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HEREFORDSHIRE & WORCESTER SEPTEMBER - NOVEMBER 2012 EDITION 33

The

Hairy

Bikers

TAKE A SCIENTIFIC APPROACH TO FOOD

Jean Christophe -

Novelli

THE NATION’S FAVOURITE FRENCH CHEF

25% OFF GLASSES FOR OVER 60S

THE LOCAL MAGAZINE FOR THE OVER 50s

WWW.50PLUSMAGAZINE.CO.UK

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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.

31482G MNAT60D 297x210+f x2.indd 1

17/10/08 16:53:05

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.

RUSSELL GRANT: THE COMEBACK KID When Russell Grant first danced into the hearts of the viewing millions on “Strictly Come Dancing” last year his stars might well have predicted great success and a comeback of cosmic proportions.

For arguably Britain’s favourite astrologer may not have won the series – well, let’s face it, his dancing was more entertainment than excellence – but the live audiences and those at home loved him. And for Russell this TV appearance provided a passport back to fame.

Born in Middlesex, Russell was brought up in a council house by his set designer father Frank and secretary mother Joan who both worked at Pinewood Studios. His parents separated when he was 11 and he moved in with his maternal grandmother but, in spite of the upheaval, Russell has always said he had a happy childhood.

He worked as a Butlins’ Redcoat and trained as an actor, appearing in a variety of shows. While working in Blackpool, Russell met his partner Doug Beaumont and the two have been together for almost 40 years.

Although Russell first came to prominence in 1978 after he held an astrological reading for the Queen Mother which led to him being dubbed “Astrologer Royal”, his theatre, TV and film career was surprisingly comprehensive and successful.

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It spanned more than 30 musicals and comedies, including work as varied as touring with “The King and I” to TV’s “On The Buses”, “Please Sir!” and “The Fenn Street Gang”. He’s been in “Tom Brown’s Schooldays” in the West End and was an effective panto dame in shows all over the country.

However, TV beckoned and it was Russell’s fascination with astrology and his exuberant personality that brought him before the nation, first on Yorkshire TV and then on Granada TV where he was a regular onscreen explaining the daily horoscopes. From there he moved to breakfast TV with BBC’s “Breakfast Time” and later to TV-am as resident astrologer on “Good Morning.”

A broadcasting natural and popular presenter, this role soon broadened to presenting other shows including celebrity quiz “Star Choice”. He later had his own six-episode series “Russell Grant’s All Star Show.” He worked for Channel 5 just after it was launched and directed and starred in “Russell Grant’s Postcards”, a collection of more than 100 five-minute travelogues produced by his own company Russell Grant World Productions.

Russell worked solidly on a number of TV projects, with his astrology skills ever present, and he wrote a number of popular newspaper columns and horoscopes in regional newspapers throughout the country as well as in various magazines.

Like many TV personalities, however, his star waned for a while. In 2006, he took part in the fourth series of “Celebrity Fit Club” and lost over three stone, but he later suffered from depression and his weight rocketed, this time to 26 stone.

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INTERVIEW He became something of a recluse at the 30-acre Snowdonia estate that he shares with Doug but, being Russell Grant and a trouper, determined that the show must go on, he began losing weight – around 10 stone in two and a half years by disco dancing each day for half an hour!

In 2011, an online group called “Get Russell on Strictly” finally persuaded TV executives to have him as a contestant on the show. In September last year, he burst onto our screens with his lovely professional dancing partner Flavia Cacace. Surprisingly light on his feet and with genuine rhythm, Russell sported a number of colourful and outrageous costumes and certainly won the day with viewers.

In fact, they kept him in the knock-out programme until late November – in spite of much criticism from the judges, in particular the often acerbic Craig Revel Horwood. The abiding memory of Russell from the series, however, is of him being shot from a cannon as part of one particularly fun number!

This great revival by the “comeback kid” caught the attention of the famous musical writer and producer Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber. He invited Russell to return to the West End stage – and the Palladium Theatre where he’d last performed 34 years before – and take part in a three-month stint replacing Michael Crawford as the “Wizard of Oz” in a new production.

“I was worried as I was due to have an operation on my knee,” commented Russell. “I’m 61 now. At this age you know your limitations. But you also sense your mortality.

So there was a two-way thing going on. I was trying to talk myself out of it, thinking ‘Can’t I just go back to Wales?’”

Fortunately, Andrew Lloyd Webber and Russell’s close friend Lulu convinced him the part was right for him, and a highly successful run followed which enhanced and revived Russell’s theatrical reputation once more.

The production also brought him under the dancing wing of choreographer and dance teacher Arlene Phillips – “She even had me dancing the Charleston”, said Russell.

Following his memorable appearance in the hit musical, Russell has been brought in as a guest star for a new tour of the show “Grease”, taking the role of Teen Angel at various venues including Newcastle, Llandudno, Southseas, Wimbledon, Dartford and for a one-week run in Manchester in October.

He’s back working with Arlene Phillips, whom Russell insists is his “dance sister.” “Arlene brought out the very best in me working on ‘The Wizard of Oz’,” he stated. “So when she said I was right for Teen Angel and, if I took the part, she’d create the choreography, how could I resist!”

The sparkly suit and no doubt mesmerising performances are bound to leave the audience hopelessly devoted to Mr Grant’s special charms again. And it’s one more dancing role which he now loves, as he explained: “Teen Angel has a Strictly twist and shimmy which captures the joy of dance I’ve been lucky enough to have discovered.”

As for the future, who knows? Russell hasn’t set himself any special showbiz boundaries and his fans are never surprised – just happy to see their favourite star once more ascending.

Christmas Reader Offer

Give the gift of flight this Christmas

Up to

50% off balloon rides from

Celebration gift pack

£89pp

Virgin Balloon Flights are offering readers 25% off magical sunrise balloon flights with their national weekday morning vouchers (usually £119 per person) for just £89pp including: • An unforgettable balloon flight of around an hour • 100+ locations across mainland Britain including Eastnor Castle nr Ledbury and Berrington Hall nr Leominster • Traditional Champagne toast (or soft drink) • Flight certificate endorsed by Sir Richard Branson • 12 months to book your flight & transport back to your launch site

You can also save 50% off Celebration Packages (RRP £279pp) at just £139pp including evening and weekend flights, 18 months to book, plus a Virgin Balloon Flights gift pack with cap, key ring, pen, pre-flight DVD, binoculars and an engraved Champagne flute.

Call 0844 844 8073 & quote ‘Herefordshire 50 Plus’ or visit virginballoonflights.co.uk/offer/herefordshire50plus before December 15

Terms & conditions Reader offer valid until December 15, 2012. Price is for one person including VAT at applicable rate and standard delivery and cannot be used with any other offer. Flying season is March to October. Passengers must be aged 7 or over and at least 4’6” tall. Passengers who are pregnant or have recently undergone major surgery are unable to fly. Virgin Balloon Flights reserves the right to withdraw the offers or amend these conditions at any time. Full conditions at www.virginballoonflights.co.uk/legalstuff

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5

Domestic d e s a B d n Grou & s f o o lat R

F

Commercial

(in optimal conditions) optimal conditions) (in (in optimal conditions)

Although the Feed-in-Tariff for generating your own electricity has reduced to 16p per unit the overall cost of installing Solar Panels has come down by over 50%. The benefits are still dramatic and a clear winner for anyone wishing to safeguard against future electricity prices while generating themselves a predictable income stream over the next 20 years.

The average age of a typical domestic solar-panel customer is 60 plus, which may not be so surprising when one considers this as one of the highest disposable income groups.

With mortgages paid off any retirement savings are earning a pittance in ISAs and other traditional forms of investments. The advent of Solar PV and the Government Feed-inTariff scheme has offered a safe investment vehicle that now yields far more than can be currently earned elsewhere, as well as a way of making fuel savings and doing your bit for the environment.

Of course the basic premise is that those looking for the benefits from generating their own electricity have capital to invest. The cost of installing SolarPV panels will vary according to the size of system but an optimum domestic size of 4kW (16 panels) will now cost around £6500; half of what it was a year ago. Investing in SolarPV should be considered a medium term investment as once on the roof the money is tied to the value of your property rather like buying a new kitchen or a conservatory. But unlike other home improvements SolarPV will earn you money from the outset; generating electricity and a tax free income day after day, year after year.

In the right conditions an installation can net savings and income of around £1000 per year, effectively paying off the initial cost in around six to seven years, which stacks up to a very attractive 15% return on investment. Even if your roof is not perfectly south facing or you only have a flat roof or an available roof on a garage or barn at the bottom of the garden then the sums still stack up. If a pension topup scheme seems less relevant then consider this as a holiday or Christmas fund.

They come round every year and they don’t get any cheaper; how about £1000 tax free every year for the next 20 years to pay for them, while offsetting your carbon footprint?

Invest now, generate and save .... Christmas is coming!

NORTH WEST ENGLAND & BLACKPOOL

5 Days £259.00 pp

Departing: Monday 15th October 2012 Your Holiday Includes: 4 nights ensuite accommodation at the Auckland Hotel in Morecambe, situated on the sea front promenade within easy reach of the towns shops and amenities. Includes Dinner, Bed & Breakfast Visit to the Wensleydale Creamery in Hawes Visit to Blackpool for a tour of the famous illuminations Excursion to Bowness on Windermere in the Lake District

LONDON THEATRE BREAK JERSEY BOYS OR THRILLER

2 Days £169.00 pp

TURKEY & TINSEL IN TORQUAY

5 Days £248.00 pp

Departing: Monday 29th October2012 Your Holiday Includes: 4 nights ensuite accommodation at the popular Headland Hotel with stunning views overlooking Torbay. Includes Dinner, Bed & Breakfast Excursion to Dartmouth with time to explore its river front and 18th Century houses before a stop at Totnes Visit to the picturesque seaside town of Dawlish Journey across the picturesque moors of Dartmoor National Park to reach the maritime city of Plymouth for some free time

ST AGNES - MISTLETOE & WINE

5 Days £279.00 pp

TURKEY & TINSEL IN BABBACOMBE

4 Days £197.00 pp

5 Days £319.00 pp

Departing: Friday 16th November 2012 Your Holiday Includes: 3 nights ensuite accommodation at the popular family run Hotel De La Mer Dinner, Bed and Breakfast Hotel festive entertainment Excursion to the city of Exeter for some free time to explore the city. Perhaps visits its Cathedral Visit to the popular fishing port of Brixham ands then on to Torquay to enjoy some free time

Departing: Saturday 27th October 2012 Your Theatre Break Includes: 1 nights ensuite accommodation at the 4 star Hilton London Metropole - only 15 minutes walk from Oxford Street. Bed & Breakfast Theatre ticket to your chosen show Coach travel to and from your hotel to the theatre

Departing: Monday 5th November 2012 Your Holiday Includes: 4 nights ensuite accommodation at the popular Rosemundy House Hotel. Dinner, Bed & Breakfast Hotel festive entertainment Half day visit to Truro– capital of Cornwall Scenic tour to Penzance—England's most westerly point for a lunch stop before continuing to the town of St Ives. Excursion to Falmouth where you can visit it's museum, wander its narrow streets or browse the shops

MORECAMBE- MISTLETOE & WINE

5 Days £220.00 pp

Departing: Monday 10th December 2012 Your Holiday Includes: 4 nights ensuite accommodation at the Auckland Hotel situated on the seafront promenade. Dinner, Bed & Breakfast Hotel festive entertainment Scenic drive to Keswick in the Lake District Visit to Carnforth station—famous for its connections with the film “Brief Encounter".

After we continue on to the county town of Lancaster for some free time to explore Visit to the market town of Skipton

MONSCHAU & CHRISTMAS MARKETS

CHRISTMAS IN LLANDUDNO

Departing: Thursday 13th December2012 Your Holiday Includes: 4 nights ensuite accommodation at the three star Carat Hotel in Monschau - an historical old town set in the impressive scenery of the Venn region Dinner, Bed & Continental Breakfast A day of leisure in Monschau to explore Visit to the old spa town of Aachan, where you can visit the Christmas market set around the Cathedral and town hall Excursion to Valkenburg, over the border in Holland. Here we find the biggest and oldest underground Christmas market in Europe. You can also visit the shops and cafe's in the town itself

Departing: Sunday 23rd December 2012 Your Holiday Includes: 4 nights ensuite accommodation at the Esplanade Hotel in Llandudno situated on the promenade overlooking the sea Dinner, Bed & Breakfast Hotel Festive entertainment throughout our stay A drive along the coast for a short visit to the Isle of Anglesey Short excursion to Betws-y-coed

5 Days £479.00 pp

Prices are based on two people sharing a room.

Please contact us for our complete coach holiday brochure or for more details of any of the holidays shown.

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www.50plusmagazine.co.uk

Graham Smith has a Twitter Life is just a tweet!

Do you tweet? Twitter seems to have become all the rage but don’t some people make themselves look twits by what they say?

Even David Cameron is tweeting, and for once it’s not about Nick Clegg. As I write he’s just popped up to announce that Prime Minister’s Question Time is about to start. A sure cue for everyone to switch off their computers and phones and hide in a darkened corner before this adult version of Children’s Playtime starts.

Does the Queen tweet? Well not officially but someone assuming her name, @Queen_UK, and claiming to be Elizabeth Windsor, gives me many a chuckle with irreverent comments and quips at various member of the Royal Family and the government.

Waiting for a Princess!

Joining a small crowd waiting to see the Princess Royal in Keighley I had to laugh at some of the comments as time ticked by and she did not emerge from the Civic Centre she was opening.

“I suppose she’s had her dinner, I’m on the wrong side of mine,” growled one elderly lady.

“Who does she think she is being so late, royalty?”, from one man.

I was curious to see this much travelled, often criticised member of the Royal Family whose dog has a penchant for eating geese and who can be a bit nippy behind a steering wheel.

Her catchphrase is “gin o’clock” and he or she has an astonishing 646,553 followers and counting. The latest tweet,“ Camilla on the phone, worried that “the interweb has gone”. The DoE (Prince Philip) thinks she’s trying to find Ceefax”. Then there was this little gem, “Alvin and the Chipmunks (Mr Cameron and Co) are back from their Burma holiday. The poor Burmese still have no idea who they are”.

Or “Bungle (Boris Johnson) on the phone. Not really sure what he’s saying, partly due to one having hung up”. She creases me!

The “gin o’clock” bit comes in when our supposed monarch announces at 5pm each day that it’s home time and “gin o’clock”. And one of my favourites, “Just been out with the dogs. The DoE is trying to dry Linnet the corgi off with a hairdryer”.

To me this is great humour and I am an avid follower. Others make me laugh for other reasons. They tweet before they’re out of bed and I even know the flavour of one southern lady’s toothpaste thanks to her being retweeted by one of my followers.

Then there are the dodgy ones. I sat at my machine one morning and discovered I was being followed by three brothels in San Diego and a dispensing chemist for some very suspect stuff in India, duly deleted. Be very careful if you click any links to these kind of people or you will find your computer or mobile phone infected with something which spreads like mumps and ruins any social standing you ever had.

Last word with the Queen after the budget, “Text from Nick Clegg: “I didn’t agree with the tax on fruit machines. People shouldn’t pay tax on their apples and bananas”.

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Security was tight for the only royal to have been close to being kidnapped some years ago. On the centre door were two local security people who collectively must have weighed 50 stone but when Anne’s exit was signalled they were dwarfed by her own security men, and women, one of whom could have been seven feet tall with a tell-tale bulge under his immaculately tailored suit jacket.

Then there she was, initially wearing that so serious look she is known for but she kindly broke into a half grin and her eyes lit up as a lady beside me made a light hearted comment about how long she had been inside before leaping nimbly into the back of a Range Rover.

She certainly has the “royal” look and for a woman slightly older than me, in her early 60s, she is still youthful.

“I’ve immensely enjoyed my trip to Yorkshire,” she said to us all.

We enjoyed having you Ma’am, but next time could you save us a sandwich if we have to wait so long?

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50 Plus Travel

sponsored by

MALTA Travel to a touch of England in the Med

By Peter Lynch Journalist, rail and wildlife specialist, contributor to Great Train Journeys of the World and Silver Travel Advisor

Malta is a fabulous Mediterranean destination especially if you dislike the hassle of foreign languages.

Everyone speaks good to perfect English yet Malta retains all the charm of the Mediterranean.

bureaucrats have forced the withdrawal of the famous orange vintage Leyland and Bedford buses.

The universality of English is down to Malta being part of the British Empire from 1814 until 1964 but strangely it was not one of the Empires conquests. In the Napoleonic era Malta was between a rock and a hard place - at risk of being invaded by the French and the Russians. It opted for the protection of the British Empire and subsequently played a crucial role in defeating Rommel’s Afrika Korps in North Africa during WWII.

The Upper Barrakka Gardens provide a must-see harbour and city view and the Grand Master’s palace and armoury is a must. Don’t be put off by the plain exterior of St John cathedral; it belies a fabulous Baroque interior and a famous painting by Caravaggio.

It’s a tiny place, significantly smaller than the Isle of Wight, with a familiar yet foreign ambience. They have the highest density of catholic priests outside the Vatican City, produce and explode more fireworks per head than anywhere else on earth and eat an unbelievable number of rabbits.

Of course, they drive on the left and something I love is how it’s kept some of the classic images from my childhood – old red telephone boxes, red post boxes and blue lights outside police stations. Sadly EU

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The World Heritage listed capital of Valletta is Europe’s first planned city, laid out in a grid system of streets and alleyways. The Knights of St John built it on a peninsula as a defence against the Turks during the sixteenth century.

Valletta’s real charm is its ambience, so it’s important to sit in an outdoor cafe and soak up the palpable sense of history rather than just rushing around the sites –the perfect excuse for loafing.

But all this is just recent history; Malta’s prehistoric megalithic temples are older than Stonehenge or the Pyramids. It’s a dream destination for historians and reads like a textbook of western civilisation, probably with more human history packed into its122 sq miles than anywhere else on earth.

There are 23 prehistoric sites dating back 6,000 years including the impressive megalithic temples of Taraxien and Hagar Qim but the subterranean

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Valletta’s real charm is its ambience, so it’s important to sit in an outdoor cafe and soak up the palpable sense of history... on Malta en-route to Rome and his indelible legacy of Christianity is still evident in the islands 360 churches.

The marks of Norman and Arab conflicts are everywhere on the island, culminating with the spectacular city of Valletta built by the Knights of St John in 1566. Malta’s history rolls on involving the Spanish Empire; Napoleon predictably turned up and of course the British.

But its not history that makes Malta one of the UK’s favourite holiday destinations - it’s the glorious weather, the friendly people, the Mediterranean lifestyle and the convenience of English speakers.

When Malta’s history, shopping and nightlife pall the 20-minute ferry across to Gozo is like moving to another country. It is Malta’s exclusive hideaway island with a pastoral ambience compared to Malta’s brasher tourist developments. Everything runs at a slower pace on Gozo.

hypogeum of Hal Saflieni is perhaps the most breathtaking. It is the only known underground prehistoric temple.

Not much is known about these ancient temple builders or their mysterious parallel ‘cart tracts’ gouged into the limestone. They’ve been likened to a complex railway junction (Clapham Junction) because they criss-cross the landscape and some even disappear off the edge of the cliff - creating an endless source of myths and legends.

Homer’s Odyssey tells of Ulysses being shipwrecked on the nearby island of Gozo where Calypso captivated him on his journey back from Troy to Ithaca in Greece.

Then there are the Phoenicians from the Biblical cities of Tyre and Sidon who traded and settled Malta until ousted by the Roman’s. St Paul was also shipwrecked

The islands capital of Rabat was renamed Victoria in 1897 to commemorate the Queen’s Diamond jubilee but its still the beautiful quant town of alleyways, cafes and little shops it always was. The imposing walled citadel sheltered people from the marauding corsairs who plagued island communities throughout the Mediterranean.

Gozo has its share of prehistoric monuments such as the Ggantija temple - supposedly built by giantesses and more mysterious ‘cart ruts’.

The impressive Romanesque Basilica of Ta Pinu dominates the Gozitan skyline and has become a local shrine with a Lourdes-like status for miracle cures.

Inside the walls are adorned with artificial limbs and other relics left by grateful pilgrims.

So don’t bother with a history book in Malta, just stroll around and let it all seep in, and between momentous historical events you’ll be able to find a perfect pasta and a decent pint of beer.

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

www.50plusmagazine.co.uk

11

O UT

&

ABOUT

BEAVIS

Caravan Show 2012 Friday 05 October 2012 Three Counties Showground

Italian Food Market, Tewkesbury 18 November Spring Gardens Car Park, Oldbury Road, Tewkesbury, GL20 5AB (near Cascades swimming pool and the Roses Theatre) The real Italian food market returns to Tewkesbury.

9am - 4pm. FREE

HAY WALKING & HAY WALKING FESTIVAL 11th - 15th October 2012 Hay Walking Festival Hub The Swan at Hay Hotel, Church Street, Hay-on-Wye HR3 5DQ. The Swan at Hay hotel is kindly offering to act as the Festival Hub, providing tea, coffee and cake at a modest price and somewhere to meet up before and after walks and events. It will be the place to check out late availability on walks, meet off duty walk leaders, catch up with friends old and new and hang up your boots (both literally and metaphorically) between walks.

The Hay Walking Festival hub provide a meeting place in Hay-on-Way for all walkers during the festival. It is your opportunity to study the local maps and investigate more about Hay and the local area. You can discover how Hay is set to become a centre for walking in the Brecon Beacons National Park and borders area. It is the crossing point of two major long distance paths, Offa’s Dyke National Path and the Wye Valley Walk, so is an ideal location and base for walking in the area.

Dick Whittington at the Everyman Theatre 30 November - 13 January 2013 The Everyman Theatre, Regent Street, Cheltenham, GL50 1HQ Time: 10am, 2pm & 7pm (please check dates) Tickets: from £11 With a streetwise cat as his companion, Dick defeats the evil Queen Rat, finds his fortune, marries Alice and becomes Lord Mayor!

Join the cast of familiar faces - and this year the Everyman is delighted to welcome Tweedy the Clown - fresh from Giffords Circus - for a festiva feast of laughs, thrills and spills, underwater kingdoms and far away lands.

Book your seats now - Dick Whittington is sure to be the cat’s whiskers!

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OLIDAY SERVICE H E T PLE M CO

THIS AUTUMN & WINTER ENJOY UK COACH HOLIDAYS & DAY EXCURSIONS!

Choose your seat & travel in our own ‘gold’ coaches.

14 Oct...... 4 days.......HISTORIC KENT.......................£280 s/s £57 4* Mercure Maidstone Hotel for 3 Nights Half Board 26 Oct...... 3 days ......BEST OF BRITISH.....................£198 s/s £40 2* Leicester Marriott Hotel for 2 Nights Half Board 02 Nov..... 2 days ......OLYMPIC LONDON...................£134 s/s £23 4* Guoman Tower Hotel London for 1 Night Bed & Breakfast 30 Nov..... 4 days ......FESTIVE YORKSHIRE & ST NICHOLAS FAYR ......................................................................£265 s/s £60 3* Best Western Cedar Court Hotel Harrogate Hotel for 3 Nights Half Board 23 Dec..... 5 days.......A DORSET CHRISTMAS..............£465 s/s £60 4* The Suncliff Hotel Bournemouth for 4 Nights Full Board

Tours which are full or nearly full: 5 days WARNER BEMBRIDGE ISLE OF WIGHT 1st October 5 days TURKEY & TINSEL WARNERS LITTLECOTE 19th November 4 days THURSFORD & BLENHEIM PALACE 25th November

EXCURSIONS & SHOWS: Contact us for details of prices and the limited pick-up points.

Wed 12th Sept Wed 19th Sept Tue 25th Sept Fri 28th Sept Tue 2nd Oct Tue 9th Oct Sun 14th Oct Thu 18th Oct Wed 24th Oct Sun 28th Oct Sat 3rd Nov Thu 8th Nov

Sun 11th Nov Sun 11th Nov Thu 15th Nov Fri 16th Nov Thu 22nd Nov Sun 25th Nov Thu 6th Dec Sat 8th Dec Fri 14th Dec Wed 19th Dec

Cheltenham Shopper Festival Park Outlet Ebbw Vale Buscot Park & Faringdon Collection Highgrove Gardens Wye Valley & Labels Outlet Cabot Circus Shopper Bristol Knitting & Stitching Show London Swindon Outlet Shopper Bristol & SS Great Britain Lion King Bristol Hippodrome 2.30pm perf.

Disney on Ice Birmingham Cribbs Causeway Shopper Crafts Christmas/Hobbycrafts NEC Cake International NEC RAF in Concert Bristol Swindon Outlet Shopper Cheltenham Shopper Birmingham Tattoo 2pm perf.

Bath Christmas Fayre Caerphilly Christmas Market Hereford Victorian Christmas Market Swindon Outlet Shopper

WE LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM YOU!

Call 01453 882297 Fax: 01453 731019. Email: admin@beavisholidays.co.uk

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Bussage Garage, Bussage, Stroud GL6 8BA

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Drive the effortless Jazz Call or visit our dealership today.

Startin Honda

AGE CONCERN INSURANCE BACKGROUND.pdf 1 30/08/2012 11:43

Bromyard Road, Worcester WR2 5YJ. Call 01905 469076 or visit www.startin-honda.co.uk Fuel consumption figures for the Jazz range in mpg (l/100km): Urban 40.9 – 61.4 (6.9 – 4.6), Extra Urban 57.7 – 64.2 (4.9 – 4.4), Combined 50.4 – 62.8 (5.6 – 4.5). CO2 emissions: 129 – 104 g/km.

Model shown: Jazz 1.4 i-VTEC ES Manual in Alabaster Silver Metallic at £14,200 including metallic paint. All figures are correct at time of publication but may be subject to change.

AGE CONCERN INSURANCE BACKGROUND.pdf 1 30/08/2012 11:43

Tailor-made for the over 50s

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13

THE

HAIRY BIKERS

take a scientific approach to food

Dave Myers and Simon King alias The Hairy Bikers were in the middle of a regime of diet and exercise when we chatted.

Yes, sorry, I know you’ll probably have to read that sentence again. Those two well-covered foodies? Diet?

Exercise?

Fear not. It’s all in the cause of a new cookery book about dieting and Dave and Simon had thrown themselves into both food and exercise regimes with the kind of enthusiasm they normally reserve for a piece of garlic-dripping Italian foccaccia bread or a couple of their favourite beers.

“Yes, I know,” explains Simon, the blonde Geordie member of the famous chef duo. “It doesn’t sound like us, but obesity is a real problem in this country at the moment, hen, and we’re just trying to help.”

As a result, Simon, aged 45, had been hitting the gym regularly – “and it’s working. I’m not sure how much weight I’ve lost because I’ve got some dodgy scales that say 20 stone 5lb one minute and 14 stone 8lb the next, but I know I can get into some jeans I couldn’t before. Mind you, I’m still a fat lad!” he roars familiarly.

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Dave, at 55, sounds like he’s taken a more scientific approach to the subject. He’s lost a stone and a half, has taken up boxing but still manages to sound incredulous when he says :”Do y’know, I’m actually enjoying the sessions.”

You might be forgiven for not putting “weight-loss” and “The Hairy Bikers” in the same sentence because the likeable lads have spent the past eight years showing us what fun food can be – both making it and eating it.

They’ve travelled around the UK and across the globe gathering culinary experiences and footage for their TV series, astride some seriously large motorbikes.

Their trademark has been making new friends via food, cooking in people’s homes and generally acting as brilliant ambassadors for the best dishes that people can make for themselves.

“The new cookery book will still be about food, though,” states Dave, the darker, bespectacled one.

“It’s just that we’ll be showing good food that you can easily make with fewer calories in it so it won’t put too much weight on.”

The two are speaking ahead of their new country-wide tour that starts in September and takes in 41 venues over the next three months, from Barrow in Furness to Bolton and Lowestoft to Liverpool. It’s their first live tour since their last sell-out tour two years ago, and it sounds like their usual eclectic mix of fun, socialising and, er, some cooking.

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INTERVIEW “It’s definitely not going to be two blokes on a sofa talking about food,” laughs Dave. “There’s loads going on. We’re having strip tombola and an escapologist – oh, and we’ll be doing the tango. We’ll also have a couple of people from the audience having a meal with wine and beer on the stage with us. We love that, and so do they!”

They’ve also sold millions of cookery books linked to the series, and now earned themselves a BAFTA nomination for their Meals on Wheels programmes.

These highlighted the vital visiting service to the elderly, and they also tried – successfully - to put the emphasis back on regular freshly-cooked meals for them.

In fact, Dave and Simon love most things about their lives currently, although it wasn’t always as easy or straightforward. Both grew up with ailing parents: Dave’s mum had Multiple Sclerosis and Simon’s Dad was on kidney dialysis.

They’re both delighted about the nomination and, Simon insists, they hope the subject will continue to catch the public imagination because it’s an important one. “In the series, it wasn’t Dave and I who were the stars of the show but all these marvellous older people,” he insists.

For Dave, who was born when his father was 55, his earliest memory of cooking is when he was around eight helping his mum bake bread, simple fruit scones and a Victoria sponge.

As an older dad, his father was able to spend plenty of time with Dave, although from around the age of 13 it was Dave who did the bulk of the cooking at home. He later went to art school “but I was a better cook than an artist,” he recalls.

It was when he became a make-up artist specialising in prosthetics and was working on the set of a Catherine Cookson TV drama that he met Simon, then a first assistant director and locations’ manager. The two shared a love of bikes and food, began cooking together – and a legend was born.

Simon’s first foodie memory is of making sandwiches, strangely enough “with the crusts taken off and cut into little triangles”, when he was about six and helping in the kitchen. “But most of the time I was just off out scrambling about, no time to cook!” he says, with that gentle rumbling roar of laughter bubbling up.

Their first programmes for the BBC eight years ago were more travelogue than cookery show, but the emphasis gradually changed to the enjoyable format that has attracted so many viewers today.

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“They’ve got the most wonderful cookery knowledge themselves. It’s so important for older people to keep on cooking good food like they always did, and share their skills with their grandchildren to keep these going and become a real legacy.”

The two Northerners and their easygoing style has already been credited with tickling taste-buds at home and abroad, whether that’s sampling breads in Poland or guzzling nougat in the French town of Montelimar.

But it’s plain they are genuinely passionate about all that’s best in food and sharing the enthusiasm to create it. Although the new cookery book has a dietary theme, food enjoyment as always comes first. “We’ll be doing dishes like a really tasty cassoulet and a great Masala Spatchcock Chicken,” states Dave.

As for the problematic weight-loss, they’re both confident they can lead this new campaign trimly from the front. “Well,” adds Simon, “If God is good and he keeps me off the brown ale!”

For details of tour dates and venues go to www.hairybikers.com 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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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.

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

THE NATION’S FAVOURITE FRENCH CHEF Jean-Christophe Novelli is a 5 out of 5 AA Rosette and Michelin award winning chef and he has been dubbed the “the nation’s favourite French chef ”.

Exclusively for Port Salut, Jean-Christophe has created two French themed recipes and a series of tips for creating the perfect cheeseboard.

“Port Salut is a classic French cheese which I have always enjoyed, so I was delighted to be asked to work with the brand. For the recipes I have used Port Salut to give traditional French dishes a new twist and I hope my cheeseboard tips will give your cheese course a whole new lease of life.”

CHAR GRILLED CHICKEN, LEEK, PORT SALUT AND BUTTON MUSHROOM FRICASSEE, WHOLE MEAL CROUTON INGREDIENTS 4 x skinned and boneless chicken supreme’s (cut into thin strips) 2 leeks, trimmed, washed and cut into thin slices 2 x spring onions (trimmed and chopped into thin roundels) 1 clove of garlic (peeled and crushed) 100g chestnut or button mushrooms (sliced) 100g grated Port Salut 50g breadcrumbs 50g grated Port Salut 75ml double cream 25g butter 1 bunch of chives (chopped) 4 slices of wholemeal bread (cut into fingers) 25ml olive oil 1/2 tsp dried herbs 1/2 glass white wine

METHOD 1. Heat a char grill skillet until very hot, brush the chicken strips with some of the oil and season with salt and pepper and your favourite spice, paprika is good as is cumin or garam marsala.

2. Quickly char grill the chicken pieces until well coloured and cooked through. Remove from the skillet and keep warm.

3. In a large saucepan melt the butter over a low heat.

4. Add the leek and spring onion and sweat until tender.

5. Add the garlic and the mushrooms and continue to cook until the mushrooms are tender and softened.

6. Add the white wine and the cream and allow to boil 7. Add the 100g of Port Salut and continue to simmer until the cheese is melted and the sauce is thick. Add the chives.

8. Add the strips of chicken and stir in to coat with the sauce.

9. Place in an oven proof serving dish.

10. In a small mixing bowl combine the 50g of Port Salut with the breadcrumbs and scatter this over the top.

11. Bake in a pre heated oven until the crumbs are crisp and golden and the cheese has melted.

FOR THE WHOLEMEAL CROUTONS METHOD 1. Place the bread fingers on a baking tray.

2. Brush with olive oil & dried herbs and season with cracked pepper 3. Bake in a hot oven until crisp and golden brown.

Serve on a side plate with the chicken and leek fricassee.

Jean-Christophe Novelli has produced these tips exclusively for Port Salut. Visit www.portsalut.co.uk for more info.

CRISPY GRANARY BRUSCHETTA, POACHED EGG, SPINACH AND A PORT SALUT GLAZE. INGREDIENTS 4 eggs (free range, large) 2-3 tablespoons of white wine vinegar 4 thick slices of ciabattas bread 25ml olive oil 1/2 tsp dried herbs 400g washed baby spinach leaves 100ml double cream 4 egg yolks 100g Port Salut (grated) 50g butter (optional) Sprinkle of ground nutmeg

METHOD 1. Place the slices of ciabattas on a baking sheet and brush with olive oil and season with dried herbs, salt and pepper.

2. Place in a hot oven and bake until crisp and golden brown.

3. Place on four plates or a serving dish.

4. In a large sauce pan heat plenty of water to boiling point.

5. Add a couple of tablespoons of white wine vinegar and season to taste with salt.

6. Once boiling stir with a whisk to start a circular motion in the water and crack in the eggs one at a time, bring to the boil and immediately turn down to a simmer. Cook for 3-4 minutes if a soft egg is required, a little longer for a firmer egg and 5-7 minutes for a hard poached egg.

7. Keep the eggs warm in the water until needed.

8. In a sauce pan bring the cheese to the boil, reduce for a few minutes to thicken. Remove from the heat.

9. Stir in the Port Salut and the eggs, allow the cheese to melt 10. In a frying pan add half the butter if used and add the spinach cover with a tight fitting lid and bring to the boil allow the water from the spinach to cook the leaves and when soft and wilted strain to remove any excess water remaining.

11. Season with salt and pepper and spoon an equal amount onto each ciabatta bruschetta.

12. Top with an egg and mask with the cheese and cream mix.

13. Place under a hot grill until bubbling and golden brown.

14. Garnish with some snipped chives and serve.

CHEESEBOARD THEATRE TIPS 1. Add some flavoured texture to your cheeseboard by dropping plain bread in favour of a fruit & nut bread such as apricot & walnut or prune & hazelnut and serve it slightly stale, cut into thin wafer slices 2. Fruit and cheese are a classic combination but give your grapes some extra character by serving them frozen – simply wash a bunch of grapes and shake off any excess water, place on a plate and pop in the freezer, serve directly once frozen onto the cheeseboard giving a more interesting texture with extra bite 3. Add a simple twist on the traditional by pairing your cheese with fruit that has a sharp acidity such as: cherries, raspberries, gooseberries, redcurrants, nectarines and tangy plums – these work well frozen too 4. Turn your cheeseboard into a visual feast by serving long celery stems in a vase of ice water. Team with a small bowl of rock salt too for dipping 5. Radishes are a tasty substitute to celery providing a peppery bite, leave a little stem on each on to hold on to and these can also be dipped in the rock salt 6. A fashionable alternative to the classic chutney is quince jelly – its sweet flavour will add a different dimension to your cheeseboard 7. Spice up your cheeseboard with a handful of sliced chillies or jalapenos, to give a flavoursome punch.

This works particularly well with hard cheeses – these will complement the quince jelly too 8. Tantalise tastebuds with a rollercoaster ride of textures and flavours by adding olives and nuts to your cheeseboard 9. For an unexpected flavour, add some ground coffee beans to your board. A little sprinkle will give your cheeseboard a delicious edge 10. Use dried vine leaves, herb sprigs and edible flowers to add more drama, aroma and taste to your cheeseboard

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50 Plus Health

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CATARACT Know the warning signs

Cataract is one of the most common causes of sight loss in the UK, but it needn’t be. Leading sight loss charity RNIB (Royal National Institute of Blind People) warns that 50 per cent of sight loss could be avoided and that people should be more aware of what to look out for. A cataract is a clouding of the part of the eye called the lens.

It causes vision to become blurred because the cataract is like frosted glass, interfering with a person’s sight.

The lens is a clear tissue found behind the iris, the coloured part of the eye.

The lens helps to focus light on the back of the eye – the retina – forming an image.

What to look out for: If you experience any of the following symptoms make an appointment for an eye examination:Blurry Sight: This is very common.

You may notice that your sight has become blurred or misty, or that your glasses seem dirty or appear scratched.

Dazzled By Light: You may be dazzled by lights, such as a car headlamps, and sunlight.

Change of Colour Vision: Your colours may become washed out or faded.

If your doctor or optician has told you that you have a cataract, don’t be alarmed. Cataracts are very common with one in three people over 65 being diagnosed in the UK. Many people over 60 have some cataract and the vast majority can be treated successfully. Cataract surgery, where the cloudy lens is removed during

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an operation, is one of the most successful eye operations.

If you or someone you know has a sight problem, RNIB can help. Call the RNIB Helpline on 0303 123 9999 or visit www.rnib.org.uk.

Optimax is one of the UK’s leading Laser Eye Surgery specialists. Founded in 1991, it has carried out more than 350, 000 treatments. We offer a range of treatments suitable for those over 40, which can restore natural vision and give you freedom from glasses.

These include Intra - Ocular Lens procedures. These Intra-Ocular Lenses replace the natural lens, which may eliminate the need for glasses and restore natural vision at the same time.

What all Optimax treatments have in common is helping people to see the world more clearly.

Choose Optimax for unbeatable results, affordable prices and outstanding patient care.

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We don’t need glasses at all now and our only regret is that we should have had this treatment years ago.

Enjoy life without glasses, contacts or cataracts

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Book your FREE consultation now, call 08705 14 33 14 or visit optimax.co.uk/iol 50+_quarterad_0712.indd 1

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IS IT TIME TO DOWNSIZE?

Interior Designer Chrissy Halton

THE children have all left home for lives of their own or you suddenly realise one day that the house you’re in is simply too big for your needs. Whatever the reason, it’s time to DOWNSIZE!

The National Association of Estate Agents says that downsizing offers a chance to have “a thorough springclean and focus on exactly what you want in your new home, and what you don’t.”

Once, downsizing carried a bit of a stigma, almost as if you couldn’t afford the home you had so you had to go for something less. But, in today’s cost-conscious, energyefficient and finance-orientated world, many more people are downsizing for all the right reasons.

“You may have furniture which isn’t suitable for your new home, or that could do with replacing. So think ahead and make sure you have taken proper measurements of your new property so you don’t struggle on moving day with items that you probably shouldn’t have brought with you.”

Along with finding a smaller property to live in, however, comes some unusual dilemmas – along with the usual dilemmas of how to furnish the new home and what is surplus to requirements.

For many of us, the pull of our old home is all about the memories that we’ve shared as a family within those bricks and mortar. Our children may have grown up here, and every room can be associated with personal milestones or events that matter to our own family history.

Interior designer Chrissy Halton from Innerspace offers some simple advice: “When downsizing, don’t try and replicate the house you had – go for a new look.

“And only take with you items that really mean something to you. Off-white walls look great with more antique furniture items, for example. Less is more!”

The advantages of moving to a smaller property can be that your bills are likely to be smaller and there will be less housework needed. The first big minus, though, is that you’ve probably got far too many possessions to fit into your new home.

“You can’t take everything with you,” says Chrissy, “so start by having a really good de-clutter so that you can really see what you have that you love. That way you can more easily make the decision about what to take – and you don’t have to pay the removal company too much!”

Ask your relatives and friends if they would like to have particular items that you don’t want to take with you.

There’s a growing trend for mixing old and new furniture currently so they may be glad to be offered a piece they’ve coveted or that may fit in their home. Or look to sell items on ebay and start afresh in your new home with some new furniture.

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“If you’re worried about losing all the history behind your old home, think about using photos to show your life,” adds Chrissy. “It’s easy to make them into beautiful collages, and that way you can ‘take’ the items with you without having the real thing.”

When it actually comes to chucking out much-loved – and possibly worn – furniture or other items, contact a local charity which might be glad of household goods and especially furniture in good condition. The national homeless charity Emmaus, for example, may have a local collection service for unwanted furniture, or another charitable organisation may be willing to pick up your item to sell for funds or to give it a good home with someone else who really needs it.

It’s important to plan ahead with your new space. “Think about how you’re going to use the space you are moving to,” says Chrissy. “What is the purpose of each room? How many people will you need to fit in to sit? Will you really need a dining room specifically?”

“Situations change and what you once needed you may no longer require. If you actually look at how much time you spend in each room of your current home now, you may be very surprised at how little space you actually use on a

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regular basis. Take this – and what items you use – as a gauge for what you need to take with you.”

For example, she points out, if your new bathroom is smaller than you’ve been used to, is it worth removing the bath and having a larger shower?

This may not only make more sense for your daily living but can help with any current or future mobility issues.

Whatever style of décor you choose for your new home, it’s worth trying to avoid clutter and opt for today’s cleaner lines and minimalist approach – if only to cut down on housework!

Take a look at current interior styles and how these can be easily achieved.

Open up a dark room or small bathroom with a roof window or skylight, for example.

Take advantage of the wealth of modern flooring including natural woods that can make a room warm and homely in Winter and cool and calming in Summer. You might like to team this type of flooring with a handsome rug in a shade or pattern that tones with your room’s chosen colour scheme.

LOVELY LOUNGE – Relaxing toning, muted shades, a lack of clutter and plenty of light can be the hallmark of your new lounge when you downsize.

Plain walls matched with attractive fabrics in curtains or blinds give a room a modern look and allow smart furniture and impressive pictures or photographs to really come into their own.

If the downsizing also applies to your pocket, then you don’t have to spend a fortune on your new place. In fact, there’s often an enjoyable challenge in keeping within a tight budget yet coming up with something fresh, new and comfortable even if the items are cut-price or second-hand. Again, ebay can be a boon here.

The key to successfully moving at this crucial stage is to take a fresh look at your lifestyle, and decide to make a new start. That way you can downsize the costs – but upsize your enjoyment of your new home!

BEDROOM BEAUTY – Go for pretty fabrics in blinds and warm shades that can be picked up in bedding to create this attractive smaller bedroom.

For more on Innerspace FISHERinformation FUTURE HEAT CHELTENHAM.pdf 1 13/09/2012 09:47 Interior Design go to www.innerspaceinteriordesign.co.uk

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The London Olympics this year has made many of us think about taking up a new sporting activity or improving our fitness and age should certainly provide no barrier.

A new interest introduces us to new people, and offers us the chance to feel well both physically and mentally. Physiotherapist Karen Willcock points out that, while we can’t turn back the clock, we can slow down or even reverse the symptoms of ageing with the help of exercise.

“The risks of back pain, heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, depression, the possibility of having a fall, dementia and some cancers can all be lessened by regular exercising no matter what age we start,” she explained.

Strength, balance, stretching and endurance exercises are all recommended and found in a variety of sports and activities - “but always talk to your doctor first, warm up beforehand, don’t just be a ‘weekend warrior’ – and listen to your body,” added Karen.

But what to take up? While being over 50 may be a little late to suddenly excel in rigorously physical sports like gymnastics, there are still many activities that offer an enjoyable challenge - and fun.

If walking appeals to you, this is one of the easiest activities to enjoy. You just need a good, strong pair of

shoes or walking boots, waterproofs and light, breathable clothing.

You can start with a shorter walk and build up or just find your favourite distance. Elizabeth Oakes, aged 59, began walking as a past-time 14 years ago because she was involved in organising treks and other sporting events for charity Children Today.

“I started taking regular walks of two and a half miles around the estate where I live because I could do that anytime, and then built up at the weekends,” she said.

These days, she will typically go out on a Saturday afternoon for a three-hour walk and has trekked in exotic spots like Borneo – all with her trusty walking boots that cost £130 when she first began.

“That’s one expense that’s been very worthwhile!” she added.

“Walking is great! You enjoy the fresh air, the surrounding countryside and feel loads better afterwards.”

There are often local walking groups, councils may organise walks or go the website of the Ramblers Association www.ramblers.org.uk or the British Walking Federation www.bwf-ivv.org.uk One sport anyone can try at a local sports centre quite cheaply is badminton. It’s a fast sport that involves hitting a shuttlecock across a net and trying to prevent your opponent from getting it back, improving hand-eye co-ordination and movement.

Racquets start at around £8 for a basic type and go up to £150 for top-of-the-range carbon fibre models. You need a tube of shuttlecocks, light trainers suitable for indoor wear and t-shirt and tracksuit bottoms or shorts.

There are probably badminton clubs in your area; find out more from Badminton England at www. badmintonengland.co.uk All ages love the social inter-action and exercise available in tennis either at a local club, sports centre or courts in the park. Like badminton, you need a racquet, starting from £15 up to £150, outdoor trainers or sports shoes and light clothing.

Find out about local clubs and facilities from the Lawn Tennis Association at www.lta.org.uk Like tennis and badminton, table tennis is a sport for all levels of fitness and also for those with disabilities or just restricted movement. Clubs and sports centres often have table tennis tables set up and informal games are great fun.

Light clothing and indoor trainers are ideal and bats cost from around £3 to £100. Play informally with friends or grandchildren, or find out about clubs in your area from the English Table Tennis Association at www.elta.co.uk A fast-growing sport that people who’ve enjoyed squash may really like is racketball. It’s played on a squash court with similar rules but with a bigger ball, which means

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you don’t have to warm it up before play, and a shorter racket - all of which makes the game easier than squash.

Doug Tobutt, a 62 year-old sports retailer who was a keen squash player before he gave it up for running, has recently taken up the sport. He reports that it’s become very popular especially in Nottingham and parts of Yorkshire. “It’s great fun,” he said, “and several players who had to give up squash through injuries are making their comeback at racketball – me included!”

For more details go to the British Squash and Racketball Association at www.uk-racketball.com Many older people currently play bowls, whether crown green or flat depending on where you live around the country. It’s a sociable, fresh air activity that demands good hand-eye co-ordination and discerning judgement and can often be seen on greens around our parks and at private bowling clubs during the warmer months.

Comfortable clothing is a must for this. The bowls are expensive to buy – from around £53 to £100 – but you can pick up second-hand bowls on ebay and elsewhere at a fraction of that price. Find out about local facilities on crown green bowling from the British Crown Green Bowling Associatin at www.bowls.org or flat bowling at Bowl England’s website www.bowlsengland.com

Again, this is a sport for all ages and all levels of fitness including people in wheelchairs, and there are clubs all over the country many of which have their own bows for beginners to try. Contact Archery GB via www.archerygb. org Older people find yoga and Pilates especially beneficial and enjoyable. Explained teacher Linda Obertelli-Roden: “As we get older our flexibility reduces, muscles may shorten and tighten. Yoga can help get people flexible again.”

Yoga is a spiritual, mental and physical discipline which goes back thousands of years. “It concentrates on posture and breathing and is very helpful for stiff joints as well as being a great de-stresser”, added Linda. “You can join a class or buy a DVD and practise at home.”

Pilates is also about mind and body working together. Its movements help create a strong core, abdominals and spine – “which is also very useful as we get older,” said Linda.

Light loose clothing is best, and you can buy a mat from supermarkets or stores from around £5. Classes for both are widespread but check for accredited teachers via governing bodies including the British Wheel of Yoga at www.bwy. org.uk and for Pilates, the Register of Exercise Professionals at www.reps.netxtra.net

You don’t have to have a costly bike or be Bradley Wiggins to enjoy cycling around country lanes, roads or dedicated tracks. While a new bike might cost a couple of hundred pounds it’s possible to pick one up second-hand on ebay or via newspaper advertising columns.

There are many cycling clubs around the country, local councils often arrange rides for beginners around areas and Sky Rides are organised community rides for all the family.

Find out about them at www.goskyride.com or about other cycling events from British Cycling at www.roadcyclinguk. com If there is one sport that’s bound up in England’s history it’s archery. It’s not necessary to live in Sherwod Forest to try it in 2012, though, as it’s a very accessible sport and the most popular type of archery is at a stationary circular target.

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Five reasons why You should protect yourself with a Will and a Lasting Power of Attorney Professional advisors continually recommend making a Will and yet less than a third of the UK population have them. The numbers are even lower for Lasting Powers of Attorney (LPAs).

The rules of intestacy only benefit certain close relatives.

Unmarried partners are not entitled to anything regardless of how long you have been together. You may also wish to leave something to a close friend or distant relative. This can only be guaranteed by making a Will.

A letter of setting out your wishes is not legally binding and can be ignored.

There are many, many reasons to have a Will and an LPA but here we set out five of the best.

A Will allows you to specify what happens to your estate even beyond the death of a surviving spouse so you can be assured that all your loved ones will benefit in the end.

1. Benefit those you intend to There are many misconceptions about how estates are divided if there is no Will in place. The belief that your spouse will inherit everything is one of them. When a person dies without making a Will, the estate is divided according to the rules of intestacy which makes different allowances according to the size of the estate but may not allocate the entire estate to the spouse if there are surviving children or other close relatives.

For example, if your estate is worth between £250,000 and £450,000 (a reality for many given the rise in house prices), your spouse will inherit all your personal property and belongings and the first £250,000 of the estate. He/she will also have a life interest in half of the remaining estate (with the other half divided between the children of the deceased). This means they cannot get rid of that part of the estate but can benefit from the interest on it. The consideration is whether this allocation will be sufficient for the surviving spouse to live on.

There is also the assumption that your spouse will inherit your estate and in turn pass that on to your children. But what if he/she remarries? Without the safeguards of a Will, your estate could ultimately end up in the hands of your spouse’s new husband or wife instead of going to your children.

Consider also if you die intestate (without a Will) and one of your children is bankrupt for example. Their inheritance will go directly to their ‘trustee in bankruptcy’ but a Will can put this money into a discretionary trust which will mean your child can still benefit from it.

Discretionary trusts can also be used to provide for disabled children so that the benefits they are entitled to remain unaffected.

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2. Reduce your inheritance tax liability Many people assume that inheritance tax is only a concern for the rich but with the threshold for liability starting at £325,000, homeowners of relatively modest means could find themselves losing out to the taxman unless a Will is in place.

Where there is more money, a business interest, foreign property or complex family arrangements the potential for inheritance tax saving is even greater but this can only be achieved with a professionally drafted Will.

Those who are charitably inclined will be pleased to know that in the 2011 budget the Government announced a reduction in the inheritance tax rate from 40% to 36% for taxpayers leaving 10% or more of their net estate to charity. In practice this means that you can increase your charitable gift from 4% to 10% of your estate without your beneficiaries losing a penny.

3. Reduce the impact of residential care home fees on your estate Let’s assume that your spouse has inherited the majority of your estate (with or without a Will). If they then have to go into a nursing home, the whole estate (their own assets and the assets which they inherited from you), will be assessed by the Local Authority with a view to meeting the cost of nursing home fees. An extended stay in a nursing home can consume almost everything, leaving only an exempt amount of somewhere between £14,250 and £23,250 for the ultimate beneficiaries.

By using a ‘life interest trust’ in your Will, you can protect an asset (or the entire estate) from nursing home fees.

A life interest is an arrangement by which someone

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is given the right to use an asset such as a house, or to receive the income from some investments for the rest of their lives, without ever becoming the owner of the underlying capital. It involves leaving the asset in question to at least two people, known as trustees, who hold it as the legal owners but not for their own benefit.

So you may want to consider leaving your share of a property to your spouse as a life interest with your children as ultimate beneficiaries. Your spouse could continue to live in the house for the rest of their life without it being included in their assets if they then have to ultimately move into a nursing home. On the death of your spouse, the share in the property would pass into the hands of your children intact.

4. Avoid disputes It may be unthinkable that your family will be divided by squabbles over inheritance after your death but it happens all too frequently, particularly where there has been a remarriage. And disputes are not only financially motivated. Arguments over items of sentimental value can be even more emotionally charged.

The only way to ensure that none of your loved ones are inadvertently upset by the way your estate gets divided is to make a clear and carefully considered Will.

assets right away so bills don’t mount up and become a financial burden on your family.

The attorneys appointed under a Health and Welfare LPA will be able to make decisions relating to your personal wellbeing including giving or refusing consent for medical treatment (including surgery) and where you live. This LPA also allows you to make a decision to refuse life saving treatment.

Peace of Mind...

Here we have outlined some of the reasons to make a Will and a Lasting Power of Attorney but what they offer essentially is peace of mind – contentment that your family are provided for and that your affairs are being dealt with according to your wishes and not statute.

If you would like more information on Wills and LPAs please contact:

Tristan Lewis 01432 361 044 t.lewis@gordonlutton.co.uk

5. Protect yourself with a Lasting Power of Attorney It is a popular misconception that your close relatives will automatically be able to manage your affairs if you lose capacity through accident or illness. Sadly this is not the case and it often comes as a nasty shock to family members at a time when they are already under great emotional strain.

Without a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA), someone must be appointed by the Court of Protection to look after your affairs and this process can be costly and time consuming. This is all very frustrating for your loved ones, especially if bank accounts and other assets are inaccessible and bills need to be paid.

With an LPA in place, protracted dealings with the Court of Protection can be avoided and you can be assured that your affairs are dealt with swiftly in the way you want and by whom you want.

There are two types of LPA, one which deals with your financial affairs and one which relates to your welfare.

You can have one without the other but for complete peace of mind it is recommended to have both.

A Property and Financial Affairs LPA allows you to appoint people (attorneys) to manage your finances and make decisions on how your money is spent. Once this LPA is registered, your attorneys can start using your

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Protect Your Loved Ones with a Will When you’re Gone Making a will is essential for everyone and ensures that you have control over who receives your assets and personal belongings when you die. Our experienced lawyers can guide you through the process including advice on the appointment of guardians, tax planning and reducing the impact of residential care fees on your estate.

As your local QualitySolicitors firm, our aim is to combine the best legal advice with exceptional customer service. This starts right from your very first contact with our same day response and our guarantee there are no hidden charges.

So you can feel comfortable you are getting expert help from local people.

Contact us: Tristan Lewis t.lewis@gordonlutton.co.uk qualitysolicitors.com/gordonlutton

01432 361044

QualitySolicitors Gordon Lutton

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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 28

• 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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Humber Woodland of Remembrance Humber Woodland of Remembrance offers green or environmentally sustainable burial, a sympathetic, natural alternative to cremation, or burial in a conventional cemetery.

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

It is situated in open countryside, four miles from Leominster, looking out towards Wales in the west, whilst its eastern edge is bounded by mature trees and the Humber Brook. Humber Woodland of Remembrance is available to anyone, regardless of their religious beliefs, and enables families to choose where their loved one will be buried. Funerals may be held at the graveside, at The Hop Kiln at Risbury Court, or at your own local parish church and may be led by family or friends, a civil celebrant, humanist or a priest, according to your own wishes.

Campion (Wye Valley Life) v2.pdf

Over 170 burials have taken place to date and many of the burial plots have been marked by the planting of a native tree or wild flowers. Despite last Summer having been the wettest since records began, the trees and flowers have continued to flourish and provide an oasis of beauty and peace, where families may contemplate the memory of their loved ones.

The wild flowers that have been planted on the graves have self-seeded, giving a natural appearance to the woodland and providing habitat for many butterflies and bees. In August we took part in the Big Butterfly Count and were thrilled to find more species than last year. We counted many Large White, Small White, Large Skipper, Meadow Brown, pretty orange Gatekeeper and Small Tortoishell, as well as a Red Admiral, all fluttering among the wild flowers.

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The last weekend of October will see our annual Bulb Planting Weekend, when families of those buried at Humber Woodland are invited to come to the Hop Kiln at Risbury Court for a chat and to collect some wild Daffodil and Bluebell bulbs to plant on their loved ones’ graves. Over the years the bulbs spread, creating an ever increasing display of yellow and blue to greet the spring, cheering us after the long dark days of winter.

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The gate is open daily and it is possible to call in for a look around, or telephone Diane to arrange a visit, or to discuss your individual requirements.

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)

Handley & Hawcutt Funeral Directors Your local Funeral Director

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.

Everyone feels grief. It is a natural reaction to the death of someone we love. We should all feel free to express 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.

Funeral Directors and Memorial Masons

Funeral arrangements... they shouldn't be the last thing on your mind You're never too young to pre-plan and pre-pay for your funeral expenses Pre-planning gives you the peace of mind knowing that the arrangements you particularly want, will be conducted sensibly in dignified respect to your wishes.

Pre-paying now will save you, your family or your estate a great deal of money. Bought now at today's prices, the Funeral Director's costs are guaranteed no matter when it is needed or how much the costs of a funeral have risen in the mean time.

For a FREE brochure please contact one of our branches £100 off our pre-paid funeral plans when mentioning this advert 115 Westfaling Street, Hereford HR4 0JE

Tel: 01432 274066

29a Gloucester Road, Ross-On-Wye, Hereford HR9 5LE

Tel: 01432 274066 www.dawebrothers.co.uk

Plan and pay in advance for your funeral with a Fairways Funeral Plan • • • •

Fully Guaranteed Funeral Pre Payment Plans Protect against rising costs of funerals Burial and Cremation plans available Home visits can be arranged

At Handley & Hawcutt, we understand that you want to give the one you love the best possible send off. So we listen to your needs and create a service that will best reflect their life, ensuring every detail is carried out the way you would like. It’s just one of the reasons why people trust us to look after their loved one.

17 Drapers Lane, Leominster

01568 612 225

www.mylocalfuneraldirector.co.uk

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 Please ask about our pre-paid funeral plans

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.

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