Hereford 32

HEREFORDSHIRE MAY - AUGUST 2012

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EDITION 32

Ruth Madoc TALKS ABOUT LIFE AFTER GLADYS PUGH

Inside LEISURE

DISCOVER DUBROVNIK A TIMELESS BEAUTY

Rick Stein

HEALTH

NUFFIELD HEALTH EYE PROBLEMS? LOOK NO FURTHER

SHARES HIS FAVOURITE DISHES FROM AROUND THE WORLD

25% OFF GLASSES FOR OVER 60S

FREE

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FOR THE OVER 50s

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OVER 60s - 25% OFF GLASSES You can have it all.

At Specsavers if you’re over 60 there’s 25% off, Monday to Friday, when you buy a pair of glasses from our £69 range or above - that’s the frame, the lenses and any extra options. All our glasses come with PENTAX lenses as standard. You’ll also get a full eye test free from our professional staff, under the NHS. You can book your free eye test online at www.specsavers.co.uk CHESTERFIELD TEL: 01246 222334, DERBY TEL: 01332 294939

12 Maylord Street, Maylord Orchards, Hereford HR1 2DS. Telephone 01432 353464 HEARING CENTRE AVAILABLE IN-STORE 25 West Street, Leominster, Hereford HR6 8EP. Telephone 01568 619340 BOOK A FREE EYE TEST OR BUY GLASSES ONLINE AT SPECSAVERS.CO.UK 13 Gloucester Road, Ross on Wye HR9 5BU. Telephone 01989 564460

Cannot be used with any other offer. One pair of complete glasses only. Excludes reglazes, safety eyewear, any contact lens products, non-prescription sunglasses. Discount not transferable in whole or part for cash. Free eye test under the NHS. SKU 24876773. ©20012008 Specsavers Optical Group. All rights reserved.

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HASN’T MRS JONES GOT BEAUTIFUL EYES? As a qualified optician will tell you, the picture

to check your vision, and a close visual inspection of

suggests that Mrs Jones’s eyes were actually in

your eye using an opthalmoscope. We may also use a

perfect health. Occasionally, however, during an

slit lamp, a machine rather like a large microscope, to

eye examination, we will spot problems you may

examine the outside of your eye in detail.

not have been aware of. Some eye conditions, such

In addition, as part of our continual commitment

as Glaucoma, can lead to blindness if they are not

to offer you the best in eye care we may also

detected and treated early enough, and occasionally

offer fundus camera imaging as part of your eye

eye examinations can even save lives. Your optician

examination. These high-tech cameras produce

could be the first person to detect high blood

detailed digital images of your retina, like the ones

pressure, diabetes or high cholesterol.

printed here, which can help your optician to detect

That’s why our eye examination is a detailed and

any potential problems as early as possible.

methodical process carried out by expert opticians,

Last, but by no means least, we discuss your

designed to ensure that your eyes are in perfect health.

eye-care needs with you. Once we have talked over

We’ll ask you questions about your eye care

the results of the tests we have carried out we will

needs, taking into account your work, eye care

give you a copy of your prescription and, if necessary,

history, sports and hobbies, computer use and

introduce you to another member our team who will

driving requirements. We carry out a ‘puff’ pressure

help you choose some new spectacles or book you in

test to check for early signs of glaucoma, and may

for a contact lens fitting.

use a field test to check your vision. We will examine

Specsavers is number one for eye tests, and one in

the movement of your eyes and where appropriate

three people who wear glasses buy their glasses from

we’ll carry out tests for colour and reaction to light.

us.* We’re committed to remaining first choice for eye

We will arry out a subjective sight test using lenses

care. And to making sure your eyes stay beautiful.

Book an eye test or buy glasses online at specsavers.co.uk

12 Maylord Street, Maylord Orchards, Hereford HR1 2DS. Telephone 01432 353464 25 West Street, Leominster, Hereford HR6 8EP. Telephone 01568 619340 Hereford 12 Maylord Street. Tel: 01432 353 464

13 Gloucester Road, Ross on Wye HR9 5BU. Telephone 01989 564460 *Gfk Marketing Services, June 2008. Reader’s Digest Most Trusted Brands survey 2009. ©1997-2009 Specsavers Optical Group. All rights reserved.

Graham Smith twittering on...

Lost pussy causes a headache!

TRAVEL & LEISURE 6-7 Dubrovnik - A Timeless Beauty 8 Herefordshire Golf Club Run by members for the members.

INTERVIEW 14-15 Ruth Madoc talks to 50 Plus Magazine

FASHION 12 -13

Fashion Tips For over 50s women.

FOOD & DRINK 24 -25

Rick Stein Rick Stein shares his favourite dishes with us.

6-7

14-15

12-13

24-25

Those of us of a certain age will remember Mrs Slocombe of the BBC sitcom “Are You Being Served” having various problems with her pussy.

They were nothing compared to those of a small village where residents spent the best part of three days digging to rescue a cat whose meowing could be heard clearly. Everyone turned out to help and eventually the animal was found. A large orange plastic moggy with a tape recorded cry which was permanently switched on!

Stories like this warm my heart in troubled times. Half the population can’t afford a can of cat food but they will dig for three days to rescue what they thought was a genuine animal in distress.

He should have ducked!

An American duck hunter had to be taken to hospital after being shot in the buttocks by his dog!

The hunter was climbing out of his boat to place decoys in nearby marsh when his “excited” dog trod on a shotgun firing 27 pellets into his backside from ten feet.

The man managed to walk to a nearby road and call an ambulance and was not seriously injured.

He should have ducked.

McGrath Media.

Unit 6 | Moses Gate Workshops Gladys Street | Bolton | BL3 2QG. T: (01204) 796 494 | F: (01204) 791594

Another dog one! A Chinese man, whose name I cannot possibly spell and you couldn’t say it if I did, has a fouryear-old Pekingese dog which walks backwards on its hind legs for two kilometres a day. What is the point of that I ask and what does it do when it wants to spend a penny? The mind boggles.

e: mcgrathadmin@btconnect.com 4

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Thoresby Hall is a beautiful Grade Listed House set next to Sherwood Forest, with 50 acres of fabulous gardens that you can enjoy.

It’s a real treat!

Wander through its parks & gardens or stroll along the glorious seafront.

Bournemouth has easy access to nearby attractions that you can enjoy.

The Normandy of France has dramatic coastline, World War 2 landing beaches, market towns and historic landmarks which makes it an ideal area to explore.

PRICE INCLUDES: Three nights ensuite accommodation at Thoresby Hall Dinner, Bed & Breakfast Basis Visit the City of Nottingham with its Robin Hood connections An excursion to Lincoln where you can visit the 3rd largest Cathedral in Britain

PRICE INCLUDES: Four nights ensuite accommodation at the Menzies East Cliff Court Hotel Dinner, Bed & Breakfast Basis Visit to Salisbury with its historic buildings and Cathedral Excursion to the seaside town of Weymouth

PRICE INCLUDES: Four nights ensuite accommodation at the Mercure Pont I’Eveque Hotel Dinner, Bed & Breakfast Basis Excursion to Deauville Home and the pretty harbour town of Honfleur. Excursion to Bayeux for its famous Tapestry and a visit to Monet’s Garden

A wonderful central location means excellent excursions can be taken.

Home to the lovely Falls of Dochart we stay in Killin, a picturesque village.

Set on the border with Scotland, Northumbria houses some picturesque towns and villages with the atmospheric Roman remains of Hadrians Wall.

PRICE INCLUDES:

The biggest seaside resort in Somerset is situated at the foot of the Mendip Hills.

With a wide range of attractions nearby makes it a perfect holiday base.

PRICE INCLUDES: Four nights ensuite accommodation at the Daunceys Hotel Dinner, Bed & Breakfast Basis Some sightseeing at the Cheddar Gorge before visiting the City of Wells Scenic drive along the coast to Minehead with time to explore

PRICE INCLUDES: Four nights ensuite accommodation at the Killin Hotel Dinner, Bed & Breakfast Basis Excursions to Dewars World of Whisky, Fort William, Pitlochry and a boat trip along Loch Lomond

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Four nights ensuite accommodation at the Holiday Inn, Seaton Burn

Dinner, Bed & Breakfast Basis Visit to Alnwick Castle & Gardens Excursion to the city of Newcastle & the market town of Hexham to explore

Dubrovnik

Timeless

Beauty

Sitting proudly on the calm blue waters of the Adriatic, Dubrovnik is one of the world’s most magnificent fortified cities. Today a UNESCO world heritage site and Croatia’s most upmarket destination, it was once the capital of the wealthy seafaring Republic of Ragusa (1358-1808). During its Golden Age in the 16th century, it had one of the largest merchant naval fleets in the world.

Dubrovnik is clearly special. Lord Byron was not overstating the matter when he proclaimed Dubrovnik ‘the pearl of the Adriatic’. Magnificent curtains of walls surround marble streets and baroque buildings that exude a pearly light in the Adriatic sun. The main pedestrian thoroughfare, Placa, is a melange of cafés and shops with outstanding monuments at either end.

Churches, monasteries and museums ornamented with finely carved stone recall an eventful history and a vibrant artistic tradition.

As the sun rises over the terracotta roofs the square awakens to the sound of barrow loads of fruit and vegetables bouncing over the stone cobbles. The ‘green market‘, as the locals call it, offers freshly picked produce as well as jars of homemade jams, pickles and spices. However, Dubrovnik shows her true magnificent colours during the winter months as well as the city looks wonderful “out of season.” True beauty is ageless and timeless.

Beyond the city is a heavenly landscape of beaches, wooded peninsulas and a sea strewn with lush islands.

Rector’s Palace: Right off Luza Square is the Rector’s Palace.

It was the seat of the Ragusan government, where the Rector lived and worked. After Napoleon’s army dissolved the Dubrovnik Republic the Rector’s position was reduced. The original palace was modelled after the Roman imperial palace, with some influences from Venetian palaces. In 1435 there was a gunpowder explosion that demolished the structure. It was rebuilt in a late-gothic style. There was another explosion in 1463, and a an earthquake in 1667 that severally damaged the city. What you see now is the final redo that took place at the 6

end of the 17 century. The central portico features beautiful archways and a second story mezzanine.

Pile Gate: This is the north gate into the city. It features a stone bridge with two gothic arches. If you exit towards the outside you can get to Tower Loverjenac. On entering, the outer draw bridge is met by an internal bridge that leads into the city. Some great shots are to be had with your camera from Pile Gate.

War Photo Limited: Dubrovnik’s sturdy fortifications have been put to the test several times during the centuries, most recently during the bloody break-up of Yugoslavia. This modern gallery is dedicated to stunning photojournalism from war zones around the world, and attempts to offer unbiased reporting with a human element.

Antuninska 6. www.warphotoltd.com. Daily 9am-9pm (JunSep); Tue-Sat 10am-4pm, Sun 10am-2pm (May and Oct); closed (Nov-Apr). Entry is 30Kn. Dubrovnik Cable Car: The best views of Dubrovnik and the surrounding area are seen from the top of the Srd Hill where the Dubrovnik Cable Car was built back in 1969 and boasts the most beautiful panoramic view. On a clear day, you can see up to 60 km (37 miles)!

For this reason the neighbouring Fort Imperial was strategically built on this privileged spot way back in the early 19th century. http://dubrovnikcablecar.com.

The Dubrovnik Summer Festival (www.dubrovnik-festival.hr) runs from mid-Jul to mid-Aug, staging concerts, theatre and opera at various open-air venues in the old town. Pat line-ups have included the Warsaw Symphony Orchestra, Mexican tenor Ramon Vargas, and Australian-born British classical guitarist John Williams.

Nearby places worth visiting include the Renaissance gardens of Trsteno arboretum, the vineyards of Peljeac peninsular, the seaside resort of Cavtat, the tiny car-free Elafiti islands ,

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the island of Mljet (one-third of which is a national park), and neighbouring Montenegro.

EATING/DRINKING There is a wide range of restaurants in the Old Town, mostly offering a very similar menu of local seafood and some meat dishes. The cuisine may not be very imaginative, but it is usually of good quality and very fresh.

Restaurants can be crudely separated into (slightly) cheaper tourist-trap haunts, and more expensive but first class gastronomic restaurants. There are a few pizzerias, mostly wood-fired and acceptable. The Kraš chocolate sold at stores is delicious too!

Note that in the off peak season of November to March nearly all the top-end restaurants close, leaving only a handful of desperate tourist trap enterprises operating and still charging high prices. You can however still eat well and best of all, discounts can be negotiated.

Dubrovnik cuisine is characteristically not very spicy and is famous for traditionalism. Many popular meals are characteristic of Dubrovnik such as zelena menestra (it is the name for many sorts of cabbages and other vegetables with meat), pasticada and the famous delicacy dubrovacka rozata.

The most popular alcohol in Croatia is homemade rakija. This is a very strong distilled tipple made from a variety of fruits.

Examples include sljivovica, made from plums, loza, made from grapes, and orahovica, made with walnuts. There are many excellent local wines from both the Peljesac Peninsula and Konavle and it is often less expensive than soft drinks. However, be careful when purchasing wine from unlicensed dealers as it can sometimes be of low quality!

SLEEPING Hotels in Dubrovnik include two, three, four and five-star hotels.

Private rooms are a good option for those on a budget; the downside is that they may be far from the Old Town, so make sure to check the location. Owners letting out these rooms accost buses at the bus station, so you can ask around and even bargain a little.

DON’T LEAVE WITHOUT VISITING… Cafe Buza: This place is little known but definitely the find in Dubrovnik.

Indeed, you will have to wander down an alleyway along the main western wall where you’ll find a nondescript door. Enter it to find the most amazing bar you might ever enjoy a beer in.

The cafe is built on the side of the rocky cliffs, hiding inside the Dubrovnik wall. Relax and enjoy the view as the dramatic wall rises above your head; or, as you are so near the small beach why not dip your toes in the water!

Fact file: Dubrovnik has an international airport, located approximately 20 km (12 miles) from Dubrovnik city centre.

There is no train to Dubrovnik. A narrow gauge line used to link Dubrovnik to Sarajevo but was closed in 1976; however, buses connect the airport with the Dubrovnik old main bus station in Gruž and Croatia Airlines even operates buses between the airport and the main bus station in Kantafig (takes approx. 45 minutes), which is 2.5 km northwest of the Old Town. Taxis from the airport to the centre will cost 220 kn. The bus passes close to the Old Town en-route to the airport; you can board the bus at the stop on Petra Kresimira 4 just above the Old Town, by the lower cable car station. Make sure you wave furiously otherwise the driver may not stop!

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The main bus station is in Kantafig, near Port Gruz and the Tudjman Bridge, 2.5 km northwest of the Old Town. Local bus 7 operates between this station and Babin kuk, and bus 1 serves the Old Town. On buses you pay a separate fee of 10 Kn to the driver for luggage, so keep some change handy.

Taxis in Dubrovnik are available around the clock and you can easily pick one up at one of the many taxi stops. The good news is that a taxi service will never cost you more than 100 Kn (approx. £11) in any direction within Dubrovnik city limits!

If you are planning to drive a car in Dubrovnik, be aware that lots of streets are one way. If in doubt, passersby will gladly direct you.

Dubrovnik is easy to cover on foot; in fact it will take the averagely fit person less than 1.5 hours to walk from the historical centre to the very end of Lapad peninsula.

Climate: The climate along the Dubrovnik Region is a typical Mediterranean one, with mild, rainy winters and hot, dry summers. However, it is perhaps distinct from other Mediterranean climates because of the unusual winds and frequency of thunderstorms. The Bura wind blows cold gusts down the Adriatic coast between October and April. The air temperatures can slightly vary, depending on the area or region.

Typically, in July and August daytime maximum temperatures reach 29°C (84°F), and at night drop to around 21°C (70°F). More comfortable perhaps, is the climate in Spring and Autumn when maximum temperatures are typically between 20°C (68°F) and 28°C (82°F).

Language: Croatian is the official language spoken in Dubrovnik. English is taught as a second language in schools however, and other international languages are also fluently spoken.

Currency: Kuna (Kn.) £1 British pound is worth approx. 8 Kuna.

The word “Kuna” means “marten” in Croatian since it is based on the use of marten pelts as units of value in medieval trading.

7

GOLF SUBSCRIPTIONS HELD FROM 2011

HEREFORDSHIRE GOLF CLUB F O U N D E D

1 8 9 6

Full Annual Membership for £647.85 INCLUSIVE • • • • •

Subscription fee £578 All competition fees of £25 Union fees £12.60 Insurance £2.25 Bar Credit £30 (for you to spend)

Come and be part of a mem bers

g o lf c lub run by m

embers for the members

For an opportunity to try the golf course out, or information regarding membership and other golfing membership categories, contact us on 01432 830219

Raven’s Causeway,Wormsley, Hereford HR4 8LY www.herefordshiregolfclub.co.uk 8

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PLAYING THE SENIOR’S FAVOURITE GAME The advancing years, it used to be said, bring wisdom. Now they bring golf. If not already members extra disposable time is increasingly spent at their local golf club.

Why? Well, what else can they do to fill the livelong day that used to be occupied by work? Furthermore, as pronounced in a once-popular lyric, the best things in life are illegal, immoral or they make you fat, and golf is the exception that proves this rule.

Golf is good exercise, stimulating competitive sport and warm companionship, and it is inevitably staged in a wonderful scenic setting, be it undulating parkland, broken woodland, or water-fringed links with gorse and dunes and ups and downs.

At the same time, big prize money has made the professional game a great spectator sport, too, commanding audiences of millions on TV and adding universal appeal to the game.

During an average game of golf you are likely to walk five miles. Can you remember the last time you did that?

It has all the right things to promote good health. Cardio vascular workout, exercising the limbs and promoting social mixing both on and off the course.

If you haven’t undertaken regular exercise for some time you’d be well advised to have a medical check before starting to play golf. You don’t have to plunge in and play 18 holes immediately. Try a gentle stroll around a couple of holes and ease yourself into it is the experts’ advice.

Being 50 plus you do need to be aware of the dangers of playing golf if they have an existing back problem.

If you have not exercised your lower and middle back muscles for some time the exertion of swinging a club could cause discomfort. It is important to seek medical advice and follow it.

It may be that a gentle introduction, www.50plusmagazine.co.uk

building up to full participation over an extended period is the answer for you. Build up your muscles by regular strength training, e.g. in a fitness centre.

Golf is probably one of the most social sports where you will meet people from most walks of life on the same level. If you get the bug you can engage the services of a club professional to teach you the finer points but it is equally suited to the amateur who just enjoys the exercise and the company.

We hear much of the degeneration of our mental health as we age. Golf is not only physically beneficial but has been proved to stimulate mental health by improving hand to eye coordination and mental agility through the scoring system. Coupled with club selection and observational exercise it is an all round game to keep seniors on the ball for many years to come.

Like many thousands, I started on semi retirement, proceeding from rabbit to veteran without middle-aged mastery in-between, inspired by the late eminent Seve Ballesteros who gave me a demonstration on a Press trip to La Manga Club in Spain.

My wife also started then. The number of women refusing to be golf widows and insisting on playing, too, is exploding, limited only by the discrimination against them at some clubs.

Variety is the spice of golf as it is of life, and the 2,000-odd clubs in Britain offer every kind of challenge, helped by the ingenious handicap system by which every player has a points rating which subtracts from the lesser player’s score according to his or her established status, so that even a beginner can tackle a champion.

Incidentally, the days when only golf club members could acquire an official handicap are over. There are now a number of “pay and play’ golf courses

throughout the country making it more accessible for more people to acquire a handicap.

Golfing holidays play a large part in the over 50s lifestyle, as they open the door to sporting pleasure in the UK and throughout the world. You are not restricted to British courses even for a single day’s play.

Altogether, the deal gives you a choice of seven star courses including Scottish-style links, sheltered forest and pleasant parkland. You travel out and back on the same day, playing 18 holes or more if you’re fast.

Looking further afield, Spain and Portugal have caught the golfing bug in a big way and attract British golfers year round but particularly appeal to retirees aiming to avoid the bite of winter.

The Costa del Sol is virtually one long stretch of golf courses from Malaga Airport to Gibraltar. My favourite is Sotogrand a 4,400 - acre sporting estate near Marbella, which has been a second-home for the affluent international golf set for 30 years. Following the boost it enjoyed as venue for the 1997 Ryder Cup, with subsequent exposure to the world’s third biggest TV audience, it is expanding and broadening it’s appeal beyond the millionaires who once occupied it villas. Now, there are a wide choice of duplexes and apartments with terraces overlooking its marina, Puerto Sotogrande.

9

Keep active – keep healthy!

As we get older and certainly when we retire, some of us will lead a more sedentary lifestyle than we have done up until now. For a start, if you do not take up another full-time job in retirement, you will not have to get out of bed in the morning and rush around getting ready for work and then travelling.

If you have little to do, many of us eat and drink out of boredom, so there is a danger that we shall eat and drink more than we should, especially if it is combined with a more sedentary life. You might have a drink at lunchtime as you do, perhaps, on holiday.

So it is worth keeping an eye on our exercise levels and our diet. Putting on extra weight as we get older can be harmful because we naturally get less supple anyway, so if we can take a bit of care it will do us good and help us to maintain an active lifestyle.

Recent guidance from the Chief Medical Officer confirms that older adults who participate in any amount of physical activity gain some health benefits, including the maintenance of good physical and mental health. Some physical activity is better than none and more physical activity provides greater health benefits.

The benefits of being active include: • helping to maintain an active and alert mind • reducing the risk of heart disease • helping to maintain the ability to carry out daily living activities • improving mood and self‑confidence • reducing the risk of falls • increasing sociability when undertaken with other people

WHY KEEP PHYSICALLY ACTIVE? We naturally want to enjoy our later life and, in order to do this, we need to be moderately fit; fit so that we can do all those things that we want to do such as play with the grandchildren, walk around those tourist attractions on holiday, go for country walks and so on.

Older adults should aim to be active every day, adding up to at least 150 minutes (2½ hours) a week of moderate intensity activity. A good way to approach this is to do thirty minutes activity on at least five days a week. For those who are already regularly physically active at moderate intensity, similar benefits can be achieved through 75 additional minutes of more vigorous intensity activity spread across the week or a combination of moderate and vigorous activity.

It is also advised that older adults undertake physical activity to improve muscle strength on at least two days a week and that those older adults at risk of falls should incorporate physical activity to improve balance and co‑ordination on at least two days a week, every week.

Nobody is too old to benefit from physical activity.

The range of classes and activity sessions at the Halo Leisure Club (see back page) are numerous.

Class instructors should be fully qualified and have experience of working with older adults to ensure maximum benefits for health and well being. www.50plusmagazine.co.uk

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FASHION

First, a few Do’s and Don’ts:

and style for women aged over 50 doesn’t necessarily come in a neat package labelled for each day of the week or each different occasion.

Do give today’s fashions a chance – you don’t have to follow trends slavishly but there might be a look or style worth trying, especially when the catwalk is translated into high street lines

Unfortunately, it can come with a big list of questions which start with “Will that suit me?” and go on to “Is that too young for me?”

Do factor in comfort – if you’re uncomfortable or uneasy in your clothes it shows

Most women do know pretty well about their general style by the time they hit middle-age. And what they don’t automatically want is a plethora of elasticated waistbands, dowdy long cardigans and unflattering brogues – nor are they likely to opt for figure-hugging leggings and bottomskimming mini-skirts.

Dressing well these days is really all about developing a sense of your own style .... and having confidence in what you wear. That alone lets you lift your head up, walk taller and look better!

It’s very easy to be put off by nubile young figures in the Topshop changing rooms when you’ve got an expanding waist, a less-than-pert bosom and thighs that you’ve studiously ignored for the past five years.

But, the key really is not to rule out anything, new or vintage, because fashions can often be adapted to suit you as an individual. Again, we’re back to that confidence in yourself, and acknowledging what does and doesn’t flatter you.

Do be realistic about your shape, height and colouring Do go for good-fitting clothes that flatter your shape Do look at your daily lifestyle and what sort of clothes suit it Do ensure that any “special occasion” buys are fairly versatile – why spend a large amount on something you can only wear once?

Do look at multi-buys in the same range if you like them and they look flattering – this is cost-effective shopping and gives you a better “capsule wardrobe” of complementing outfits

Do de-clutter your wardrobe and see what you’ve got that you want to keep and will definitely wear – if you’ve not worn any item for 12 months, will you ever again?

Don’t wear baggy clothes in the mistaken idea that they make you look thin – they don’t Don’t assume you can wear an outfit just because it looks good on a six-foot tall 17 year-old model – the mirror doesn’t lie!

Don’t dismiss high street brands because you’re not a tiny size – many stores now stock 16-plus in their season’s ranges Don’t forget the value of accessories, especially the latest ideas that can make a plain outfit look sensational

There really has never been a better time to be an older woman wanting to look fashionably fabulous. Think Lulu, the Duchess of Cornwall, Jane Asher, Twiggy or Lynda Bellingham. In fact, the last two are actually fronting wellknown fashion labels.

Twiggy who, after 40 years in the fashion business, now has her own Marks & Spencer range and has become a fashion icon for older women. And actress Lynda Bellingham long ago shrugged off her homely Oxo mum persona to emerge, chrysalis-like, as a Calendar Girl happy to strip down to just her pearls and her comely shape – all in the cause of theatre, of course!

Lynda is now the public face of online fashion shopping range isme, with regular TV adverts keeping both her and them high-profile. Her chic looks are being copied by many women who previously might have thought particular styles were not for them.

She believes that we shouldn’t dress “differently” as we age, but realistically. “Look for shape-enhancing details like cap sleeves, stretch in the right places, different trouser cuts, and built-in panels to make you look and feel great,” she states.

Lynda suggests embracing colour rather than shying away from it. “Wear colours that compliment your skin tone and hair colour,” she says. And try substituting black for purple or deep berry tones for a welcome change.

Control your wardrobe properly and have attractive, staple items that look good. These could include a classy mac, a pair of wide-legged trousers, a glamorous top or a classic shift dress which you can dress up or down with suitable accessories as the occasion demands.

However, Lynda is a member of the “less is more” school of fashion when it comes to accessories and advises against overdoing it. Instead, it’s better to opt for one or two statement pieces of jewellery like a necklace or earrings that can look simply sophisticated and very stylish.

She knows that sometimes you need to try something new to develop your own personal style, “So don’t be scared to try different looks,” she advises. Do you ever wear prints, for example? There are plenty around to choose from this year, and if you’re still a little wary you could pair plain trousers or a tailored skirt with a printed top.

In general, investing in, for example, a smart, well-cut jacket that can go anywhere makes sense. In a block colour, it can be teamed with a plain shift dress underneath or something printed. That kind of jacket can take you to a meeting or informal social occasion or can be worn with something more dressy for an evening out.

Look at your accessories in the same way. Many older women seldom buy belts, but these can make a plain outfit look terrific and don’t need to emphasise waists not quite as trim as they used to be. View the outfit overall, perhaps employ that smart jacket with toning shoes and a bag plus a colourful scarf.

It’s also worth keeping in mind the impact of neutralcoloured shoes like the fashionable Duchess of Cambridge often wears; teamed with flesh-coloured tight these are real leg-lengtheners.

You don’t need to wear a very short hemline to pull off this kind of look or very high heels if you don’t want to. A knee-length or just-below-the-knee dress length with kitten or other low heels can be equally flattering. And pretty flatties like the current crop of ballerina pumps can also look exactly right with some outfits, especially the more informal and fluid.

• www.alexon.co.uk www.pingush.com

As Twiggy insists, don’t forget, you’re meant to ENJOY fashion – just make it “stylish and fun”, and forget which birthday it is.

13

Calendar Girl RUTH Madoc had just been having lunch with her five year-old granddaughter in St Albans when she broke off from encouraging her to eat pizza for a chat with Angela Kelly about the theatre and life after Gladys Pugh.

“I’m in the South for two weeks with ‘Calendar Girls’,” she explains in those familiar warm, now-muted Welsh tones.

“So I’m staying with the family here and love being out for lunch with Seren (Welsh for “star”) because this little girl and I have a real connection.”

After she graduated, Ruth – a talented singer and performer as well as an actress – spent three years with the “Black and White Minstrel Show” and various summer seasons with Lesley Crowther, Max Wall and Bruch Forsyth in the final days of provincial variety.

Ruth, now 68, has five grandchildren under the age of five (“hard work sometimes, although lovely”). Three of them live in Gibraltar and it’s plain that Ruth thoroughly enjoys being a grandma.

She became a theatrical favourite appearing in leading roles in musicals like “West Side Story and “Man of La Mancha” and appeared in both the stage and screen versions of “Under Milk Wood.”

It may be hard to see her in this role as, for many TV viewers, she remains fondly in the memory as the man-hungry Maplins’ Yellowcoat and the mere mention of her name has usually restrained people shouting out “Hi-De-Hi!”.

After her high-profile success in “Hi-DeHi!”, Ruth was in the stage version of the show which enjoyed huge success in

This wonderful portrayal in the enduringly popular BBC 1 comedy series revealed her comic talents to thousands at home. But her career, even by then, had already covered a startling variety of theatre.

Although Ruth is well known for her Welsh roots she was, in fact, born in Norwich because her parents consistently travelled around Britain. However, she spent much of her childhood with her maternal grandmother in Llansamlet in Swansea.

From the little mining village she made the unlikely but determined leap to the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, guided in this by the man who became an early mentor, Sir Harry Secombe. “I was in East Yorkshire with my parents and the head of drama at school sent a tape of me to Harry Secombe’s agent with the intention of interesting Huw Weldon who used to have a BBC children’s talent programme called ‘All Your Own,’ she states.

Instead, the agent showed it to the famous singer and comedian, and he began helping the young Ruth, offering practical advice on her career.

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I N T E RV I E W Bournemouth, Blackpool and at the Victoria Palace in London.

“I never felt, though, that I was going to be typecast

by Gladys,” she says. “I’d already done so much in the theatre I knew that I would go on to do many other, different roles.”

And indeed she did. She has been in a large number of stage productions including “A Taste of Honey” and “A Murder is Announced”, and in West End musicals like “Niteclub Confidential” and “Bless the Bride.”

Ruth had great personal success with her portrayal of the indomitable Mama Rose in the musical “Gypsy”, toured Japan and the Far East as Madame Giry in “Phantom of the Opera” and was a wonderful Mrs Bardell to Harry Secombe’s “Pickwick” at the Chichester Festival Theatre, Sadlers Wells Theatre and on an extended national tour.

She was also Dorothy Brock in the hit musical “42nd Street”, Miss Hannigan in “Annie”, and Maria in “Twelfth Night” at Regent’s Park Theatre in London.

Her film appearances vary from “Fiddler on the Roof” to “The Prince and the Pauper” and “Very Annie Mary”, and she has also enjoyed an extensive radio career on programmes like “Some of these Days,” “Woman’s Hour” and “This Family Business.”

Other TV roles over the years have included guest appearances with Morecambe and Wise, Bob Monkhouse and Les Dawson. And, more recently, she was the mother of the infamous Daffyd (the only gay in the village) in the Bafta award-winning comedy series “Little Britain.”.

Ruth has appeared in more than 30 pantomimes in every major city in the UK – as everything from principal boy in “Robin Hood” and “Dick Whittington” to Cinderella’s fairy godmother and the Wicked Queen in “Snow White.”

For the past 18 months, she has been touring in “Calendar Girls” as Marie – the WI protagonist who tries to stop the nude calendar – “and I love it!” she declares with a throaty laugh.

“I think I enjoy playing not so nice people because it’s more interesting. But I really love this play and Tim Firth (the writer) is so clever. While the humour is Northern it works on so many levels and is a great piece of writing.”

Ruth will remain in the production until May, 2012, when, she says, she and her manager husband John will go to Spain to visit their grandchildren.

She states that she “won’t do theatre after I’m 75” because she doesn’t want to spend time learning lines.

“I think when you get older there is a great pressure in learning lines. I’ve seen this happen to many other people, and I don’t want that,” she insists.

“I keep my mind sharp now by doing crosswords each day and, although I’ve got lines in ‘Calendar Girls’, I still learn pieces of poetry.”

Her only career regret is that she didn’t take the “Under Milk Wood” role she was offered at the National Theatre “because I was with Harry in ‘Pickwick’ and didn’t want to let him down.”

Ruth would, though, still love to play the part of Madam Horrible in the hit musical “Wicked!” which re-imagines the Land of Oz. And that inquiring, lively mind, she suspects, will continue until her deathbed. “I think my final words will probably be ‘Eureka!,” she laughs again.

Then it’s back to life as grandma, and that perennial dilemma of how to get small children to eat their lunch.

15

Driver Refresher Sessions for the Over 70s If you live in Herefordshire and are over 70 years of age and find driving stressful, or you feel your confidence behind the wheel needs a boost then we can help you.

Herefordshire Council is offering you a two hour subsidised practical driving session, in your own vehicle, with an Approved Driving Instructor.

If you would like to take up this opportunity please fill in the form and return it to the road safety unit at the address below along with a fee of £10.00, (non-refundable). Please make cheques payable to Herefordshire Council.

The road safety unit will then arrange for an Approved Driving Instructor to contact you to arrange a convenient date and time and to discuss with you your requirements with regard to the type of driving that you require, e.g. motorway, rural, town.

!

I would like to take up the offer of the subsidised driver refresher session at a cost of £10.00.

Name:........................................................................................................................................

Address: ................................................................................................................................... ………………………………………………………………………………………............................

Tel. No:......................................................................................................................................

Date of Birth:.............................................................................................................................

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l l l l

confirm that I am not taking any medication that could affect my driving. confirm that there is no medical reason that prevents me from driving. confirm that I can read a vehicle number plate from 67 feet (20.5 metres, about 5 car lengths) in good daylight. confirm my vehicle is taxed, insured and has a valid MOT. confirm the fee of £10.00 is attached.

Please return to: Herefordshire Council, Road Safety Unit, Plough Lane Hereford, HR4 0LE.

If you would like to discuss this further please contact Herefordshire Council’s Road Safety Unit on 01432 260946.

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Always check with your pharmacist or doctor to ensure that your medication will not adversely affect your driving.

Did you know that some prescription drugs or over-the-counter remedies can:-

• • • •

Cause drowsiness Affect your concentration Reduce your reaction times Impair your overall driving ability

AND please remember you are also breaking the law if you do not use your seatbelt For more information please contact Herefordshire Council's Road Safety Unit on 01432 260946

Is your hard earned cash going through the roof, or down the drain?

The last few winters we’ve had were some of the coldest we’ve had in the UK for twenty years and we paid the price in hugely inflated heating bills. To make matters worse, these are expected to rise even higher over the next few years.

Unfortunately, human nature being what it is, as the weather gets warmer, its all too easy to forget winter chills and put off the moment when we need to take a good look at ways of keeping those heating costs down.

First off, and the most immediate way of cutting out waste, is to take a few simple steps to save energy.

1. Turn the thermostat down on your room temperature. A reduction of 1 degree could cut your heating bills by up to 10%, and you could save around £40 a year.

2. Set the temperature on your hot water tank to 50 degrees celsius.

3. Set the temperature in your refrigerator to between 1.7 and 3.3. degrees Celsius, and set it to -18 degrees Celsius for the freezer.

4. Wash clothes on a low heating cycle, and dry outside on a line, or indoors on a drying rack. Only wash when you have a full load.

5. Turn your computer off when not in use, and unplug DVD players, TVs and games consoles when not in use.

6. Turn lights off when you leave the room.

7. Install low energy light bulbs in every room.

8. Make sure your hot water tank has a foam insulating jacket.

9. Install radiator shields behind your radiators. This will direct warm air upwards into the room, instead of being lost in the wall.

13. Never fill your kettle to make a single cup of tea, but ensure you use sufficient water to cover the element.

14. If you have fireplaces in your house which are not used, install chimney balloons to prevent cold air entering your rooms, and warm air escaping.

To Save on your Water Bills 1. Take a shower rather than a bath, and install low-flow showerheads.

2. Fix any dripping taps.

3. Install tap water savers to all taps. These can be fitted in minutes and can dramatically reduce water consumption.

4. Use a water saver in your lavatory cistern. These are balloons made of heavy duty plastic, and will save around 3 litres of water every time the toilet is flushed.

5. Install water butts on down pipes outside your house. This water is free of chlorine, is better for your plants, and will save you a fortune in water bills. As well as the large water butts, they are now available in narrower format, for difficult corners.

10. Close your curtains at dusk to stop heat escaping through the windows 11. Never open the oven door while cooking – you could lose around 20% of the heat when you do this.

12. Re-heat small portions of food in your micro-wave oven. This uses less than half of a conventional oven.

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Efficient Energy Centre Looking to a greener future We specialise in: • Biomass • Wood Burning Stoves • Solar Photovoltaic • Solar Thermal Hot Water • Heat Pumps To find out more visit our showroom Unit 4, Harrow Park, Plough Lane, Hereford HR4 0EH

Tel: 01432 356633

www.efficientenergycentre.co.uk

Free Quotations Available The Government introduced two renewable energy tariffs, the feed in tariff (FIT) and renewable heat incentive (RHI) to encourage the installation of renewable energy systems. You can generate your own heat, electricity and hot water, significantly reducing your energy bills and at the same time be paid for it!

Recent cuts in the feed in tariff have been matched by cuts in panel prices to keep solar photovoltaic installations an excellent investment and the RHI means that there really hasn’t been a better time to install a Wood Chip/Log/Pellet Boiler.

We have over 20 years experience in Herefordshire in providing heating solutions, with the accreditations to prove the quality of our team. In a fast changing consumer market we keep our team fully trained in the very latest products and techniques as customers look for greener solutions.

Putting ourselves at the forefront of environmentally sensitive energy issues, we have created an informative showroom, offering cleaner energy solutions to everyone.

19 www.50plusmagazine.co.uk

19

OUT & ABOUT

Arts & Crafts at Hereford Museum & Art Gallery An exciting exhibition demonstrating the influence of the Arts and Crafts movement, opened at Hereford Museum and Art Gallery on Saturday 24th March organised by the Archenfield Decorative Art Society. The exhibition, Love & Labour are All, aims to show the sheer breadth and depth of the Arts amd Craft movement, from architecture, woodwork and furniture to metalware, jewellery, textiles, decorative art, books, photographs, glass and music, and to demonstrate that it was more than a passing fashion limited to decorative arts.

Scores of artefacts, sourced from private collections and museums, will be on display, some never shown publicly before and others seen very rarely, will include embroidery designed by May Morris,

C F A Voysey metalwork, a possibly unique Gordon Russell fruit dish and a stunning early Winchcombe jug

by Michael Cardew. Also on display will be three decorated panels designed by the Guild of Handicraft for Sir James Rankin’s Herefordshire home Bryngwyn. Sir James also paid for the construction of Hereford Museum and Art Gallery, where the exhibition will be held.

There will be be an illustrated catalogue accompanying the exhibition and a leaflet co-produced with Herefordshire Council highlighting works of art located in public buildings in the area.

The exhibition runs until May 16.

10am to 5pm Tuesday to Saturday, 10am to 4pm Sundays (from April) and Bank Holiday Mondays.

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September Snowstorms!

Normally, as the nights get longer and cooler, our thoughts turn back to heating our homes properly. Due to the fact Sunflow heaters are made in Germany, demand from Russia, Northern Scandinavia and Eastern Europe is driven by hard frosts and September snowfalls. Sounds cold and it is. Therefore, in order not to miss out on warm weather installation, the time to prepare is now.

Do you want to continue with oil, lpg, gas or night storage heaters? Or, do you want to consider a different type of heating, one with a massive pedigree in Europe and rapidly growing in popularity in Britain. Sunflow radiators are slim, economical and extremely efficient. A real alternative with no maintenance and a full twelve year guarantee.

Built to suit your home, they can form an impressive energy management system that individually controls the temperature and timing of every room. Sunflow offers expertise to combat cold exposed locations so your living areas will never be uncomfortable, even if temperatures drop significantly.

Our surveyors are located where you are and will give you all the advice you need to plan a warm and comfortable future. Our secret is simple, we do the mathematical equations that guarantee the heat you require in living areas. By calling now, you have time to obtain a quotation and book a summer/autumn installation.

For further details call Suzanne on 0800 158 8272.

CONSIDER GERMAN HEATING NOW - WARM WEATHER INSTALLATION Simple to install, Powerful, and no more servicing - EVER!

A lifetime of heating, amazingly efficient, fully controllable, slim and attractive.

Heating is a major purchase in our life. Not just the cost of buying a system but the cost of the energy to run it and, just as importantly, the costs to maintain it.

Maintenance - get rid of the maintenance costs all together. A Sunflow guarantee of 12 years will do the trick - nobody inspecting every year - with heating that has a life expectancy of 40 to 50 years! A Sunflow heater is well made and hand finished in Germany. So if you add maintenance and depreciation prevalent in other systems this could easily be a 30% reduction in costs in the first 12 years. That’s just the start!

Over 200 beautiful colours On feet, castors or wall mounted

Energy Management - often called modular heating, Sunflow German built electric heaters allow total control of heating costs.

Every room can be time and temperature controlled, far more accurately than any form of wet system. We have a range of controls from simple manual thermostats and timers, to switching on your heat from remote locations. Ask for advice. Whatever controls you choose you will be able to decide where and when to use energy.

A ReAl AlteRnAtive www.50plusmagazine.co.uk

to

Efficiency - the reason a Sunflow heater is incredibly efficient is the naturally occurring refractory clay core. Called chamotte, we embed a pure tungsten element into the clay and this combination allows us to heat large surface areas with a comparatively low electrical input, thus making our heaters very economic to run.

It all sounds very scientific but to the sceptical we offer a simple demonstration. (See our brochure).

Get your FREE brochure by calling our 24hr Brochure Line on: 0800 158 8270 or email: info@sunflowltd.co.uk

Questions?

Call Suzanne on 0800 158 8272

Hea ^t

oil/GAs HeAtinG - Ask About ouR ReplAcement seRvice 21

Eye problems?

Look no further!

Before Surgery

Nuffield Health Hereford offers a comprehensive range of ophthalmology (eye surgery) services for both insured and ’self-pay’, non-insured patients.

In addition to assessment and treatment by a local, experienced consultant surgeon of their choice, patients are often able to choose the date of their surgery, safe in the knowledge that the same consultant will treat them throughout their hospital experience.

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Day-case, small incision cataract surgery (phacoemulsification) is available, minimising surgical time and potential complications, while allowing a very fast recovery. Costs start from as little as £2117 for ‘fixed price’ cataract surgery, being considerable more affordable than other private hospitals.

State-of-the-art equipment, with modern keyhole surgery techniques, allows provision of an excellent service to our patients.

Private patients are seen by the same specialist at every stage in their treatment. Surgery is only carried out by experienced, consultant surgeons, not junior doctors.

There are no waiting lists for surgery. Private patients are usually able to choose the date of their operation.

Even relatively mild cataracts can be treated safely—there is no need to wait for them to become ‘ripe’, as used to be the case.

While each consultant has a regular clinic each week, it is often possible for patients to be seen at other times and even in emergencies.

Examples of conditions treated by consultant eye surgeons at Nuffield Health Hereford include: •

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Cataract, including the treatment of preexisting astigmatism. A cloudy lens within the eye is known as a cataract. Treatment is quick and simple, with excellent results.

Eyelid-reshaping (blepharoplasty and ptosis) surgery. Heavy eyelids irritating you and making you look sleepy? Blepharoplasty is one of the commonest plastic surgical operations, with excellent results quickly. Book an assessment today.

Presbyopia. Fed up with not being able to read without your glasses?

An implanted multifocalintraocular lens may be the answer, allowing spectacle independence.

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Glaucoma. If your optician is concerned about the possibility of glaucoma, we are happy to assess, advise and treat your eyes as appropriate.

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Macular degeneration. An all-toocommon cause of misery in later life. Consider booking a consultation if you have any concerns about this condition.

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Squint surgery. When one eye looks in a different direction to the other, this is a ‘squint’. Corrective surgery can often do wonders for one’s looks and confidence.

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Watery eyes are treatable. Don’t endure the unhappiness and inconvenience; book a consultation today.

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Skin cancers. Concerned about a new or changing lump or bump on the face or near the eyes? Don’t delay an important consultation.

Eyelid malpositions, including hanging out (ectropion) and turning in (entropion) eyelids, can all be effectively treated, often even in the outpatient department.

Only one week after bilateral ptosis surgery with some residual swelling

Mr John Deutsch Mr Deutsch studied Medicine at Liverpool University, graduating in 1981. Mr Deutsch is very happy to see patients with cataract, glaucoma or any other general ophthalmic problem, where diagnosis, management or reassurance may be required.

Mr Simon Madge Mr Madge is delighted to see patients with any general eye problems (including cataract, glaucoma and macular degeneration), as well as any condition of the eyelids (including for assessment for aesthetic surgery, e.g. blepharoplasty). Mr Madge has recently introduced injectable intraocular lens technology for cataract surgery to the Nuffield Hospital, with consequent smaller incision cataract surgery and many potential benefits for his patients.

As Herefordshire’s regional surgical eyelid specialist, he is happy to provide expertise in the assessment and surgical management of watery eyes, droopy eyelids, eyelid bags and periocular tumours.

Mr Stephen Scotcher Steve Scotcher has worked as a consultant ophthalmic surgeon in Hereford for over 12 years.

Mr Scotcher is pleased to see patients with cataract, glaucoma, macular degeneration, minor lid disorders or any general ophthalmic condition. He has introduced toric intraocular lens implants to the Nuffield Hospital, for patients with cataract and high astigmatic refractive errors. He has a special interest in paediatric ophthalmology, strabismus (squint), and other eye movement disorders.

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For rapid access to treatment: • Cataract • Carpal Tunnel • Hernia

• Urology • Varicose Veins • Women’s Health

We can help whether your considering self pay options or if you have private medical insurance.

To refer or to discuss treatment options further, please contact your local Nuffield Health Hospital on 01432 355131

Don’t just go private, go personal.

Nuffield Health Hereford Hospital, Venns Lane, Hereford, HR1 1DF

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F O OD

&

D RI NK

Rick Stein's Mediterranean Escapes Recipes Rick Stein’s passion for fresh well-sourced food has taken him from continent to continent, across magnificent shorelines and to the very best produce the coast has to offer. Rick remarks “My greatest enthusiasm in life has been finding dishes that change my perception of cooking, that reveal a whole new vista of flavour combination. I think we all enjoy that.

I’m just someone with an enthusiasm for food and a curiosity that’s sent me sniffing around all over the place looking for lovely dishes in all corners of the globe” Taken from his book ‘Mediterranean Escapes’ (BBC Books, £20) here are three of Rick’s favourite recipes inspired by flavours of the Med.

SERVES 8-10 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, plus extra for serving 1 large onion, chopped 5 garlic cloves, thinly sliced 1 large leek, cleaned and cut into similar-sized pieces 250g dried borlotti beans, soaked overnight 450g waxy potatoes, such as Charlotte, peeled and cut into 1- cm dice 250g peeled carrots, cut into 1-cm dice 2 celery sticks, cut into 1- cm dice 1 ripe beef tomato, skinned and chopped Leaves from 1 small rosemary sprig, finely chopped 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano 1.2kg smoked ham hock 250g green beans, trimmed and cut into 1- cm pieces 2 medium-sized courgettes, topped and tailed and cut into 1- cm dice 1/2 small cabbage (about 500g), core removed, thinly sliced 75g dried tagliatelle, broken into 5-cm pieces 1 tablespoon chopped fresh oregano A small handful of flat-leaf parsley leaves, chopped Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Minestra: Corsican Vegetable Soup with Smoked Ham, Cabbage and Borlotti Beans Heat the oil in a really large pan, add the onion, garlic and leek, and cook gently for 3-4 minutes. Drain the soaked beans and add to the pan with the potatoes, carrots, celery, tomato, rosemary, dried oregano and 2 litres of water. Cut the ham hock in half lengthways to one side of the bone, add to the pan and press the pieces down well into the soup so they are totally submerged.

Bring everything to a simmer and leave to cook, uncovered, for 1 hour.

Then add the green beans, courgettes, cabbage, tagliatelle pieces and fresh oregano and simmer for a further 15-20 minutes until the soup is thick. Remove the pieces of ham hock, pull the meat off the bone, and pull it into small chunks. Discard the skin and bone. Stir the ham back into the soup with the parsley and approximately 500 ml more hot water to loosen it slightly and season with salt and pepper. Service in large warmed soup bowls, drizzled with a little more olive oil.

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SERVES 4 400g dried spaghetti 175-g piece smoked pancetta, rind removed 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil 3 garlic cloves, finely chopped A handful of flat-leaf parsley leaves, finely chopped 3 large eggs, beaten 50g finely grated pecorino sardo maturo Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Spaghetti Alla Carbonara: Pasta with Pecorino Sardo, Pancetta, Parsley and Eggs Bring 4.5 litres water to the boil in a large saucepan with 8 teaspoons salt. Add the spaghetti and cook for 9 minutes or until al dente.

Meanwhile, cut the pancetta into lardons (short little strips), about 6mm wide. Heat a large, deep frying pan over a medium-high heat, add the oil and the pancetta and allow it to fry until lightly golden. Add the garlic and parsley and cook for a few seconds, then remove from the heat and set to one side.

Drain the spaghetti well, tip into the frying pan with the pancetta, garlic and parsley, add the beaten eggs and half the grated pecorino cheese and toss together well. Season to taste with a little salt and black pepper. The heat from the spaghetti will be sufficient to partly cook the egg but still leave it moist and creamy. Take to the table and serve in warmed pasta bowls, sprinkled with the rest of the cheese.

SERVES 6-8 2 x 1-kg shoulders of lamb, each one cut into 3 large chunks through the bone (get your butcher to do this) 2kg waxy maincrop potatoes, such as Desiree, peeled and cut into 5-6cm chunks 1 head of garlic, outside papery skins removed, cut in half through the middle 1 tablespoon dried oregano, Greek if possible 3-6 fresh bay leaves 2 tablespoons fresh oregano or marjoram leaves 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, plus extra for drizzling Juice of 2 large lemons Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Kleftiko: Slow-cooked Lamb with Garlic, Oregano, Lemon and Potatoes Preheat the oven to 1900C/Gas Mark 5. Combine the meat, potatoes and garlic in a large ovenproof casserole dish.

Sprinkle with the dried and fresh herbs, olive oil, lemon juice, 100ml water, 2 teaspoons of salt and plenty of black pepper and mix together well, then nestle the pieces of meat down in among the potatoes. Drizzle with a little more oil.

Cover the casserole tightly with foil and a well-fitting lid and bake for 3 hours until the meat is falling off the bone.

However, check after a couple of hours to make sure it doesn’t need a little more water.

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Herefordshire Careline Personal Emergency Alarm Service

Help at the touch of a button Your 24 hour friend What is Careline?

Herefordshire Careline is a 24 hour Personal Emergency response service, based in Hereford which is connected to your home through an alarm unit linked to your telephone line. Help in times of crisis is just the push of a button away.

The Careline Centre is staffed 24 hours a day by our friendly, helpful staff. The service helps people to continue to live independently in their own homes.

What you can expect:• Easy installation - our experts will install and demonstrate the service in your home • Instant response - immediate help in an emergency • Professional service - Careline is a fully accredited alarm service* • Reassurance - peace of mind that help is available at the touch of a button *Telecare Services Association code of practice.

"I think the service is very good - It is so nice to know that someone is there when needed. Thank you!”

Who would benefit from the Careline Service?

Careline is available to anyone who needs to summon help urgently, such as: • Individuals who are Housebound • Vulnerable people • People who are living alone 26

• Young, elderly or disabled people • Individuals who have recently been discharged from hospital and require additional support • Those that require some form of reassurance.

There is no age barrier for this service.

"It is a great comfort for both my mother and me to know there is help at hand if necessary"

How does the Careline Service work?

The Careline Service allows you to call for help by the simple touch of a button, either on the alarm unit, or by simply pressing a radio pendant, which can be worn around the neck, on the wrist, or clipped to your clothing. Once you press the button, you will be linked to Herefordshire Careline where our friendly and professional staff will talk to you and take appropriate action, whether it be contacting a friend or family member to alert them to a problem or contacting the emergency services. Where possible our staff will stay on the line until help arrives. As the service is operated 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, you can be reassured that help and assistance is always only a touch of a button away.

"Contact with Herefordshire Careline has always been courteous, helpful and reassuring to the rest of my family and me"

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Your alarm installation The Careline equipment can be purchased or rented from Herefordshire Housing and flexible payment options make it easier to pay for the service.

A small on-going charge is then made for the service, which also covers cost of maintenance of the alarm unit.

Installation of the system and the provision of the service are simple, and are carried out by our own operatives.

“An excellent installation appointment most helpful” “Very impressed - I have recommended you to a friend”

A service you can trust Herefordshire Careline has been operating since 1984 and provides telecare monitoring to over 30,000 people nationwide.

Our accredited installation service will provide you with all the information & guidance on how the alarm system works

All of our operatives are given extensive training and we are accredited to the Telecare Services Association (TSA), so you can be reassured that you are in safe hands when subscribing to our service.

Our friendly & helpful operators are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, providing reassurance to you and your family & friends.

How can I find out more?

If you would like to know more about the Careline Service, please contact us via: Telephone: (01432) 384100 Email: community.services@hhl.org.uk Post: Herefordshire Careline, Legion Way, Hereford, HR1 1LN.

All of our operators receive extensive training and provide a friendly & helpful service

You can also visit our website www.hhl.org.uk for further information on our service.

A service you can trust Herefordshire Careline is accredited to the TSA Code of Practice for Monitoring & Installation

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27

90 years of Insulin

“Insulin is a wonderful thing and those who use it must respect it” 23 January 2012 marked the 90th anniversary of the first successful use of insulin, arguably one of the greatest medical advances of the twentieth century. Since then, millions of people worldwide have used insulin, usually in the form of injections, to regulate their blood glucose levels and stay alive.

Not long after the first insulin treatment began on a 14-year-old boy, in 1934 novelist HG Wells and his practitioner Dr RD Lawrence, both of whom had diabetes, set up the Diabetic Association aiming to make sure that everyone in the UK could gain access to insulin. This charity later became Diabetes UK. Today Diabetes UK is the leading charity for over 3.7 million people in the UK with diabetes – 2.9 million diagnosed and an estimated 850,000 who have diabetes but do not know it - their families, friends and healthcare professionals. The charity cares for, connects with and campaigns on behalf of all people affected by and at risk of diabetes.

Richard Lane 68, President of Diabetes UK, has been taking insulin for more than 35 years and has seen the technology in administering insulin advance in leaps and bounds: “I used to use glass syringes which would have to be boiled and their needles sharpened. A lot has changed since then and I now use a state-of-theart insulin pump and sensor. It provides me with a remarkable amount of information about my blood glucose levels, which is transmitted wirelessly from a sensor to the actual pump which feeds me insulin. Data can be downloaded onto a computer and a detailed profile of my condition is put together. This life-changing technology means I can now keep a closer eye on my diabetes and manage it well.”

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Richard says he feels “humble” to have access to this modern technology and is concerned that hundreds of people are denied insulin sensors and pumps and strongly believes that they should be available for all people if they are suitable.

Richard is very conscious that insulin keeps him alive and without it he wouldn’t be able to live the active life that he does: “Insulin is a wonderful thing and those of us who use it must respect it. We have to be aware of how to use it and how things could go wrong if we don’t treat our condition properly.”

In addition to self-managing diabetes, it is important that people with the condition are provided with the right care from their healthcare professionals. Diabetes UK has launched the 15 healthcare essentials initiative to identify the 15 care checks which all people with diabetes should have access to.

For more information, visit their website: www.diabetes.org.uk Read Richard Lane’s blog to see who he’s been sharing his experiences with across the world recently: http://blogs.diabetes.org.uk/?cat=241

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Humber Woodland of Remembrance Humber Woodland of Remembrance is set in open countryside, four miles east of Leominster. This beautiful new woodland provides a peaceful setting, where families may choose the plot where their loved one will be buried, in a coffin of willow, bamboo, cardboard or even wool.

For more information, or to arrange a visit, please call: Diane Thomas, Risbury Court, Risbury, Leominster Tel: 01568 760 443 e-mail: diane@humberwoodland.co.uk

Now in its ninth year, over 165 burials have taken place.

The plots, and the trees that mark them, are spread around the site, seemingly at random, giving the field a natural appearance, not regimented in any way. In summer we mow around the graves, with pathways leading from one to another, leaving the grass in between to grow long until it can be cut for hay. Wild flowers such as campion, ox-eye daisies, mallow and knapweed flourish and provide food for butterflies and bees. Birds make their nests in the trees and piles of branches left there especially for them, field mice find homes beneath the logs that mark graves or provide seating, and rabbits and hedgehogs also seem very at home here.

Each year at the end of October, we hold a bulb planting day, when families of those buried at Humber Woodland of Remembrance are invited to plant some wild daffodil and bluebell bulbs on their loved one’s grave.

We take the planting of native wild flowers very seriously, as many species are endangered today. We plant meadow flowers, but also, where there is shade, woodland plants. We do not allow any garden plants, as they would not only ruin the wild look of the field, but could also cross-pollinate with the native species which we are trying to preserve. The result is a natural landscape, growing more beautiful year by year.

Many funerals take place at the graveside, surrounded by trees, flowers, birdsong and beautiful views Alternatively, they may be held at the recently converted Hop Kiln at Risbury Court, which also provides peace, privacy and as much time as the family need.

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Herefordshire Green burial in peaceful North Herefordshire, where graves are marked by trees or wild flowers.

Funerals or wakes in The Hop Kiln at Risbury Court.

Robert & Diane Thomas Risbury Court, Risbury, Nr Leominster

Tel: 01568 760443 www.humberwoodland.co.uk

Members of the Association of Natural Burial Grounds (ANBGt)

In time of need When someone dies there are many decisions and arrangements to be made. Unfortunately these often have to be made at a time of personal distress. This section gives you help and guidance about what to do from the moment of a person's bereavement.

For example, you will have to get a Medical Certificate showing the cause of death, get the death registered, arrange the funeral and decide what to do with the property and possessions.

An appointment time will be given to collect personal belongings and the Medical Certificate of Death.

The Medical Certificate of Death should then be taken to the local registrar. The death must be registered in the district where the death took place.

Also needed are :l The Medical Certificate of Death. l The Deceased's Medical Card. l Details of the Deceased (i.e. Date and Place of Birth).

The registrar will then :l Register the Death. l Issue the Green Form (for the Funeral Director). l Issue the D.S.S. booklet.

The Doctor may not be able to issue a Medical Certificate of Death and will inform the Coroner if :-

Funeral Directors and Memorial Masons

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l Death was sudden, violent, or caused by an accident. l Death was caused by an industrial disease. l Death occurred while the patient was undergoing an operation or was under the effect of anaesthetic.

(The Coroner is a doctor or lawyer responsible for the investigation of certain deaths.)

The Coroner may :l Arrange for a Post Mortem examination. The consent of relatives is not needed for this, but they can choose a doctor to be present. It may be important to know the cause of death accurately.

He will then :l Issue a Pink Form for the Registrar of Births and Deaths, if the Post Mortem shows the death was due to natural causes.

Only the Coroner can :l Give permission for a funeral to take place outside England and Wales.

Funeral Directors Private chapel of rest Modern fleet Floral tributes Service sheets Memorial masonry service Horse-drawn hearse and other specialist vehicles available

24 hour service 51 West Street, Leominster, Herefordshire HR6 8EP Tel: 01568 612358 www.rwmann.co.uk www.50plusmagazine.co.uk Please ask about our pre-paid funeral plans

l Give on request, a letter confirming the fact of death for Social Security and Insurance Benefit purposes if his enquiries are likely to take some time.

Hold an inquest if the death was :l Violent or caused by an accident. l If, after Post Mortem examination, the cause of death remains uncertain.

It will need to be decided if the deceased is to be buried or cremated.

This decision lies with the family or the executor.

Funerals can be expensive, so it is a good idea to contact at least two Funeral Directors to compare arrangements, facilities and cost.

A simple funeral will not cover such things as church or cremation fees, flowers or notices in the local paper.

When the Funeral Director has been chosen, he will require the Green Form issued by the registrar. The Funeral Director will help with all the arrangements.

If there is any difficulty with the deceased person's property, possessions, or guardianship of their children, advice is available from a solicitor or Citizens Advice Bureau.

Here are some examples of the kind of things which may have to be done. It is NOT a comprehensive list.

1. Inform their family Doctor.

2. Inform any Hospital they were attending.

3. Inform the Local Health Authority who may also have loaned nursing equipment.

4. Inform the Social Services Department if they have supplied Meals on Wheels/Home Help, etc.

5. Inform the Inland Revenue if they were C receiving any tax allowances.

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6. Inform Gas, Electricity, Water and British Telecom.

7. Inform Community Charge Office.

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8. Contact the bank to stop all payments of Direct CM Debits, Standing Orders, etc. immediately.

MY You should return with note of explanation :l Order books, payable orders, or Giro cheques to CY the Social Security Office. This applies to Child Benefit books which include payment for a child CMY who has died. l Car registration documents, for the change of K ownership to be recorded and the deceased's Driving Licence to the D.V.L.C., Swansea, SA99 TBN.

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The deceased's Passport to the Passport Office for your area. The address is at the Post Office. Any season ticket for any refund overdue. Membership cards for clubs, T.V. licence, etc. l

Everyone feels grief. It is a natural reaction to the death of someone we love. We should all feel free to express HANDLEY & HAWCUTT.pdf 1 25/05/2011 our feelings and work through them.

There are many people around who can help, e.g. your own Doctor, Priest or Minister. There are also many organisations and self help groups.

Handley & Hawcutt Funeral Directors Your local Funeral Director

• 24 hour caring service • Chapel of rest • Memorials • Pre payment plans • Woodland burials • Horse drawn hearse • Private outdoor consoling area

Handley & Hawcutt Leominster, 17 Drapers Lane

01568 612 225

Hawcutt Funeral Directors Ledbury, Hawcutt House, Bye Street

01531 632084

H H Handley

Bromyard, 3 Little Hereford Street

01885 482 216 Serving the community for over half a century www.mylocalfuneraldirector.co.uk

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Working together for the people of Herefordshire

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