more, call 0800 118 1694 or visit adlington.co.uk/50.
When you rightsize and buy an Adlington retirement apartment, purpose built for later life, you also open up new opportunities within a thriving community of like-minded people. With access to a host of fully maintained facilities including a restaurant*, hair salon* and landscaped gardens, and an on-site team available 24/7, 365 days a year, you can spend more quality time doing the things you love, free from everyday worries.
Our locations
The Woodlands, Heaton Mersey
Jacobs Gate, Sheffield
The Folds, Stockport
The Sidings, Lytham
The Spindles, Ilkley
The Newells, Kempston Broadleaf House, Wylde Green
World-renowned chef Theo Randall shares his 10 pantry staples and reveals his favourite ways to cook with them showcasing the best of Italian home cooking.
This creamy and comforting soup is a lovely way to use wild garlic, which is always in abundance in the UK around early springtime. If you want to make it when wild garlic is not in season, you can substitute the wild garlic for baby leaf spinach and add a garlic clove (crushed with salt) to the cream. Alternatively, pick wild garlic in season and freeze it so you can enjoy it year-round.
Serves 4 as a starter
Ingredients
l 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
l 2 leeks, finely chopped
l 1 teaspoon chopped thyme leaves
l 200g (7oz) Désirée or Cyprus potatoes, peeled and cut into 1cm (½in) pieces
l 30g (1oz) dried porcini mushrooms, just covered in boiling water and left to soak, drained and finely chopped
l 500ml (17fl oz) chicken or vegetable stock
l 200ml (7fl oz) double (heavy) cream
l 75g (2½oz) wild garlic leaves, roughly chopped
l sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
Method
Heat the oil in a large saucepan over a medium heat. Add the leeks, thyme, potatoes, chopped rehydrated porcini and a good seasoning of sea salt. Cook for 10 minutes, stirring frequently, then add the chicken or vegetable stock and simmer very gently for 20 minutes, or until the potatoes are cooked through and tender. Add half the cream, then use a stick blender to blitz the soup to a purée. The
soup should coat the back of a spoon, but if you think it’s too thick then you can add some hot water. Pour the remaining cream into a small saucepan over a medium heat. Add the wild garlic and cook gently, until it is wilted, then use the stick blender to blitz until just smooth. Taste the soup and add salt and pepper to taste, then spoon it into warmed bowls. Top each portion with a dollop of creamed wild garlic and serve.
My mother used to make the most delicious lasagne – I used to get so excited when I knew it was coming. She was brilliant at making the béchamel sauce – it was always perfectly creamy but never thick and floury. The trick to this was to cook it very slowly and use equal quantities of flour and butter. This is a vegetable lasagne, but it has as much flavour as the traditional meaty offering because you roast the aubergines (eggplant) first. Try to use egg-based lasagne sheets as they tend to have more flavour and are not as brittle when you cook them (or, better still, make your own sheets of pasta).
l 4 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
l 2 red onions, finely sliced
l 500g (1lb 2oz) courgettes (zucchini), cut into 1cm (½in) rounds
l 1 garlic clove, finely sliced
l 500g (1lb 2oz) tomato passata
l 8 basil leaves, roughly torn
l 3 aubergines (eggplants), sliced into 2cm (¾in) rounds
l 300g (10½oz) egg-based dried lasagne sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
l For the béchamel
l 75g (2½oz) unsalted butter
l 75g (2½oz) plain (all-purpose) flour
l 500ml (17fl oz) whole milk, warmed to just below boiling point
l 150g (5½oz) parmesan, grated, plus extra for sprinkling
Preheat the oven to 200°C/180°C fan/400°F/Gas 6. Heat 1 tablespoon of the olive oil in a non-stick frying pan over a medium heat. Once hot, add the onions, courgettes (zucchini) and a good seasoning of salt. Cook for 20 minutes, until the onion and courgettes are soft. Heat another tablespoon of the olive oil in a separate saucepan, then add the garlic. Fry the garlic for 30 seconds, then add the passata and cook the mixture gently for 20 minutes, until reduced by half. Season with salt and pepper, then stir through the basil. Brush both sides of the aubergine (eggplant) slices with olive oil and season them with salt. Place the aubergines in an even layer on a baking sheet lined with baking paper. Bake them for 15 minutes, then turn them over and bake them for a further 15 minutes. Remove the slices from the oven and, when they are cool enough to handle, cut them into half-moons. Set them aside and leave the oven on. To
make the béchamel, melt the butter in a medium saucepan over a low heat. When the butter has melted, add the flour and cook it out for a couple of minutes, stirring to combine. Next, add the hot milk and stir continuously to avoid any lumps forming. Cook the sauce gently for 20 minutes, stirring all the while, until smooth and thickened, then mix in the parmesan and check the seasoning. Leave to one side. Mix the aubergines, courgettes, onions and tomato sauce together in a large bowl and check that everything is seasoned well. Use the remaining olive oil to oil a baking dish, then place a layer of lasagne sheets in the base of the dish. Add one-third of the vegetable mixture in an even layer, then top this with one-quarter of the béchamel sauce. Repeat this twice more, then finish with a layer of lasagne sheets and a final layer of béchamel sauce. Sprinkle the top with some more parmesan, then bake the lasagne for 35 minutes, until the pasta is cooked and the top is golden. Serve with a little extra grated parmesan on top, if you like.
I love cime di rapa. When it first comes into season, I tend to make either this recipe or orecchiette con cime di rapa. The combination of the greens and anchovy is a classic from Puglia, and with the addition of grilled lamb chops (or a grilled, marinated leg of lamb, if you prefer) you just can’t go wrong. The cime di rapa takes longer to cook than you would think, so blanch it for the same amount of time you would cabbage.
Serves 4
Ingredients
l 1 rack of lamb, fat peeled off and discarded
l 1kg (2lb 4oz) cime di rapa or 500g (1lb 2oz) Tenderstem broccoli
l 105ml (3¾fl oz) extra-virgin olive oil
l 1 garlic clove, sliced
l pinch of fennel seeds, crushed in a pestle and mortar
l ½ teaspoon chopped rosemary leaves
l 1 x 50g (1¾oz) can of anchovies in olive oil juice of 1 lemon
l sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
Using a sharp knife, cut between each bone in the rack of lamb to give 8 chops. Place 1 lamb chop into a freezer bag with a few drops of water. Place the chop in the bag on a chopping board so that the eye of the meat is flat and facing upwards. Using the base of a small saucepan, bash the lamb using short, sharp bashes to evenly flatten the chop and increase its size. Repeat for the remaining chops. Wash the cime di rapa and rip off the outer leaves. Keep the tender young leaves on the stem. Bring a pan of salted water to a boil over a high heat. Add the greens, bring the water back to a boil and boil them for 5 minutes. Drain the greens in a colander then roughly chop them. Heat 1 tablespoon of the olive oil in a medium saucepan. Add half the garlic and all the crushed fennel
seeds and cook for 30 seconds, then add the chopped greens and cook gently for 3 minutes. Check the seasoning and keep warm. In a pestle and mortar, crush the remaining sliced garlic with the chopped rosemary and a pinch of sea salt to form a paste. Add the anchovy fillets and work everything together until smooth. Add the lemon juice and slowly add all but 1 tablespoon of the remaining olive oil, so the sauce is emulsified. Keep to one side. Heat a griddle pan over a high heat so that it starts to smoke. Season the lamb chops with salt and pepper and the last tablespoon of olive oil. Place the chops on the griddle and cook them for 2 minutes on one side and 1 minute on the other. Transfer the chops to a warm plate to rest for 1 minute. To serve, place the cooked cime di rapa in the middle of each plate with 4 scottadito chops on top, then drizzle over the anchovy sauce.
This has to be one of the easiest and tastiest cheesecakes around. Ricotta is used in place of cream cheese, making for a much lighter mouthful, however this means that it’s important to allow enough time for the cheesecake to set fully – ideally you’d make it a day in advance. The best ricotta to use for this is sheep’s milk ricotta, but you will only find this in Italian delis or in a farm shop that sells local cheese. Ricotta is in fact the by-product of cheese making – it’s made by reheating the whey that has separated from the curds, then draining the coagulated top into a fine sieve. The solids are sold as ricotta and any remaining liquid is traditionally fed to pigs.
Ingredients
l 200g (7oz) cantuccini biscuits
l 75g (2¾oz) unsalted butter
l 50g (2oz) light brown soft sugar
l 500g (1lb 2oz) ricotta, drained
l 100g (3½oz) mascarpone
l zest and juice of 2 Amalfi lemons, plus extra zest to serve
l 125g (4½oz) icing (confectioner’s) sugar, sifted
Tip the cantuccini into a food processor and blitz them to a fine crumb. Alternatively, place them in a Ziplock bag and bash them with a rolling pin or saucepan. Set aside. Melt the butter in a medium saucepan over a low heat, then add the blitzed cantuccini biscuits and the sugar. Cook, stirring, for 1 minute, then take the pan off the heat. Tip the mixture into a 22cm (8½in) non-stick springform cake tin, pressing the buttery crumbled biscuits over the base to create a biscuit base. Transfer the tin to the fridge while you make the ricotta filling. Using a hand-held electric
whisk or a wooden spoon, beat together the ricotta, mascarpone, lemon zest and juice and icing (confectioner’s) sugar in a large mixing bowl for 4 minutes, until the mixture is creamy and light. Spoon the ricotta mixture into the springform tin and spread it out into an even layer over the base. Refrigerate to set for a minimum of 3 hours, but preferably overnight, before releasing the cheesecake from the tin. Transfer it to a serving plate and top with extra lemon zest before slicing.
Autumn is a special time of year for many gardeners because it is an ideal time for planting. Your garden will still be warm enough to plant, but without the risk of summer’s intense heat. It is a good time to split and divide herbaceous perennials, plant spring bulbs, including daffodils, tulips, and crocuses and establish trees and shrubs. To help you make the most of the season Stefan, Head Gardner at Lyme, is sharing his tips on soil health, flower border maintenance and how to choose plants to invigorate the senses.
Bulbs of tulips, crocuses and daffodils can be planted in pots or your flower borders. Here at Lyme, we plant fresh bulbs every year in our Formal beds to guarantee a good show the following spring. At home I only plant fresh bulbs in ornamental pots, then once they have finished replace with summer bedding and reuse the old bulbs in my borders planting in Autumn. There are lots of options in terms of colour and scent, so you can try a new scheme every year. If you have an area of grass, try planting crocus and miniature narcissus bulbs in natural drifts for a vibrant colour show in early spring. Bulbs grown in lawn will need time to recharge after flowering. Don’t cut the foliage until it has turned brown. This means you will have to let that patch of grass grow long, but you could even sow some ‘lawn weeds’ such as daisies, speedwell or clover to flower in the meantime which bumblebees and other pollinators will appreciate.
which can be replanted in the same position, moved to other areas, or given away to friends.
When the leaves start to fall and the season heads into mid to late autumn it’s a good idea to clear leaves from lawns and flower borders. Keep the leaves to make leaf mould, which is a kind of compost made only from leaves. It is beneficial because it creates a nice textured material to add to your flowerbeds, full of nutrients and should be weed free. To make leaf mould pile leaves in wire cages and then leave to break down. If you’re tight on space, use strong bags tied at the top and add puncture holes near the base for air to circulate. Leaf mould is slower to make than typical compost, but is well worth the wait!
Autumn is a good time to create new garden spaces, so why not design one focused on sensory experiences? We experience nature with all of our senses so think about designing your garden and growing spaces around sight, touch, sound, and smell. Discover which plants and trees can be planted in autumn to invigorate your senses during the winter months ahead. Japanese acers and spindle trees both have fantastic fiery autumn colours, and the bright stems of dogwoods and willows will last throughout the winter. Some evergreens such as Viburnums and Mahonias have very textural leaves, others such as Euonymus have cheerful gold or silver leaves all year round. For sweetly scented shrubs look for winter honeysuckle or Christmas box - a good tip is to plant one near the door, that way you will catch the scent each time you leave the house.
volunteer at Lyme
Autumn is a good time to make changes to your borders. Herbaceous perennials that have either lost their vigour or are spreading out and bullying their neighbours need to be divided. Cut back all the growth down to the ground, then dig around the plant and lift it from the ground. Separate the plant into smaller sections using either forks or a spade and remove and old, unproductive parts. You should now have several smaller plants
Many hands make Lyme work. Find your volunteering oppurtunity.
nationaltrust.org.uk/Lyme
“People” peopleStefan - Head Gardener
From gifts, cheese & delicatessen to your favourite cuts of meat ...
A smile is one of the most basic, biologically uniform expressions of all humans. Smiling is not just a universal means of communicating, it’s also a frequent one. More than 30% of us smile more than 20 times a day and less than 14% of us smile less than 5 times a day.
Smiling has a host of benefits which include:
Mood Boosting - Psychologists have found that even if you’re in a bad mood smiling can lift your spirits. Boost your immunity - smiling makes your body more relaxed and contributes to a good health and stronger immunity.
Relieves Stress - Smiling releases endorphins which reduce stress and change your mood. Even forcing a smile has the same effect.
Lowering blood pressure - Reducing stress and smiling can also help lower blood pressure.
Smiles are infectious - Not only do others smile when we smile but studies also suggest we appear more attractive to others when we smile.
What if you don’t like your smile, do you suffer from loose poorly fitted or broken dentures? We have been helping denture wearers to get beautiful smiles.
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.
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 we have to rely on our visual and artistic judgement.
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.
A Clinical Dental Technician (CDT) is a qualified dental technician that has under gone further Education and Training in areas
such as Medical Emergencies Cross Infection Control and Oral Pathology (cancers and anomalies) to name just a few sections that make up the Diploma in Clinical Dental Technology as Awarded by the Royal Collage of Surgeons (RCS).
It is this qualification that allows the clinicians at Stockport Denture Clinic to be able to be registered and regulated with the General Dental Council (the official body for protecting the public with regards to dentistry) and carry indemnity insurance. It is this qualification, which means that only Dentists and Clinical Dental Technicians are the only Dental Professionals permitted to supply dentures direct to the public.
A dental technician is not qualified to supply a denture directly to the public. However, despite this being an act of Mal practice many technicians will still practice illegally without informing the patient that they are not qualified. If you are unsure if your denture provider is qualified; ask them for their GDC registration number, then contact the GDC to see if they are registered not just as a dental technician but as a CDT.
Although the appearance of your new smile is important, we aim to create functional and comfortable dentures. We will ensure that you are comfortable with the way you bite with your new dentures, enabling you to eat with optimum efficiency.
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.
the powers that be get more power to the people range anxiety will remain an issue.
Anyway, back to the e-C4 which was in midrange Shine spec. That meant standard kit included a driver’s head up display, heated front seats in alcantara, heated steering wheel, smart alloy wheels, a 10 inch central infotainment touch screen, digital drivers instrument panel and a whole raft of Citroen safety features.
Extras fitted included leather seats, metallic paint, power driver’s seat with massage function (very nice) and wireless phone charging which took the on the road price up to £36,140.
It’s a good looking car too with that corporate Citroen front end and lots of bodywork details that mean it is stylish from every angle.
I HAVE always thought that electric cars will have truly arrived when you can drive one and forget that it is not powered by fossil fuels.
While not quite there yet the latest offering from Citroen is 95 per cent along the road to success... and the remaining five per cent is nothing to do with the car itself.
The e-C4 X feels reasonably quick (0 to 62 in 10 seconds), comfortable and has a claimed range of up to 300 miles (city driving). It is also reasonably affordable for a decent-sized electric saloon starting at £31,995 (petrol versions begin at £22,500).
It is that range issue (221 for out of town driving) which accounts for the final five per cent – not the car’s fully charged ability but the lack of infrastructure... there are dozens of petrol stations in every large town but nothing like the same number of charging points.
Fitting a rapid charge point at home partly solves the problem but if you have to do a round trip of 200 miles or so then you find yourself (as I did) looking on the web for power points along your route.
Luckily my day out testing Maseratis at a high end North Yorkshire hotel was greatly improved when I arrived to find a bank of vacant chargers.
Four hours later the e-C4 was fully ready to whisk me home, but you cannot guarantee being able to plug in at your destination and until
Comfort has always been a strong point with Citroen suspension systems but eco, normal and sport driving modes mean things can now be sharpened up at the touch of a button.
As to that battery power an eight-year or 100,000 miles warranty comes alongside the car’s three-year or 60,000 mile standard cover so that helps calm any fears of needing a new power pack and the large cost involved.
Speaking of the battery it can be charged up to 80 per cent in just 30 minutes on a rapid public charge point while home charging (32 amp) will take seven and a half hours to 100 per cent.
So almost there then for electric cars... although true petrolheads like me will continue to bemoan the passing of the symphony produced by a throbbing V8!
For more information see www.citroen.co.uk.
NOW here is a car company you may well not of heard of... but that does not mean they are new to making motors.
BYD have launched their first ever car in Europe, the all-electric ATTO 3, and from just £36,490 this mid-size C-segment SUV looks like a bit of a bargain.
It is stylish, has good range, a great standard kit list and drives really well – oh yes and it is Chinese. BYD stands for Build Your Dreams and the company, whilst almost unheard of in the UK, is the number one new energy car builder world-wide having already made 4.6 MILLION vehicles in the last 13 years.
The biggest manufacturer in China, BYD started making batteries for mobile phones and now, as well as selling cars in 70 countries, also makes electric trains, buses, trucks and fork lifts.
So we will be seeing a lot of BYD, who already have a growing network of dealers across the country, with an aim to hit 30 by the end of this year. So big is BYD that on the ATTO 3 they make every single part for the car except for its glass and tyres.
Founded in 1995 it has 28 years of battery expertise and more than 600,000 employees, including 49,000 engineers and 11 research centres in 70 countries.
In 2022 the brand had new energy passenger car sales totalling 1.8 million globally – an increase of over 212 per cent compared to 2021. Sales of Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEV) reached 946,239 units and Battery Electric Vehicles (BEV) 911,140.
The ATTO 3 is a spacious front-wheel drive SUV which uses BYD’s next-generation ePlatform 3.0 electric powertrain featuring their unique modular Blade Battery system, which also adds to the cars structural safety and helps it achieve a Five-Star Rating in Euro NCAP Safety Tests.
The trim variants are Active, Comfort and range-topping Design, which was the model we got to try out at a BYD driving day recently in not so sunny Bolton.
Prices are from £36,490 up to £38,990 with all sharing a high level of standard equipment – the main differences being battery capacity and performance.
That standard kit includes distinctive automatic LED headlights and a rear light bar across the width of the car. Electrically folding and heated wing mirrors complete with downlights are fitted while our rangetopping Design also has an electric tailgate and electric folding door mirrors.
The eye-catching 18-inch black and silver alloy wheels are paired up with five colour choices with metallic at no extra cost - Surfing Blue, Climbing Grey, Skiing White, Parkour Red and Exploring Green.
The sporty interior has some unique features including a large central screen which can physically be spun at the touch of a button from landscape to portrait mode, gym-inspired design touches such as barbell-style door handles and a kettlebell style gear selector and weirdest of all chords over the door pockets which double as strings that play notes when strummed.
The sporty seats – all in ‘vegan’ leather – have red stitching with the front heated with electric adjustment. There is a 5” LCD instrument panel ahead of the driver and smartphone wireless charging plus a panoramic glass sliding sunroof with sunshade, multi-coloured mood lighting and auto dipping rear mirror.
As this is an electric car range is a big issue and the ATTO 3 can do up to 260 miles out of town or 350 city miles on a single charge, aided by the car’s high-efficiency integrated heat pump - a first direct cooling and heating system for car batteries increasing thermal efficiency by up to 20 per cent in winter. Charging times are 6 hours 30 minutes from flat to full on an 11kv three-phase charger but as little as 80 minutes from an ultra-fast supply.
Performance from this single motor unit FWD version it is 0 to 62mph in just 7.3 seconds and a top speed of 99mph which is why it feels nippy and nimble on the road. There are four driving modes: Sport, Normal, Economy and Snow.
ATTO 3 has lots of safety aids as standard with features like Forward Collision Warning, Automatic Emergency Braking, Rear Collision Warning, Rear Cross Traffic Alert and Rear Cross Traffic Brake, Lane Keep Assistance and Emergency Lane Keep.
Further driver aids are Blind Spot Detection, Electronic Stability Program, Electronic Brake Distribution, Electric Parking Brake, Antilock Braking System, Automatic Vehicle Hold, Traction Control, Hill Decent Control, Traffic Sign Recognition and Intelligent Speed Limit control.
Adaptive cruise and a panoramic camera system with 360-degree visibility are also fitted across the range as is sat-nav, integrated Apps including Apple CarPlay and a premium sound system.
An 8 years or 120,000 miles battery warranty, 12 years bodywork guarantee and complete vehicle warranty of 4 years or 70,000 miles completes the package.
So BYD is a name we will all have to get used to because this level of style, performance and equipment will mean their cars are sure to be a hit... and there’s an electric hatchback and sporty saloon coming soon too!
For more information see www.byd.com/uk
For all the latest car tests see the motoring section of our website at www.50plusmagazine.co.uk/motors/
Beethoven's Emperor
Piano Martin Roscoe
Violin/director Sarah Brandwood-Spencer
Saturday 14 October 7.30pm
The King's School, Macclesfield
Music of Innocence
Violin Chloë Hanslip
Soprano Nadine Benjamin
Conductor Delyana Lazarova
Saturday 4 November 7.30pm
The King's School, Macclesfield